SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Bring your questions about the BOTM, other works by Sarah, or her thoughts on all things book related!

Thread opening on the first, Sarah will respond as she is able throughout the month :)

Thank you so much Sarah! We're excited for you, especially as a group member. Congrats to you, and excited to hear your thoughts!

Thank you for doing a Q&A, Sarah! :)

If you ever meet* another Sarah who has a copy of Parable of the Trickster, please let me know!

* And Then There Were (N-One)

Hi Sarah, thanks for doing this!

I've heard you mention that you're a fan of the Gardner Dozois's "The Year's Best Science Fiction" anthologies. I've started to pick these up in used bookshops when I see them and have really enjoyed them as well. My question would be if you had any particular favorite short stories or novellas that you've read in these?

Hi all,
Thanks for having me, and thanks for checking out my book! I think I've been a member of this group for a million years, though I stopped commenting much as my deadlines got tighter.
Looking forward to answering your questions.

Anna wrote: "Thank you for doing a Q&A, Sarah! :)

If you ever meet* another Sarah who has a copy of Parable of the Trickster, please let me know!

* And Then There Were (N-One)"

I'll be very excited to meet that Sarah and borrow her copy someday. (Good eye for spotting that little bit of wish fulfillment!)

Christopher wrote: "Hi Sarah, thanks for doing this!

I've heard you mention that you're a fan of the Gardner Dozois's "The Year's Best Science Fiction" anthologies. I've started to pick these up in used bookshops when I see them and have really enjoyed them as well. My question would be if you had any particular favorite short stories or novellas that you've read in these?
."

Great question! Yes, I grew up with the entire run of those anthologies on my father's shelves, and between those and the Datlow/Windling Year's Best SF & Horror, I feel like I was lucky to have such a great overview of the field at my disposal even before I knew it would be *my* field.
I have a dog on my lap so I can't go to my shelves, but let me think a second.
Octavia Butler's Bloodchild was in one of the early ones. That's a memorable and horrific story.
The Lake Was Full of Artificial Things by Karen Joy Fowler, which was also in her wonderful Artificial Things collection.
Connie Willis's The Last of the Winnebagos and At the Rialto. Nancy Kress's Beggars in Spain. Ted Chiang's Story of Your Life.
Lambing Season by Molly Gloss

More recently, Silently and Very Fast by Cat Valente, The Man Who Bridged the Mist by Kij Johnson, Close Encounters by Andy Duncan, Entanglement by Vandana Singh, Calved by Sam J. Miller, The Game of Smash & Recovery by Kelly Link...

Awesome... looking forward to reading all of these as soon as I can.

This is less a question than a comment, but this Q&A had me thinking back to A Song for a New Day which I had read back in March 2020. At the time I thought it was eerily prescient about the possibility of a world changing pandemic. Thinking about it now, however, I see how prescient it was as well about how weird it would be to try to return to normal life afterwards (not that we're necessarily to that part yet).

Christopher wrote: "This is less a question than a comment, but this Q&A had me thinking back to A Song for a New Day which I had read back in March 2020. At the time I thought it was eerily prescient ..."

Yeah, it's been very weird to see how many of my guesses came true. I guess I can call myself a futurist now, but at the time I was writing Song (2015-2018) it was an exercise in Ask the Next Question to figure out what seemed like the logical progression.

Since it's the 15th I think it's OK to start posting open spoilers. If you haven't read the book yet, don't read my question!

I really appreciate how well you portrayed David's struggle with finding help dealing with the noise. I actually reread the book just to pay more attention to that part. Anyone who has tried to explain an invisible illness to a doctor or a loved one will surely identify. If it can't be seen in a blood test, surely it doesn't exist! Trying to find other people who describe the symptoms the same way, or who even understand what you're talking about. The extreme difficulty of trying to explain something you have no words for. Not being sure if this is what everyone experiences, but you just can't cope with it. Learning to mask and nod and tell everyone all is fine. Trying to self diagnose, self medicate, and find coping mechanisms. Everyone telling you to stop being so weird and getting advice to do the same useless things over and over, like "just focus harder", "just go to sleep", "just do the thing". How exhausting all of that is, on top of dealing with the problem itself. Thank you, I felt very seen, even though I don't have a noisy Pilot!

