Peadar Ó Guilín's Blog, page 16
April 8, 2014
Oh, Beauteous LuxCon!
My shower curtain doubles as a huge map of the world, complete with political borders, islands and deep blue seas. A few countries are missing, of course. Some of these did not exist when the map was made. But absent too, is tiny Luxembourg, which to be fair to the curtain cartographers, is only eleven hundred years old.
So, what was I expecting from LuxCon when I nearly missed my connecting flight and almost lost a bag of books? Small. That's what I was expecting. Not large or huge. Not rotund or generously proportioned. I guessed there'd be at most a hundred attendees, sneaking into the convention (probably held in a barn or a seedy pub) with brown paper bags to hide their identities.
Oh, I've been wrong about things before, but rarely as wrong as this!
The building -- a converted shoe factory of all things! -- is a magnificent venue, capable of hosting many hundreds of enthusiasts, and boy did they come! 600 of them from all over Northern Europe, and not a paper bag in sight. Instead, they wore costumes from every movie, game, comic and book you can think of. There were Time Lords and Fox Spirits; demons and Storm Troopers; knights and... well, little bewildered Irishmen. Best of all, the average age of the visitors was probably very early twenties.
I like to award prizes, and LuxCon gets the Peadar Bloody Brilliantly Organized Con Trophy for 2014. It's impossible to see this as Luxembourg's first convention. It ran so smoothly, looked so beautiful, brought in so many smiling people, eating so many delicious frites...
On a personal note, I met a legion of great people and got to hang out with a clever little gang of BwBers (and a dog) -- pub quiz heroes every one.
LuxCon 2014 was an absolute triumph. Roll on 2015
So, what was I expecting from LuxCon when I nearly missed my connecting flight and almost lost a bag of books? Small. That's what I was expecting. Not large or huge. Not rotund or generously proportioned. I guessed there'd be at most a hundred attendees, sneaking into the convention (probably held in a barn or a seedy pub) with brown paper bags to hide their identities.
Oh, I've been wrong about things before, but rarely as wrong as this!
The building -- a converted shoe factory of all things! -- is a magnificent venue, capable of hosting many hundreds of enthusiasts, and boy did they come! 600 of them from all over Northern Europe, and not a paper bag in sight. Instead, they wore costumes from every movie, game, comic and book you can think of. There were Time Lords and Fox Spirits; demons and Storm Troopers; knights and... well, little bewildered Irishmen. Best of all, the average age of the visitors was probably very early twenties.
I like to award prizes, and LuxCon gets the Peadar Bloody Brilliantly Organized Con Trophy for 2014. It's impossible to see this as Luxembourg's first convention. It ran so smoothly, looked so beautiful, brought in so many smiling people, eating so many delicious frites...
On a personal note, I met a legion of great people and got to hang out with a clever little gang of BwBers (and a dog) -- pub quiz heroes every one.
LuxCon 2014 was an absolute triumph. Roll on 2015
April 4, 2014
New Podcast Available, PLUS! A Most Lovely Review
Well, two most excellent things today:
My story Heartless from issue #84 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies has been reimmortalised as a podcast over at PodCastle. Veronica Giguere did a lively and sly reading, with different voices for all the poor unfortunates involved. Really, if you're not too squeamish -- that was a dare, in case you didn't realise -- you should check it out.
Meanwhile, over on the Black Gate web site, Sarah Avery has written the most generous possible review of my mini ebook collection Forever in the Memory of God and Other Stories. Wow. Thank you!
Finally, I have yet to write up my review of the stupendous convention I was at in Luxembourg -- LuxCon. A huge success, but I haven't had five minutes yet to write it up. That's my own fault -- I have a tonne of work to do for LonCon at the moment that I've left for far too long.
My story Heartless from issue #84 of Beneath Ceaseless Skies has been reimmortalised as a podcast over at PodCastle. Veronica Giguere did a lively and sly reading, with different voices for all the poor unfortunates involved. Really, if you're not too squeamish -- that was a dare, in case you didn't realise -- you should check it out.
Meanwhile, over on the Black Gate web site, Sarah Avery has written the most generous possible review of my mini ebook collection Forever in the Memory of God and Other Stories. Wow. Thank you!
