The Red Penny Papers

Our first mini-interview from the winter issue comes from the author of our cover story, Mari Ness.

1. Can you describe “In the Pits of Isfhan” in one sentence for those who haven’t read it yet?
Erk.

Lions! No tigers! And chains! Sorta!

I think we have just demonstrated why I’m better at writing stories than summarizing them.

More seriously, this is a story of monsters and chains, bondage and fighting, and choices.

2. Ha! Works for me. In a recent blog entry, you mentioned that “Isfhan” is in the same setting as Trickster — different planet, same multiverse, nyagon — and Love in the Absence of Mosquitoes… Can you tell us a little about how these three very different stories are connected?
Yes.

The first two stories are set on worlds where it is possible to travel from one world to another, although not everyone is aware of this. The third story features a character who is capable of travelling between these worlds, although no one else is aware of this.

And some places, such as Isfhan, can travel from world to another, or exist in more than one world at once — which is how a manticore, a lizardbear, regular bears and a griffin can all show up at the pits.  And how certain gods in “Trickster” could obtain certain of the items in that story.  I also suspect — although I can’t be sure — that the silver chains in “The Pits of Isfhan” just happen to have some connection to the God of Silver and the Chained One in Trickster — although I also suspect I’ll have to do some writing to find out just what that connection is.

3. Oooh, yes, love to see that! Speaking of, what’s coming up for your fiction in the new year, and where can we look for the best updates?
Publishing being the erratic business that it can be, this sort of question always makes me a bit nervous, but I’m pleased to be able to say that I should have at least three new stories out next year, in such places as Daily Science Fiction, Apex Magazine and Shimmer — although the only set date for these is for the Shimmer story, due out in February.  I’ve also heard rumors that I may have some flash pieces and poems popping up in Strange Horizons, Cabinet des Fees, Goblin Fruit and elsewhere.  And I have a few longer pieces simmering away in the works, that hopefully will be breaking free of their own chains and moving out into the world soon enough.

Probably the best place to keep track of these publications is my blog, mariness.livejournal.com, or through following me on Twitter at mari_ness.

Thanks for humoring us, Mari. For those of you who haven’t read “In the Pits of Isfhan” yet, it’s a beautiful story. Check it out right here, and let Mari know what you think.