Ask Robin Hobb - Thursday, April 11th! discussion
Ask Robin!
Unfortunately, I wrote my question in the other thread! I'll post it here as well, just in case you're able to get to it.Firstly, I want to say thank you for your amazing stories! My favourites are The Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies - the world you created ended up becoming more real to me than the real world. How do create such realistic and in-depth worlds? And what advice/tips do you have for aspiring authors?
Hello Robin! I state red off with Farseer trilogy after your name was recommended on another authors website, Trudi. I went to Borders clearance sell and now wish I had bought two more trilogies that were there but got two others, Farseer and Soldiers
sorry didn't finish.... accidentally hit the done button LoL anywho ... Soldier son was a lot more exciting then I thought it would have been. Love your books and hope to read many more in the future =) Just one simple question for you... Any plans to come back to Louisville for Fandomfest?? Still kicking myself for missing you but I will be there this year.
Thanks for all the stories you share and can't wait to finish all your books. Two more trilogies to go =) And Blood of the Dragons when I get it, Yay!
Hi Robin, I was very excited to see that you were doing a question and answer session on here! Like most people have said today, you are one of the best writers I have ever had the fortune to come across; your books and characters have stayed with me for many years, which to me is a sign of true talent. The complexity and richness of your stories are like nothing I've ever read and you have created characters that I honestly wish were real! The Fool, Fitz, Burrich,and Chade are just a few of my favourites, and the Liveship Trilogy is astounding. You truly are world class and I wish that I had the ability to write as you do. Thank you for the gift of your books! I have a small question however; is it still possible to get the books with the old, painted covers? I first read them when they had the painted ones but they were from the library and I haven't been able to find them in shops over here in the UK. I absolutely adored them! Thank you for taking the time to do this session, and I also wanted you to know that I know with certainty that your books will continue to be re-read by me over and over!
Lucy :)
Just like everyone else here, I'm a huge fan! So glad the dragon's stories got to be told. Of course I want to know if there are more books from this world to come, and when! My questions for the dragon series: why does Malta suddenly have golden hair?? I see others have asked the same question, but I don't see an answer! What was an average number of elderlings for a single dragon to create? Were they all humans turned or were they born? I didn't quite get whether elderlings just started as humans that were transformed and then the elderlings bred and procreated, or if most elderlings were created from humans.
I'm so glad you touched on the point Tats made about how many elderlings there had been in the city. He pointed out that maybe the memories were of several different times overlaid on one another, that maybe there hadn't been that many elderlings in the city at one time. It seemed that the dragons would not be patient enough to create the number of elderlings present in the memories of the city, at least not in one time. How many other cities were there, and is there a chance there are more dragon cases waiting to be dragged into the sun? Or, gasp! an elderling city still in use by elderlings somewhere?!? Are there any other civilizations that plunder elderling cities? Why have the only cities found been on the Rain Wild River?
Also, I truly hope The Fool gets to meet some of the dragons he gave up everything to bring back. He is, to me, the ultimate tragic hero. I want him to see Kelsingra so badly!
I love the way you write and have saved several of the quotes from your characters as great advice for life.
Thank you, please keep up the excellent writing, and hope there is more to come on all the characters we've met, but especially The Fool!
Hi Robin, I love your books and consider you a master of the craft. When you plan a trilogy, how much of the storyline for the books do you have mapped out? Or is it more of a general idea of where you are heading with the second and third books?
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I've been a fan for many years and have read the Farseer trilogy, the Liveship Traders trilogy, the Tawny Man trilogy and the Soldier Son trilogy.
What intrigues me is how you can writ..."
In post 91, Cornelia asked: What intrigues me is how you can write as a man. How can you put yourself into the shoes of a man so convincingly? If I wanted to imagine the motivations, thoughts and actions of male character, how would I go about it?
Hm. I don't think that being male or female, or any of the variations thereof, is necessarily the most basic thing that determines who we are. So, with that said, writing from the point of view of any person who differs from me in any way is really what writers do all the time. AFter all, how many of your decisions today were based on what sex you are? Did it have a bearing on what you ate for breakfast (no), what clothes you donned (not much-jeans and T-shirt), what food you fed your dog/cat (no). Etc. I think all humans are more alike than we are different, and I also each of us is so unique that there is no stereotype that is true. If I write a character who maintains lawns, owns a pet goat, likes the color purple and reads zombie romances, no one can tell me there is no one in the world like that. So I suggest the best way to write a character is as that character, where gender is only a bit of who he is.
