Interview with David B. Coe

What authors have had the biggest influence on you?

DC: Well, Tolkien, of course. I first encountered The Hobbit as a kid at summer camp when I played Bilbo Baggins in a dramatization of the book. I read the book a couple of years later and loved it, jumping immediately to The Lord of the Rings. And upon reading LOTR, I decided that I never wanted to read anything other than fantasy. (Never fear: I've since read other things.) the idea of building a world from the ground up, of creating a place where magic was as much a part of the setting as the trees and grass, fascinated me. A couple of years later, I read Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series, both of them, in quick succession. And reading Donaldson convinced me that I not only wanted to read this stuff, I wanted to write it, to create something as compelling and strange (in a good way) and dark and intriguing as what he created with his books. There are lots of authors who I read now and admire, but the one other author who has probably influenced me the most is Guy Gavriel Kay. His worlds are so real, so beautifully conceived and lovingly detailed; his characters are so fully realized; and his prose is so rich and powerful. He is truly a master storyteller, and that's what I strive to be, what I hope someday to become.

What do you feel is your strength as a writer/storyteller?

DC: I think, at the risk of sounding immodest, that I have a number of strengths as an author. I believe my characters are complex and interesting. I don't write cardboard cutouts, at least I try not to. Even a minor character has to have a history, desires, needs, ambitions, reasons for doing what he or she does. I try to convey that. As I've said before, I work in shades of grey and I think that makes my characters interesting and believable. I also think I do a decent job of creating interesting worlds that draw in my readers. I spend a good deal of time developing histories, forming cultural, religious, and social traditions, all of which serve to make my worlds seem real. And I think I write good, clean prose that makes my narratives flow well. Clearly, I still have much to learn about my craft -- I can improve in all these areas and I'm working everyday to make myself a better writer. But I'm proud of the books I've written thus far, even knowing that the next one will be better than the last.

What author makes you shake your head in admiration?

DC: Again, I come back to Guy Kay. Tigana, his fourth book, is probably my favorite fantasy novel. It is achingly poignant, incredibly entertaining, and exquisitely written. It also has a very strange ending -- some would say that Kay never really finishes the book. He leaves a huge question hanging at the end. Yet it works, because the rest of the book is so flawlessly put together. The ending is simply a riddle to be pondered. I first read the book years ago, and I still find myself thinking about it.

You're headed for "Survivor Island" for a year. You get one book, one movie and one CD. What do you choose?

DC: Ouch! No netflix? No web merchants to buy more? You're harsh! Okay: The CD would be "Skip, Hop and Wobble," an acoustic instrumental album by Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas, and Russ Barenberg. It's kind of bluegrass, jazz and it's phenomenal. The movie would be -- well wait, if I choose Lord of the Rings do I get all three? Never mind. I'd probably take "High Fidelity", with John Cusack and Jack Black, which is hilarious and incredibly intelligent. And the book would be Tigana, for reasons already given. But there's no way I'm ever letting you pack for me. I need five of each, at least.

What lesser known fantasy authors would you like to recommend to our readers?

DC: Well, I assume that you mean "Lesser known than they ought to be" as opposed to "lesser known than me" since I'm still not all that well known. I'd recommend a couple of friends of mine, not merely because they're my friends, but because they're really good at what they do. Terry McGarry, who writes epic fantasy, has two books out, Illumination and The Binder's Road, and a third on the way, called Triad. Terry is a masterful writer -- her prose is breathtaking, her plots complex and compelling, her characters memorable. I'd also recommend Andy Duncan, who is not really "lesser known" anymore, and is not strictly a fantasy writer. He's written a collection of short fiction called Beluthahatchie and Other Stories, that has been recognized with multiple awards and award nominations. His is a unique voice in the genre right now, and he is going to be a big star for a long, long time. Other authors whose work is not only excellent, but also different, innovative, and interesting would include Leah Cutter (Paper Mage and The Caves of Buda) S.L. Farrell (The Cloud Mages series) and Richard Parks (The Ogre's Wife). I recommend all of them.