I'm not very familiar with ADHD, but I couldn't help thinking that David's symptoms were very similar to what my understanding of ADHD is. Or sort of ADHD on crack I guess. David even finds out that Quiet is actually ADHD medication. Did you use ADHD as inspiration for the neurological symptoms some people had with Pilots, or does it just happen to have similarities? Did you always know that the problem would be the noise, or did you have other options for how it could've gone wrong, like an extreme hyperfocus on a single thing for example, or a completely different type of neurological issue, unrelated to ADHD?

Anna wrote: "Since it's the 15th I think it's OK to start posting open spoilers. If you haven't read the book yet, don't read my question!

I really appreciate how well you portrayed David's struggle with findi..."


I was thinking this as well! I have ADHD, and for me it is very similar to everything being busy and noisy. I refused medication until I was 25 years old (In my 30’s now), and it was seriously like the angels were singing. I was completely relating to David when he first took a quiet pill.

Hi Sarah!

As with "Song" I see a lot of parallels to our current day, with for-profit medicine, concern around transparency in drug trials, people not wanting to feel shame for being hoodwinked by a con.

My question is how much of your "what if" was based around responses you were seeing in real life, and has the absolutely wild turn of events in the past year changed how you view humanity's responses to future biomedical research?

Anna wrote: "Since it's the 15th I think it's OK to start posting open spoilers. If you haven't read the book yet, don't read my question!

I really appreciate how well you portrayed David's struggle with findi..."
Hi Anna,
You asked if ADHD was the template for David's Pilot malfunction, and if I always knew the issue would be noise.
I definitely always knew his problem would be noise. It seemed like the logical way for a Pilot to misfire, given the way it worked and the specific part of the brain it works on. That area is involved with reorienting attention, so if it was getting pinged too often, it would result in "LOOK AT THIS! LOOK AT THAT! LOOK AT THAT OTHER THING!"

I had a working knowledge of a lot of different diagnoses and personal experiences, and my intent wasn't to map it perfectly to one particular diagnosis, but it does have some similarities with ADHD.

For the longest time I couldn't figure out how I wanted to show it on the page, and I avoided writing his chapters. I had other people talking about him and to him, and he was there through dialogue, but I didn't write chapters from his perspective because I didn't know how to convey what he was going through. When I finally figured it out, the entire book opened up to me. I really needed his voice in there, noise and all.

Allison wrote: "Hi Sarah!

As with "Song" I see a lot of parallels to our current day, with for-profit medicine, concern around transparency in drug trials, people not wanting to feel shame for being hoodwinked by a con.

My question is how much of your "what if" was based around responses you were seeing in real life, and has the absolutely wild turn of events in the past year changed how you view humanity's responses to future biomedical research? ..."

I definitely did not imagine this last year's response to a life saving vaccine. I started the original "what if" over ten years ago, and started mostly from "what if a device that was supposed to be life-altering and life-saving turned out not to have a therapeutic effect, but DID have a commercial application?" That was where I figured out who this family was. I wanted it specifically to be a device and not a drug because the pathways to market for a medical device in the US have historically been much woolier than the pathways for a medication.
I've been aghast at the couple of people who have approached me to say the book reinforced what they thought about taking a cautious approach to the COVID vaccine because you don't want to be an early adopter. I was definitely not trying to say that. There's a vast difference between a life-saving virus and an unnecessary device by choice. Even though this particular virus is new, the MRNA delivery system and the approach to it have been studied for years and years. The science is there, everything has been tested, we've seen the results of the trials, and we've seen the ways the virus can ravage a person.
To me the device is more in line with the question of whether you would let Elon Musk install his NeuraLink device in your brain. My research spent a lot of time focused on therapeutic devices like the VNS, which has worked for many people, but has caused severe problems for others. Because of the difficulty in tracking down adverse event information, one person having a problem, even a life-threatening one, rarely knew that there was anyone else who might have had the same issue.
Add to that stuff like the epilepsy implant written about in the New Yorker. It was working! People had warning about their seizures! Their quality of life drastically improved! And then the company went under, and no other company took over implementation, so they called everyone who had it and said, "Sorry, I know this was great for you, but we won't be able to maintain it, so we're going to have to take it out of your head again." So they uninstalled the devices, leaving people back where they'd been, without even offering therapy to help them deal with that incalculable loss.
And then add to all that the desires to fit in, to keep up, etc. I was thinking a lot about the way Apple made everyone want iPods, before iPhones, and the way they made it so that you saw white headphones everywhere, and white headphones meant that person had an iPod, even if the device itself was hidden away.

It was easy to make the leap from a medical device to a more commercial application for the device in the book, and to see how there might be a pathway for it in a way there wouldn't be for a drug.