Good luck with the writing!
Robin
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In post 93, Melanie asked:
I have a couple of questions Robin. My first is a little critical, but I mean this is the best way. I want to know how/where/why The Soldier Son trilogy fits into your writing? I read the series as I was going through all of your Hobb books and I have to say I didn't particularly like or understand the universe and the magic system. Everything else I have thoroughly enjoyed. I can't wait to get my hands on Blood of Dragons!
My second question is probably a little easier to answer. What do you enjoy reading? I would imagine that reading fantasy can be a little difficult. Who have you enjoyed? What universe do you like? That sort of thing.
Hi Melanie! Not every book can work for every reader. So I take no offense when someone says, "I liked X book you wrote and hated Y." It's just how it is. If you are asking me if Soldier Son is in the Elderling universe, no, not at all. Different world, different magic system.
What do I enjoy reading? All sorts of books and not just fantasy. Mysteries, and detective fiction. Westerns. Romances that also incorporate any of the other genres. SF. Military SF.
I enjoy doing my research. A well written non-fiction book can absorb me just as deeply as any thriller.
Generally speaking (there are exceptions) I don't enjoy time travel, most of the vampire stuff out there, the so-called 'main stream' literature and any book where the stylistic fillips get between me and the story and jump up and down demanding to be noticed. To me, the best story telling is when the writing becomes completely transparent. I come out of those books feeling as if I've lived the story rather than read it.
Thanks for asking. Robin
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Th..." In post 97, Karen asked: Hi Robin, I'm Karen from Tacoma. I'm dying to read The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince, but I can't seem to make myself read paper books anymore. Will this be released in Kindle format?
Here's a terrible thing for me to admit, Karen. I don't know.
The best place to look for answers to questions like this is actually on the publisher's website. Or to do a search for it on Amazon if you specifically want the Kindle version.
I'm on the writing end of things. I hammer on the words until I like it, and then the agent and the publisher take over, and I dive into the next book. So I am always befuddled when people ask, "Is there an audio book" or "when will it be released in Hungarian?" Even if I've signed and returned the contract and filed my copy, those details don't stick in my brain.
So, in all honesty, I don't know. I do care, truly, but I don't know.
best wishes,
Robin
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In message 98, Lindsay asked:
Do you find that when you write about one character for so many books that it's hard to move on from them? Is it hard to create someone new when you still have the previous character in your head? Or is it refreshing to start over?
Hi Lindsay! Usually, by the time I reach the end of editing a book, the characters and I are ready to take a break from each other. (I should add that when I'm writing multiple volumes, it still feels very much like one big book.)
And most writers will tell you that midway through the book, the characters and plot from the next book will start waving and shouting, "Yoo-hoo! Over here! Come over here and write us, we'll be so much easier to write than whatever it is you are working on now! This book will be easier and more fun!"
They are lying, of course, but writers are gullible and we immediately start day-dreaming about the next book and how fun it will be to write it. And as soon as we finish the book we are one, we rush right over to start on the next one.
And that is when the writer discovers that it is just as hard to write as the previous one.
Not sure I answered your question, but that is how it works for me.
Robin
Robin, Greetings and thank you for participating in this! As a fledgling author, it's been difficult for me to find beta readers who I can trust to give constructive and honest feedback. How many people do you have beta-read your work and how did you find them?
Hi Robin, I am from Mt. Vernon N.Y. and I just came home from the library carrying your new book :0 I am so happy :) Even though i was reading another book it will have to be put aside so i can begin "Blood Of The Dragons" YEAH!!! so i can't stay here on GR long I just want to express to you how excited i am to be able to start this book and find out what happens in this great series THE RAIN WILDS CHRONICLES. Thank you for being such a great writer and getting me out of my own dull world. i am sure i will be up all night reading. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU ANGEL
Robin, you may not have favorite characters, but your Beloved Fool is my favorite character of any character...ever. I love his ambiguity and the way he keeps us guessing. I thought his story was complete but he might have another persona to surprise us with, you never know! Gushing aside, I have an aspiring author question. The book I've been writing (and rewriting) has a strong female protagonist, which is pretty marketable, but she also happens to be a tragic hero. Given the challenges of breaking in to the publishing scene, would I be wasting my time pitching this? Should I set it aside and write something more conventional to start?
