Congratulations to Marilyn Wons (Florida) and Christopher Harner (California) who were both randomly selected to win a SET of Stephen Hunt’s Jackelian novels including copies (UK Versions) of “The Court of the Air” and the new book, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” thanks to HarperVoyager!!! For more information about Stephen Hunt and “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”, check out Fantasy Book Critic’s book review HERE which also includes a short Q&A with the author :)
In news, Dean Koontz and his beloved ghost-seeing fry cook, Odd Thomas, are back. Want to know what's been happening to Oddie? Watch “Odd Passenger”, a four-part mini-movie exclusively on the web. This original Odd Thomas story, set in the time between the ending of “Brother Odd” and the start of “Odd Hours” (on sale in hardcover May 20th), can be viewed, shared, and posted on your own web page. Watch Episode One below. Episode Two can be viewed HERE, Episode Three HERE and Episode Four HERE:
In news, Dean Koontz and his beloved ghost-seeing fry cook, Odd Thomas, are back. Want to know what's been happening to Oddie? Watch “Odd Passenger”, a four-part mini-movie exclusively on the web. This original Odd Thomas story, set in the time between the ending of “Brother Odd” and the start of “Odd Hours” (on sale in hardcover May 20th), can be viewed, shared, and posted on your own web page. Watch Episode One below. Episode Two can be viewed HERE, Episode Three HERE and Episode Four HERE:For more Odd Thomas, be sure to check out the Official Odd Thomas Website, his Myspace Page and his Facebook Page. Also, there’s an Odd Hours Book Trailer and an interview with the author about Odd Thomas HERE.
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of EOS, HarperCollins e-books will be offering a free e-book download every two months throughout 2008. To receive your free e-book, visit HarperCollins EOS E-book Giveaway and redeem the coupon code. You may download the e-book in the format of your choice, including Adobe, Microsoft, and Mobipocket.Currently, the May/June free e-book download is “The Serpent Bride” by Sara Douglass. Download “The Serpent Bride” and prepare for the release of “The Twisted Citadel”, the second title in the DarkGlass Mountain series by Sara Douglass. “The Twisted Citadel” will be available to purchase as an e-book on May 27th. For more information and to purchase, please visit HarperCollins.
During the second half of 2008, you can look forward to more free e-books by other HarperCollins authors, including Karen Traviss, Fiona McIntosh, and Adam-Troy Castro. HarperCollins e-books hopes that you enjoy these classic titles in honor of the EOS 10th Anniversary!
Moving on, following its successful launch in the US in 2007, and a record year for the imprint in the UK, Orbit Books announces its intention to expand both lists. In the US, Orbit is going to double the size of the list over the next three years, taking its title output to 70-80 titles per year by 2011. In the UK, where Orbit is already the biggest SFF imprint, it will increase the size of the list by approximately 10% each year over the next three years.Tim Holman, Orbit Publisher, said: “The support that we’ve received for our launch season in the US—and the success that we’ve achieved internationally—has given us great confidence in our publishing strategy. There is a clear and significant opportunity for any SFF publisher looking to expand the core readership, and we intend Orbit to be at the forefront of the effort to attract more readers to SF and Fantasy. We will continue to publish a wide range of authors from across the spectrum of both genres with a common purpose: to reach the widest possible readership for each. I’m thrilled that we have this opportunity to increase the size of both lists over the coming years.”
Orbit is also expanding its publishing teams. In the US, it is currently hiring an additional editor, and will be making further appointments in due course. In the UK, Bella Pagan has been promoted to Commissioning Editor, and Marketing Executive Samantha Smith has taken on a number of editorial responsibilities. Darren Turpin has also joined the imprint as an additional Marketing Executive, focusing on online marketing campaigns.
Tim Holman said: “Key to our future plans is the ongoing collaboration between our publishing teams in the US and the UK, as well as Australia, where Hachette Australia will start to publish SFF titles under the Orbit imprint later this year. We will continue to work closely together, not just on individual publishing plans for shared authors, such as bestsellers Iain M. Banks and Trudi Canavan, but also on our general publishing strategy.”
In related Orbit news, Jeff Somers new Avery Cates novel “The Digital Plague” is officially released today, and in support of the new book, Jeff has scripted another ARG-inspired puzzle. This one takes place on a messageboard where citizens of Old New York are coming to grips with the plague that’s taking over the city. Even readers who aren’t up for solving the puzzles can get a kick out of this extension of the book’s universe – with topics like “Augments: A place to discuss legal bodily augmentation” and “Elective Surgeries: A place to discuss the newest surgical techniques to extend lifespans, restore youthfulness, and defeat disease.” I actually just finished reading / reviewing “The Digital Plague” myself and enjoyed it very much, so look out for that sometime in the next several days :)
Over at PS Publishing, things are staying busy with a number of great books now available for order including the following, most of which come in two different editions (click on the links):Ramsey Campbell — “Thieving Fear”
Nancy Jane Moore — “Conscientious Inconsistencies”
Chris Evans — “Omega”
Lawrence Block — “Random Walk”
David Herter — “The Luminous Depths”
Jeff VanderMeer — “The Situation”
Steve Jones — “Basil Copper: A Life in Books”
Zoran Zivkovic — “The Last Book”
As a special offer, if you order six or more of the eight titles mentioned above, then you’ll receive either a free jacketed novella hardcover or a free unjacketed 'big book' or hardcover POSTSCRIPTS! Pretty cool. Also, the future is looking mighty bright with forthcoming releases from Ian MacLeod's The Song of Time, POSTSCRIPTS # 14, Matt Hughes' Template, Bob Jeschonek's Mad Scientist Meets Cannibal (SHOWCASE # 3), Ed Gorman's Cage of Night, plus several others. Including the much-heralded and long-awaited limited edition of “Return of the Crimson Guard” by Ian Cameron Esslemont…Last, but not least, Pyr Books has updated their book catalog which includes the following upcoming releases:
“Last Argument of Kings” by Joe Abercrombie. Release Date: September 2008. The end is coming. The king of the Union lies on his deathbed, the peasants revolt, and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. No one believes that the shadow of war is about to fall across the heart of the Union. Only the First of the Magi can save the world, but there are risks and no risk is more terrible, than to break the First Law… “Last Argument of Kings” is the concluding volume in The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie…
“Going Under” by Justina Robson. Release Date: September 2008. Lila Black is off with the faeries. Ever since the Quantum Bomb of 2015 things have been different; the dimensions have fused and suddenly our world is accessible to elves, demons, ghosts and elementals—and their worlds are open to us. Justina Robson’s new Quantum Gravity series combines her trademark themes of identity and reality, magic and technology, break-neck plots, a mischievous sense of fun, and a seriously sexy new heroine…
“Fast Forward 2” edited by Lou Anders. Release Date: October 2008. When Fast Forward 1 debuted in February 2007, it was met with a huge outpouring of excitement and approbation from the science fiction community. Now the critically-acclaimed, groundbreaking series continues, featuring all new stories from some of the field's best writers: Paul Cornell, Kay Kenyon, Chris Nakashima-Brown, Nancy Kress, Cory Doctorow and Benjamin Rosenbaum, Ian McDonald, Mike Resnick and Pat Cadigan, and more…
“The Stormcaller” by Tom Lloyd. Release Date: October 2008. In a land ruled by prophecy and the whims of gods, a young man finds himself at the heart of a war he barely understands, wielding powers he may never be able to control. Isak is a white-eye, created by the gods to bring order out of chaos, and are born bigger, more charismatic, and more powerful than normal men. Is the first book in a powerful new series that combines inspired world-building, epoch-shattering battles, and high emotion to dazzling effect...
“Starship Rebel” by Mike Resnick. Release Date: December 2008. Almost a year has passed since the events of “Starship: Mercenary”. Captain Wilson Cole now commands a fleet of almost fifty ships, and he has become the single greatest military force on the Inner Frontier. Then an incident occurs that changes everything, and Cole declares war on the Republic. It's a hopeless cause...but that's just what Wilson Cole and the Teddy R. are best at… Mike is also the author of “Stalking the Vampire” (on sale August 2008).
“End of the Century” by Chris Roberson. Release Date: January 2009. Three people. Three eras. One city. Endless possibilities. Chris Roberson’s “End of the Century” is a novel of the distant past, the unimaginable future, and the search for the Holy Grail. Set in the city of London, the narrative is interlaced between three ages, in which a disparate group of heroes, criminals, runaways, and lunatics are drawn into the greatest quest of all time. And lurking behind it all is the entity known only as Omega…
“City without End” by Kay Kenyon. Release Date: February 2009. Reviewers have called Kay Kenyon's Entire “a grand world,” “an enormous stage,” and “a bravura concept.” On this stage unfolds a mighty struggle for dominance between two universes. In the middle of it all is Titus Quinn, his estranged daughter in the fabled Rim City encircling the heart of the Entire, and the beautiful and resourceful Ji Anzi who—sent on a journey to other realms—holds the key to Quinn’s heart and his overarching mission…
“Cyberabad Days” by Ian McDonald. Release Date: February 2009. “Cyberabad Days” is a triumphant return to India 2047, a new superpower of one and a half billion people in an age of AIs, climate-change induced drought, water wars, strange new genders, genetically improved children that age at half the rate, and a population where males outnumber females four to one. This new collection of eight stories contains one Hugo nominee, one Hugo winner, and a twenty-five thousand word original novella…
3:19 PM | 
Posted by
Robert |
Official Stephen Hunt WebsiteOrder “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s REVIEW of “The Court of the Air”
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s INTERVIEW with Stephen Hunt
AUTHOR INFORMATION: After attaining a BA in Marketing, Stephen Hunt pursued a career in publishing, which included employment by various newspapers and magazines. Stephen now writes part-time while working for an investment banking house. His bibliography includes several short stories, the out-of-print novel “For the Crown and the Dragon”—winner of the WH Smith New Talent Award—and “The Court of the Air”, which shares the same setting as the author’s new book “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”. Stephen is also the founder of the fan-run science fiction & fantasy website SF Crowsnest.
PLOT SUMMARY: Professor Amelia Harsh is obsessed with finding the lost civilization of Camlantis, a legendary city from pre-history that is said to have conquered hunger, war and disease with the creation of a perfect pacifist society. But when she returns home to Jackals from her latest archaeological misadventure she finds that the university council has stripped her of her position in retaliation for her heretical research.
Without official funding, Amelia has no choice but to accept the offer of patronage from the man she blames for her father's bankruptcy and suicide: Abraham Quest, said to be the cleverest and richest person in all of Middlesteel. Quest has found evidence that suggests the Camlantean ruins are buried under one of the sea-like lakes that dot the murderous jungles of Liongeli. So with the help of her old friend Commodore Black, an untrustworthy crew of freed convicts, Quest's force of fiercesome female mercenaries, and a lunatic steamman safari hunter acting as their guide, Amelia undertakes an expedition deep into the dark heart of the jungle.
Meanwhile, Furnace-breath Nick—the scourge of Quatérshift—and his manservant, the exiled lashlite Septimoth, are diverted from their mission of revenge against the Commonshare by an intriguing mystery involving the world’s greatest mechomancer Jules Robur, steammen grave-robbing, the Court of the Air, Abraham Quest, and lashlite prophecy. But what they discover is more horrific than anyone could imagine, for Amelia’s quest for utopia will mean the destruction of the world…
CLASSIFICATION: “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is set in the same Victorian-influenced world as its predecessor, but where “The Court of the Air” strongly evoked Charles Dickens, the new novel seems inspired more by Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs and such contemporary heroes as Indiana Jones and Lara Croft of Tomb Raider fame. In addition, steampunk remains a prominent element of the book as well as blending together magic, technology and pulp-like adventure, and is recommended for fans of science fiction/fantasy amalgamations, pulp magazines, and Final Fantasy…
FORMAT/INFO: Page count is 560 pages, divided over 24 chapters. Narration is in the third-person and alternates via a large cast of characters including the two protagonists Amelia Harsh and Furnace-breath Nick as well as various supporting players: Abraham Quest, Jared Black, Septimoth, Damson Beeton, etc. Plot is self-contained like “The Court of the Air”, but chronologically takes place a few years later and is riddled with references to the first book. Namely Molly Templar, Coppertracks, Benjamin Carl, Harry Stave, a Hexmachina, the Commonshare uprising, and Jared Black who plays a much bigger role in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”. And let’s not forget that Amelia was briefly mentioned in “The Court of the Air” :)
May 6, 2008 marks the UK-only (HarperVoyager) hardcover publication for “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”, followed by the paperback release October 2008. As of now, US publication is TBD, but with “The Court of the Air” scheduled for US release June 10, 2008 thanks to Tor, I expect “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” to hit stateside stores sometime in 2009.
ANALYSIS: One of the main reasons why I loved “The Court of the Air” so much was the setting, which reimagines the classic Victorian/steampunk milieu—and various science fiction/fantasy tropes—into a world that is at once familiar, yet astonishingly original. Like for instance Steammen, a race of robots that are not only sentient, but possess their own feelings, souls, and gods that they worship. In “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”, that wild imagination is alive and kicking, as Stephen takes readers far beyond the Kingdom of Jackals into unexplored lands and inhabitants. Of particular interest is Camlantis—an obvious nod to Atlantis—a perfect society of pacifism and super-science that was lost to history so long ago that its ruins, a floating city in the sky, is considered nothing more but myth. Liongeli meanwhile, a cross between the Lost World and the Congo, is not only home to such prehistoric terrors as tauntoraptors and the mighty kilasaurus max, but also the Daggish—an ancient hive mind that assimilates all animals and vegetation within its reach into a single symbiosis known as the greenmesh—and the siltempters, corrupted steammen. Additionally, readers will also learn about Catosians, free company fighters who revere the drug shine that stimulates muscle-growth; lashlites—flying reptilian creatures that consume their dead and possess a third eye that helps them see the future—and many other strange & wonderful concepts. A warning though. While much of the world is a reimagining of recognizable tropes and ideas, there is so much information to process, that at times it can be a little overwhelming.
