Michael Swanwick's Blog, page 70

"Cloud" in Asimov's Science Fiction

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I'm in print again! This time, it's "Cloud" in the November/December issue of Asimov's Science Fiction.

I'm afraid the cover is a little misleading. "Cloud" is not a hard-science tale of survival featuring an astronaut descending through the atmosphere of a gas giant, reliant only on quick wits and a vacuum suit. Alas. After seeing the artwork, I can't help feeling a little guilty about that. Maybe I should write that cover story someday.

Nevertheless, I am proud of the story. It wasn't easy creating a world that exists on the surface of an enormous cloud with New York City at its very peak. In fact, it took me a couple of years to write--or, rather, to discover exactly why I was writing a tale of World-as-Cloud. But it came out well, I think, and now readers have the opportunity to make up their own minds about it.


And today's diagram . . .




I've mentioned before that a common development in recent-ist literature is the fantasy novel where the hero/heroine one by one acquires a surrogate family. If you doubt this is a real thing, just take a look at Phil and Kaja Foglio's ongoing online graphic novel Girl Genius (you can find it here) and count the number of allies currently surrounding her.

I did something similar with The Iron Dragon's Mother. (I could hardly avoid it, given that it has a substrate of commentary on what fantasy is and should be.) But I flipped it by using the myth of Inanna as a structural model for the second half of the novel. When the Goddess Inanna descended to the underworld, she had to lose, one by one, her armor, her sources of power, her clothing, and, ultimately, her life. Only then could she rise again.

This chart (a timeline reading from top to bottom) was a first effort to catalog what Caitlin had gained and lost over the course of the novel. It's only when she's lost everything but herself that she can find a proper resolution to the novel.

Mind you, when that resolution arrived it came as a surprise to me. But given all that Caitlin had paid for it, it was the only one that made sense.


And as always . . .

I'm on the road again. If you're going to be at Capclave this weekend, be sure o say hello.


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The North Wind Speaks (part 17)

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As good as found
And today's diagram . . .


This diagram covers the Death watch chapter. Read for top down, Cat interacts with Fata Narcisse, G (Grimalka), and Queenie. All three relationships come together at Fata Narcisse's death. Spun off to the side are notes to myself not to forget: Claustrophobia and There must be a sense of  many servants.
The sunlike symbol after the death represents transcendence, accompanied by collapse of glamour and revenge. Following which, Cat will escape via Greyhound. 
Thoughts spun off by the diagram include: (hatred of the Fey) "I like her personally, but I hate her kind." and a list of Servants by Profession, including cooks, waiters, janitors, window washers, florists, yard workers. There are many more, of course, but that's a start. Also: Half the compound was given over to servants who kept it running (& those areas the gentry were not encouraged to enter.)
Most importantly, off to the left-hand side, I wrote (desire for a sister) and an arrow leading to (desire for an heir). At this point, I knew Fata Narcisse's intentions and could begin writing the chapter.
Interestingly enough, it was only when drawing this diagram that I realized how much of the novel was about Caitlin's search for a sister. And yet, it was in there from almost the beginning. 

And . . .
I came home from vacation and immediately took off to New England to teach a couple of classes at the University of Connecticut. I got home last night, and now I'm packing to go to Disclave. So... as always, I'm on the road again.
If you see me at the con, be sure to say hi.

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At the Lima Bean Festival

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Marianne and I topped off our week down the Shore with a visit to the Lima Bean Festival in Cape May.

You may think that Teddy Roosevelt riding a moose is pretty damned American but there's nothing as authentically American as a Lima Bean Festival.  Cape May is a resort town but in October, most of the attendees are local. There are tents where people sell clothing, handmade jewelry, and clever art. Tables where the vendors are selling second-hand stuff less for the money than the conversation. And there are lima beans: Lima Bean Soup, Lima Bean Hummus, Lima Bean Chile, Lima Bean Empanadas... and some Lima Bean Pastries that I didn't dare look too closely at.

