I will answer questions about the Carousel Sun podcast (here) and other questions about the Archers Beach books. Not all the questions, but, just maybe, your question. You won’t know until you ask, so — ask!
I’ve screened the comments so they are only visible to the Woman Behind the Curtain.
. . .on the Baen Free Radio Hour.
Yesterday, that would be Thursday, the 13th, the Plan was to wake up at 4:30 a.m. so that Steve could be delivered at the train station in Brunswick in time to catch the 7:05 to Boston, where he was to partake of Boskone.
The Plan went awry before it was fairly underway, with Jasmine Sprite, Princess of the Night declaring at our wake-up time must be 3:30 a.m. in order that she didn’t miss any play-and-snuggle-time.
Despite this change, Steve did arrive, somewhat blearier than anticipated at Brunswick in good time to catch his train. The sky was gray and lowering. I waved good-bye as the train left the station, then boogied up to Topsham, where I paused at Tim Horton’s for an asiago-cheese-sundried-tomato-and-parmesean (ohnomNOM) bagel and a cup of coffee. I dawdled over bagel and coffee, and read the Portland Press Herald, just like folks in Olden Times used to do, and after breakfast drove back to the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory, where I proceeded to Do Chores and wait for the arrival of the Snowpocalypse.
It did not take very long at all for the father-and-daughter investigative team of Sooper Trooper and Jasmine Sprite to tumble to the fact that Two had Left Together, but Only One Had Returned. They mounted a Thorough Investigation of Every! Room! In! The! House! meeting frequently in the hallway to sniff noses and mutter at each other, doubtless proposing this theory, discarding it, and forming another theory as more facts were uncovered. At one point, they interviewed Scrabble, who was. . .not cooperative. Mozart was asleep.
Having Definitely Established that the One who had Not Returned was Steve, the investigative team decided to stick to me like candy on an apple, which made chore-doing. . .interesting. But, it all got done, eventually, and even some words written, though no nap was taken, because by that point I was too tired to sleep.
Snowpocalypse arriving, I took a couple turns at sweeping snow away from the door and off the steps. The power went out once, for less than five minutes, and eventually I did go to bed and to sleep.
And here, I want to talk about Trooper for a little bit. This may be triggery for some folks, so if you don’t like to hear about pets sleeping in beds, or on people, skip on down ’til I say WHEN.
In Trooper’s former life, he was taught to put his front paws around the neck and give a hug. Which is nice. However, he also likes to lay on my chest at night, put his front paws against either side of my neck and knead, which is, um, Really Kind Of Scary, because he’s a big, athletic cat with, yanno, scimitars in each of his toes, which I do, yes, clip, but. . .
We’ve had several discussions about this, and he’s tried to modify his behavior, to just lying companionably on me, but. . .it’s no good. Eventually, he’ll give this little yip and throw his paws around me in a frenzy of kneading. He can’t just not.
Until last night, when I woke up with Trooper sleeping on me chest and his paws, with claws completely sheathed, resting gently against my cheeks. He was purring; it was comforting and not at all scary. . .and I went back to sleep.
He really is an Awfully Good Cat.
WHEN.
So, up this morning to find that Snowpocalypse deposited about six inches of pretty heavy, crusty snow all up and down the road. I’ve cleared the deck and the steps and after I finish this report, I’ll go outside and finish clearing off the cars, so I’ll Be Prepared when the plowguy gets here.
We’re now in the stage of the drill where we hope nothing goes bad with the wires to the south that might affect the power here — and getting on with Things until our next scheduled snowstorm, which is. . .Saturday night.
I hope everybody weathered the storm well.
More later, after car-cleaning.
7. The Emperor’s Agent, Jo Graham (e)
6. Eternity and a Day, Aline Hunter (e)
5. Kindred Rites, Katharine Eliska Kimbriel (e)
4. Billy the Kid, the Endless Ride, Michael Wallis
3. The Steerswoman, Rosemary Kirstein (e)
2. Uncovered, Jordan Matter
1. Dancers Among Us, Jordan Matter
Bright and cold today; tomorrow? Snowpocalypse.
