Looking forward to the week ahead, because… it is WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION 2023, my third year there, and I will be tuning into New Orleans from the comfort of my writing room. Really excited for so many inspiring panels, and conversations with readers and writers alike. And of course, I’m looking forward to being a panelist again, programmed on Friday’s, Just Who is the Villain panel. Buzzing – but more on that later.
Two days to go and I will be at Worldcon, the 80th World Science Fiction Convention which this year is being held in Chicago. Thanks to the wonders of technology, I’ll be tuning in from the comfort of my writing room. As well as being an avid spectator, I’m joining in with the programme, which involves taking the time to consider my work and perspectives.
And this Tuesday morning it’s all about dragons… which feature in my series Blood Gift Chronicles. Prior to the books, in the planning stages, I didn’t start out with the intention of writing dragons, although it’s possible that there was something happening in the sub-conscious. I mean who doesn’t love dragons? I remember the decision-making process, whether to go with something as familiar and perhaps obvious, or go for invention. Ultimately, I was drawn to dragons, or at least versions of them – as familiar as dragons are, I’m definitely going for a whole new angle.
I was thinking about the quote by Ursula Le Guin: “I do not care what comes after; I have seen dragons dancing on the morning winds.”
They are creatures that reveal an awe-inspiring feeling of other-worldly magic. They are the ultimate strength, the lesson in humility, the fact that there are things bigger than us, out of our control. But rather than the idea of going up against a dragon, trying to beat a dragon, the story develops into becoming a dragon, what that reflects in us, storylines analogous to loss, love, loyalty, grief and empowerment – the idea of ‘beyond this place, there be dragons’ – rather than an outer journey, thinking about an inner journey that someone might go through in transforming.
Back to Blood Gift Chronicles, and dragons don’t actually feature until the third book. Stories are told of them in the second book and the magic is alluded to, but it’s not until the third that we discover the big mystery of the dragons.
A final thought for now, the idea of dragons comes with a kind of melancholy, that idea of bordering on extinction – extinction of magic, and the fantastical, and creature extinction. That fits with some of the themes in the books, around wildlife and the environment. There are storylines around the interplay of capitalism and corruption and impacts on nature, and just generally, wildlife is a very visible backdrop throughout the books, almost with an identity of character in lots of ways. In fact, in book one it does take the form of a fantastical creature character.
Have you met the Mantra yet?
There’s a summer heatwave here in the UK, which begs the question of recommendations to while away sunny afternoons lounging in the sun, or taking shelter in the shade. I’ve gone for two epics, something to get your teeth into, both great reads in their own right.
An Unkindness of Ghosts, by Rivers Solomon
For generations, World ship HSS Matilda has ferried the last of humanity through space to a mythical Promised Land. With a society organised like the antebellum South, led by brutal leaders, it is a system built on racism and misogyny, attacking the dignity of sharecroppers like Aster. While the ruling sovereign enjoy comfort in the upper decks, the lower class are effectively slaves, forced to occupy the uninhabitable lower decks. It is a story of survival, where brutal losses are not shied away from, making it at times a difficult read, but also an important one.
It is sci-fi, with a world that feels so real, driven by characters that reflect a range of human experiences, including neurodivergence, and representation of LGBTQ+ exploring sexuality and gender. The protagonist, Aster, is flawed, self-effacing, astonishingly courageous, with a huge heart and fierce hope despite what most would think are hopeless odds. I adored her. Each step of the way her journey is a lesson in working with what you’ve got, never giving up, appreciating that no matter what, there are always choices to be found. She actively looks for those choices, never stops fighting, never relents to the iron fist of the perpetrators. There’s so much depth in the writing, and in Aster’s character that it’s impossible not to root for her from the beginning. As the reader I found myself in her point of view, searching for the clues her mother left, cheering her on as she pieces together scraps of evidence, desperately hoping that she may find that infamous way off the ship. But first she must sow the seeds of civil war.
The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin
The world is ending, again, for an unstable Earth where geological disasters lead to apocalyptic events that happen every hundred years or so; little wonder the population regard Earth as the enemy, and value survival above all else. This most recent apocalypse sees a great red rift tearing across the heart of the continent known as the Stillness, spewing ash that will darken the sky for years if not centuries. Against this deadly backdrop, a complex society exists, with various human races, and another sentient species, Orogenes, those with power over the earth itself. Orogenes are feared, hated and exploited by humans, since the Orogene’s powers are deadly, but they can also protect civilisations.
The story follows three distinct and haunting voices. Young Damaya is a powerful Orogene, kept locked away because of her dangerous curse. Syenite is so powerful she is able to raise an obelisk, something not seen in over 3000 years, exposing mysterious ruins of the many civilisations that came before. And Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, who comes home to find her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. A powerful Orogene, Essun sets out across the dying lands in pursuit of her wrecked family, prepared to tear the world apart to save her daughter.
I was invested in the main characters from the start, in particular Essen’s emotionally charged opening storyline. Through Essun we explore those shades of grey: emotionally closed off, she cares only about finding her daughter, and will kill anyone who gets in her way. I also appreciated the diversity of characters, and the ease with with LGBTQ+ relationships are introduced, as is the case with other works by this author. Overall, with its intricately built world and highly complex cast, this is an in-depth, imaginative and inventive story.
What are you reading?
