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2009-05-15: MilSciFi.com interviews Bud Sparhawk, contributor to the
military science fiction anthology, So It Begins, book two in the Defending the
Future series.
MilSciFi: "Welcome
back. Please tell us a little something about your story, The Glass Box."
Sparhawk: "This
story expresses a moral view of the sacrifices that expediency and wisdom play
in a deadly war for survival. It's conclusion is completely logical for the
task, but horrendous for the individuals involved."
MilSciFi: "Is this
part of a large series or universe?"
Sparhawk: "The
Glass Box is a continuation of the universe described in my Asimov's story,
Bright Red Star, which has subsequently appeared in several anthologies,
overseas magazines, and on at least two audiofiles."
MilSciFi: "What
inspired you to write this story?"
Sparhawk: "Lots of
people wanted more about the war with the Shardies described in Red Star and,
when Mike approached me with this anthology, I decided that I should include it
here. The alternative was a continuation of the two linked stories in Breech
the Hull, but perhaps
that's for a later anthology in the series."
MilSciFi: "Does
science and technology play an important role in this story (or in your work in
general), or is it secondary to the story telling and characterization?"
Sparhawk: "Most of
my fiction is technology based, although the focus is on the technologies
implications for the characters rather than about the tech itself. There is a lot of tech in both Red Star and
Glass Box, but it is background color rather than theme."
MilSciFi: "Do you
have plans to expand upon, or write other works based on this story?"
Sparhawk: "I would
like to do a novella about the Shardie War, but haven't yet figured out the
best way of how to approach it. The
magazine markets being what they are, this type of story might not be worth the
effort of writing."
MilSciFi: "Most
authors we encounter write novellas/novels, do you find it a challenge to write
short stories?"
Sparhawk: "No,
short stories are easy, usually taking only a dozen or so drafts to get it
right."
MilSciFi: "Since
time is of the essence for getting a read up to speed in a short story, do you
have a strategy, or preferred method for doing this?"
Sparhawk: "A short
story is essentially structured like a joke – set up, expansion, epiphany, and
punch line, all done in a dozen or so scenes with as few characters as
possible. Plus, the characters have no
lives outside of the story – they don't go to the bathroom, for example, or
blow their noses or anything else that might distract the reader from the drive
of the plot."
MilSciFi: "Do you
have any other projects in the works?"
Sparhawk: "One
novel under revision, one being assembled out of piece parts, and one first
draft that is about 70% complete. I have three novels in circulation to agents,
etc, and one under consideration at a publisher. I also have two dozen or so short stories,
novelettes, and novellas in draft. Not
bad considering I only have a couple of hours to write each day."
MilSciFi: "Do you
have any upcoming author events?"
Sparhawk: "Most of
the local cons – Balticon, Confluence, Capclave. We have a signing next week at
Reiters Book Store in DC as well."
MilSciFi: "Thank
you for joining us."
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