Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Anthony Ryan, Krystle Matar, Michael R. Fletcher, Jessica Moon and Ben Galley as they compare and contrast traditional, indie and self-publishing. During the panel they discuss the viability of each publishing avenue, misconceptions about them, finding an agent, cover art and design, the editing process, distribution and marketing and much more. DISCLAIMER: This discussion is specifically about fantasy and sci-fi publishing.
Review: Eyes of the Void (The Final Architecture #2) by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Many sci-fi fans speak of the Golden Age of Science Fiction as something that has long since passed. Whether it’s the 1930’s, ‘40s or ‘50s, the days of Asimovs, Heinleins, “Doc” Smiths, Bradburys and more are a forlorn memory… right? From my perspective, the answer is “Hell no!” The last decade or two has seen a stunning resurgence of sci-fi and space opera that recaptures the magic of far-flung galaxies, grand ideas, scientific marvels, strange aliens and more, but at the same time delivering fast-paced, engaging narratives and characters who are actually relatable. One author who stands at the forefront of this modern movement is Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Tchaikovsky showed his natural talent for the genre with the 2015 novel Children of Time. Since then, he has honed his craft with every release (and he releases a lot of books with unbelievable frequency), and his new series The Final Architecture, starting with last year’s Shards of Earth, is space opera at its very best.
Author Chat: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Join FanFiAddict’s Adrian M. Gibson and author Adrian Tchaikovsky for a chat about his long writing journey, the galactic worldbuilding, politics and characters of The Final Architecture series, his personal history with biology and zoology, creating strange alien races and writing empathetic aliens, the contrast between writing fantasy and science fiction, how he approaches research and much more.
SFF Addicts Ep. 19: Martial Arts in SFF (with Fonda Lee, K. S. Villoso, Alexander Darwin & Sam Hawke)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Fonda Lee, K. S. Villoso, Alexander Darwin and Sam Hawke as they grapple with the topic of martial arts in sci-fi and fantasy. During the panel they discuss incorporating martial arts into fictional stories, what it can add to pacing, characters and worldbuilding, the spiritual and holistic sides of combat sports, the growing mainstream popularity of martial arts and much more.
Author Chat: Luke Arnold
Join FanFiAddict’s Adrian M. Gibson and author/actor Luke Arnold for a chat about his new book One Foot in the Fade, worldbuilding, characters and more in The Fetch Phillips Archives, Raymond Chandler and other noir influences, morally grey characters (and worlds), balancing acting and writing and much more.
Review: One Foot in the Fade (The Fetch Phillips Archives #3) by Luke Arnold
Detective and noir fiction is one of those sweet spots for me as a reader. Those times when I’m not reading fantasy or science fiction, I love basking in the mystery and dark explorations of books by Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and the like. There’s something raw about those works, their characters and their worlds, that pulls me in every time.
That’s why my discovery of the urban fantasy detective genre five or six years ago quite literally blew my mind (it’s a mash-up made in heaven!). I have since devoured countless great genre-blending gems, and Luke Arnold’s The Fetch Phillips Archives stands high among them. Now, three books in with One Foot in the Fade, I can safely say this is a series that has cemented itself as some of the best urban fantasy detective literature out there.
SFF Addicts Ep. 18: Our Favorite Fantasy Books & Series (and Why We Love Them)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and FanFiAddict book bloggers Tori Gross, Benny, Naty and Sean for a new FanFiAddict family panel, where they share their favorite fantasy books and series. During the panel they each share two of their top picks for fantasy books or series (for a total of ten), as well as reflecting on what the fantasy genre means to them, the current state of the genre and what their hopes are for its future.
Live Playthrough: Siege of Treboulain (with Jed Herne)
Join FanFiAddict’s Adrian M. Gibson, Tori Gross and Connor M. Caplan as they play the beginning of Siege of Treboulain live with Jed Herne. They had a great time experiencing the game together, crafting a consistent main character and making decisions as a team (with the occasional inconsistent decision to throw gasoline on the fire). Jed also answered some questions about the game’s worldbuilding, character progression and more.
Author Chat: Jed Herne
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and author/podcaster Jed Herne for a chat about his new epic fantasy interactive fiction game Siege of Treboulain, his previous novels, the challenges (and benefits) of writing an interactive fiction game versus a novel, how he got started in podcasting, the beginnings of Wizards, Warriors & Words and what his hopes are for the podcast’s future, finding a good creative/life balance and much more.
Author Chat: Chris Panatier
Join FanFiAddict’s Adrian M. Gibson and author Chris Panatier for a chat about his new novel Stringers, his first novel The Phlebotomist, the biology of blood, string theory and quantum entanglement, research wormholes, humor and effective uses of footnotes in fiction, bug sex, art, tattoos, metal bands and much more.
Review: The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
To be blunt, I’m not a big reader of short story collections. It’s something that has been a sore spot in my reading history, and something I’ve wanted to amend—at some point. Maybe it’s just that I haven’t found the right collection, or there’s a part of me that connects much more deeply with a novel. But, when I was presented with the opportunity to read and review Janelle Monáe’s new sci-fi collection, The Memory Librarian and Other Stories of Dirty Computer, I was able to slip past whatever mental hurdle I had and dove right in. As a fan of Monáe’s music and amazing concept albums, it came as no surprise that the world and atmosphere of these five stories (which are actually more like novelette length) bleed off the page. While not all of the stories succeed, the interconnected nature of this rich world and its poignant themes makes this collection a worthwhile investment.
SFF Addicts Ep. 17: Writing Sequels (with Gareth L. Powell, Andrea Stewart, Dan Fitzgerald & E. G. Radcliff)
Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Gareth L. Powell, Andrea Stewart, Dan Fitzgerald and E. G. Radcliff as they crack open the mysteries of writing sequels. During the panel they discuss what sequels can offer a story and its characters, what goes into planning a series, misconceptions about the dreaded “sophomore slump,” series-related pitfalls, transitioning from one series to another and much more.