Wonderbook (Revised and Expanded) - by Jeff VanderMeer (Paperback)

About the Book

"Wonderbook has become the definitive guide to writing science fiction and fantasy by offering an accessible, example-rich approach that emphasizes the importance of playfulness as well as pragmatism. It also exploits the visual nature of genre culture and employs bold, full-color drawings, maps, renderings, and visualizations to stimulate creative thinking. On top of all that, the book features sidebars and essays from some of the biggest names working in the field today, including George R. R. Martin, Lev Grossman, Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, and Karen Joy Fowler. For the fifth anniversary of the original publication, Jeff VanderMeer has added an additional 50 pages of diagrams, illustrations, and writing exercises creating the ultimate volume of inspiring advice that is also a stunning and inspiring object."--

Book Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Jeff VanderMeer, Wonderbook is the definitive guide to writing science fiction and fantasy, offering an accessible, example-rich, illustrated approach for writers and would-be writers that emphasizes the importance of playfulness as well as pragmatism.

"If worldbuilding gives you an S-class migraine, never fear. There's one book that every speculative fiction writer should read to learn about proper worldbuilding: Wonderbook." ―Bustle

"Aspiring writers of 'imaginative fiction'--whether science fiction, fantasy or other kinds--are in for a treat." ―Space.com

Jeff VanderMeer's modern masterpiece of instruction exploits the visual nature of genre culture and employs bold, full-color drawings, maps, renderings, and visualizations to stimulate creative thinking.

A true objet d'art, this overstuffed, full-color illustrated book features glorious Lovecraftian artwork of all sorts of outrageous monsters, as well as a host of advice winding their ways around the edges of the pages like marginalia in an illuminated monk's script. Yes, it's practical advice, useful to writers, but it also deserves a place on your coffee table for visitors to flip through and for you to look at again and again.

This revised and expanded edition features an additional 50 pages of diagrams, illustrations, and writing exercises creating the ultimate volume of inspiring advice that is also a stunning and inspiring object.

On top of all that, the book features sidebars and essays from some of the biggest names working in the field today, including:

• George R. R. Martin
• Lev Grossman
• Neil Gaiman
• Michael Moorcock
• Kim Stanley Robinson
• Charles Yu
• Karen Joy Fowler
• And more!

Review Quotes

"Wonderbook is one of the best books about writing I've ever read or experienced."
--Nnedi Okorafor

"Aspiring writers of "imaginative fiction" -- whether science fiction, fantasy or other kinds -- are in for a treat: a new update to the fiction-writing guide "Wonderbook," by Jeff VanderMeer... it's gorgeous to page through and substantial enough to last new (or medium) writers a good long time."--SPACE.com

"If worldbuilding gives you an S-class migraine, never fear. There's one book that every speculative fiction writer should read to learn about proper worldbuilding: Wonderbook by Jeff VanderMeer. This handy how-to guide deserves a spot on your writer's bookshelf..."--Bustle

"In the gorgeously illustrated Wonderbook, Vandermeer generously gives away some of his tricks."--Refinery29

"VanderMeer ambitiously sets out to help readers get creative, and he does it with a rule-breaking book full of illustrations."--Portalist

About the Author

Jeff VanderMeer is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 books including novels and fiction anthologies. He has won the Nebula Award, the British Fantasy Award, and, three times, the World Fantasy Award and has been a finalist for the Hugo Award. He is the cofounder and assistant director of Shared Worlds, a unique fantasy and science fiction writing camp for teenagers. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida.