ama

July 31, 2018

Kameron Hurley’s APOCALYPSE NYX is grim, unapologetic science fiction at its best

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ama, apocalypse nyx, bel dame apocrypha, david wood, elizabeth story, kameron hurley, new journal of books, reddit, review, strange alliances, tor.com, wadim kashin

The reviews keep coming for Kameron Hurley’s APOCALYPSE NYX.

David Wood for NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS praises the collection.

Apocalypse Nyx is a collection of five novellas that take place in the universe of Hurley’s Bel Dame Apocrypha series. The stories read as a series of vignettes, something akin to a Netflix series based on a movie. The stories are well paced, with enough connections to lend a sense of cohesiveness to the collection. It’s not necessary to have read the companion trilogy in order to enjoy these stories. There are universe-specific terms to pick up on (trucks are bakkies, coffee is buni), and details about the world that must be learned inductively, but it doesn’t take long to become fully immersed in Nyx’s universe.

The world Hurley has crafted is as fascinating and engrossing as it is horrifying, with elements of cyberpunk, and fantasy sprinkled atop a generous portion of science fiction. Nyx’s desert planet home bakes beneath the heat of twin suns is ravaged by centuries of Holy War, the cause long forgotten. Bugs are integrated into technology, including radios and trucks. Human bodies can be rebuilt, Frankenstein-style, or a person can be given a new body altogether. Hurley also incorporates elements of magic, including shapeshifting, lending the story a touch of the fantastic, but retaining the gritty, apocalyptic fantasy feel.

Hurley does a solid job of reflecting many of our own current societal issues and tensions in her writing, including gender roles, sexual fluidity, and racial schisms. The culture is heavily influenced by Islam, and the never-ending cycle of war is sadly familiar. Hurley does not pontificate on any topic, unlike certain sci-fi classics, but instead paints a picture upon which the reader can reflect.

Apocalypse Nyx is grim, unapologetic science fiction at its best. Don’t miss this gripping collection!

STRANGE ALLIANCES enjoys the “comfort” read.

Nyx is a brilliantly imagined character. She is full-on, ruthless, outrageous, but this merely reflects the unforgiving war-ridden world she lives in. To those on the outside of her inner circle Nyx appears uncouth and very unpleasant. To her crew she is equally verbally unsavoury, but they know she is also someone they can rely on, particularly when it comes to straight talking and not leaving any man or woman behind.

<snip>

To say this book is one of my comfort reads might seem strange, but each story played out in my head like a film in which there is much to take in visually, as well as the superb banter between Nyx’s surrogate family. The first story had me so sold on Nyx and her motley crew, I just wanted to take time out and enjoy their adventures. I hope this is not the last I read of Nyx.

Hurley recently participated in a Reddit AMA.

LascaillesShroud

What advice would you give to aspiring writers who want a more inclusive and diverse cast? As a straight white-dude, there’s numerous things outside my experience—which is fine, writing and reading are how I learn about others—but if there was a common pitfall you see writers make when making their cast include POC, women, LGBTQIA, or just not a protagonist who is a rogue-ish white guy in his thirties with dark hair and a bit of a drinking problem, what would it be?

KameronHurley

AMA Author

Talk to people different than you are. If you’re in some homogenous place, hey, Youtube exists for good reason. Listen to people who aren’t like you. Take the same approach to learning about people with different cultural and sexual backgrounds as you would to those with different academic and employment backgrounds. You don’t spend ten minutes of research into writing a neuroscientist. I spent 8 years researching the God’s War universe, and I still got shit wrong. Accept that yeah, you will fuck up, but do the work. Get as close as you can. Listen to real criticism. Learn from it, and do better next time.

<snip>

Inkberrow

What’s your take on the feminist debate over the inclusion of trans women in “women”-only spaces?

KameronHurley

AMA Author

Trans women are women.

Inkberrow

Straight (!) answer appreciated.

<snip>

Chtorrr

What is the very best dessert?

KameronHurley

Booze. Gin, peaty whisky.

For TOR.COM, Hurley listed Five Books That Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity.

It’s a grim, grim world out there, folks. The bad news is… Well, all the bad news is the bad news. That’s not a shocker. I won’t repeat it.

If you’re still reading this, you know why.

