Ask the Author: Elizabeth Bear

“Ask me a question.” Elizabeth Bear

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I just wanted to say I really enjoyed Boojum and the Wreck of the Charles Dexter Ward. I love the premise of humanity using Lovecraftian technologies and creatures together into space instead of Einsteinian physics. I hope there is more in store, but mostly just to say thanks. Since this is supposed to be a question ... which one of your work would you most like to see adapted as a graphic novel?

Elizabeth Bear Thank you! I would love for there to be more, but both Sarah and I are encountering challenges currently. Hopefully someday!

Blood & Iron actually started life as a graphic novel script when I was in High School... and then I discovered Matt Wagner's MAGE and realized somebody had beaten me to the punch!

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Anything going with Sub-Inspector Ferron mysteries? And will we get a kindle version of Unicorn?

Elizabeth Bear Thank you!

I have every intention of getting a Kindle version of it out there, in my copious spare time, which is at a premium right now, alas. And I would love to write another one, but work is going only very slowly right now, unfortunately.

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I am a huge James White fan, and I absolutely loved "Machine: A White Space Novel." I was wondering if there is a chance to hear more about the adventures of Doctor Jens?

Elizabeth Bear Maybe! Not right this second, though--the White Space novel I am working on now does not feature her!

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In my review, I wrote that Temur's struggle with the Nameless Cult is similar to Hulagu's struggle with the Ismaili Order. Is this okay, or should I edit my review?

Elizabeth Bear Reviews are for readers, and while I am unfamiliar with the history you mention, parallels you identify are valid to your experience!

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Thank you! I have one more question. Edene's abduction reminded me of Borte's. But it is even more similar to Lyudmila's abduction in the poem Ruslan and Lyudmila. Edene's escape from Al Sepehr's stronghold is also somewhat similar to Lyudmila's failed escape from Chernomor's castle. I'm curious if you were inspired by this old poem, too?

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

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It's obvious that many of the characters in Eternal Sky are based on historical prototypes. But which of Genghis Khan's grandchildren is Temur, who seems to be the main protagonist, based on? Perhaps Temur is based on one of Jochi's sons? After all, Jochi died six months before Genghis Khan (some historians even believe he was murdered) and Otgonbayar died much earlier than his brothers, too.

Elizabeth Bear Hi!

The Eternal Sky books draw some inspiration from history for sure, but they're definitely not historical fiction so there is no direct historical parallel to Temur. His name is definitely a nod to both Timur (Tamerlane) and Chinggis Khan however.

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Who do you read to research neuroscience?

Elizabeth Bear These days, mostly Scientific American Magazine!

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What has tapped with Garrett Investigates? It's listed as only a Kindle version, but Amazon has no clue it existed?

Elizabeth Bear It is, unfortunately, out of print. I have ambitions to get it out in a self-published edition one day but no firm plans in that direction!

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Excited to see _The Folded Sky_ coming this June, and wondering if there's any likelihood of a hardcover release? It's going on my TBR pile either way, but in the long wrong, I definitely prefer non-paperbacks. Much thanks! :)

Elizabeth Bear Thanks for your question!

Unfortunately no hardcover release scheduled currently due to the financial realities of midlist publishing. I'm very sorry about that!

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Delighted to hear that more White Space books are on the way, even if we don't get them until 2025. Are The Folded Sky and Shipwreck Star continuing with the same characters, or books with new characters set in the same bookverse?

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Any more plans for White Space and Karen Memory series?

Elizabeth Bear I'm working on White Space IV right now, in fact, and there should be some big announcements about book III soon! (Book III is called THE FOLDED SKY). As for Karen, I will be self-publishing the second book, ANGEL MAKER, this fall!

Thanks so much for asking!

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Any plans for further Boojumverse?? Awesome

Elizabeth Bear I hope so! Sarah and I have an idea we've been poking at, but it's hard finding time and energy to work on it with all the other demands on us!

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Why is 'A Blessing of Unicorns' only an audiobook?

Elizabeth Bear It was an Audible Original, so written specifically for them.

There is a print version available in the September/October 2021 issue of Asimov's; I just haven't gotten around to making an ebook yet! Which I should probably do, in my copious spare time!

Thank you for asking!

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Have you ever gotten the rights back to a book, only to have the publisher continue to release it without your permission (and not paying you a portion of any sales it's getting)? If so, what did you do?

Elizabeth Bear I have not, and if it did happen I imagine my agent's legal department would get involved.

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Where does the phrase in Ancestral Night, “Thank Albert” come from? Is it a reference to Victoria’s consort in the 19th century England? Or something else?

Elizabeth Bear I was thinking of the very famous 20th century physicist. :D

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I am remembering another SF book where the female protagonist was on an ambulance ship associated with Core Central. All I remember now is that at the end of the book the main hospital of Core Central was doing illegal medicine in a hidden ward on the hospital. I am now reading Machine and having deja vu feelings about this other Core Central story. What is the other book I am remembering?

Elizabeth Bear Hmm. I don't know. There is a James White Sector General novel called Ambulance Ship that I took some inspiration from but the plot is very different.

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What inspired you to write the short story, "Codemus"? It is my favorite short story-- so I must know.

Elizabeth Bear I don't think I wrote that one! I imagine you must be thinking of this? https://isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?4...

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I'd think I was a dork for missing that one. :) I already feel like I missed out on not seeing him as the Earl of Essex, a historical figure who takes on a whole new significance after reading about him in your books. ;) How was he in The Jane Austen Book Club?

Elizabeth Bear I liked it! He plays a nerd who likes Ursula Le Guin. :D

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Here's a weird question. :) Did l'osculum infame protect (or block) Kit Marlowe from the power of prayer from others in Hell and Earth? To his benefit or detriment? How much did Lucifer favor Kit, considering he was on everybody's side?

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Haimey's description of Ativahikhas was stunning in Ancestral Nights, comparing it to a Ferian leafy sea-dragon and the sea-trees of Desireninex. It makes me curious about two things. Has Haimey ever seen a Ferian leafy sea-dragon in person? And what is Desireninex?

Elizabeth Bear Desireninex is a planet! And no, probably not, but she's seen videos!

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