Science Fiction Sorrow and Joy!

The thing I love about writing science fiction is that I can create my own world(s)! Frankly, although I love the sheer act of writing, I love the fact that I control my world, galaxy, universe, etc. That's the joy.


As is true apparently with many writers, I use fiction in an attempt to understand myself and my relation to the world. Or perhaps it's because my "Fragger Sparks" character is a surrogate for the war action I didn't experience in my life.


I've never been in combat (but my eldest brother was killed in combat). I've never even been in a fight since I was about 15 years old (but my best friend survived Vietnam).


And yet I've very adept at writing combat action scenes and describing far-flung worlds that will never exist.


Perhaps it's all my attempt to make up for what I see as the lack of "manly activities" in my life.


And yet....although I was in the Army, I would have made a miserable combat soldier. Beyond being very nearsighted, I simply didn't have the heart for killing. Most likely, I would have been dead within days had I gone to Vietnam or any other war zone.


It always struck me as weird that I was envious of soldiers who'd faced combat. Everybody who's faced a ruthless opponent says they wouldn't wish it on their worst enemy. And yet, those of us who haven't faced death are envious of them. That's the sorrow.


It's a weird hierarchy, isn't it? Without soldiers, wars wouldn't be fought, and heroes wouldn't exist. And heroes don't exist without writers.


Life is, indeed, strange!