Michelle E. Goldsmith's Blog, page 5

Some thoughts on review parity

Disclaimer: This article is my personal opinion only and does not aim to be accusatory in any way. I've tried to be as factually correct as possible, so if I have made any mistakes feel free to let me know in the comments. Lastly, I have been quite ill lately and as a result may not be as coherent as I'd like to be. So, sorry if it makes no sense!

 

What am I talking about and why?

Recently there has been much discussion about gender parity in the world of science fiction and fantasy.  You may have heard that Paul Cornell has expressed concern about panel disparity at genre conventions and resolved to act on this by stepping down from any panels he believes unnecessarily exclude female speakers. China Miéville has also done so in the past and various other authors have also decided to follow suit.

I live in an area with few SFF conventions and as a result have never attended one. Therefore, I'm not even going to pretend I know anything about panel parity.

However, I do sell books as my job and review books for pleasure, so I thought I might be at least as qualified as most people to venture an opinion in regards to that side of things.

I am also well aware that there are many more urgent and important problems in the world than what any of us choose to read. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean it is necessarily not worth thinking about and if a book blog isn't the place to discuss these things, I'm not sure where is.

 

Gender discrepancy in book reviewing

Throughout the years there have also been a number of different studies showing various degrees of disparity between the number of reviews received by male/female authors in various publications (I've listed a couple below) and then, this study, which attempted to do the same for SFF review blogs.

Various studies:

-A study on review parity in Australian publications

-A study on review parity in US publications

-A study on review parity in science fiction and fantasy publications

 

Despite the best intentions of those conducting the study, inevitably results such as these tend to leave a percentage of people either feeling guilty or getting defensive.

 

Personal experience

Thinking about gender bias in genre fiction isn't particularly new to me for a number of reasons, although in the past I have thought about it in slightly different terms.

Now, be prepared for some anecdotal evidence here.

During my work at a bookstore, every now and then I happen upon a customer who feels the need to condescend to me by bluntly refusing to believe I know anything about science fiction or fantasy purely because I am a woman. And yes, some of them are willing to state that outright. Of course, there are always rude people you must deal with in customer service and I probably wouldn't care if I wasn't in most cases reasonably sure I knew more about that genre then they did. (Sorry, that will be the most bitter, ranting and conceited comment in my post, I promise)

I've also had quite a few occasions when I've been recommending books to customers who do trust my ability to judge genre works only to have them tell me that they only read books by male authors or (occasionally) vice versa.

This makes me slightly sad.

Before I worked at a bookstore (and before I talked to a couple of female authors who noticed disparity between their books that were marketed under their real names and those with just initials or a pseudonym on the cover) I was naïve enough to think that discriminating against books purely by the authors gender was a thing of the past. Also, I've noticed that people who do so often end up with a nasty (for them) and amusing (for me) surprise when they discover that the books they have enjoyed are actually by a member of the opposite sex writing under another name.

So, I am willing to except that, to some extent at least, such a gender bias does persist. The question is really how extensive it is, what it might tell us about society as a whole (don't worry, I'm not going to get into that) and how damaging it is to the prospects of authors of either gender. I'll stick to talking about the genres I know best although I'm sure that in some other genres (eg. Romance- paranormal or otherwise) the gender discrepancy may swing the opposite way.

However, I doubt any of you need a lecture on gender equality because frankly, if you really don't put any stock in women's opinions when it comes to SFF, I doubt you would be reading my blog in the first place.

 

My thoughts on the book blog study

Overall, there are a lot of variables that weren't incorporated into the aforementioned blog study (eg. Sub-genre preferences and their gender parity, availability etc.), possibly because there are just too many to easily account for and still have any results by this time next year.

Nevertheless, the results still provide interesting food for thought as long as we keep them in perspective.

If it turns out that you or someone else have somehow reviewed a overwhelming percentage of books by authors of one gender and few of the other it might be worth thinking about. However, there is no need to freak out and it doesn't necessarily mean you are subconsciously a raging misogynist.

On the other hand, I find it hard to believe that there just genuinely aren't as many good science fiction or fantasy books available that are written by female authors.

 

What would I suggest?

All in all, I would advocate awareness more than anything else. If you realize that you have a huge disparity between author genders I would suggest perhaps keeping an eye out next time you are book searching to see if you can find some books by female authors that sound enjoyable.

I would not however, advocate reading only female authors or reading dozens of books that don't otherwise appeal to you just to achieve parity.

Reading books you are not interested in is not fun for anyone; not the reviewer, not the people who read the review, and not the author of the book who is (hopefully) seeking readers and reviewers that will truly engage with their work.

If you really have tried and still can't find any promising female-authored books yourself, then perhaps you could do worse than to ask someone else. The fact that this is even a topic of discussion would imply that there are plenty of people who would be willing to recommend some to you.

That said, parity isn't limited to gender, and I'd also always consider it beneficial to read widely both within and outside any particular genre.

Personally, I try to sample works by many different authors of various genders, races, nationalities, philosophies and backgrounds for my own sake. I also attempt to read a mix of debut novels, books by established authors, classics, translations, fiction, non-fiction, and books from different eras.

I'd encourage others to do the same if they don't already do so.

However, there's one thing that books you read should have in common: they should all appeal to you in some way.

Reading/reviewing need never be a chore.

 

Note: Just in case you are wondering about my personal reviewing parity (doubtful), I quickly collected all the full-length reviews I could find last night and it looks like (counting books only) that as of today my percentage of reviews for books by male and female authors is exactly 50/50 (some authors do repeat for both genders). However, I can't take any credit for this as it was not a conscious decision and is, in all likelihood, pure dumb luck. I feel I could just as easily have reviewed far more books by men, or books by women without thinking about it.

Short Fiction Feature: Apex Magazine (Issue 31)

In the last few months I have been reading, critiquing, and occasionally writing, a fair amount of short fiction. In doing so, I have discovered a range of interesting stories from talented authors that can be enjoyed all in one sitting. Despite the wide range of talent on offer from the realm of short fiction, short stories rarely get the kind of attention from readers and reviewers that we give their longer counterparts.

