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Exclusive Interview: “Stations Of The Tide” Author Michael Swanwick

 

To hear writer Michael Swanwick talk about his fantasy-flavored science fiction novel Stations Of The Tide, you’d think he wrote it last week and then rushed it into bookstores.

But Stations Of The Tide actually came out in 1990, when it was first serialized in Asimov’s Science Fiction, and then released in hardcover a year later.

It’s because of its continued relevance — and its contunuing popularity — that Tor have decided to release a new version of Stations Of The Tide as part of their “Tor Essentials” series (paperback, Kindle, audiobook).

In the following email interview, Swanwick talks about what originally inspired and influenced this novel, as well as how it fit into his oeuvre.

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Exclusive Interview: “The Parliament” Author Aimee Pokwatka

 

In Aimee Pokwatka’s new novel, The Parliament (hardcover, Kindle), some owls surround a library.

But that’s not what this “supernatural thriller wrapped around a dark fantasy story. It’s magical realism…” story is all about.

(Or is it?)

To find out, please read the following email interview.

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Exclusive Interview: “Crucible Of Chaos” Author Sebastien de Castell

 

With Play Of Shadows, swashbuckling fantasy writer Sebastien de Castell is kicking off a new series called The Court Of Shadows, which is itself a spin-off from his Greatcoats series.

But before he does that, he has a prelude to present: Crucible Of Chaos (hardcover, Kindle, audiobook), which, as he explains in the following email interview, has “plots and schemes” that are “harbingers of what will unfold in the main series.”

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Exclusive Interview: “Shapers Of Worlds Volume IV” Editor Edward Willett

 

Edward Willett is clearly a lazy person. Sure, he’s a writer, runs Shadowpaw Press, and hosts The Worldshapers podcast. But what has he done lately?

Well, the answer to that is Shapers Of Worlds Volume IV (hardcover, paperback, Kindle), an anthology of science fiction and fantasy short stories by writers who’ve appeared on The Worldshapers.

In the following email interview, Willett discusses how this series got started, and what went into this fourth volume.

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Exclusive Interview: “Weird World War: China” Editor Sean Patrick Hazlett

 

Of the many fears looming over our heads these days (and man, it seems like there’s a lot), none seems to loom as large, but also so abstractly, as the potential military conflict with China.

But for people who can’t wait — and who want it to be, well, weird — there’s the new alternative history / military science fiction anthology Weird World War: China (paperback, Kindle), the follow-up to 2020’s Weird World War III and 2022’s Weird World War IV.

In the following email interview, Weird World War: China editor Sean Patrick Hazlett discusses what went into assembling this short story collection.

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Exclusive Interview: “The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction 2022” Co-Editor Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki

 

There are no set rules when it comes to geographically based short story anthologies. Some editors impose strict guidelines; others take a broader approach. But while their reasoning can be as varied as the selections in their collections, they often have to do with the realities of publishing: page count, budgets, and so on.

But in the following email interview with Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, co-editor of The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction 2022 (paperback, Kindle), he explains why he and his co-editors Eugen Bacon and Milton Davis favored a broader approach, and not just in terms of the geography but also the genres and formats as well: “Because unity is what I believe Africans need most.”

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Exclusive Interview: “Among The Gray Lords” Author D.J Butler

 

They say that the third time is the charm.

But whether or not that will be true for the adventurous duo of Indrajit Twang and Fix remains to be seen. Well, until you read their new novel all the way to the end, that is.

In the following email interview, author D.J. Butler discusses that new novel, Among The Gray Lords (hardcover, Kindle), the newest sword & sorcery adventure in his Tales Of Indrajit & Fix series.

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Exclusive Interview: “The Bad Weather Friend” Author Dean Koontz

 

I have always tried to be a nice Jewish boy.

But I’m rethinking this approach to life, and not just because of that saying about how nice guys finish last.

No, it’s because in his new novel The Bad Weather Friend (hardcover, Kindle, audiobook), writer Dean Koontz sicks a 7-foot-tall supernatural being on someone for being “too nice.”

To find out more about this suspenseful and comedic fantasy story, check out the following email interview with Koontz…while I hide under my desk.

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Exclusive Interview: “A River Of Golden Bones” Author A.K. Mulford

 

A lot of writers have put unique spins on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.

But in her new romantic fantasy novel A River Of Golden Bones (hardcover, Kindle, audiobook), author A.K. Mulford started with a “what if?” question about the titular slumbering lady that wasn’t about the fable itself.

To learn what that question was, and what else inspired and influenced this story, check out the following email interview.