Grimdark Fantasy discussion

Our very awesome Silvana asked Daniel Abraham if he would do a Q & A with us, and he said yes!!!

Any questions you are dying to ask him? Fire away...

Thanks to Daniel and Silvana of course!!

Hello Daniel! I'm a huge fan of the Long Price Quartet, and it's the first series I recommend to people looking for "real literature that just happens to take place in a fantasy world" or "intelligent fantasy." There are many interesting themes that you explore in the series (magic-based economies, industrial revolution vs. deteriorating magic system, etc), and yet the character development is some of the best I've seen. When you set out to write the quartet, how did you envision the series? Did you start out with the characters and story arc in mind? Or did you have a set of issues/ideas that you wanted to delve into, and the story line was just the vehicle with which to deliver those ideas?

Ok, Just provided the link. I hope an early thread is okay, Daniel!
Again, many thanks from us. *back to my reading hole*

The real impulse behind the series was my grandmother coming toward the end of her life. I was kind of amazed by the amount of change that happens in the course of a human lifespan. She was born into a world where the Model T Ford was on the roads. She lived through the second world war, the great depression, the beginning of the atomic age, humanity landing on the moon... When she died, people were walking around with computers in their pockets that could talk to people around the world instantly and look up any information you wanted to know.

The Long Price books were first and foremost supposed to be about the epic scope of a single life.

Daniel wrote: "The real impulse behind the series was my grandmother coming toward the end of her life. I was kind of amazed by the amount of change that happens in the course of a human lifespan. She was born in..."

Thanks for the reply and explanation!

I don't want to be "that guy" that asks a million questions, but since no one else is asking, here's a few more that I've wondered about:

Do you approach writing a sci-fi series differently than fantasy?

Can you explain the writing dynamic that exists between you and Ty Franck as you write collectively as James S.A. Corey? Specifically, how do you blend two personal writing styles, two sets of ideas for plot direction, etc?

I don't want to spoil any plot points, so I will just say that the "sad trade" in Shadow in Summer obviously touches on a very hot political topic. The treatment of that topic was remarkably balanced, to the point that neither I nor my reading buddy can figure out where you personally stand on the issue. So first, kudos on that. And second, how do you go about balancing such a touchy subject?

We haven't asked any questions because we haven't officially started, not until January anyway. I'm sure there will be plenty more as soon as the group read begins.

I just finished book 5 The Spider's War last night and just wanted to say those were some satisfying endings for all the characters. Without giving anything away the door is open for another series in the same world, is that in the plans?

Speaking of future plans, I'm curious about the Black Sun's Daughter series. To those that aren't familiar, that's the urban fantasy series that Daniel has written under the pseudonym M.L.N. Hanover, and starts with Unclean Spirits.

Daniel, is this a series that you have plans for, or are hoping to get back to someday? I listened to the audiobooks this year and really enjoyed them.

Ok I did not know that! Unclean Spirits sounds awesome. Added to my tbr. Thanks Chris!

Cool, Tracey. I definitely recommend them :)

Hi Daniel, I really like this series and definitely will continue to the next books.

Why made you decide to use banking and commerce as part of the plot? And do you have illustrations for the races? It is a bit hard for me to imagine them.

Hello Daniel Abraham, I am wondering whether there are real women in your life that have inspired the complex characters of Clara Annalise Kalliam and Cithrin bel Sarcour. Both defy the usual female stereotypes. I especially love the arc of Clara's story across the five books. Might there be any other stories from this same world in the future?

Andrew wrote: "Hello Daniel! I'm a huge fan of the Long Price Quartet, and it's the first series I recommend to people looking for "real literature that just happens to take place in a fantasy world" or "intellig..."

The series was always set up as this: four stand-alone-ish stories that added up to something more. And the idea behind them was that any life lived out to 80-odd years is pretty much epic by default. The idea of the and at and the poets (And Otah and Maati) all got laid down when I wrote the introduction to A Shadow in Summer as a short story, back in 1998. Everything else pretty much grew from there.

Scott wrote: "I just finished book 5 The Spider's War last night and just wanted to say those were some satisfying endings for all the characters. Without giving anything away the door is open fo..."

Nope. I have smoked that world down to the filter. There will be other things that happen there, but I can't imagine a more satisfying rating place than the one we found.

Chris wrote: "Speaking of future plans, I'm curious about the Black Sun's Daughter series. To those that aren't familiar, that's the urban fantasy series that Daniel has written under the pseudonym [author:M.L.N..."

It was originally built as a 10-book series, but the sales didn't justify it to the publisher. Pocket was very kind in giving me a single-book contract for Graveyard Child to wrap the whole thing up.

Silvana wrote: "Hi Daniel, I really like this series and definitely will continue to the next books.

Why made you decide to use banking and commerce as part of the plot? And do you have illustrations for the race..."

I read a book-length essay by Tim Parks called Medici Money, and that -- along with a latecomer's zeal -- made me think about how much fun it would be to have a fantasy set at that friction point between the divine right of kings and the rising merchant powerhouses.

I don't have pictures, but there's an essay that goes along with all the books that places them in context a little if that helps.

Stephanie wrote: "Hello Daniel Abraham, I am wondering whether there are real women in your life that have inspired the complex characters of Clara Annalise Kalliam and Cithrin bel Sarcour. Both defy the usual femal..."

I'm very lucky in knowing a bunch of genuinely awesome women, including my mother, my wife, and my daughter. And also a bunch of my friends. But I've also read a fair amount of MFK Fisher, May Sarton, and Maya Angelou (among others), and that's been a great way to spend time in the company of interesting women too.

This thread (and Daniel) is still open for more questions till 28th February, by the way.

Hi Daniel!

I don't have a question, I just wanted to say I loved The Dragon's Path! Geder was my favourite, his evolution throughout the book was brilliantly done and I can't wait to see how his story continues!

And of course, thank you very much for doing a Q&A with us!