Humanity’s ancient obsession with battles between the darkness and the light, good and evil, exist because human beings so neatly encapsulate both. We are capable of great cruelty and horror, especially in large groups. Yet, we are also capable of great kindness and awe-inspiring collaborative works. These are the battles we fight—as individuals, as parties, as nations—the constant war between our best selves and our worst impulses. It’s why these conflicts are so pervasive in the stories we tell across every medium.

As you’ll discover based on the books I’ve chosen for this list, I’m a big fan of the “ragtag team of misfits” novel. Perhaps this is because I know that everything we’ve gotten done as human beings—whether that’s getting to the moon or the genocide of millions—has only been possible through the passionate, messy collaboration of ordinary humans trying to achieve something wonderful or terrible.

My fascination with group dynamics is likely why I wrote my own team of head-chopping adventurers in APOCALYPSE NYX, and why such books have a special place in my heart. My protagonists engage in the best and worst humanity has to offer. But for today, let’s concentrate on the good.

Humans can be good.

For more info on APOCALYPSE NYX, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Wadim Kashin

Design by Elizabeth Story

July 18, 2018

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ama, kameron hurley, reeddit

June 26, 2018

Peter Watts’ irresistible THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION is compelling science fiction with heart

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ama, bluchickenninja, chicago tribune, elizabeth story, everdeen mason, foreword reviews, gary k wolfe, l'épaule d'orion, nisi shawl, peter dabbene, Peter Watts, reddit, review, the freeze frame revolution, the seattle review of books, the washington post

Reviews for Peter Watts’ entertaining and provocative THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION keep flooding in.

At FOREWORD REVIEWS, Peter Dabbene praises the work.

Hard science fiction that reads like a first-person parable, Peter Watts’s THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION is thoughtful, suspenseful, and unforgettable.

<snip>

Watts, a former marine biologist, deftly weaves hard science, both actual and theoretical, into the book. Those familiar with cutting-edge ideas like Boltzmann Bodies or the Stefan-Boltzmann law and the Alcubierre warp drive will come away satisfied, but the science is so fully ingrained into the narrative that it doesn’t draw attention to itself—a high compliment indeed.

Sophisticated enough for hard science-fiction purists, the book is nevertheless intimately written in a conversational style, as Sunday relates the happenings aboard ship and her interactions with Chimp and the others. There are many examples of Watts’s inventive writing, perhaps most noticeably the use of the gender-neutral pronouns “se” and “hir” throughout the book.

The story’s massive time span invites intriguing questions, as when Sunday asks a crewmate, “How do you tell the difference between going extinct and just, you know, changing into something else?”

The result of all this is an epic of epochs; entertaining and provocative, brilliant and ambitious, FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION is compelling science fiction with heart.

Nisi Shawl in THE SEATTLE REVIEW OF BOOKS enjoys the novella.

THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION (Tachyon), the shortest and latest novel from Canadian Peter Watts, is as brilliant and enticingly acute as any of his earlier and longer work.

<snip>

The mission, after millions and millions and millions of years, goes on under the implacable and inescapable eye of an artificial intelligence tasked with keeping the crew’s nose to an eternal grindstone. How can its favorite human Sunday Ahzmundin and a few thousand others possibly manage to rebel against their superhuman supervisor? With skin-creeping tension, sharply realistic detail, and action moving fast as thought, Watts shows us.

Everdeen Mason of THE WASHINGTON POST declares the tale as one of the month’s top reads.

THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION (Tachyon), by Peter Watts, is a delicious morsel of hard science fiction. The short novel follows the crew of a construction ship who have spent 66 million years traveling across the galaxy building interstellar wormhole gates for humanity. The group is held in suspended animation, awakened for brief periods by Chimp, the AI that runs the ship.

<snip>

The setup of the book is irresistible, and the science is high-concept, but the story is driven by Sunday’s relationships and her conviction in herself and her companions.

Watts participated in a REDDIT AMA.

Vermilion-Sands

1 point·

10 days ago

Hello. Huge fan….Blindsight is the only book (besides Stan Robinson’s Red Mars ) that I’ve re-read in the last 10 years. Anyway, my question…… What is your recommended reading order of the SUNFLOWER CYCLE ? Can it truly be the publication order?! Thank you in advance.

