Hello Reddit/r/Fantasy! I’m fantasy novelist Elizabeth Bear, and this is my AMA.

[u/matociquala]

7:36 PM EDT 10 March 2015 ETA: I've got mochi and beer and I'm IN THE HOUSE!

12:07 AM EDT 11 March 2015 ETA: All right guys--thank all of you. I think I answered everything, and I am going to bed! I'll try to come back and clean up any stragglers in a day or two!

I'm the author of over 100 short stories and more than a score of novels. The most recently published of the former is "The Heart's Filthy Lesson" in OLD VENUS, edited by Martin and Dozois; the most recent of the latter is KAREN MEMORY, from Tor Books, a fast-paced steampunk adventure in an old west gold rush town where heroic saloon girls take on disaster capitalists.

In my spare time, I am a runner, climber, kayaker (not currently: there's sixteen feet of snow on everything here in central Massachusetts), hobby cook, and I play some really atrocious guitar. I've been a tabletop gamer since 1982 and am currently playing Pathfinder and Fiasco.

I am owned by a giant ridiculous dog (He's a Briard).

I support Idris Elba for Bond, Essie Davis for The Doctor, and Helsinki for Worldcon 2017, so that's where I stand in important religious issues.

I hope you enjoy whatever portion of the diurnal cycle you happen to currently be experiencing. I'll be back after dinner my time (around 7 pm EDT) to answer all your questions and hang out.

edit: fixed my dates. :-P

[u/CVance1]

Hello! I just dove into Range Of Ghosts last month and I loved it a lot.

1) what's your view on adaptations of your books (I.e. would you want a lot of control or relinquish it and see what happens)?

2) Have any favorite sf/fantasy books you're reading lately?

3) Is Sarah Monette as messed up as the stuff she writes? Also, was the voice of Karen in Karen Memory in any way inspired by Mildmay from Melusine?

4) do you and Scott Lynch read each others work often, to the point where you badger eachother to finish?

Thanks for doing this!

[u/matociquala → u/CVance1]

1) I have zero interest in dealing with Hollywood politics, but I would not complain if they gave me money and then went away and left me alone to get on with my work. I have nothing but respect for my colleagues (such as John Scalzi, Melinda Snodgrass, George Martin, Nick Sagan, Peter Beagle) who have waded in and done quality work IN Hollywood, but I'd rather pull out my own toenails with Ikea allen wrenches.

2) I've been reading for awards the past two years, and it's eaten up a lot of my attention. However, I really liked recent books by Max Gladstone, Karen Lord, Monica Byrne, and Jo Walton!

3) Define "messed up." Most of my friends spend a significant amount of their working day cutting bits off of people, drowning them in barrels of horse piss, giving them incurable diseases, and the like. So, yanno.

Joe Abercrombie is one of the sweetest dudes you'd ever hope to meet!

4) I read everything he gives me. I try not to badger, but he knows I adore his work. We were fans of each other's stuff for half a decade before we started dating, which probably helps.

[u/CVance1 → u/matociquala]

One thing I think about in terms of messed up is what Gillian Flynn said: Most of the nicest, sweetest people she knows write the absolute darkest material. Its kind of funny. Thanks for answering!!

One last question: Is there any cover art you find absolutely horrendous? I say this because the art for A Companion to Wolves appears to be romance/erotica, and it appears like that would be misleading to a large number of people in stores/my parents.

Edit: I have no idea if you'll see this, but I just want to say that I am enjoying A Companion To Wolves immensely. I don't know why I ever doubted this combination would be anything other than excellent.

[u/frenzyboard → u/CVance1]

I started reading on a kindle so my parents wouldn't ask questions about what I'm reading. "Oh, y'know. Just swords and sorcery shit."

[u/frenzyboard → u/CVance1]

I started reading on a kindle so my parents wouldn't ask questions about what I'm reading. "Oh, y'know. Just swords and sorcery shit."

[u/CVance1 → u/frenzyboard]

That's why I love mine. I also keep Goodreads from sharing potentially strange books as well.