Therefore, I thought I might make an effort to read a couple of short stories a week, mostly from recent journals, magazines or whatever I happen to have on hand, and review them.

Therefore, I am proud to announce the first instalment of my new Short Fiction Feature, hopefully destined to become a weekly (or at least, bi-weekly) occurrence.

This week I've decided to review the three short stories (two original works and a reprint) featured in the 31st issue of Apex Magazine.

 

The 24 Hour Brother by Christopher Barzak 

 The 24 Hour Brother begins with the birth of Joe, the narrator's brother. However, it soon becomes clear that Joe is no ordinary boy and is afflicted by a mysterious condition that means he will be born, grow, age and die, all in the timeframe of a single day. Through Joe, Barzak depicts the quintessential human struggle to understand and come to terms with the nature of ones existence, all condensed into a twenty-four hour period. Nevertheless, the story is less about Joe himself, as it is about the lasting effect his short life has on those around him; his family and most of all the narrator.

Overall, The 24 Hour Brother offers a well written, thoughtful and affecting depiction of the fleeting thing that we call life.

 

Faithful City by Michael Pevzner

Faithful City, Pevzner's first published story, is set in what would appear to be a future version of Earth, or at least what is left of it in the wake of a cataclysmic environmental apocalypse. One city remains, heralded as the last bastion of humanity, while the rest of the surviving population struggles to subsist on the wreckage civilisation left behind. The city grants visions to those it considers worthy, calling them to it with its irresistible song. However, the city may not be what it truly seems, and what exactly does it want from those it summons? All in all, Faithful City is a strange, dark tale that offers a glimpse of a disturbing yet intriguing world. Although it is perhaps not as polished as the other two stories in this issue, and I was able to guess how its conclusion with relative ease, I still thought it was generally well written and imaginative, a decent all-round effort for a first published short story.

 

The Yellow Dressing Gown by Sarah Monette (reprint)

The classic reprint in this issue, The Yellow Dressing Gown, was first published in Weird Tales 63:2 (March-April 2008).

The Yellow Dressing Gown tells the tale of Michael Overton, the slightly over-zealous curator of the 18th century clothing exhibit in the Samuel Mather Parrington Museum from the perspective of one of his museum colleagues, Mr Booth. Although Booth dislikes Overton, and is sick to death of his propensity to commandeer more than his fair share of the museums resources, he soon finds himself bearing witness to the textile-enthusiast's growing obsession with finding the hideous yellow dressing gown worn by Ephraim Catesby, a rather famous, and seemingly rather insane, 18th century artist. Unfortunately for Michael, it soon becomes evident that the horrifying subjects of Ephraim's paintings may be slightly more than the mad imaginings of a tormented artistic soul. This story was probably my favourite in this issue, although it does have the advantage of being a carefully selected reprint instead of a previously unpublished work. All in all, I found it interesting, well-paced and readable and believe Monette deserves some commendation for managing to make an ugly dressing gown, of all things, convincingly sinister.

 

So that is all for this week, seeing as I'm new to reviewing short fiction I'd love to hear any comments or suggestions you might have, and would appreciate any recommendations of magazines or journals that might be worth a look.

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Touch of Power is the ninth book by popular fantasy author Maria V. Snyder and marks the beginning of a new series, known as either the Avry of Kazan or Healer series. Throughout her career, Snyder's books have struck a chord with young adults and adults alike, and Touch of Power should be no exception. While the prose is relatively simple and accessible to a young adult audience, the characters are endearing and the story is absorbing enough to also keep the interest of older readers.

Touch of Power is narrated in the first person by the protagonist, Avry of Kazan. Avry is a healer, and thus gifted with the ability to magically heal others by assuming their wounds or illnesses. However, healers are accused of causing a deadly plague that has ravaged the population. Therefore, her ability marks Avry as a criminal with a hefty bounty on her head. After years on the run, Avry is finally caught when she heals a dying child and is left too weak to escape afterwards. Sentenced to death, Avry is prepared to met her end. Yet it seems this is not to be. The night before her execution, she is abducted by a band of rogues, led by the stubborn and magically gifted Kerrick. Kerrick has spent years searching for a healer to attend to his plague afflicted friend, Prince Ryne, who he believes can prevent war from breaking out between the territories. However, there are a couple of small problems with this plan. Firstly, Avry has met Ryne before and despises him, and secondly, healing Ryne will kill Avry.

War, plague, and man-eating plants!

One of the most interesting aspects of Touch of Power has to be the setting. While in many ways Avry's world is a traditional pre-industrial fantasy world, it contains a number of twists that give it a distinctive edge. For instance, in the wake of the deadly plague, many former settlements lie abandoned and desolate, while the Territories as a whole are rife with civil unrest. Warring factions battle for dominance over the remaining settlements and their surviving populations. All in all, this gives the novel a post-apocalyptic feel and provides the perfect setup for a novel featuring a healer. Not only are the people sorely in need of healing, so is civilization as a whole. The magic system is also quite interesting and features a variety of different magical schools that one might be gifted in, each offering very distinct abilities with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Nevertheless, in my opinion, the most fascinating aspect of the worldbuilding is the presence of large sentient plants known as Death and Peace lilies. While both varieties of lily are visually indistinguishable, Death lilies are known to attack humans and inject them with a unique and often deadly toxin. However, things are not always as they seem, and Avry, having survived a lily sting, seems to have developed a connection with the plants. They seem to be trying to tell her something. Could it be that the lilies are as misunderstood as the healers? All this combined makes for a unique and compelling world that begs to be explored further and I hope to see Snyder make further use of this potential throughout the rest of the series.

