I would like to share with all of you at Suvudu, my personal journey to becoming a big fan of Peter V. Brett. I went to his book launch last Thursday (I’ll tell you all about that tomorrow), and since his debut novel, The Warded Man, finally releases in the states TODAY I thought you’d like to see how it all goes down from the inside perspective of Random House. Yes, folks, those of us involved in making books are all still big fan-girls at heart.
April 2008 I was newly hired at Random House–I’d probably been there a
month or so–and I was jonesing for a good book to read. I mean, I was
at Del Rey! There had to be some awesome new books lying around and I
couldn’t imagine a better staff to recommend something. I had just
finished The Steel Remains, my first Comic Con was in a few days, and I
was still riding the high of finishing a really good book with no
sequel to turn to.
Peter’s editor handed me the then titled The
Painted Man in manuscript form. I printed out the first chapter or so
and set to reading on the looooooong subway commute home and couldn’t
stop reading. (Editorial assistants can’t afford to actually live IN
the city.) Most editors will tell you this is a sure sign of a good
book, “if you want to keep reading after your commute is over, then
it’s a keeper.” Only, I didn’t expect it to be so good! I kicked myself
all through supper over not taking home more of it to read. That empty
feeling of finishing an amazing novel was gone-but I just replaced it
with a burning desire to devour The Warded Man (devour the book, that
is – can I say that on air?). The next day I rushed into the office,
immediately printed out more, and sent off a fan-girl-esq email to his
editor thanking her profusely for the manuscript and telling her about
how it was now consuming my life.
When Comic Con hit I was only
halfway through the book. I was reading every spare second not spent
working the con (or schmoozing, and enjoying the con … I mean, it was
NY Comic Con after all!). I even read pages while walking from train to
train/bus/event center. Then Peter showed up at the Del Rey booth and
his editor introduced us. Unfortunately for me and my coolness factor,
his editor had sent my fan-girl email off to him and he already knew
how obsessed I was. Fortunately for me, Peter is incredibly cool and was
flattered: he only gave me a little crap for blushing a deep purple. We
then had a long and excited discussion about being kids in a candy
store at the con and how awesome it is to get to meet the authors who
are our heroes. (Terry Brooks was due to arrive in minutes.)
That’s
how I met Peter V. Brett and how I became one of his first big dorky
fans–and his friend. Editorial assistants might not always get to live
in Manhattan, but that’s not why any of us are in publishing. There are
some perks that make everything else worth it.
Sue-So glad to hear your side of this story. And to think I just missed meeting you last year at NYCC – but I was so glad you made it to the party! And today, Pete’s launch day, is an awesome day.
To know Suemoe is to love Suemoe.
Awe thanks, Peat. *blush* However, your wife told me I can dream, but the role of #1 fan is already taken. I refuse to change the post name, though.
Well, seeing as how Pete’s wife and Sue are occupying the numbers one and two fan spots, and assuming his agent and editor are also fans, would it be possible for me to jump on this fan-wagon as the number 5 fan?
I just finished this book and was floored by how much I enjoyed it. I have to admit, I’m much more of a SciFi guy than a Fantasy man, but Warded Man, and more specifically, the journeys of Arlen, Rojer, and Leesha, sucked me in big time. Night, I’m already chomping at the bit for the next book!
Of course, if the #5 spot isn’t open, I can pay my way on to the wagon! I may not have Milnese gold, but I bet I can fashion a few klats…
I’m just saying.
PS – I love the vernacular that was created in this book. Much like what happened to me after reading the Dark Tower cycle, I’m finding myself inserting these words and phrases into my own everyday thoughts.
Yay! I love when a book or show takes over my inner monologue. (currently I’m struggling with keeping Frak & gods from actually leaving my mouth) But yes, your skillful employment of Peter’s vernacular brought it ALL back.
Thanks for the kind words, Kyle. Most languages are defined by their cusses and exclamations, so that was something I gave a lot of thought to. Glad to hear it came off as authentic. I tend to use “Corespawn it!” a bit, myself. Like you, I tend to pick up phrases from my favorite books, too.
I kind of want to make some klats, too, maybe by painting wooden poker chips. One of many projects I have no time for, though I am going to customize some Arlen and Jardir action figures soon. Look for pix of those on my blog sometime in the future.
Did We Read the Same Book?
The first half of The Warded Man is pretty good. It held my interest. In the last half, however, three major flaws blew me out of the reader’s trance. In order of appearance and severity:
1. The author apparently knows little about how fiddle players do their art, since he has a secondary character playing the fiddle while missing the index and middle fingers of the right hand–the bow hand, according to the text. (pp 225-226, and later instances) I’m not a fiddler, but I am a musician by training. I know it’s almost impossible to control a bow with any dexterity without those fingers. But you don’t have to be a musician to get the problem here. It conflicts with the text of the book. On page 225 the author makes the character think about how he can’t juggle because he doesn’t have the control with the right hand needed to make the balls do what he wants. Sorry, chief, but bowing the fiddle, especially in the near virtuosic manner described on page 226, requires better fine motor skills from the muscles even than juggling, which won’t be possible with that half-handed grip. It might have been believable if he’d lost the ring and little fingers instead. Strike one.
2. The author has a horse do something that it could only survive if it was a living cast iron statue. Read page 350 closely, paying attention to what the horse does. It’s a really neat image, but the problem is it ain’t possible for flesh and blood. It would shatter the horse’s neck, I don’t care how big it is. Not even remotely believable. I looked for explanation or justification for this, and all I found was the protagonist says somewhere he bred the horse from the meanest stock he could find. No protective spells, no divine or supernatural steed (not that either of the foregoing would have fit in the story), no hint of anything other than just a big flesh and blood animal. Strike two.
3. I won’t snerk any plot points, but the author’s view of the psychology of a rape victim finished me off. (p 376—actually, beginning on p 347, but it gets outrageous on p 376) Strike three.
Suspension of disbelief is a funny thing, and it can be broken very easily. If one is going to have characters doing things that are against common sense, one had better have a very good explanation in the story as to why those things are both plausible and necessary.
For now I will only comment on your point 2, David. You’re right, only a cast-iron horse could survive those demon attacks. Kind of how only a superhuman could survive the demon attacks before they are tattooed all over with wards. But somehow Arlen survives. You’ll see more soon about why his horse is so special. However, if I told you more, I believe Peter would kill me. Literally.
I still hold to the fact that The Warded Man the best read in my recent memory.
For now I will only comment on your point 2, David. You’re right, only a cast-iron horse could survive those demon attacks. Kind of how only a superhuman could survive the demon attacks before they are tattooed all over with wards. But somehow Arlen survives. You’ll see more soon about why his horse is so special. However, if I told you more, I believe Peter would kill me. Literally.
I still hold to the fact that The Warded Man is the best read in recent memory.