--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything in a science-fiction novel…" description: "\"“Everything in a science-fiction novel should be mentioned at least twice (in at least two different contexts).”\" — Samuel R. Delany" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-sh_1090630.png" --- # Everything in a science-fiction novel should be mentioned… ![“Everything in a science-fiction novel should be mentioned at least twice (in at least two different contexts).” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-sh_1090630.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-sh_1090630.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-sh_1090630.png) > ““Everything in a science-fiction novel should be mentioned at least twice (in at least two different contexts).”” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science‑fiction should repeat key details in varied contexts to reinforce world consistency. **In simple terms:** Repeat important details in different scenes. Key Takeaway Ensure consistency through repetition. Themes writing science‑fiction detail Mood thoughtful creative Type instructional analytical When to use this quote - Novel drafting - scriptwriting - game design - editing process Key Concepts World‑building narrative cohesion Questions to Reflect On - Which details need reinforcement? - How to balance repetition with novelty? A Different Perspective Over‑repetition can feel redundant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [It sure is cool that I was mentioned in 'Rolling Stone.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-martel/it-sure-is-cool-that-i-was-mentioned-in-rolling-stone/) [Marc Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-martel/) > [One of the oddest things in life, as we all know, is the way that when you have heard a thing mentioned, within twenty-four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/one-of-the-oddest-things-in-life-as-we-all-know-is-the-way-that-when/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I have no wisdom and nothing useful to tell you - I only mentioned this because it came into my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-hoban/i-have-no-wisdom-and-nothing-useful-to-tell-you-i-only-mentioned-this/) [Russell Hoban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-hoban/) > [There's no reason for me to go into a big dissertation about why I'm not getting the calls. The refs have to do their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-vick/there-s-no-reason-for-me-to-go-into-a-big-dissertation-about-why-i-m/) [Michael Vick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-vick/) > [The French are pretty thin-skinned. The few times I mentioned a French writer in 'City Boy,' the relatives would ring up in high dudgeon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-french-are-pretty-thin-skinned-the-few-times-i-mentioned-a-french/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [You have to play with the mentality that you are about to lose your job, and that they're going to talk about 'The Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-favre/you-have-to-play-with-the-mentality-that-you-are-about-to-lose-your/) [Brett Favre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-favre/) > [I've mentioned a lot before that I don't like coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-pimblett/i-ve-mentioned-a-lot-before-that-i-don-t-like-coffee/) [Paddy Pimblett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-pimblett/) > [To be mentioned in the same breath as people I admire means everything to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-dupri/to-be-mentioned-in-the-same-breath-as-people-i-admire-means/) [Jermaine Dupri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-dupri/) > [If I hear an interesting turn of phrase on TV, I'll repeat it back - I just like to roll it around on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-winter/if-i-hear-an-interesting-turn-of-phrase-on-tv-i-ll-repeat-it-back-i/) [Terence Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-winter/) > [Oh, you know what, it's an honor to be mentioned in the company of those that might lead our country forward after President Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-o-malley/oh-you-know-what-it-s-an-honor-to-be-mentioned-in-the-company-of/) [Martin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-o-malley/) > [When people talk about the great quarterbacks, it's almost exclusively the guys who have won Super Bowls. There have been some very good ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-moon/when-people-talk-about-the-great-quarterbacks-it-s-almost-exclusively/) [Warren Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-moon/) > [In 1998, I received treatment for my knee by an Israeli therapist. We spoke about Israel and I mentioned 'Scooterman' and he just froze.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-david-goldberg/in-1998-i-received-treatment-for-my-knee-by-an-israeli-therapist-we/) [Gary David Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-david-goldberg/) > [Im on another level, b-tch you heard me say that do you SOD I never mentioned you cause you not worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soulja-boy/im-on-another-level-b-tch-you-heard-me-say-that-do-you-sod-i-never/) [Soulja Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soulja-boy/) > [There are names I do not want mentioned in my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-schwarzkopf/there-are-names-i-do-not-want-mentioned-in-my-home/) Elisabeth Schwarzkopf > [The first step to being noticed is being mentioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-matobo/the-first-step-to-being-noticed-is-being-mentioned/) [Frank Matobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-matobo/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [What you are will make you what you will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/what-you-are-will-make-you-what-you-will-become/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“People probably do hear watches go tic-tok. But I’m sure my childhood clock went tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic…Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/people-probably-do-hear-watches-go-tic-tok-but-i-m-sure-my-childhood/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I wanted to get out, Vyme, to keep going and not be trapped, to be free… only I was cruel. I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-wanted-to-get-out-vyme-to-keep-going-and-not-be-trapped-to-be-free/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [A number of things in 'Dhalgren' are just meant to function as mysteries. They're mysteries when the book begins, and they're mysteries when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-number-of-things-in-dhalgren-are-just-meant-to-function-as/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [The pulp hero, though he may be a renegade, is a guy who doesn't feel. Anything. Ever. And for the adolescent male - pummeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/the-pulp-hero-though-he-may-be-a-renegade-is-a-guy-who-doesn-t-feel/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Everything in a science-fiction novel should be mentioned at least twice (in at least two different contexts).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel R. Delany" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-should-be-mentioned-at-least/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-should-be-mentioned-at-least/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-sh_1090630.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-sh_1090630.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad0/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-sh_1090630.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everything in a science-fiction novel should be mentioned at least twice (in at least two different contexts).” — Samuel R. Delany", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel R. Delany", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Everything in a science-fiction novel should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-should-be-mentioned-at-least/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everything-in-a-science-fiction-novel-should-be-mentioned-at-least/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```