A smart and likeable protagonist

The characters are another strong element of Touch of Power. Avry is a likeable character who is strong willed, sassy, intelligent, and who always tries to do the right thing. Early in the novel, she seems to verge on being a little too perfect and perhaps a little too obvious a role model for young women. However, not every character has to be an antihero and Avry has a distinct personality that prevents her from becoming a Mary-Sue. Furthermore, her numerous qualities and talents make sense within the context of the story; she is smart, independent, and resourceful because she has to be to survive, and she is self-sacrificing as this is an innate aspect of healer nature. Furthermore, as the novel progresses, we discover that Avry is not infallible and, at times, can be just as stubborn and short-sighted as her love interest, Kerrick. The romance aspects of the novel are also quite well done and the love/hate relationship between Kerrick and Avry has spark. The supporting characters, such as the other members of the rogue band, are also well-written and one cannot help growing attached to them. On a similar note, the primary antagonist is satisfyingly warped and devious.

An easy, enjoyable, relatively straightforward read

Touch of Power is, in essence, a pleasure read. Easy, enjoyable, but not particularly challenging. The prose is relatively simple, and although this is understandable given the fact that the book is aimed primarily at young adults, at times I still thought some slightly more complex writing couldn't hurt. While the story is never tedious, the pacing is slower at the start of the book while the scene is set and the characters are developed. This is only really noticeable when compared to the last third of the book which had a much faster tempo and had me madly turning pages. This is merely the beginning of Avry's story, and the fact that the ending leaves just as many questions as it answers means that those who lack patience may have trouble waiting a year for the next book. If you are such a reader, perhaps consider waiting until closer to the sequel's release to pick up this book.

Why should you read this book?

If you are looking for a quality young adult fantasy novel that has more substance than just another teen soap opera, Touch of Power is definitely worth a look. Fans of Snyder's earlier novels, as well as other similar works such as Kristen Cashore's Fire and Graceling, should also find this one to their liking. It may also suit anyone looking for an easy read that isn't just mere fluff.

 

Call for Submissions – Charity Anthology ‘Creature Feature’

Curiosity Quills Press is currently open for submissions for an exciting new anthology exploring the interaction and relationships between humans and animals, both real and imagined.

All genres of short fiction are welcome, as well as photography and artwork, as long as they fit into the theme!

The thing that makes this anthology especially interesting is that the author of each published story is asked to select an animal shelter to represent. In the two months following publication of the anthology (planned for June 1st 2012), readers will be able to vote for their favourite story and favourite artwork in anthology, with the top shelter for each receiving 50% of the publication’s total royalties.

So if you have a short story, artwork, or idea for one that might fit the mould I would urge you to consider submitting it here. It’s a great opportunity and for a very good cause!

Further information and the submission guidelines are available here.

 

Call for Submissions – Charity Anthology 'Creature Feature'

Curiosity Quills Press is currently open for submissions for an exciting new anthology exploring the interaction and relationships between humans and animals, both real and imagined.

All genres of short fiction are welcome, as well as photography and artwork, as long as they fit into the theme!

The thing that makes this anthology especially interesting is that the author of each published story is asked to select an animal shelter to represent. In the two months following publication of the anthology (planned for June 1st 2012), readers will be able to vote for their favourite story and favourite artwork in anthology, with the top shelter for each receiving 50% of the publication's total royalties.

So if you have a short story, artwork, or idea for one that might fit the mould I would urge you to consider submitting it here. It's a great opportunity and for a very good cause!

Further information and the submission guidelines are available here.

 

Guest Post – Curiosity Quills – Dragon Physiology

 Dragon Physiology by Verity Linden

 

The dragon is a ubiquitous staple of the fantasy genre and, as with many popular creatures in fiction, it has been re-imagined almost as often as it has been written. They range from man's closest bonded friend, to his most dangerous predator, each with its own physiological and behavioural quirks. In this article, a small selection of dragon sub-species are discussed.

 

Dragon Anatomy drawings by Eugene Arenhaus (used with artist's permission)

 Check out the rest of his work at Chiseledrocks.com

Gem-scale Dragons

Example of sub-species: Smaug – the Hobbit, J R R Tolkien

 

"There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and about him on all sides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and un-wrought, gems and jewels, and silver red-stained in the ruddy light. Smaug lay, with wings folded like an immeasurable bat, turned partly on one side, so that the hobbit could see his underparts and his long pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed."

 

High-fantasy dragons have long been associated with gold and jewels; the great supine fire-lizard atop his mound of treasure. This sub-species of dragon is territorial and people-aggressive, guarding its mountain of swag from over-confident adventurers. Phenotypically, the average gem-scale dragon is large, razor jawed, fire-breathing and heavily armoured, though "dragons have one soft spot, somewhere, always" (Neil Gaiman, Instructions). They are commonly believed to be cold-blooded, though no researcher has yet survived confirming this assertion.

 

It is theorized that the gem-scale dragon's hoarding and 'crusting' habits (where it presses itself into its treasure, studding its underside with gems) are potentially courtship behaviour. As both dragons and birds share reptilian ancestors, parallels have been drawn with such species as the Satin Bowerbird, the males of which build tall, elaborate 'bowers' of twigs which they then decorate lavishly with brightly coloured objects, including man-made glasses and plastics where available. It is also possible the 'crusting' behaviour provides added armour to their softer underbellies, but this is contested among dragonologists due to its ineffectiveness as a defence.

 

 

Warm-blooded Dragons

Example of sub-species: Ramoth – Dragonriders of Pern, Anne McCaffrey

Perhaps one of the most atypical subspecies of dragon, the Pernese dragons' many deviations from the more classical species are generally attributed to them being both genetically engineered, and aliens. Several scholars still insist they do not class as dragons at all, but they are both interesting enough, and commonly enough referred to as dragons, to be worthy of discussion. Due to the Pernese dragon's history of domestication, more is known of their biology than almost any other dragon. This summary will not focus on mating habits, or the sub-species well-documented psychic abilities, focussing rather on area where their straight physiology differs from other sub-species.