To me it's not anti-innovation or anti-science, and certainly not anti-vaccine. It's pro medical/device transparency, and pro looking at repercussions carefully before going into something life-altering but recreational.

Thank you Sarah! I definitely didn't mean to imply anything about your stance, more that I was wondering if this is a "stranger than fiction" moment for you, essentially. But thank you for such a great behind the scenes look at your thought process!

Sarah wrote: "When I finally figured it out, the entire book opened up to me. I really needed his voice in there, noise and all."

David was my favorite POV!

Sarah wrote: "There's a vast difference between a life-saving virus and an unnecessary device by choice. "

While I fully agree on a virus part, I have a problem with the question of necessity of any device, from the epilepsy implant to, to take the most widespread device, a car - yes, people lived before these devices and yes, this devices improved the quality of life despite having a negative effect on a minority. How can we decide, esp. beforehand if a device is necessary apart from obvious cases of directly saving lives like heart implants?

Hm...I kinda think that a car is different than brain surgery. I think, kinda like we were talking about in the spoilers thread, this is about what we do to our bodies, and what happens if something has utility but only to capitalism, not bodily functions.

I think perhaps what you're asking is could we/Sarah foresee something that the Pilot *could* "fix?" Like, might there be a medical utility to a Pilot?

Allison wrote: "I think perhaps what you're asking is could we/Sarah foresee something that the Pilot *could* "fix?" Like, might there be a medical utility to a Pilot?"

Yes and more - *fixing* not only clear cases but improving quality of life in general

Oleksandr wrote: "Allison wrote: "I think perhaps what you're asking is could we/Sarah foresee something that the Pilot *could* "fix?" Like, might there be a medical utility to a Pilot?"

Yes and more - *fixing* not..."

That question of a device improving quality of life is part of what I was trying to explore. If it improves quality of life for some and makes it worse for others, is it worth it? Smart phones are ubiquitous now. They are in many ways accessibility devices. For example, a blind person can use a smart phone as a money counter, a color identifier, a text reader, transportation assistance... replacing a whole bunch of individual devices. It can make banking easier. It can connect somebody who is shut in to the outside world, letting them order groceries, consult with their doctor without leaving the house, etc. It also can be expensive to purchase and maintain.

During the pandemic, kids learned from home via video call. That involved making sure they had not only devices but also internet connections -- but I know a school librarian in a small valley community in upstate New York who said their whole district has terrible internet just because of geography, before you take in poverty level.

In the case of the Pilot, I specifically wanted to look at what would happen to society if *most* people got something that some couldn't, in a situation where you could distinguish between the haves and have nots.

Anna wrote: "Sarah wrote: "When I finally figured it out, the entire book opened up to me. I really needed his voice in there, noise and all."

David was my favorite POV!"

He was so much fun to write, once I figured him out. He's really fun to read out loud too. It's a very physical experience.

Some of our members are being a little shy I think, but one of the questions we have is if you have a recipe you like for chili, especially one with cocoa in it!

Yes, I was intrigued with the chilli - the one that Val discovered that Sophie had cooked - cocoa is such an interesting addition.

(I'm tempted to try by just adding a tablespoon full - however, I'd have to make a special purchase as all I have in the cupboard is 'just add hot water' drinking chocolate and I'm almost certain that that would not be a good addition :) )

By the way, I liked that moment, in the kitchen, I felt that it further helped Val to see Sophie as the capable independent young woman that she had become.

re chili and cocoa, I just met it in another book:
The poor took their cocoa with maize as a starchy porridge-like cold soup that provided easily prepared high-energy food. It could be laced with chili pepper, giving a distinct afterburn, or enhanced with milder flavorings such as vanilla. - Chocolate Wars: The 150-Year Rivalry Between the World's Greatest Chocolate Makers

I've never been asked this one before, and yes! I do sometimes put a tiny bit of cocoa powder or dark chocolate into chili, and balsamic vinegar. Think about the complexity of flavors in a good mole sauce. Or those great dark chocolate bars with chili peppers in them.

I'm vegetarian, so my don't-put-too-much-effort-in-you've-got-deadlines crock pot chili recipe is black beans, canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, balsamic, and the above dash of chocolate or cocoa powder.
Then depending on what kind of peppers I have I'll stick two whole jalapeños on top, or a couple of peppers in adobo sauce if I have those around. You can also add real or fake meat, of course.

That definitely sounds worth trying to me!

Another question that came up is a discussion around the title. I loved the scene with Sophie and Val--the concern about loneliness hit me right in the gut. Can you please tell us what the title means to you and how that conversation played into the rest of the book, if at all?

