Elizabeth Bear

I recently completed reading Elizabeth Bear's third novel, WORLDWIRED -- which really is not the third book of a trilogy, but part 3 of one lengthy novel. I required only the opening 5 or 10 pages to suggest I temper my reading pace; the novel is that good. Some critics have carped that the whole is too lengthy; that entire sections could have been elided without dulling its many other qualities. This novel proves those critics [to be] impatient.

In HAMMERED, Elizabeth Bear shows her talent as a competent author, in SCARDOWN she employs a deft style, but it is here, in WORLDWIRED, that she really, truly comes into her own as a writer; she becomes simply magisterial. Elizabeth asserts firm control of her characters, her setting, and her research (for the novels). She creates flourishes of style and excitement; not one time does this novel bore its readers.

"It was promising. If they only could be made to understand the concept of symbology, and of words, he might be able to start establishing a pidgin. If the boredom didn’t kill him first."
WORLDWIRED, p 313

One stylistic flourish that really impresses me is Elizabeth's willingness to have major moments in the story occur off-stage; leaving the characters to deal with the figurative and literal fallout of major occurrences. She (Elizabeth) trusts implicitly her characters, her setting, and the readers to fill in the blanks. This is a rare (writerly) instinct, and to be treasured.

It really is a fine thing to see a writer mature as well and as successfully as Elizabeth has — and in only her third published book. I can pay her the ultimate compliment a reader can make a writer: I will purchase and read each of her books. Yes, I trust her insights and talent that much.

So it seemed only natural that Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s husband, Kit, and your reporter (moi) get together to enjoy lunch, each other’s company, and to fete Elizabeth’s rapidly mounting successes as a writer of science fiction and fantasy.

[click photo to enlarge]

Elizabeth Bear holds aloft the John W Campbell award for “Best New Writer” of 2005 in the genre of Science Fiction. (Congratulations to Elizabeth, and her Bantam Spectra editor, Anne Groell.)

Upcoming books from Elizabeth include:
• A short story collection from Night Shade Press, The Chains that you Refuse;
• A fantasy duology from publisher, Ace/ROC, the Promethean Age novels, Blood and Iron and Whiskey and Water that will appear beginning in June 2006.
• Two standalone novels from Bantam Spectra, Carnival, a novel of Singularity, eco-terrorism, sexism, genocide, brinksmanship, art, intrigue -- and spies! And Undertow, a novel about a hit man, a conjure man, a fish boygirl, and a Woman with a Past.

Run, do not walk, to your nearest bookseller, buy (any of) these books, and then sit back and enjoy.