Characterization in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is about the same as it was in “The Court of the Air”, meaning the characters aren’t blessed with great depth: Amelia’s passion for discovering Camlantis stems from her father; Furnace-breath Nick’s need for vengeance is because of the loss of his family; the same with Septimoth; and Abraham Quest’s desire for a utopian society dates back to his wretched childhood. In other words, there’s not much more to the characters that what readers are given initially, but it’s not like Amelia and company are one-dimensional stick-figures. They possess personalities and motives, sometimes conflicting; are likeable—enough so that you care when someone is killed, which happens quite often; and do a capable job of driving the story. Plus, the secondary players are once again fascinating including Ironflanks, Billy Snow, Damson Beeton, and my personal favorite, Commodore Black :)
Story-wise, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is even more exciting and entertaining than its predecessor. Part of it is the plot itself which is more ambitious weaving together an archeological quest with royalist / parliamentary / Commonshare politics, intrigue, philosophy, and a doomsday subplot, but much of the improvement has to be attributed to the author. Basically, Stephen has just written a better book, including dynamic pacing and firm plotting to go with an already excellent imagination and a deft ability for composing heart-pounding action. I will say though that the story suffers a bit when the different plotlines converge into one and the novel heads into the home stretch, not unlike “The Court of the Air”, but otherwise, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is just immense fun.
CONCLUSION: In my mind, “The Court of the Air” was one of the best speculative fiction novels released in 2007, and even though my expectations were exceedingly high, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” exceeded them. The writing was stronger, the story delivered even greater thrills and adventure, and the characters—while lacking in certain areas—were still more compelling than the protagonists from “The Court of the Air”, all this while retaining the magic, creativity and novelty of the first book…
BONUS FEATURE — Stephen Hunt Author Q&A:
Q: Personally, I thought “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” was better written, more exciting, and just more fun to read than its predecessor “The Court of the Air”. Was writing the new book easier or harder than the first Jackelian novel, and how do you think “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” compares to “The Court of the Air”?
Stephen: Well, "The Court of the Air" is a more epic, sweeping work, whereas "The Kingdom Beyond the Waves" is a more self-contained book, and probably all the tighter for it. I didn't notice much difference between either book in terms of author experience, however. They both flowed well and were a joy to write. I've never really subscribed to the writing as painful art theory, though. I tend to try to write what I prefer to read - cracking good page-turners.
Q: One of the major themes in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is the quest for a perfect society. In your opinion, why is this such a popular concept in fiction, and will our world ever be ready for a utopia?
Stephen: Would that it were just fiction. One of the problems with the world is that rulers keep on trying to impose their one-size-fits-all, year-zero crackpot models on society - whether it be communism, fascism, some fanatical religious movement or a survivalist retreat. Utopias are a popular concept in literature because the writer can impose their perfect little order on their created world, without any of the myriad difficulties of doing it in real life - like difficult people and their many differences. Readers like them because we love the fiction that such a thing might be possible.
But caveat emptor, dear reader. Whenever true believers are coming at you with an 'ism' they're taking far too seriously, you know the slaughter of heretics is following close in their shadow.
Q: Like “The Court of the Air”, many of the characters, places and ideas in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” are derived from the Victorian/steampunk era or other recognizable science fiction/fantasy tropes. What kind of research did you put into the novel, and how much of it is imagination?
Stephen: I would say 60% imagination, 40% research. I've blended Georgian and Victorian society for the Kingdom of Jackals. A lot of the slang used in both books is genuine period. Assassins really were called 'toppers', policemen really were called 'crushers'.
My Jackelian capital's underground transport system using vacuum tunnels - 'the Middlesteel atmospheric' - was based on a prototype that was being tested in the 1840s, but never actually made it into full production. There was also a real patent for rubber pneumatic high-rise towers with a water-based skeleton. There's a lot of fantasy in history, just begging to be mined, and I've got my trusty pickaxe handy.
Q: Interesting. As far as the characters, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” features a healthy mix of new and returning faces. Of the new characters, who were your favorites?
Stephen: I think that would have to be Cornelius and Septimoth. After all, a clockwork cyborg vigilante and his half-lizard man sidekick, escaped from a foreign concentration camp and both functioning only for revenge. What's not to like?
Q: Recently you signed a second Three-Book deal with HarperCollins Voyager for more novels set in the Jackelian milieu. Obviously the publisher must have a lot of confidence in you and this world that you’ve created, but what do you find appealing about the Kingdom of the Jackals? Also, could you give us an update on the next Jackelian adventures?
Stephen: For me, the Jackelian world is my 'Trigan Empire' - Don Lawrence's classic science fiction/fantasy adventures that appeared in the mid-1960s in comic-book form in the UK. An infinitely expandable world where you paint great multi-coloured panoramas of adventure and squeeze just about any story, people or narrative into a coherent nearly-believable whole. It's one of the reasons why I've avoided that old fantasy trope, 'the map', at the start of the book. As soon as you fix your world in size, you diminish it.
I've handed in my third Jackelian world book and just received it back with minor edits from HarperCollins for me to clean up. There's no title agreed yet, but it features the invasion of the Kingdom of Jackals from the north by a mysterious enemy called the Army of Shadows, who everyone mistakes at first for a very successful bunch of polar barbarians. If there's a deeper message than just a stonking good adventure story to the book, it's asking the question, how much can we consume before we harm our world and ourselves? That bloke what tried to become US President last time around did some slides on it, or something. Molly and Oliver are back in this novel, along with most of the original crew that survived the first book!
I'm currently working on book four, too, about a fifth of the book in. It's a murder mystery set on the volcanic island of Jago, slap-bang in the middle of the Fire Sea. Jago is an underground civilization that used flash steam-powered systems to survive the ice age, having been colonised by Jackelian refugees from the continent about a thousand years prior. They still have a form of electricity working, and their transaction engine rooms (computers) are valve-based, so are orders of power above the steam-powered ones back in the kingdom. They're a dying society, though...as Jago is really only the kind of place you'd want to live if you *had* to hole up to survive an ice age. Now the rest of the world has returned back to springtime, they've been suffering population fall from emigration for centuries. Once Jago was the last shining light of civilization, now they're a faded, sad nation, running to ruin.
Book five is a war story between the Kingdom of Jackals and their neighbours to the south, Cassarabia. It's been brewing over the last few books and it's time to sort out who's top dog. There should be some good airship-on-airship action in this one, let me tell you! Fans of Hornblower and the like should be very pleased.
Book six is a tale of intrigue which will feature the native Jackelian secret service, a rather dowdy, cheap, dirty-fighting organisation which has long laboured in the shadows of the far more glamorous Court of the Air. Unfortunately, they find themselves having to save Jackals with only their wits and a very poorly funded pension scheme backing their efforts.
All six novels are self-contained, and the one common character who will appear in all of them is Commodore Black.
Q: On June 10, 2008, “The Court of the Air” will finally hit US shelves. Are you excited/anxious about this release and how it will do in the United States, and what do you think about Tor publishing your novel?
Stephen: I'm very happy to be hitting the USA, and even happier to be in the hands of Tor. They really understand the SFF market and - in the argot of the US military - Tor seems to have established full-spectrum dominance over the theatre of operations out there in the home market for my chosen genre.
As to how I feel, kind of like the Beatles before arriving in JFK. I've had nothing but badgering for the last twelve months from US readers unhappy they haven't been able to buy the book locally. Now's their chance!
Q: Back in February, “The Court of the Air” was one of only ten novels—and the only one of speculative fiction—to be presented at the Berlin International Film Festival. What kind of experience was that and did anything come out of it?
Stephen: I'm sworn to secrecy on this one. Suffice it to say that Hollywood moves at its own pace and on its own terms, and there's many a slip twix a cup and a lip on the journey. Even being optioned by a Spielberg, Lucas or a Jackson doesn't mean a whole lot until the popcorn is actually being served and the unfeasibly tall bloke annoyingly plonks himself down in front of your seat.
It was very flattering to be the only fantasy novel pitched to the great and the good at the world's largest film festival, though. Sean Connery would make a very good king of Jackals. Sean, you listening? Come to think of it, how about Harrison Ford as Harry Stave?
Q: Lastly, Richard Morgan’s article HERE about science fiction/fantasy readership/criticisms created quite a furor. What are your thoughts on the subject?
Stephen: Ah, Richard, Richard, we feel your pain. It's an interesting, intelligent piece and Richard makes some valid points, plus I think many a professional SFF author will privately wince and, in our dark times, understand exactly how he feels. I suspect part of his muscularity of feeling comes from arriving late to the fan with a capital 'F' party, though. The fandom he describes and is reacting against has been acting pretty much exactly as described since the 1930s. Fans come up and agree with you by disagreeing with you, it's like shaking hands and slapping backs.
They're a very vocal minority, but they shouldn't be confused with your real readership - an author's sales numbers come from fans with a small 'f'. People who kind of dig SFF novels and movies, who play Halo on their Xbox, but will never go to a Con, and probably think Filk is a really bad bovine illness.
A Hugo can be swung by an actively voting population of less people than can squeeze into my local McDonalds, and the people who really vote for my work do so with little slips of paper bearing Her Majesty's head on them (shortly, said ballot to be widened to include illustrations of US Presidents).
I have to say, though, I do possess very catholic reading tastes - and I have never understood the mentality of fans who say they'll only ever read SF but never fantasy, or vice versa. Dude, it's the same beast. Science fiction is a root sub-genre of fantasy, after all. After the Emperor's clothes have been ripped off, science fiction is usually just fantasy with some cribbed notes from Nature magazine and Scientific American on quantum tunnelling and genetic engineering thrown into the mix. I used to work for Nature magazine - having set up Nature.com for them - I know these things, trust me.
There. All genre arguments settled!
The King of the Jackelians has spoken.
PLOT SUMMARY: Professor Amelia Harsh is obsessed with finding the lost civilization of Camlantis, a legendary city from pre-history that is said to have conquered hunger, war and disease with the creation of a perfect pacifist society. But when she returns home to Jackals from her latest archaeological misadventure she finds that the university council has stripped her of her position in retaliation for her heretical research.
Without official funding, Amelia has no choice but to accept the offer of patronage from the man she blames for her father's bankruptcy and suicide: Abraham Quest, said to be the cleverest and richest person in all of Middlesteel. Quest has found evidence that suggests the Camlantean ruins are buried under one of the sea-like lakes that dot the murderous jungles of Liongeli. So with the help of her old friend Commodore Black, an untrustworthy crew of freed convicts, Quest's force of fiercesome female mercenaries, and a lunatic steamman safari hunter acting as their guide, Amelia undertakes an expedition deep into the dark heart of the jungle.
Meanwhile, Furnace-breath Nick—the scourge of Quatérshift—and his manservant, the exiled lashlite Septimoth, are diverted from their mission of revenge against the Commonshare by an intriguing mystery involving the world’s greatest mechomancer Jules Robur, steammen grave-robbing, the Court of the Air, Abraham Quest, and lashlite prophecy. But what they discover is more horrific than anyone could imagine, for Amelia’s quest for utopia will mean the destruction of the world…
CLASSIFICATION: “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is set in the same Victorian-influenced world as its predecessor, but where “The Court of the Air” strongly evoked Charles Dickens, the new novel seems inspired more by Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs and such contemporary heroes as Indiana Jones and Lara Croft of Tomb Raider fame. In addition, steampunk remains a prominent element of the book as well as blending together magic, technology and pulp-like adventure, and is recommended for fans of science fiction/fantasy amalgamations, pulp magazines, and Final Fantasy…
FORMAT/INFO: Page count is 560 pages, divided over 24 chapters. Narration is in the third-person and alternates via a large cast of characters including the two protagonists Amelia Harsh and Furnace-breath Nick as well as various supporting players: Abraham Quest, Jared Black, Septimoth, Damson Beeton, etc. Plot is self-contained like “The Court of the Air”, but chronologically takes place a few years later and is riddled with references to the first book. Namely Molly Templar, Coppertracks, Benjamin Carl, Harry Stave, a Hexmachina, the Commonshare uprising, and Jared Black who plays a much bigger role in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”. And let’s not forget that Amelia was briefly mentioned in “The Court of the Air” :)
May 6, 2008 marks the UK-only (HarperVoyager) hardcover publication for “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”, followed by the paperback release October 2008. As of now, US publication is TBD, but with “The Court of the Air” scheduled for US release June 10, 2008 thanks to Tor, I expect “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” to hit stateside stores sometime in 2009.
ANALYSIS: One of the main reasons why I loved “The Court of the Air” so much was the setting, which reimagines the classic Victorian/steampunk milieu—and various science fiction/fantasy tropes—into a world that is at once familiar, yet astonishingly original. Like for instance Steammen, a race of robots that are not only sentient, but possess their own feelings, souls, and gods that they worship. In “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves”, that wild imagination is alive and kicking, as Stephen takes readers far beyond the Kingdom of Jackals into unexplored lands and inhabitants. Of particular interest is Camlantis—an obvious nod to Atlantis—a perfect society of pacifism and super-science that was lost to history so long ago that its ruins, a floating city in the sky, is considered nothing more but myth. Liongeli meanwhile, a cross between the Lost World and the Congo, is not only home to such prehistoric terrors as tauntoraptors and the mighty kilasaurus max, but also the Daggish—an ancient hive mind that assimilates all animals and vegetation within its reach into a single symbiosis known as the greenmesh—and the siltempters, corrupted steammen. Additionally, readers will also learn about Catosians, free company fighters who revere the drug shine that stimulates muscle-growth; lashlites—flying reptilian creatures that consume their dead and possess a third eye that helps them see the future—and many other strange & wonderful concepts. A warning though. While much of the world is a reimagining of recognizable tropes and ideas, there is so much information to process, that at times it can be a little overwhelming.