Robin wrote: "Karen wrote: "Hi Robin, I'm Karen from Tacoma. I'm dying to read The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince, but I can't seem to make myself read paper books anymore. Will this be released in Kind..."to let you know - on Amazon if you find the paperback book over on the right hand side there is a place that allows you to ask the publisher to put this book on the kindle. i find myself checking that off quite often. Since I would also like to read those books i am going to amazon right now to see if i can request it to go to kindle.
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First of all, I am in complete awe at how you craft your plotlines. Things that started in Assassins Apprentice I expect to see unfurl a ..."
In message 100, Brenda asked: First of all, I am in complete awe at how you craft your plotlines. Things that started in Assassins Apprentice I expect to see unfurl a bit in the new book, as some of your threads link through the entire series. How do you manage these without dropping a single thread? And how do you decide how much or how little to show?
Hi Brenda!
Oh, believe me, I drop threads. If it looks like I don't, then please stop for a moment and thank my wonderful editors and copy-editors who make me look like a much better writer than I truly am!
But with that said, here are some tricks. Keep your timeline updated as you write. Make sure all your characters age at the same rate.
Every time I use a new proper noun in a book I stop and enter it into a separate file. It goes in alphabetically, with a note as to what chapter and book I used it in (page numbers are useless; they change) Often I do a cut and paste of the description if it is a character or a place. Then, if I have to come back to that character, I can remember if he's left handed or has a mole on his lip or is much shorter than my pov character.
It really helps!
Best wishes,
Robin
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I don't want to ..."
IN message 101, Tasfeen asked: How do you manage to keep track of the worlds you've created?
AND
Does the Gernia have any connection to Jamaillia, Six Duchies, Chalced etc. etc.?
Hi Tasfeen! Easy question first. There is no connection between The Soldier Son Trilogy and any of the other Hobb works. Different universe entirely.
How do I keep track of the world? As I go along, for the most part. I keep files on my computer that relate to each book or series of books. One is a glossary, alphabetized, of all proper nouns. Characters, places, and things such as Skill or Knowing are defined there, with a reference to where I first used it. A timeline is also useful, usually created by hand as I know of no software for that. It helps me to age characters at the same rate, and make sure that I don't end up with a situation where two weeks passes in one place and only a few hours in another.
And lastly, I owe great debts to eagle eyed copy editors who catch me when I change the color of a character's eyes or start spelling the name differently in chapter seven. It does happen! But with a bit of luck, the reader never sees it.
Thanks for asking,
Robin
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I just wanted to ask, are the Eld..."
Marina wrote in post 102: I just wanted to ask, are the Elderlings also skill users? Is there a chance we would see the next generation of skill users and the Elderlings meeting each other? I'd love to see that, although it would be a blow not to meet Fitz and the Fool again.
My all time favourite character though, is Malta. Such a journey that girl had! Long live the Queen!
Thank you, Marina! I can't tell if you've read The Rain Wild Chronicles yet, but it may be what you are looking for to tell you more about Elderlings. A great deal is revealed in those four books.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
Robin
Hi Robin, thank you for answering. I've already read the Rain Wild Chronicles, but my question is not exactly answered.
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My name is Ziv; I hail from Israel, and I'm a huge fan of your work. I'm absolutely loving the premise and characters in the Rain Wild books, and I'm really looking forward to seeing w..."
in message 104, Ziv wrote:1. With the Soldier Son trilogy, you broke away from the Farseer setting; my sense was that you were deliberately exploring new territory. My impression is that the Soldier Son books weren't as well received as your Farseer work - the two recent ones, Rain Wilds Chronicles and Tawny Man, being very direct sequels earlier trilogies. I'd love to hear how you feel about Soldier Son in retrospect - how it fits into your body of work; how satisfied you are with the final result; and whether we can expect more such exploration (or a return to the world of Soldier Son) from you in the future.
2. You're brilliant at constructing fascinating settings and worlds with original culture, feel, and magic. Do you have any particular process on how you set about world-building?
3. Can you share with us a story about working on a book with your editor? I can't imagine what kind of editing must go into huge, epic books like yours, but I'd love to find out :)
Hi Ziv!