The-Squidnapper

AMA Author

1 point·

10 days ago

Chronologically, the order is “Hotshot”; “The Freeze-Frame Revolution”; “Giants”; and “The Island”. But each was designed to be understandable whether or not you’ve read any of the others, and Sunday doesn’t even appear in all of them, so go wild.

Duke_Paul

1026 points·

12 days ago

Please, elaborate on your relationship with raccoons and your opinion on the raccoon that climbed a skyscraper yesterday. Also maybe I guess why use tumblrspeak or whatever when referring to yourself as a terrorist…

The-Squidnapper

AMA Author

9 points·

12 days ago

·edited 11 days ago

There is an Ancient Compact Between Squid And Raccoon: I feed them unlimited kibble on the porch every night, and in return they don’t tear the shit out of our organics bin on Recycling Night. Unfortunately there is a loophole;nothing in the compact forbids them from tearing the shit out of our roof. Although I think they may have done so as a retaliatory tariff against the new “raccoon-proof” bins the city has been rolling out. It’s always the innocents that get caught in the middle.

MPRRaccoon is a North American Hero, just as much as little Timmy who fell down the well in that old episode of The Simpsons. Oh, and this just in from The BUG:

‘Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn even went so far as to offer a $1,000 charity donation to “anyone who saves this raccoon. I can’t handle this. Poor dude.”’

https://www.blogto.com/city/2018/06/toronto-sends-thoughts-and-prayers-raccoon-minnesota/

Excuse me for a moment while I wipe myself, and go put on my Rocket t-shirt.

Gary K. Wolfe for CHICAGO TRIBUNE reviews the book.

Sometimes sheer magnitude of scale can lend an epic scope to stories which, at the human level, remain fairly intimate. Peter Watts’s episodic tale mostly concerns efforts by a few crew members to rebel against the artificial intelligence that controls their spaceship, and whose motives they have come to distrust.

<snip>

The real question she faces, however, and what gives Watts’s tale surprising depth, is what it means to be human on an endless mission in an uncaring universe.

BLUCHICKENNINJA highly recommends THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION.

THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION is a story about humans living in an unbearable situation. And I think the human character aspect is what Peter Watts has excelled at. The other short stories start involving aliens and they lack something because of this.

This is a hard science-fiction story, if you like books such as Seveneves by Neal Stephenson I would recommend this. It also has elements of artificial intelligence, and the problems which comes from having an all-knowing AI in control of a ship. In some ways it is also similar to The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.

I would highly recommend this book to any reader who enjoys locked room puzzles, political intrigue, and human stories in science fiction settings.

The French L’ÉPAULE D’ORION lauds the narrative and its hidden text.

THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION is a short narrative that offers a relatively simple and classic scenario, without the philosophical depth that Peter Watts has been able to accustom us in the past. Although it is very far from reaching the heights of Blind Vision, the text offers a certain sense of wonder in view of the extent of what it gives to imagine, but which comes more from its frame than from the scenario itself. even. It is also very accessible for a hard-SF novel and this is undoubtedly its highest quality. The scientific side, always very elaborate at Watts, never disturbs the story.

That being said, you will need to be attentive during your reading as the main text contains a hidden text, and if you find it, you will be rewarded with a revelation that is even more interesting than the main text itself. I would almost be tempted to give him 3 stars just for that. He’s teasing Peter Watts.

(Translation from French courtesy of Google)

For more info on THE FREEZE-FRAME REVOLUTION, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover and design by Elizabeth Story

April 19, 2018

Nancy Springer’s THE ODDLING PRINCE is an early contender for the best fantasy novel of 2018

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ama, brian giberson, elizabeth story, ian white, jasmiin's library, nancy springer, reddit, starburst, the oddling prince

Ian White for STARBURST praises Nancy Springer’s forthcoming THE ODDLING PRINCE.

Let’s start with an admission. Tachyon is swiftly becoming this writer’s favourite publishing house for fantasy fiction and this latest offering from Nancy Springer is right up there with other authors in their stable like Patricia A. McKillip, Peter S. Beagle, and Ellen Klages. This is luminous writing that enfolds the reader like a spell from the very first page. Some may find the stylistic language and first-person POV off-putting to begin with but stick with it because there is something beautifully out-of-time about the way Springer weaves her words that fit the atmosphere of this tale enormously well. This is an alien medieval world, but her prose makes us feel immediately at home here.