 

The Pernese dragon's similarity to "the dragon of Western legend" stems from several core similarities, being a six-limbed carnivore in quadruped stance with wings, capable of flight and breathing fire, free of feathers or hair. Beyond that, they are most notable for their differences. Warm-blooded, they have no obviously reptilian features, a leathery hide, described as suede-like in texture, replacing the traditional armoured scales. Their digestive system is also markedly different from any other studied dragon sub-species, and from almost any other animal save its own cousins. They possess a specialised second stomach for the grinding of phosphorous rock for flame production, which is not unknown among other dragon sub-species (note: http://www.everythingdragons.com/Dragon-Fun/Fire.html is an excellent article on flame-production theory). Their lower digestive tract, however, is singular in the it extends the full length of their tail, the Pernese dragon defecating through its tail. This causes many issues, including poorer blood supply and heat regulation in extremities reducing effectiveness of digestion, plus the tail's vulnerability to trauma increasing possibility of septicaemia and similar from impacts. Pernese dragons have been domesticated since their creation however, so good animal husbandry helps mitigate some of the risks.

 

Despite a far more mammalian physiology than the vast majority of dragon sub-species, Pernese dragons are still oviparous (reproduction by eggs, rather than live birth), leading to them being awkwardly regarded as possibly closer to birds than any other class of animal.

 

 

Bumble Bee Dragons

Example of sub-species: Alexstrasza – Azeroth, World of Warcraft

 

'Bumble Bee Dragon' is more a general descriptor than an actual sub-species, but is a common enough occurrence to bear mention in a summary of unusual dragon physiology. Dragons across several sub-species, including almost all Azerothian breeds as well dragons documented in the 2000 movie 'Dungeons & Dragons', draw comment from scientists for denying basic physics to fly at all. As seen in the above image of Alexstrasza, these dragons' wings are comprised of two separate sail-like wings, joined to the body by a narrow section of bone. Without the skin of the wing membrane extending to hip level, the dragon's wings do not form an airfoil, meaning they should be incapable of gliding. However, much like the bumble bee, these dragons continue to fly despite physicists' insistence they should not be able to.

 

The Society of Dragonologists has not ruled out magic.

 

About the author

Verity Linden is director, editor and publicist at Publicity Pixie, where she polishes the work of talented authors and gets it into the hands of as many readers as reviewers as possible. She is also PR & Marketing Manager at Curiosity Quills Press.

 

 

This post is part of the Curiosity Quills Blog Tour 2012

Curiosity Quills is a gaggle of literary marauders with a bone to grind and not enough time for revisions – a collective, creating together, supporting each other, and putting out the best darn tootin' words this side of Google.

Curiosity Quills also runs Curiosity Quills Press, an independent publisher committed to bringing top-quality fiction to the wider world. They publish in ebook, print, as well as serialising select works of their published authors for free on the press's website.

Interview with Adam Christopher

Adam Christopher is the debut author of Empire State, an ambitious parallel world, science fiction, detective noir standalone novel released in early January 2012. Recently, I had the pleasure of receiving an advance copy of Empire State and found it to be a fast-paced, exciting and unique read complete with memorable characters, a fascinating setting, and near-endless plot twists. The next logical step was to contact Adam himself to find out more about the man behind the book. Thankfully, he was more than happy to answer some questions.

 

Introducing Adam Christopher

Hi Adam, thanks very much for agreeing to this interview.

It's a pleasure!

Empire State is your debut novel. How does it feel to see your work in print? Was it a long road or a pleasant surprise?

Every writer says this, but so they should: having a book published is a dream come true, literally. Writing a novel is a heck of lot of hard work, and it's a very solitary pursuit. So when you finally do show it to someone and they like it enough to buy it, there is nothing to beat that feeling.

It was a long road. I've been writing since I was about seven years old, but I realized about five years ago that I really had to take it seriously if anything was going to happen. Empire State was the third novel I completed, although the first that I actually got into good enough shape to submit it anywhere. Of course it was a surprise when I got that phone call from Angry Robot (on my birthday, no less!). "Pleasant" is not how I'd describe it. I'd go for something like "the most incredible day of my life."

It's a combination of hard graft and pure luck: the right book at the right time for the right publisher. I'm completely aware that I got a very lucky break with Angry Robot—I met Lee and Marco on Twitter; they were the first and only publisher to see Empire State; Empire State was my first novel submissionanywhere. And they said yes! But that is something I will never take for granted, and it also just goes to show that everyone's road to publication is different, and that there is no secret or shortcut. The only thing you can do it keep on trucking—keep writing, keep submitting, keep building contacts, keep working. As they say, there is a word for writers who never give up: published. And Empire State might have been my first submission, but that book was the result of a year of writing and the preceding twenty-odd years of practice.

I assume that you don't intend to rest on your laurels. Do you have other big projects planned? Can you give us any idea of what to expect from you in the future?

I have another book coming from Angry Robot in August or September 2012 called Seven Wonders, which is a big superhero adventure—plenty of brightly-coloured spandex, people shooting laser beams out of their eyes, that kind of thing. Oddly enough, it was actually written before Empire State, but is coming out afterwards. I'm lucky in a way in that I have a backlog of novels to work on. Seven Wonders andEmpire State were my second and third, respectively, and since then I've added another three. I don't stick to genres, either; Seven Wonders is pure superhero fiction and, while Empire State has superheroes in it, I think of it as science fiction. But I've written a steampunk novel, a space opera, and even a godpunk crime novel. At the moment, I'm working on the edits to one of those, and I'm also halfway through a brand new manuscript which is a sort of science fiction/urban fantasy about television broadcast signal intrusion, intelligent noise and parallel universes at the bottom of swimming pools (I appear to be partial to parallel universes!).

I've got a corkboard on the wall in my office which is covered with little index cards. Each represents an idea for a single novel. At the moment, there are enough cards to last me 15 years of novel writing—although, to be fair, some of those cards will be combined into single concepts. That's what happened with Empire State—there were about three index cards that I suddenly realized fitted together into a single book. That's also why I use an actual corkboard and cards instead of just making a list on my computer. I need to be able to see that board every single day, so my subconscious can get to work in the background, putting the pieces together.