First of all, Soldier Son. No, I don't think it was as well received. The major flaw I heard back from readers was "This book is not about Fitz and the Fool." So the story was swimming upstream in that regard. Will I write more in that universe? Only time will tell.
World building. I am not nearly as organized as some other writers I have known. They create maps and write about the last 500 years of history and all sorts of ephemera that they know about the world before they start. As for me, I start with the character, and the world falls into place around her. We are all creatures of our cultures and worlds. So for me, the character tells me, "I'm a bee keeper." Or "I'm a deckhand on a trading ship." And then it's up to me to do the research and fill in behind the character what that means.
Editors are tremendously important to me. Editing is a completely different skill set from writing. My first reader is always my editor; I never farm out the book before hand. The advice you get from that is usually useless, in my experience. (Before others start howling, I'll freely admit that I know other writers feel differently about this.) I listen to my editor. It is NOT an adversarial relationship. Together, we want to put out the best story we can. And my experience of editors has been that they do not lose sight of the fact that this is MY book. My story. They advise and we haggle and sometimes we argue. But in the end, it's my name on the cover.
With that said, I'd say I agree with 96 percent of the suggestions I've received from editors.
Sometimes I'm asked why I don't 'self publish'. The answer is, really, you wouldn't want to read any of my books before editing. REally.
Robin
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Anxiously awaiting the next chapter in this series. In the last novel will you go into more deta..."
In post 105, Jason asked: Big fan of the fool, a fantastic character. I also thought the soldier son trilogy was enthralling.
Anxiously awaiting the next chapter in this series. In the last novel will you go into more detail of how the city of dragon works, once the memory stones helps the next generation of regain their memory? Are they immune to the lure of getting wrapped up in the memories once they transform? Its more than memories, its emotions and feelings, correct?
Jason, yes, Blood of Dragons will answer a lot of your questions. And I'm afraid I'm not going to say much more than that due to Great Spoiler Danger! Just trust me and read the book! And thanks for your interest in what comes next.
Robin
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Message 106 from Brandon.
Yes. Unabashedly true!
Hi Robin and Robin Fans.My question to you Robin relates to the sympathetic characters you create. I find when I read about even the most despicable characters, there's a piece of information somewhere in the story that makes me feel for them. Is this a conscious effort, and was it a skill that took time to develop?
I feel like you must have a mind-blowing bank of real-life observations from the quality of work you produce, in keeping with above, would you say this skill is more to do how you observe, or technical skill?
Thanks for your time, and wonderful stories.
Leanne Bridges
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How different was the arc of the rain wild chronicles from what you initially envisioned at the story's genesis?"
Message 107 from Kurt.
Well, I thought it was going to be a lot shorter. That four book set was my effort at a one volume stand alone book that would be a nice introduction to readers who hadn't ventured into my world before. In that quest, I failed miserably!
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I would like ..."
Karen in post 108 asked: I would like to know what authors and books inspire you?
I wish I could just take snapshots of my bookcases and post them here. It would be a lot faster!
Inspiration goes back to childhood, so myths, legends, East of the Sun, Grimm, Anderson, the Jungle Book. The Oz books. Narnia. Then, skipping ahead, think of The Lord of the Rings, mixed with Doc Savage, Conan and Tarzan. The Last Unicorn, and Sherlock Holmes. Heinlein. Asimov, Jack Vance, Theodore Sturgeon, Robert Bloch.
Anne McCaffrey. Lois McMaster Bujold. Robin McKinley. George RR Martin.
Whew! I think I'm inspired a little bit by everything I ever read, all the way back to The Pokey Little Puppy and McElligott's Pool.
Robin
Hi, I am from Germany but now live in North Dakota via Alaska and the British Isles. I just wanted to say that one of the things I love so much about your writing is that, no matter where I am, there are places that I "recognise" in your books. And of course, after re-reading many of them, it almost feels like coming home when I open one of your books. I have often wondered if you have a favourite "world", either in your own writing, or in that of another author? Thank you for doing this chat, and of course for all the enjoyment your books provide.
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I've enjoyed the Farseer Trilogy and the first two books of the Liveships Trilogy (reading the third soon!), as well as the short story collection The Inheritance.
My question: How ..."
Message 109 from Lindsey asks: How do you keep up the energy/inspiration to continue writing in one "universe"?
