What If...We're due for comet bombardment?

In a study from Car­diff Cen­tre for As­tro­bi­ol­o­gy in Car­diff, U.K., our solar system is heading toward a denser area of the galaxy which may mean higher chances for comet bombardment. Their studies indicate that these bombardments occur every 35 to 40 million years and may be responsible for the extinction of several forms of life over the eons. But they also indicate that these bombardments from space may have spread life throughout the galaxy. You can read more here.

So...what if our little planet has seeded life on other planets? And what if the same sort of phenomena has occurred on these other planets and spread their 'life creating substances' throughout the galaxy? I can see a wealth of SF stories rising from this. What about you?

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What If...Earth had a storm that lasted months?

Astronomers have been tracking an immense thunderstorm on Saturn that's already lasted for 5 months. I suppose that means that we can't complain, too much, when we have a storm that lasts a few hours, does it? The Saturnian storm can be seen as the small splotch on the lower portion of the planet in these enhanced photos.

But as writers, speculative fiction writers at that, we can extrapolate how such a storm would affect us here on Earth. What it would mean in terms in ecological damage or even economical damage is the stuff of dramatic fiction, don't you think?

How would you use it in a story?

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New Word - Anticipointment

I get all kinds of dictionary type words in my mailbox but got one that I really thought was interesting in a lot of ways. This one came from the Double Tongued Dictionary.

Anticipointment - n. WPXI news director Corrie Harding acknowledged there’s a term for teasing stories that don’t deliver: “anticipointment.” “If we make a story sound like the second coming and tease it four times and it’s really nothing by the time we get there” that leads to anticipointment, Harding said. Stations don’t set out to aggravate viewers, but as WTAE news director Bob Longo notes, TV is also a business. —“Tuned In: TV news directors listen, learn from viewer gripes” by Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania) Apr. 25, 2008.

Now, this was primarily for media type news sources but I can sure see it for the reading and writing of books or watching movies or TV programs.

I'm sure we've all seen movies or TV because of a commercial or ad that makes that particular entertainment sound like award winning stuff and it turns out to be a shade short of Boring. You're miffed if you spent money for the movie or you change the channels if you've watching the tube.

Books aren't much different. They're a form of entertainment that either cost you money or time (to read).

For example, have you ever read the back cover or review of a book and thought -- mmm, sounds like something I'd like? I know I have. The problem is that the back cover copy or review builds up my anticipation of the story but, occasionally, the book doesn't deliver or satisfy that anticipation. I don't feel cheated, necessarily, because it might be a good story but it's not precisely what I was expecting from the blurb or review. That's a shame because it lessens the chances that I'll purposely seek out other books by that author.

I've heard others say not to judge a book by it's back cover (or its cover for that matter) and I agree. In principle. The back cover copy (or blurb - I use the terms interchangeably) is supposed to peak a reader's interest so it will use words that 'marketing' thinks will entice a reader to buy it. But it also increases an anticipation factor that, if it isn't met, can cause that 'anticipointment' even for books that otherwise would be classified as good reads.

And that's the big danger that exists for books.

With movies or TV, we don't depend as much on the screenwriter (who we may never have heard of...if we pay any attention to their name at all) but, with books, we will often seek out the next book and the next book of an author who meets our anticipation, who fully delivers the promise of the back cover copy. When a reader is left with 'anticipointment' though, s/he likely won't remember much about the author and consequently won't go looking for his or her other books.

IMO, 'anticipointment' is more dangerous to an author's career than just about anything else because it can lead to loss of sales or career even for a good writer.


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