They might not be raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but that doesn’t mean that we love them any less. Welcome back to My Favorite Things, the weekly column where we grab someone in speculative circles to gab about the greatest in geek. This week, we sit down with Lou Anders, whose latest book, Star Wars: Pirate’s Price, comes out tomorrow, January 8th, from Disney Lucasfilm Press!
What does Lou love when he’s not writing about pirates or dragons? Spoiler alert: a community-oriented superhero, a superhero not afraid to listen to the women in his life, an all-ages epic fantasy, playing and writing for role-playing games, and a whimsical children’s fantasy series. Interested? Read on to learn more!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Once upon a time, I said that my only super-power was being the World’s Greatest Appreciator. When I like something, I really really like it, and if you can get me talking about it (preferably over a beer, which by the way, needs to be a Russian Imperial Stout that’s been aged for at least six months minimum but preferably a year in a bourbon barrel because the aroma of the bourbon wafting ahead of the rich chocolaty notes… well, I digress…), then I can probably get you liking it too. But I like a lot of things. I generally find that I’m happier liking them than disliking them. So I’m a big fan of books, movies, games, tv, comics… And getting me to pick just a few is going to be a challenge. But here we go:
Favorite Comic: I absolutely adore Ms. Marvel, written by G. Willow Wilson. Kamala Khan has become my favorite comic book hero, and I’ve loved every issue of this title. More than anything else, I think Wilson has created a better sense of community around her lead than any comic I’ve ever read. Aside from the immediate and obligatory people in a hero’s life (family, romantic interest, teacher or boss), she’s really extended this to everyone in Kamala’s Jersey City world. There’s a huge cast, from extended family to the owner of her favorite deli to the cab and bus drivers she meets regularly to tons of students in her school to the imam at her mosque (to the really interesting pigeons seen in the edges of panels). I’ve never seen a writer more adroitly render the world around a hero and explore her impact on them, both good and bad. It’s masterfully done even as the tone of the comic is light and fun. And it’s also something else that I think we really need right now. It’s hopeful and optimistic and positive. There are a lot of comics I want my kids to read when they’re older. My son is itching to read Watchmen and he should, but I’m not ready to plunge him into its nihilistic worldview yet. But he’s already read Ms. Marvel with my very strong endorsement. And so should you. Recently, it was announced that G. Willow Wilson would be leaving, and my friend Saladin Ahmed would be taking over. He’s a great writer, so I’m excited to see what he will bring. But I just want to say that Wilson’s run has been something really special in comics, and I feel happy and sad about being able to read it start to finish.
Favorite Film: There were a lot of fun movies last year, but I think I was more excited by Black Panther than anything else. Everything about the look and feel of that movie was so wonderful. I was especially struck by the fact that T’Challa is a very strong, masculine leader who nonetheless isn’t at all embarrassed or hesitant to defer to his all-female advisors, whether it’s matters of science (Shuri), protocol (Romanda), war (Okoye, oh god Okoye!), or, eventually, international politics (Nakia). I know there’s talk about a Women of Wakanda spin-off film and that would be wonderful too. But I’m very happy that Black Panther 2 has entered development.
Favorite TV Show: The Dragon Prince, a Netflix original series from Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond, is a perfect, all-ages show that is scratching my epic fantasy itch now that Dreamworks: Dragons has ended, as well as bringing back fond echoes of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Rayla the elf assassin is one of the greatest characters ever, the world is intriguing, the writing top notch, and I can’t wait to see what they do in season two.
Favorite Game: After a very long hiatus, I’m playing Dungeons & Dragons again, and the 5th edition is one of the most fun role playing games I’ve experienced. I game with my kids, my nephews, some of their friends and some of mine. I’m running three campaigns, one in the official D&D world of the Forgotten Realms, and two in another campaign setting, the world of Midgard from Kobold Press. I want to come forward right now and say that Kobold Press is my favorite game publisher. Their Midgard World Book is a huge, 400 page tome that eschews Tolkien-esque English fantasy for a world rooted more in Norse myth and Germanic folktales. Elves are far more akin to mysterious and dangerous fairies here, orcs are virtually non-existent, kobolds might be your neighbors down the street, there is a vampire kingdom above a kingdom of ghouls, and dragons lead an expansionist sultanate that is hungry for new territory. You can play a bearfolk, worship the goddess of gears, or even be a cleric of the “beer domain.” It’s an incredibly original setting, and I’m so so into it. In fact, late last year I even wrote a short story and co-authored two bits of game mechanics for their “Tales of the Old Margreve” Kickstarter. Find out more about Kobold Press here, and you can read about my games in their world here.
Favorite Book: Twice Magic is the sequel to The Wizards of Once. These books, by How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell, feature a young wizard boy and a young warrior princess who are thrown into adventures together despite the animosity of their respective clans. The book is told in an amazing, direct-to-reader address that is wonderfully whimsical and colloquial, and at first glance, this book reads like it’s aimed at the lower end of middle grade. But there’s a real sly subtlety to the world-building and a lot bubbling under the surface. It’s a very complicated story that doesn’t feel complicated at all. And it bubbles with imagination. The books are fun for me and my nine year old, but as a children’s book author myself, I’m in awe and envy of the talent on display.
And that’s it! I could go on all day, but I’ve got dragons to write!
Lou Anders is the author of the Thrones & Bones series of fantasy adventure novels, staring the half-giant girl Thianna and the expert board gamer boy Karn, as well as Star Wars: Pirate’s Price, featuring Han Solo, Chewbacca, and everybody’s favorite pirate, Hondo Ohnaka. You can visit him online at www.louanders.com, @LouAnders, and on Facebook. Please do!
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