And since we're coming up on the end of the month, anything you can tell us about new works or projects we can expect in the near future?

Two questions:

1. Your story "Our lady of the open road" concerns the day-to-day struggles of a punk band on tour in an old, decrepit van. Is that a life you've ever lived? I have a friend who was tour manager for a band for a while and drove them in a van all over the US and Europe. I like the band, but definitely not the life for me!

2. Do you read reviews of your work from people on GR? (I think that would be a frightening thing for any author to do.)

Just screeching in to say thank you for writing this book. I finished it yesterday and really enjoyed it. Like Ann (although it’s not me with ADHD), I felt especially drawn to David’s trajectory. It really piqued my Social Justice Warrior gene when he was so dismissed (from his perspective) and then it turning out to be subterfuge! 🤬

Also, the messes that the two older women got themselves into spoke to me. I’ve been there.Done that. I was glad to see how they got out of it with relationships changed, but intact. I appreciated their growth.

BTW, I first heard of cocoa in chili about 30 years ago! It’s a great addition!

DivaDiane wrote: "Just screeching in to say thank you for writing this book. I finished it yesterday and really enjoyed it. Like Ann (although it’s not me with ADHD), I felt especially drawn to David’s trajectory. I..."
I'm glad you enjoyed it, and that the relationships worked for you!

Ed wrote: "Two questions:

1. Your story "Our lady of the open road" concerns the day-to-day struggles of a punk band on tour in an old, decrepit van. Is that a life you've ever lived? I have a friend who was tour manager for a band for a while and drove them in a van all over the US and Europe. I like the band, but definitely not the life for me!

2. Do you read reviews of your work from people on GR? (I think that would be a frightening thing for any author to do.) ."

1. Yep! I did indeed live that life, crashing on random couches and occasionally in motels, trying to keep the van going and come out ahead of repairs at the end of the tour... I loved it, even though I can't imagine doing it again.

2. I try not to read reviews unless a friend points me to a specific one, or someone tags me on twitter. People are usually good about only doing that when they have positive things to say. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I don't think any good would come of me reading them. I write the book I write, and I have my own opinion on where I succeeded and where I could have done better. I think reading others' takes on that would make it hard to write the next thing.

Allison wrote: "That definitely sounds worth trying to me!

Another question that came up is a discussion around the title. I loved the scene with Sophie and Val--the concern about loneliness hit me right in the gut. Can you please tell us what the title means to you and how that conversation played into the rest of the book, if at all?

And since we're coming up on the end of the month, anything you can tell us about new works or projects we can expect in the near future?


"


If you mean the scene with Sophie and Val when Sophie is in bed and sees a satellite go by overhead, that was definitely meant to harken to the title. I loved Sophie's questions and how Val had to shift perspectives to understand what she was asking.

I've had the title for a long time -- it always spoke to me as a good metaphor for family. Family is a bunch of people with different wants, needs, personalities, careers, priorities, etc, who all circle this common, invisible source of gravity that tells them they are connected. They can share an orbit or be closer or further, but it's still always tugging at them. Not all families are healthy, and some people need to break those connections in order to survive and thrive. Some people find or make their own new connections, with new satellites in orbit around the common idea of family.
In the case of the family in the novel, they feel those connections even when they are angry or disappointed in each other. Some of them explore what it would mean to break away, but they get pulled back to each other.

Allison wrote: "And since we're coming up on the end of the month, anything you can tell us about new works or projects we can expect in the near future?"

Sure! On the short story front, I had a music story in Uncanny a few months ago -- https://uncannymagazine.com/article/w...
and I have a historical fantasy piece up at Tor.com in a couple of weeks - early November - called "A Better Way of Saying."

I'm working on a novella and a novel, neither of which I'm ready to talk about, and I have another announcement that should come at some point soon. So many things I can't talk about!

Thanks for asking!

Thanks for taking the time to share your go to don't-put-too-much-effort-in-you've-got-deadlines crock pot chili recipe.

Lynn wrote: "Thanks for taking the time to share your go to don't-put-too-much-effort-in-you've-got-deadlines crock pot chili recipe."

That's sort of my entire cooking oeuvre. My recipe in the SFWA cookbook was also a ten minutes of prep, then let it do its thing type recipe.

Sarah, this has been so great, thank you so much for your time and insight!

Yes, thanks for all the work you've done!

Thanks for the invitation and the great questions -- and for choosing my book!