You’ll recall that I mentioned the Sylvan Investigations Kickstarter campaign owned and operated by Laura Anne Gilman. That campaign goes over in a scant few hours, and is still just a leeeeetle bit short of the goal. Have a look, why not, and let’s see if we can push this thing over the top. Here’s your link.
Speaking of Kickstarter, Streets of Shadows: A Noir Urban Fantasy Fiction Anthology is about halfway to its goal, with twelve days to go. The ToC so far includes Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Kevin J. Anderson, Tim Lebbon, Seanan McGuire, Brandon Massey, Tom Piccirilli, and Lucy A. Snyder, which is worth the price of admission right there. Here’s that link.
In regard to Snowpocalyse, Our Plan at the moment is to get up at Omighod tomorrow, so I can drive Steve to the train station in Brunswick, then deliver the tax paperwork to the accountant and get home before Shit Gets Serious. There is a fire laid in the woodstove, and I’m in the process of charging the Big Batteries. We have put in stores of Mozart’s medicines, cat food, yams, onions, wine. . .all the essentials, in other words.
Snowpocalypse also means that today? Is devoted to the final ordering of the tax paperwork! Tax paperwork is entertaining, for values of entertaining that include a tall drink with rum in it at the end of the day. I personally adore how one place sends me a 1099 for a $103 payment, while another says, No 1099 needed for payments less than $600, but yanno? It will Very Soon Now be Deb the Accountant’s problem. I keep reminding myself that she likes dealing with this stuff or she’d embrace another career.
A reminder for those going to Boskone — Steve will be there, I will not. Here’s his schedule:
6:00 — 6:50
Bleeding Hearts
A Valentine’s Day panel about romance in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. What are some of our great love stories for the ages? What stories turned out to be tragedies — or worse? Panelists will discuss how love can turn a character’s world upside-down.
Darlene Marshall (M), Ellen Asher, Leigh Perry, Steve Miller
8 — 8:50
Good vs Evil: The Great Divide
Fantasy often incorporates pure goodness and pure evil, foregrounding them as serious character motivations or actually giving them bodily form. How does the battle of good and evil stay relevant in a world filled with shades of gray? What value does purity, for good or ill, lend to fantasy?
Jack M. Haringa(M), Jeffrey A. Carver, Steve Miller, Steven Popkes
11 — 11:50
Autographing — Steve Miller and Charles Stross
12:00 — 12:50
Writers on Writing: Character Versus Characterization
The success of any story relies upon its characters. But writers can get confused between establishing a character and characterization. What’s observable? What’s hidden? What do we see on the page, and what do we feel when reading about this character as a whole? Writers discuss ways to more deeply develop characters, and how characterization can either get in the way or be used successfully.
Jeffrey A. Carver (M), Sarah Beth Durst, Steve Miller, Greer Gilman, Steven Sawicki
2:00 — 2:50
Kaffeeklatsche — Steve Miller
4:00 — 4:25
Reading — Steve Miller (Reading from Carousel Sun and from Trade Secret)
5:00 — 5:50
The Long Series — How We Did It
Experts in the long multibook series share their secrets for keeping it alive and interesting. How do you prevent characters and storylines from feeling tired after the third or twelfth or even nineteenth book? How do you keep all those characters and histories straight when coming up with new ideas? Can fandom affect series development? Finally, when — and how — do you bring things to a satisfying end?
Ginjer Buchanan (M), Melinda Snodgrass, Steve Miller, Charlaine Harris
11:00 — 11:50
Ezines, Fanzines, and Blogs, Oh My!
Fanzines, ezines, and blogs come and go, and return again in new and different forms. What is it about fanzines that gives them such resiliency when so many readerships remain in perpetual flux? What are the advantages of these forms? What do their readers — and writers — get out of each?
Steve Davidson (M), Joe Siclari, E. C. Ambrose, Steve Miller
12:00 — 12:50
Reboots: New Chances for Old Stories?
Are do-overs only for television programs, movies, and comics, or can we hit the dreaded reboot button on written fiction as well? Which classic stories should be preserved untouched in SF/F/H’s hallowed halls? Which might gain fresh life – and new readers — from judicious technological or social updating? Once you start changing things, how far should you go?
