Post by buffysmglover on Sept 22, 2007 13:23:49 GMT -5
Hey everyone! My site, Buffy & Angel: The Authors ( www.btvs-angel-authors.net.tc ) just got a new interview in with Christopher Golden, one of the best-known Buffy authors, whose last ever Buffy novel, DARK CONGRESS, came out in late August. Please check out the site, join the Yahoo! Group, and post away. Below is the interview.
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I'd like to thank Chris grandly for taking the time to answer this long list of questions.
B-A-A: I think the cover for Dark Congress looks very cool. Do you have any opinions about the cover, good or bad opinions?
CG: I like the cover quite a bit, particularly the stylized B logo. Sort of says it all. Also, the silhouettes add some mystery.
B-A-A: At what point did you learn that Dark Congress would be the second-to-last BtVS novel from Simon & Schuster: before you began writing, during writing the novel, or after you were finished?
CG: While I was writing it, I knew that it would likely be the last or the next to last book. Either way, I knew it would probably be my curtain call where Buffy fiction is concerned. I found a certain amount of closure in writing that book, in a lot of ways.
B-A-A: Were you actually in Rhode Island when you were writing this novel?
CG: Nope. But I live in Massachusetts and have been to Providence many times. I have friends who live there as well. It's in the neighborhood.
B-A-A: Assuming you've read Nancy Holder's Queen of the Slayers, and you may haven't, did you ever think about readers expecting Dark Congress to be a sequal to Queen?
CG: I'm sorry to say I haven't read QotS, though I've heard excellent things about it. It never occurred to me that anyone might consider it a sequel. Why would they? To my knowledge, the various authors who've written Buffy novels for Pocket don't write sequels to each other's books.
B-A-A: If you could say anything or ask anything to an employee of Simon & Schuster about the end of the Buffy books, what would it be?
CG: I've talked to the editors there. I think some wrong turns were made along the way--big decisions that might not have been the best course--but the people who've worked on this series have been passionate about it and always did their best to feed the passions of Buffy fans. I think ending it now is probably the right move. Maybe someone else will step in to carry the torch, but if not, I think by and large the people who've been involved with the Buffy publishing program over the years should be proud of what they've accomplished.
B-A-A: Most of the talk about Dark Congress on the internet before it's release was based around Tara, as was the interview you had with SlayerLit not that long ago. You told SlayerLit that "The Willow/Tara story arc in the novel is a mirror of the central story arc that makes the whole thing resonate a bit more." After reading the novel, I've come to recognize that there really WAS too much discussion over only a single part of an entire novel. Did it ever worry you that most fans were expecting one thing (the book to revolve around Tara) and would be receiving something else? I realize what fans guess about the plot in a book before the read it has nothing to do with the author, but I think this is an interesting question.
CG: Never even crossed my mind. In the interviews I did, I stressed that Tara's return was only one element of a much larger story. You can't say it much more plainly than that. At the same time, I hope the people who came into the novel because of that story got what they were hoping for, as much as it was within my power to deliver.
B-A-A: You've shared your thoughts with us before on the topic of stores placing the more Adult BtVS books, such as Immortal, with the Young Adult books. Dark Congress has mature scenes in it, especially in the beginning. How concerned are you about where Dark Congress is located in book stores around the US?
CG: With Immortal and the Spike & Dru novel, Pretty Maids All in a Row, I was horrified that those books were racked in the YA section in many stores. They were hardcover novels that, I'm told, the publisher made clear to the chains were NOT young adult. They were never intended for that audience. While I wrote or co-wrote a lot of other Buffy novels that were technically "adult," those were the only two that I felt were not appropriate for young readers. I'm curious what you found in Dark Congress might be considered "mature" by contemporary standards.
B-A-A: THE LAST TIME I READ IMMORTAL WAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO, AND I CAN HARDLY REMEMBER WHAT EXACT ADULT MATERIAL THERE WAS IN IT. IN DARK CONGRESS, THERE IS BREIF NUDITY AND THE MENTION OF ONE CHARACTER SLEEPING WITH ANOTHER...
