Robert’s Comments (group member since Apr 07, 2016)

Robert’s comments from the KING OF SHARDS Q&A / Discussion Group group.

Matt,

Thank you for the kind words. Interestingly, of the 7 stories of mine that have been published /will be published this year and the last, it is the one's with Jewish themes and Yiddishkeit that have evoked the most interest from editors and readers. Thank you for further opening the door for such tales.

Yes, I love writing not only for storytelling but also for story crafting--for the play (and power) of words.

But I note you do as well. [Enough about me. This thread is about you and your work.] I loved the strength of your character depictions and the richness of your prose in your recently published short story "One Spring in Cherryville": "Furniture... Cabinet doors etched into the wings of seraphim, and enormous desks swarmed by schools of wooden octopi. Armoires shaped into masts and sails, chairs that pranced on deer legs, tables that swirled with inlays of ebony. And there were cupboards, cabinets, dressers and stools, each so finely crafted that in the flickering light I was sure they breathed and considered us."

I was sucked right into the moment and stood beside Don and Mitch in the dark cramped space of the closed Newman Furniture's secret basement room. Love it.

"One Spring in Cherryville" has more of the Michael Chabon within it than in King of Shards (which I, at long last just completed a few minutes ago in the vain attempt to stretch this reading closer to the October release date of Queen of Static). ;) While rich with wonder (e.g. the arid yet variegated geography of Gehinnom, its sand seas, ancient cliffs and caverns; its diverse peoples and the mosaic amalgam of its demons -- many of whom I am trying to identify as derived from source material or, possibly, of your own invention), the prose in King of Shards is comparatively concise and sharp. Was this purposeful? Reflecting the setting, for example, or was this unconscious? Or were there other considerations, such as publishing limitations such as book length? Either way, both tales are enjoyable reads, and the ending of Shards is quite epic.

I will need to go back and re-read your Clarkesworld short story "The History Within Us" in (ha! I just noticed...) Michael Chabon's and Peter S Beagle's anthology People of the Book. I find author's styles and "voice" fascinating.

I also enjoyed the nod within Shards to Ambrose Bierce, Robert W Chambers, and the "Mythos" writers in mention of Sheol's "Lake Hali" and "twin suns". :)

Wishing you continued success.

Respectfully,
Bob

Thank you, Matt.
All good volumes. I'll need add Miriam Weinstein's book to my library.

You may also find Aryeh Kaplan's works of interest, particulary "The Tree of Life: The Palace of Adam Kadmon - Chayyim Vital's Introduction to the Kabbalah of Isaac Luria" http://www.amazon.com/The-Tree-Life-I.... I thought of it when reading of your extrapolation of the shards of the broken sephirot (vessels) as containing the demonic worlds that preceded the creation of our world/universe--if I understand the Worldmender cosmology (and if not, please feel free to expand on this).

Respectfully,
Bob

P.S. I had great fun crafting a tale derived from these sources that appears in this month's Galaxy's Edge Magazine, written with , last year's Hugo nominee, eishat chayil (a woman of valor), Ms Kary English) ,

Dear Matthew,
You've drawn from Jewish folkloric and mystical tradition for the Worldmender trilogy. Will you share what particular sources you found particularly helpful?
Respectfully,
Bob