Characterization in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is about the same as it was in “The Court of the Air”, meaning the characters aren’t blessed with great depth: Amelia’s passion for discovering Camlantis stems from her father; Furnace-breath Nick’s need for vengeance is because of the loss of his family; the same with Septimoth; and Abraham Quest’s desire for a utopian society dates back to his wretched childhood. In other words, there’s not much more to the characters that what readers are given initially, but it’s not like Amelia and company are one-dimensional stick-figures. They possess personalities and motives, sometimes conflicting; are likeable—enough so that you care when someone is killed, which happens quite often; and do a capable job of driving the story. Plus, the secondary players are once again fascinating including Ironflanks, Billy Snow, Damson Beeton, and my personal favorite, Commodore Black :)
Story-wise, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is even more exciting and entertaining than its predecessor. Part of it is the plot itself which is more ambitious weaving together an archeological quest with royalist / parliamentary / Commonshare politics, intrigue, philosophy, and a doomsday subplot, but much of the improvement has to be attributed to the author. Basically, Stephen has just written a better book, including dynamic pacing and firm plotting to go with an already excellent imagination and a deft ability for composing heart-pounding action. I will say though that the story suffers a bit when the different plotlines converge into one and the novel heads into the home stretch, not unlike “The Court of the Air”, but otherwise, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is just immense fun.
CONCLUSION: In my mind, “The Court of the Air” was one of the best speculative fiction novels released in 2007, and even though my expectations were exceedingly high, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” exceeded them. The writing was stronger, the story delivered even greater thrills and adventure, and the characters—while lacking in certain areas—were still more compelling than the protagonists from “The Court of the Air”, all this while retaining the magic, creativity and novelty of the first book…
BONUS FEATURE — Stephen Hunt Author Q&A:
Q: Personally, I thought “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” was better written, more exciting, and just more fun to read than its predecessor “The Court of the Air”. Was writing the new book easier or harder than the first Jackelian novel, and how do you think “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” compares to “The Court of the Air”?Stephen: Well, "The Court of the Air" is a more epic, sweeping work, whereas "The Kingdom Beyond the Waves" is a more self-contained book, and probably all the tighter for it. I didn't notice much difference between either book in terms of author experience, however. They both flowed well and were a joy to write. I've never really subscribed to the writing as painful art theory, though. I tend to try to write what I prefer to read - cracking good page-turners.
Q: One of the major themes in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” is the quest for a perfect society. In your opinion, why is this such a popular concept in fiction, and will our world ever be ready for a utopia?
Stephen: Would that it were just fiction. One of the problems with the world is that rulers keep on trying to impose their one-size-fits-all, year-zero crackpot models on society - whether it be communism, fascism, some fanatical religious movement or a survivalist retreat. Utopias are a popular concept in literature because the writer can impose their perfect little order on their created world, without any of the myriad difficulties of doing it in real life - like difficult people and their many differences. Readers like them because we love the fiction that such a thing might be possible.
But caveat emptor, dear reader. Whenever true believers are coming at you with an 'ism' they're taking far too seriously, you know the slaughter of heretics is following close in their shadow.
Q: Like “The Court of the Air”, many of the characters, places and ideas in “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” are derived from the Victorian/steampunk era or other recognizable science fiction/fantasy tropes. What kind of research did you put into the novel, and how much of it is imagination?
Stephen: I would say 60% imagination, 40% research. I've blended Georgian and Victorian society for the Kingdom of Jackals. A lot of the slang used in both books is genuine period. Assassins really were called 'toppers', policemen really were called 'crushers'.My Jackelian capital's underground transport system using vacuum tunnels - 'the Middlesteel atmospheric' - was based on a prototype that was being tested in the 1840s, but never actually made it into full production. There was also a real patent for rubber pneumatic high-rise towers with a water-based skeleton. There's a lot of fantasy in history, just begging to be mined, and I've got my trusty pickaxe handy.
Q: Interesting. As far as the characters, “The Kingdom Beyond the Waves” features a healthy mix of new and returning faces. Of the new characters, who were your favorites?
Stephen: I think that would have to be Cornelius and Septimoth. After all, a clockwork cyborg vigilante and his half-lizard man sidekick, escaped from a foreign concentration camp and both functioning only for revenge. What's not to like?
Q: Recently you signed a second Three-Book deal with HarperCollins Voyager for more novels set in the Jackelian milieu. Obviously the publisher must have a lot of confidence in you and this world that you’ve created, but what do you find appealing about the Kingdom of the Jackals? Also, could you give us an update on the next Jackelian adventures?
Stephen: For me, the Jackelian world is my 'Trigan Empire' - Don Lawrence's classic science fiction/fantasy adventures that appeared in the mid-1960s in comic-book form in the UK. An infinitely expandable world where you paint great multi-coloured panoramas of adventure and squeeze just about any story, people or narrative into a coherent nearly-believable whole. It's one of the reasons why I've avoided that old fantasy trope, 'the map', at the start of the book. As soon as you fix your world in size, you diminish it.
I've handed in my third Jackelian world book and just received it back with minor edits from HarperCollins for me to clean up. There's no title agreed yet, but it features the invasion of the Kingdom of Jackals from the north by a mysterious enemy called the Army of Shadows, who everyone mistakes at first for a very successful bunch of polar barbarians. If there's a deeper message than just a stonking good adventure story to the book, it's asking the question, how much can we consume before we harm our world and ourselves? That bloke what tried to become US President last time around did some slides on it, or something. Molly and Oliver are back in this novel, along with most of the original crew that survived the first book!
I'm currently working on book four, too, about a fifth of the book in. It's a murder mystery set on the volcanic island of Jago, slap-bang in the middle of the Fire Sea. Jago is an underground civilization that used flash steam-powered systems to survive the ice age, having been colonised by Jackelian refugees from the continent about a thousand years prior. They still have a form of electricity working, and their transaction engine rooms (computers) are valve-based, so are orders of power above the steam-powered ones back in the kingdom. They're a dying society, though...as Jago is really only the kind of place you'd want to live if you *had* to hole up to survive an ice age. Now the rest of the world has returned back to springtime, they've been suffering population fall from emigration for centuries. Once Jago was the last shining light of civilization, now they're a faded, sad nation, running to ruin.
Book five is a war story between the Kingdom of Jackals and their neighbours to the south, Cassarabia. It's been brewing over the last few books and it's time to sort out who's top dog. There should be some good airship-on-airship action in this one, let me tell you! Fans of Hornblower and the like should be very pleased.
Book six is a tale of intrigue which will feature the native Jackelian secret service, a rather dowdy, cheap, dirty-fighting organisation which has long laboured in the shadows of the far more glamorous Court of the Air. Unfortunately, they find themselves having to save Jackals with only their wits and a very poorly funded pension scheme backing their efforts.
All six novels are self-contained, and the one common character who will appear in all of them is Commodore Black.
Q: On June 10, 2008, “The Court of the Air” will finally hit US shelves. Are you excited/anxious about this release and how it will do in the United States, and what do you think about Tor publishing your novel?Stephen: I'm very happy to be hitting the USA, and even happier to be in the hands of Tor. They really understand the SFF market and - in the argot of the US military - Tor seems to have established full-spectrum dominance over the theatre of operations out there in the home market for my chosen genre.
As to how I feel, kind of like the Beatles before arriving in JFK. I've had nothing but badgering for the last twelve months from US readers unhappy they haven't been able to buy the book locally. Now's their chance!
Q: Back in February, “The Court of the Air” was one of only ten novels—and the only one of speculative fiction—to be presented at the Berlin International Film Festival. What kind of experience was that and did anything come out of it?
Stephen: I'm sworn to secrecy on this one. Suffice it to say that Hollywood moves at its own pace and on its own terms, and there's many a slip twix a cup and a lip on the journey. Even being optioned by a Spielberg, Lucas or a Jackson doesn't mean a whole lot until the popcorn is actually being served and the unfeasibly tall bloke annoyingly plonks himself down in front of your seat.
It was very flattering to be the only fantasy novel pitched to the great and the good at the world's largest film festival, though. Sean Connery would make a very good king of Jackals. Sean, you listening? Come to think of it, how about Harrison Ford as Harry Stave?
Q: Lastly, Richard Morgan’s article HERE about science fiction/fantasy readership/criticisms created quite a furor. What are your thoughts on the subject?
Stephen: Ah, Richard, Richard, we feel your pain. It's an interesting, intelligent piece and Richard makes some valid points, plus I think many a professional SFF author will privately wince and, in our dark times, understand exactly how he feels. I suspect part of his muscularity of feeling comes from arriving late to the fan with a capital 'F' party, though. The fandom he describes and is reacting against has been acting pretty much exactly as described since the 1930s. F
They're a very vocal minority, but they shouldn't be confused with your real readership - an author's sales numbers come from fans with a small 'f'. People who kind of dig SFF novels and movies, who play Halo on their Xbox, but will never go to a Con, and probably think Filk is a really bad bovine illness.
A Hugo can be swung by an actively voting population of less people than can squeeze into my local McDonalds, and the people who really vote for my work do so with little slips of paper bearing Her Majesty's head on them (shortly, said ballot to be widened to include illustrations of US Presidents).
I have to say, though, I do possess very catholic reading tastes - and I have never understood the mentality of fans who say they'll only ever read SF but never fantasy, or vice versa. Dude, it's the same beast. Science fiction is a root sub-genre of fantasy, after all. After the Emperor's clothes have been ripped off, science fiction is usually just fantasy with some cribbed notes from Nature magazine and Scientific American on quantum tunnelling and genetic engineering thrown into the mix. I used to work for Nature magazine - having set up Nature.com for them - I know these things, trust me.
There. All genre arguments settled!
The King of the Jackelians has spoken.
Read Reviews of “The Last Wish” via FantasyBookSpot, OF Blog of the Fallen + The Wertzone
If you’ve been following any science fiction/fantasy book blogs over the past year or so, you might have heard of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, creator of the extremely popular Witcher series which has thus far spawned a movie, a television series, a role-playing game, a comic book series, and The Witcher video game. Just last year, the first of these Witcher books—a short story collection titled “The Last Wish”—was translated into English and released by Gollancz for UK readers. Now thanks to Orbit Books, American readers can finally discover for themselves what all the hype is about…
As previously mentioned, “The Last Wish” is a collection of short stories—six to be exact—that feature Geralt, the white-haired witcher of Rivian. A witcher is apparently a special kind of monster hunter who undergoes mutations—through hormones, herbs, viral infections and the Trial of Grasses—to enhance their physical abilities, including unnatural recuperative properties; they can also perform sorcery and are extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, there’s not much more to say about a witcher, or Geralt in particular, because there’s very little information revealed, so let’s move on to the individual stories:
1) “The Witcher”. In this opening short story we get to meet Geralt for the first time as he’s answering a proclamation to hunt down a monster, specifically a striga. But there’s a problem. You see the striga is actually the king’s daughter and he doesn’t want her dead, but the curse broken which is a significantly more difficult task. Complicating matters even further are a group of wise men who, for political matters, want the princess killed… Overall, “The Witcher” is a memorable introduction to Geralt, his profession, and the world he inhabits. A world that seems to be an amalgamation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, peopled by nobles, knights, peasantry, elves, dwarves, and every monster imaginable—basilisks, dragons, vodniks, kobolds, spriggans, vampires, werewolves, manticores, wyverns, foglers, aeschnas, ilyocoris, kikimoras, chimeras, ghouls, vyppers, et cetera.
2) “A Grain of Truth”. Geralt stumbles upon a couple of corpses in the forest and decides to investigate. What he discovers is a manor house lorded over by a monster. Or is it? Like “The Witcher”, everything is not quite as it seems and the true monster is yet to be revealed… In this short, readers get a greater glimpse at the satirical humor that permeates much of Sapkowski’s work in this collection, including the author’s twisting of fairy tale conventions, which in this case seems to be Beauty and the Beast.
3) “The Lesser Evil”. One of my favorites, “The Lesser Evil” finds Geralt meeting up with an old acquaintance—the wizard Stregobor—who is being hunted by a cursed mutant that is impervious to magic and kills for pleasure… What’s interesting about this short is its philosophical take on the nature of evil, but personally I just loved the darker vibe of the story, especially its grim ending…
4) “A Question of Price”. Another standout, Geralt attends a banquet disguised as a noble. Why the need for subterfuge and what he’s being hired for is all part of the mystery, but it involves a princess, an alliance between two nations, and the Law of Surprise which states that a man who saves another can demand a seemingly impossible wish… Full of shocks and surprises, “A Question of Price” is clever and fun.
5) “The Edge of the World”. Joining Geralt on this adventure is Dandelion, a poet and troubadour whose interactions with the witcher are comical to say the least. As a result, “The Edge of the World” is one of the more humorous stories in the collection :) The story meanwhile, follows the duo as they venture to ‘the edge of the world’ to take care of a goat-like doevel and in the process become embroiled in a conspiracy involving elves, a guide book about monsters, and a goddess…
6) “The Last Wish”. Once again featuring the poet Dandelion, this last short is another amusing and entertaining tale of monsters, magic, and mayhem. This time, the poet is severely injured by a djinn and to save him, Geralt employs the services of a powerful, but dangerous sorceress named Yennefer whose reasons for helping the witcher are questionable. Fortunately for Geralt, the witcher has a trick or two up his sleeve…
Connecting together these six short stories is a seven-part framework that opens, closes and bridges the collection. Titled “The Voice of Reason”, this framework is set in one of Melitele’s temples where the witcher is recovering from a deadly wound that was acquired at the end of “The Witcher” short story. While this framework examines Geralt’s motivations and ethics a little bit, “The Voice of Reason” basically acts as a lead-in to the six different short stories.
