30th September 2011 - By Andrew. Short, mostly for Capt Nemo

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30th September 2011 - By Andrew. Short, mostly for Capt Nemo

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http://www.geeknative.com/23346/an-inte ... -anderson/


An interview with Kevin J Anderson
Interviews
30th September 2011 - By Andrew

A new edition of Captain Nemo: The Fantastic Adventures of a Dark Genius
out and available to buy thanks to Titan Books and popular sci-fi Kevin J Anderson.
Over on his blog, Kevin noted that this edition uses his preferred text.

This blogger was once told that Jules Verne had a special fondness from Scotland
– from where this blog is written – and that Edinburgh may have inspired the great
man. The caption above the gates of Edinburgh castle reads; “Nemo Me Impunge
Lacessit”. A common translation of which is “No one attacks me with impunity”.
Verne, of course, wrote “ Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” which is the
book that originally cave us Captain Nemo.

Geek Native has been very lucky to score a Q&A style interview with Kevin J
Anderson himself. Let’s dive in!




Q1. For Geek Native readers tempted to pick up a copy of Captain Nemo can
you give us an author led insight into the lure of the book?


CAPTAIN NEMO is for anyone who’s ever been captivated by the magic and
imagination of Jules Verne: balloon voyages, mysterious islands, sub-marine
boats, at a time when such things were the purest science fiction. With the
popularity of Steampunk, this story becomes much more relevant and intriguing,
and I loved describing the fantastic adventures of a character who inspired
Jules Verne’s fantastic novels.





Q2. You’ve said that you invested three years of your life researching Jules Verne.
It sounds like Frenchman’s life story is something of a lure for you. What makes
him and his work so interesting?


As a kid, I grew up with the series of marvelous films inspired by Verne’s work:
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, JOURNEY
TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND, FIVE WEEKS IN A
BALLOON. I have always been fascinated by this visionary author and how he
shaped the genre of science fiction, so I began a lot of research on Verne’s life
itself, as well as reread Verne’s classics. I was surprised to learn that Jules Verne
himself was a complete homebody, traveling almost nowhere in his life, and yet
his imagination took him everywhere.





Q3. Do your works of science fiction tend to date and effectively have a
‘best read before’ date?


I’ve done some high-tech thrillers with Doug Beason, ILL WIND, IGNITION,
LIFELINE, which are more closely connected with modern-day events and
technology, and now 10-15 years after original publication, they do seem
dated. Most of my SF, however, is set far enough in the future, or in the
case of CAPTAIN NEMO…in an imaginary past, that they should be good
reads for quite a while.





Q4. From among your work, Captain Nemo is supposed to be one of your
favourites – what are the others? Is there something common about them
that elevates them to the lofty position of favourite?


I am a very prolific writer and I enjoy the projects I write, but sometimes a
certain project really captures my imagination. CAPTAIN NEMO was one of
those, sparked my fascination and sense-of-wonder from what drew me to
science fiction in the first place. My two other most-engaging works, I’d have
to say, are my big SF and Fantasy epics The Saga of Seven Suns and Terra
Incognita. Both of those series are huge world-building efforts with large
casts of characters, something I could sink my teeth into.





Q5. What are your top three all-time favourite movies?

EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
BLADE RUNNER
ALIENS





Q6. There’s working with film makers and there’s working with other authors.
You seem to collaborate often. How does writing a book in collaboration
compare to writing one solo?


I really enjoy brainstorming ideas with authors I respect, kicking possibilities
around, seeing where the story goes, and so I have been quite successful
working with other authors. Brian Herbert and I are on our 12th novel
together; my wife Rebecca and I have done 32 books together; Doug Beason
and I did 7 novels together. We figure out how to make it work.


But in other cases, I just want to play with my own toys and take my ideas
wherever I want to. Fortunately, I can do both, and I plan to keep doing so!





Q7. Who would you most like to write with from amongst science fiction
authors you’ve yet worked with?


I have always admired and respected Terry Brooks and we’ve been friends
for a long time; I’d love to see what we can come up with.





