Tad: No, because I often don’t know exactly why it’s significant when I write it. That idea - all the stories on the banks of a single river - clearly was the true genesis of OTHERLAND.ĭavid: Early on in Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, there’s a scene where Simon sneaks through the throne room and looks at the throne, a scene which pays off two books later in a reveal about Bright-Nail’s true lineage. Do you labor over a scene like that more than others, because you know it’s going to tie in later? But I realized later that it really started when I was six and captivated by the Storybook Land ride (or whatever it was called) in Disneyland, where Snow White sits in the boat and says, “Oh, look, there’s Toad Hall! And Sleeping Beauty’s Castle!” as you sail past these little miniatures. Tad: I used to say (truthfully) that it began when I heard the author of “A River Runs Through It” being interviewed on the radio, and began thinking about rivers-as-metaphors, and then about a river that was ONLY a metaphor, which led me to the virtual river that runs through the story.
#Tad williams otherland nine series#
That’s when you begin to think, “Maybe my life does have some shape after all…!”ĭavid: The Otherland series is one of my favorite stories of all time. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so what was the first step when you came up with this one. Where did the plot for this one start snowballing in your head? Tad: Oh, I think getting that first acceptance letter. We were all lucky it worked out we’ve helped each other sell a few books over the years.ĭavid: If you had to pick one defining moment of your writing career to date, what would it be? I was an over-the-transom author - in other words, the slush pile. If I’d been offered a contract first to do cartooning or screenwriting this would be a much different interview today.ĭavid: How did you pull off the first big sale to DAW? Did you get an agent before submitting? I always knew I wanted to be a CREATOR, but what form that creating would take was very much up in the air. Tad: When I was offered my first multi-book contract. I was the best at drawing hands! Least favorite was probably my time as a business-drone in a suit and tie, collecting overdue loan payments from deadbeats and sad, broke people.ĭavid: At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to be a writer? It was a fun company and I liked the people.
#Tad williams otherland nine manuals#
I also liked doing instructional film strips and manuals as a technical artist. Tad: Liked the most? Probably working at Apple, mostly because it was interesting observing the culture. If you haven’t read his work, you’re missing out. Pick up a copy of one his novels, starting with The City of Golden Shadow, the first book in the Otherland series.ĭavid: On your site you mention that you’ve “had more jobs than any sane person should admit to”. Not including writing, what was the job you liked the most? Hated the most? Tad Williams is a science fiction and fantasy author who has written many excellent novels, including the Otherland series and the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. Shadowmarch is his current series in progress, with the third of fourth books scheduled to be released in early 2010 with the title “Shadowrise”. He is also writing a young adult series called Ordinary Farm with Deborah Beale, his wife, with the second book scheduled for 2010 titled “A Witch at Ordinary Farm.” Check out his website, and while you’re there, check out the message board.
0 kommentar(er)
