Writers of fantasy and science fiction often take things very seriously. But in talking to writer Jamison Stone about his new novel, Rune Of The Apprentice (hardcover, digital), which encompasses both fantasy and science fiction, I learned that him mixing genres isn’t why the first book in his Rune Chronicles is so deep, philosophical, and psychological.
It may seem strange to people who grew up playing Call Of Duty sequels and Halo games, but there was a time when Japan dominated video games. But while they may have lost that prominent position, their influence is still felt, even in Call Of Duty sequels and Halo games. Originally published in 2004, but newly republished with a new chapter, Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave The World An Extra Life (paperback, digital) by Wired’s Games Editor Chris Kohler — who, full disclosure, is a fellow game writer with whom I’ve shared many a conversation and meal — explores how Japan became such a cultural force in gaming at a time when America and Europe dominated movies, music, and other forms of entertainment. In the following interview, we discussed how the original came together, what prompted this reprint, and what he added to this new edition.
While the original mission of the Enterprise only made it through three of its planned five year schedule, it’s more than made up for it thanks to numerous Star Trek novels (and comics, and games…). The latest of which is James Swallow’s Star Trek The Original Series The Latter Fire (paperback, digital), which presents yet another adventure for Kirk, Spock, and their coworkers. Though in talking to Swallow about this book, it’s interesting to learn that Star Trek novels come with their own version of The Prime Directive.
Just as most science fiction authors have never been to outer space, most writers of espionage novels have never done any spying. Well, except maybe on their older siblings.
But that’s not the case with Howard Kaplan, who’s not only the author of the recently rereleased ’80s spy novel Bullets Of Palestine (paperback, digital), but he also, as he puts it, “smuggled manuscripts out of the Soviet Union.”
With Bullets Of Palestine newly back in print, I spoke to Agent Kaplan about its plot, the upcoming movie of his previously rereleased spy novel The Damascus Cover, and what else he has planned for his “Jerusalem Spy” series.
Though she learned to speak English from watching Scooby-Doo, there’s nothing cartoony about the scary writings of Ania Ahlborn. With her new book, Within These Walls (paperback, digital) hitting stories, I spoke to her about what inspired different aspects of this novel.
Considering that it was only supposed to be a five year mission, it’s kind of amazing that Star Trek is still going strong more than forty-five years later. And not just in the movies. Pocket Book publishes more than a dozen new Trek novels and ebook novellas every year. But in talking to Greg Cox, who wrote the new Star Trek: The Original Series: Foul Deeds Will Rise (paperback, digital), and David Mack, author of Star Trek: Section 31: Disavowed (paperback, digital), about their new Trek novels, it’s clear there’s plenty of places for these characters to boldly go.
Nearly forty years after it was first published, Howard Kaplan’s spy novel The Damascus Cover is making a comeback. Not only is a new edition coming to both bookshelves and eReaders, but a movie adaptation that stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Abigail Spenser, and Jurgen Prochnow is slated for next year.
But in talking to Kaplan about both, it becomes clear that his tale of espionage hasn’t aged a day.
We’ve all loved someone who didn’t love us back. And no, I’m not talking about Chewbacca. I’m talking about someone we actually know, someone we’d like to know better but they just don’t feel the same way. Which is why we’ll probably all find things in Christy Heron’s new novel Unrequited (which is available both physically and digitally) that we can relate to. With the book coming to print this week, I spoke to Heron about where she got the idea for this book, what influences the way she writes, and why she thinks that while it may appeal more to women than men, men might like it, too.
Henry Rollins may be best known for the music he made with Black Flag and The Rollins Band.
But for people who like to read, some of his best work has been the collections of journal writings that he’s released over the years, including (but not limited to) 2006’s A Dull Roar and 2007’s A Preferred Blur.
Though in talking to him about his latest collection, A Grim Detail, and how his journals go from his computer to the printed page, it’s clear that he doesn’t think as much about his writing as we do.