B-A-A: Some characters you included in Dark Congress weren't in Season Seven of the show, such as Oz and Tara. Were there any other characters that weren't in the later
seasons that you wanted to write into Dark Congress?
CG: Not really. I'd originally wanted to include Spike, but post season seven he's an ANGEL character, and there were issues there. There are a lot of fun characters that simply didn't fit into the storyline. The one character that I'm absolutely kicking myself for not including, however, is Clem. James Leary, who played Clem, is a friend of mine, and after the book was already delivered and soon to be published, I realized how perfect Clem would have fit into the story.
B-A-A: You had a really great grip on Oz's character throughout the entire novel. Considering the changes from the year in the show that Oz: Into the Wild was set and what time in the show DC is set, what were the most dramatic changes in character that you made sure to bring out in him for DC, and what do you specifically like about writing Oz?
CG: Oz is the sage, the wise man. He's bemused by everything. He's got such a great perspective on things, and a clarity of vision that I love. Everything is copacetic as long as he can play his music, and if some unpleasant stuff gets in the way, and something needs doing, he'll just take care of it. And he'll watch out for the people that he loves, do whatever needs to be done. The way he's changed, in my version of him, is that he's become more comfortable with himself and with his life. More the sage than ever. Since Oz is technically immortal, if Joss ever does more Fray, I'd love to see the wise old werewolf show up to advise her, and have it turn out to be Oz.
B-A-A: You write that Giles has met Sir Thomas Fox before, so I'm supposing this means they met in one of your Buffy novels. I'm leaning towards The Gatekeeper Trilogy. So when do Giles and Sir Thomas Fox first meet?
CG: In an adventure as yet untold.
B-A-A: When I first began Dark Congress, I recognized the name Micaela Tomasi from The Gatekeeper Trilogy. But after doing some e-search, I discovered that you wrote her into a comic as well, Giles: Beyond the Pale, co-written with Tom Sniegoski. Because my memory of The Gatekeeper Trilogy fails me, were the past events written into the story about Giles with Micaela from the stand-alone comic or from the Trilogy, or both?
CG: Mostly from the Trilogy, I believe.
B-A-A: COMMENT: The way in which you brought Tara back I thought was very smart, although I wasn't too sure about her being a cat at first.
CG: Magical resurrection in the Buffyverse has been established as VERY difficult, next to impossible, if the person died a non-magical death. Tara was killed by a bullet. There had to be a major wrinkle in the magic involved in bringing her back, and when I was trying to work it out, Sniegoski suggested the cat/familiar thing. I loved it. Thanks, Tom!
B-A-A: What made you decide to have Faith and Robin break-up whatever relationship they had?
CG: I never bought the two of them together. Apparently I wasn't the only one, since the new issue of the Buffy comic treats their pairing pretty much the same way.
B-A-A: After only 20 pages into Dark Congress, you make a major attack on Kennedy. I'm sure most readers are aware of your's and Amber [Benson]'s friendship, and how much you like Tara as a character, but writing Kennedy doing what she did into the book was such major damage for her character. Wasn't there something more simple you could have done to break them up? And do you regret having Kennedy do what she does? A detailed answer would be appreciated, and just so you know, I am a major Tara fan, so I'm really just trying to look through other eyes in this question.
CG: Attack is a strong word. I don't think my portrayal of Kennedy is at all out of character. She's a tough chick, from the school of Faith, and she's in love with a witch who will ALWAYS love her murdered girlfriend more than the living, breathing one. Kennedy lives in the shadow of Tara's memory. As far as I'm concerned, cheating on Willow is just a matter of time for her. Of course, that's just my opinion.
B-A-A: Did you have as much fun writing the fight scene with Faith in the back of the black car as the fans will have reading it?!
CG: Hell yeah. I used to love choreographing fight scenes, but I've done so much of it over the years that it sort of bores me now. Often I find other ways to present the same information. But not that scene. I had a blast with it.
B-A-A:Giles says on page 125 that there is no open Hellmouth. Are we to assume that the Hellmouth in Clevelend was closed between "Chosen" and Dark Congress?
