The Dragon Page "Cover to Cover"
Conversations with Authors of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Interview: Michael, Summer, Michael and Lorrie talk with Karen Miller, author of the fantasy duology, Innocent Mage and Awakened Mage.
Karen talks about her “Kingmaker, Kingbreaker” series and the universe it’s set it, about writing fantasy, and her upcoming new series which should hit US shelves in April 2008.
Tor Books has announced that novelist Brandon Sanderson has been chosen to finish writing the final novel in Robert Jordan’s bestselling Wheel of Time fantasy series.
Interview: S. C. Butler joins us to talk about his latest novel, Queen Ferris, the second book in the Stoneways Trilogy. Sam talks to us about the magic in the world he’s created, how it’s different from the usual magic systems you run across in epic fantasy tales, and how the magic is the focus of the story rather than of the adventures of the exiled prince Reiffen, his kidnapping and his rescue.
Interview: Stephen R. Donaldson and Steve Stirling were in Phoenix together for a signing at The Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, along with Michael A. Stackpole, and we were able to get everyone in the studio together for a chat about their latest works, about their fans and their worlds.
Interview: Brandon Sanderson joins us near the end of his book tour (with David Farland), to talk about his latest book, “The Well of Ascension”, the second book in the Mistborn series.
The Mistborn trilogy follows a band of thieves as they set out to take down the dark lord who beat the prophesied hero and subjected the land to oppression and darkness. “The Well of Ascension” deals with the aftermath, because there’s always unexpected fallout when you assume the bad guy is all bad.
The single most impressive aspect of Sarah Monette’s writing is her strong sense of voice. The stories are told in first-person with the perspective alternating between Felix and Mildmay throughout the chapters.
Although a bit clunky at times, this book is fairly well written. Even though it is over 600 pages, this book feels more like an appetizer than a stand-alone book within a series. I am interested enough in the adventure to read the next installments when they become available, but I wish I had the whole series at once.
Interview: Michael, Brian and Lorrie talk with British author Amanda Hemingway about the final book in her Sangreal Trilogy, The Poisoned Crown, widely acclaimed as the best of the series. She’s also working on a new series based on an occassionally recurring character in some of her earlier works.
Amanda also writes under several different pseudonyms to cover the variety of story styles that she writes in, but not all of them are available in the US, so if her premises intrigue you, you’ll have to do a little digging to find some of the other books.
Interview: Michael and Michael talk with Gail Z. Martin about The Summoner, the first book in her new series “The Chronicles of The Necromancer”. It’s all about an orphaned prince who must learn how to master a rare magical ability, avenge his murdered family, and reclaim the kingdom that had been stolen from him.
Interview: Michael and Michael next talk with Phil Rossi about his podiobook “Crescent”, currently one of the fasting growing podcast novels out there. It’s based on a space station, and is a little bit ghost story, a little bit romantic action-adventure, and a little bit mystery all rolled into the same story.
Interview: Michael and Summer talk with Emma Bull and Will Shetterly, husband and wife Tucson transplants as they drop by the studio at the beginning of their joint book tour for their respective new novels Territory and Gospel of the Knife.
Interview #1: Michael, Summer, Brian and Michael talk with Anne McCaffrey about what it’s like to write in a universe that’s so well and widely known, the lengths she goes to to research her stories; and what it’s like to open up her Pern universe to new stories by her son, Todd. She also tells us about working with the Writers of the Future to help bring along the next next generation of writers and storytellers.
Interview #2: Next up, talk with award-winning historical novelist David Anthony Durham about Acacia, his first foray into epic fantasy with a multicultural story rich in mythology and history of a kingdom under siege, and the tale of exiled children determined to undo their father’s legacy of a tyrannical rule, and rebuild their kingdom into one based on freedom and dignity.
Interview: Michael, Summer, Brian, and Evo are joined in studio with Jim Butcher, the New York Times best-selling author of the hot Dresden Files series, and the Codex Alera series. The newest Dresden files book is “White Night”, and the newest Codex Alera book is “Cursor’s Fury”.
Jim tells us all about what inspired him to create the Dresden Files series, and we have Laurell K. Hamilton, Cast A Deadly Spell, and the first season of “Buffy” to thank for these. We also talk about the television series adaptation aired on SciFi Channel, and the impressions made by rushing the show into and through production, and Jim talks about his hopes for a season 2
Interview: Michael, Summer, Brian and Michael talk with Patrick Rothfuss, the hottest new fantasy author out there, and his debut novel, The Name of the Wind. Brian’s book review reflects his appreciation of the story-telling style in this book, and has been anticipating this chat for quite some time.
Interview: Michael, Brian and Michael talk with acclaimed fantasy author Tad Williams, whose latest novel Shadowplay (Book 2 of Shadowmarch) hit bookstores on March 6, 2007. Amusingly enough, most of the discussion is focused on Tad’s work on and approach to comic books. He’s currently writing for Marvel’s DC’s “Aquaman”, and the first issue of his run hit stores March 21, 2007. Good stuff.
Interview: Michael, Summer and Michael talk with Catherynne M. Valente about her latest book, The Orphan’s Tales: In the Night Garden, a collection of fairy tales told in a unique narrative inspired by The Arabian Nights. No one can ever say that Cat writes “typical” fantasy novels, and this book has lush prose and wondrous imagery.
The conclusion, The Orphan’s Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice, is due out in October 2007.
