Elaine
asked
Jonathan French:
What alchemy in your mind caused you to decide that hogs would be actual.....hogs? I think that this is one of the most inspired ideas I have read in a long time. I'm curious if this idea was central to the story creation, or if it was a secondary analysis as you built the characters.
Jonathan French
Elaine,
Thank you for your question!
The Grey Bastards was originally conceived as a DnD game, not a novel, so the initial concept was half-orcs in a mounted gang of mercenaries employed by a shadowy figure called The Paymaster. That was pretty much the entire idea and had two main inspirations, Sons of Anarchy and Spaghetti Westerns. Horses were to be the mode of transportation since they were easier to adjudicate in the game rules and fit with the Western theme. It was my wife that made two suggestions: 1) make it a novel not a game 2) have them ride hogs
Admittedly, I was hesitant in the beginning because hog/boars as mounts have been seen before in fantasy (mostly in miniature wargaming and usually bearing either orcs or dwarves into battle). Also, I felt it might be a little too obvious and ran the risk of causing the whole concept to jump the shark right out of the gate.
However, my wife's input/insight has greatly improved every book I've ever written, so I trusted that and pursued both the novel and the hogs.
As I researched breeds of swine and began putting together the physical necessities for a fantasy breed capable of being a war steed, I began to be encouraged. By the time I settled on the name "great bearded deer hog" (and the connected slang of "barbarian"), I was confident it was now integral to the world and that allowed me to stretch into further terminology like "swine-yanker", "skull-suckling", "straddle the razor". The hogs became the vehicle (pardon the pun) for the entirety of the hoofs' culture. And that was just the broadstrokes, Drilling down to the individual hogs gave me the chance to make them characters in their own right which only increased the connection to the story and worldbuilding.
So, short answer: they were included from the very start, but with some reluctance and quickly became central to the story. :)
Thank you for your question!
The Grey Bastards was originally conceived as a DnD game, not a novel, so the initial concept was half-orcs in a mounted gang of mercenaries employed by a shadowy figure called The Paymaster. That was pretty much the entire idea and had two main inspirations, Sons of Anarchy and Spaghetti Westerns. Horses were to be the mode of transportation since they were easier to adjudicate in the game rules and fit with the Western theme. It was my wife that made two suggestions: 1) make it a novel not a game 2) have them ride hogs
Admittedly, I was hesitant in the beginning because hog/boars as mounts have been seen before in fantasy (mostly in miniature wargaming and usually bearing either orcs or dwarves into battle). Also, I felt it might be a little too obvious and ran the risk of causing the whole concept to jump the shark right out of the gate.
However, my wife's input/insight has greatly improved every book I've ever written, so I trusted that and pursued both the novel and the hogs.
As I researched breeds of swine and began putting together the physical necessities for a fantasy breed capable of being a war steed, I began to be encouraged. By the time I settled on the name "great bearded deer hog" (and the connected slang of "barbarian"), I was confident it was now integral to the world and that allowed me to stretch into further terminology like "swine-yanker", "skull-suckling", "straddle the razor". The hogs became the vehicle (pardon the pun) for the entirety of the hoofs' culture. And that was just the broadstrokes, Drilling down to the individual hogs gave me the chance to make them characters in their own right which only increased the connection to the story and worldbuilding.
So, short answer: they were included from the very start, but with some reluctance and quickly became central to the story. :)
More Answered Questions
Fuzzleton
asked
Jonathan French:
Hi Jonathan - The Grey Bastards was a beautiful book that really made me feel alive and engaged, I was over the moon. I'm very sorry you didn't get the opportunity and encouragement to finish the franchise on your terms. I respect you needed to step away. I'm grateful for what we got. If you had known the third book would be the last, what would you have changed about it?
Chester Harp
asked
Jonathan French:
Currently starting The Free Bastards after reading the first two books and loving them. Just wanted to say I'm a huge fan and thank you for these amazing books! I wish my father was around so I could share them with him, I already can tell he would of loved them as well. Wishing you the very best! Do you have a favorite character in the Lot Lands series?
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