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Crossed fingers and a request for help

  • Jan. 30th, 2012 at 3:25 PM
Northanger writing desk
OK, all fingers and toes are crossed as I type this, because I'm so scared of jinxing myself, but...

...I really think life might be just about back to normal! MrD is happy and healthy and went to school today. I had my first full writing session in a week and a half this morning, and (oh, please let this be true!) tentatively expect to have another one tomorrow morning, just like a normal week. In the last twenty-four hours, I've written about 2100 words of my WIP (hooray!), and we've all actually started to get some sleep.

I might not stop holding my breath for a while yet, but oh, I feel so much better today than I did last week!

And now that I'm finally starting to catch up on everything that came up during my limbo week...I need help!

I've been asked to write an article for a very cool academic journal about spec-fic writers who've been influenced by Jane Austen. Here are the first names that occurred to me (other than, yes, okay, myself, but I am PRETTY SURE that it would be considered weird and tacky to focus on myself in this article! ;p ), along with a few more already suggested on Twitter:

-Mary Robinette Kowal
-Caroline Stevermer
-Patricia Wrede
-Susanna Clarke
-Madeleine Robins
-Merrie Haskell
-Karen Joy Fowler
-Marissa Doyle
-Galen Beckett
-Sarah Prineas

I am certain that the real list should be a whole lot longer, though. Can you guys help? Who else should I be thinking of for this article?

(Also, another favor request for anyone in the UK: is there any chance I could borrow a copy of Madeleine Robins's latest alternate-Regency mystery novel? [I have her first one already.] I would promise to treat it gently and return it ASAP. The problem is, I am SO BROKE right now that I've actually been forced to institute a book-buying moratorium [wahhh!], and the magazine is cooler than it is wealthy, so there won't be any payments to cover book purchases. However, it is a very cool magazine, and the editor is also a friend, so all in all, I do want to do this if at all possible!)

Any help would be hugely appreciated!

And thank goodness for Netgalley, which is allowing me to read some wonderful new novels ahead of publication. This weekend I read Jesse Andrews's Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, an upper-YA novel which turned out - somewhat shockingly, based on the premise of the book! - to be one of the funniest books I've read in a long time, as well as having an awful lot of heart. You can read my full review here.

What about you guys? What have you been reading lately?

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( 47 comments — Leave a comment )
[info]j_cheney wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 03:36 pm (UTC)
Patrice Sarath, author of the fantasy novels Gordath Wood and Red Gold Bridge, just had a Austen book come out as well, The Unexpected Miss Bennett (which is about Mary Bennett).

http://www.patricesarath.com/

I can send her a quick message if you're looking to interview...
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 03:43 pm (UTC)
Ooh, that sounds fabulous! Does the novel have any spec-fic elements? That's really my only strict criteria - the author has to have written a fantasy/SF novel or short story that was influenced by Austen in some way. If it does, I'd be really grateful for that message! (And if not, I'll still look for it for my own personal reading entertainment!)

Edited at 2012-01-30 03:45 pm (UTC)
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[info]j_cheney wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 03:49 pm (UTC)
I referred her over here, so I suspect she can best answer that herself. TUMB is a straight-up Austenesque book, but she can best answer for the influences in her fantasy novels ;o)
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 03:54 pm (UTC)
Thank you for that! I really appreciate it.
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[info]anywherebeyond wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 03:46 pm (UTC)
Sarah Rees Brennan? She has Austen and class issues all over The Demon's Lexicon!
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 03:54 pm (UTC)
Ooh, good thought! Thank you!
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(Anonymous) wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:00 pm (UTC)
The Unexpected Miss Bennet
Hi Stephanie, Patrice Sarath here. The Unexpected Miss Bennet doesn't have speculative fiction elements -- it is a straight-up sequel to Pride & Prejudice. My first two novels are fantasy, however. I am one of those writers who has always loved Jane Austen, and even in my fantasy, her influence is there, though subtle. Lady Jessamy in Red Gold Bridge is a younger version of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, poor thing. If I can help in any way with your article, please let me know.
Patrice
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:02 pm (UTC)
Re: The Unexpected Miss Bennet
Patrice, that sounds fabulous! I'd love to ask you more questions about the Austen influence in Red Gold Bridge. If it's all right with you, I'll send you an email sometime in the next month or so (and will give you lots of time to reply!), asking more specific questions for the article. I really appreciate the offer of help!
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(Anonymous) wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 09:01 pm (UTC)
Re: The Unexpected Miss Bennet
of course! I'm looking forward to it.