Well, actually, I don't! :)The lion's share of what has been published in the last few years relates to that world, but I actually write all sorts of things. I've had several short stories by Megan Lindholm published over the last year. And of course, there are many unpublished stories that live on my computer, waiting for me to have time to polish them.
So, what you see published is determined by what the demand is for.
That is NOT to say that I am being 'forced' to write in the Elderling Realm. Far from it. I don't think I could write a story that I didn't enjoy writing. I'd just sit there and stare at the keyboard and not find the words.
Robin
Hi Robin.:)
Your writing is a joy to read.
(Thank you)
I find that the authors I like best..create worlds that I become immersed in. (If it's raining in the story, it becomes so vivid to me, that it feels like it's raining outside my window at
times.)
Writing is not my forte, art is........when I am not having a block.
My question :) for you is..... if you have ever gone through a writer's block...how did you overcome it?
Happy writing....
Brenda
Hi Robin! I'm a fan from Costa Rica, your awesome books are even there xD I want you to know that The Realm of The Elderlings extremely great, I love it. The story is thrilling, the characters lovable, everything is excellent.
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I've been reading your books since '96, and in my opinion you're one of the very best living authors the genre has to offer. You build great worlds, you have very convincing characters,..."
Post 116, Bryan asked:
Anyway, gushing aside, I suppose I sort of have two questions. The first has to do with the availability(or lack thereof) of your Lindholm-penned material. Where would you recommend I search to find this stuff in paperback(I live across the border from you, in Vancouver, B.C.)? The second question is about Nevarre. I've read some negative reaction to the Soldier's Son trilogy, but I must say that it's my absolute favorite series of yours. It seems to me as if you intentionally left some loose ends in Renegade's Magic, and so my question is whether or not you're ever planning on revisiting Nevarre and telling more of his tale? I'd love it if you would!
Hi Bryan!
The Lindholm books are out of print in the US and have been for some years. The short answer is that we don't have a publisher interested in re-issuing them here in the US. You can find them in used book stores or through services such as www.addall.com (one of my favorite sources for hard to find books.) In the UK, they remain in print, and thus if you are willing to pay the postage, you can order them from amazon.co.uk.
The Soldier Son Trilogy was very enjoyable for me to write. I love mixing gunpowder and magic. In a sense, it's the closest I've come to steampunk as Nevare is very much of that sort of era. I believe that one story ends where another one might logically begin. So of course there are always some threads left dangling that the next tale would attach to. It doesn't mean there must be a next tale; it just confirms for hte reader that the world goes on.
Any plans for a novel based in the Farseer world?
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In post 120, Jerry asked:
Thank you Robin, for your time in responding. So, since you're getting all of this excellent advice about how men **>>REALLY<<** think, has your opinion of men, um, EVOLVED since you started writing RotE?
Hi Jerry!
Thanks to the sort of family I grew up in, I think I've always believed that men were actually people, just like everyone else. :) So in that sense, I believe they have always occurred in a delightful variety. :)
Robin
Thanks from an Irish fan for many years of enjoyment - you were the first author who I ever pre-ordered in hardback because I couldn't wait. You're also the author who creates such detailed and believable characters that I still get upset with their actions or what you did to them, years on. I'm still angry with Nevare's dad (from the Soldier's Son trilogy) for example...
So a question then: Do you ever feel guilty about how you treat your characters, knowing how it might upset your readers?
Best birthday present I could get from Goodreads!I'm Ciara, also Irish.
So I was wondering if you were ever going to write more short stories? I know at the start of Inheritance you said something along the lines of preferring longer stories. Do you still feel like that?
Also, how do you feel about self/indie-publishing and where publishing is going? And how you feel about some fan-fiction being pulled from the internet, changed slightly and published by reputable houses (along the lines of fifty shade)? It strikes me as dodgy but several people I know are all for it.
Hi Robin, I'm a great fan from Barcelona, just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your books :)I have a couple of questions, I noticed that you use many english words that have a latin origin, because i never heard of them before, but the meaning is clear to me (for example, just today I read susurrous in City of Dragons)...is that a conscious choice? Do you speak any latin language (maybe french, where I guess many of this words come from?) I really think that it adds a poetic layer to your prose that is simply wonderful.
