Glen Cook on Black Company

[Krug]

Pat's Fantasy Hotlist: New Glen Cook Interview

Cook gives the most straightforward answers...

 

[bento]

He certainly doesn't come across as an 'artiste.' Here's a great quote:

Anything you wish to share with your fans?

Thank you. Stop taking it so damned seriously. And get out there and buy backup copies of my stuff. I have kids in college.

 

[Blastin]

That was one of the funny replies.
The rest made him seem like a jerk who felt he was being bothered by the questions. Maybe he's one of those people who's humor doesn't come across well in print. I mean, it's not like he's a writer or anything....oh...wait...

 

[Shieldhaven]

I don't know that he sounds like a jerk, so much as that he thinks the interviewer's questions are either unanswerable or pointless. He certainly offers enough critical commentary on the questions themselves.

Haven

 

[Rackhir]

Glen Cook is certainly old enough to have earned the right to be a bit cranky. He also made most of his living working at a GM assembly plant, not writing books (one of the reasons there was so long a gap in the release of the books of the south). So he's probably not too inclined to have a lot of patience with some random guy off the internet pestering him with questions.

But I also loved Shatner's "Get a Life" sketch on SNL.

I've run into him at a couple of SF cons and he was fine in person, but definitely not inclined to sugar coat things.

I do find it amusing that he's a Power Rangers and Inu Yasha fan.

I am also excited to hear he's working on a new Dread Empire book. The series ended in a cliff hanger, because some visiting fan stole the manuscript and notes for the last book.

BTW, try checking out Jerry Pournelle sometime if you want to see a really cranky writer.

 

[Mallus]

BTW, try checking out Jerry Pournelle sometime if you want to see a really cranky writer.

Or Dan Simmons.

Wait, what am I thinking? Make that 'or Harlan Ellison'.

 

[bento]

Better be careful about saying anything about Harlan. He has several law firms on retainer.

Ahem - that last comment was a joke, a poorly executed one, but a joke nevertheless. I have the upmost respect and regard for Mr. Ellison.

 

[Felon]

I gotta say I agree with him that I don't get the whole fixation with publishing Omnibuses these days. I mean, we're talking about books that are quite cumbersome. Unpleasant to lug around on the train, uncomfortable to read in bed.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I gotta say I agree with him that I don't the whole fixation with publishing Omnibuses these days. I mean, we're talking about books that are quite cumbersome. Unpleasant to lug around on the train, uncomfortable to read in bed.

I concur.

I can't help wondering why so many books now are an inch and a half thick when the books I used to read in the 70's were typically half an inch thick and fantastic stories. Back then the really thick books were an exception, but memorable ones (e.g. Dune), they weren't the bread and butter of sci-fi/fantasy fiction.

Now almost every book is a whacking great thick tome, and frankly it makes the barrier of entry too high for me. Too big to fit in a pocket for the commute, uncomfortable to hold. They just don't get my reading time any more

 

[D.Shaffer]

I gotta say I agree with him that I don't the whole fixation with publishing Omnibuses these days. I mean, we're talking about books that are quite cumbersome. Unpleasant to lug around on the train, uncomfortable to read in bed.

In my case, I adore Omnibuses. With the bigger series, it makes it easier to find the rest of the books. There's been a couple times where I'd LIKE to get the next book in the series, but the book stores in my area dont have it. I have to order it, and that means a delay. Also, the collected works take up less room on the bookshelf, and I'm fighting for room these days.

Nevermind that, in many cases, they often dont really make it obvious what order the books are meant to be in. If you've been following the series before hand, I'm sure you know which is which, but if you're just starting out with a new series, it can be confusing.