Rating: 
Summary: A Good Primer For Beginning Writers
Review: Orson Scott Card, who is a fairly successful writer of science fiction/fantasy, has written a good small book on how to write in the genre. He includes topics such as defining the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and the more-encompassing "speculative fiction"; how to write about magic and the supernatural in a way that creates internal consistency (the rules of the magical universe are different from ours but there must be rules to avoid deus ex machina and other inane problem-solutions); how to create a fictional universe; the different emphases a story can take (character, action, setting, specific event); and the basic rules of good writing.One of the best aspects of this book is Card's frequent use of referring to specific authors and specific books as prime examples of concepts. One of the best examples is his reference to Octavia Butler's "Wild Seed" as a prime example of packing meaning into every word and every line of a book; nothing is wasted. I read "Wild Seed" because of Card's reference; I not only loved it, but did indeed find it to be as rich an example of deep, complex, meaning-laden writing as any book I've read. "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy" is also a technically well-written book, with good flow, coherent structure, no wasted space, and solid logic. It reads quickly while teaching much. Writers who are one or more steps beyond "Beginner" will learn something, but Beginners are the prime target. That target is solidly hit.
Rating: 
Summary: Mostly a good book.
Review: The book is informative. I like most of it. However, it does seem to knock a few science fiction genres such as Star Trek. It seems that the author is biased against this. I can understand it. It does not seem that he keeps up with science. He does not like the "ansible" when there is some proof that it may be possible. A little closed minded. His books are okay. He seems to be inspired by the book of Mormon in his writing. But a compettemt writer.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply one of the best writing books available
Review: The books is a real masterwork of the craft of advising on the craft. One of the best-known and most critically acclaimed author of our time advises budding authors on the writing life. Covering everything from mechanics to the business element, his advice is supremely valuable to a newcomer to the writing world. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Want to know is this is a good book for you?
Review: This book had way too many examples and less explaining. Card spent almost the entire book telling me how he and others wrote Science Fiction and Fantasy, rather than how to do it ourselves. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't this a "How To" book and not a "Look What I Did" book? If you're the kind of person who need a clear, step by step process, this book is definately not for you.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic resource!
Review: This book is a fantastic resource! Written by award-winning sci-fi and fantasy author Orson Scott Card, this book contains many wonderful hints on writing in those genres. Mr. Card covers everything from building a world to writing well and getting published.
What struck me the most in this book is the Mr. Card gives on collecting your ideas (who doesn't have loads of disconnected story ideas?) and developing them, and possibly combining the disparate ideas into a whole story. In fact, he uses his own history to show just how this can be done. But, this is not just an off the cuff, this has happened to me type book. The author uses the works of many different authors to show you how you can write, and how you can write well.
If you are at all interested in writing in the field of "speculative fiction," then you must read this book. It is one of the best books in the field that I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: It Depends On What Your Looking For,But This Is Very Helpful
Review: This book is not a guideline. And books like this shouldn't be, because when writing fiction, it is your ideas that bring the story along - not a step-by-step, how-to book. In these pages you will find suggestoins and helpful guidelines concerning perspective and environment. I know this sounds vague, but there's not much room here. The book does seem a little on the short side, but it really is helpful. Buy it. Consider what he has to say, and it will help you write better.
Rating:
Summary: It Depends On What Your Looking For,But This Is Very Helpful
Review: This book is not a guideline. And books like this shouldn't be, because when writing fiction, it is your ideas that bring the story along - not a step-by-step, how-to book. In these pages you will find suggestoins and helpful guidelines concerning perspective and environment. I know this sounds vague, but there's not much room here. The book does seem a little on the short side, but it really is helpful. Buy it. Consider what he has to say, and it will help you write better.
Rating:
Summary: Well worth reading.
Review: This book may have been better titled "About Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy" instead of "How To". Mr. Card gives many very good essays on the forms used in writing this genre, not so much the how to's. He does supply several good do's and don'ts, and over all I found it to be a good (though not exclusive) resource for my library.
Rating:
Summary: The best writing book I have seen yet!
Review: This is a great book for both beginning and experienced sf&f writers. Orson Scott Card focuses on Science fiction mostly, but showes distinct differences between the TWO genres. I would have liked a separate book for fantasy, instead of both tegether, but Card does not add Fantasy as an afterthought. He explains both in detail, and shows how to write well for both audiences. He uses a small assortment of books as examples, including J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings", and Octavia Butler's "Wild Seed." Over all I would definitely recommend this book to writers of either genre.
Rating:
Summary: The best writing book I have seen yet!
Review: This is a great book for both beginning and experienced sf&f writers. Orson Scott Card focuses on Science fiction mostly, but showes distinct differences between the TWO genres. I would have liked a separate book for fantasy, instead of both tegether, but Card does not add Fantasy as an afterthought. He explains both in detail, and shows how to write well for both audiences. He uses a small assortment of books as examples, including J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings", and Octavia Butler's "Wild Seed." Over all I would definitely recommend this book to writers of either genre.
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