Here's a synopsis of what I learned:
The Voyage of the Space Beagle -- Clever ideas, great; great writing, even better.
Paris in the Twentieth Century -- Camaraderie between characters creates affection in readers.
The Opiuchi Hotline -- Background both grounds and deepens a story.
Cat's Cradle -- Nothing is off-topic as long as it doesn't waste your reader's time.
The Embedding -- Endings must pick up energy, not lose it.
The Fifth Head of Cerberus -- Stories can have secrets not revealed.
The Day of the Triffids -- Characters reflect the author's culture. Beware.
The Doomsday Book -- Premise and Theme. Learn it. Love it.
The Disappearance -- Events can affect emotion; emotion affects characters.
When the Sleeper Wakes -- Too emotional characters don't work either.
The Cards of Grief -- Write like you are there.
We -- Describing human mind, heart, and soul is Story.
Lord of Light -- Style must include, not exclude.
Blood Music -- Flawed characters drive a story.
More than Human -- Suspense is better than violence.
The Sheep Look Up -- Don't create artificial situations to make an effect.
Juniper Time -- Packing makes or breaks a story.
The Many-Coloured Lands -- Gigantic battle scene endings can be tropes.
Ender's Game -- Get out of the way of your Story.
Dune -- Have something to say in sentences that are not dead.