As a whole, I liked Andrzej Sapkowski’s “The Last Wish”, but thought it was a little overrated. I mean the concept is great. A fairy tale world that both embraces and parodies the conventions of fables is a wonderful idea. It’s like Shrek/The Princess Bride meets the Brothers Grimm meets Castlevania. I especially enjoyed such references to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, the troll under the bridge, and the genie in the bottle and how the author changes things up. Unfortunately, like a fairy tale there is very little world-building or character development in “The Last Wish”. In fact, I’ve played a number of videogames with protagonists that possess more personality and depth than Geralt does, attributes that videogame characters are not exactly known for. Stylistically, I’m just not sure what Sapkowski is trying to accomplish. Are the short stories supposed to be fairy tales? Horror? Comedy? “The Last Wish” embraces a little bit of all three and the different styles don’t always mesh so well together. In particular, I thought the humor was a little dry, but according to other reviews I’ve read, some things were lost in the translation so I won’t hold it against the book too much. In the end, Andrzej Sapkowski’s “The Last Wish” didn’t astound me, but it was certainly entertaining enough that I’ll give the next Witcher novel—“The Blood of Elves”—a look when it’s released…
As previously mentioned, “The Last Wish” is a collection of short stories—six to be exact—that feature Geralt, the white-haired witcher of Rivian. A witcher is apparently a special kind of monster hunter who undergoes mutations—through hormones, herbs, viral infections and the Trial of Grasses—to enhance their physical abilities, including unnatural recuperative properties; they can also perform sorcery and are extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, there’s not much more to say about a witcher, or Geralt in particular, because there’s very little information revealed, so let’s move on to the individual stories:
1) “The Witcher”. In this opening short story we get to meet Geralt for the first time as he’s answering a proclamation to hunt down a monster, specifically a striga. But there’s a problem. You see the striga is actually the king’s daughter and he doesn’t want her dead, but the curse broken which is a significantly more difficult task. Complicating matters even further are a group of wise men who, for political matters, want the princess killed… Overall, “The Witcher” is a memorable introduction to Geralt, his profession, and the world he inhabits. A world that seems to be an amalgamation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, peopled by nobles, knights, peasantry, elves, dwarves, and every monster imaginable—basilisks, dragons, vodniks, kobolds, spriggans, vampires, werewolves, manticores, wyverns, foglers, aeschnas, ilyocoris, kikimoras, chimeras, ghouls, vyppers, et cetera.
2) “A Grain of Truth”. Geralt stumbles upon a couple of corpses in the forest and decides to investigate. What he discovers is a manor house lorded over by a monster. Or is it? Like “The Witcher”, everything is not quite as it seems and the true monster is yet to be revealed… In this short, readers get a greater glimpse at the satirical humor that permeates much of Sapkowski’s work in this collection, including the author’s twisting of fairy tale conventions, which in this case seems to be Beauty and the Beast.
3) “The Lesser Evil”. One of my favorites, “The Lesser Evil” finds Geralt meeting up with an old acquaintance—the wizard Stregobor—who is being hunted by a cursed mutant that is impervious to magic and kills for pleasure… What’s interesting about this short is its philosophical take on the nature of evil, but personally I just loved the darker vibe of the story, especially its grim ending…
4) “A Question of Price”. Another standout, Geralt attends a banquet disguised as a noble. Why the need for subterfuge and what he’s being hired for is all part of the mystery, but it involves a princess, an alliance between two nations, and the Law of Surprise which states that a man who saves another can demand a seemingly impossible wish… Full of shocks and surprises, “A Question of Price” is clever and fun.
5) “The Edge of the World”. Joining Geralt on this adventure is Dandelion, a poet and troubadour whose interactions with the witcher are comical to say the least. As a result, “The Edge of the World” is one of the more humorous stories in the collection :) The story meanwhile, follows the duo as they venture to ‘the edge of the world’ to take care of a goat-like doevel and in the process become embroiled in a conspiracy involving elves, a guide book about monsters, and a goddess…
6) “The Last Wish”. Once again featuring the poet Dandelion, this last short is another amusing and entertaining tale of monsters, magic, and mayhem. This time, the poet is severely injured by a djinn and to save him, Geralt employs the services of a powerful, but dangerous sorceress named Yennefer whose reasons for helping the witcher are questionable. Fortunately for Geralt, the witcher has a trick or two up his sleeve…
Connecting together these six short stories is a seven-part framework that opens, closes and bridges the collection. Titled “The Voice of Reason”, this framework is set in one of Melitele’s temples where the witcher is recovering from a deadly wound that was acquired at the end of “The Witcher” short story. While this framework examines Geralt’s motivations and ethics a little bit, “The Voice of Reason” basically acts as a lead-in to the six different short stories.
As a whole, I liked Andrzej Sapkowski’s “The Last Wish”, but thought it was a little overrated. I mean the concept is great. A fairy tale world that both embraces and parodies the conventions of fables is a wonderful idea. It’s like Shrek/The Princess Bride meets the Brothers Grimm meets Castlevania. I especially enjoyed such references to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, the troll under the bridge, and the genie in the bottle and how the author changes things up. Unfortunately, like a fairy tale there is very little world-building or character development in “The Last Wish”. In fact, I’ve played a number of videogames with protagonists that possess more personality and depth than Geralt does, attributes that videogame characters are not exactly known for. Stylistically, I’m just not sure what Sapkowski is trying to accomplish. Are the short stories supposed to be fairy tales? Horror? Comedy? “The Last Wish” embraces a little bit of all three and the different styles don’t always mesh so well together. In particular, I thought the humor was a little dry, but according to other reviews I’ve read, some things were lost in the translation so I won’t hold it against the book too much. In the end, Andrzej Sapkowski’s “The Last Wish” didn’t astound me, but it was certainly entertaining enough that I’ll give the next Witcher novel—“The Blood of Elves”—a look when it’s released…
From the award-winning illustrator of such classics as The Wind in the Willows, The Wizard of Oz, The Hobbit, The Velveteen Rabbit, and the stories of Hans Christian Andersen, comes a stunning new graphic novel—Michael Hague’s first—that examines the question, “Could people survive if we were six inches tall?”
The setup is brilliantly simple. One day in September, present day, a mysterious blue light envelopes the entire world shrinking all of humanity—and just humankind—into miniature, six-inch versions of them selves. In a flash, everything changes. Technology, governments, laws, politics, money . . . everything becomes obsolete. Humans are now at the bottom of the food chain and all that matters anymore is finding food, water, shelter, and just surviving.
The story itself focuses on Bob Willow’s children Mouse and Beat. Mouse is at work with his dad in NYC when the event strikes, and, because of his premonitions, he becomes a messiah for the survivors and leads them on an epic journey in search of a haven. Beat meanwhile, is at home when the change occurs, and ends up embarking on her own quests, including rescuing children from a school and finding a ‘treasure’. Through these two stories, “In the Small” looks at how dangerous the world has suddenly become—a world where rats, dogs, cats and other small animals & insects are now a mortal threat to mankind—how resilient & resourceful human beings can be, and the darker side of humanity. It also leaves many questions unanswered like the cause of the blue light, a man who speaks with angels, and humans transforming into demons…
For a first attempt at a graphic novel, both at writing and illustrating, “In the Small” is quite impressive. For starters, the artwork is just spectacular. Featuring incredible attention to details, vibrant colors, and a knack for drawing faces that vividly express emotion, the visual side of “In the Small” more than lives up to Michael Hague’s reputation as an artist. I should note though that some of the violence is quite graphic, which is a little surprising considering the book is marketed for ‘Ages 12 and up’. As far as the writing, the story is mainly dialogue-driven with very little narration; a style I found very effective, especially since this method uses the outstanding artwork as part of the storytelling process.
Negatively, my only complaints with “In the Small” was how the story concentrates on such a small portion of the Earth—it would have been interesting to see how people in other parts of the world were handling the change—the unexpected cliffhanger at the end, and how quickly I finished the graphic novel ;) Really though, these are fairly insignificant complaints because overall, Michael Hague’s “In the Small” is beautifully illustrated, competently written, and poignantly celebrates such universal themes as life, death, love and faith. In short, it’s easy to see why the movie rights have already been acquired by Warner Bros., because if done right, “In the Small” will make an extraordinary film, just like “In the Small” is already an extraordinary graphic novel…
The setup is brilliantly simple. One day in September, present day, a mysterious blue light envelopes the entire world shrinking all of humanity—and just humankind—into miniature, six-inch versions of them selves. In a flash, everything changes. Technology, governments, laws, politics, money . . . everything becomes obsolete. Humans are now at the bottom of the food chain and all that matters anymore is finding food, water, shelter, and just surviving.
The story itself focuses on Bob Willow’s children Mouse and Beat. Mouse is at work with his dad in NYC when the event strikes, and, because of his premonitions, he becomes a messiah for the survivors and leads them on an epic journey in search of a haven. Beat meanwhile, is at home when the change occurs, and ends up embarking on her own quests, including rescuing children from a school and finding a ‘treasure’. Through these two stories, “In the Small” looks at how dangerous the world has suddenly become—a world where rats, dogs, cats and other small animals & insects are now a mortal threat to mankind—how resilient & resourceful human beings can be, and the darker side of humanity. It also leaves many questions unanswered like the cause of the blue light, a man who speaks with angels, and humans transforming into demons…
For a first attempt at a graphic novel, both at writing and illustrating, “In the Small” is quite impressive. For starters, the artwork is just spectacular. Featuring incredible attention to details, vibrant colors, and a knack for drawing faces that vividly express emotion, the visual side of “In the Small” more than lives up to Michael Hague’s reputation as an artist. I should note though that some of the violence is quite graphic, which is a little surprising considering the book is marketed for ‘Ages 12 and up’. As far as the writing, the story is mainly dialogue-driven with very little narration; a style I found very effective, especially since this method uses the outstanding artwork as part of the storytelling process.
Negatively, my only complaints with “In the Small” was how the story concentrates on such a small portion of the Earth—it would have been interesting to see how people in other parts of the world were handling the change—the unexpected cliffhanger at the end, and how quickly I finished the graphic novel ;) Really though, these are fairly insignificant complaints because overall, Michael Hague’s “In the Small” is beautifully illustrated, competently written, and poignantly celebrates such universal themes as life, death, love and faith. In short, it’s easy to see why the movie rights have already been acquired by Warner Bros., because if done right, “In the Small” will make an extraordinary film, just like “In the Small” is already an extraordinary graphic novel…
Wow! I knew that Stephenie Meyer was popular, but I just didn’t realize how popular. At 6919 entries, “The Host” is easily the most popular giveaway I’ve had on the website, and if it’s any indication, then Stephenie’s new book is going to be a runaway success :) So congratulations to Karen Gonyea (New York), Christy Dorrity (Utah), Elli Kewley (Michigan), Lindsay Clanton (Colorado) and Amanda Simancas (New York) who were all randomly selected to win a COPY of Stephenie Meyer’s new book “The Host” thanks to Hachette Book Group USA!!!
Remember, “The Host” comes out TODAY, so be sure to pick up your copy! Also, IGN has premiered the trailer for the movie adaptation of Stephenie’s wildly popular book “Twilight” HERE. I haven’t read the series myself, but the trailer looks good even if it is short :) Anyway, the film stars Kristen Stewart (Jumper, The Messengers, Panic Room) and Robert Pattinson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and will be released December 12, 2008. For more information, visit the Official Twilight the Movie Website.
On a related note, I’ve been meme’d by Kimberly from Darque Reviews :) Normally I don’t do memes, but since this one is book-related, I decided what the heck. Basically, I’m supposed to 1) Pick up the nearest book. 2) Open to page 123. 3) Find the fifth sentence. And 4) Post the next three sentences. Since the nearest book is the one I’m currently reading, which just happens to be “The Host”, I thought the meme was fitting:
“Hold it, Kyle.” Jeb’s word were slow, almost casual, but the big man stopped. He grimaced and turned to face Melanie’s uncle.
Okay, I know it’s not much, but there you have it :) Unfortunately, I won’t be tagging anyone. Btw, I’m turning THIRTY today! Man, I’m getting old…
On a related note, I’ve been meme’d by Kimberly from Darque Reviews :) Normally I don’t do memes, but since this one is book-related, I decided what the heck. Basically, I’m supposed to 1) Pick up the nearest book. 2) Open to page 123. 3) Find the fifth sentence. And 4) Post the next three sentences. Since the nearest book is the one I’m currently reading, which just happens to be “The Host”, I thought the meme was fitting:
“Hold it, Kyle.” Jeb’s word were slow, almost casual, but the big man stopped. He grimaced and turned to face Melanie’s uncle.
Okay, I know it’s not much, but there you have it :) Unfortunately, I won’t be tagging anyone. Btw, I’m turning THIRTY today! Man, I’m getting old…
Read An Excerpt HERE
First published in 2005, Alaskan-born author C.E. Murphy has already completed an action-romance trilogy (The Strongbox Chronicles) written under the pen name Cate Dermody, is three volumes—and a novella—into her Walker Papers urban fantasy series, and just recently released the second book in The Negotiator urban fantasy trilogy. Now in “The Queen’s Bastard”, part one of The Inheritor’s Cycle, C.E. Murphy takes readers back to 16th century Europe and an age of Renaissance, Reformation, and influential queens…
Widowed twice before the age of seventeen, Sandalia de Philip de Costa and her son Javier are heirs to three thrones—Lanyarch, Gallin, and Essandia—and fervent followers of the Ecumenic Church. To the north lies hated Aulun which exists under Reformation law and is ruled by Lorraine Walter, the Red Bitch. Sandalia, in conspiracy with her brother Rodrigo, prince of Essandia, seek to overthrow Lorraine and place Aulun back under Ecumenical rule. Protecting the queen against such plots is her spymaster Robert Drake, who possesses a secret weapon—their daughter Belinda Primrose:
Raised studying the blade, politics, math, languages, history and other subjects that girls are not normally taught, Belinda discovers her true purpose as an assassin at the age of twelve, and for ten years she serves Aulun magnificently. Then, in the year 1587 as plans are set in motion, Belinda is sent on her most dangerous mission yet—to Lutetia, the capital of Gallin. There she becomes Lady Beatrice Irvine, a widower without children from Lanyarch. Her goal: to insinuate herself into the graces of Prince Javier and uncover evidence of Sandalia conspiring against Aulun…
Like the time period that the book is set in, “The Queen’s Bastard” is rich, elegant and pleasing, and should appeal to fans of both historical fiction and the author Jacqueline Carey. Of the former, “The Queen’s Bastard” obviously draws from 16th century European history even though the names of peoples, places, and events have been changed—Aulun instead of England, Lorraine instead of Elizabeth, etc—and one of the book’s many pleasures is determining what is fact, and what is fiction. Additionally, Ms. Murphy does a wonderful job of rendering the Elizabethan era, authentically capturing the speech, mannerisms, and beliefs of the period’s different cultures and social classes.
