My World Fantasy Schedule in San Jose:
Panel (see below):10:00 a.m. Friday Oct 30.
Autographing: 8:30 p.m. Friday Oct 31.
Shop talk in the bar: most of the time
Autographing: 8:30 p.m. Friday Oct 31.
Shop talk in the bar: most of the time
Writing Human Characters, Whether or Not They’re Human (Gold Room)
Our panelists will discuss the challenges of writing relatable non-human characters in heroic and mythic fantasy that are both alien enough to be something more than funny-looking people but also human enough for readers to relate to.
David B Coe (moderator), Kate Elliott, Kay Kenyon, Shauna Roberts, Laurel Anne Hill
My last convention was Denvention, and I was on a panel with you. Do I scent a trend?
Yes. I’m thinking that perhaps, by some mysterious parallel evolution, we have established a bit of a subgenre. Or they selected names by alphabetical.
Relatable non-human characters
I think my favorite non-human race of characters are the arachnids from Vernor Vinge’s “A Deepness in the Sky.”
Anyone who hasn’t read this masterful space opera would do well to give it a read.
Wonderful irony that the most inhuman monsters in the novel are the human podmasters from Balacrea.
Re: Relatable non-human characters
Know what you mean. I think my favorite nonhuman race may be the Hani in CJ Cherryh’s Chanur series. Remember Pyanfar. I love that name, among other things.
I’m hoping Vinge’s next Qeng-Ho novel takes us to Balacrea. “Focus” is one of the most frightening concepts I’ve come across in new or Golden/Silver age SF. If you run into him, tell him I said so. 😉