For the curious: an interview
April 8th, 2013Keith Brook of Infinity Plus asks me some questions on the new novel, along with my take on this new world of publishing, and a few other things. Here’s a snippet. Visit Keith’s site to read the whole thing.
Snapshots: Linda Nagata interviewed
What’s recently or soon out?
In any other month, the big news would be the publication of my short story, “Through Your Eyes,†in the March/April double issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction. It’s a near-future story with a theme focused on technology and civil rights, and it’s the first story I’ve ever had in Asimov’s…
Posted on: Monday, April 8th, 2013 at 8:19 am
Categories: Promotion.
Tags: interviews
April 9th, 2013 at 6:32 am
Interesting. I particularly liked the advice to writers, “_Flee! Run away while you still can!_ …but if it’s too late for that and writing is already in your blood, then don’t stop. I more-or-less stopped writing for roughly ten years….” 🙂
The first part was fun, the second part, well, stop and think about that. How many ~books did Homer write (or perhaps more properly, do we attribute to)? What about Milton? Shakespeare had a boatload of plays, but (sacrilege approacheth for some…) how many do audiences visit and revisit and revisit, year after century?
So if you never wrote again, I’d still be in thrall to and treasure _Vast_ and _Memory_. That you’re now back in the saddle might give us’all more riches. Just don’t forget those triumphs already won; you’re an amazing creator of Worlds of Wonder.
Thank you, Linda.
April 9th, 2013 at 7:20 am
A writer is not much use without readers, Glen, and I just didn’t have enough to make a go of it. I still remember the absolute glow and sense of relief of having a steady paycheck. Times are easier now, and I have a lot of ambitions. I hope I can fulfill some of them, but time will tell. Thanks for sticking around for me!
April 13th, 2013 at 6:41 am
I was thinking about my response these last four days, and surmising that we saw entirely different goals. For me, great literature is for the reader to behold, wonder at, and delight in. It matters not that few readers enjoy the book now (just so long as I do :), because the book (and not the author) is in it for the Long Haul. More people have read Homer than have read Stephenie Meyer _right now_, but perhaps in a hundred years this will change (I doubt it, but that’s only my opinion).
So how will _Memory_ be seen in a century, or a millenium? I think quite favorably. We still read and delight in Lewis Carroll, still read adventure classics (not me personally, about the earliest I regularly revisit is HP Lovecraft, from the 1920’s & 1930’s). Some of the technology in _Vast_ will undoubtedly be confirmed, some proven “fiction”, but that won’t affect the claustrophobic fear :).
So that’s my viewpoint, great literature for the masses _and the ages_ to appreciate. But you have a considerably more parochial “no tickee no laundry” viewpoint, one that encompasses mortgages and groceries. Good writing is rewarded in the pecuniary sense, cash on the barrelhead in this lifetime.
I too bemoan that you’re not more appreciated, and do my best to boost this. I’m glad that you’re writing, hope that you continue, and sincerely thank you for the Worlds of Wonder that you’ve shared.
April 13th, 2013 at 4:42 pm
I think there’s a post on this subject that needs to be written … more soon! 🙂