Of the former, “The Queen’s Bastard” will no doubt draw many comparisons to Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series and not without reason. Like the Kushiel books, the prose is poetic and extravagant; the plot is rich with intrigue and passion; magic is kept to a minimum; characters are well-drawn & developed, led by strong female protagonists; and atmospherically, the novel just oozes with sensuality. Even the heroine is reminiscent of Phèdre nó Delaunay since Belinda uses her intelligence and other assets to achieve her goals. But for all of the similarities between “The Queen’s Bastard” and Jacqueline’s Kushiel novels, C.E. Murphy’s book definitely succeeds on its own merits.
Taking a closer look at the characters, “The Queen’s Bastard” is narrated in the third-person and rotates between Belinda—the leading role—and various supporting roles including Robert Drake, Sandalia, Prince Javier, the courtesan Ana di Meo, and Akilina Pankejeff, an ambassador of Khazar. Of everyone, Belinda is easily the most interesting character in the book and it’s not just because she’s the main protagonist. Belinda possesses many layers—the secrecy surrounding her birth parents, the loyalty she has towards Robert and her queen, her loneliness, the different personas she adopts, her suppressed ‘witchbreed’ abilities—and it is this complexity that is so fascinating. Especially when the story shifts to Gallin and these different layers come into play like adopting the persona of a noblewoman when Belinda normally plays the role of a servant or other lower-class citizen, and the dangers such a guise present. Or her loyalty being threatened by the friendships and relationships she develops as Beatrice Irvine. Or discovering that she’s not the only one with these strange witchbreed powers and learning how to control them, including reading other peoples’ thoughts & desires and cloaking herself in shadow. These are all compelling issues and a major reason why “The Queen’s Bastard” is so successful.
Another is the story. Ambitious and skillfully executed, “The Queen’s Bastard” is like a world champion chess match. The pacing is methodical, but engaging; the strategies and machinations are complex; the betrayals and revelations—think countermoves—are shocking; and the endgame is intensely exciting. In short, Ms. Murphy really knows how to tell a story and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Belinda and company in “The Pretender’s Crown”.
In closing, I really enjoyed “The Queen’s Bastard”. I thought it was well-written, the characters were engrossing, the story even more so, and as a huge fan of Jacqueline Carey, this was just my kind of book :) So it was a win-win situation. For not only was “The Queen’s Bastard” a memorable read—and one that I would strongly recommend—but the book has also convinced me to give C.E. Murphy’s other novels a shot…
Widowed twice before the age of seventeen, Sandalia de Philip de Costa and her son Javier are heirs to three thrones—Lanyarch, Gallin, and Essandia—and fervent followers of the Ecumenic Church. To the north lies hated Aulun which exists under Reformation law and is ruled by Lorraine Walter, the Red Bitch. Sandalia, in conspiracy with her brother Rodrigo, prince of Essandia, seek to overthrow Lorraine and place Aulun back under Ecumenical rule. Protecting the queen against such plots is her spymaster Robert Drake, who possesses a secret weapon—their daughter Belinda Primrose:
Raised studying the blade, politics, math, languages, history and other subjects that girls are not normally taught, Belinda discovers her true purpose as an assassin at the age of twelve, and for ten years she serves Aulun magnificently. Then, in the year 1587 as plans are set in motion, Belinda is sent on her most dangerous mission yet—to Lutetia, the capital of Gallin. There she becomes Lady Beatrice Irvine, a widower without children from Lanyarch. Her goal: to insinuate herself into the graces of Prince Javier and uncover evidence of Sandalia conspiring against Aulun…
Like the time period that the book is set in, “The Queen’s Bastard” is rich, elegant and pleasing, and should appeal to fans of both historical fiction and the author Jacqueline Carey. Of the former, “The Queen’s Bastard” obviously draws from 16th century European history even though the names of peoples, places, and events have been changed—Aulun instead of England, Lorraine instead of Elizabeth, etc—and one of the book’s many pleasures is determining what is fact, and what is fiction. Additionally, Ms. Murphy does a wonderful job of rendering the Elizabethan era, authentically capturing the speech, mannerisms, and beliefs of the period’s different cultures and social classes.
Of the former, “The Queen’s Bastard” will no doubt draw many comparisons to Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series and not without reason. Like the Kushiel books, the prose is poetic and extravagant; the plot is rich with intrigue and passion; magic is kept to a minimum; characters are well-drawn & developed, led by strong female protagonists; and atmospherically, the novel just oozes with sensuality. Even the heroine is reminiscent of Phèdre nó Delaunay since Belinda uses her intelligence and other assets to achieve her goals. But for all of the similarities between “The Queen’s Bastard” and Jacqueline’s Kushiel novels, C.E. Murphy’s book definitely succeeds on its own merits.
Taking a closer look at the characters, “The Queen’s Bastard” is narrated in the third-person and rotates between Belinda—the leading role—and various supporting roles including Robert Drake, Sandalia, Prince Javier, the courtesan Ana di Meo, and Akilina Pankejeff, an ambassador of Khazar. Of everyone, Belinda is easily the most interesting character in the book and it’s not just because she’s the main protagonist. Belinda possesses many layers—the secrecy surrounding her birth parents, the loyalty she has towards Robert and her queen, her loneliness, the different personas she adopts, her suppressed ‘witchbreed’ abilities—and it is this complexity that is so fascinating. Especially when the story shifts to Gallin and these different layers come into play like adopting the persona of a noblewoman when Belinda normally plays the role of a servant or other lower-class citizen, and the dangers such a guise present. Or her loyalty being threatened by the friendships and relationships she develops as Beatrice Irvine. Or discovering that she’s not the only one with these strange witchbreed powers and learning how to control them, including reading other peoples’ thoughts & desires and cloaking herself in shadow. These are all compelling issues and a major reason why “The Queen’s Bastard” is so successful.
Another is the story. Ambitious and skillfully executed, “The Queen’s Bastard” is like a world champion chess match. The pacing is methodical, but engaging; the strategies and machinations are complex; the betrayals and revelations—think countermoves—are shocking; and the endgame is intensely exciting. In short, Ms. Murphy really knows how to tell a story and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Belinda and company in “The Pretender’s Crown”.
In closing, I really enjoyed “The Queen’s Bastard”. I thought it was well-written, the characters were engrossing, the story even more so, and as a huge fan of Jacqueline Carey, this was just my kind of book :) So it was a win-win situation. For not only was “The Queen’s Bastard” a memorable read—and one that I would strongly recommend—but the book has also convinced me to give C.E. Murphy’s other novels a shot…
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Winners of the Alan Campbell/Deepgate Code and Pamela Freeman/Blood Ties giveaways!!!
Congratulations to Leola Hardin (Missouri), KD Morris (Kansas) and Mary Kaufmann (Alabama) who were all randomly selected to win a SET (UK Version) of the First Two Books in Alan Campbell’s The Deepgate Codex including copies of “Scar Night” and "Iron Angel”, thanks to Pan Macmillan!!! For more information, check out Fantasy Book Critic’s review of “Iron Angel” HERE and an interview with the author HERE.
Congratulations also to Lance Wallace (Missouri), Rita Melton (California) and Patricia Rupell (Pennsylvania) who were all randomly selected to win a COPY of Pamela Freeman’s first novel for adults, “Blood Ties”—Book One of The Castings Trilogy—thanks to Orbit Books!!! For more information, check out Fantasy Book Critic’s review of “Blood Ties” HERE.
Congratulations also to Lance Wallace (Missouri), Rita Melton (California) and Patricia Rupell (Pennsylvania) who were all randomly selected to win a COPY of Pamela Freeman’s first novel for adults, “Blood Ties”—Book One of The Castings Trilogy—thanks to Orbit Books!!! For more information, check out Fantasy Book Critic’s review of “Blood Ties” HERE.
2008 is shaping up to be another great year for fantasy fans, but nothing gets me more excited than discovering a brand new voice in the genre. So it is with great pleasure that I introduce readers to debut novelist Chris Evans, author of “A Darkness Forged In Fire”, Book One of The Iron Elves:
In an unforgiving world of brutal conflict—where musket and cannon, bow and arrow, magic and diplomacy are all weapons in the Calahrian Empire—there’s no denying that Konowa Swiftdragon, former commander of the Empire’s Iron Elves, could be looked upon as anything but ordinary. He’s murdered a Viceroy, been court-martialed, seen his beloved regiment disbanded, and finally been banished to the one place he despises the most—the forest. Now all he wants is to be left alone . . . but for Konowa, nothing is ever that simple.
A falling Red Star in the east heralds the return of magic long vanished from the earth, sparking a frantic race within the Empire to reach it first. Now Konowa is recalled to duty and asked to reform the Iron Elves—only the soldiers he gets aren’t quite what he was expecting. And worse, their key adversary to obtain the Star is none other than the dreaded Shadow Monarch—a legendary elf-witch whose machinations for absolute domination spread deeper than Konowa could ever imagine…
Scheduled for North American publication July 8, 2008, followed by the UK release September 1, 2008, “A Darkness Forged In Fire” is just around the corner and in promotion of the debut’s pending release, Chris has kindly taken part in what I believe to be the first online interview with the author. So readers, please enjoy the following Q&A with a fantasy author that you’ll be hearing more of in the near future:
Q: Your debut novel “A Darkness Forged In Fire: Book One of the Iron Elves” is set for North American publication July 8, 2008 via Pocket Books, followed by the UK release September 1, 2008. Before we talk about the book though, can you tell us a bit more about yourself including when you knew you wanted to be a writer, why you write, and some of your favorite authors?
Chris: I’ve been a writer since I began to read. I recall very early on being inspired by books to create my own worlds and set off on adventures that I crafted myself. Writing is something I thoroughly enjoy doing although there are times when it can be immensely frustrating, too.
I have many favorite authors, although not all of them might be familiar to fantasy readers. Terry Pratchett simply slays me. The man is genius. I swear I reinjured a rib I cracked playing hockey years ago due to laughing while reading “Going Postal”. J.K. Rowling impressed me from the start, not just with her story telling, but with her deft use of mythology and symbology. The fact that she makes it look effortless speaks volumes about her skill. George MacDonald Fraser is another favorite, as much for his Flashman series as for his nonfiction works, especially his memoir of WWII, “Quartered Safe Out Here”. Bernard Cornwell and Rudyard Kipling are always in my reading pile. Both were big inspirations for the Iron Elves series.
Q: Could you elaborate more on the journey you went through in finding a publisher, what you think of Simon & Schuster, and what you think the publisher saw in your book?
Chris: I suppose my journey really started the day I defended my Masters thesis. I went home that afternoon and started writing. That was back in 1998. I was faced with the prospect of continuing my academic career by launching into a PhD program or trying something else. I spent the next two years debating whether to pursue the PhD or not. I started writing short stories and working on a novel in between research assignments at the university. In the summer of 2000 I was accepted into the Clarion East Workshop and things really took off from there. While there I sold one short story, and another took second place in the Toronto Star Short Story Contest.
The final nail in the PhD coffin was supplied by Gavin Grant when he mentioned to me that Del Rey were looking for an editor who knew sci fi, fantasy and military nonfiction. I emailed my resume more on a lark than anything else then never thought a thing about it, until I got a phone call from Steve Saffel wanting to talk to me about the job. My thinking was that if I did get the job it would put me in the heart of New York publishing and from there I'd be able to get my writing looked at with ease. Ha! I took the job and of course became totally immersed in it and did very little writing. That state of affairs continued more or less for the next several years, even when I started my current job with Stackpole.
At some point, though, I realized that if I was ever to get a book published I needed to get serious, so I started getting up around 6am every morning and writing before work. Being an editor in the business means, in the end, absolutely nothing if you aren't writing. Most editors are closet writers, but you only get out of the closet if you do what every other writer does and put your manuscript out there. Mine was shopped around and ultimately offered a very nice deal by Pocket Books which I was thrilled to accept. Publishing is as subjective a business as it gets, so all I can really tell you is that Pocket Books liked what they read. I think they saw a voice and a style taking a bit of a different tack. S&S UK, which also bought the series, responded positively to this approach as well.
For me, S&S impressed me with their energy and their determination to expand into the field of hardcover fantasy and I was keen to be a part of that. Had I been picked up by one of the established fantasy houses my book would have been one of many, but with Pocket my book is something new, and I love the challenges that entails.
Q: So how do you plan on celebrating your first book being published?
Chris: I have no earthly idea at this point. You'd think that I would, or should, but I really haven't given it much thought. If anyone out there has ideas on how to celebrate I'm open to suggestions.
Q: As you mentioned, you work for Stackpole Books editing “military history, history and current affairs/conflicts books”. Obviously this is a little different from your epic fantasy novel, but how has your experience as an editor helped/influenced you in writing “A Darkness Forged In Fire” and what’s it like being on the other side of the fence?