Finally, I have yet to write up my review of the stupendous convention I was at in Luxembourg -- LuxCon. A huge success, but I haven't had five minutes yet to write it up. That's my own fault -- I have a tonne of work to do for LonCon at the moment that I've left for far too long.
March 17, 2014
Potential Blurb for The Volunteer
Well, I got great joy from my LJ buddies when I was test-driving the blurb for my mini-collection Forever in the Memory of God and Other Stories. Many thanks, peeps, but since you've given me an inch, I'm taking the mile to which I'm entitled!
What follows is a test blurb for my forthcoming book, The Volunteer. Be warned! The blurb has a few spoilers for anyone who has yet to read The Inferior. You should be fine if you haven't read The Deserter, though.
Suggestions are welcome. There's still time!
What follows is a test blurb for my forthcoming book, The Volunteer. Be warned! The blurb has a few spoilers for anyone who has yet to read The Inferior. You should be fine if you haven't read The Deserter, though.
Suggestions are welcome. There's still time!
February 24, 2014
Cons, Watching, Reading
Cons
This will be a busy Con year for me.
Among other bits of news, I've recently heard that tickets for the amazing, the fantastic, the unbelievable TitanCon have just gone on sale. If you love Game of Thrones, or Belfast, or Science Fiction, or goats, then this is as groovy a con as you can expect to find. Buy your tickets now and make sure you're in Belfast on September 12th.
But the next Con I'll be attending is a brand new one for me and everybody else involved. I absolutely can't wait to hie myself over to Luxembourg -- yes, you heard me correctly -- Luxembourg, for the first ever LuxCon. I plan to make a fool of myself in French and English and bits and pieces of other things. This should be something really special. It's all happening in an old shoe factory on 29-30 March.
Watching
The Vikings raided TV screens in the US last year, so, it's a shame it took Irish channels so long to bring the series to the country in which it was made! It's solid Norse entertainment with a few lovely touches and great atmosphere. I'm only halfway through the series, so, spoilers will result in berserker behaviour on my part.
House of Cards, like Gandalf, always appears precisely when it means to. That is the joy of Netflix! I had to do a rewatch of season one in order to remember what was going on. I enjoyed it very much, especially the final episode that had left me so cold first time around. And then... holy moly! The first episode of season 2 was a real stormer! Can't wait to watch the rest.
Up next, will be True Detective. Episode 1 just aired here the other night. I have recorded it...
Reading
First Man in Rome by Colleen McCoullagh has been on my radar forever. Now, that I've finally got around to reading it, I'm finding it very enjoyable. My only quibble is that some of the plotting seems rather too convenient.
[image error]
Nothing Else.
Honestly, life is quiet here, with much cowering from vengeful storms and starving Norks. I will return soon with some very entertaining posts on the nature of meaning and enlightenment and stuff.
This will be a busy Con year for me.
Among other bits of news, I've recently heard that tickets for the amazing, the fantastic, the unbelievable TitanCon have just gone on sale. If you love Game of Thrones, or Belfast, or Science Fiction, or goats, then this is as groovy a con as you can expect to find. Buy your tickets now and make sure you're in Belfast on September 12th.
But the next Con I'll be attending is a brand new one for me and everybody else involved. I absolutely can't wait to hie myself over to Luxembourg -- yes, you heard me correctly -- Luxembourg, for the first ever LuxCon. I plan to make a fool of myself in French and English and bits and pieces of other things. This should be something really special. It's all happening in an old shoe factory on 29-30 March.
Watching
The Vikings raided TV screens in the US last year, so, it's a shame it took Irish channels so long to bring the series to the country in which it was made! It's solid Norse entertainment with a few lovely touches and great atmosphere. I'm only halfway through the series, so, spoilers will result in berserker behaviour on my part.
House of Cards, like Gandalf, always appears precisely when it means to. That is the joy of Netflix! I had to do a rewatch of season one in order to remember what was going on. I enjoyed it very much, especially the final episode that had left me so cold first time around. And then... holy moly! The first episode of season 2 was a real stormer! Can't wait to watch the rest.
Up next, will be True Detective. Episode 1 just aired here the other night. I have recorded it...
Reading
First Man in Rome by Colleen McCoullagh has been on my radar forever. Now, that I've finally got around to reading it, I'm finding it very enjoyable. My only quibble is that some of the plotting seems rather too convenient.
[image error]
Nothing Else.
