The Apex Digest Interview with Barry MaherCategory: Publishing
Article added by: Hossam Abdel-Kader
By Jason Sizemore, Editor Apex Digest
Barry Maher is the author of “Legend,” a book thathas attainted cult status in many science fiction circles.“Legend” is the dark urban fantasy’s answer to “Dune.” The novel will electrify readers, challenging their viewson such societal concepts as group-think and religion.
After reading “Legend”, I had the opportunity toask Barry Maher about his novel, his work as a consultant,and whether he’ll consider returning to the world of speculative fiction.
Q1:One of the most striking aspects of "Legend"is the remarkable job you did in creating the story'suniverse.The City, the "Big Eaters", and the Regent (thepoor, the privileged, and the Religious/superstitious) arefully realized representations of the type of socialfracturing you'd expect in a dying world.Did this stemfrom a vision of a post-Cold War environment, or somethinggreater?
Absolutely, Jason, the world of "Legend" is dying.The City is isolated and feeding on itself. What passesfor a government has become divorced from the people itshould be serving. It's entrenched, self-serving anduncaring. Brutal. And while the area the Disciples controlis vigorous and powerful, it's a cancerous power, onethat's twisted and perverted. And even more brutal thanthe inept stupidity of the government.
The world of Legend is a world of constant,unremitting fear and danger: Everyone is in danger: Martinand Gena, the bureaurers, the Disciples, the folkers- everyone. Ironically the danger was generated by thesociety's obsession with security. The City isolateditself only to find that it was trapped inside thatisolation with something even worse than theunknown horror lurking outside.
Civilizations, cultures, governments, religions,individuals: don't we all want to protect ourselves fromthe dangerous of the outside world: Dangerous people,dangerous ideas, dangerous otherness? The dangerousunknown.
The vague place on the map where "Here there bemonsters." It might be an actual place, or it might be thedark areas of stranger's mind that nurture unsettlingbeliefs and, quite possibly, unpredictable and threatening behavior. Of course it's only by exposing ourselves tothat otherness that we both test and nurture ourselves andour ideas. That's how we adapt. That's how we grow: atleast it's how we grow in a way that tries to adapt tooutside reality.
But In "Legend" there's only isolation. Theisolation of the bureaurers leads only to atrophy andultimately death. The isolation of the Disciples leads tothe twisted, perverted, brutal growth of a cancer, whichof course ultimately devours the life that feeds it.
Q2:An interesting maxim you put forth andrealized by Gena is that of the power of collectivethought.Through our own superstitions and beliefs, we,ourselves, are the 'ties that bind'.Does this ideologyrepresent personal belief or a commentary on the sometimesone-mindedness religion creates in large sectors ofindividuals?
It was intended more as commentary on the way weall tend to think, rather than simply a commentary onreligious thinking.
To me, the more conformity in thought a societyhas, the more danger it's in. That's because "What we allknow to be true" so often turns out to as wrong as many ofthe commonly accepted truths of the ancient Egyptians orRoman or Druids or Aztecs. In 2,500 B.C., the Egyptians"knew" that the best use of their wealth and labor was toproviding their pharaohs with ludicrously massive tombsfilled with huge stashes of treasure for the afterlife.Not that long ago, we all knew the sun revolved around theEarth. In 1939, Germany knew that Hitler was a hero. In1966, we knew the Viet Cong and Ho Chi Min were such animminent threat to American society we sacrificed 50,000American lives to stop them.
What terrifies me is that even the mostindependent of us can easily be swept up in this kind ofcollective thought: no matter how vigilant we might be.Even our dissents fall into certain accepted channels.Individual divergences are often pathetically slight.
Q3:A common criticism of "Legend" is that Martinis able to endure many horrible trials and tasks, yet younever bestow Martin with anything more than a regularman's persona and endurance.What do you say to thiscriticism?
I say it's absolutely correct. I'm interested inthe extraordinary heroism of ordinary people rather thanthe ordinary heroism of extraordinary people.
If James Bond or Superman endures and overcomes,who cares? They're suppose to. They aren't like the restof us mere mortals. But if the guy across the streettriumphs against overwhelming odds, that hits home. Thatcould even change what I believe I can do and what Ibelieve I can become. Hey, if that schmuck can do it, whycan't I?
In "Legend," Martin is a bit of a schmuck. And, inthat sense, maybe the book could be considered a triumphof the schmucks. I hope it can inspire "regular men” – andwomen. Superman and James Bond can look elsewhere forinspiration.
Q4:What is it that draws Gena to Martin?
