I read a lot. That’s probably not much of a secret, but it’s one of the most important things anyone can know about me. I read constantly. And while many writers read a lot (it’s the key to good writing), unlike most I read very little fiction. And that may be surprising.

Rather, I read nonfiction. I follow a diverse range of scientific journals, and I’m constantly saving and reading large quantities of scholarly articles on a wide range of subjects. Science, history, from Mesopotamian cookery to quantum physics. Short articles are easier for me to read with my work schedule; in a matter of minutes, whether between calls, during a lull in a project, or while having lunch, I can take some spare minutes to sit and learn something I didn’t know before.

I firmly believe that there is no pursuit more fulfilling than the quest for knowledge. Every little snippet of information we learn in science and history represents a piece of the puzzle, forming a clearer picture of the world around us. I make it a point to learn as much new information as I can every day, and pass as much as possible on to those around me. Friends and family alike tend to regard me as a veritable storehouse of miscellany, as I am constantly spouting off random facts. But I do this because I take great joy from learning new things. I want to share that joy with those I care about.

Now, a lot of that information may seem superfluous. It’s fair to say, for instance, that recent research on the effects of ancient hurricanes on the Mayan civilization has little bearing on my work as an aerospace engineer. But it’s not fair to dismiss information like that, or virtually any information at all, as wholly useless to me. Because I am a writer. And in writing, especially in the case of science fiction, such seemingly useless information does indeed serve a purpose: it’s the whipped cream.

Consider for a moment the ice cream sundae. When we picture an ice cream sundae, at its simplest we’d picture ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and maybe a cherry. Now, the cherry is optional; it’s the finishing touch, hence the saying likening the last detail to “the cherry on top”. But while the ice cream and syrup are necessities, it may be the whipped cream that’s most important. Ice cream and chocolate sauce is common enough; it’s the whipped cream that makes it a sundae. The whipped cream is the unsung but necessary ingredient; it’s vitally important to tie it all together, even if half the time you don’t notice it’s there.

In science fiction, the details, scientific and otherwise, are the whipped cream. Minute aspects of daily life, concise details of the science behind the story. A character asking another how he can enjoy Lapsang. Two characters discussing fuel consumption. It’s little details like this that breathe life into a story. Such simple details are critical in science fiction. After all, generally in scifi one is writing about the future. As such, at times it can be difficult to make a story feel real. But realism is key; for a story to have an impact, the reader must be capable of suspending disbelief and accepting this new reality. Small details help to ease that process. Seemingly lofty concepts are easier to digest if characters discuss them casually. And otherwise outlandish aspects of an envisioned future seem acceptable if the characters pay them little mind.

My background in science, aerospace engineering and astronomy in particular, has frequently informed my work. It’s helped me shorten the time I spend conducting vast amounts of research for stories. But it’s not enough. To make a story real, you need those fluffy details. You need your whipped cream. So when I sit reading, I’m not just learning random new things.

I’m sitting with my bowl and whisk, making whipped cream.