I thought that they'd given up on the Lima Bean Earrings but a jewelry lady told me they'd sold out early.

And The North Wind Speaks (part 16) . . .


A lost child?
(continued tomorrow)


And today's diagram . . .



The clearer the novel becomes in my head, the simpler the diagrams. Here, Caitlin's journey is boiled down into three seps:

1. Kill Dragon.

2. Recognize Guilt

3. Recognize Responsibility

Which was far too after-school special for what I had in mind. Kind of a failure in perception, this diagram.




Ths diagram is better. Cat slices through Avernus. At the center are her relationships with Narcisse, Grimalke, the pilots and the haints. The city is divided into the Ruling Class, the Elite, the Blue Collar and the Underlass. The people Cat interacts with include revenants, friends, at least one revolutinary, and servants.


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The North Wind Speaks (part 15)

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and kill him.

And as always . . .

I'm on the road again. So it's possible tomorrow's post will be a little late. I'll do my darnedest, though.


And today's diagram . . .



At the top is a line spoken by Caitlin to Esme when they dine in La Ghoulerie: "You can have anything on the vegan menu." To which, of course, Esme's response would be a disappointed, "Awww."

Today's diagram shows all the major characters as they enter and leave the novel. Note how many are female. Only Fingolfinrhod, Ederkopp, and Rabbit are male. Rabbit is still being held out as a possible love interest. Little does he (or did I) know that he was about to get his ass resolved straight out of the plot.


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"The North Wind Speaks" (episode 14)

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the cad down
And today's diagram . . .



This diagram is labeled In the Ancient City, which means I had not yet determined the city was Avernus nort hat it was built inside the crater of a (probably) dormant volcano.

This is arelationship diagram not a plot one. At top are Cat, Narcisse and Attercop ("Counselor"). Esme is off by herself because... well, because she's Esme. Cat has a relationship with two pilots (Ysault and Sibyl) without Fata Narcisse knowing about it. Narcisse has a relationship with the Conspiracy as do the pilots.

In the ideas part of the page, I ask Carnival?  which is a good notion. I also suggest bringing in the witches who almost catch Will on the train to Babel in The Dragons of Babel. Which, while not actually a bad idea isn't a very interesting one. So I didn't use it.


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The North Wind Speaks (part 13)

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We'll track
(continued tomorrow)


And today's diagram . . .



This is the diagram where I finally realized Helen V.'s importance to the plot. I drew diverging lines for what happens to all the characters (I've finally reached the point where all those who have come together begin to fly apart), and I realized that I hadn't included Helen. So I wrote her name large. Then circled it. Then saw.

Much as I'm trying to de-mystify the process of writing in this series, there are moments in the process that cannot be put into words.

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Texas Tommy's Wonderful Tornado

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Pictured above is Texas Tommy who sells a variety of stuffed hot dogs from a hole-in-the-wall place in Cape May, NJ. He is, as you can guess, an eccentric guy with a good sense of humor. The kind of fellow you meet now and then who makes you feel cheerful for the rest of the day.
He is also a culture hero. For Mr. Tommy has created an entirely new and completely wonderful fast food--the Tornado.There's one pictured below:

And it tastes even better than it looks! What Texas Tommy did was to repurpose a soft ice cream machine to serve hot mashed potatoes. To which he added cheese, chili, hot peppers, salsa, and sour cream. The Five Basic Food Groups of Deliciousness.
It's a meal, it's a self-indulgence, and if the Catholic Church ever notices it, it will probably be declared a sin. That's how good it is.
Only in Cape May. And now that the tourist season is over, only on weekends.

And "The North Wind Speaks" (part 12) . . .


 Is it a faithless lover?
(continued tomorrow)

And today's diagram . . . 

This is kind of a mess, but have patience. The plot moves from top to middle, where it says CRASH. I'm trying to work out the implications of Olympia giving birth. Of Olympia herself, I write: A face of unconcern. A single un-winking eye. Hair like flaming oil. Olympia must be aloof, scornful, uncaring. "If I die, then so much the worse for you who were inadequate protectors.