A drizzly grey day brings the promise of Autumn, and with Halloween approaching, I’m thinking ghosts and ghouls and fantastical monsters on the reading list.
Fledgling by Octavia Butler
I often think there are two pillars we seek to accomplish as published writers. The first is to see our work in print. That moment of finally holding a copy of a book you wrote is pure joy. In my case, the writing journey takes years and many sleepless nights, especially in the planning stage. I am no stranger to scribbling ideas at 1am, getting thoughts down before they escape me, resolving those sticky plot holes. The sentences flow, some days a trickle, others a downpour, fleshing out the characters and the world, bringing it to life until it really does take on a life of its own. And just when you think you’re there, there are edits and more edits, and always more edits. So yes, years later, bound in its signature cover, holding that book for the first time is joy.
The second pillar is to discover that your story connects with readers. I love my characters and it means the world to me that others do too. It’s always wonderful to hear that these worlds I create are understood and embraced, and that a character’s hopes, dreams, struggles and aspirations touch on emotion and affect readers on a personal level. Stories have always been a form of communication, and I love to hear what messages readers take from mine.
As someone who deals in words, it can be surprisingly difficult to take a step back and give a succinct response to the common question, ‘What is the book about?’ Thank you to all those who take the time to share their thoughts. One book reviewer recently published a review of The Warder, which made my day!
‘This book was worth the wait and more. The Warder is the sequel to one of my favourite books of 2018, Return of the Mantra.’
Phew! The Warder has a different vibe to Return of the Mantra, and with that comes nerves on how it might be received. I introduce a new character, Luna, a complex girl through which hidden powers are revealed.
‘I wasn’t sure Susie would be able to increase the enthusiasm I had for her characters, and her world. However, she left me reeling after a couple of pages as I was drawn back into this African inspired fantasy. The way Susie was able to expand her world without slowing down the narrative was a masterclass in worldbuilding.’
And on Luna – ‘The development of her powers during the narrative is handled with a sensitivity I haven’t read in fantasy before.’
‘This book is a charming story of loss, love and finding yourself in the most unexpected places. It is epic fantasy with a heart that will leave you scarred, but begging for more.’
Fortunately, there will be more with Blood Gift Chronicles Book 3.
Click here for full review – The Warder
Click here for full review – Return of the Mantra
Happy Reading!
Change is afoot as Kate and I take our first tentative steps to consider moving house. It is no mean feat after 8-ish yrs of growing lovingly attached to these four walls. But change can be good, and when it is it is worth the effort.
There is another reason for this train of thought about change: it is the central premise to the books I am reading – Octavia Butler’s Earthseed series. In my opinion the books are many things, including brilliant.
As a reader, I love to discover authors who I come to trust that pretty much whatever they write, it’s fairly certain I will enjoy. For me, Nnedi Okorafor is one such author.
She is a prolific writer and I have read a number of her works. For the sake of this blog, I have selected two sci-fi titles.
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
I am frequently in awe of the imagination and inventiveness this author brings to her stories, but even by her own standards, Lagoon is exceptional. Aliens have arrived in Lagos, and right from the beginning when we meet an eco-warrior swordfish, I was hooked.
The three main characters – Adaora, the marine biologist, Anthony, the world-famous rapper, and Agu, the troubled solder, (not to mention Ayodele, the lead alien) – are supported by a diverse cast which bring to life this modern-day Nigeria. They are refreshingly free from stereotypes, while the author does not shy away from the reality of prejudice and bigotry. The richness of setting is further emphasised by the appearance of monsters and masquerades, which add depth that creates the feeling of folklore as much as sci-fi.
Overall, Lagoon is a breathtaking read, with an urgent pace in line with the enormity of an alien invasion. I loved the attention to detail, offering an immersive experience into the vibrant city of Lagos. And when I came to the end, after I had caught my breath, I was left yearning to sit down to a meal of jollof rice, egusi soup and pounded yams.
The Book of Phoenix by Nnedi Okorafor
In a time when much of Manhattan was under water, Times Square was land stable enough to house Tower 7. There were 39 floors to this two-hundred-year-old skyscraper, and on the 28th floor lived Phoenix – a genetic experiment, a speciMen, an abomination.
She is an accelerated woman, just two years old, but with the mind and body of an adult, and powers beyond imagining. Finding love and friendship with Saeed, another biologically altered human, Phoenix is content to abide by the rules and live a quiet life. Until she is given cause to question the truth of her identity, and discovers that everything she has ever known is a lie. When her powers are unleashed there is no going back.
The richly described world and inventive plotline, had me gripped from the first page to the last. The characters are extraordinary, with multi-faceted personalities and motivations that make them completely relatable; heroines and heroes speaking hard truths to the world, dealing with social injustices and inequalities from the personal to outright war. I was swept away by Phoenix’s journey as she encounters love, truth, power and betrayal, and struggles to comprehend and accept the timeless nature of her powers. This is a multi-layered story, spanning continents; from America to Africa and beyond… literally to the stars.
What are you reading?
Following Devon Book Club’s #fantasyfortnight event, my reading list has grown substantially. In turn I’ve been able to share some of my recommendations, including the titles in this blog. I have my local St Thomas library to thank. I’ve always regarded libraries as an essential hub of the community, and in the time of a global pandemic, they came to the fore. Courtesy of the library’s online click and collect service, I’ve been able to get my hands on some really great reads.
