Julie Czerneda

Julie E. Czerneda is a biologist and writer whose science fiction has received international acclaim, awards, and best-selling status. She is the author of the popular "Species Imperative" trilogy, the "Web Shifters" series, the "Trade Pact Universe" trilogy and her new "Stratification" novels. She was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. Her stand-alone novel, In the Company of Others, won Canada's Prix Aurora Award and was a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award for Distinguished SF.

Czerneda new novel is A Change of Place.

Recently I asked the author about what I was reading. Czerneda's reply:

Karin Lowachee’s The Mountain Crown

I love dragons—and have huge respect for Karin Lowachee’s writing (she’s the author of the magnificent Warchild Mosaic). Imagine my joy to find her writing them in her latest, The Mountain Crown. Impressive, wonderful masses of original and fascinating dragons (called suons) permeate the landscapes of her world and if this wasn’t enough to make me hug this book, there’s more. The main character, Méka, is a member of the Suonkang family, a Ba’suon, with the innate ability to reach into nature—and the minds of suons—to create a partnership. When she’s sent into the land of their magic-blind enemies to coax a king dragon from the wild, little does she realize where her path will lead. It reminded me of my favourite moments in McCaffrey’s Dragonriders. I’m delighted this is only the first in Lowachee’s new Crowns of Ishia series. Trust me, the rest are on my must-have list.

John Wiswell’s Someone You Can Build a Nest In

Trust me, I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to shapeshifter stories but this one is perfect. For me, the wonderful thing about Wiswell’s monster, Shesheshen, is her sensible vulnerability. She goes from thinking of herself as the apex predator to being apex prey without hesitation, just as she goes from wanting most to hide what she is to desperate to reveal it all for love.

While I adore everything about how she forms and reforms herself from whatever she can find—not to mention her frustration over keeping herself mostly in one piece—it’s Shesheshen’s inner debate, her interpretations of what is it to be human and to be valued that charmed me most.

Wiswell’s story, though unique, begs for comparisons which I almost never do. Here you go: His language flows like Patricia McKillip’s, sparse and powerful and lyrical. The story feels like The Last Unicorn meets Betelguese, until it takes a swing over to “The Princess Bride” and beyond. How’s that? By the end, who’s a monster and who isn’t is left to the reader. I can guarantee you won’t ever forget Shesheshen and Homily, and be warmed inside forever. Hmm. About time I read this again.

Visit Julie E. Czerneda's website.

The Page 69 Test: To Guard Against the Dark.

The Page 69 Test: The Gossamer Mage.

The Page 69 Test: Mirage.

Q&A with Julie E. Czerneda.

The Page 69 Test: To Each This World.

My Book, The Movie: To Each This World.

My Book, The Movie: A Change of Place.

The Page 69 Test: A Change of Place.

--Marshal Zeringue