Trope-ing the Light Fantastic

Last updated September 2, 2024. Copies are temporarily unavailable. New editions to come.

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I am pleased to announce the release today of Trope-ing the Light Fantastic: The Science Behind the Fiction.

Trope-ing? There's a funny word! So what is this book?

In a nutshell: The essential resource for anyone who reads, writes, watches, or studies science fiction.

In a few more words, borrowed from the back cover:

Men have walked on the Moon. Siri and Alexa manage — at least often enough to be helpful — to make sense of the things we say. Biologists have decoded DNA, and doctors have begun to tailor treatments to suit our individual genetic make-ups. In short: science and tech happen.

But faster-than-light travel? Time travel? Telepathy? A six million dollar — as adjusted, of course, for inflation — man? Starfaring aliens? Super-intelligent computers? Those, surely, are mere fodder for storytelling. Or wild extrapolations. Just so many "sci fi" tropes.

Sometimes, yes. But not necessarily.

In Trope-ing the Light Fantastic, physicist, computer engineer, science popularizer, and award-winning science-fiction author Edward M. Lerner entertainingly examines these and many other SF tropes. The science behind the fiction.

Each chapter, along with its eminently accessible scientific discussion, surveys science fiction — foundational and modern, in short and long written form, on TV and the big screen — that illustrates a particular trope. The good, the bad, and occasionally the cringe-worthy. All imparted with wit (and ample references to learn more).

So forget what the Wizard of Oz advised. Let's pull back the curtain ....

And what's the early buzz? I'm happy you asked.

"I am entertained and enlightened."
— Larry Niven, Hugo Award-winning author of Ringworld

"... Covers a huge number of topics well and provides great scientific and science fictional stimulation."
— Tangent Online

"A great source book for SF writers."
— Bud Sparhawk, author of Distant Seas

"A must-have for every science-fiction writer. Edward M. Lerner has produced the best-ever guide to putting the science in science fiction, and he's done it with clarity, wit, and panache. A terrific book — I'm recommending it to all my colleagues, and to all those who hope ​someday to be professional SF writers."
— Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Quantum Night

"... Worth your time, your money, and your consideration, whether you're interested in accessible science, looking to understand trends in science fiction, or — optimally — both."
— Trevor Quachri, editor of Analog (excerpted from his guest foreword to the book)

On a personal note, Trope-ing is — very much — also a labor of love. Its development spanned several years, its earliest imaginings right here on this blog. (More on that back story in "From mighty oak trees, little acorns grow.")

This being a commercial announcement, here are links to Amazon for the Trope-ing hardback and Trope-ing Kindle editions. (As I type, Amazon is discounting the print edition from cover price by 20+ percent. I can't say how long that may persist.) A trade-paperback edition will follow in due time.

Other etailers will, of course, also offer Trope-ing in print and their respective ebook formats.

If you are a brick-and-mortar shopper and your favorite bookseller doesn't have Trope-ing in stock, s/he will happily order a copy for you. Title and author generally suffice, but the  print-edition ISBN may also be helpful: 978-1-61242-365-4.

And a final comment: if you read, and like, Trope-ing (or any other book, by any author!) consider posting a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Librarything, or the review venue of your choice.