But what really sets THE ODDLING PRINCE apart from other similarly-themed stories is its emotional intensity. The bond between Aric and Albaric feels totally real, and the complicated relationship that emerges between Albaric and their father has a genuine heart-breaking complexity. We might be in the realms of fantasy, but the dynamics between the characters – the love, guilt, doubt and pain – are all recognisably human. Albaric is fey, but he has given up so much (including his immortality) to save the king’s life and be among mortals, and Aric – as the only character who truly feels Albaric’s agony – is a good-hearted man who is immediately torn between his loyalty for his newly-discovered sibling and his fealty to his king, a king who seems to deny Albaric’s very existence. There are other fantastic characters in this book, moments of great action, and a genuine external jeopardy to overcome, but it is this intriguing push-pull between the three men that we believe makes THE ODDLING PRINCE such a richly textured and transformative read. Hold onto your bows and arrows Elflings, we might have an early contender for the best fantasy novel of 2018.

JASMIN’S LIBRARY enjoyed the novel.

The story of THE ODDLING PRINCE is harmoniously paced with a wonderful atmosphere and loveable characters. I found it extremely refreshing to have a male protagonist and follow his innocent yet strong character throughout the book. But I also grew to love peaceful Albaric as well as the adorable Marissa, who was named an enemy to the kingdom due her heritage but proofed to be its sanctuary. There is very little violence and just the hint of romance in the book, which is also new to my reading habits, but simply perfect for the story and its characters. Since I have never before read a book by Nancy Springer, I needed quite some time to adjust to her writing style but found it very enjoyable in the end.

All in all the story itself is a wonderful piece of literature and definitely worth a read, even though I personally prefer more action. Still the plot was thoughtfully handled and the characters were undoubtedly the heart of THE ODDLING PRINCE.

Photo: Lyla Ellzey

Springer recently participated in a REDDIT AMA.

[–]jenile 2 points 13 days ago

Someone crossposted this to r/fantasy or I would have totally missed it (I only hang out in one place on reddit or I’d be here all day and get nothing done).

First, I am so excited to see an AMA from you! I read your Book of the Isles novels back in my teenage years, which helped to spark my life love of fantasy and I spent years trying to find something that hit me as hard emotionally and imaginatively as that series did. They were gorgeous! I spent many hours trying to draw the back cover from The White Hart and horses from your novels 😉 (I have the art still and it’s quite embarrassing.)

Recently, I was lucky enough to read The Oddling Prince (netgalley) and I adored it! I couldn’t have asked for a better return to your early fantasy. I took a trip down memory lane and reread the first couple books from the Isles series after finishing it, then Larque on the Wing, and your Sea King trilogy which I didn’t even know about! It’s a wonder I ever found any book by authors I liked pre-internet, I don’t know what I would do without Amazon and kindle anymore…

I’m trying to think of a question but all am managing is gushing…lol But it’s so cool to be able to tell the author of whom I have had a lifelong love of their novels, just how much they touched me!

So, lets see, I’ve always wondered what sparked your love of the brothers by choice even if not by blood, theme you have in a lot of fantasy? Do you have a brother/sister? wish you did? Wish you didn’t? lol

Also are we going to see more like the Oddling Prince now that you have returned to your roots for that? Has it opened a can of worms (so to speak)and do we have more to look forward to in the fantasy side of the genre?

[–]NancySpringerAMA Author[S] 2 points 13 days ago

Thank you for gushing over me! I adore being gushed over.

That oddity of mine, two hero/brothers, one dark, mystic and moody, the other fair and friendly: I was trying, unconsciously and psychologically, to get me and myself together. The dark, moody side of me had been so repressed that it wasn’t until after 30, and several novels, that I was able to recognize my own emotions. After a while I got more together, and realized I was female, and my writing went on in other forms.

But I am delighted that you enjoyed The Oddling Prince, a deliberate return to my roots. As for what lies ahead, hey, I’m seventy years old, so who knows?

Thanks for being a great fan!

For more info on THE ODDLING PRINCE, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Brian Giberson

Design by Elizabeth Story

March 29, 2018

Excitement mounts for the impending release of Nancy Springer’s THE ODDLING PRINCE

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized always me, ama, brian giberson, elizabeth story, nancy springer, reddit, the bibliosanctum, the oddling prince, zeezee with books

Eagerness abounds across the ‘net for Nancy Springer’s forthcoming novel THE ODDLING PRINCE.

