2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

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2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

Post by D Pope »

http://fandomania.com/interview-author- ... -anderson/

Interview: Author Kevin J. Anderson


I had the opportunity to sit down with author
Kevin J. Anderson at Dragon*Con 2008 and we
talked about some of his upcoming projects.

In that interview,
http://fandomania.com/fandomania-podcas ... -anderson/
Mr. Anderson gave the folks
at Fandomania a sneak peek at his upcoming,
and now available, book Terra Incognita: Edge
of the World. After reading it, I had some
questions for him, and he was kind enough
to oblige.



Kelly Melcher: You are well known for your
work in science fiction; however, your new
book Edge of the World is fantasy. Is it easy
to make the transition between genres?


Kevin J. Anderson: I develop imaginary
worlds in which to set my stories; I create
the characters, the government, the cultures,
the history, the politics and beliefs. That can
be on a science fiction landscape or a fantasy
landscape. Some of the ground rules are
different between the genres, and I am much
more familiar with working in a science fiction
setting. However, the Terra Incognita books
don’t have a hefty amount of magic and wizardry
(it’s more a historical novel set in an imaginary
world), though we do have strange creatures
and sea serpents and mysterious unexplored lands.




KM: Could you give us a brief setup for Edge
of the World?


KJA: It’s a fantasy world based on the late
Middle Ages, the beginning of the Age of
Discovery, sailing ships opening up unknown
lands that are just blank spaces on the map.
Two continents (like Europe and Arabia) joined
by a narrow isthmus of land on which has been
built a city considered holy by both. After years
of conflict, the two opposing cultures and
religions have signed a treaty to divide the world
in half… but then tragedy strikes, the holy city
burns, each side blames the other, and a bloody
war begins. Sailing ships are dispatched to
search for a lost, legendary land that may
hold the key to their victory.




KM: What was the inspiration for not just this
story but the trilogy?


KJA: This has been on my back burner for many
years — sailing ships, sea monsters, the
Crusades, the Age of Discovery, the search for
Prester John. I wanted to do something f
undamentally different from all the Lord of the
Rings-based fantasy universes that seem so
prevalent. This is a whole different milieu.




KM: Without trying to spoil anything TOO much,
what do we have to look forward to with the
rest of the series?


KJA: How about the discovery of the rest of the
world? New unexplored lands, strange creatures
and civilizations, and the underlying truth and
myth at the basis of the conflicting beliefs.




KM: What is Roswell Six and how does it relate
to the Terra Incognita Series?


KJA: For Terra Incognita, we’re doing a unique
crossover project that (as far as I know) has
never been done before in fiction and rock music.
I have always believed that SF/F fans and
progressive rock music fans share a great deal
of interests. So, working with ProgRock Records,
I have created a rock music CD companion to the
novel, The Edge Of The World. I wrote all the
lyrics with my wife, bestselling author Rebecca
Moesta, for the 13 tracks on the CD, which
adapt one storyline from the novel. I also wrote
original connective text in the CD booklet, which
has interior illustrations by multiple-Hugo-winning
artist Bob Eggleton. The music itself was written
by accomplished keyboardist Erik Norlander, and
we’ve got performances from some of the
greatest names in progressive rock — James LaBrie
from Dream Theater, Michael Sadler from Saga,
John Payne from Asia, Lana Lane, David Ragsdale
from Kansas, Gary Wehrkamp from Shadow Gallery,
Chris Brown from Ghost Circus, and others. Listen
to sample tracks at
http://www.myspace.com/roswellsix.




KM: In the future, do you see yourself primarily
focusing on fantasy or science fiction, or both?


KJA: I am most captivated by the story and the
idea, not the specific genre. I’m better known for
my science fiction work, but the fantasy let me
stretch my creative muscles in a new direction.
My next projects look to be set in science fiction
universes, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be
dipping back into fantasy.




KM: Because inquiring minds want to know,
what do you and Brian Herbert have in store
next for Dune fans?


KJA: Brian and I are deep in the initial writing
of our new SF series, Hellhole — colonization
on a rugged planet barely recovering from a
recent catastrophic asteroid strike… an exiled
rebel general, complicated galactic politics and
the remnants of an alien civilization destroyed
in the impact. There will be three Hellhole books,
and Brian and I will alternate new Dune novels.
The Winds Of Dune comes out in early August,
the direct sequel to Dune Messiah and a
followup to last year’s Paul Of Dune. Our next
Dune novel (in 2011) will be The Throne Of Dune,
which completes the story after Winds.




KM: What other projects can we expect in the
near future and can you give any details yet?
I’ve seen the title Hellhole come up on your
twitter account.


KJA: I should also mention my novel Enemies &
Allies, the first meeting of Batman and Superman
set in the 1950s, just came out from Morrow.
Right now, I’m finishing the final edit on The
Map Of All Things, the second Terra Incognita
novel, and just finishing the first draft of Hellhole.
Before the end of the year I’ll be starting the final
Terra Incognita book, and I have a few other
proposals out for new projects, while Brian and I
still have two more Dune novels and the Hellhole
trilogy under contract. I will probably be editing
a followup to last year’s bestselling humorous
horror anthology, Blood Lite. And we’re starting
to work on a second Roswell Six rock CD. So, yes,
plenty to look forward to.




KM: How can fans best interact with you and
keep up to date on your new projects and what
you have coming out next?


KJA: I’m on Twitter as TheKJA, and MySpace
as myspace.com/kevinjanderson, and my main
blog is at http://www.wordfire.com/kjablog



...
When a brand knew urinal puck showed up in the bathroom of my studio, I knew what I had to do.
-AToE
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SandRider
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Re: 2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

Post by SandRider »

the pertinent information for those of you still attempting to sort-out
the actual state of the McDune-contract:
There will be three Hellhole books,
and Brian and I will alternate new Dune novels.
The Winds Of Dune comes out in early August,
the direct sequel to Dune Messiah and a
followup to last year’s Paul Of Dune. Our next
Dune novel (in 2011) will be The Throne Of Dune,
which completes the story after Winds.

.... Brian and I still have two more Dune novels
and the Hellhole trilogy under contract.
whatever all that meant at the time ....
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Re: 2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

Post by Omphalos »

I saw the third one of those terror incontinentia books in trade paper yesterday. That was quick.
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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Serkanner
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Re: 2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

Post by Serkanner »

Omphalos wrote:I saw the third one of those terror incontinentia books in trade paper yesterday. That was quick.
I thought only book one was released ... these books don't even make a single ripple in the ocean of releases.
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Re: 2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

Post by lotek »

Serkanner wrote:
Omphalos wrote:I saw the third one of those terror incontinentia books in trade paper yesterday. That was quick.
I thought only book one was released ... these books don't even make a single ripple in the ocean of releases.
Critics react to hack latest offering.


Howzat for ripples ? :D
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Re: 2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

Post by SandChigger »

Serkanner wrote:
Omphalos wrote:I saw the third one of those terror incontinentia books in trade paper yesterday. That was quick.
I thought only book one was released ... these books don't even make a single ripple in the ocean of releases.
:lol: Nope, there's definitely three of them.

Haven't looked at any since the first, though. Peeeyooooo! Stinky! :shhh:
"Chancho...sometimes when you are a man...you wear stretchy pants...in your room...alone."

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Re: 2009 Fandomania, Kelly Melcher interviews kja.

Post by Robspierre »

They have only been Trade Paperback and MMPB, no hardcover release for those toilet paper factories.

Rob
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