Chris: There’s no question that editing military history has had a profound effect on my writing, and I hope readers will view it in a positive way. Many of the authors I’ve published have been soldiers, veterans who have been in combat, been shot at and taken lives. Their experiences are neither glamorous nor common. One single squeeze of a trigger might mean a medal, a lifetime of nightmares, or something quickly forgotten. It never ceases to amaze me just how extreme and mundane the life of a soldier is. I wanted to read that in fantasy, and save for a few exceptions I rarely did. Technically speaking, being an editor means I know how things work on the inside which means I’m potentially lethal to the process, so I’m doing my best to let Pocket Books do what they know how to do and not become too involved or second guess decisions. I just had my first signing at New York Comic Con where I signed ARCs and had a chance to chat with readers. It was the first time I was the author and not the editor standing a few feet away. A strange, but very gratifying feeling. Perhaps most enjoyable was talking to readers who genuinely wished me well, especially on hearing this was my first book. It touched me, and as the saying goes, you never forget your first time.
Q: Since “A Darkness Forged In Fire” is your first novel, what did you think was the most challenging part about writing the book? What about the easiest or most rewarding?
Chris: For me, writing begins in a wild-eyed frenzy as I struggle to make sense of an idea that’s suddenly captured my interest. Later, it becomes a calmer, more thoughtful process and there were days when I wondered when the wind would pick up and fill my sails again. Luckily, the wind never calmed for long and I was always able to quickly re-engage with the story and find something new to pull me forward. To be totally honest, “A Darkness Forged in Fire” is and isn’t my first novel. I did write something novel length before that is a rough amalgamation of words with some semblance of a narrative that one day, perhaps, will be rewritten and become a true novel, but it did serve the purpose of showing me that I could do this.
Q: So what was this amalgamation about ;)?
Chris: It was a fantasy 'evolved' into a version of the 20th century complete with science and technology and a world about to descend into global war. My thinking went something like this – if you're a human living alongside elves, and elves live for thousands of years, wouldn't you want a piece of that? And if the elves wouldn't willingly hand over their secrets, what would you do to get them? If you lived in a world of science wouldn't someone, somewhere start to delve into those mysteries? And for every scientist looking for cures, you know there would be others looking to make weapons. This would be the backdrop to a world at war, pitting races, cultures, mores, magic and science against each other. The geo-politic and scientific clashing with the thaumaturgic. In many respects that experiment lead me to this book (A Darkness Forged In Fire) which retains a much closer affinity with what we know, or at least term, as traditional fantasy.
Q: According to some of the advance blurbs that I’ve seen, “A Darkness Forged In Fire” has been described as a ‘thrilling’, ‘gritty’ fantasy in the vein of Tolkien, Glen Cook, Bernard Cornwell and one person even mentioned Napoleon. How would you describe “A Darkness Forged In Fire” and what things influenced you when you were writing the book?
Chris: First and foremost, “A Darkness Forged in Fire” is a fantasy I’ve always wanted to read. I wanted to see what Tolkien’s world and tropes and races would look like 500 years on. So many authors have plumbed the depths of fantasy set in a medieval, western European setting, and done it incredibly well, that I knew that if I was to write a story I had to choose something different. At the same time I wanted to acknowledge that history and use it as springboard, which is what I’ve attempted to do. So for example, there are elves in this world, but not all of them view trees and the natural world with the same affinity as Legolas.
As I mentioned earlier, Rudyard Kipling was a huge influence, especially his poems about the British soldier and imperialism and colonialism. Bernard Cornwell’s series Sharpe’s Rifles is another wellspring I happily acknowledge. Then there are the historians – John Keegan, Len Deighton, Terry Copp, Richard Holmes and Barbara Tuchmann. It might seem odd to list historians for a fantasy that is not a historical fantasy, but they inspired me by their story telling prowess more than anything else. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is George MacDonald Fraser. His portrayal of his time in nine squad in the CBI in WWII in “Quartered Safe Out Here” is arguably (and I will argue it) the best memoir ever written of the Second World War.
Q: Well you’re not the only one who wants to see something different in today’s fantasy. In fact, there seems to be a number of authors out there who are writing grittier, darker, more realistic fantasy books or are blatantly attempting to defy traditional tropes like Steven Erikson, Joe Abercrombie, Richard K. Morgan (The Steel Remains), David Keck, Alan Campbell, Tim Lebbon, Paul Kearney, etc. What are your thoughts on this movement, the audience’s response to such books, and fantasy tropes in general?
Chris: It's natural for any genre, discipline—whatever—to evolve or at least mutate. In fact, it's critical if it's going to remain vibrant and interesting. At the same time it serves to reintroduce the books that form the foundation of the genre to readers who might start out with something new and/or different and then wonder what is this author reacting to? I think it's a healthy trend, but it is one fraught with the potential for misunderstanding. The fact that we talk about genres at all does a great disservice to so many books and authors, yet without that construct we'd have a tough time trying to find books on the shelves. I suppose it's a necessary evil, but it doesn't need to be a self-fulfilling one. I see books described as high fantasy, traditional fantasy, epic fantasy, urban, steam, erotic etc. and I view it as so much tribalism. We like to identify ourselves as part of something then develop an elaborate set of rules by which we identify each other which includes the books we read. What, however, does any of that have to do with enjoying a story? This isn't Comparative Fantasy Lit 101. This is the big wonderful world of limitless entertainment choices and we're all trying to get a slice of that pie. I'm hoping good old fashion readers read my book. Whether they self-identify as fantasists, mainstreamers, or some other faction I've never heard of matters not a whit to me.
As for the tropes, well, that's another term that I find myself using to my chagrin. Hell, boy meets girl is a trope. Unrequited love is a trope. Who-dunnits, bodice-rippers, police procedurals and every other genre and subgenre has its tropes. Anyone reading “A Darkness Forged in Fire” will find many tropes alive and well, and others quite mangled. It's a bit like cooking really, the simplest ingredients can make the most exquisite dish if blended and cooked properly. Tropes are no different. It's all in how you use them.
Q: So when and how did the idea for the Iron Elves series first come about, how long have you been working on it, and how much has it evolved from its original conception?
Chris: Not sure when the idea hit me because the gestation period probably began in my youth. I kept reading fantasies where the castle, sword and dragon dominated and I found myself wanting something different. Again, it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy these fantasies, I did and still do, but I just started thinking there could be other ways to play in this genre. The overall feel of the book actually stayed fairly intact from initial vision, although the plot changed many times.
Q: Speaking of the series, how many volumes are projected, how far along are you in the next book, and is there anything you can tell us about book number two?
Chris: Huge caveat! At the moment the series is projected at three books. I’ve ideas for additional books that both continue the story arc and also take it in different directions, but for the time being I see three, including the final scene. I’d love to talk to you about book two, but I’m one of those writers that needs to keep the ideas under pressure and constantly in motion until they’re written down lest I lose focus. What I can tell you is book 2 will be out next summer, and book 3 will follow in the summer of 2010. After that, who knows?
Q: For some authors it’s easier writing their second novel, while for others it’s more difficult. How are things going for you with book two and did you learn anything when writing “A Darkness Forged In Fire” that helped prepare you for the new book? On a similar note, it sounds like “Iron Elves” is going to be a trilogy so will Book Two suffer from any ‘middle volume’ tendencies?
Chris: Don't get me started about filler or bridge novels! In my rookie status as a first time novelist who has yet to write the sequel in the trilogy I just see no good excuse for books that act as place holders. I would be mortified if my second book was viewed as anything other than a complete story in and of itself. Of course it will continue the major plot arcs and will set up events for the third installment, but that's no excuse to not have an engaging story. I'm in the middle of writing it now and I'm very conscious of the need to give it its own existence. I no more want to write about characters killing time than a reader would want to read it. The second book has a purpose, an arc and a palpable need to be better than the first one.
Q: That’s good to hear :) Would you happen to be involved in any other writing projects?
Chris: I’m one of those writers that gives editors and agents fits. I have ideas the way rabbits have litters, really, really amorous rabbits. In short, there is no end to what I want to write next, but knowing, or at least accepting for the moment the finite nature of time vis-à-vis the human condition, I am working on only two or three others at any given time.
Q: In epic fantasy, some authors like to put an emphasis on characters or worldbuilding; others on storytelling. Where do you fit in this picture and what do you feel are your strengths as a writer? What about weakness or areas that you’d like to get stronger in, especially in future books?
Chris: I’m definitely about characters and narrative. If the character is compelling enough I’ll follow him/her/it to the ends of the earth and beyond. Who among us didn’t want to be part of the Fellowship of the Ring? Even the actors that played the characters all got tattoos to symbolize their bond. I think readers gravitate to characters in a similar, if less painful way. We form a relationship with these characters that often far outlasts the plot or the world or any other aspect of the story. I also like stories with pace. I’ve never been one to wallow in the luxuriousness of prose (nor lie on a beach or sit in a tub for that matter) so anyone looking for that experience might suffer a bit of whiplash reading mine.
I’d like to think that I’m a well-rounded writer equally skilled at world building, plot, narrative and the rest, but I definitely have room to grow. In fact, I look forward to improving with each book and learning new skills as I go. Any writer can no doubt give you a laundry list of where they can improve, and I’m no different in that respect, but for the moment I’ll leave that up to the helpful readers only too eager to post their review on Amazon or some other venue.
Q: Can you tell us more about the world that the Iron Elves is set in and some of the series’ major characters?
Chris: Despite my background in history this is not historical fiction. That said, India, Native American culture, the British regimental system and the Napoleonic Wars all lend some color and shape to the world. Thematically there’s definitely a focus on oaths, bonds and loyalty and how powerful and also how destructive they can be.
The main protagonist is an elf, Major Konowa Swift Dragon, but he’s an elf with a troubled past and his views on his elven heritage are conflicted to say the least. His ultimate rival is the Shadow Monarch, an elf-witch from his tribe who long ago broke with tradition and the natural world to save her one true love. The repercussions of that decision reverberate throughout time and bring the world to the brink of complete destruction, or at least transformation. Then there is Visyna Tekoy, a witch who views the natural world as sacred. She embodies many of the greenest proclivities we see in our culture today and can be fervent in her beliefs. There’s the Viceroy, a singularly driven man seeking power and blind to any and all other needs. And there is Konowa’s foil within the regiment, the Prince of Calahr. He is spoiled, entitled and utterly lost in the situation he finds himself – commanding troops in battle. It might sound clichéd, but men such as this populate history to the detriment of those that served under them. I want to explore this dilemma in more detail though I’m not sure I have a literary cure for such gross incompetence by a leader.
I chose to pair two soldiers, a raw recruit and veteran, to work with that age-old coupling of innocence and experience. Private Alwyn Renwar, the recruit, is every sergeant’s worst nightmare. Left to his own devices Renwar is probably more danger to those around him than he is to the enemy. Doing his best to keep him alive in his own, unique fashion, is Private Yimt Arkhorn, a dwarf career soldier who has been busted in rank so many times the sleeves of his uniform are tattered from having the stripes stitched on then removed.
Q: You mentioned how Visyna “embodies many of the greenest proclivities we see in our culture today”, and truthfully it sounds like many of the book’s themes & characters are a reflection of modern times. How much does “A Darkness Forged in Fire” draw from real-world issues and how important is it for you that your book can be viewed by readers as relevant?
Chris: We're all products of our environment, though that doesn't mean our environment is the sole determinant of our actions. No doubt readers will see modern issues within the plot, but these same issues are universal and not specific to today. I'm exploring PTSD with more than one of the characters in the book, and while that's clearly a huge issue with the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's hardly new. Human beings have suffered from this since they started hitting each other over the head with clubs. And stewardship of the environment is as old as the hills, too. As far as relevancy goes, that really doesn't concern me. This is not a thinly disguised treatise on the foibles of invading a Middle Eastern country or anything of the sort. My goal from the start has been to tell a story and to entertain. I want to be a novelist. Period. The way I see it, the highest compliment I can receive would be a reader telling me that they read through the book in one night, they enjoyed it, and when the heck is the next one due?
Q: In fantasy literature, cover art has been an ongoing issue, especially how important it is in selling a book, how fantasy covers are considered generic, the difference between international & stateside covers, et cetera. What are your thoughts on this subject and how do you feel about the cover for “A Darkness Forged In Fire”?
Chris: To borrow a phrase from the U.K., I was chuffed when I saw the cover for the first time. It’s strong, bold and simple, yet hints at a complexity hidden within. Cover art is important, and it’s important in every genre. Human beings are visual creatures. When you walk into a bookstore you don’t smell or taste a book…I hope. But you see it. You see that cover and for reasons you understand and some you don’t you are drawn to it. The way I view covers is that they are flashing lights designed to grab your attention. If someone is looking for art for the sake of art there are, ahem, art galleries designed for that very purpose (although even there you might find a price sticker below the painting.) Cover art, on the other hand, is designed to sell books. So if I have issues with any cover, they revolve solely around how effective that cover is in getting a reader to walk over and pick up the book. If every cover treatment is dark and serious then I might suggest light and frothy to stand out. If the trend is toward the literal then I might want to go abstract and vice versa. I just don’t think you can afford to be too precious about this stuff, at least, not if you want to be a writer that gets paid. The only real debate I see regarding cover art is does it grab eyeballs. If yes, it worked. Pretty simple.
Q: Pocket Books seems to be pretty confident in your new book, which has a strong marketing campaign behind it including advertising/publicity in both national print publications and online, and being featured in the NY and San Diego Comic-Cons. How do you feel about the support the novel is receiving and what other promotion can readers expect?
Chris: Pocket has been terrific in supporting the book. Look, no one ever really knows what a book will do when it lands on the shelves. I once had a book on D-Day by a top historian all set to take off on the 60th anniversary of the invasion with TV appearances on national networks and then Ronald Reagan goes and dies. Book promotions across the country and the world were shattered after 9/11. You just never know what will happen. That said, a first time author really couldn’t ask for more. And having said that, I was delighted when I got more and the series was bought in the UK. That was an extra vote of confidence and gives me the chance to engage with a whole different set of readers. Pocket Books have really gone above and beyond. I definitely need to single out Deputy Publisher Anthony Ziccardi who got the ball rolling and hasn’t let it stop since, and my ever energetic editor, Ed Schlesinger.