THE BIBLIOSANCTUM:

A couple weeks ago I was also thrilled to receive a surprise package from the wonderful team at Tachyon Publications, containing THE ODDLING PRINCE by Nancy Springer, a historical fantasy set in the ancient moors of Scotland. Its premise has a charming fairy tale-like quality to it, and already I’ve seen this one likened to the works of Juliet Marillier. I just hope those comparisons are true because this one sounds incredible.

ZEEZEE WITH BOOKS:

I began this recently and am curious about it and like the writing so far. I believe it is YA fantasy and it has a fairy tale quality to it.

ALWAYS ME:

This ARC I’ve been approved for is a fantasy set in ancient Scotland, how cool is that!

Photo: Bob O’Leary

Springer will be participating in a REDDIT AMA on April 5 at 2-4PM EST.

For more info on THE ODDLING PRINCE, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Brian Giberson

Design by Elizabeth Story

June 16, 2015

Bestselling author Peter V. Brett participates in another Reddit AMA

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ama, brayan's gold, demon cycle, elizabeth story, fantasy, interview, lauren k cannon, peter v brett, reddit, the great bazaar, the great bazaar & brayan's gold

Over at his REDDIT AMA, Peter V. Brett answered questions about writing, publishing, THE DEMON CYCLE, and his new book THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD.

Terr1ble

Mr. Brett, How hard is it switching from radical viewpoints mid-story? The more European traditional story line interrupted by mid-Eastern value influenced characters and vise-versa adds interesting depth as a reader. I find myself not wanting to wait to get back to the Warded Man and crew, but then I don’t want to leave the Shar’Dama Ka’s entourage. How do you lay out the timelines and mesh them together to create the books? Thank you for the AMA and the wonderful world.

Pvbrett

I plot out each viewpoint storyline in advance before I start writing, giving each a (usually) three-act story arc, using dates on the Thesan calendar to keep the timeline straight. Then I move the chapters around to weave the stories together more or less chronologically, tying deeper flashback chapters in to events in the “present”.

Once I have the full outline of the book complete, I then write the prose chapters in in proper order. This usually results in writing every character’s act 1, then every character’s act 2, then the climax which usually brings many of them together.

I also have a detailed series wiki, and a lot of headaches.

Defensive ward against: Snow Demons
First appeared: Brayan’s Gold

Ward by Lauren K. Cannon, copyright by Peter V. Brett.

KeithXDow

Hello Mr. Brett! I recently finished my debut manuscript about the life of a young professional in New York City set against the rise and fall of the 2008 stock market.

Can you detail for us the process you went through to get signed by your first literary agent?

Pvbrett

I met Joshua Bilmes of JABberwocky Literary at a Science Fiction Writers of America event, and again at an SF convention. After telling him about my novel, he asked me to submit it.

He rejected it, but said he would read other books if I had them. So I sent him another book. He rejected that, too, then told me to read Writing to Sell by Scott Meredith, and gut-rewrite the first book. I took a year to do that, and came back with The Warded Man, which went on to sell in 27 different languages worldwide. It was a good lesson in the power of being stubborn but able to accept criticism.

Good luck!

GlorNarzig

Hey Peter. Thanks for doing another AMA, it’s great to have authors doing these more often. It’s great that fans can connect with their favourite world builders. How do you think social media has best helped authors interact with fans and establish a really awesome fanbase? Do you feel that it sometimes takes too much out of your day to be constantly updating things once you start?

I love your books and I can’t wait to see how everything turns out in the end.

Oh, one last thing. I haven’t yet read your novellas, I plan to but I wanted to know if there’s some really interesting things I’m missing out on. Thanks again.

Pvbrett

Thank you!

Social media has been great in letting authors establish themselves apart from their books and publishers as real people. For me it has been an incredible boon, letting me interact with people all over the world. I am published in 27 languages, and thanks to social media and translation software, all of my readers can feel included and that I hear and care about them. Writing is also an incredibly lonely occupation, so it’s nice to have the reminder that we’re not just shouting in the dark.

I think most social media users are learning that it sometimes takes up too much of their IRL day. Every couple I know is establishing device time rules to keep it from interfering in their relationships. This is typical of new technology, so it’s not shocking, but we are in as big a flux as the introduction of television. Takes discipline and getting used to in order to keep it from taking over.

