"If you write about the future you have to face that the whole world has changed."
—Frank Schätzing
It's been established that Frank Schätzing writes long books; here in America we have 'The Swarm' and '[limit]'. Schätzing called me from Cologne, Germany to talk about his work and I have to admit my first questions went straight to why and how he wrote such long books.
Schätzing's reply managed to have it both ways; he address the length of his work, but gave evidence that in the right perspective, a 1,240 page book could itself be considered short. Schätzing is an engaging speaker, and I can easily see why he'd be popular in Germany or anywhere else he presented his work.
He's clearly interested in the science fiction genre, and understands it well. But as we spoke, it became equally clear that his work extends beyond science fiction to include historical work and stories set in the current day as well. In this, he lives up to the writer he's often compared to, Michael Crichton.
As one might imagine, I was quite curious about the prospects for his work being developed for film or television; more likely the latter given the length of the books. Interestingly enough, he talked about the international blockbuster scene, and the countries outside of the United States where financing can be found, including China. Whatever the case, he's clear that the books require a top-notch and top-dollar (yen, euro) approach. He's a writer who does not want his visions compromised by visuals.
12-11-13 UPDATE:Podcast Update: Time to Read Episode 136: Frank Schätzing, '[limit]'
Click image for audio link.
Here's the one-hundred thirty-sixth episode of my series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read. Hitting the two-year mark, I'm going to make an effort to stay ahead, so that podcast listeners can get the same sort of "sneak preview" effect that radio listeners get each Friday morning. This week, I seem to be on top of the game, but who knows what the hell might happen. I am hoping to stay back up and stumbling.
My hope is that in under four minutes I can offer readers a concise review and an opportunity to hear the author read from or speak about the work. I'm hoping to offer a new one every week.
The one-hundred thirty-sixth episode is a look at Frank Schätzing and '[limit].'
Click image for audio link.
Photo Credit Vince Passaro
"Fantastic stories have to move on this invisible slippage..."
— Edward Gauvin
Readers and listeners might have noticed that over the years I have an interest in translation and translators. Edward Gauvin first came to my notice when I read his translation of Georges Châteaureynaud's 'A Life on Paper.' When I received a copy of 'The Conductor,' I decided to give him a ring and hear what he had to say about the art and science of translation.
My interest in translation probably this stems from my encounters with the Michael Kandel translations of Stanislaw Lem's work, and even one of Lem's stories, which imagines computers that translate literature that can't be turned off, and in their downtime, compose works that were not written by the authors they translate. I don't think we'll have to wait long for that to come to pass.
In the interim, we can enjoy Gauvin's translation of Ferry and listeners can enjoy his thoughts on the process. At one point he talks about translation being the perfection of the art of plagiarism, which to me is a fascinating insight into his work.
Of course it is one thing to translate a relatively straightforward work of fiction or nonfiction, but it is equally obvious to me that translating weird fiction really requires serious translation and literary chops. If literature is itself ineffable, then fantastic literature is even more so. Capturing the weird in what Gauvin is all about.
08-21-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report : Senator Claire McCaskill is 'Plenty Ladylike' : Internalizing Determination to Overcome Sexism [Incudes Time to Read EP 211: Claire McCaskill, Plenty Ladylike, plus A 2015 Interview with Senator Claire McCaskill]
Agony Column Podcast News Report : Emily Schultz Unleashes 'The Blondes' : A Cure by Color [Incudes Time to Read EP 210: Emily Schultz, The Blondes, plus A 2015 Interview with Emily Schultz]
07-05-15: Commentary : Dr. Michael Gazzaniga Tells Tales from Both Sides of the Brain : A Life in Neuroscience Reveals the Life of Science
Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Michael Gazzaniga : "We made the first observation and BAM there was the disconnection effect..."
04-21-15: Commentary : Kazuo Ishiguro Unearths 'The Buried Giant' : The Mist of Myth and Memory
Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro : ".... by the time I was writing this novel, the lines between what was fantasy and what was real had blurred for me..."
Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Marc Goodman : "...every physical object around us is being transformed, one way or another, into an information technology..."
Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 199: Marc Goodman : Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It