I think it is just that: that extraordinarystrength and courage of an ordinary guy, the fact thatthis most ordinary folker somehow taps into somethinginside himself to become far more than he or anyone elseever imagined he could be.
Someone asked me recently if Martin really was theJefuson. I said I didn't think so. But that perhaps thereal Jefuson wasn't either.
Q5: Across the internet, "Legend" has attained acult status.I'm sure many would love to see a sequel,prequel or anything that expands on the "Legend" universe. Any hope of this happening?
Both a prequel and a sequel have possibilities.I'd love to discover the details of how the world of"Legend" came to be. I'd be even more interested in whathappens to Martin and Gena and this strange world fromthis point on.
There has been a group of dedicated "Legend" fanswho have spent a great deal of time and effort spreadingthe word and promoting the book. I truly appreciate theirefforts. If it wasn't for them, this new edition wouldnever have been released. If there ever is a sequel or aprequel, it would probably be due to the buzz they createdas well. Because of their efforts, by the way, I'veauthorized the writing of a screenplay based on the book.
Q6:You write one critically lauded novel, thendrop out of the literary world.What happened?
As you might know, when "Legend" was firstreleased, it made the UPI's "Ten Most Underrated List" forthat year along with the New York Knicks, who never evenmade the playoffs, and a Meryl Streep movie about a dingothat ate a baby. It stayed underrated for quite a while,building up a following only gradually. As I said, thatfollowing is wonderfully devoted but the book still isn'tthat widely known, perhaps it never will be.
After "Legend" was initially released my agentapproached me with an idea for a quirky, funny, off-beatnon-fiction book. The book proposal sold immediately. Thebook did well and is in fact still selling today. Otherbooks followed, including "Filling the Glass: TheSkeptic's Guide to Positive Thinking," a book "for anyonewith a job or anyone who knows anyone with a job." Amongother things "Filling the Glass" was cited by Today'sLibrarian as "[one of] The Seven Essential PopularBusiness Books." From that point on, the number requestsfor me to speak to businesses and other groups exploded.
In many ways, all my books and speeches are in thesame mold as "Legend," exploring the same problems andideas. Too many of us today have lives that aren't whatthey could be. Hell, too many of us even have jobs thataren't all that much different from Martin's job as abureauer.
Q7:You've become a highly success corporatespeaker.What do people say when they learn you oncewrote a dystopic urban fantasy novel about the perceivedsecond coming of Christ?
I speak not only to businesses but to associationsand groups of all types. (I try to speak to at least onewriter's conference per year.) What's astonishing to me ishow much interest even the people at those businessmeetings have in "Legend." They may not face the kind ofadventure, danger and excitement that Martin and Gena do,but they can all relate to the characters in "Legend." The worlds may be vastly different but the lives are moresimilar than it might first appear. We could all use atouch of the heroic in our "regular guy" or "regularwoman" lives.
Q8:What are some of your favorite sci-fi and/orhorror novelists?
There are so many, I would hate to list them andaccidentally leave anyone off. But I do have to cite FrankHerbert. "Legend" has been compared to "Dune" which isalways flattering. But it some ways the story in "Legend"is a commentary on the story, the theme and the action in"Dune."
Q9:I've read rumors you might be thinking aboutreturning to your writing roots?
I hope that those who read my non-fiction wouldsay I've never really left those roots. But yes, I doexpect to return to fiction.
Q10:As a successful business consultant, what would your advice be to all the upstart small press fiction publications?
My advice for them would be similar to my adviceto any small business.
1) Turn out the best books you possibly can,books you're proud to put your imprint on.
2) Focus on your clientele, what they want andneed and what will satisfy those wants and needs.
3) Have the best possible answer to thequestion "Why should someone buy my books as opposed thethousands of other choices they have?"
4) Promote, Promote, Promote.
5) Never forget that the best possible promotion is a satisfied reader.
With "Legend," I completely ignored steps 3 and 4.But thanks to the book's readers it's still around today,with the best edition yet just coming off the press. Speaking of which, used book sellers are selling copies ofearly editions of "Legend" as collectibles and askingridiculous prices. The new edition retails for $19.95 andusually discounts online for about $13.50. If you see aprice on a website that's out of that range, click on"Other Editions" to find the latest edition of the book ata reasonable price.
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Posted By: Hossam Abdel-Kader
Web: http://www.pr-inside.com
Contact: e-mail
| About the Author: |
| Jason Sizemore is the editor of Apex Digest, an acclaimed science fiction and horror magazine. Apex Online is at www.apexdigest.com. This interview originally appeared in Apex Digest. Used by permission. |
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