Steve Miller (M), Shahid Mahmud, Beth Meacham, Alexander Jablokov, Ellen Asher
* * *
Progress on Insert Working Title Here
20,283/100,000 words OR 20% Complete
“There is another risk, not inconsiderable, for what functions on a large scale also functions at the clan level. Since Korval was formed, it was yos’Galan’s sense of propriety and ethics that guided the clan. For the first time in the clan’s existence, we are in a situation that favors yos’Phelium’s strengths over yos’Galan’s.”
NOTE: This is not a call to seek out the review cited below and castigate the reviewer, who is, after all, entitled to her opinion. Indeed, I’m grateful to her for presenting a viewpoint that would have never occurred to me, and for presenting me with an opportunity to explain the origin of an important part of the Liaden Universe®
This is a riff off of a reader review of Carousel Sun. I do read reviews, and sometimes I riff off of them. Consider yourselves warned. This particular review took exception to the appearance of the word “leathers” in Carousel Sun, when, if I understand the argument correctly, “leathers” had already been co-opted by the Liaden Universe® and ought never appear in any other work written by me or by Steve.
Even, apparently, when it is the correct word (i.e. the protective clothing worn by motorcyclists are referred to as “motorcycle leathers,” or “leathers.” Here’s an example of cycling leathers.) used in the correct world, by the correct people.
Which is, IMHO, a. . .really interesting viewpoint.*
But! It got me to thinking about the origin of “space leathers” in the Liaden Universe®.
Steve and I grew up in the 1960s, when the Great Public Mind was in the process of mythologizing World War II. That meant that we saw a lot of war shows on television, including: Combat!, McHale’s Navy, Twelve O’Clock High, The Rat Patrol, Hogan’s Heroes. . .among others, and a whole stack of movies: The Longest Day, Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Bridge on the River Kwai, von Ryan’s Express, &c, &c
My dad used to make it a point to take me to see war movies, as a father-daughter bonding thing. Most, if not all, of these movies, featured pilots. And the pilots were. . .heroic. They wore their leather jackets with pride and with attitude. The other characters might have reservations, but even those who did honored the pilots for their courage, derring-do, and amazing ability to pull things out of hats.
When it came time to write the Liaden Universe®, and fill in Clan Korval’s pilots-by-intention lineage, with a birthright of attitude, courage, and over-the-topness — we dressed them as they deserved — in space leather: protective gear that was instantly recognizable, even by those who were not pilots (or Scouts), which not only protected them, but illuminated and increased their mystique.
—————
*Leather has, of course, been used throughout history as protective clothing; after all, it’s tough. Conquistadors wore leather; American Indians wore leather; Vikings wore leather. I speak here only of the leathers that influenced us.
Oh, let’s see. . .
1. If you haven’t read “The Gift of Music,” set in Archers Beach back some few years, and concerning the doin’s of one Andy LaPierre, who appears in Carousel Sun — your time is running out. On February 15, another yummy free story will come up at Baen.com, and “Music” will go away.
2. Of course y’all have been reading Laura Anne Gilman’s Cosa Nostradamus novels right along. (You haven’t? The first one is Staying Dead. . . . Well? What are you waiting for?) And I know you’re aware that last year Laura Anne Kickstarted and published two novellas in that universe, featuring justly-famous half-faun/half-human tough-PI-with-a-gooey-center Danny Hendrickson, and his human partner, Ellen — “Miles to Go” and “Promises to Keep” — which I, personally, enjoyed the heck out of.
What you may not be aware of is that she’s doing it again — two more novellas following Ellen and Danny as they try their damnedest to save people who need saving, whether they know it or not. The Kickstarter only has another five days to go, so if you want in on this, Now is the Hour. Here’s your link.
3. Those who are going to Boskone, and who had hoped to have their copy of Carousel Sun signed — despair not! Steve will be carrying signed bookplates and will happily give you one. Don’t be shy; just step up and ask.
4. If you have read Carousel Sun, please consider posting a(n honest) review on BN, Amazon, Goodreads, and/or the review site of your choice. Thanks!
