Post-apocalypse novel – “The Book of Koli” (Orbit/Little, Brown Books, 2020) – M.R. Carey interview

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2XfgNnG

M.R. Carey has been writing comics and novels for over two decades. He’s written for DC Comics and has written nearly a dozen novels. His most well-known novel is “The Girl With All The Gifts.” He recent;y released a new post-apocalyptic book titled “The Book of Koli.” We spoke about this new book, some of his comic book writing history, and the process of writing in general.

0:35 – Mike talks about why he wrote the Book of Koli.

1:35 – Mike talks about his approach to short story writing.

2:30 – Mike goes into the details of the book.

4:26 – Mike talks about the technological level of the world in the book.

5:39 – Mike talks about the use of technology in the book and on social issues.

8:36 – Mike talks about some research he did for the book.

11:20 – Mike talks about other works he’s done that touch on post-apocalyptic issues.

12:59 – Mike talks about the works that inspire him.

15:01 – Mike compares writing prose and writing for comic books.

18:13 – Mike talks about how he went from being an unstructured to a structured writer.

20:28 – Mike talks about the aesthetic and “soundtrack” to the book.

21:54 – Mike talks about whether he is an architect or a gardener when he writes.

24:10 – Mike talks about how his writing voice has changed over time especially when co-writing with his wife and daughter.

26:27 – Mike talks about having been a teacher for 15 years.

29:19 – Mike talks about being part of an institution like a school.

32:06 – Mike talks about power structures within school.

33:00 – Mike talks about the editing process for his book and beta readers.

34:46 – Mike talks about being a big fan of the wishing tree and the faraway tree.

36:07 – Mike talks about the success of Girl With All The Gifts and how that turned him

into a brand.

39:12 – MR Carey discusses some future writing projects.

40:19 – Mike talks about social media. He enjoys boardgamearena.com and itsyourturn.com

44:19 – Mike can be found on twitter and skype @michaelcarey191 and on goodreads.

45:35 – Mike talks about the comic “The Doll House Family” being released in September by DC Comics.

 

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2XfgNnG

https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/m-r-carey/the-book-of-koli/9780316477475/

https://twitter.com/michaelcarey191

For more “Full Contact Nerd” please follow me at crisalvarez.com, on Facebook at CrisAlvarezFCN, on youtube at Cris Alvarez on twitter @CrisAlvarezFCN, on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi, and on Apple / Stitcher / Spotify for the podcast

Guests: M.R. Carey

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: writer, novel, novelist, fiction, Girl with all the Gifts, voice, post-apocalyptic, zombie, speculative fiction, dark fantasy, Enid Blyton, Hilary Mantel, Moorcock, le Guin, comic books, Alyssa Quitney, Shelly Roberg, DC comics, Lucifer, hellblazer, heavy metal, Talking Heads, teaching, wishing tree, transportation, green latern, Earthsea, seven wonders, GenCon, D&D, Dragoncon

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2XfgNnG

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Italian science fiction studies book – “Italian Science Fiction: The Other in Literature and Film” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) – Simone Brioni interview

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2yda3MY

Dr. Simone Brioni is a professor of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature. He’s written and taught on the subject of migration and Italian colonialism. He recently co-authored a book with Daniele Comberiati about Italian science fiction  and how those works reflect and comment on Italian culture.

0:43 – Simone talks about how he got into writing on science fiction and on Italian science fiction. He saw science fiction not as predictive but rather a reflection of reality.

2:49 – Simone talks about how the book is laid out chronologically.

4:42 – We discuss the theme of travel in Italian science fiction. Simone talks extensively on I Am Legend and the themes of fascism in the story.

12:38 – Simone talks about fascism’s fascination for the future and science fiction.

14:37 – Simone talks about the major periods of Italian science fiction.

18:07 – We talk about monsters in Italian science fiction.

21:07 – Simone talks about Itlaian science fiction that embraces liberal ideas.

23:51 – We discuss science fiction productions that were done in Italy.

28:11 – Simone talks about Italian tv and film sci-fi production.

32:18 – Simone talks about how he did his research on Italian sci-fi and the books he found.

35:44 – Simone talks about how he found Italian sci-fi shows and movies.

37:53 – Simone talks about how such major social themes are discussed in Italian science fiction. He also talks about how the Romani have a major part in Italian science fiction. He also touches on translation issues.

43:00 – Simone talks about time machines and robots in Italian sci-fi.

44:54 – Simone hopes to influence English speakers in understanding the importane of Italian science fiction in global science fiction.

47:00 – Simone talks about why Italian sci-fi didn’t become familiar to English speakers.

51:08 – Simone can be found on twitter @SimoneBrioni and has a webpage at Stonybrook University.

Links of interest

https://amzn.to/2yda3MY

https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030193256

https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/cscl/people/simone%20brioni.html

https://twitter.com/simonebrioni

For more “Full Contact Nerd” please follow me at crisalvarez.com, on Facebook at CrisAlvarezFCN, on youtube at Cris Alvarez on twitter @CrisAlvarezFCN, on Instagram @crisalvarezscifi, and on Apple / Stitcher / Spotify for the podcast

Guests: Simone Brioni

Host: Cris Alvarez

Tags: science fiction, Berlusconi, Italy, James ballard, mediascape, national identity, panopticon, philip k. dick, dystopic, i am legend, fascism, zombie, colonialism, horror, alternative history, neofascist, mussolini, world war two, WWII, afrofuturism, dystopic, Nirvana, Space 1999, Barbarella, Dune, Primo Levi, Italo Calvino, alternative realities, Planet of Vampires, Alien, They Will Leave, concentration camps, Roma, Rome, Luce D’Eramo

Check the book out here https://amzn.to/2yda3MY

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.