spiritwalker Archives - Tachyon Publications

spiritwalker

June 11, 2018

Tachyon tidbits featuring Michael Moorcock, Charles de Lint, Jeff VanderMeer, Jo Walton, and Kate Elliott

Alec Checkerfield Uncategorized Ann Monn, annientamento, book riot, cathy pagano, Charles de Lint, charles vess, jeff vandermeer, jo walton, kate elliott, l’intellettuale dissidente, maria ceraso, michael moorcock, podcast, SF in SF, small change, soma fm, spiritwalker, the new weird, the very best of charles de lint, wisdom of astrology

The latest reviews and mentions of Tachyon titles and authors from around the web.

Michael Moorcock (source: A.V. CLUB), Charles de Lint (Leslie Howle), Jeff VanderMeer (Kyle Cassiday), Jo Walton, and Kate Elliott (April Quintanilla)

SOMA FM shares the podcast of Michael Moorcock’s appearance at the April SF IN SF.

Michael Moorcock in conversation with Terry Bisson, along with questions from the audience.

Cathy Pagano on WISDOM OF ASTROLOGY references Charles de Lint’s “The Stone Drum” from THE VERY BEST OF CHARLES DE LINT.

“The Moon likes secrets,”Meran said. “And secret things. She lets mysteries bleed into her shadows and leaves us to ask whether they originated from otherworlds, or from our own imaginations.” The Stone Drum, Charles de Lint.

This month’s Gemini/Sagittarius Full Moon is a storyteller Moon. It calls us to take a look at how our Mind works. How the words and images we live with every day shape our perceptions of the world.

The Sagittarius Full Moon asks us to go on the quest for the secrets of our deepest truths, often hidden behind our words. So be prepared to have an adventure. The Gemini Sun scouts out the many possibilities and opportunities that are available to us, and our Sagittarius Moon bleeds her shadows on our lives and the world. The opportunity offered is to clear up and let go of old misguided beliefs. Beliefs that no longer serve our new needs. Beliefs that are bleeding us dry of our vitality, hope and vision.

Some perspectives arise out of a mixture of our fears and hopes. Some are rooted in our deepest heart truths. Use the sword of clear Mind to make your choices. It is the voice of our free will. We get to choose. Where do your values lie? What perspective rings the truth of your heart? Follow the pull of your heart to the mystery awaiting you.

On the Italian site L’INTELLETTUALE DISSIDENTE, Maria Ceraso discusses Jeff VanderMeer’s Area X trilogy.

The theme of metamorphosis is undoubtedly one of the most frequented and fruitful in the literary imagery of all time. We find examples already in the Homeric poems and, in the Roman sphere, in the Ovidian masterpiece. Dante employs metamorphosis as one of the mechanisms of retaliation, Stevenson links it to the chiaroscuros of the human psyche, Kafka engages it in modernity. The term metamorphosis it derives from the Greek: it indicates a passage of form, whereby the subject who suffers it changes in its external appearance, while maintaining its identity unaltered. This is a common phenomenon: just think of the growth of amphibians or the cycle of plants. Probably the observation of these manifestations of nature has contributed to the elaboration of myths by the ancient man, and perhaps it is possible that he continues to do so today. Eliade reminds us that the myth has never completely disappeared: it is alive in dreams, in the fantasies and in the nostalgia of modern man. And the writers, then? Are they still mythographs?

Jeff VanderMeer definitely tries. In the Trilogy of Area X, one of his last literary labors, each volume is the piece of an unprecedented analysis of the new mutations of contemporary man. Author of stories and novels, journalist for the New York Times, the Guardian and the Huffington Post, Jeff VanderMeer is known for having coined the definition of New Weird, a genre in which the novels composing this trilogy are also fully registered.

The New Weird is a type of fiction of realistic-urban setting that subverts the classic idea of diegetic space found in traditional fantasy, mostly choosing complex and realistic models of real world as a starting point for creating environments that combine science fiction elements. and fantasy. The New Weird has a deeply present essence that, for the construction of style, tone and effects, often resorts to elements typical of surreal or transgressive horror, combined with the stimuli given by the influence of New Wave writers or movements similar (including also precursors such as Mervyn Peake and the decadent French and English).

[J. VanderMeer, Notes and Introduction, in THE NEW WEIRD, ed. by A. and J. VanderMeer, Tachyon Publications (2008)]

(Translation from Italian courtesy of Google)

For BOOK RIOT, Teresa Preston includes Jo Walton’s Small Change Trilogy and Kate Elliott’s Spirtwalker Series among What If? 15 Great Alternative History Books and Series.

The book and book series listed below are just a few examples of the many creative explorations of history that are out there. Some are set in the real world, but in a version where a past event turned out differently. And some introduce a fantasy element and consider how history would be different if those fantasies were real. But all of them hinge on the question, “What if…?”

THE SMALL CHANGE TRILOGY BY JO WALTON

The first novel, Farthing, is set in 1949, in a version of England that made peace with Hitler instead of continuing the war. The novel begins with a murder, and most of it reads like a straightforward mystery. The subsequent novels, Ha’Penny and Half a Crown, follow Inspector Carmichael, the detective who investigated the Farthing murder, as he watches England plunge further into darkness.

SPIRITWALKER SERIES BY KATE ELLIOTT

Beginning with Cold Magic, this steampunk series is set in a version of the 19th century in which the Ice Age never ended, changing the balance of power across the globe. Mages and spirits and dragons also exist in this version of our world.

For more information about THE VERY BEST OF CHARLES DE LINT, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Charles Vess

For more info about THE NEW WEIRD, visit the Tachyon page.

Cover by Ann Monn

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.