Allan Batchelder Interview

Few writers reach the minds of fantasy enthusiasts as Allan Batchelder, mastermind of the “Immortal Treachery” series, “Steel, Blood and Fire”, “As flies to Wanton boys” and “Corpse Cold”.  The first three critically acclaimed novels in the five book series has fans eagerly waiting for the fourth and fifth installment.  Maybe Allan can fill us in on their creation, and maybe we can learn a little more about the creator of such a world, while we wait.

Could you tell us a little about the Immortal Treachery series, and about the Characters?

I grew up reading whatever my dad had just finished. Sometimes, that meant Tolkien; sometimes that meant Conan the Barbarian or John Carter of Mars. Later on, of course, I developed my own tastes and interests. My protagonist is inspired by Odysseus, Achilles, Conan, Beowulf and even a few Shakespearean characters. Thus, Tarmun Vykers is a larger-than-life character who’s as much bad guy as good. In some ways, he may even share characteristics with Marvel’s Deadpool. The world he lives in is veiled, which is to say that very little is what it seems and there’s more that’s unknown than known about it, for reasons that get revealed over the course of the series. Like Odysseus, Vykers has to face-off with gods on occasion, and this struggle is central to the series.

Having played Dungeons and Dragons since its inception, I had to include my own semi-bumbling group of ne’er-do-wells, each of whom naturally has a larger role to play in events than he suspects. This group, led by a former gigolo named Long Pete, is my homage to both Gary Gygax and Glen Cook. One of the group’s most popular characters is the imbecile, Spirk Nessno, whose greatest talent is being so impossibly boring that he’s virtually invisible to most people. Can’t say more, don’t wanna spoil it!

I’ve tried to include some strong female characters in the series, because, let’s face it, my three sisters, my wife and my late mother would kill me if I didn’t. And, really, women are so much more fascinating and complex than men, aren’t they? Some of the women in my story are the Virgin Queen (yes that was one nickname for Elizabeth I), Aoife, a healer of sorts, and Arune, a ghost.  Oh, and there’s also Mardine, the giantess!

The third book that has been released for the series was “Corpse Cold”, released this last summer.  Could you tell us a little about it?   

Corpse Cold features some major plot revelations, along with Vykers’ attempt to get out of his most vexing bind ever. Betrayals abound, and blood flows freely. I wanted the story to stand in its own right, but, like the third act of a Shakespeare play, it also sets up a gigantic resolution coming in books four and five. Even as we learn more about the series’ supporting characters, Vykers himself becomes more and more of a mystery, until even he can’t ignore it.

As a side note, Corpse Cold is the only chapter in the saga to take place during a single season. It may be true that “Winter is Coming,” but in Corpse Cold, Winter is All.

Could you tell us a little about the creative process? What inspired the Immortal Treachery series?  

I feel as though there’s been something of a sea-change in fantasy since Glen Cook’s Black Company series. His works, along with those of Steven Erikson, Tad Williams, Joe Abercrombie, and George R. R. Martin are less about elves and dwarves prancing about in fields of wildflowers than about recognizable people, driven to their limits in dire but not necessarily fantastic situations. I also adore the moral ambiguity of these authors’ characters, an ambiguity, I think, that is more reflective of the world we live in than some earlier authors’ works.

For those that have read “Immortal Treachery”:  What would be a typical “Saturday night” for “Vykers” in “our” world?

He’d probably go out looking for a fight, find it, and destroy half the city. Afterwards, he’d spend time contemplating how to overthrow the mayor and usurp his office. He might also spend a few hours in the “red light district.”

I understand that the fourth story in the series will be out summer 2016; do you wish to tell us a little of what it’s about?  Do you have any spoilers on the fourth “Immortal Treachery” novel for those that have already read “Corpse Cold”?  Something only “they” would understand?

In the second book, Vykers travels across the sea on a rescue mission of sorts and makes scores of new enemies. In book four, those enemies – and one in particular – come after him in unprecedented numbers that amount to the largest invasion in the history of Vykers’ world. Oddly, though, he’s got other things on his mind.

And Long Pete’s world has been turned upside-down in a way that literally redefines the series and may, ultimately, bring him into conflict with Vykers.

This was a planned series consisting of five novels.  Was there a specific reason why only five?  Say instead of six? 

Yep. I was thinking of the structure of a Shakespeare play when I started. It’s really as simple as that. And I look at Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen (ten books!) and think, How on earth did he do that?

Could you tell us a little about the road to publishing your book?

First, I self-published on Amazon. I was then offered a contract by a small, east coast start-up, but they were unable to meet their own goals and deadlines (to say nothing of my expectations), so they released me from the contract after a lot of arguing back-and-forth, and I’m back at Amazon. I would love to be picked up by Tor or Dell, but if it’s a choice between spending my few hours of free time writing or self-promoting, I usually choose writing.

After “Immortal Treachery” is complete, would you be willing to talk “Movie deal”?  If so what would be your top concern with Hollywood using your story? 

Ha! You’re too kind. I don’t see that happening (although I have written three screenplays). I guess my main concern would be that Vykers not be too pretty. He’s charismatic, but not pretty. He’s like Daniel Craig’s version of Bond compared to Pierce Brosnan’s, if that makes any sense.

Other than the Immortal Treachery series, could you tell us about any other projects you are working on that readers can look forward to?

I had an idea I was really excited about, and then I discovered Cherie Priest had already done it! My next series, I think, will be a trilogy, from the orcs’ perspective (only they’re not orcs, per se). As much as I enjoyed my years of playing World of Warcraft, this won’t be WoW. I’m going for full grimdark, here.

Your history shows that writing has always been a part of your career, from stand-up comedy to being a playwright, and even teaching.  At what point in your life did you know writing was something you wanted to do professionally?

I was pretty lucky in my parents. They took my siblings and me to every play, opera and ballet in town. I wasn’t as enthusiastic about the operas and ballets, but the exposure to all that art really made me want to participate and believe that I could. Also, my parents didn’t censor what I was allowed to watch in the theater, movies, TV, etc., or read in books.

About your work in theater, which do you enjoy the most, working on stage or behind the scenes?  Doing what?

I started out like so many kids in America, doing musical theater, which I really enjoyed. But, as you’ve probably figured out, Shakespeare was and is my real love. I’d rather perform in Shakespeare than just about any other kind of acting work. Nowadays, though, I’m mostly confined to commercials and what we call “Industrials.” That can be a lot of fun, too, depending on the subject and how much humor is involved. At the same time, I’m a big horror fan, and I would love to do a horror film before I meet my own untimely demise.

While creating, what are some of the things that help inspire you?

Margaritas. Not a good answer? Well, of course I read quite a bit. And life in general is inspiring. I’ve really enjoyed the way that Steven Erikson incorporates his archeology background into his work. One of my characters is an actor, and in book two, he and I have great fun making fun of the theater-side of my own life.

For aspiring writers seeking sage counsel on the industry, what pieces of advice do you generally have for them? 

I’d say a thick skin is essential. You will find a great deal of support out there, but also a great deal of criticism. Some of it may be unwarranted, but much of it may be useful and well-intended. Use whatever’s of value to you and discard the rest. Countless people dream of writing a book, play or movie. YOU are doing it. YOU are creating.

Professionally speaking, what do you see for yourself ten years down the road?

Well, if I’m not working for the Chippendales, I’ll consider myself an abject failure. But I suppose I could find happiness writing full-time and doing a little stage-work on the side.

*****

Interview by Daniel Abbott – SFFWorld.com © 2016

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