As far as additional promotion, Pocket has plan for a national print media campaign, mass mailings, ARC mailings, promotional events such as Comic Con and BEA, book store events, online outreach and much, much more. S&S Canada and S&S UK are involved as well and I am working with them on marketing efforts throughout Canada and the United Kingdom. Again, I am incredibly impressed with the level of support and enthusiasm I am receiving from my publisher.
Q: Your novel is actually going to be featured as an alternate selection for the Science Fiction Book Club in August, which is pretty exciting for a debut! How cool is that?
Chris: It is very cool. You write in isolation, and before you sell your first book you wonder, well, I did, if you ever will. So when a publisher makes you an offer you can't refuse, it's a wonderful feeling. But then there are all those other possibilities that you probably didn't think a lot about, like foreign rights, book clubs, etc. They're icing on the cake, but they're more than that, too. Each time you get a subrights sale you can't help but feel a little vindication that someone else thinks my book has potential and is prepared to put their money where their mouth is. So hearing the news that the Science Fiction Book Club had picked up my book made my day and then some.
Q: Anymore it’s pretty common to see novels adapted into different formats such as movies, comics, videogames, animation and TV. How would you like to see “A Darkness Forged In Fire” adapted?
Chris: I would be thrilled to see “A Darkness Forged in Fire” adapted. Graphic novel, computer game, movie…it’s just downright flattering. I have a very pragmatic view about all of this and take the position that if anyone wishes to adapt my writing I know and accept that they will have their own vision for their own medium. I write novels, I don’t make movies, so if a film were ever to be made my list of ‘requests’ would start and end with ‘deposit large check into this account.’
Q: Last year was tough for writers of speculative fiction. Several authors passed away including Robert Jordan, Madeline L’Engle, Lloyd Alexander, Leigh Eddings, Fred Saberhagen, Jack Williamson, Alice Borchardt, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. while Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. And just recently SF legend Arthur C. Clarke passed away. Were you affected by any of this and is there anything you would like to say?
Chris: It’s always sad when a creative spark is quenched. I would add to that list George MacDonald Fraser who passed away earlier this year. On a more upbeat note, I’d also like to take the opportunity here to wish Terry Pratchett strength and hope in dealing with and even overcoming his challenge. Lest I sound too saintly, my motive is, in part, that I want to keep reading more adventures in Disc World. I’d like to see if it’s possible to actually break a rib from laughter.
Q: That’s a worthy goal :) So what books have recently impressed you the most, what are you currently reading, and what titles are you most looking forward to?
Chris: While at Comic Con (New York) I had a chance to meet Naomi Novik. She was kind enough to sign her first book for me. I plan to start reading that in the near future. Alas, I have not had the time to read much fiction of late as my job reading manuscripts absorbs much of my time. When not assessing others works I find I want to delve into my own. To be perfectly blunt, the books I’m most impressed with of late are the books my authors are writing, but that smacks of nepotism so I won’t name them here. Still, an enterprising reader should be able to find them without too much sleuthing.
Q: Who do you feel is an underrated writer that deserves more attention and why?
Chris: Karen Traviss. She’s an exceptional talent. The knock against her by some is that she writes media tie-in in addition to her own novels, as if somehow that makes her and her books unworthy of being assessed as legitimate stories as opposed to mere appendages of a great multi-media machine. Using that logic one might ask what book on sale in a store isn’t part of machine? I’m not suggesting all media tie-ins are good, they aren’t, but neither are a lot of independent, small press, special edition books. Karen’s a first class story teller and I see her getting a lot more attention in the coming years when she launches her next original series. In the meantime, I’m an unabashed fan.
Q: What other activities or hobbies do you enjoy?
Chris: I live in New York City and can be found most mornings running in Central Park. Most evenings I can be found in any one of New York’s thousands of restaurants which explains why my runner’s build looks, well, not overly runner-like. And I am, to my chagrin, becoming a pro at first dates. While Mrs. Right hasn’t come along yet, I am exploring the city by dating which might just turn into a book one day…
Q: Well hopefully your luck changes! In closing, is there anything else you’d like to say about yourself or your upcoming debut “A Darkness Forged In Fire: Book One of the Iron Elves”?
Chris: Only that I hope readers experience at least some of the joy I did while writing it. It’s now (or will be shortly) in the hands of the reader. For a writer, I can’t imagine a more ideal situation. Now, I need to get back to writing the second book.
In an unforgiving world of brutal conflict—where musket and cannon, bow and arrow, magic and diplomacy are all weapons in the Calahrian Empire—there’s no denying that Konowa Swiftdragon, former commander of the Empire’s Iron Elves, could be looked upon as anything but ordinary. He’s murdered a Viceroy, been court-martialed, seen his beloved regiment disbanded, and finally been banished to the one place he despises the most—the forest. Now all he wants is to be left alone . . . but for Konowa, nothing is ever that simple.
A falling Red Star in the east heralds the return of magic long vanished from the earth, sparking a frantic race within the Empire to reach it first. Now Konowa is recalled to duty and asked to reform the Iron Elves—only the soldiers he gets aren’t quite what he was expecting. And worse, their key adversary to obtain the Star is none other than the dreaded Shadow Monarch—a legendary elf-witch whose machinations for absolute domination spread deeper than Konowa could ever imagine…
Scheduled for North American publication July 8, 2008, followed by the UK release September 1, 2008, “A Darkness Forged In Fire” is just around the corner and in promotion of the debut’s pending release, Chris has kindly taken part in what I believe to be the first online interview with the author. So readers, please enjoy the following Q&A with a fantasy author that you’ll be hearing more of in the near future:
Q: Your debut novel “A Darkness Forged In Fire: Book One of the Iron Elves” is set for North American publication July 8, 2008 via Pocket Books, followed by the UK release September 1, 2008. Before we talk about the book though, can you tell us a bit more about yourself including when you knew you wanted to be a writer, why you write, and some of your favorite authors?
Chris: I’ve been a writer since I began to read. I recall very early on being inspired by books to create my own worlds and set off on adventures that I crafted myself. Writing is something I thoroughly enjoy doing although there are times when it can be immensely frustrating, too.I have many favorite authors, although not all of them might be familiar to fantasy readers. Terry Pratchett simply slays me. The man is genius. I swear I reinjured a rib I cracked playing hockey years ago due to laughing while reading “Going Postal”. J.K. Rowling impressed me from the start, not just with her story telling, but with her deft use of mythology and symbology. The fact that she makes it look effortless speaks volumes about her skill. George MacDonald Fraser is another favorite, as much for his Flashman series as for his nonfiction works, especially his memoir of WWII, “Quartered Safe Out Here”. Bernard Cornwell and Rudyard Kipling are always in my reading pile. Both were big inspirations for the Iron Elves series.
Q: Could you elaborate more on the journey you went through in finding a publisher, what you think of Simon & Schuster, and what you think the publisher saw in your book?
Chris: I suppose my journey really started the day I defended my Masters thesis. I went home that afternoon and started writing. That was back in 1998. I was faced with the prospect of continuing my academic career by launching into a PhD program or trying something else. I spent the next two years debating whether to pursue the PhD or not. I started writing short stories and working on a novel in between research assignments at the university. In the summer of 2000 I was accepted into the Clarion East Workshop and things really took off from there. While there I sold one short story, and another took second place in the Toronto Star Short Story Contest.
The final nail in the PhD coffin was supplied by Gavin Grant when he mentioned to me that Del Rey were looking for an editor who knew sci fi, fantasy and military nonfiction. I emailed my resume more on a lark than anything else then never thought a thing about it, until I got a phone call from Steve Saffel wanting to talk to me about the job. My thinking was that if I did get the job it would put me in the heart of New York publishing and from there I'd be able to get my writing looked at with ease. Ha! I took the job and of course became totally immersed in it and did very little writing. That state of affairs continued more or less for the next several years, even when I started my current job with Stackpole.
At some point, though, I realized that if I was ever to get a book published I needed to get serious, so I started getting up around 6am every morning and writing before work. Being an editor in the business means, in the end, absolutely nothing if you aren't writing. Most editors are closet writers, but you only get out of the closet if you do what every other writer does and put your manuscript out there. Mine was shopped around and ultimately offered a very nice deal by Pocket Books which I was thrilled to accept. Publishing is as subjective a business as it gets, so all I can really tell you is that Pocket Books liked what they read. I think they saw a voice and a style taking a bit of a different tack. S&S UK, which also bought the series, responded positively to this approach as well.
For me, S&S impressed me with their energy and their determination to expand into the field of hardcover fantasy and I was keen to be a part of that. Had I been picked up by one of the established fantasy houses my book would have been one of many, but with Pocket my book is something new, and I love the challenges that entails.
Q: So how do you plan on celebrating your first book being published?
Chris: I have no earthly idea at this point. You'd think that I would, or should, but I really haven't given it much thought. If anyone out there has ideas on how to celebrate I'm open to suggestions.
Q: As you mentioned, you work for Stackpole Books editing “military history, history and current affairs/conflicts books”. Obviously this is a little different from your epic fantasy novel, but how has your experience as an editor helped/influenced you in writing “A Darkness Forged In Fire” and what’s it like being on the other side of the fence?
Chris: There’s no question that editing military history has had a profound effect on my writing, and I hope readers will view it in a positive way. Many of the authors I’ve published have been soldiers, veterans who have been in combat, been shot at and taken lives. Their experiences are neither glamorous nor common. One single squeeze of a trigger might mean a medal, a lifetime of nightmares, or something quickly forgotten. It never ceases to amaze me just how extreme and mundane the life of a soldier is. I wanted to read that in fantasy, and save for a few exceptions I rarely did. Technically speaking, being an editor means I know how things work on the inside which means I’m potentially lethal to the process, so I’m doing my best to let Pocket Books do what they know how to do and not become too involved or second guess decisions. I just had my first signing at New York Comic Con where I signed ARCs and had a chance to chat with readers. It was the first time I was the author and not the editor standing a few feet away. A strange, but very gratifying feeling. Perhaps most enjoyable was talking to readers who genuinely wished me well, especially on hearing this was my first book. It touched me, and as the saying goes, you never forget your first time.
Q: Since “A Darkness Forged In Fire” is your first novel, what did you think was the most challenging part about writing the book? What about the easiest or most rewarding?
Chris: For me, writing begins in a wild-eyed frenzy as I struggle to make sense of an idea that’s suddenly captured my interest. Later, it becomes a calmer, more thoughtful process and there were days when I wondered when the wind would pick up and fill my sails again. Luckily, the wind never calmed for long and I was always able to quickly re-engage with the story and find something new to pull me forward. To be totally honest, “A Darkness Forged in Fire” is and isn’t my first novel. I did write something novel length before that is a rough amalgamation of words with some semblance of a narrative that one day, perhaps, will be rewritten and become a true novel, but it did serve the purpose of showing me that I could do this.
Q: So what was this amalgamation about ;)?
Chris: It was a fantasy 'evolved' into a version of the 20th century complete with science and technology and a world about to descend into global war. My thinking went something like this – if you're a human living alongside elves, and elves live for thousands of years, wouldn't you want a piece of that? And if the elves wouldn't willingly hand over their secrets, what would you do to get them? If you lived in a world of science wouldn't someone, somewhere start to delve into those mysteries? And for every scientist looking for cures, you know there would be others looking to make weapons. This would be the backdrop to a world at war, pitting races, cultures, mores, magic and science against each other. The geo-politic and scientific clashing with the thaumaturgic. In many respects that experiment lead me to this book (A Darkness Forged In Fire) which retains a much closer affinity with what we know, or at least term, as traditional fantasy.
Q: According to some of the advance blurbs that I’ve seen, “A Darkness Forged In Fire” has been described as a ‘thrilling’, ‘gritty’ fantasy in the vein of Tolkien, Glen Cook, Bernard Cornwell and one person even mentioned Napoleon. How would you describe “A Darkness Forged In Fire” and what things influenced you when you were writing the book?
Chris: First and foremost, “A Darkness Forged in Fire” is a fantasy I’ve always wanted to read. I wanted to see what Tolkien’s world and tropes and races would look like 500 years on. So many authors have plumbed the depths of fantasy set in a medieval, western European setting, and done it incredibly well, that I knew that if I was to write a story I had to choose something different. At the same time I wanted to acknowledge that history and use it as springboard, which is what I’ve attempted to do. So for example, there are elves in this world, but not all of them view trees and the natural world with the same affinity as Legolas.
As I mentioned earlier, Rudyard Kipling was a huge influence, especially his poems about the British soldier and imperialism and colonialism. Bernard Cornwell’s series Sharpe’s Rifles is another wellspring I happily acknowledge. Then there are the historians – John Keegan, Len Deighton, Terry Copp, Richard Holmes and Barbara Tuchmann. It might seem odd to list historians for a fantasy that is not a historical fantasy, but they inspired me by their story telling prowess more than anything else. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is George MacDonald Fraser. His portrayal of his time in nine squad in the CBI in WWII in “Quartered Safe Out Here” is arguably (and I will argue it) the best memoir ever written of the Second World War.
Q: Well you’re not the only one who wants to see something different in today’s fantasy. In fact, there seems to be a number of authors out there who are writing grittier, darker, more realistic fantasy books or are blatantly attempting to defy traditional tropes like Steven Erikson, Joe Abercrombie, Richard K. Morgan (The Steel Remains), David Keck, Alan Campbell, Tim Lebbon, Paul Kearney, etc. What are your thoughts on this movement, the audience’s response to such books, and fantasy tropes in general?
