Author and NASA physicist Les Johnson talks writing and rocket science
The Huntsville/North Alabama chapter of the Society for Technical Communication recently hosted a reading and Q&A session with author and rocket scientist Les Johnson.
The event was held at the UAH College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences space at Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment.
Johnson talked about his inspiration, writing style, and getting published.
“Ideas can come from anywhere,” Johnson said.
His science fiction book Mission to Methone started with an idea that came to him in a routine meeting at work.
When he begins to write, Johnson has an idea of where a story is going to end up. He comes up with a plot outline and character sketches first.
While Johnson specializes in fact-based, or what’s known as “hard” science fiction, his novels are character-driven. He wants his main characters to grow in some way over the course of a story or series.
His books feature the ultimate “man versus nature” theme, said Johnson.
“Space exploration is the ultimate man versus nature story. Space is always trying to kill you! If it doesn’t kill you then your rocket will kill you,” quipped Johnson.
Getting published is hard, observed Johnson, and being a good writer doesn’t guarantee someone can get published.
“Part of getting published is luck. Of course, luck has to meet preparation,” said Johnson.
Johnson wrote and published his first work of science fiction with co-author Travis S. Taylor after a publisher overheard the two men discussing the plot at a local diner. 
When asked about self-publishing versus the traditional publishing route, Johnson’s advice to aspiring authors was not to self-publish.
He reasoned that the professional editorial review built into traditional publishing is vital to a successful writing career.
In his nonfiction writing, Johnson has focused on the technologies of interstellar travel being explored today.
In his popular nonfiction book A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars, Johnson compared the current state of interstellar technology to our ancestors’ first canoe. That early mode of transportation eventually led to shipping vessels, airplanes, and spacecraft.
In other words, humans may be a long way from interstellar travel, but the necessary foundation is being built right now.
Johnson said that as an author he enjoys working with technical writing interns from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Inspiring the upcoming generations is vital if humans are to one day make it to the stars.
Johnson’s science fiction books include The Spacetime War, Saving Proxima (with Travis S. Taylor), and Rescue Mode (with Ben Bova). His nonfiction works include A Traveler’s Guide to the Stars, Harvesting Space for A Greener Earth (with Greg Matloff and C Bangs), and Sky Alert: When Satellites Fail.
Johnson leads the development of advanced spacecraft propulsion technologies at NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.
He is an elected member of the International Academy of Astronautics, a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society and a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the National Space Society.