Regarding the novellas, it isn’t strictly necessary to read them to enjoy the novels, but they definitely enhance and add a lot IMO, and I’m very proud of them. The Great Bazaar and Messenger’s Legacy, in particular, were written to tie directly into Desert Spear and Skull Throne respectively.

LucidLunatic

The events in Bryan’s Gold are mentioned as an aside, and it is good reading, but contributes relatively little to understanding of the series. I haven’t read Great Bazaar, but I hope/suspect it is in a similar place. Messenger’s Legacy, however, is a pretty direct prequel to Skull Throne, and without reading it xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx will come out of the blue.

Pvbrett

Great Bazaar ties into Desert Spear quite closely. It was meant as a bridge between the books. Brayan’s Gold is the most standalone of the bunch.

Read the rest of Brett’s AMA at REDDIT.

Defensive ward against: Clay Demons
First appeared: The Great Bazaar

Ward by Lauren K. Cannon, copyright by Peter V. Brett.

For more info about THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover design by Elizabeth Story.

May 5, 2015

On a Reddit AMA, Peter V. Brett discusses tattoos, demons, THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD, and loads more

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ama, brayan's gold, demon cycle, demons, fantasy, interview, mark lawrence, peter v brett, reddit, tattoos, the great bazaar, the great bazaar & brayan's gold

On April 30, Peter V. Brett participated in a Reddit AMA. Things began with award-wing fantasy author Mark Lawrence.

[–]MarkLawrence/r/Fantasy Best of 2013 & 2014 Winner (+AMA Author)

OK, a serious question, no 1000 ducks, no horses, none of that.

Demons … they rise out of the core and solidify … but their bodies seem to fit the area they appear in, rock demons in rocky places, wood demons in forests, sand demons in deserts etc. So my original vision of it was that they somehow construct themselves bodies using the local materials. But I’m not so sure of that now as it doesn’t really match the descriptions (from memory). But if that’s not the case then why would they have bodies that ‘fit’. Also – I’ve never been clear if they eat people or just kill them. Do they eat animals too – I’m thinking not or there would be precious few animals left? And if they did … what would all the sand demons be eating to keep fed?

So I guess that’s my question – in the core are all the demons basically the same thing and then they rise and build appropriate bodies, or are they sand and wood and fire demons the whole time and they just aim to appear somewhere that ‘fits’?

If it’s the former, then I presume if you had a sewage farm or a sweet factory you could get shit demons and candy demons rising?

PS – still really enjoying Skull Throne!

[–]PvbrettAMA Author[S]

Yes and no. Demons are the same in the Core as on the surface. Some of their forms are influenced when the mind demon consort imprints on them at birth, but after that it’s more a matter of natural evolution; slow changes over the course of many years. Demons are immortal unless killed, so the same demon can change gradually over the course of its lifetime. No two are exactly alike.

Most drones are not smart enough to shapeshift, they dematerialize, ride a current to the surface, and put themselves back together more or less the same way from their original matter. But that said, they are influenced by both the terrain they pass through and their local brethren, and over time it affects their form.

Demons often do eat what they kill, but the act of killing itself, particularly their ancient enemies (humans), is pleasurable to them. They have hunted most of the mid-sized animals (and humans) to near-extinction. The only animals that remain are those that have adapted to fleeing/hiding, or those that have fed on demon meat or otherwise evolved big and badass enough to fight back, like nightwolves and Angierian mustang.

Demons also kill and eat below the surface. Sometimes each other, and sometimes subterranean creatures.

<snip>

[–]MisakAttack

HELLO PETER V BRETT,

I HOPE THE CORE IS GOING WELL. I LOVED THE SHIT OUT OF THE SKULL THRONE. NO JOKE, SON. LOOKING FORWARD TO WHATEVER YOU PLAN ON RELEASING NEXT.

DO YOU PLAN ON RELEASING A BIG BOOK FULL OF DEMON’S CYCLE NOVELLAS? WILL IT HAVE A SEXY COVER THAT MATCHES THE OTHER DEMON’S CYCLE COVERS? I LIKE IT WHEN BOOKS IN A SERIES ALL MATCH COVERS. PEOPLE SAY YOU SHOULDN’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE DUMB.