Honestly, life is quiet here, with much cowering from vengeful storms and starving Norks. I will return soon with some very entertaining posts on the nature of meaning and enlightenment and stuff.
February 18, 2014
Forever in the Memory of God And Other Stories Now Available!
So, I've finally done it. I have put out an eBook of three of my stories that you will not, can not, find almost* anywhere else. These are my very best tales, hands down. They have been lovingly edited by Gabrielle Harbowy, and a real-life designer has accepted dollars to ensure that they are properly clothed for their foray into the world. In addition, a snowy white bull without blemish has been sacrificed on the steps of the Temple of Jupiter Maximus to ensure that anyone who buys this book will know only happiness forever after.**
In short, no expense has been spared and no profit is possible. I'm learning here, and need to get it right so that when summer arrives and it's time to bring forth The Volunteer, the fans of that series will not feel short-changed.
So... let us unveil the cover.
Maestro! Some music!
An Introduction to the Stories
The collection opens with The First of Many -- something of a lie when you consider how small this book is! It is, however, the longest piece by far, being the only novelette I have ever written. I was extremely lucky to be able to road-test the opening chapter of this story in front of a live audience at TitanCon in Belfast last year. Thank you
themountaingoat
! The reaction I received, both during the reading, and afterwards in the lobby, filled my head with all kinds of foolish notions.
The title piece, Forever in the Memory of God, was originally accepted for publication in Black Gate, way back when that magnificent magazine was still making proud appearances on bookshop shelves. Both the editor, John O'Neill, and myself, thought this was the best story I'd ever sent them. He was very kind to allow me to withdraw the piece when I first decided to put out my own collection.
Fairy Gold -- not to be confused with a much older, and more horrific tale of mine called, Fairy Fort -- is the only story in the anthology to have been previously published. It appeared in a wonderful magazine called Lore, of which no electronic version exists. Reviews for the magazine are pretty rare, but Tangentonline had this to say:
“[Fairy Gold] is filled with wonderful weirdness, but it's all there for a reason and has an ending that's surprising and logical. Definitely a highlight in any magazine.”
Get it Here
Forever in the Memory of God And Other Stories is available DRM-Free in all the Kindle stores on the planet. Here's a link to the US version. Non-kindlers can purchase or sample their format of choice by going to the Smashwords page.
The book should also be making an appearance over the coming days in the Kobo Store, in iTunes and in other markets.
Oh! And it costs US$2.99. Let me know if this is excessive! The pricing point is a whole other post...
A Summing Up
So, yes, I sincerely hope that anybody who buys this enjoys it. Reviews from any enjoyers would be much appreciated. In fact, if you have a review blog and need a free copy for the ereader of your choice, please get in contact with me.
And now, let us end, with an uplifting rendition of the National Anthem.
*Apart from Fairy Gold, of course.
**This is a lie. Even the name of the Temple is not quite correct.
In short, no expense has been spared and no profit is possible. I'm learning here, and need to get it right so that when summer arrives and it's time to bring forth The Volunteer, the fans of that series will not feel short-changed.
So... let us unveil the cover.
Maestro! Some music!
An Introduction to the Stories
The collection opens with The First of Many -- something of a lie when you consider how small this book is! It is, however, the longest piece by far, being the only novelette I have ever written. I was extremely lucky to be able to road-test the opening chapter of this story in front of a live audience at TitanCon in Belfast last year. Thank you
themountaingoat
! The reaction I received, both during the reading, and afterwards in the lobby, filled my head with all kinds of foolish notions.The title piece, Forever in the Memory of God, was originally accepted for publication in Black Gate, way back when that magnificent magazine was still making proud appearances on bookshop shelves. Both the editor, John O'Neill, and myself, thought this was the best story I'd ever sent them. He was very kind to allow me to withdraw the piece when I first decided to put out my own collection.
Fairy Gold -- not to be confused with a much older, and more horrific tale of mine called, Fairy Fort -- is the only story in the anthology to have been previously published. It appeared in a wonderful magazine called Lore, of which no electronic version exists. Reviews for the magazine are pretty rare, but Tangentonline had this to say:
“[Fairy Gold] is filled with wonderful weirdness, but it's all there for a reason and has an ending that's surprising and logical. Definitely a highlight in any magazine.”