5. I believe that Management does intend to issue an eArc for Carousel Seas. I don’t know when, though typically eArcs seem to appear from three to four months in advance of the print edition. Seas is a January 2015 book, so. . .September/October, 2014?
Steve and I took Mozart to the vet this morning; he was crying for food, but when offered, rejected it, except for a few cat treats. Since we’ve been giving him medicine to increase his appetite and pain medicine, it seemed like either the appetite increaser had stopped working, or the pain (if he’s in pain, which we don’t know; we only know that the pain medicine seems to make him rest easier) was trumping the hunger-pangs.
I, being the pessimist in the family, didn’t expect to bring Mozart home with us today, and I’m very pleased to report that the vet had another plan of treatment, which includes increasing the pain meds, and stopping the appetite increaser. While he was there, the vet also hydrated him and gave him a shot of something that will settle his stomach, in case that’s an issue.
Five minutes. If he could just talk to us for five minutes…
Right now, he’s in his spot in my office next to the radiator, sleeping.
For those collecting all the cards, the diagnosis is kidney failure. While Mozart’s numbers are nowhere near as Scary as Socks’ were when we lost him early last year, he is on a decline. He’ll also be sixteen years old on the first of March. What we’re doing here is palliative care; nobody expects to win; we’re aiming at keeping him with us for as long as is feasible, without subjecting him to cruelty or pain.
* * *
A couple days ago, I reported that my editor at Baen had let slip that Carousel Seas, the last book in the Carousel trilogy would be coming out in Fall, rather than in January 2015.
In one of those rare cases of mutual misunderstanding, we both happen to be right.
Simon and Schuster, which of course distributes Baen Books, has but three seasons in its year. Happily for them, they have no Winter.
For future reference, here are the Publishing Seasons:
Spring: February through May
Summer: June through September
Fall: October through January
So! Carousel Seas will indeed be published in January 2015, or Fall, according to Simon and Schuster.
Everybody confused now?
Earlier in the week, Steve and I talked with Baen’s Tony Daniel about the stories in A Liaden Universe® Constellation Volume Two, and a bunch of other stuff. That podcast is now live, and you can listen to it right here
This is a continuation and expansion of a discussion started over on Facebook, which was kickstarted by this summary of Carousel Sun:
Urban fantasy novel, sequel to Carousel Tides (2010), about a woman who returns to a small town in Maine and becomes involved in a faerie war. (Locus Monitor — New Books, 4 February)
There are a couple of things wrong with the above. Most notably, Carousel Sun isn’t Urban Fantasy, because it takes place in Maine, and it does not take place in Bangor, Lewiston-Auburn, or Portland, which are the three “urban” areas in the whole state, according to the Federal Government.
I’m also wondering where they got this “faerie war.”
We thought we’d be OK by calling the Carousel books “contemporary fantasy,” but apparently “contemporary fantasy” means something Very Definite to some people. (To me, “contemporary fantasy” means “a fantasy story that takes place Right Now.”)
So, I’ve been giving some thought to how best to describe these books, as much in order to guide readers who would like this kind, as warn away those readers who come in thinking they’re getting A Specific Thing that the books don’t deliver. (Like, oh, “faerie wars.”)
Now, the best I can come up with as a sub-genre is “mundane fantasy.” Kate, after all, doesn’t get a free pass on anything for being Guardian — it’s Added Responsibility for which she goes uncompensated (cue Superman’s Song). Fercryinoutloud, Gaby collects returnables, and I don’t see Borgan flyin’ no yacht. Felsic’s crew — wait, do you guys have Felsic yet? Anyhow, it’s not like any of these folks are living high in the fancy condos; they’re working people, doing their jobs.
So, like I said: “mundane fantasy” or maybe “blue collar” fantasy, though there has been some concern expressed that, while these come close, they don’t quite Nail It.
Summing up, the points for discussion are:
1. What are your expectations of “contemporary fantasy”
2. If you had to tighten the classification for the Carousel books (Tides and Sun), what phrase would you use? Please try to avoid spoilers for the books.
Have at it!