“The Heir of Night” Guest Author Series: Marianne de Pierres
Recently, Marianne de Pierres invited me, together with fellow Orbit authors such as Kate Elliot and Gail Corriger, to guest post on her blog ahead of Worldcon in Melbourne. Today I am delighted to reciprocate the hospitality and host Marianne de Pierres as part of the FSF Guest Author Series, posting on the series’ theme of “Why Fantasy-Science Fiction Rocks My World.” Welcome, Marianne.
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F-SF Guest Author Post: Marianne de Pierres
I recently had one of my best friends staying with me. I gave her my favourite book, Vermillion Sands by JG Ballard, to read.
Trouble is, she couldn’t. ‘I’m just one of those people who don’t get it,’ she said. ‘I can’t suspend my disbelief for fantasy and science fiction. It has to be real for me.’
It was then I realized that I not only ‘get it’ but I actually can’t live without it. I can’t live without elusive possibilities and brave new worlds. Those things are the colour in my life and the cushion against the mundane. As I recall, that need began with a book about fairies at the bottom of the garden when I was seven years old, and moved on to encompass worlds inhabited by sentient spiders, drug-addicted angels flying between alternate realities and multitudes of other fantastical stories and landscapes. Nowadays, I couldn’t imagine my life without the echo of ‘other’. It’s as though I live in tandem universes and have the luxury of dipping into either when the need/want arises. Madness? Perhaps. But an altogether pleasant one.
Seal says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fc67yQsPqQ
I wonder what it must be like NOT to have such mystery in your life. As a nearly-fifty-year-old I still have an incredible desire to speculate about the future. What kinds of different will it be? What kinds of the-same? And honestly, what profession other than writing science fiction allows you to make up new names, new species, new worlds, new universes? It’s like getting to be all powerful without the responsibility.
Although, there is still a responsibility, isn’t there? Responsibility to project hope. At least that’s what I believe. Fiction has long played the role of both provocateur and guide in our society and I feel privileged to have a part in that. In fact, I take my opportunities seriously. Even in the darkest moments of the lives of my characters, I imbue them with the strength to endure and the ability to think their way forward. What would be the point of me even writing their stories without hope? What would be the point in reading them? The fact that those characters might be in alien territories, of indeed be alien themselves, just adds a stimulating dimension to the exploration. Imagine fiction without time travel stories? Or first contact? Hardly worth reading, don’t you think?
About Marianne de Pierres:
Marianne de Pierres is the author of the multi award-nominated Parrish Plessis and Sentients of Orion science fiction series. The Parrish Plessis series has been translated into eight languages and adapted into a Role Playing Game. She is also the Davitt award-winning author of the humorous Tara Sharp crime series, written under the pseudonym Marianne Delacourt. In 2011 she’ll release the first of her new young adult dark fantasy duology entitled Burn Bright. Visit her websites at www.mariannedepierres.com, www.tarasharp.com and www.burnbright.com.au
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Amen Marianne – that idea of hope, ensuring your characters can make it through the crisis, is so important. The latest Sookie Stackhouse book really pushed this boundary and almost lost it for me – without hope, what’s the point?
I have been meaning to read the latest Sookie Stackhouse, Nicole .. and now you really have me intrigued!
Fiction without those things would be the worst sort of dystopian world. Who wants to live in a place that doesn’t allow dreams, passion and whimsy? Great post, Marianne!
Hi Nicole, yes, there’ve been both books and movies that have lost it for me because of that very issue. One such example was McCarthy’s The Road. I couldn’t finish it because of the unremitting bleakness. Perhaps the ending offered hope but I couldn’t get there to find out.
Hi TJ,
I’ve recently been asked to contribute to an anthology promoting suicide awareness. The bottom line for the stories was to project a sense of hope. I was very pleased to accept the offer to contribute.
M
The idea that some kinds of reality can be suspended for reading and other ones not entirely fascinates me. I suspect that one day you’ll write a book your friend can read and enjoy, Marianne, and that she’ll simply not realise that it’s technically SFF.
Hi Gillian, I gave her a copy of Glitter Rose. Will be interesting to see if she can read it. 🙂
I am always intrigued by how many “mainstream readers” read Margaret Atwood and Cormac McCarthy et al—Audrey Niffenegger’sThe Time Traveller’s Wife is another one—without realizing that they are reading “speculative fiction. ” Although, of course, Atwood won’t actually admit that many of her books are speculative fiction.
Yeah, well that’s a whole ‘nother conversation. Those That Shun Us!
And I’m talking about the authors not the readers!
Marianne, wonderful post.
My peak moment was when you said, ‘Fiction has long played the role of both provocateur and guide in our society and I feel privileged to have a part in that.’
It is a privilege!
And I’m there with the notion that hope is an essential ingredient to narrative. It’s what makes the journey worth while and keeps the pages turning, for me. I recently read The Forest of Hands and Teeth and although the voice was alluring the relentless despair left me feeling unfulfilled.
Viva la hope and inspiration! 🙂