Patrice Sarath
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[info]triciasullivan wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:22 pm (UTC)
Like I said on Twitter, I'm SO HAPPY you got to write and had a taste of everyday life!! Long may it continue!
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:49 pm (UTC)
Thank you! *HUGS* And I just sent you a (VERY rough) chapter!
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[info]triciasullivan wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 05:09 pm (UTC)
Nothing rough about that, baby. You are on fire.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 05:48 pm (UTC)
*love* :)
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[info]sartorias wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:27 pm (UTC)
Me! Bigtime.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:38 pm (UTC)
Yes!!! Can I email you in a month or so to ask you some specific questions for the article, please?
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[info]sartorias wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 05:48 pm (UTC)
Sure!
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[info]sartorias wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:27 pm (UTC)
There is also influence, and trying to write in the vein of, but influenced by Heyer instead--a huge, HUGE difference.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:49 pm (UTC)
Oh, yes! Definitely a big difference - same era, but very different tone/focus.
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[info]sartorias wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 05:47 pm (UTC)
Yep--most of the current pastiche writers are doing silver fork, not in Austen's vein at all. So . . . influenced by Austen? I dunno. Influenced by Heyer? Now, that I believe.
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[info]deva_fagan wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:45 pm (UTC)
Diana Peterfreund's forthcoming FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is described as a post-apocalyptic/futuristic story inspired by Persuasion. (I'm really looking forward to reading it! Sounds awesome!)

http://www.dianapeterfreund.com/for-darkness-shows-the-stars/
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:49 pm (UTC)
Ooh, that sounds fabulous! Thank you!
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[info]_stranger_here wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 04:52 pm (UTC)
Hey, Steph! I'm glad you're starting to get your feet under you again. The article sounds neat. I'd suggest looking at the work of Ellen Kushner (THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD in particular) and Theodora Goss. I bet they'd both give you a juicy quote or two for your article if you wanted to email them and ask about the influence, too.

ETA: Oh, plus there's that Jo Walton book, TOOTH AND CLAW, which I haven't read yet but it's always described as Jane Austen for dragons?

Edited at 2012-01-30 04:53 pm (UTC)
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 05:52 pm (UTC)
I *love* Ellen Kushner's novels and can't believe I hadn't thought of them! Thank you so much! I'll definitely contact her and Theodora.

I think TOOTH AND CLAW is more Trollope with dragons than Austen with dragons - Walton's a huge Trollope fan, and I think she wrote it as an homage to his work. But it is SUCH a wonderful book - you have to read it! I really loved it.
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[info]shweta_narayan wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 08:12 pm (UTC)
Walton's a huge Trollope fan, and I think she wrote it as an homage to his work.

Yeah, I can attest to this! She's said that, pretty much, in my hearing :)

But it is SUCH a wonderful book - you have to read it!