And the second one is that I love many things about your books, and the relevance of the so called "social issues" is one of them, are you gonna explore more in future books the situation of the slaves? I find it very interesting (Tats, Burrich etc.)
Thanks a lot and I hope to meet you in person one day, if you come to Spain ;)
Hi Robin! I love your books, as an aspiring writer I've learnt a lot from them, specially pacing. I don't think I exaggerate if I called you one of the best fantasy authors today!I wanted to know if you do a lot of pre writing before starting to actually write and how much of the story within stories(like the Dragon and Serpent's nature) was written by the time you wrote the Farseer trilogy. Was everything already planned or was the whole concept growing as you started to write more books? Also, which is the best way for you to separate scenes in chapters?
And another question is more of an advice. Which do you think is the most common mistake most writers make when they're starting to write?
Thanks for taking some time to answer these questions! I hope to meet you one day.
Hi Robin, don't know if it's too late to ask questions but I was wondering, out of all the fantastic cultures and places you have written, where would you most like to live and why?
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IN post 121, Margaret asked:
Hi Robin, I'm a huge fan. I'm pretty sure I've read all your books written under Hobbs. Just recently I've finished The Soldiers Son series and was surprised how hard it was for me to like Nevare! I've never had this problem with any of your heroes before. Was this done on purpose? You definitely attacked all types of prejudice in these stories, but what inspired you to focus so much on obesity? Also, what exactly was the message you were trying to convey about Nevare being split into two? Cause I thought I was starting to understand it when he became whole again, but then he became divided again. It was a very thought provoking story for me and it still has me reeling.
Hi Margaret!
Not every book nor every hero works for every reader. That's why we have so many kinds of books! :) With the Soldier Son trilogy, I wanted to give my hero a difficulty that was not a part of his character, and yet was something he had to deal with. It's not just obesity; it can be seeing someone with a disfigurement or a muscular issue. It's when we judge the book by the cover, so to speak.
I also wanted to write about what frequently happens in military conflicts, that is, the people closest to the fighting actually come away with a patina of the culture they have clashed with. If you think of the Crusades introducing 'exotic' spices to Europe, you know what I mean. Nevare becomes even more familiar with a culture when he becomes 'infected' with the magic. So it's about that time when we realize there really is no us and them, there is only a we.
Thanks for asking.
Robin
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I have been a fan for about 2 years, ever since my mum introduced me to these wonderful books. I think it was one of the best things she ever did for me! The Farseer trilog..."
In message 122, Kate asked: Robin, I wanted to ask - do you have any future plans of doing a tour in Australia?
And also (this question I have little hope of getting an answer!) can we expect to see Fitz and the Fool again in any future novels?
Kate, I will definitely be visiting Australia in 2014, with SupaNova. I'll be visiting Sydney and Perth with SupaNova and perhaps a few other places on my own.
As for your second question about Fitz and the Fool, only time will tell. :)
Robin
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Before I ask my questions I just wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your books and I think they are quite unique but still typical fantasy stories at the same time, somethin..."
In message 123, Aden asked:
In several of your books you write a small excerpt at the beginning of each chapter (e.g. The excerpts of writing in the Farseer and Tawny Man Trilogies, and the letters in the Rain Wild Chronicles). I was wondering what made you decide to add these and why.
Also, do you think you would ever set a book/trilogy/short story in the Outislands. Or somewhere we don't hear about much like the Icy Shores, Glacier Plains or the Spice Isles in the south. And do you think you would ever set something during the time of the Elderlings?
Hi Aden!
The Farseer and Tawny Man, the story is told entirely from a single Point of View (pov). This can present a real problem to the writer, as the reader can only know exactly what the narrator knows at that time. Yet often the writer wants to tell the reader an important bit of information that simply can't fit into the first person POV. My answer was to have all sorts of information hidden in the book in those little chapter introductions.
I really can't always predict where or when my new bit of writing will take me. There's a half finished story on my computer that takes place in Buck during the Red Ship raids. Unfortunately, I have about six other things in line ahead of it, so it will have to wait its turn to be finished.
So the answer to your question is an apologetic, "I don't really know."
But thanks for asking!
Robin
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I'm currently reading Assassin's Quest and I really love the trilogy so far.
I have a quite specific question about Assassin's Apprentice. At one point around the middle of the book, Fi..."
