Goodreads
asked
Jo Walton:
If you could travel to any fictional book world, where would you go and what would you do there?
Jo Walton
I spent years and years of my life ready to answer this question, and even readier to dive into any wardrobe, accompany any wizard, or leap into any alien spaceship offered to me. (I swear at the age of eighteen I imagined a solar powered Kindle as the only thing I'd need to take.) But then something happened... it wasn't that I grew up, because I'd been grown up for ages and as ready was ever to go. It was more that I started being happy and having good friends who didn't live in books. My answer to "would you go to a fantasy world" stopped being "in a heartbeat" and started having modifiers like "who could I take with me?" and "would I have email?"
I don't think there's anything wrong with escapism. I also don't think there's anything wrong with being in the fortunate position of not needing to escape. So if a wizard wanted me to come into a fantasy world now I'd have a lot of questions about whether it really really needed me.
But Middle Earth, of course. And after I'd done whatever heroic thing needed me, if I survived, I'd write books and travel and see my friends. Just like I do in this world.
I don't think there's anything wrong with escapism. I also don't think there's anything wrong with being in the fortunate position of not needing to escape. So if a wizard wanted me to come into a fantasy world now I'd have a lot of questions about whether it really really needed me.
But Middle Earth, of course. And after I'd done whatever heroic thing needed me, if I survived, I'd write books and travel and see my friends. Just like I do in this world.
More Answered Questions
Linda
asked
Jo Walton:
I love Among Others, and I have written two blogs posts about it so far. It seems so unknown, and to me, that's a crime. I just rec'd it last week on a friend's blog. Hopefully that will bring it to more people's attention. My question is, what are you working on now? And do you have any plans for any more fantasy-centered works like Among Others?
Xena WP
asked
Jo Walton:
Jo, after finishing Transcription by K. Atkinson I wished for a few paragraphs at least of Juliet’s happy discovery of Italy and enjoyment of motherhood, things you describe movingly in My Real Children. I read My Real Children shortly after readingLife After Life and I thought they enriched each other. Have you read Life After Life and do you think it is a work of SFF? (If MRC is, then LAL is IMO.)
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