Q8. It’s awesome that you’re on Twitter. Other than yourself which three
accounts would recommend readers follow?


I like @kristinerusch, @joelansdale, and @saladinahmed.




...
When a brand knew urinal puck showed up in the bathroom of my studio, I knew what I had to do.
-AToE
D Pope
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Re: 30th September 2011 - By Andrew. Short, mostly for Capt Nemo

Post by D Pope »

Q4. From among your work, Captain Nemo is supposed to be one of your
favourites – what are the others? Is there something common about them
that elevates them to the lofty position of favourite?


I am a very prolific writer and I enjoy the projects I write, but sometimes a
certain project really captures my imagination. CAPTAIN NEMO was one of
those, sparked my fascination and sense-of-wonder from what drew me to
science fiction in the first place. My two other most-engaging works, I’d have
to say, are my big SF and Fantasy epics The Saga of Seven Suns and Terra
Incognita. Both of those series are huge world-building efforts with large
casts of characters, something I could sink my teeth into.
Odd that Dune didn't make the cut.
When a brand knew urinal puck showed up in the bathroom of my studio, I knew what I had to do.
-AToE
Omphalos
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Re: 30th September 2011 - By Andrew. Short, mostly for Capt Nemo

Post by Omphalos »

D Pope wrote:Q2. You’ve said that you invested three years of your life researching Jules Verne.
It sounds like Frenchman’s life story is something of a lure for you. What makes
him and his work so interesting?

Bull. Fucking. Shit. It took this clown three years to read a few Verne books. That's about it.

I would really love to see a discussion between ass-clown here and Adam Roberts, who actually did put years into researching Verne. But then again, I'd probably like to go back in time and watch some lions eat a few Christians. I'm just like that.
Something is about to happen, Hal. Something wonderful!

-James C. Harwood, Science Fiction Writer, Straight (March 5, 1956 - May 25, 2010)



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D Pope
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Re: 30th September 2011 - By Andrew. Short, mostly for Capt Nemo

Post by D Pope »

Omph wrote:Bull. Fucking. Shit. It took this clown three years to read a few Verne books. That's about it.
More like three years of research to find a publisher...
then he watched the Disney movie.
When a brand knew urinal puck showed up in the bathroom of my studio, I knew what I had to do.
-AToE
lotek
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Re: 30th September 2011 - By Andrew. Short, mostly for Capt Nemo

Post by lotek »

Omphalos wrote:
D Pope wrote:Q2. You’ve said that you invested three years of your life researching Jules Verne.
It sounds like Frenchman’s life story is something of a lure for you. What makes
him and his work so interesting?

Bull. Fucking. Shit. It took this clown three years to read a few Verne books. That's about it.

I would really love to see a discussion between ass-clown here and Adam Roberts, who actually did put years into researching Verne. But then again, I'd probably like to go back in time and watch some lions eat a few Christians. I'm just like that.
I was thinking something similar involving Laza tigers and poetic justice.
In short, the Jihad is over. It ended just as SandRider predicted it would, not with a bang or even a whimper, by simple attrition.
- D. Pope
Omphalos
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Re: 30th September 2011 - By Andrew. Short, mostly for Capt Nemo

Post by Omphalos »

lotek wrote:
Omphalos wrote:
D Pope wrote:Q2. You’ve said that you invested three years of your life researching Jules Verne.
It sounds like Frenchman’s life story is something of a lure for you. What makes
him and his work so interesting?

Bull. Fucking. Shit. It took this clown three years to read a few Verne books. That's about it.

I would really love to see a discussion between ass-clown here and Adam Roberts, who actually did put years into researching Verne. But then again, I'd probably like to go back in time and watch some lions eat a few Christians. I'm just like that.
I was thinking something similar involving Laza tigers and poetic justice.
:D
Something is about to happen, Hal. Something wonderful!

-James C. Harwood, Science Fiction Writer, Straight (March 5, 1956 - May 25, 2010)



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