Get it Here
Forever in the Memory of God And Other Stories is available DRM-Free in all the Kindle stores on the planet. Here's a link to the US version. Non-kindlers can purchase or sample their format of choice by going to the Smashwords page.
The book should also be making an appearance over the coming days in the Kobo Store, in iTunes and in other markets.
Oh! And it costs US$2.99. Let me know if this is excessive! The pricing point is a whole other post...
A Summing Up
So, yes, I sincerely hope that anybody who buys this enjoys it. Reviews from any enjoyers would be much appreciated. In fact, if you have a review blog and need a free copy for the ereader of your choice, please get in contact with me.
And now, let us end, with an uplifting rendition of the National Anthem.
*Apart from Fairy Gold, of course.
**This is a lie. Even the name of the Temple is not quite correct.
February 17, 2014
The Bottoms of Giants: A Writer's Guide to Raking it in
Please do not panic. I am here now. I will tell you how to make that money of which you have dreamt so long. By writing, of course!
But wait, you cry! Who is Peadar Ó Guilín to tell you how to write best-sellers and the like? He is totally without mega-millions of his own. His name has not appeared in the New York Times -- unless you're counting the personal's page -- and it is the bank, and not he, who own that leaky roof above his head.
Yes. I will admit to my own lack of success, but you see, dear readers, while I have yet to climb to the top of the ladder, at least I am on the ladder. I am high enough now that I can see the bottoms of giants and I dwell in the odours that waft thereof.
In short, I am the guy who can tell what the giants are having for dinner.
So, you might ask, what is that recipe that smells so sweet? How might I surpass Croesus and Dan Brown? And can you please, please drop that mocking tone and be at least a little serious?
Consider it done, my tiny friend. Here then, is what you need to be a best-seller:
First, I will dispense with the obvious. Hard Work is a necessary ingredient of a multi-million seller. Yes, even those who made their names from starring in porn videos that "accidentally" leaked onto youtube, will require plenty of sweat and gritted teeth from their grateful ghost-writers. And luck too will play its part, if only because it makes such an excellent excuse for those of us still cleaning toilets by day. And talent, whatever that is, always helps.
But more important than any of these, is an ability to avoid the catch-22 of love.
Avoid what? What are you talking about?
Allow me to explain...
Everybody scorns some fiction sub-genre or other. When we SF nerds are in a bookshop, we enjoy throwing a good sneer in the direction of the heaving shelves of Romance novels. And as for the darlings of Serious Literature, why, they save their derision for the likes of us!
People should feel free to despise whatever they want, but what I find strange is how often they seem to think that the thing they ridicule is "easy". They sometimes boast how they could write a romance novel under an assumed name and make enough of a fortune from it to subsidise something deeper.
Of course, that never works. It can't work. You dislike Romance/Fantasy/Horror precisely because you are blind to what makes other people love it . Thus, you will never be able to give the fans what they want. To be a real success, you must adore what you write, and what you write must have the potential to be adored by millions.
The last point is important. If kettles are your thing, you will never make money writing about them. I know you're talented. I know you're lucky. I know you write every second of the day and that you hone and hone your craft until a reader can hear the tea-time whistle and feel the condensation practically pouring off the page. It doesn't matter. Too few will care.
You can't write a Romance because you don't like Romance. You can't write about kettles because the world doesn't care about kettles. And this, my friend, is the catch-22 of love.
And no, I don't know how you're going to get out of this without a total personality transplant. I lied when I said I could make you millions.
AND SOME SUCCESS
The lovely folks at PodCastle are to make an audio version of yet another one of my stories. More on that closer to the actual release date, but needless to say, I'm delighted. I love them.
But wait, you cry! Who is Peadar Ó Guilín to tell you how to write best-sellers and the like? He is totally without mega-millions of his own. His name has not appeared in the New York Times -- unless you're counting the personal's page -- and it is the bank, and not he, who own that leaky roof above his head.
Yes. I will admit to my own lack of success, but you see, dear readers, while I have yet to climb to the top of the ladder, at least I am on the ladder. I am high enough now that I can see the bottoms of giants and I dwell in the odours that waft thereof.
In short, I am the guy who can tell what the giants are having for dinner.
So, you might ask, what is that recipe that smells so sweet? How might I surpass Croesus and Dan Brown? And can you please, please drop that mocking tone and be at least a little serious?
