Today on Skiffy and Fanty, we have a guest post from Julie Czerneda about the forthcoming Tales From Plexis, an anthology set in her Clan Chronicles ’verse, including a cover reveal, art and photography done by her husband, Roger Czerneda.
Welcome to my Worlds. And to the cover reveal for a special project, years in the making. The Clan Chronicles: Tales from Plexis. Yes, it’s my newest anthology, but this one?
This one is yours too.
When I knew I’d complete the Clan Chronicles series in Book 9, To Guard Against the Dark, I came to a decision before I wrote a single word. I’d finish the story of Sira di Sarc and Captain Jason Morgan, of the Clan themselves, and Assemblers, and Huido and…a cast I loved deeply, as you did, dear readers.
The story I had to tell, that is. I asked Sheila Gilbert of DAW Books, responsible for all of these books and my career, if I could do an anthology of stories written by you, in my universe. I wanted to welcome you to play in the worlds of the Trade Pact, where it started, and where so many story opportunities remained. Create backstory. Add more about characters and events. Bring in your new characters and new events. Sheila waved me onward with delight. Pro rates, trade paperback/ebook publication. We were off!
To keep a focus within the anthology, all I asked of the authors was that their stories take place before or during Sira and Morgan’s first encounter, and be set, or touch Plexis Supermarket. If you haven’t read A Thousand Words for Stranger, Plexis is a former ore refining station, refitted into a wildly successful travelling shopping mall. While the notion originated from my need to get characters together in space and time in a reasonable manner, it turned into one of my favourite settings within the series.
It was an open call, meaning anyone could send me a story, and they poured in, wonderful hard-to-choose-between stories. I’m extremely proud of the result, certain you’ll love them, and I promise to blog about that process this fall.
But a book needs a cover. I’d thought to commission it, but as it happened I was able to put out an open call to artists too. Draw me Plexis! Pro or amateur, no problem. We’d work together. I’d provide all the information I had; DAW, of course, would have the final say.
Alas, unlike the stories, art did not pour in, nor did sketches or proposed concepts or anything much at all. I’m deeply grateful to the pair of professional artists who did send me their work, one with a completed interior view I quite enjoyed, but alas neither style suited this book or was right as part of the existing Clan Chronicles.
We were back to commissioning the cover art, now with six months less time.
Which is when I heard “I could do this for you.”
Literally heard, because the words came from Roger Czerneda, my other half and graphic artist/photographer.
Fair enough. I gave Roger the art package I’d prepared for anyone interested. Sheila gave him a deadline to present his concept sketch to her. In person, as it happened, because Sheila was coming to Ottawa as GOH for Can*Con. (Yes, I felt some sympathy.)
In fact, I’ll turn to Roger and ask him for you. (Another reason I #lovemylife)
Julie: You’ve done cover art before. What interested you about this one?
Roger: I saw no one else had stepped up to the plate and the clock was ticking. This was important to you. To all the authors. I’d read the books—I knew I could do the art. It was a matter of producing a Plexis that worked in the time left.
Julie: What was it like, showing your idea to Sheila? (I was in the kitchen trying very hard not to eavesdrop. Or giggle. Supportive, that’s me.)
Roger: I did some rough sketches with pen and paper while watching hockey. When Sheila asked to see those, I wasn’t nervous, but I wasn’t sure I was ready! Thank goodness she liked one of my concepts. It showed a closer, partial view of the station, to give the impact of its size. The next step was to create the real thing, pulling all the pieces I envisioned together, and that was great fun. Especially the part where I sent in the final and Sheila approved! (Julie: I loved it.)
Julie: There’s so much amazingly cool stuff within this art. How did you incorporate your photography into a futuristic space station?
Roger: Some photos I’d already taken, but I went out and took more with the intention of finding shapes and textures that fit my plan for the station. Most I manipulated in Photoshop first. For example, the books describe how starships dock within the opening the station once used to “eat” asteroids. To create my version of that part of Plexis, I went for a walk in downtown Ottawa and shot this building. Then I cropped a slice from the original, as you see here. Finally, I altered the perspectives of multiple slices to produce what appears as a ring of starship parking spots. I enjoyed the process so much, I’ll admit I was almost sorry to be done.
As you can see here, Tales from Plexis has a wonderful, evocative cover, full of the life and quirks that is Plexis to me. My thanks to all who contributed or thought about doing so, because that’s the greatest compliment to my worlds I could imagine. You even inspired me to write an unexpected novella frame story! (More on that another time.)
My thanks to Paul Weimer for cheering me along through to the finale of the Clan Chronicles, and for welcoming this new entry into it. Most of all, my thanks to Roger, my partner in all things, who did step up and made this an even more special project than I could have imagined.
