Thomas: Logan, tell us a little about The Lazarus Particle.
Logan: It's a space opera, at its core. War, politics, sex, death, future tech, spectacular battles, unlikely heroes, villains you can secretly root for -- it has everything I think (I hope) people want out of a good sci-fi story.
Thomas: What inspired you to write The Lazarus Particle?
Logan: I think, in a nutshell, the state of science fiction in general. We live in the most fascinating and technologically advanced period in human history, and weirdly enough, the prevailing trend in science fiction seems to be to want to take us backward. Don't get me wrong, I love a good apocalyptic/dystopian yarn as much as anyone, but I think the space opera still has value and merit as a storytelling platform. Hopefully the story bears that theory out.
Thomas: What is your favorite part of being an indie author?
Logan: Not answering to anybody but myself. Not being beholden to someone else to tell my stories the way I think they should be told. I think for most of us that's one of the chief attractions.
Thomas: What is the hardest part of being an indie author?
Logan: Not answering to anybody but myself. It's a double-edge sword, really. As much as I enjoy it, it's a lot easier to fall off the cliff, production-wise, when you're writing strictly for yourself. When I wrote nonfiction, I had editors and deadlines, and as much as they irked me from time to time, they did keep me on task.
Plus, when you're an indie, everything ultimately falls at your doorstep, from the editing to the formatting to the art direction and so on. It does make the writing process a bit weightier, especially when you're finishing up a project.
Thomas: What books/movies do most wish you had written?
Logan: Tough question. I'm not sure there's any book I wish I would have written now that I write my own. I certainly have influences and love to drop in sly references to my favorite authors where I can -- bonus points for anyone who spots the nod to Ann Christy's Silo 49 series in The Lazarus Particle! -- but that's probably about where it ends.
As for movies, though. Wow. Lots of choices, but I think it has to be The Princess Bride. I know it was a book before it was a movie, but the movie is absolutely timeless on so many levels.
Thomas: Name three classic and three contemporary books you feel everyone should read.
Logan: Classics:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, for sure. Some say it's the greatest novel ever written; I don't know if I would go that far, but it's a fascinating study in characters, dialogue, and narrative.
Pretty much anything by Mark Twain. The ultimate American storyteller. I don't know what else I can say that hasn't already been said.
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. I admit, I still love it. I read it every few years just to remind myself how great it is.
Contemporary:
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Stunning. Brilliant. The book that made me want to write a book. (And look! I did it!)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The most enchanting book I've ever read in my life. So full of wonder and amazing imagery and characters.
Neuromancer by William Gibson. I'm going to cheat a little and call this one contemporary even though it's over twenty years old at this point. Still an absolutely mind-blowing read. Gibson actually invented a fictional internet before the internet even existed in the public domain. Truly visionary. That, and Molly Millions is one of the unsung badasses of science fiction.
Thomas: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and my readers. Good luck with the release of The Lazarus Particle.
Logan: Thanks a lot, Thomas! It was my pleasure.
The Lazarus Particle is the first book from the Summer of LOOW reading list. Be sure to head over to Amazon and pick up The Lazarus Particle (link not available as of this writing, but I will update later.)