Consider it done, my tiny friend. Here then, is what you need to be a best-seller:
First, I will dispense with the obvious. Hard Work is a necessary ingredient of a multi-million seller. Yes, even those who made their names from starring in porn videos that "accidentally" leaked onto youtube, will require plenty of sweat and gritted teeth from their grateful ghost-writers. And luck too will play its part, if only because it makes such an excellent excuse for those of us still cleaning toilets by day. And talent, whatever that is, always helps.
But more important than any of these, is an ability to avoid the catch-22 of love.
Avoid what? What are you talking about?
Allow me to explain...
Everybody scorns some fiction sub-genre or other. When we SF nerds are in a bookshop, we enjoy throwing a good sneer in the direction of the heaving shelves of Romance novels. And as for the darlings of Serious Literature, why, they save their derision for the likes of us!
People should feel free to despise whatever they want, but what I find strange is how often they seem to think that the thing they ridicule is "easy". They sometimes boast how they could write a romance novel under an assumed name and make enough of a fortune from it to subsidise something deeper.
Of course, that never works. It can't work. You dislike Romance/Fantasy/Horror precisely because you are blind to what makes other people love it . Thus, you will never be able to give the fans what they want. To be a real success, you must adore what you write, and what you write must have the potential to be adored by millions.
The last point is important. If kettles are your thing, you will never make money writing about them. I know you're talented. I know you're lucky. I know you write every second of the day and that you hone and hone your craft until a reader can hear the tea-time whistle and feel the condensation practically pouring off the page. It doesn't matter. Too few will care.
You can't write a Romance because you don't like Romance. You can't write about kettles because the world doesn't care about kettles. And this, my friend, is the catch-22 of love.
And no, I don't know how you're going to get out of this without a total personality transplant. I lied when I said I could make you millions.
AND SOME SUCCESS
The lovely folks at PodCastle are to make an audio version of yet another one of my stories. More on that closer to the actual release date, but needless to say, I'm delighted. I love them.
January 14, 2014
Reading, Writing, Watching, Listening, Cooking...
Well, yet another of these. Move on! Move on!
READING
I'm currently enjoying Morrissey's Autobiography. I'm listening to it as an audiobook, and it's... beautiful. No other word for it. Also, it's great to see where all those songs came from. Definitely one for the fans, of which I am one.
Chris Moriarty's Spin State is a marvellous hard SF/Detective/Action tale. It was published in 2001, so a few howlers lie in wait to yank you out of the story here and there. Also, the Irish background sub-plot has a MAJOR, MAJOR error that the sadly, non-Irish amongst us will never notice. But for we righteous dwellers of Emeraldville, it's like a punch in the face every time it comes up. However, don't worry about any of that. If you like a bit of hard SF with good characters and a dab of excitement, this one is well worth a... spin? I've ordered the sequel.
There was another book too. After a bit of time spent on the board, I noticed people raving about a certain fantasy epic. I saw tons of 5 star reviews for it on Amazon. The blurb looked like good escapism. The result? So far, 10% in, it's Extruded Fantasy Product. I won't name it if I don't like it. It's well-ish-written meh fodder. But I'll give it a good chance to see if I can spot the reason for all those reviews.
WRITING
I've done a ton of editing lately, mostly for my Big Fat Fantasy (a.k.a. The Shatter). The ideas and the plot have been there for about a year now, but the writing was appalling. I'm OK with that, but it's finally time to start getting real with this one. Therefore, I spent four weeks working from 9-5 until -- finally! -- it reads well. To my ears, at least.
Meanwhile, my editors over at Random House for Eat the Drink have got in touch with rewrite suggestions, so, that's where I'll be going next.
WATCHING -- No Spoilers
Having seen three series of Sherlock by now, my experience of each has been exactly the same: One excellent episode -- always written by Steven Moffat. Two bland episodes that only a fan could love -- written by A. N. Other. A bit like watching Dr. Who, then? I'm not sure if I will be bothered with season 4. Maybe I'll keep going. If I'm not washing my hair that night.
LISTENING
I'm absolutely loving the experience of Google Music and the way it generates playlists on the fly that lead me down the rabbit hole of new artists. It's also a great companion for Morrissey's Autobiography, because you can always seek out the tracks that influenced his own music.
Anyway, I heard this the other day and, like myself, it's achingly lovely.