CG: In the non-canon continuity of this novel, yes.
B-A-A: COMMENT: Love the Oz reference to "Dead Man's Party"! aka Hootenany.
CG: People don't use that word enough. That and "shenanigans."
B-A-A: COMMENT: I'm going to go out on a limb and say you like eggplant. Buffy and Willow are both eating eggplant before page 50! Were you craving it?
CG: Freakin' HATE eggplant. But my wife likes it.
B-A-A: You named the witch with the purple hair Alice. Is there an intentional connection between her and BtVS -author Alice Henderson?
CG: Alice is fantastic, and yes. A quiet nod to a friend.
B-A-A: Buffy says Oz's Scooby Snacks are Pop-Tarts. What is your favorite kind of Pop-Tart? Mine is blueberry.
CG: Tough choice, but if I have to pick only one, I'd go with you. Plain old blueberry, none of that frosting crap on top. I used to love the apple cinnamon ones, but can't find them anymore. Strawberry works, too. But nothing with frosting.
B-A-A: COMMENT: "...Just let them get together in this city like comic book geeks swarming San Diego?" You have us lesser geeks laughing hysterically!
CG: Hey, I'm one of those geeks.
B-A-A: Did you have to fight the compulsion to focus even more heavily on the personal relationships, and had you written more about Tara, Oz, and the other members of love triangles that wound up on the cutting room floor?
CG: Nothing got cut. I could have written a novel three times as long, both with the central plot and the personal relationships, but I wanted a real momentum to the story. Hopefully I managed it.
B-A-A: COMMENT: The beginning of the meeting of the Dark Congress is written magnificently, and the entire story throughout the novel is great! If Joss was looking for an idea for a Buffy movie that didn't come out of his own head, I suspect he'd read Dark Congress and choose it for the movie.
CG: Never gonna happen, but thanks.
B-A-A: Dark Congress will be your last Buffy novel from Simon & Schuster. Keeping that in mind, how do you feel about the final product? Is there anything about the story you really wish you could change?
CG: Well, yeah. I wish the genie didn't have to go back into the bottle. But "nothing gold can stay."
B-A-A: In early mid-March, you told BtVS-Angel-Authors that you wished each issue of Season Eight would come out weekly, and that you couldn't wait for the first issue. What do you think of Season Eight so far?
CG: Rocks mightily. Still wishing it was weekly. But since my eleven year old son is cursing Joss's name for the lateness of Marvel's Runaways, I suppose I should feel lucky we've gotten half a dozen issues of Buffy already.
B-A-A: For those who haven't read anything you've written not relating to Buffy, would you recommend reading The Ghosts of Albion series or BALTIMORE, OR, THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER AND THE VAMPIRE first?
CG: I'd recommend they go to www.christophergolden.com and pick something that sounds interesting to them.
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BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM POSTS BY MEMBERS OF SLAYERLIT's YAHOO GROUP.
"No, Tara does not survive the end of the story, but she does return and there are scenes of sweetness between her and Willow and some very perceptive words about Tara's role in the Scooby gang from Giles. But in all other respects it gives Wara lovers what they want- Kennedy is dismissed, Tara is back, Willow is in love and there are suggestions of sex, and Tara's role is better understood. When I was done reading, I felt that Chris Golden had done their tale real justice. " - Dana
CG: Dana, that means the world to me. Thanks.
"I'll also give Chris a big cheer for the reappearance of The Gentlemen. It really did round out the cast of characters and was a fantastic surprise. As always, he also included bits of subtlety that true fans and friends of Chris and Buffydom will recognize, smile and chuckle. Well done, Chris...well done indeed!!!!!! !" - Sue
CG: Sue! Sneaking in that appearance by the Gentlemen was one of my favorite moments, and something I thought I wouldn't get away with. I'm glad I did.
"If I liked anything above all else, it reiterated that Buffy is strongest when she has her friends to rely upon. That, to me, was the real mission statement of the show...and, disappointingly, something which the series tended to forget in the latter seasons. So thank you, Chris, for reminding us all again.