In post 124, Iva asked:
I have a quite specific question about Assassin's Apprentice. At one point around the middle of the book, Fitz is at the market, running some errands. There are two foreign women and one is staring at him and repeating a word. Was this his mom? I wonder if that was his real name, but this was never mentioned again (this far).
Oh, Iva, this would be a major spoiler if I answered it here. So I will give you two options. Send me a private message and I will tell you. Or keep reading, and you will find out in a later book!
Best wishes,
Robin
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thanks for inviting me to join this group, I'd would love to use this opportunity to ask you a question:
In 1992 you co-wrote the amazing "The Gypsy" with Steven Brust. (For those of you..."
In post 125, Jerome asked: Would you be willing to repeat the co-writing experience as Robin Hobb? And if so with whom?
Hi Jerome. Serious answer, I'm not kidding. Steve and I had a wonderful experience writing The Gypsy together. As you may or may not know, we had already collaborated on stories in the Liavek anthologies. We work very well together. Writing The Gypsy with Steve was such an extraordinary experience that at the end of it we made a pact. We would never write together again unless we had another idea that would yield as wonderful an experience. So far, we haven't. As far as collaborating with someone else as Robin Hobb . . . It would have to be the absolutely perfect way to tell that story. Can't settle for anything less!
Best wishes,
Robin
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In message 126, Craig asked:
Hi Robin - I'm just curious about some of the scenes in the Soldier's Son trilogy. They had a visceral dream like quality. I was wondering if some of the scenes may have been based on actual dreams?
Hi Craig! None of those scenes were based on any of my dreams. However, I do have extremely vivid dreams sometimes, and that was the essence I was attempting to capture. So thank you very much for letting me know that they worked for you!
Best wishes,
Robin
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Last year, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and lost my job. I pass my time listening to your books and others while enduring the pain. The stories get me through each day. thank you!!!!
Your Fan from Colorado Springs, Colorado USA,
Amy, thank you for your post. I'm sorry to hear that you are living with chronic pain. I was not very healthy as a child, and often had to spend days in bed with books and puzzles. I've always found books were a transport to another place. If you've found that my stories do that for you, I'm very honored.
Best wishes,
Robin
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MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD. TURN BACK NOW IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE TAWNY MAN TRILOGY.
NO, REALLY, MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILERS. STOP READING NOW!
Dear Robin,
When I read the Tawny Man series, Burrich's death struck me as awfully strange under the circumstances. The skill coterie only try to heal him once with the Skill ..."
In post 128, Malin asks:When I read the Tawny Man series, Burrich's death struck me as awfully strange under the circumstances. The skill coterie only try to heal him once with the Skill (and don't attempt getting Nettle to help either), never really trying to find a way around Chivalry's block. There is no attempt to get the dragons to help (though, admittedly, they might not know that they could help). And when Fitz learns that you can use the Wit to heal, and even resurrect the dead, he doesn't try to contact the other skillusers to alert them of this, in the hopes that the Wits coterie would be able to help. Additionally, his body is thrown into the sea. In fact, Fitz doesn't even shed a thought to the fact that he could have at least tried to save Burrich, which I find rather odd. What was your reasoning behind this?
Hi Malin,
I guess I feel differently about those scenes than you do.
In that scene, the Skill coterie is still trying to learn to do something, as one. You may remember that in Assassin's Apprentice, Fitz tries at one point to draw strength from Burrich, but is totally blocked from him. He is familiar with that barricade. And when even Thick's prodigious strength just slides off it . . . well, there comes a moment when you know something is beyond your strength, no matter how badly you want to do it.
A burial at sea is not 'throwing' someone's body into the sea. It is usually done with great reverence, and is an acceptance of the fact that an unpreserved body begins to decay quickly.
So Burrich is far beyond Fitz's help long before Fitz is able, by virtue of a relationship he shares with no one else, revive the Fool.
People deal with death in different ways depending on the circumstances. A death on the battlefield sets off a different reaction than a death where people have time to mourn. Sometimes you just have to get on with what you have to do, and set aside what you will feel later.
With best wishes,
Robin
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B & N emailed me saying my copy of Blood of Dragons is on its way, so I've started re-reading Rain Wilds (quartology?). In the first part of Dragon Keeper a character builds ho..."
