Voices of Vision: Creators of Science Fiction and Fantasy Speak (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)

By Jayme Lynn Blaschke

As the world around us becomes more fantastic, and science itself more surreal, the realms of science fiction and fantasy become correspondingly both more bizarre and more relevant. Voices of Vision offers a rare look into the inner workings of this realm and into the very thoughts and methods of those who make it tick: editors and writers of science fiction and fantasy, and creators of comic books and graphic novels. In wide-ranging interviews that are by turns intimate and thought provoking, irreverent and outrageous, Jayme Lynn Blaschke talks shop with some of the most interesting voices in these genres as well as the people behind them, such as current Science Fiction Weekly and former Science Fiction Age editor Scott Edelman. A host of authors talk to Blaschke about what it's like to do what they do, how they work and how they started, and where they think the genre is headed. Blaschke talks to writers such as Robin Hobb, Charles de Lint, Patricia Anthony, and Elizabeth Moon; revered authors of comic books and graphic novels, including Neil Gaiman and Brad Meltzer; and icons such as Samuel R. Delany, Gene Wolfe, Harlan Ellison, and Jack Williamson. Editors such as Gardner Dozois, editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine, discuss their publishing philosophies and strategies, the origins and probable directions of their magazines, and the broader influence of such ventures. For devoted reader, aspiring writer, and curious onlooker alike, these interviews open a largely hidden, endlessly engrossing world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803262396
• ISBN13: 9780803262393
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Bison Books
• Length: 198 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent insight into the working of sf/f minds

Blaschke asks the right questions and gets the most fascinating answers. A good range of insights into the thoughts, ideas, and lives of some of the most interesting sci-fi and fantasy authors.

Voices of Vision

A series of interviews from some of the best writers in the business. Excellent work.

A must for any aspiring writer

This book is a collection of interviews of editors and writers in the field of Fantasy and Science Fiction - including some of the legends. As the title for this review states - this book would be very helpful for anyone wanting to break into the field. Several editors give hints as to what they are looking for in a prospective story. It is also helpful in that each editor gives his/her individual opinion and it can be seen that what one editor rejects, another is desperately seeking. I had a problem reading the Harlan Ellison interview. It seems that every few paragraphs, he triggered a thought in my head that went flying off and delayed my finishing the piece. Over and over, I kept thinking that this book would be an ideal text for a writing course. It would probably not be accepted as such, though, because it does not cost enough and would probably stay current for more than one semester.

Table of contents listing

The official table of contents for Voices of Vision: Part 1: The Editors Chapter 1. Gardner Dozois Chapter 2. Kristine Kathryn Rusch Chapter 3. Stanley Schmidt Chapter 4. Gordon Van Gelder Chapter 5. Scott Edelman Part II: Unique Voices in Fantasy & Science Fiction Chapter 6. Robin Hobb (aka Megan Lindholm) Chapter 7. Patricia Anthony Chapter 8. Charles de Lint Chapter 9. Elizabeth Moon Part III: The Comic Book Creators Chapter 10. Elliot S! Maggin Chapter 11. Frank Cho & Scott Kurtz Chapter 12. Brad Meltzer Chapter 13. Neil Gaiman Part IV: Masters of Speculative Fiction Chapter 14. Samuel R. Delany Chapter 15. Gene Wolfe Chapter 16. Harlan Ellison Chapter 17. Jack Williamson The Edelman interview is a new, never-before published piece, and the Harlan Ellison and Elizabeth Moon interviews have extensive material restored that was cut from the original published versions due to space considerations.