Of the crone Grimka I write: The  crone is a brick of certainty & worth [therefore] se is a haint. Which, in the actual fact, is a false syllogism

Swooping lines represent the crone (Grimka) and Fata Narcisse. Of Narcisse, I ask: Does she die or live? Which is a much less interesting question than the one The Iron Dragon's Mother ultimately answers.

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The American Phoenix

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Here's a piece of American history that I wish everyone knew. George Henry White was the last African-American congressman of the Reconstruction era. The forces of racism and oppression systematically redrew legislative districts and enacted poll taxes, "literacy tests," and other laws to suppress black voters and one by one shut down politicians of color. On his last day in Congress, White delivered a speech in which he declared, "This is perhaps the Negroes' temporary farewell to the American Congress, but let me say, Phoenix-like he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words are in behalf of an outraged, heart-broken, bruised and bleeding but God-fearing people, faithful, industrious, loyal rising people--full of potential force."

Then he rolled up his sleeves and set to work building up the economic, social, and political power of his race. Whitesboro, NJ, where this marker stands, is part of his legacy.

Over a hundred years later, White's words proved prophetic when Barack Obama quoted them in his second inaugural address. What had been a sad tale of what America is capable of doing to its best and finest became one of vindication and triumph.

And today's episode of "The North Wind Speaks" . . .

. . . was accidentally posted with yesterday's. My bad. The series will continue tomorrow.


And today's diagram . . .



C is for Caitlin and Helen is H. The Heart stands for Romantic Lead who, in the end, never showed up. It turns out that there's no time for romance when you're running for your life. R is for Raven and of course Esme is E.

At this point, I know that Raven and Esme must eventually leave and I'm trying to figure out when Up top it says:

"I'll forget you," Esme promised. "Does that make it better?"
"Hush, monster," Raven said.

And below that, but written before:

Do they leave before the crisis? Of course they do.

Because Esme is Esme and Raven has things to do and a living to earn.



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The North Wind Speaks (part 10)

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and we are all devoted


to her welfare.

And today's diagram . . .

You know how, in the wake of Dungeons & Dragons, the standard for modern fantasy became a lone adventurer slowly assembling a family about themselves? This diagram, read from top to bottom, shows the process of Caitlin becoming her own family. First Helen climbs inside her head. Then the dragon does the same. Esme and Raven become external members of the extended family (as do others). Here, I begin to look forward to the process of Caitlin's shedding of identities with the ultimate goal of becoming singular again.

In the middle, as usual, the ellipses (. . .) indicate the parts unwritten. Those that I'm trying to scry into existence with the diagram.

Ideas created by the diagram include that House Sans Merci is a majority stockholder in the Conspiracy, and the comment by one member of it, "You are representing your mother?" one asked politely.

So I haven't yet written the scene where Caitlin joins the Conspiracy under the nom de guerre Kate Gallowglass. Who becomes, come to think, yet another member of Caitlin's interior family.

I haven't said a word about sisters yet because it wasn't until very close to the end of the novel that I realized their importance to The Iron Dragon's Mother. 



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The North Wind Speaks (the story to date)

.At Marianne's request, here is the text of The North Wind Speaks to date:


The North Wind Speaks

My sister comes rustling through the birch leaves. Gentle she is, but restless, aloof, and intent on her search. What is the East Wind looking for? If only she'd tell us!

Which brings us tidily up to date.
And The North Wind Speaks (part 9) . . .

She has a thousand brothers 

(continued tomorrow)

And today's diagram . . .




A very careful diagram here of the entire novel as I then understood it. On top, the introduction of characters and major events. Those to the left are the written parts of the novel. The dotted lines below indicate events happening that neither Caitlin nor the reader know anything about yet. The events to the right are those at the end which I had figured out, more or less correctly. The arc over it represents Fingolfinrhod's life between his disappearance and reappearance.


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