Tuesday, July 25, 2017

6 Books with Robyn Bennis


Robyn Bennis is an author and scientist living in Mountain View, California, where she consults in biotech but dreams of airships. The Guns Above is her debut novel. 

Today she shares her 6 books with us...

1. What book are you currently reading?

I'm 50 pages into Neon Lights by Zig Zag Claybourne, and it's genius. I usually don't enjoy books about writers, but the smart, witty dialogue and the depth of the characters won me over right away. As soon as I finish answering these questions, I'm going right back to it.






2. What upcoming book you are really excited about?

I can't wait to read the Demon Spring series by S. Usher Evans. It's an urban fantasy about demon hunters in Atlanta, and it sounds absolutely wild. The first book, Resurgence, comes out in February, and I'm afraid that I might melt into a puddle of anticipation if I have to wait that long.




 

3. Is there a book you're currently itching to re-read?

I would answer "the entire Aubrey-Maturin series," but I'm always itching to re-read those, so I'm not sure it counts. A more notable yearning would be Matt Ruff's Sewer, Gas, and Electric. It's one of his earlier books, and I believe it's less known, but it already shows the quirky characters and thoughtful commentary he's become famous for.



 

4. How about a book you've changed your mind about over time--either positively or negatively?

That has to be Breakfast of Champions. When I was younger, I thought it was the coolest book ever written, and that Vonnegut was the most woke author in history for calling European colonists "sea pirates." I recently re-read it and, while it's still a lot of fun, I had to cringe at the pretentiousness and faux-progressivism I once admired.




5. What's one book, which you read as a child or young adult, that has had a lasting influence on your writing?

I can think of a few, but the most influential has to be Tom Sawyer. I didn't grow up in a bookish household, but we did have a copy of Tom Sawyer, and I read the crap out of it. Ever since, I've aspired to Twain's effortless wit and ability to make biting commentary while still maintaining a light tone.





6. And speaking of that, what's *your* latest book, and why is it awesome?

My latest is The Guns Above. It's jam-packed with action, intrigue, and Twainesque wit. Add airships and ladies who shoot people, and you can bet that your friends are going to make fun of you if you haven't read it.






POSTED BY: Joe Sherry - Co-editor of Nerds of a Feather, 2017 Hugo Award Finalist for Best Fanzine. Writer / Editor of the mostly defunct Adventures in Reading since 2004. Minnesotan.