YES SECONDED OMG
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[info]ellen_kushner wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 04:34 am (UTC)
Oh, thank you! While looking for something else, I (re) found this nice, smart review which mentions Austen nicely & smartly:
http://greenmanreview.com/books/ellen-kushner-swordspoint/
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:08 pm (UTC)
Oh, perfect. Thank you! And can I please email you in about a month, when I have some specific questions prepared for the article?
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[info]ellen_kushner wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 08:41 pm (UTC)
Absolutely!
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[info]desperance wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 06:11 pm (UTC)
(If you asked Mad and Mary nicely, I bet they'd send you e-copies for purposes of article-writing. Or I could ask on your behalf if you're coming over all adoptive-English about it...)
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[info]aliettedb wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 09:19 pm (UTC)
Yup, what Chaz said.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:05 pm (UTC)
You are very smart. And I am going to overcome that toxic mix of adoptive Britishness and native Midwestern reserve! Mary has really kindly gotten me some copies of hers, and I'm going to be brave and ask Mad next!
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[info]kateelliott wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 06:37 pm (UTC)
Me, too. I often jokingly call Jaran "Jane Austen meets Genghis Khan." But Austen is all over my stuff.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:05 pm (UTC)
Yes! So much yes. Can I email you in about a month or so to ask some specific questions for the article?
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[info]kateelliott wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:07 pm (UTC)
But of course.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:08 pm (UTC)
Thank you!
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[info]shweta_narayan wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 08:09 pm (UTC)
is there any chance I could borrow a copy of Madeleine Robins's latest alternate-Regency mystery novel? [I have her first one already.]

Do you mean #2, Petty Treason, or the newest one, The Sleeping Partner? If you mean Petty Treason, there's an ebook version now and I'd be very happy to get you a copy :) If #3 I dunno if there's an ebook yet, but can look into it!
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:06 pm (UTC)
Oh THANK YOU! *hugs* I'm going to follow Chaz's advice, be brave, and ask her for a review copy, but if that doesn't work out I may come back to you. And I really, really appreciate the offer!
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[info]shweta_narayan wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:15 pm (UTC)
*hugs* and sounds good! And [info]madrobins is awesome, so never fear :)

...and now I stop putting off the scary final-packing-before-the-flight stuff.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:40 pm (UTC)
Oh GOOD LUCK with that!!!! I am sending you all the spoons I can imagine. I hope you have a safe quiet place in Edinburgh where you can get a lot of rest after the flight.
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[info]gwynnega wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 08:28 pm (UTC)
There's "Pride and Prometheus" by John Kessel, which is terrific. There is Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford...which is not terrific.
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[info]ellen_kushner wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 04:11 am (UTC)
Seconding the Kessel ref, though it's a novella, not a novel.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:06 pm (UTC)
Thank you for both of those!
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[info]essayel wrote:
Jan. 30th, 2012 08:28 pm (UTC)
I hesitate to suggest it but in the interests of completeness Austenesque is very popular in the gay romance genre. Not always successfully, of course but check out this list@

http://speakitsname.com/category/regency/

Some of the 4 and 5 star reads are quite charming, if a little exciteable in the breeches department. :D
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:07 pm (UTC)
Are any of them spec-fic? That's the one line I'm sticking to - works have to be both spec-fic AND Austen-influenced.
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[info]birdsedge wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 02:12 pm (UTC)
Lois Mcaster Bujold, Austin/Heyer influence especially in 'A Civil Campaign' (More Heyer than Austen but given that Heyer is riffing off Austen...)
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 07:07 pm (UTC)
Oh yes! Great rec. Thank you!
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[info]bracketyjack wrote:
Jan. 31st, 2012 06:23 pm (UTC)
Seconding birdsedge, but disagreeing that its more Heyer than Austen -- Bujold's *A Civil Campaign* is dedicated to "Jane, Charlotte, Georgette, and Dorothy" and explicitly reworks P&P, with other works. You'll find quite extensive academic discussion in the *Reader's Companion* to the novel, which you can download at http://www.dendarii.com/accc.html.

Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, *Duainfey* and *Longeye* -- more at the beginning of the first novel than later, and that probably is more Heyerish.

There are of course the current crop of JA + zombies &c.. The Republic of Pemberley maintains a list of published JA sequels; not sure if they have an SF'er somewhere on staff who could say more.

And while it's not spec. fic, but crime, the late Reginald Hill was a serious and witty interlocutor with JA -- *Pictures of Perfection* is the purest, *A Cure for All Diseases* partly rewrites *Sanditon*, and there's a short story sequel to *Emma* in one of his collections.
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[info]stephanieburgis wrote:
Feb. 1st, 2012 11:34 am (UTC)
Thank you! This is a great list.
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