COOKING
Last year I made a New Year's Resolution to cook one new (to me) recipe every week. I only lasted until early May, but it was well worth it. I experienced new tastes and techniques, and, for a while, I got quite excited!
I've decided to go again and so far, it's been one disaster and one hard-won success.
READING
I'm currently enjoying Morrissey's Autobiography. I'm listening to it as an audiobook, and it's... beautiful. No other word for it. Also, it's great to see where all those songs came from. Definitely one for the fans, of which I am one.
Chris Moriarty's Spin State is a marvellous hard SF/Detective/Action tale. It was published in 2001, so a few howlers lie in wait to yank you out of the story here and there. Also, the Irish background sub-plot has a MAJOR, MAJOR error that the sadly, non-Irish amongst us will never notice. But for we righteous dwellers of Emeraldville, it's like a punch in the face every time it comes up. However, don't worry about any of that. If you like a bit of hard SF with good characters and a dab of excitement, this one is well worth a... spin? I've ordered the sequel.
There was another book too. After a bit of time spent on the board, I noticed people raving about a certain fantasy epic. I saw tons of 5 star reviews for it on Amazon. The blurb looked like good escapism. The result? So far, 10% in, it's Extruded Fantasy Product. I won't name it if I don't like it. It's well-ish-written meh fodder. But I'll give it a good chance to see if I can spot the reason for all those reviews.
WRITING
I've done a ton of editing lately, mostly for my Big Fat Fantasy (a.k.a. The Shatter). The ideas and the plot have been there for about a year now, but the writing was appalling. I'm OK with that, but it's finally time to start getting real with this one. Therefore, I spent four weeks working from 9-5 until -- finally! -- it reads well. To my ears, at least.
Meanwhile, my editors over at Random House for Eat the Drink have got in touch with rewrite suggestions, so, that's where I'll be going next.
WATCHING -- No Spoilers
Having seen three series of Sherlock by now, my experience of each has been exactly the same: One excellent episode -- always written by Steven Moffat. Two bland episodes that only a fan could love -- written by A. N. Other. A bit like watching Dr. Who, then? I'm not sure if I will be bothered with season 4. Maybe I'll keep going. If I'm not washing my hair that night.
LISTENING
I'm absolutely loving the experience of Google Music and the way it generates playlists on the fly that lead me down the rabbit hole of new artists. It's also a great companion for Morrissey's Autobiography, because you can always seek out the tracks that influenced his own music.
Anyway, I heard this the other day and, like myself, it's achingly lovely.
COOKING
Last year I made a New Year's Resolution to cook one new (to me) recipe every week. I only lasted until early May, but it was well worth it. I experienced new tastes and techniques, and, for a while, I got quite excited!
I've decided to go again and so far, it's been one disaster and one hard-won success.
January 6, 2014
Schools of Worldbuilding -- An Aid for Spotters
Happy New Year, dearest friends, readers. Happy Befana to the Italians; Women's Christmas to the Irish; actual Christmas to the Orthodox -- tomorrow that is.
I have a present for you all, oh yes I do!
Have you ever been *in* a book? Absorbed to the point where you will savage parters, pets and children should they dare to interrupt? Of course you have! And there you are, immersed in an experience, perfect in all but one respect: you want... no! You *need* a label to pin on the source of your happiness.
Well, worry no more. I present to you for the first time, Peadar's Patented Spotters Guide to Worldbuilding.
With no further ado, here are the world types you will come up against today, tomorrow, and in the rest of 2014.
Borrowed
Imagine the writer who wants to tell the tale of a farm boy destined for kingship. All the originality of their endeavour has gone into the plot and the characters. Obviously. And the rest, as George R. R. Martin might say, is just furniture, so there's no need to go messing around with that too much.
Scour the history books and borrow, borrow, borrow! Pillage Medieval Europe. Expropriate the greatest cultural achievements of Japan or China or Arabia or classical Rome. File off the serial numbers, change a few names. Mix and match. If you need to appear super original, choose those settings that have only been done 50, as opposed to 5 million times before.
Now, off to the bank with you to cash those monstrous and inevitable cheques!
