{"product_id":"trope-ing-the-light-fantastic-edward-m-lerner-9798285826590","title":"Trope-ing the Light Fantastic: The Science Behind the Fiction","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe essential resource for anyone who reads, writes, watches, or studies science fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMen 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.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBut 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.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSometimes, yes. But not necessarily.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eTrope-ing the Light Fantastic, \u003c\/em\u003e physicist, computer engineer, science popularizer, and award-winning science-fiction author Edward M. Lerner entertainingly examines these and many other SF tropes. The science \u003cem\u003ebehind\u003c\/em\u003e the fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEach 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).\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSo forget what the Wizard of Oz advised. Let's pull back the curtain ....\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"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.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of \u003cem\u003eQuantum Night\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"... This is a book which covers a huge number of topics well and provides great scientific and science fictional stimulation.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003cem\u003eTangent Online\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"I am entertained and enlightened.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Larry Niven, author of \u003cem\u003eRingworld\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"A great source book for SF writers.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Bud Sparhawk, author of \u003cem\u003eDistant Seas\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\" ... 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.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- Trevor Quachri, editor of \u003cem\u003eAnalog Science Fiction and Fact\u003c\/em\u003e (excerpted from his guest foreword to the book)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"Look this one up if you're interested in the underpinnings of some of your favorite stories. Libraries might want to get this book in, as well.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003cem\u003eAsimov's Science Fiction\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\"A trove of wonderful information about the why and how of the science in the fiction. ... a must read for any science fiction fan.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003cem\u003eSci-Fi Saturday Night\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Edward M. Lerner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798285826590\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/17\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 424\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.24lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.86d","brand":"Edward M. Lerner","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48089373049087,"sku":"9798285826590","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b8d304d9-57a6-4cc2-8d9a-31ecfa3e8f1c.jpg?v=1769109846","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/trope-ing-the-light-fantastic-edward-m-lerner-9798285826590","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}