I've heard you had quite some success with your short fiction before Empire State. Apart from the obvious, what were some of the main differences you found between writing short stories and writing a full length novel?

Short and long fiction are two completely different forms of writing, and I think there is hardly any relation between them. Some people may still offer the very old fashioned advice that to make it as a novelist, you first have to cut your teeth writing short fiction, but I think that's not true at all. Today, the short fiction market is a very niche one and is continuing to shrink, and I think there is even separation of the audience these days, so success in one form won't necessarily translate to success in the other. But more importantly writing short fiction will teach you nothing about writing long fiction other than the very basics of the craft, which you can pick up from trying your hand at a novel anyway. My advice, such as it is, is that if you want to write a novel, write a novel.

So while I have written some short fiction, it's not something I'm particularly interested in. My short stories were only written because the idea for each came to me unexpectedly and needed to be written, but that's a rare event. That some of them were longlisted for various awards, including the BFS and BSFA awards, was quite a surprise! I would never sit down to deliberately write a short story, it's just not how my brain is wired. Likewise, I don't enjoy reading them—give me a novel, any day!

 

Creating the Empire State

One of my favorite aspects of Empire State was that it contained so many unexpected twists and turns. For the majority of the novel, I had absolutely no idea how it things were going to play out, and it continued to surprise me right up until the last page. Did it ever surprise you while you were writing it? Or did you already have all these developments planned out from the start?

A bit of both, actually. Empire State was outlined, although my outlines are a little loose. Basically I make a list of chapters from 1 to 40, add in the key scenes, events or moments—the beginning, middle, and end—and then connect them up to make a continuous narrative.

I work like this because once I start writing, things will start to happen that I didn't expect or plan. When things are going well, the characters come to life in my head and start making their own decisions and piloting the story in completely new directions. This is logical, because as the story progresses I learn more about the characters and how they react to and behave in certain circumstances, which is information I didn't have when I was doing the outline. So the storyline often takes twists and turns that I didn't expect. Often I'll go back to that original outline and adjust it, or make some notes on how and where to steer the story back on course. Which means spending too much time writing a detailed outline at the start seems like a bit of waste, as it's going to change significantly anyway.

Empire State does have a number of twists in it, and a couple of big ones were a total surprise. There is one in particular near the end which really threw me—I remember writing it, then sitting back and staring at the screen for a while, wondering what the hell the character in question was doing! But then I understood his motivation and what his own agenda was, and it became clear.

Things like that are the best thing about writing—pure creation, when not even the writer knows what will happen next!

Empire State contains some truly fascinating characters. Do you get your inspiration for them from anywhere in particular? Do they develop slowly or just waltz into your mind almost fully formed?

Because I wanted to write a science fiction pulp detective novel, I knew I had to have certain characters and that they would fulfill certain archetypes. So there's the down-and-out private detective, the dame, the mysterious friend, etc. Rad and Captain Carson were the first characters, Carson from a jokey title that some friends challenged me to write in true pulp style—Captain Carson and the Case of the Robot Zombie (which I'm tempted to write as a short for the Worldbuilder project). Rad and Carson were the most fully formed, but even so, when they appeared on the page they took on their true personalities.

The Pastor of Lost Souls is an interesting character. I wanted to infuse the story with as much feel of the Golden Age of superhero comics as I could, so apart from a couple of rocket-powered superheroes and mysterious agents in gas masks and fedoras (shades of Wesley Dodds there!), I wanted to represent the establishment which, a little later in our own world, eventually fought the comics industry. This blended in with the various organizations and people who championed Prohibition with righteous fervor, creating a hooded cult leader who wrote a book called The Seduction of the Innocent. The Pastor is not a pleasant man.

One character, the Chairman of the City Commissioners, is actually a real historical figure, although I'm assuming my version is nothing like the original!

Do you have a favorite character in your novel? If so, who is it and why?

I think it has to be Rad—he's the kind of guy who I'd be happy writing forever. He's smart, he knows he is past his prime, but he's a fighter and one not to give up. It doesn't matter what situation he is in—even ones totally beyond his understanding as in Empire State—he tries his darndest to do the right thing. I suspect "keep on trucking" is his motto, too.

Have you been to New York City? What about that particular city suggested it to you as a setting for your story?

I have, although prior to writing Empire State, only briefly. It wasn't until September 2011 that I actually had a proper look around—and I was relieved I had represented it pretty well in the book! Being a noirish pulp novel about a private detective, I needed to set it in a big city in America. I've always been fascinated by New York state's nickname of the Empire State, and thought it would be a cracking title for a novel. Plus, New York in the 1930s is such a fascinating place, central to the history of Prohibition and comic books.

Empire State contains elements of many genres and successfully mashes them together to create something unique. Were you ever worried that they wouldn't successfully blend? What are your favorite things about some of these genres and what do you think they bring to The Empire State as a whole?

Empire State certainly is a mix, and there was a lot of stuff I wanted to meld together. If anything didn't work as I was writing it, I took it out, but overall I think things fitted themselves together pretty well. Having said that, the first draft of the book is quite different to the published novel. But then, what first draft isn't?

Writing detective noir is fun, especially setting it in the 1930s, where it originated. I think a lot of the enjoyment I had with Empire State was the fact that it was all period—Golden Age superheroes, Prohibition, wisecracking detectives, agents in gas masks. Although it's a lot of material and ideas, I think they belong together, even if the end result is a little trippy!

Do you think there is any chance you might return to the world of the Empire State in future works?

I have some notes on what happens next, both for Rad and the others immediately, and also looking at the long-term story. However, I have no particular plans to write a sequel; I tend to prefer standalone novels. But, never say never. Of course with the Worldbuilder project kicking off, there's going to be a whole year of Empire State-related stuff being created, which is tremendously exciting.