Adapted/Interpreted
This one is for those authors who can't even be bothered to file off the serial numbers. Basically, just take our world as it is and adapt it slightly, or interpret what's already there. Most Urban Fantasy worlds follow this model. Magic is real, but we muggles just don't see it; the Second World War occurred because one family of vampires was feeding on Winston Churchill, while a less sexy group had chosen Hitler; aliens are running all governments -- the evidence is right before our eyes, but we refuse to see it.
Alternate histories could be looked on as a type of adaptation, or, may actually belong in our next category... Extrapolated Worlds.
Extrapolated
Take our modern world, just as it is. Phew! That was easy.
But not so fast... Now, imagine that somebody discovers a way for humans to digest rocks. How will this affect our world going forward? What industries will die off? How many will bleed in the Burren as people fight over the tastiest stones?
Extrapolated Worlds are a (yummy) cornerstone of much of modern SF.
Generated
Although I have personally created settings using all of the methods above -- and will do do again! -- it is Generated Worlds that provide me with the most satisfaction.
Here's what you do: pick an absurdity and try to make it real.
For example, let's pretend that you're a big fan of dragons: giant toothy, firebreathing, flying, intelligent monsters. You want to put them into a story. How do you go about it? Well, you could always borrow old China or Medieval Europe. They had dragons. You can have maidens and knights; you can have lairs full of gold... But a builder of Generated Worlds needs to take a different approach.
If it were me, the people of Dragon World(TM) wouldn't have big showy castles or flammable cities. They would be experts in camouflage and would speak always in sign language. They have never discovered the wheel, but know everything there is to know about ratchets and gigantic ballistae. Their seamstresses sneer at cotton but can whip you up an asbestos suit in five minutes. They do not value gold or virginity -- in fact, the mere possession of either is grounds for execution.
In spite of all that, they are extinct.
Other Schools
What have I missed? What is your personal favourite? What did you get me for Christmas?
I have a present for you all, oh yes I do!
Have you ever been *in* a book? Absorbed to the point where you will savage parters, pets and children should they dare to interrupt? Of course you have! And there you are, immersed in an experience, perfect in all but one respect: you want... no! You *need* a label to pin on the source of your happiness.
Well, worry no more. I present to you for the first time, Peadar's Patented Spotters Guide to Worldbuilding.
With no further ado, here are the world types you will come up against today, tomorrow, and in the rest of 2014.
Borrowed
Imagine the writer who wants to tell the tale of a farm boy destined for kingship. All the originality of their endeavour has gone into the plot and the characters. Obviously. And the rest, as George R. R. Martin might say, is just furniture, so there's no need to go messing around with that too much.
Scour the history books and borrow, borrow, borrow! Pillage Medieval Europe. Expropriate the greatest cultural achievements of Japan or China or Arabia or classical Rome. File off the serial numbers, change a few names. Mix and match. If you need to appear super original, choose those settings that have only been done 50, as opposed to 5 million times before.
Now, off to the bank with you to cash those monstrous and inevitable cheques!
Adapted/Interpreted
This one is for those authors who can't even be bothered to file off the serial numbers. Basically, just take our world as it is and adapt it slightly, or interpret what's already there. Most Urban Fantasy worlds follow this model. Magic is real, but we muggles just don't see it; the Second World War occurred because one family of vampires was feeding on Winston Churchill, while a less sexy group had chosen Hitler; aliens are running all governments -- the evidence is right before our eyes, but we refuse to see it.
Alternate histories could be looked on as a type of adaptation, or, may actually belong in our next category... Extrapolated Worlds.
Extrapolated
Take our modern world, just as it is. Phew! That was easy.
But not so fast... Now, imagine that somebody discovers a way for humans to digest rocks. How will this affect our world going forward? What industries will die off? How many will bleed in the Burren as people fight over the tastiest stones?
Extrapolated Worlds are a (yummy) cornerstone of much of modern SF.
Generated
Although I have personally created settings using all of the methods above -- and will do do again! -- it is Generated Worlds that provide me with the most satisfaction.
Here's what you do: pick an absurdity and try to make it real.
For example, let's pretend that you're a big fan of dragons: giant toothy, firebreathing, flying, intelligent monsters. You want to put them into a story. How do you go about it? Well, you could always borrow old China or Medieval Europe. They had dragons. You can have maidens and knights; you can have lairs full of gold... But a builder of Generated Worlds needs to take a different approach.