" -Shiai
CG: Shiai, I agree completely, and thank you. It was my pleasure.
((CG: Thanks Tim!))
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I'd like to thank Chris grandly for taking the time to answer this long list of questions.
B-A-A: I think the cover for Dark Congress looks very cool. Do you have any opinions about the cover, good or bad opinions?
CG: I like the cover quite a bit, particularly the stylized B logo. Sort of says it all. Also, the silhouettes add some mystery.
B-A-A: At what point did you learn that Dark Congress would be the second-to-last BtVS novel from Simon & Schuster: before you began writing, during writing the novel, or after you were finished?
CG: While I was writing it, I knew that it would likely be the last or the next to last book. Either way, I knew it would probably be my curtain call where Buffy fiction is concerned. I found a certain amount of closure in writing that book, in a lot of ways.
B-A-A: Were you actually in Rhode Island when you were writing this novel?
CG: Nope. But I live in Massachusetts and have been to Providence many times. I have friends who live there as well. It's in the neighborhood.
B-A-A: Assuming you've read Nancy Holder's Queen of the Slayers, and you may haven't, did you ever think about readers expecting Dark Congress to be a sequal to Queen?
CG: I'm sorry to say I haven't read QotS, though I've heard excellent things about it. It never occurred to me that anyone might consider it a sequel. Why would they? To my knowledge, the various authors who've written Buffy novels for Pocket don't write sequels to each other's books.
B-A-A: If you could say anything or ask anything to an employee of Simon & Schuster about the end of the Buffy books, what would it be?
CG: I've talked to the editors there. I think some wrong turns were made along the way--big decisions that might not have been the best course--but the people who've worked on this series have been passionate about it and always did their best to feed the passions of Buffy fans. I think ending it now is probably the right move. Maybe someone else will step in to carry the torch, but if not, I think by and large the people who've been involved with the Buffy publishing program over the years should be proud of what they've accomplished.
B-A-A: Most of the talk about Dark Congress on the internet before it's release was based around Tara, as was the interview you had with SlayerLit not that long ago. You told SlayerLit that "The Willow/Tara story arc in the novel is a mirror of the central story arc that makes the whole thing resonate a bit more." After reading the novel, I've come to recognize that there really WAS too much discussion over only a single part of an entire novel. Did it ever worry you that most fans were expecting one thing (the book to revolve around Tara) and would be receiving something else? I realize what fans guess about the plot in a book before the read it has nothing to do with the author, but I think this is an interesting question.
CG: Never even crossed my mind. In the interviews I did, I stressed that Tara's return was only one element of a much larger story. You can't say it much more plainly than that. At the same time, I hope the people who came into the novel because of that story got what they were hoping for, as much as it was within my power to deliver.
B-A-A: You've shared your thoughts with us before on the topic of stores placing the more Adult BtVS books, such as Immortal, with the Young Adult books. Dark Congress has mature scenes in it, especially in the beginning. How concerned are you about where Dark Congress is located in book stores around the US?
CG: With Immortal and the Spike & Dru novel, Pretty Maids All in a Row, I was horrified that those books were racked in the YA section in many stores. They were hardcover novels that, I'm told, the publisher made clear to the chains were NOT young adult. They were never intended for that audience. While I wrote or co-wrote a lot of other Buffy novels that were technically "adult," those were the only two that I felt were not appropriate for young readers. I'm curious what you found in Dark Congress might be considered "mature" by contemporary standards.
B-A-A: THE LAST TIME I READ IMMORTAL WAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO, AND I CAN HARDLY REMEMBER WHAT EXACT ADULT MATERIAL THERE WAS IN IT. IN DARK CONGRESS, THERE IS BREIF NUDITY AND THE MENTION OF ONE CHARACTER SLEEPING WITH ANOTHER...
B-A-A: Some characters you included in Dark Congress weren't in Season Seven of the show, such as Oz and Tara. Were there any other characters that weren't in the later
seasons that you wanted to write into Dark Congress?
