Today it gives the Speculative Fiction Showcase great pleasure to interview P.J. Flie, whose debut novel Legacy of Seven: A Guardian Rises we feature on October 12.
What first triggered your interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy?
First, thank you for the opportunity for the interview!
I grew up in a family that was enthralled with science fiction and fantasy, so I was influenced by this at a young age. In fact, the very first movie I ever saw in the theatre was science fiction. My interest grew from there and expanded into weekend trips to an independent book store that specialized in science fiction and fantasy, and then coming home with a pile of books, other worlds that I could delve into.
Your new book, A Guardian Rises, is the first in a series called A Legacy of Seven. Tell us a little about the series and how you see it developing.
Interesting that you ask that! I actually have the next two books already written. While many fantasy series start with a group of characters that venture out, branching off into different areas of the story, my characters have started apart, and then converge in the second book. Their meetings are not always happy ones, like the death of a major character which significantly complicates things for the remaining leads. The political tensions within this corner of the world explode in book three, leading to a new power balance.
How do you go about building an imaginary world?
It starts with a general theme; from there, I can build the backdrop, but it’s really the characters that give that world depth and a sense of reality. It’s through their journey in that world that specific details of that world emerge.
The world of A Guardian Rises is described as a medieval dystopian world set 2000 years in the future, where wizards, mortals and machines struggle for power. What inspired you to combine elements of medieval fantasy and far future technology?
It started with wanting to explore concepts of belief, where that begins and how far it can go. In our modern world, belief still plays a vital role, influencing the actions of people for better or worse. That’s never seemed more starkly true than in the last several years of our modern age. That brought me to Arthur C. Clarke’s third rule. From there, an exploration of how superstition and belief live alongside logic, but more often in conflict with it, and how that plays out through both external and internal struggle.
Your protagonist, Ondreeal, is a farm girl who finds herself the possessor of magical powers. How does she cope and what becomes of her?
How would any of us deal with the power to change the world with a single thought? She gains incredible power without the skills to properly use it. At first, she doesn’t cope well at all. It threatens to overwhelm her. It’s by seeking the support of others, taking the help that’s offered, that she begins to find her way as a new wizard.
When Ondreeal seeks isolation, she is pursued by two wizards who have very differing plans for her future. Tell us about Sir Francis and Zairoc.
Sir Francis, a wise, kind, old wizard, at least that’s what he is to everyone around him. He sees himself as the scientist, trapped in a role he can’t get out of. In Ondreeal, he sees the daughter he never had. She’s a connection to a woman he refers to as his constant companion throughout the generations. Ondreeal gives him hope for the future, not only for the world, but to bring an end to the loneliness that’s plagued him since the death of her mother.
Zairoc sees himself as the misunderstood hero. The one who will do what needs to be done, regardless of right or wrong, the outcome is all that matters. He intends to use Ondreeal as a means to an end. Though, deep down, I think he wants the same thing as Sir Francis; an ally that sees things with the same eyes, for someone to understand him the way no one has in a very long time.
Who are CD-45 and Trick Mark and how do they feature in the story?
Trick Mark, the captain of the guard for Sir Francis, in the city of Bastion, is the soldier. He has two ways of seeing; normally, and a second sight that allows for a type of vision in the dark.
CD-45 is a lonely construction droid from the orbital platforms, who observes the world from a perspective that’s closer to our own. They both see the world very differently from everyone else. It’s partially their ‘oddness’ in the world that creates a bond between them. They are messengers that journey together, to impart vital information to Sir Francis. Even though they can’t speak to each other, they develop an understanding and a friendship along the way. The reader knows that Sir Francis needs to hear what both of them have to say, each of their very different but dire messages.
Your day-job involves working in all aspects of theatre. Has that had any influence on the way you set out to write and is it a help or a hindrance?
Helping others grow, develop and move through their creative process, has informed my own; my understanding of ancient tales, the power of simple dramatic moments, the actions and passions of characters. Translating those elements so that young people can learn and understand them has definitely influenced my storytelling.
You have been writing since the age of ten. If you could advise your ten-year-old self, what would you tell him?
I would tell myself to persevere. I made that mistake early on when I received bad feedback, the unconstructive kind that doesn’t help you learn or grow. Art is very subjective. The most important thing as an artist is that you are happy with your work. If it is personally significant and meaningful, then you have to trust in that.
What writers influenced you as a child, and growing up?
Early on, Roald Dahl and James Howe. Harlan Ellison’s short stories, ones that my father would give me to read. He would then make connections to modern-day storytelling. Douglas Adams, I always thought that Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was simply brilliant. I loved reading Tolkien. There was nothing more wonderful than stepping into a bookstore as a child, something magical about it.
If you could choose any contemporary director to shoot the film of your book, who would you choose?
Well, that’s a difficult choice. David Yates did a great job with a character focus in the final Harry Potter films while still allowing the fantastical elements to shine. I loved Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, though he did choose to limit the fantastical elements.
Is this a golden age for fantasy novels and their film versions?
Yes. Anyone who is old enough to remember more classical fantasy movies knows that they were geared towards a younger generation who embraced new technology, even if the films don’t hold up in terms of special effects. Today’s movies are visually impressive, especially with that context. While the younger generation only knows the current iteration of filmmaking and expects brilliant special effects. As a result, you have fantasy movies that appeal to a much wider audience than they did in the latter half of the twentieth century.
Are you excited about the new movie version of Dune, the dramatization of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time, or any other forthcoming projects?
Yes to both! I grew up with Dune, the movie, and loved it, and it is part of my movie collection. I’m excited to see this new version and how it compares to the book. The same for The Wheel of Time—if it were still a thing, I would have already bought fresh, blank VHS tapes to record the series!
What do you read now and do you choose fantasy, science fiction or another genre?
Due to my day job, I read a whole host of academic papers. For theatre, I often read dramas or the occasional comedy. It’s great because it returns me to purely character-driven work. That helps to ground my writing. But when I have free time, yes, I do gravitate towards science fiction or fantasy.
What are you working on at the moment?
Legacy of Seven, book two, I still have more work there, but it’s almost done. Also, a stand-alone story about a mission to Europa that challenges the psyche to survive in isolation and to interpret life that lays just outside human comprehension.
About P.J. Flie:
P. J. Flie is an author and educator passionate about working with the next generation of artists. He holds a BFA in theatre, and works in all aspects of theatre production from acting coach to director, set builder, lighting designer, and stage manager. He started writing at the age of 10, focusing on honing this craft throughout school and at college. Hailing from Canada, where he currently resides, he continues to create stories.
Connect with P.J. Flie at PJFlie.com and Instagram.com/p.j.flie.
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