If it were me, the people of Dragon World(TM) wouldn't have big showy castles or flammable cities. They would be experts in camouflage and would speak always in sign language. They have never discovered the wheel, but know everything there is to know about ratchets and gigantic ballistae. Their seamstresses sneer at cotton but can whip you up an asbestos suit in five minutes. They do not value gold or virginity -- in fact, the mere possession of either is grounds for execution.
In spite of all that, they are extinct.
Other Schools
What have I missed? What is your personal favourite? What did you get me for Christmas?
December 17, 2013
And the Hugo for Best World-Building goes to... A New Approach to Awards
Some of you are rich -- don't bother trying to deny it, you know who you are. I want you to fund a new set of Science Fiction book awards, to be called "The Peadars". And wait! Wait right there! I don't want the usual "Best Book of the Year", or "Medal for Author with the Most Friends".
What I demand is:
Best World-Building in SF
Best World-Building in Fantasy
Best Leading Character
Best Supporting Character
Most Mind Blowing Concept in a Work of SF
Most Mind Blowing Concept in a Work of Fantasy
Oh, there can be others too for costuming, make-up, music and the like, but this would make a nice start.
Just last night I started reading a first novel. The writing was rough to be honest, but the world-building was 8.3 times better than most things that win the Hugo. It doesn't have a hope of winning anything. So, your job. Is to make it happen.
Now, does anybody want to nominate for any of the categories in next year's Peadars?
I imagine Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice would be in with a shout for the SF World-Building. What do you think?
What I demand is:
Best World-Building in SF
Best World-Building in Fantasy
Best Leading Character
Best Supporting Character
Most Mind Blowing Concept in a Work of SF
Most Mind Blowing Concept in a Work of Fantasy
Oh, there can be others too for costuming, make-up, music and the like, but this would make a nice start.
Just last night I started reading a first novel. The writing was rough to be honest, but the world-building was 8.3 times better than most things that win the Hugo. It doesn't have a hope of winning anything. So, your job. Is to make it happen.
Now, does anybody want to nominate for any of the categories in next year's Peadars?
I imagine Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice would be in with a shout for the SF World-Building. What do you think?
December 3, 2013
Reading, Watching, Listening, Writing
Reading
I have a tonne of children's books to read these days and no permission to talk about any of them. On the plus side, however, commuting gives me plenty of time for audiobooks and this month I've been lucky enough to snag a copy of Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.
His books can be a bit hit-or-miss for me, but, as I'm sure you can guess, this will stand alongside The Yiddish Policemen's Union as one of my favourites.
Watching
I rather enjoyed Generation War, shown here on RTE2 and billed as a German Band of Brothers.
I'm going to say up front that it pales in comparison to the American effort, mainly because the creators hammered the "COINCIDENCE" button so often I think they may have broken it. But it looks great, and it's wonderful to see this awful era from a German point of view. Even the original title, "Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter", is pretty revealing. It's the German for "Our Mothers, Our Fathers", and the story works hard to show the hell that this generation lived through without trying to hide the hell they inflicted on others.
Definitely worth a watch in my humble, perfect opinion.
Writing
I spent an hour yesterday working over a single short paragraph. Don't doubt for a moment that it was screaming for mercy by the end.
Listening -- Metallers Keep Away
Beirut? Love those guys. Mellow and melancholy.
I have a tonne of children's books to read these days and no permission to talk about any of them. On the plus side, however, commuting gives me plenty of time for audiobooks and this month I've been lucky enough to snag a copy of Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.
His books can be a bit hit-or-miss for me, but, as I'm sure you can guess, this will stand alongside The Yiddish Policemen's Union as one of my favourites.
Watching
I rather enjoyed Generation War, shown here on RTE2 and billed as a German Band of Brothers.
I'm going to say up front that it pales in comparison to the American effort, mainly because the creators hammered the "COINCIDENCE" button so often I think they may have broken it. But it looks great, and it's wonderful to see this awful era from a German point of view. Even the original title, "Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter", is pretty revealing. It's the German for "Our Mothers, Our Fathers", and the story works hard to show the hell that this generation lived through without trying to hide the hell they inflicted on others.
Definitely worth a watch in my humble, perfect opinion.
Writing
I spent an hour yesterday working over a single short paragraph. Don't doubt for a moment that it was screaming for mercy by the end.
Listening -- Metallers Keep Away
Beirut? Love those guys. Mellow and melancholy.