CG: Not really. I'd originally wanted to include Spike, but post season seven he's an ANGEL character, and there were issues there. There are a lot of fun characters that simply didn't fit into the storyline. The one character that I'm absolutely kicking myself for not including, however, is Clem. James Leary, who played Clem, is a friend of mine, and after the book was already delivered and soon to be published, I realized how perfect Clem would have fit into the story.
B-A-A: You had a really great grip on Oz's character throughout the entire novel. Considering the changes from the year in the show that Oz: Into the Wild was set and what time in the show DC is set, what were the most dramatic changes in character that you made sure to bring out in him for DC, and what do you specifically like about writing Oz?
CG: Oz is the sage, the wise man. He's bemused by everything. He's got such a great perspective on things, and a clarity of vision that I love. Everything is copacetic as long as he can play his music, and if some unpleasant stuff gets in the way, and something needs doing, he'll just take care of it. And he'll watch out for the people that he loves, do whatever needs to be done. The way he's changed, in my version of him, is that he's become more comfortable with himself and with his life. More the sage than ever. Since Oz is technically immortal, if Joss ever does more Fray, I'd love to see the wise old werewolf show up to advise her, and have it turn out to be Oz.
B-A-A: You write that Giles has met Sir Thomas Fox before, so I'm supposing this means they met in one of your Buffy novels. I'm leaning towards The Gatekeeper Trilogy. So when do Giles and Sir Thomas Fox first meet?
CG: In an adventure as yet untold.
B-A-A: When I first began Dark Congress, I recognized the name Micaela Tomasi from The Gatekeeper Trilogy. But after doing some e-search, I discovered that you wrote her into a comic as well, Giles: Beyond the Pale, co-written with Tom Sniegoski. Because my memory of The Gatekeeper Trilogy fails me, were the past events written into the story about Giles with Micaela from the stand-alone comic or from the Trilogy, or both?
CG: Mostly from the Trilogy, I believe.
B-A-A: COMMENT: The way in which you brought Tara back I thought was very smart, although I wasn't too sure about her being a cat at first.
CG: Magical resurrection in the Buffyverse has been established as VERY difficult, next to impossible, if the person died a non-magical death. Tara was killed by a bullet. There had to be a major wrinkle in the magic involved in bringing her back, and when I was trying to work it out, Sniegoski suggested the cat/familiar thing. I loved it. Thanks, Tom!
B-A-A: What made you decide to have Faith and Robin break-up whatever relationship they had?
CG: I never bought the two of them together. Apparently I wasn't the only one, since the new issue of the Buffy comic treats their pairing pretty much the same way.
B-A-A: After only 20 pages into Dark Congress, you make a major attack on Kennedy. I'm sure most readers are aware of your's and Amber [Benson]'s friendship, and how much you like Tara as a character, but writing Kennedy doing what she did into the book was such major damage for her character. Wasn't there something more simple you could have done to break them up? And do you regret having Kennedy do what she does? A detailed answer would be appreciated, and just so you know, I am a major Tara fan, so I'm really just trying to look through other eyes in this question.
CG: Attack is a strong word. I don't think my portrayal of Kennedy is at all out of character. She's a tough chick, from the school of Faith, and she's in love with a witch who will ALWAYS love her murdered girlfriend more than the living, breathing one. Kennedy lives in the shadow of Tara's memory. As far as I'm concerned, cheating on Willow is just a matter of time for her. Of course, that's just my opinion.
B-A-A: Did you have as much fun writing the fight scene with Faith in the back of the black car as the fans will have reading it?!
CG: Hell yeah. I used to love choreographing fight scenes, but I've done so much of it over the years that it sort of bores me now. Often I find other ways to present the same information. But not that scene. I had a blast with it.
B-A-A:Giles says on page 125 that there is no open Hellmouth. Are we to assume that the Hellmouth in Clevelend was closed between "Chosen" and Dark Congress?
CG: In the non-canon continuity of this novel, yes.
B-A-A: COMMENT: Love the Oz reference to "Dead Man's Party"! aka Hootenany.