 

Reader responses, Worldbuilder, and the other Adam Christopher

How do you envisage readers responding to your books? If you could choose just one thing for each reader to take away from your work, what would it be?

That's such a difficult question! My primary aim is to entertain—if I can give readers a few hours of enjoyment and escapism, then that's my job done and I'm happy! I guess with the Worldbuilder, we're inviting readers to take a closer interest than most books and get involved. So really, if Empire State can inspire others to create something in the same world (be it fiction, comics, art, music, anything at all) and to expand that world beyond what I created, then that would be marvelous.

But in the end it's the story of one man against the world. I hope people enjoy Rad Bradley's adventure.

Time for a creative question. Empire State deals with countless examples of doubles and contradictions, not the least of which is the setting itself. If you had a double who resided in the Empire State, who would he be and what do you think he would be like?

Hehheh. There is another me, I'm sure of it. He lives way uptown, in a secret lair somewhere in the alternate Harlem. He's working on a master plan and he might be building an army. He's my dark side, distilled, like the evil Captain Kirk from The Enemy Within. I'm not sure I'd like to meet him in a dark alley!

Empire State is to be used as the basis for Angry Robot's first Worldbuilder project. How do you feel about others using your work as a basis for their own creative endeavors? Are you excited to see what people come up with? Have you seen any yet?

The Worldbuilder project is tremendously exciting. Empire State may be a science fiction noir, but there is so much scope—literally, anything is possible.

A lot of people have asked whether I'm nervous, allowing others to step in take control of my creations, but I'm not at all. The Worldbuilder has rules, although they are pretty loose, and there are gatekeepers—me as the creator and owner of the original work, Angry Robot editor Lee Harris, and Mur Lafferty, who is both manager and producer. While anyone can create content for the Worldbuilder and submit it to empirestate.cc, it gets reviewed by the three of us first before going online. Then the best of the online submissions will be selected and go into the quarterly anthologies alongside commissioned work by professional creators.

A few of the pros have been announced already—Hugo award-winning writer and professional puppeteer Mary Robinette Kowal is doing a toy theater/puppet show, and renowned writer James Patrick Kelly is doing a short story. I've heard a bit about his contribution, and it sounds completely insane! There are some other as-yet unannounced projects which I have seen bits of, and each and every time I've been totally blown away. It's amazing. There are people out there—talented, creative, famous people—making original content based on a book that I wrote. That's crazy and wonderful.

Submissions to empirestate.cc open in January 2012, and already I've had people getting in touch to tell me what they plan on doing. Obviously, I'm not going to influence anything, but I can at least thank them and offer my encouragement. It's terrific. It's going to be a blast.

Is there any question you've always wanted to be asked in an interview but no one has touched on yet? If so what is it and how would you answer?

So far nobody has asked me what my favourite MC Hammer track is. The answer is not "U Can't Touch This," as many may assume, but "Dancin' Machine." Trust me, it's quite the superior track. I recommend it.

Oh, you mean writing-wise? Well, it's early days yet. Come back in a year and ask me!

 

Thanks heaps for your time Adam! Personally I'll be eagerly anticipating your future works and I'm sure many others will be doing the same.

Adam's debut novel, Empire State, was officially released on the 5th of January 2011 and we wholeheartedly recommend you pick up a copy.

Miserere by Teresa Frohock

Miserere is the debut novel of Teresa Frohock, released mid-2011 by Night Shade Books. A mesmerizing dark fantasy that showcases Frohock's admirable talent as a writer, Miserere is an utterly compelling tale and pleasure to read.

The story takes place primarily in Woerld, one of a hierarchy of parallel dimensions that also include Hell, Earth and Heaven. Woerld is located between Hell and Earth and acts as a frontline of defense against the Fallen Angels of Hell, who seek to invade the higher planes to wage war on Heaven itself. Sixteen years ago, Lucian Negru, an exorcist and holy warrior of the Christian bastion of Woerld, deserted his lover Rachael in Hell to save his twin sister Catarina's soul. However, Catarina did not want salvation. Having allied herself with the Fallen, she seeks her brother's assistance to open the Hell Gates and allow the demons passage. However, Lucian denies her, and as a result, she has him crippled and imprisoned, hoping to wear him down until he finally complies. He is further tormented by the guilt of betraying the one he loved, and when he hears that Rachael is dying due to a demonic wyrm that possesed her in Hell, Lucian escapes, fleeing his sister's fortress in a last desperate hope of repairing the damage he wrought. However, Catarina has grown strong in dark magic and her wrath—and that of the Fallen—is not easily escaped.

This is a debut?

First, I have to say that if I didn't know better, I would never have guessed that Miserere was a debut novel. The writing is extremely polished, with effortlessly flowing prose and just the right complexity of language. There were countless times during reading where I paused momentarily to admire Frohock's way with words. In fact, I've read many books by much more experienced writers that don't even come close to achieving such beautiful prose. I realize that this is a subjective evaluation and different writing styles suit different readers, however, Frohock's writing worked exceptionally well for me and I believe I would have a lot of trouble trying to find a single phrase I would change. The story itself has substantial depth and the characters ring true, while the narrative remains compelling and is never bogged down with pointless exposition or info-dumping.

The greatest battles are those we wage within

While the concept of demonic forces threatening to break free of Hell and overun worlds may seem somewhat familiar, Miserere goes far beyond that. Although we are made aware of these larger conflicts and their far-reaching consequences, the real story Frohock tells is far more human and much closer to home. Miserere is in essence a character driven work, and the most substantial conflicts we see are not between the legions of hell and defenders of heaven but within the mind of the individual. Lucian's is a story of betrayal, regret, and redemption as he tries to make amends for past mistakes. Likewise, Rachael battles with not only the demon within her but with fading hope, loss of faith in both her god and herself, and an inability to trust born of betrayal. Lucian's foundling, Lindsay, must also find strength in the face of loss, fear, and the unknown.