About Julie E. Czernerda:
For over twenty years, Canadian author/ former biologist Julie E. Czerneda has shared her curiosity about living things through her science fiction, published by DAW Books, NY. Julie’s written fantasy too, the first installments of her Night’s Edge series (DAW) A Turn of Light and A Play of Shadow, winning consecutive Aurora Awards (Canada’s Hugo) for Best English Novel. Julie’s edited/co-edited numerous award-winning anthologies of SF/F, most recently SFWA’s 2017 Nebula Award Showcase. Out this fall is an all-original anthology written by fans of her Clan Chronicles series: Tales from Plexis. Her finale to that series, To Guard Against the Dark, was released in 2017. This fall will also see the return of her most beloved character, Esen the web shifter, in Search Image. Visit www.czerneda.com for more.
Artist Bio:
Roger Czerneda’s love of photography began in the 1970s when he worked at his uncle’s camera store. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo, Roger worked as an environmental chemist and computer programmer, all the while continuing to develop his photographic and graphic design skills. By 1986, Roger grabbed his camera and computer and began life as a professional, first in film and now totally digital. He’s made the leap from commercial and industrial photography to also express himself as a visual artist. Roger is drawn to subjects in the real world that inspire the imagination or that tell a story. www.photo.czerneda.com
Giveaway:
Grand prize: full nine-book set of the Clan Chronicles series, with Reunification in Hardcover
Runner ups: 2 sets of the Trade Pact Trilogy.
To enter, comment on this post with an anthology that you’ve enjoyed reading. Deadline is end of day on May 31st.
53 Responses
Have I told you recently what awesome people you are?
Love the cover and can hardly wait for the book!
As for an anthology? The A.I. Chronicles, edited by Ellen Campbell.
Thanks!
Wow. Just, wow. Already knew Roger is awesome. Having him as the cover artist is just incredibly special.
It’s definitely been a project full of special people. Including you. Thanks! (I think to enter the draw Paul would like you to name an anthology. Perhaps one you’ve been in?
I’ve been told to enter the draw. Never argue with an author. It can get messy for your character.
One of my favorite anthologies, for its sheer wackiness, is MISSPELLED, edited by Julie. Great collection of missteps and screwups. Oh, and I have a story in it 😉
Perfect!!! I love the stories in that one. And yours is great!
I’ve recently read two anthologies by Faith Hunter and Devon Monk.
The Faith Hunter anthology contains stories in the Jane Yellowrock universe which I am a huge fan. It’s called Blood in Her Veins. If you like the books, I highly recommend these stories. https://tinyurl.com/y8vw4ath
The other anthology I have read by Devon Monk is amazing. It contains mostly stories from early in her career and writing assignments from her writing group. One story in particular stands out to me. It is called “Mend” and was her response to hearing about the millions of people still enslaved to do labor. It’s poignant and rips your heart out. I also enjoyed a story called “Probe.” This book is called A Cup of Normal and has an awesome cover. https://tinyurl.com/y8rpabpp
Both books are available on Kindle and are great if you just want to read a little something before bed or if you are getting on a plane.
Good luck, Kimm! And nice suggestions.
I’m so excited about the cover! What a gorgeous and quirky space “station.” I’ve always had trouble envisioning the exterior: was it a ship? a station? a giant box? Now I know. Plus, I can’t wait to read everyone’s stories. 🙂
Roger’s very proud that his is now the vision for Plexis. And yours is a great story too! (psst, to win, you need to include an anthology)
I am really looking forward to reading THIS anthology! I generally stay away from them. However I have read anthologies set in Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover.
I’m reasonably certain this isn’t like any other anthology. Enjoy!
Wonderful cover. Looking forward to reading all those stories.
Another enjoyable anthology? The massive Legends of New Pulp Fiction from Airship 27 Productions.
Thanks Wayne!
I already have all the books – some of them signed! – so take me out of the giveaway, but I just have to say I love the cover, and am SOO looking forward to reading the stories of fellow Plexis fans!
They are epic stories, trust me. Whoo!
Roger and Julie are an awesomely wonderful couple so I’m not surprised at all that this collaboration works so well! Great Plexis, Roger! And I cannot wait for the book!
Roger and Julie are an awesomely wonderful couple so I’m not surprised at all that this collaboration works so well! Great Plexis, Roger! And I cannot wait for the book! Oh – a recent anthology I’ve enjoyed? _All Hail Our Robot Conquerors!_
Thanks, Cyn! And who doesn’t like Robots–and superheroes?
Bravo Roger & Julie!
