(no subject)

[jack]

I realise my latest conception for a story could best be described as comic vampire detective space opera courtroom, and think I may be taking cross-genreality too far. But I started letting ideas flow until I eventually pounce, rather than littering my life with fifty beginnings, so I can't complain.

Comments

[pogodragon.livejournal.com]

But think of all the different covers that the book could have and all the different sections of the bookshop that it could be shelved in. You'd sell a minimum of four copies to each customer. Sounds perfect to me.

When's the publication date?

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Porn. "Comic vampire detective space opera porn" was what I thought when the comment occurred to me, but I forgot to say it in the post. That's probably hyperbole though; some sexiness often creeps in somewhere, but it wouldn't be the focus.

I don't think massive-cross-genre is actually wise in a marketing sense. Books have to be put somewhere, they stand the best chance of getting to bookshops (and hence publishers) if they fit in a popular pigeon-hole. Which can lead to some unfortunate tragedies of mis-labelling, but mostly gets things out somehow.

However, lots of the best fiction doesn't quite fit anywhere, because it was inspired and drew strengths from all over. (And occasionally *spawned* a genre :)). So it doesn't necessarily mean it's good, but if it means it might be.

After all, I tend to like science-fiction/fantasy. But I obviously like science-fiction/fantasy that also has strong characters, and a strong plot, so if those can stand on their own -- eg. the book is known in another genre -- that's obviously better.

Jasper Fforde (while not perfect) has some great ideas. The books are clearly fantasy but get put in mainstream because that's who they think will want to read them. Cryptonomicon and Baroque cycle have almost no science fiction in them, but ooze it from the pores.

Myself, I instinctively try to branch out too wildly, from fear of being hidebound :)

When's the publication date?

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I doubt it :)

Stories I've *written* can be seen here: http://semichrome.net/~jack/fic/. You will probably observe a lack of focus. I think you would like Maurice Saldini (though it is in severe need of editing :() -- that character I liked a lot, and is comic vampire detective, though could possibly be described more succinctly as urban fantasy a la Anita Blake and Harry Dresden.

But I haven't found anywhere else to put him. The character is compelling, bu the universe isn't as interesting as the virtual-world one and the how-the-goo-became ones. So I had the idea of skipping forward a few hundred years and reusing the character against a new background.

Confined to earth species, vampirism wasn't as much of a problem as tycoons, typhoons, large predators, etc, and never quite fully discovered. But in combination with some alien species became truly devastating; one semi-sentient infection, itself infected by a vampire from earth, became the worldgorger virus, devouring whole planets, and causing vast tracts of galacting civilisation to be quarantined. Earth itself is under an interdict, preventing any more vampires from leaving.

Maurice is collaberating with the blockade forces. Mundane vampires are easy to weed out. But there are variations on the theme which are harder to catch, and old old powerful vampires that seem to be becoming something else, and are dangerous powers in their own right.

But don't get too attached to this one :) I come up with insane ideas twice a day :) I do hope to distil elements of what story I *want* to write out of it. But it was a passing thought that spoke to me for a while.