The characters themselves are extremely well realized. They are believably imperfect individuals that are easy to relate to and the mistakes they make are those we can all understand. Likewise, the stuggles they face are those that will be familiar to almost all of us to some extent. Even the most morally reprehensible character is not wholly evil and does not act without reason. Furthermore, most are a fair bit older than many fantasy protagonists—Lucian, Rachael, and Catarina are around forty—and thus their characters already have decades of history and experience to draw on.

Are you afraid of the dark?

Miserere is undeniably a work of dark fantasy and, as such, often deals with the less pleasant aspects of the human experience. It also contains numerous horror elements, some of which are quite grotesque and moderately graphic, and Frohock does not pass over subjects such as death, injury, rape, manipulation, and abuse. While the descriptions are never gratuitous, it makes for a thought-provoking yet somewhat unsettling read that is perhaps not suited for the faint of heart. Those who prefer their fantasy with a darker edge, however, will not be disappointed.

It is a difficult and complex task to write fiction that draws on religious themes without running the risk of alienating a percentage of readers. Overall, Frohock does what I would consider an extremely good job of this, though those who are very strict in their interpretation of scripture may find some fault that I have overlooked. Nevertheless, I can't see it causing much trouble for most fantasy fans, religious or not. All in all, the various real world religions on Woerld are generally portrayed in quite a favorable light, existing in a much more cooperative state than in our world, and not one is advocated as inherently superior to others. Additionally, although the novel draws heavily on Judeo-Christian mythology and features prayer as a focal point for magic, it never comes across as preachy or condescending. As someone with a rather passionate distaste for books of any type masquerading as something different to gain readers, I never once felt I was reading religious fiction disguised as a fantasy.

Parting is such sweet sorrow!

Miserere isn't a particularly long novel compared to most fantasy works, and Frohock fits an admirable amount of story, world building, and character development in a minimal number of words. Nevertheless, I thought perhaps the last quarter could have been a little longer. While I wouldn't consider any parts of the novel slow and the story never dragged, there was quite a big buildup before the resolution, which all happened very quickly. While it was extremely well done and still very satisfying, I couldn't help but wish for a bit more. Nevertheless, this is just as likely due to the fact that I very much enjoyed the novel and didn't want it to end rather than any substantial flaw.

While this novel stands quite well on its own, there is still much of Woerld left to explore, not to mention that the greater threat to Woerld, Earth, and Heaven may be considered set back or delayed rather than completely eliminated. While I don't particularly require perfectly resolved, tidy endings, I know that many other readers differ in this preference. Those who do will be pleased to hear that this is not really the end of the tale and that Frohock intends to write more novels set in Woerld and continuing the story from different viewpoints.

Why should you read this book?

All in all, Miserere is an enthralling and memorable book that I found extremely hard to put down. If you are a fan of dark, beautifully written fantasy, set in a fascinating world and featuring well developed characters, then I would suggest you get your hands on a copy of Frohock's debut as soon as possible. If you are looking for a light and upbeat read, are not a fan of dark fantasy, or are easily put off by moderate gore and distressing themes, you might look elsewhere. Personally, I can't wait to read more from this talented author and can hardly wait for the next installment.

God's Eye by A.J. Scudiere

God's Eye is the most recent novel by award winning indie author A.J. Scudiere. It tells the story of Katharine Geryon, a young woman born into privilege and who, so far in life, has had everything handed to her, including a well paying job in her father's thriving investment firm. However, her seemingly perfect, albeit sheltered life is suddenly thrown into turmoil by a series of increasingly disturbing events including visits from phantom animals, strange piles of ash and cryptic messages.

Soon she finds two charismatic strangers embroiled in her affairs. Allistair is her handsome new assistant at work, while Zachary is her charming new neighbour. However, neither of these men are what they seem. One is an angel, the other a demon, and Katharine has no way of knowing which is which. Soon Katharine's soul will be the staging ground for a battle between Heaven and Hell and she will be forced to make a choice that will decide the fate of all three parties.

A pleasant surprise

 To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to expect coming into God's Eye. While the blurb and description implied that it was a supernatural thriller of sorts, I was a little worried that certain elements of the story might lend themselves to either religious preaching or bring the book firmly into the territory of yet another paranormal romance featuring a naïve young woman trapped in a confusing and tedious love triangle. While I have no issue with people choosing to read novels featuring these elements, I tend to avoid reading them myself and finding Paranormal Romance or Christian Fiction marketed as something else tends to annoy me.

Therefore I am happy to announce that while I initially considered reading God's Eye a slight risk, my reservations were proven to be unfounded and I very much enjoyed the novel. All in all, God's Eye is more of a coming of age novel centering around Katharine's journey of self discovery than paranormal romance, despite the fact that romance did feature in the plot. For instance, one of my favourite parts of the novel involved Katherine's realisation that her obliviousness to the world around her has caused her to overlook the far-reaching consequences of her actions. Furthermore, despite the fact there are some quite steamy love scenes, God's Eye is in no way just a set-up for erotica. Likewise, the religious aspects of the novel, such as the angels and demons, were used in an interesting way and did not overwhelm the rest of the story.

A race against time

Scudiere begins God's Eye by getting straight to the point, introducing all three major players and the basic set-up by the end of the first chapter. From that point on the novel carries along at a reasonably fast pace as Katharine and her allies race against time to discover the true natures of Allistair and Zachary and her role in their battle. The plot is well structured and the mystery develops in a way that is suspenseful yet satisfying. I, myself, wasn't entirely sure how the situation would resolve right up until the novel's climax. The prose is more direct than lyrical, which itself adds to the sense of urgency that resonates throughout the book.

Characters you can care about

The characters throughout the novel are, on the whole, well realised and relatable. I found myself easily becoming invested in their fates and desperately wanting my favourites to succeed. The protagonist, Katharine, is likeable despite her privilege and naivety and feels quite believable. While the interactions between Katherine, Allistair and Zachary are well done, possibly my favourite relationship throughout the novel was not a romantic one. Instead it involved the developing friendship between Katharine and Margot, a librarian helping her with her troubles who eventually becomes her first true friend. I very much enjoyed watching their friendship develop and seeing its effect on their lives as a whole.

