Absolutely agree, within reason. ;-) Ray Bradbury has sometimes been criticized for his lack of accuracy in science fiction, but he’s one of the greatest writers of the 20th century nonetheless. The Martian Chronicles is, from a science-fact standpoint, laughable, and arguably was even at the time he wrote it. But it’s a classic and stands up well even today in spite of its factual failings precisely because it’s not about Mars or rocket ships. It’s about us. And there, he nailed it.

I try to be as accurate as I can, but I will fudge things when I can’t, and I’ve put disclaimers at the front of my mystery novels pointing out that some of my “facts” are not factual. I would disagree slightly on the subject of dialogue, though. Dialogue is arguably the least “real” part of a work of fiction. It must sound real, but that reality is an illusion, as I discussed in some detail in Clean Up Your Language and You Talk Too Much.

Otherwise, spot on. Thank you!