WATCHING GAME OF THRONES? SHIT’S CRAZY, RIGHT?
GOOD DAY AND HAVE A PLEASANT TOMORROW.

(sorry for yelling, I had a lot of coffee and I want attention)

[–]PvbrettAMA Author[S]

THANKS SO MUCH. YES, TACHYON PRESS IS RELEASING THE GREAT BAZAAR AND BRAYAN’S GOLD AS A COMBINED MASS MARKET NEXT MONTH! YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE AWESOME COVER AND DETAILS HERE:https://tachyonpublications.com/product/great-bazaar-brayans-gold/

I AM WAITING TO BANK A BUNCH OF EPS OF GOT BEFORE STARTING THIS SEASON.

THANKS FOR hack! cough! Cough! Sorry. All this shouting is murder on my throat. Thanks.

[–]Rytn

Do you actually say “honest word” in everyday conversations? That’d be awesome, honest word.

How do you feel about the criticism you get about Renna? Has this affected her character design/development at all or are you keeping Renna true to yourself/herself/itself?

If you could give one piece of advice to writers what would it be?

[–]PvbrettAMA Author[S]

I do say honest word sometimes. Usually only to people who get the reference, but it works surprisingly well regardless.

I was initially surprised at the extreme reactions to Renna. There are message board threads created just to hate on her, yet there is no character cosplayed as often, or with as much passion. There is a large group of readers convinced she is the real Deliverer.

I think some of the issue is that we are seeing on the page a lot of the magic-addiction and the emotional roller-coaster that Arlen went through off page. We lose track of Arlen when he starts warding himself and eating demon meat, and when we see him again years later, he is fundamentally changed. It’s why he understands so well what she’s going through, and believes in her. She’s the one that brought him back to himself, and he’ll be corespawned if he can’t do the same for her.

And that’s the other part of the issue. A lot of folks ‘shipped Arlen and Leesha in book 1, and then Renna came in and popped that bubble.

Regardless, Renna remains on the same arc she has always been. I would be a pretty sad excuse for an author if I let readers dictate what I write. And that right there is the best advice I can give you. Know when to take criticism, and when to ignore it. It’s a fool’s game trying to please everyone.

<snip>

[–]sharklops

Hi Peter love the books! I’m the guy who sent you the spear image with the transparent background for your website.

Just wondering if, with the important role tattooing plays in your books, what if any tattoos do you have yourself?

[–]PvbrettAMA Author[S]

Thank you! I only have one tattoo myself. It is a Japanese katana with a heart-shaped tsuba that I drew. The sword is called Heart’s Guard, and was carried by the hero of the first fantasy series I wrote. Those books were never published and never will be, but I learned a lot writing them. The tattoo, on my forearm where I see it every day, it a reminder to never quit aspiring to do better in writing.

Been meaning to get a ward circle tattoo, but I have been lazy…

Read the rest of the AMA at Reddit.

For more info about THE GREAT BAZAAR & BRAYAN’S GOLD, visit theTachyon page.

Cover design by Elizabeth Story.

February 26, 2015

Kate Elliott discusses storytelling, her new collection, and of course cake

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized ama, cake, collection, crossroads, elizabeth story, essays, fantasy, interview, julie dillon, kate elliott, reddit, short stories, spiritwalker, the very best of kate elliott

Recently, Kate Elliott answered fan questions in a Reddit AMA.

[–]TFrohockAMA Author

Hi, Kate! I’ve really enjoyed your Spiritwalker trilogy.

Can you tell us some of the favorite themes you like to write about in your stories and maybe just a little about why those themes resonate with you?

[–]KateElliottAMA Author[S]

Thank you, Teresa.

Spiritwalker is a good example of four of my favorite themes, ones that crop up in many of my series.

1) Active, physical protagonist. Can be a fighter but doesn’t have to be, just someone who is comfortable in their body and strong and likes to move. This resonates with me because, um, it describes me. I hasten to add my characters are not “versions” of me, but I do enjoy writing that physical type.

2) Revolution. I’m just so interested in how societies work and how they fall apart and how they change, sometimes in violent ways and sometimes in quiet, subtle ways. I’m not sure why this theme resonates for me but I suspect that the whole American Revolution thing is a big deal in the USA so perhaps it’s partly an echo of that.

