Mistress of the universe

I'm editing my novel Eyemind, a future crime novel with an art theme.  Being set in the future, and on a different planet, that means I get to create the whole world. I get to be mistress of the universe.

Every writer has to put their characters into a setting, but for the writer who's telling a story set in the future that's a rather bigger task.  We have to invent whole planets, spaceships, space stations, and decide how people will travel across the galaxy.

To be convincing the setting must follow the rules of science as we know them.  The creatures we invent too must be capable of existing.  In gravity like Earth's we're never going to see giant spiders or ants, because that body design won't carry the weight of the creature at larger scale.  

If you've ever wondered why aliens in books look very similar to humans it's because they're very likely to look like us.  This is because of a principle called convergent evolution.  Put simply, this means that where you get similar sets of environmental challenges creatures are likely to evolve in similar ways to meet them.  

The other reason for designing settings and creatures humans can relate to is that, at heart, science fiction is about humans.  We're using fictitious places and characters to comment on and challenge human behaviour and culture.  We can do so in an invented future without fear of being sued for libel, and it lifts us outside entrenched views about current situations in our present- day culture.  

Being mistress of the universe has a lot to recommend it.