CG: People don't use that word enough. That and "shenanigans."
B-A-A: COMMENT: I'm going to go out on a limb and say you like eggplant. Buffy and Willow are both eating eggplant before page 50! Were you craving it?
CG: Freakin' HATE eggplant. But my wife likes it.
B-A-A: You named the witch with the purple hair Alice. Is there an intentional connection between her and BtVS -author Alice Henderson?
CG: Alice is fantastic, and yes. A quiet nod to a friend.
B-A-A: Buffy says Oz's Scooby Snacks are Pop-Tarts. What is your favorite kind of Pop-Tart? Mine is blueberry.
CG: Tough choice, but if I have to pick only one, I'd go with you. Plain old blueberry, none of that frosting crap on top. I used to love the apple cinnamon ones, but can't find them anymore. Strawberry works, too. But nothing with frosting.
B-A-A: COMMENT: "...Just let them get together in this city like comic book geeks swarming San Diego?" You have us lesser geeks laughing hysterically!
CG: Hey, I'm one of those geeks.
B-A-A: Did you have to fight the compulsion to focus even more heavily on the personal relationships, and had you written more about Tara, Oz, and the other members of love triangles that wound up on the cutting room floor?
CG: Nothing got cut. I could have written a novel three times as long, both with the central plot and the personal relationships, but I wanted a real momentum to the story. Hopefully I managed it.
B-A-A: COMMENT: The beginning of the meeting of the Dark Congress is written magnificently, and the entire story throughout the novel is great! If Joss was looking for an idea for a Buffy movie that didn't come out of his own head, I suspect he'd read Dark Congress and choose it for the movie.
CG: Never gonna happen, but thanks.
B-A-A: Dark Congress will be your last Buffy novel from Simon & Schuster. Keeping that in mind, how do you feel about the final product? Is there anything about the story you really wish you could change?
CG: Well, yeah. I wish the genie didn't have to go back into the bottle. But "nothing gold can stay."
B-A-A: In early mid-March, you told BtVS-Angel-Authors that you wished each issue of Season Eight would come out weekly, and that you couldn't wait for the first issue. What do you think of Season Eight so far?
CG: Rocks mightily. Still wishing it was weekly. But since my eleven year old son is cursing Joss's name for the lateness of Marvel's Runaways, I suppose I should feel lucky we've gotten half a dozen issues of Buffy already.
B-A-A: For those who haven't read anything you've written not relating to Buffy, would you recommend reading The Ghosts of Albion series or BALTIMORE, OR, THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER AND THE VAMPIRE first?
CG: I'd recommend they go to www.christophergolden.com and pick something that sounds interesting to them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM POSTS BY MEMBERS OF SLAYERLIT's YAHOO GROUP.
"No, Tara does not survive the end of the story, but she does return and there are scenes of sweetness between her and Willow and some very perceptive words about Tara's role in the Scooby gang from Giles. But in all other respects it gives Wara lovers what they want- Kennedy is dismissed, Tara is back, Willow is in love and there are suggestions of sex, and Tara's role is better understood. When I was done reading, I felt that Chris Golden had done their tale real justice. " - Dana
CG: Dana, that means the world to me. Thanks.
"I'll also give Chris a big cheer for the reappearance of The Gentlemen. It really did round out the cast of characters and was a fantastic surprise. As always, he also included bits of subtlety that true fans and friends of Chris and Buffydom will recognize, smile and chuckle. Well done, Chris...well done indeed!!!!!! !" - Sue
CG: Sue! Sneaking in that appearance by the Gentlemen was one of my favorite moments, and something I thought I wouldn't get away with. I'm glad I did.
"If I liked anything above all else, it reiterated that Buffy is strongest when she has her friends to rely upon. That, to me, was the real mission statement of the show...and, disappointingly, something which the series tended to forget in the latter seasons. So thank you, Chris, for reminding us all again.
" -ShiaiCG: Shiai, I agree completely, and thank you. It was my pleasure.
((CG: Thanks Tim!))