3) Family. I identify strongly with the idea that we are who we are in relationship to the people around us. I do not resonate so much with the “loner cut off from all relationship” type of character or the “orphan protagonist” in part because I find so fascinating the ways in which people can both feel close to and find annoying family members (whether blood or found family) and I think I examine that dichotomy a lot in Spiritwalker. We all constantly walk that balance.

4) A love story. I just enjoy writing these.

<snip>

[–]KateElliottAMA Author[S]

I do talk a lot about gender in fantasy and about having women characters in books because I grew up reading and loving sff and wishing I saw more female characters in the stories.

Once I started writing I decided to write what I wanted which was: more female characters in books both as main characters and as secondary characters. That’s the main thing. I just wanted what was, to me, a more interesting and varied cast.

Spiritwalker is told in first person and has a single point of view character who is female, but I am pretty sure (although I haven’t counted it up) that all my multiple third person point of view series (which is all the others) have a 50/50 split between male/female points of view. So I guess my question would be: If it is a 50/50 split, does that mean I am highlighting women if, in much epic fantasy, it’s more like a 75/25 or 80/20 split? I don’t say that in a snarky way. I’m thinking of academic studies that have suggested that in some circumstances if women make up 30% of a room or talk 30% of the time it is perceived as 50% or more (even though it isn’t). In which case 50% might seem overwhelming to some readers. 😉

<snip>

[–]Bergmaniac

Hi Kate! I bought your short stories collection last week. So far I have only read the Spiritwalker trilogy of your series (though I certainly plan to read more). So my question is – do the short stories in the collection which are set in the worlds of your other series contain major spoilers for them? In other words – is it better if I read these short stories now or after I have read the respective series of novels?

Also, speaking of short stories, which SFF authors do you consider to be the best at writing them?

[–]KateElliottAMA Author[S]

Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it. The Crossroads universe story definitely does spoil the Crossroads Trilogy, so read Crossroads first if you care about spoilers. Of the two Jaran universe stories, My Voice Is In My Sword is safe to read (no crossover at all), and Sunseeker is tricky; it include characters who are important in the Jaran novels but the focus is on a minor character. If you hate ANY spoilers, then no. If only MAJOR spoilers, then I’m torn but possibly yes. Of the two Crown of Stars stories, Riding the Shore contains an embedded spoiler in a passing reference but otherwise is unconnected because it takes place hundreds of years later. The other Crown of Stars story (A Simple Act of Kindness) is actually now alternate history because I completely changed a crucial aspect of the plot after I wrote the story, so you can safely read it (I think) because it tells a story that actually never happens in the series.

<snip>

[–]Ennas_

Hi Kate! Just popping in to let you know that I liked your Spiritwalker trilogy a lot! Your other books are still lost somewhere on Mt TBR. And I would like to have that chocolate cake recipe you mentioned. You can never have too many of those!

[–]KateElliottAMA Author[S]

My Favorite Chocolate Cake

Preheat oven to 400F

Melt over low heat, stirring well: 2 sticks butter, 6 heaping Tablespoons cocoa, 1 c water

Mix: 1 ½ c sugar, 2 c flour, ½ teas baking powder, ½ teas salt, 1 teas soda, ½ c buttermilk, 2 eggs, 1 teas vanilla.

Beat thoroughly.

Combine cooked melted cocoa with flour mixture. Pour into greased, floured pan (9×14) or 2 9” round pans. Bake at 400F for 20 minutes.

[–]Ennas_

(I cant post a pic, but…I made the cake and it tastes great!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v670/sannehoo/cake.jpeg

[–]KateElliottAMA Author[S]

That is so fantastic!!!!

Yes, I love this cake. Not too sweet and really strongly chocolate.

[–]Ennas_

I thought if you surprise me with a real recipe, I can surprise you (and myself) with a real cake. 😀 It’s huge, though! I had to make some cupcakes because my cake tin was too small. But my boardgamefriends didn’t mind!

[–]KateElliottAMA Author[S]

This is a perfect cake for board game/RPG parties.

[–]twinsuns

I love that you actually gave a recipe! Noms.

[–]KateElliottAMA Author[S]

I’m very serious about cake.

[–]Ennas_

Thanks! Cake is serious business! 😉

Read the rest of Kate Elliott’s AMA at Reddit.

For more on THE VERY BEST OF KATE ELLIOTT, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover art by Julie Dillon.

Design by Elizabeth Story.

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