REVIEW: Writing speculative fiction by eugen bacon

BLURB: In this engaging and accessible guide, Eugen Bacon explores writing speculative fiction as a creative practice, drawing from her own work, and the work of other writers and theorists, to interrogate its various subgenres. Through analysis of writers such as Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkien and J. K. Rowling, this book scrutinises the characteristics of speculative fiction, considers the potential of writing cross genre and covers the challenges of targeting young adults.  It connects critical and cultural theories to the practice of creative writing, examining how they might apply to the process of writing speculative fiction. Both practical and critical in its evaluative gaze, it also looks at e-publishing as a promising publishing medium for speculative fiction.


This is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Creative Writing, looking to develop a critical awareness of, and practical skills for, the writing of speculative fiction. It is also a valuable resource for creators, commentators and consumers of contemporary speculative fiction.

It's not often that one can read an instructional non-fiction text from cover to cover and remain engaged. But that's exactly what happened when I sat down with Bacon's new guide to writing speculative fiction. Eugen Bacon weaves together extracts from a variety of creative texts, commentary about storytelling, and anecdotes from her experiences as a teacher of creative writing to build a palatable, engaging, and endlessly useful guidebook. 

From an analysis of the nature of speculative fiction itself, through to consideration of th ekey elements of storytelling, and activities writers can undertake to activate their creative mind, variety is at the heart of this book. I came away with a renewed desire to write the sci-fi space story that's been (dare I say) floating in my mind for over a year. Only now, I intend to add some cross-genre elements, including a touch of horror to my futuristic world.

​If you are a writer and you don't finish Bacon's book with a sudden urge to write, and to write better, then I'd be at a loss to try and understand how such a thing is possible.

You'll be inspired. You'll be challenged. You'll be reminded why you love speculative genres.
And you'll be compelled to write.