TheCO: A Mankind Witch is the third book in the Heirs of Alexandria series—what can we expect from this book?
Dave Freer: (Thinks.) Text. I'm pretty sure of that. Actually, that's a little more than a snarky monkey answer. What you will find rather depends on the reader. If I wrote it, you will always find a fast moving, high action tale. That's a given. I want to entertain. I want to give the reader pleasure. That's what you can expect. You can expect a fantasy story of a Norse princess being groomed for murder and suicide. You can expect an enslaved captive Barbary corsair who becomes a trickster worthy of Loki for her sake. You will find trolls, disaster, humor, magic and the Norse nine worlds. You can expect intractable problems and vast odds... and solutions that take their answer from thought rather than mere slugging. You can expect plot twists and a murder-mystery in among the magic and mayhem. What you find after that depends on how hard you look. There are socio-political, philosophical and moral dimensions if you want them. (Smiles.) I don't care if you do. I write them because I do, but I don't let them ruin a good story.
TheCO: Who does this book revolve around?
DF: I could come up with all sorts of smart answers, but there is an easy and accurate one. The book revolves around Cair Aydin. Like most books that do not involve the superhero shooting fish in a barrel, Cair is a deeply flawed character with some likeable traits, who is in dire trouble. He's a slave. A small, unarmed, lowest-of-the-low thrall. Worse, a slave to a woman with no status. As far down as you can go in the Norse world. He's cunning, clever and disdainful of his primitive and superstitious captors. He is set on bloody revenge, and a return to his position of absolute power in North Africa. Only, he is trapped—and redeemed—by Signy, who finally penetrates his armor of, well... arrogance, and brings out hero worth having.
TheCO: Do you have a favorite of the new characters to appear in this book?
DF: Well, yes... I have a soft spot for three of them, and now you want me to make it one. The trials you put me through! Well, I'll just mention them, Ok. Proctor Juzef Szpak, my Polish Knight of the Holy Trinity. He has a relatively minor role in A MANKIND WITCH, but he has all the hallmarks of a great hero, towering and deep-seated idealism, a chip on his shoulder and an appalling sense of humor to balance the other two. Watch. He'll be back. Signy is a Princess worth dying for. Or better still, making her enemies die for. But Cair Aydin, the trickster who is so good that he fools himself, has to be my favorite. This book is about loyalty, love and... I guess in the end it is about his attitude. In the end it is always about attitude.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Melissa Horn
Wow, great interview! If I didn't already read and love the Monkey's books, this would galvanize me to go out and buy them.
Sooooo, go buy them already!
2 - Eric Olsen
thanks CO, cool stuff!
3 - Wendi
Nice interview, CO. Now I have to go dig up my copy of Shadow of the Lion and break down and buy This Rough Magic.
Thanks a lot, you bastard! LOL
4 - Lee McGregor
Great Interview. Can hardly wait for my copy of A Mankind Witch to come in.
5 - Victor Plenty
Freer writes good stuff. I've read several of his books and enjoyed them all. He's got a knack for humor, creates solid three-dimensional characters, and draws on a wide knowledge of literature and history, which always appeals to me.
6 - Ginger
Lovely interview..it's always a pleasure to read Dr Monkey's brand of humor. More, please! With sugar on top?
7 - Jason C
Good Interview. I really enjoyed Pyramid Scheme, written with Eric Flint. It is ridiculously funny and exciting.
8 - Francis
About the only bad thing I can say about Dave Freer is that all his books have happy endings. As a result they are automatically precluded from "serious litrachure", "critical acclaim" and the like. In similar vein rather, as with ancient Greek drama, most deaths occur "offstage" so all in all the books offer nothing to the depressed, the suicidal and the carnophiles.
9 - Walt Dunn
Great interview. It's always enjoyable to find a good interviewer and a super author to enjoy!
10 - DrPat
This Rough Magic I here abjure...
But I can't think of a better crew to extend the tales of Karres! Thanks bunches, TheCO!
11 - Loren
You gotta love Dr. Monkey. I got hooked on the Forlorn years ago, and this just makes me want to go out and blow the rest of my book allowance.
12 - Joshua Wachter
I really liked A Mankind Witch. And this interview was a good one.
The Deposed King
13 - Kada
Have yet to read a Dave Freer book, but this sounds intriguing.
14 - Jeren
Freer in an author whose books have improved from good to great over the years. Although easy to read, fast paced and very funny they are lined with several bottoms and little gems that you don't pick up until you re-read the books. The man is a lot smarter and way better educated than he lets on.
15 - Paul
Great interview! Dave Freer's sense of humour really came through. Can't wait to read Mankind Witch.
16 - the bunny
Excellent interview. Looking forward to much more from Dave.
17 - Sarah Hoyt
Just got it. Can't wait to read it. And Dave forgot to mention the foremost use of any of his books -- give it to the resident teen genius. He'll disappear into his room for a few hours and he'll be quiet and amused and almost human.
:-)
Sarah
18 - Kate
Wonderful interview. I love Dave's sense of humor. I've been privileged to get some snippets of works in progress, and he really is one of the most under-appreciated geniuses of science fiction and fantasy in the field today. The Forlorn was an excellent start, the Rats, Bats and Vats series is a wild adventure with some truly devastating satire on certain aspects of society, Pyramid Scheme and the sequel he's writing are fast, funny, and positively wicked.
By comparison, Shadow of the Lion, Mankind Witch and This Rough Magic are serious fantasy, but they still have their laugh out loud moments and multiple layers.
Read anything with Dave's name attached at the Baen Free Library, then go and buy them. They're all available through Amazon.com (I checked).
I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my pre-ordered copy of Mankind Witch (it's in Houston, I'm 1500 miles away - long story involving broken bones and interstate moves done in several stages).
Remember - Dave Freer is fun to read. You will get action, and humor, and even *gasp* satire! Buy Dave Freer's books... Buy Dave Freer's books... Buy Dave Freer's books....
Kate (no, Dave didn't pay me anything. He'll probably blush and throw coconuts at me for this)
19 - Darwin
Wonderful interview. Always great to see Dave's intrinsic humor come out. I can honestly say that Dave's Forlorn is one of my all time favorites, but all of his works have been well worth having in my personal library.
Looking for more solo titles as well as collabs soon!
Darwin
20 - Tony
Congratulations on another success. You have come far since the days of aquaculture where you had your wife stripping (roe from fish of course. Keep it up.
21 - Linda
Most excellent interview. I've read Dave's work and look forward to reading more. Isn't that what writing is about? Making your readers want more? He's definitely a success story in this industry. Go, Dave, go!
22 - Fran
I haven't read A Mankind Witch yet, but I've read others by Dave Freer. His great humor comes across in his writing as well as in this interview :) I'll definitely be looking for A Mankind Witch.
23 - LarryConley
Great interview Dave..
I still think your best work is the Rats and such series... followed by Pyramid Scheme.. but.. this (your more serious work) is excellent reading as well.
But nothing will beat a pissed of woman with a chainsaw...
24 - Dave
Well, I really love being able to work on a variety of books... Just being stuck in one narrow little box would be rough.
And no woman has really accessorised he outfits until she has a matching chainsaw
Monkey
25 - Linda
Really? Where do I get one?
Linda...who needs all of the accessories she can get.