In message 129, Jearry asked: B & N emailed me saying my copy of Blood of Dragons is on its way, so I've started re-reading Rain Wilds (quartology?). In the first part of Dragon Keeper a character builds hope within that persons self (please forgive clumsy grammar: trying not to SPOIL here), then is utterly disappointed. It's so devastating I almost feel embarrassed to be privy to the characters arc of emotions; you did such an excellent job portraying this. This characters development after this disappointment is important to the plot of the series.
Did you foresee the completeness of what this character experienced, or did you start with the idea that this character simply would be dissatisfied with the "situation"? There are few characters I've read about whom I have felt so sorry for.
Hi Jerry,
I knew that this was going to befall the character. It was simply in the nature of both characters involved. The utter humiliation of such an event does leave a mark on someone, and it is something that the person either surrenders to, or finds a way to surmount.
So, yes, I knew that was coming.
Best wishes,
Robin
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First of all, thank you for all the hours of pleasure your books have brought me! The Farseer and The Tawny Man are among my all-time favourite series in the fantasy genre. You create ..."
In message 130, Helga asks:I wonder how he fares and what happened to him and his family after the events in the Tawny Man trilogy! As a result I regularly prowl the net in the hope of finding announcement about brandnew publications about Fitz or his heirs in the Farseer-realm! So now that I have the opportunity to ask; do you have any new plans regarding The Farseers, now that The Rain Wild Chronicles have come to an end? :)
If you were to recommend one fantasy-series that in some way reminds you of The Farseer, what would that be?
Hello Helga!
I am not sure if I will ever return to the story of Fitz and the Fool. I think only time will tell!
For a fantasy adventure series, if you have not read (and I do mean read, not watched) A Game of Thrones, then I recommend it to you without reservation. I believe we are watching George RR Martin create his master work. We may have to wait for him to complete it, but I am completely certain it will be worth the wait.
Many thanks for the question,
Robin
Hello. Thank you so much for agreeing to take the time to answer all our questions. Their have been some very interesting questions and answers. It is incredible to see how a series can connect so many people throughout the world and I am honored to be a part of that. One of the greatest things about your books is the deft mix between the realistic and the romantic. Is this an intentional balance? Do you deliberately choose traditionally romantic or mysterious types of characters and then explore what kinds of realistic challenges might result?When I write, I often listen to music to fix a scene or character in my mind. You have already mentioned nightwish, but if you use music in this way, what songs remind you of particular characters or scenes?
Finally, the fool is an amazing character in so many ways. Do you find his/her philosophies difficult or easy to write, being how s/he commonly represents the best of what humans wish we could be??
Heartfelt thanks once more for your wonderful stories and characters, and for being so open to connecting with your readers.
Grace wrote: "**SPOILERS FOR BLOOD OF DRAGONS**Hi Robin, I have just finished the Rain Wild Chronicles and really enjoyed it! One of the things I wondered while"
Oh, Grace. Please edit that in such a way that the spoiler warning is more obvious. That just spoiled a huge point for me. I am so sad . :(
Stephanie wrote: "Grace wrote: "**SPOILERS FOR BLOOD OF DRAGONS**Hi Robin, I have just finished the Rain Wild Chronicles and really enjoyed it! One of the things I wondered while"
Oh, Grace. Please edit that in su..."
I'm so sorry Stephanie!! I honestly didn't even think. I've deleted it so hopefully no one else has been spoiled. Although I don't think it is quite the spoiler you think it is as the question was badly worded. Again, so sorry :(
Ask Robin Hobb - Thursday, April 11th!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Dragon Keeper (other topics)Dragon Haven (other topics)
City of Dragons (other topics)
Blood of Dragons (other topics)
Hi Maxine! First of all, thanks for calling me 'one of its best writers." Not sure I deserve that, but thanks! On the issue of being a woman who is a writer or a fantasy writer or high fantasy writer, well, I just think of myself as a writer. When I was deciding that was what I wanted to do with my life, my gender had nothing to do with it. I just wanted to tell stories. I know that many women feel like they encountered discrimination in the field, but I have to honestly say, I did not. The only tough spots I encountered were more as a parent than as a woman, in that it was much harder for me to travel or socialize in the early years of my career as I had a family at home and I wanted to be there.
So, to sum up, I write as 'me the writer'. Not the gardener-writer or the dog-owning writer or the woman fantasy writer. Just me. Interesting question. Thanks for asking.
Robin