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John M. Ford Quotes

Fictioneer

John M. Ford was an American science fiction and fantasy author known for his unique narrative style and profound insights into the future. His works span a variety of themes, from space opera to post-apocalyptic survival.

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All Writing Reader Book Want Wells Different Ifs Lost Made People

Famous John M. Ford Quotes

“Askade took the battertoast, looked at it blearily. "I can't rewire it into a death ray without some extra parts," he said, and took a bite. "Hm. Tastes okay. What's the problem?”

Humor Toast Death Ray

Book:How Much for Just the Planet?

Source: How Much for Just the Planet?

“Well, it's an adventure story, and a Bildungsroman, of course, but there was also the intention to describe a culture that had been seen in rather narrow terms.”

Wells Stories Culture Courses Term Adventure Travel Intention Funny Travel

Author:John M. Ford

“Observe, don't imitate.”

Writing

Book:On Writing Science Fiction: The Editors Strike Back

Source: On Writing Science Fiction: The Editors Strike Back

“Sometimes the reader will decide something else than the author's intent; this is certainly true of attempts to empirically decipher reality.”

Sometimes Reality Reader Decipher

Author:John M. Ford

“Every book is three books, after all; the one the writer intended, the one the reader expected, and the one that casts its shadow when the first two meet by moonlight.”

Firsts Two Book Three Reader Shadow Casts Expected Moonlight

Author:John M. Ford

“We're not lost. We're locationally challenged”

Lost

Author:John M. Ford

“I long for the simplicity of theatre. I want lessons learned, comeuppances delivered, people sorted out, all before your bladder gets distractingly full. That's what I want. What I know is what we all know, whether we'll admit it or not: every attempt to impose the roundness of a well-made play on reality produces a disaster. Life just isn't so, nor will it be made so.”

People Knows Want Wells Long Made Play Reality Produce Lessons Simplicity Theatre Disaster Lesson Learned Bladder Comeuppance

Author:John M. Ford

“At one point I intended to write precursor and sequel novels, about the establishment of the Web and its next evolution, but I am very unlikely to now; they would take place in a different universe.”

Writing Different Universe Next Novel Evolution Establishment Unlikely Sequels Precursor Different Universes

Author:John M. Ford

“I'm very happy that the New York Times has spoken well of my stuff; who wouldn't be? But it's not a choice I made.”

Wells Made Choices Stuff New York Very Happy New York Times

Author:John M. Ford

“Creating the fictional background for a game world isn't significantly different from creating a background for fiction.”

World Different Games Fiction Creating Backgrounds Surfing

Author:John M. Ford

“I don't think anyone wants a reader to be completely lost - certainly not to the point of giving up - but there's something to be said for a book that isn't instantly disposable, that rewards a second reading.”

Thinking Want Giving Writing Said Book Reading Lost Reader Giving Up Rewards Disposable

Author:John M. Ford

“We're all living on borrowed time. The trick is to come up with works of sufficient interest to pay off the debt.”

Interest Pay Come Up Debt Tricks Sufficient Borrowed Living On Borrowed Time

Author:John M. Ford

“The language fictional characters use is chosen for effect, at least if the author is concentrating.”

Ifs Writing Character Use Language Effects Chosen Concentrating Fictional Character

Author:John M. Ford

“If I were to write Web now, it would be a much, much darker book.”

Ifs Writing Book Would Be

Author:John M. Ford

“There are readers who want every point to be clearly and unambiguously set forth, and there are those who want to pry ideas and meanings out for themselves.”

Want Writing Ideas Reader

Author:John M. Ford

“There are people who believe in an absolutely transparent prose; with every respect for clarity of expression, I don't.”

People Believe Expression Clarity Prose Transparent

Author:John M. Ford

About the Author

Born: April 10, 1957
Died: September 25, 2006
Known for: Fictioneer
Quotes: 16

Books & Sources

How Much for Just the Planet?Related source material

On Writing Science Fiction: The Editors Strike BackRelated source material

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