Why should you read this book?

While I have only been reviewing for under a year and thus am no expert, God's Eye is definitely one of the most enjoyable self published or indie press novels I've read so far and one of the most professionally edited and put together. If I didn't know better and just picked it up off the shelf I doubt I would have known it wasn't traditionally published. Overall, God's Eye was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a decent contemporary fantasy thriller to wile away the hours. I look forward to seeing what Scudiere comes up with next.

 

Top 5 Fantasy Books of 2011

2011 was a great year in many ways for me. It's the year I started this blog and also the year I decided to dabble a little in writing myself. It was also a year in which many great fantasy books were released, from impressive debuts from exciting new authors, to much anticipated sequels in some exceptional series. I managed to read quite a few of these books and therefore would like to present you with my Top 5 Fantasy Books of 2011.

Seeing as I'm only human (despite the speculation of a few choice individuals) I clearly couldn't read all the new releases and thus this list is composed only of those I managed to read this year. In order to include more books I have excluded the debut novels from this list and given them their own separate Best of 2011 post here.

 

1. The Cold Commands by Richard K. Morgan

The Cold Commands is the much anticipated sequel to The Steel Remains, the 2008 fantasy debut of acclaimed science fiction author Richard Morgan. Arriving after a three year hiatus, the second installment of A Land Fit for Heroes does not disappoint. Set approximately one year after the events of The Steel Remains, The Cold Commands reunites us with forgotten war heroes Ringil, Archeth, and Egar, albeit in somewhat altered circumstances. No holds are barred in this fast-paced genre shake-up, its pages veritably bursting with passion, action, intelligence, and pathos. All in all, The Cold Commands takes everything that made The Steel Remains great and ramps it up to the next level. It's darker, faster, grittier, and more violent than its predecessor while providing the same generous servings of black humor, snappy dialogue, tight characterization, and cynical, razor-sharp wit.

To learn more about The Cold Commands take a look at my full review or my interview with Richard K. Morgan himself!  

  

2. Fenrir by M. D. Lachlan 

Fenrir is the sequel to M. D. Lachlan's brilliant fantasy debut, Wolfsangel, and the second installment in his unnamed Norse werewolf series. Not only does it live up to the previous volume, in many ways it far surpasses it. Set approximately one hundred years after the events of its predecessor, it centers around the fates of reincarnations of the original protagonists, still locked into a tragic cycle of death and rebirth involving the god Odin and the monstrous Fenris wolf destined to kill him at Ragnarok. Once again, Lachlan delivers a dark and thrilling tale incorporating Norse gods and monsters, historical detail, sinister magic, and a tragic human struggle against fate. While Fenrir is an engrossing and well-written story in its own right, it is an also excellent second book in what is shaping up to be a truly memorable series.

Interested in finding out more about this great series? Check out the full review or my interview with M.D. Lachlan!

 

 

3. The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma

The Map of Time by esteemed Spanish author Felix J. Palma is a mesmerising work of literary fiction with speculative aspects and pays unabashed homage to H. G. Wells' The Time Machine.The Map of Time is a truly unique reading experience featuring flowing lyrical prose, a distinct and unconventional narrative style, countless twists and turns, and wonderfully flawed protagonists. Although it won't suit the tastes of every reader, I would recommend it to almost anyone as something that simply must be tried—if only for its sheer distinctiveness compared to most other contemporary works. You'll either love or hate it, but either way you'll have read something truly unlike anything that's come before, the echoes of which will remain with you long after you turn the final page. Personally, I loved every moment of it.

 

Want to know more? Check out the full review.

 

 

 

4. Chasing Odysseus by S. D. Gentill

Chasing Odysseus is essentially a retelling of Homer's 'Odyssey' from the perspective of a young girl named Hero and her three brothers, all raised just outside Troy by the herdsman Agelaus. When their kinsmen are falsely accused of betraying the city to the Greeks, Hero and her brothers set out to reveal the truth of the matter. Despite having read and studied The Odyssey and having often been disappointed in modern authors attempts to rework old classics in the past, I found this book extremely refreshing and addictive. At the time when I first picked up this novel, I was feeling quite disenchanted with young adult literature in general. However, Chasing Odysseus revived my faith and set me on my own personal quest to discover more gems amidst the sparkly vampire populated rough. It was also my first review on this blog and led me on to greater things, such as joining the Ranting Dragon, reading many more great books and meeting lots of great people. Thus, it holds a special place in my heart in addition to being a great read in its own right.

Want to learn more? Check out my (rather embarrassingly unpolished) full review of Chasing Odysseus.

 

5. Roil by Trent Jamieson

Roil is the impressive first installment in The Nightbound Land duology by Trent Jamieson, up-and-coming Australian author of the urban fantasy trilogy Death Works. Jamieson's newest novel showcases a powerful imaginative streak, creating a darkly fascinating world and successfully combining elements of science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and horror. Roil is an apocalyptic tale set in a world called Shale, which lies on the brink of destruction by a seemingly unstoppable force known as the Roil. Humanity prepares to make its final stand. However, the last chance of salvation may well lie with a drug-addicted youth, a vengeful young woman and a mysterious 4000 year old man as they seek a mysterious machine from a bygone era, The Engine of the World. Those who like their fantasy complete with weird technologies, creepy monsters, and interesting characters need look no further. Roil is a fun, absorbing, and action packed read that isn't to be missed.

Sound interesting? Take a look at the full review of Roil and my interview with Trent Jamieson.

 

If you'd like to know more about the countless great books released in 2011 there are many other lists worth checking out. For instance, we have a much longer list consisting of the picks of multiple reviewers at The Ranting Dragon.  Justin from Staffer's Musings and Aidan from A Dribble of Ink also have interesting lists to take a look at.