Chris: It's natural for any genre, discipline—whatever—to evolve or at least mutate. In fact, it's critical if it's going to remain vibrant and interesting. At the same time it serves to reintroduce the books that form the foundation of the genre to readers who might start out with something new and/or different and then wonder what is this author reacting to? I think it's a healthy trend, but it is one fraught with the potential for misunderstanding. The fact that we talk about genres at all does a great disservice to so many books and authors, yet without that construct we'd have a tough time trying to find books on the shelves. I suppose it's a necessary evil, but it doesn't need to be a self-fulfilling one. I see books described as high fantasy, traditional fantasy, epic fantasy, urban, steam, erotic etc. and I view it as so much tribalism. We like to identify ourselves as part of something then develop an elaborate set of rules by which we identify each other which includes the books we read. What, however, does any of that have to do with enjoying a story? This isn't Comparative Fantasy Lit 101. This is the big wonderful world of limitless entertainment choices and we're all trying to get a slice of that pie. I'm hoping good old fashion readers read my book. Whether they self-identify as fantasists, mainstreamers, or some other faction I've never heard of matters not a whit to me.
As for the tropes, well, that's another term that I find myself using to my chagrin. Hell, boy meets girl is a trope. Unrequited love is a trope. Who-dunnits, bodice-rippers, police procedurals and every other genre and subgenre has its tropes. Anyone reading “A Darkness Forged in Fire” will find many tropes alive and well, and others quite mangled. It's a bit like cooking really, the simplest ingredients can make the most exquisite dish if blended and cooked properly. Tropes are no different. It's all in how you use them.
Q: So when and how did the idea for the Iron Elves series first come about, how long have you been working on it, and how much has it evolved from its original conception?
Chris: Not sure when the idea hit me because the gestation period probably began in my youth. I kept reading fantasies where the castle, sword and dragon dominated and I found myself wanting something different. Again, it wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy these fantasies, I did and still do, but I just started thinking there could be other ways to play in this genre. The overall feel of the book actually stayed fairly intact from initial vision, although the plot changed many times.
Q: Speaking of the series, how many volumes are projected, how far along are you in the next book, and is there anything you can tell us about book number two?
Chris: Huge caveat! At the moment the series is projected at three books. I’ve ideas for additional books that both continue the story arc and also take it in different directions, but for the time being I see three, including the final scene. I’d love to talk to you about book two, but I’m one of those writers that needs to keep the ideas under pressure and constantly in motion until they’re written down lest I lose focus. What I can tell you is book 2 will be out next summer, and book 3 will follow in the summer of 2010. After that, who knows?
Q: For some authors it’s easier writing their second novel, while for others it’s more difficult. How are things going for you with book two and did you learn anything when writing “A Darkness Forged In Fire” that helped prepare you for the new book? On a similar note, it sounds like “Iron Elves” is going to be a trilogy so will Book Two suffer from any ‘middle volume’ tendencies?
Chris: Don't get me started about filler or bridge novels! In my rookie status as a first time novelist who has yet to write the sequel in the trilogy I just see no good excuse for books that act as place holders. I would be mortified if my second book was viewed as anything other than a complete story in and of itself. Of course it will continue the major plot arcs and will set up events for the third installment, but that's no excuse to not have an engaging story. I'm in the middle of writing it now and I'm very conscious of the need to give it its own existence. I no more want to write about characters killing time than a reader would want to read it. The second book has a purpose, an arc and a palpable need to be better than the first one.
Q: That’s good to hear :) Would you happen to be involved in any other writing projects?
Chris: I’m one of those writers that gives editors and agents fits. I have ideas the way rabbits have litters, really, really amorous rabbits. In short, there is no end to what I want to write next, but knowing, or at least accepting for the moment the finite nature of time vis-à-vis the human condition, I am working on only two or three others at any given time.
Q: In epic fantasy, some authors like to put an emphasis on characters or worldbuilding; others on storytelling. Where do you fit in this picture and what do you feel are your strengths as a writer? What about weakness or areas that you’d like to get stronger in, especially in future books?
Chris: I’m definitely about characters and narrative. If the character is compelling enough I’ll follow him/her/it to the ends of the earth and beyond. Who among us didn’t want to be part of the Fellowship of the Ring? Even the actors that played the characters all got tattoos to symbolize their bond. I think readers gravitate to characters in a similar, if less painful way. We form a relationship with these characters that often far outlasts the plot or the world or any other aspect of the story. I also like stories with pace. I’ve never been one to wallow in the luxuriousness of prose (nor lie on a beach or sit in a tub for that matter) so anyone looking for that experience might suffer a bit of whiplash reading mine.
I’d like to think that I’m a well-rounded writer equally skilled at world building, plot, narrative and the rest, but I definitely have room to grow. In fact, I look forward to improving with each book and learning new skills as I go. Any writer can no doubt give you a laundry list of where they can improve, and I’m no different in that respect, but for the moment I’ll leave that up to the helpful readers only too eager to post their review on Amazon or some other venue.
Q: Can you tell us more about the world that the Iron Elves is set in and some of the series’ major characters?
Chris: Despite my background in history this is not historical fiction. That said, India, Native American culture, the British regimental system and the Napoleonic Wars all lend some color and shape to the world. Thematically there’s definitely a focus on oaths, bonds and loyalty and how powerful and also how destructive they can be.
The main protagonist is an elf, Major Konowa Swift Dragon, but he’s an elf with a troubled past and his views on his elven heritage are conflicted to say the least. His ultimate rival is the Shadow Monarch, an elf-witch from his tribe who long ago broke with tradition and the natural world to save her one true love. The repercussions of that decision reverberate throughout time and bring the world to the brink of complete destruction, or at least transformation. Then there is Visyna Tekoy, a witch who views the natural world as sacred. She embodies many of the greenest proclivities we see in our culture today and can be fervent in her beliefs. There’s the Viceroy, a singularly driven man seeking power and blind to any and all other needs. And there is Konowa’s foil within the regiment, the Prince of Calahr. He is spoiled, entitled and utterly lost in the situation he finds himself – commanding troops in battle. It might sound clichéd, but men such as this populate history to the detriment of those that served under them. I want to explore this dilemma in more detail though I’m not sure I have a literary cure for such gross incompetence by a leader.
I chose to pair two soldiers, a raw recruit and veteran, to work with that age-old coupling of innocence and experience. Private Alwyn Renwar, the recruit, is every sergeant’s worst nightmare. Left to his own devices Renwar is probably more danger to those around him than he is to the enemy. Doing his best to keep him alive in his own, unique fashion, is Private Yimt Arkhorn, a dwarf career soldier who has been busted in rank so many times the sleeves of his uniform are tattered from having the stripes stitched on then removed.
Q: You mentioned how Visyna “embodies many of the greenest proclivities we see in our culture today”, and truthfully it sounds like many of the book’s themes & characters are a reflection of modern times. How much does “A Darkness Forged in Fire” draw from real-world issues and how important is it for you that your book can be viewed by readers as relevant?
Chris: We're all products of our environment, though that doesn't mean our environment is the sole determinant of our actions. No doubt readers will see modern issues within the plot, but these same issues are universal and not specific to today. I'm exploring PTSD with more than one of the characters in the book, and while that's clearly a huge issue with the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's hardly new. Human beings have suffered from this since they started hitting each other over the head with clubs. And stewardship of the environment is as old as the hills, too. As far as relevancy goes, that really doesn't concern me. This is not a thinly disguised treatise on the foibles of invading a Middle Eastern country or anything of the sort. My goal from the start has been to tell a story and to entertain. I want to be a novelist. Period. The way I see it, the highest compliment I can receive would be a reader telling me that they read through the book in one night, they enjoyed it, and when the heck is the next one due?
Q: In fantasy literature, cover art has been an ongoing issue, especially how important it is in selling a book, how fantasy covers are considered generic, the difference between international & stateside covers, et cetera. What are your thoughts on this subject and how do you feel about the cover for “A Darkness Forged In Fire”?
Chris: To borrow a phrase from the U.K., I was chuffed when I saw the cover for the first time. It’s strong, bold and simple, yet hints at a complexity hidden within. Cover art is important, and it’s important in every genre. Human beings are visual creatures. When you walk into a bookstore you don’t smell or taste a book…I hope. But you see it. You see that cover and for reasons you understand and some you don’t you are drawn to it. The way I view covers is that they are flashing lights designed to grab your attention. If someone is looking for art for the sake of art there are, ahem, art galleries designed for that very purpose (although even there you might find a price sticker below the painting.) Cover art, on the other hand, is designed to sell books. So if I have issues with any cover, they revolve solely around how effective that cover is in getting a reader to walk over and pick up the book. If every cover treatment is dark and serious then I might suggest light and frothy to stand out. If the trend is toward the literal then I might want to go abstract and vice versa. I just don’t think you can afford to be too precious about this stuff, at least, not if you want to be a writer that gets paid. The only real debate I see regarding cover art is does it grab eyeballs. If yes, it worked. Pretty simple.
Q: Pocket Books seems to be pretty confident in your new book, which has a strong marketing campaign behind it including advertising/publicity in both national print publications and online, and being featured in the NY and San Diego Comic-Cons. How do you feel about the support the novel is receiving and what other promotion can readers expect?
Chris: Pocket has been terrific in supporting the book. Look, no one ever really knows what a book will do when it lands on the shelves. I once had a book on D-Day by a top historian all set to take off on the 60th anniversary of the invasion with TV appearances on national networks and then Ronald Reagan goes and dies. Book promotions across the country and the world were shattered after 9/11. You just never know what will happen. That said, a first time author really couldn’t ask for more. And having said that, I was delighted when I got more and the series was bought in the UK. That was an extra vote of confidence and gives me the chance to engage with a whole different set of readers. Pocket Books have really gone above and beyond. I definitely need to single out Deputy Publisher Anthony Ziccardi who got the ball rolling and hasn’t let it stop since, and my ever energetic editor, Ed Schlesinger.
As far as additional promotion, Pocket has plan for a national print media campaign, mass mailings, ARC mailings, promotional events such as Comic Con and BEA, book store events, online outreach and much, much more. S&S Canada and S&S UK are involved as well and I am working with them on marketing efforts throughout Canada and the United Kingdom. Again, I am incredibly impressed with the level of support and enthusiasm I am receiving from my publisher.
Q: Your novel is actually going to be featured as an alternate selection for the Science Fiction Book Club in August, which is pretty exciting for a debut! How cool is that?
Chris: It is very cool. You write in isolation, and before you sell your first book you wonder, well, I did, if you ever will. So when a publisher makes you an offer you can't refuse, it's a wonderful feeling. But then there are all those other possibilities that you probably didn't think a lot about, like foreign rights, book clubs, etc. They're icing on the cake, but they're more than that, too. Each time you get a subrights sale you can't help but feel a little vindication that someone else thinks my book has potential and is prepared to put their money where their mouth is. So hearing the news that the Science Fiction Book Club had picked up my book made my day and then some.
Q: Anymore it’s pretty common to see novels adapted into different formats such as movies, comics, videogames, animation and TV. How would you like to see “A Darkness Forged In Fire” adapted?
Chris: I would be thrilled to see “A Darkness Forged in Fire” adapted. Graphic novel, computer game, movie…it’s just downright flattering. I have a very pragmatic view about all of this and take the position that if anyone wishes to adapt my writing I know and accept that they will have their own vision for their own medium. I write novels, I don’t make movies, so if a film were ever to be made my list of ‘requests’ would start and end with ‘deposit large check into this account.’
Q: Last year was tough for writers of speculative fiction. Several authors passed away including Robert Jordan, Madeline L’Engle, Lloyd Alexander, Leigh Eddings, Fred Saberhagen, Jack Williamson, Alice Borchardt, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. while Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. And just recently SF legend Arthur C. Clarke passed away. Were you affected by any of this and is there anything you would like to say?
Chris: It’s always sad when a creative spark is quenched. I would add to that list George MacDonald Fraser who passed away earlier this year. On a more upbeat note, I’d also like to take the opportunity here to wish Terry Pratchett strength and hope in dealing with and even overcoming his challenge. Lest I sound too saintly, my motive is, in part, that I want to keep reading more adventures in Disc World. I’d like to see if it’s possible to actually break a rib from laughter.
Q: That’s a worthy goal :) So what books have recently impressed you the most, what are you currently reading, and what titles are you most looking forward to?
Chris: While at Comic Con (New York) I had a chance to meet Naomi Novik. She was kind enough to sign her first book for me. I plan to start reading that in the near future. Alas, I have not had the time to read much fiction of late as my job reading manuscripts absorbs much of my time. When not assessing others works I find I want to delve into my own. To be perfectly blunt, the books I’m most impressed with of late are the books my authors are writing, but that smacks of nepotism so I won’t name them here. Still, an enterprising reader should be able to find them without too much sleuthing.
Q: Who do you feel is an underrated writer that deserves more attention and why?
Chris: Karen Traviss. She’s an exceptional talent. The knock against her by some is that she writes media tie-in in addition to her own novels, as if somehow that makes her and her books unworthy of being assessed as legitimate stories as opposed to mere appendages of a great multi-media machine. Using that logic one might ask what book on sale in a store isn’t part of machine? I’m not suggesting all media tie-ins are good, they aren’t, but neither are a lot of independent, small press, special edition books. Karen’s a first class story teller and I see her getting a lot more attention in the coming years when she launches her next original series. In the meantime, I’m an unabashed fan.
Q: What other activities or hobbies do you enjoy?
Chris: I live in New York City and can be found most mornings running in Central Park. Most evenings I can be found in any one of New York’s thousands of restaurants which explains why my runner’s build looks, well, not overly runner-like. And I am, to my chagrin, becoming a pro at first dates. While Mrs. Right hasn’t come along yet, I am exploring the city by dating which might just turn into a book one day…
Q: Well hopefully your luck changes! In closing, is there anything else you’d like to say about yourself or your upcoming debut “A Darkness Forged In Fire: Book One of the Iron Elves”?
Chris: Only that I hope readers experience at least some of the joy I did while writing it. It’s now (or will be shortly) in the hands of the reader. For a writer, I can’t imagine a more ideal situation. Now, I need to get back to writing the second book.
NOTE: In further promotion of Chris Evans' "A Darkness Forged In Fire", I'll be hosting a giveaway in June and reviewing the debut novel...
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