I really enjoy CJ Cherryh’s Foreigner series
Thanks!! (Paul, does Michelle need to supply an anthology too?)
As per the rules of the contest, in order to enter, yes.
Michelle! You need to comment with an anthology to enter!
I’m currently reading and enjoying ‘The Djinn Falls in Love and other stories’. Another recent fave has been ‘The sea is Ours’ by Joyce Ching & Jaymee Goh, a collection of ownvoices stories set in southeast Asia.
Thanks, Andrew. Good luck!
“A Comment” 😀
Looking forward to reading the anthology!
An anthology I enjoyed reading is “Resilience: Surviving in the Face of Everything” edited by Amy Heart, Larissa Glasser, and Sugi Pyrrophyta and published by Heartspeark Press. An amazing collection of stories.
Thanks!!
Thank you for the giveaway! I’ve always liked The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (welded together into a movie for TV, but originally an anthology of stories with unrelated versions of Mars).
Nice one! I love that anthology. And really thought they did a good job on the movie/miniseries.
“Giant Bones”, an anthology in the world of Peter S. Beagle’s “The Innkeeper’s Song”, of course!
YES! Great choice. Good luck!
Thank you for sharing with us! I enjoyed Octavia Butler’s classic anthology “Blood Child and Other Stories”.
You’re most welcome. I’m now awaiting your “partner in reading”…
Since Julie opened the door to anthologies we’ve been involved with…
As the not-entirely-disinterested editor, I was pretty taken with the Reading 5X5 anthology that Metaphorosis published in March – five SFF stories each told five different ways.
Very cool, Morris! And hi!
I have always greatly enjoyed your Clan novels and look forward to picking up this latest look into the universe.
As to other anthologies I have enjoyed in the past, I always enjoyed the various anthologies for Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar novels and the various Marion Zimmer Bradley Darkover anthologies. I also truly enjoyed “Carniepunk”, which is an urban fantasy anthology about traveling carnivals.
Good luck, Elizabeth. And thanks!
Congratulations on the great collaboration with your ‘better’ half! Such a great opportunity!
Anthologies – difficult to chose – I need to mention one for my daughter as well if her name could also be entered.
Me – Of the Legends anthologies, edited by Robert Silverberg I have to chose Legends 3 – that’s the one that included LeGuin. Although Legends 2 with both Goodkind and McCaffrey is second in more ways than one. 🙂 (No disrespect to Martin of course – my daughter loved Hedge Night).
My daughter Robyn F. (who is 11) – I think she’ll be happy with Legends as well (she is progressing through the books on my shelf) – but she will also add one of yours – Summoned to Destiny. Why? She’s been begging me to tell Jana Paniccia how much she enjoyed Offering of Trust.
Thanks!!!!
Evelyn
Wow. Thanks Evelyn and Robyn.
Paul? Okay to have this be considered as two entries, or do you want Evelyn to comment for her daughter separately?
Ohhhh. ::blushes:: You’ve just made my day. Thanks Robyn! Glad you liked it.
Lovely cover.
I just finished and loved “Cosmic Powers” edited by John Joseph Adams
Thanks! Good luck!
I really enjoyed “Space, Inc.” Not only was the topic of jobs in space fun to read about but many of the authors attended Polaris and I was able to interact with them. Other notable anthologies would include “Explorer” and “Polaris.”
And I would not dispute your choices. ::huge grin:: Thanks and good luck, Kimber.
Inspired work on the cover Roger – well done, I can hardly wait to get my hands on the book.
The best Anthology I’ve ever read was the Sword & Sorceress collection by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It was a wonderful collection of unusual stories.
I’ve told him, Patrick, and he’s beaming. Thanks!
Eagerly awaiting the ‘Tales from Plexis’. Sorry I didn’t submit a proposal for the cover, as intended [my dad died last summer abroad] – but Roger did a super job!
Memorable anthology: “Women at War” by Lois McMaster Bujold [chosen by her, written by others]
Re-read it several times.
My condolences, Ioana. Another time!? Roger says thanks.
And yes! I’ve a story in that one, btw.
I love this series and anthologies in general!
Recently I’ve read, and can recommend, the Unidentified Funny Objects series edited by Alex Shvartsman and The Golem of Deneb Seven and Other Stories, somewhat coincidently not only edited but written by Alex Svartsman.
Thanks Russ and good luck to you–and all!
Must be Realms of Wonder – Fantastic Companions. 🙂
Thanks, Lisa! I’m rather fond myself.
I just discovered your books about The Clan. I have torn through like wildfire. I am so happy to have found them.
I am looking forward to being able to continue to read about your worlds.
My favorite anthology is Side Jobs set in the Dresden Files world.