A special thanks to author Bruce Boston for taking the time to let us interview him and get to know him a little better. Bruce was nice enough to send us signed copies of the following books: covers in post below
- Pitchblende (dark poetry, Bram Stoker Award winner, Dark Regions, 2003)
- The Nightmare Collection (dark poetry, Bram Stoker Award Winner, Dark Regions, 2008)
- Flashing the Dark (speculative flash fictions, Sam’s Dot, 2006)
- The Guardener’s Tale (sf novel, advance reading copy, Stoker Award finalist and Prometheus Award Nominee, Sam’s Dot, 2007)
And the 4 Random Winners from the comments are! Janet M. (BookwormMoucha), Jennifer C. (mrscasler), Carla G. (readragon), Shondra W. (shoni). Thanks again everyone!
Author Bruce Boston
Bruce Boston was born in 1943 and attended U.C. Berkeley, in the sixties, where he was active in political protest and psychedelic exploration. Bruce Boston has written over 40 books, more than 100 short stories and hundreds of poems on speculative fiction. He describes his work best saying it “stretches from broad humor to literary surrealism, with many stops along the way for science fiction, fantasy, horror, and noir.” Boston has received many awards including the Rhysling Award for speculative poetry a record seven times and the Asimov’s Readers’ Award for poetry a record six times. He has also received a Pushcart Prize for fiction, the Bram Stoker Award for his poetry collections Pitchblende, Shades Fantastic, and The Nightmare Collection, and the first ever Grandmaster Award of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. His collaborative poem with Robert Frazier, “Return to the Mutant Rain Forest,” received first place in the 2006 Locus Online Poetry Poll for Best All-Time Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror Poem. For more information please visit his website, BruceBoston.com
Your work has been classified as “Speculative Fiction & Poetry”. What does “Speculative” mean in this context?
Mainstream fiction and poetry deal with the rendering and exploration of the here and now, reality as we know it, internal and external. Speculative writing has more to do with imagination, the world of dreams and the world as it could be. The genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, all of which I’ve written, fall under the speculative umbrella. However, the best speculative writing resembles mainstream in that it not only explores imaginary worlds, but in so doing, reflects and comments upon the real world.
You’ve held a lot of different jobs in the past, including computer programmer, gardener and movie projectionist! Did any of those inform your writing?
All life experience inform one’s writing: love affairs, friendships, failures and successes, books read, movies seen, lands visited, and of course, the jobs one holds. Though the influence isn’t always a clear and direct one, and often becomes transformed in the process of writing. For example, I’ve never written about a character who is a gardener, but my science fiction novel The Guardener’s Tale takes place in a future dystopian society that views its citizens as if they were plants in a garden and attempts to nurture and control them to create the perfect garden, the ideal society. Images of flowers, plants, and weeds occur throughout the book, embodying the themes of the novel. If I hadn’t worked as a gardener, the book might never have been written, and if it had, would have probably taken a very different direction.
You’ve been writing and publishing for over 45 years. Do you see any major changes in your work over time?
I think my writing has become more accomplished over the years in terms of mastery of language. It has also changed stylistically and to some extent in content as my interests as a reader have changed. When I was younger, I read mostly what is considered literary fiction and poetry, and my writing reflected that. In the early 1990s I began exploring mysteries and noir, and as a result, I think my writing voice, at least in fiction, has become more populist and less literary, available to more potential readers.
Do you have a favorite work (book, short story, poem), one of which you are particularly proud?
I have several. My poetry collection Pitchblende, assembled by fellow poet and writer Michael Arnzen, is probably my best poetry collection. It garnered me my first Bram Stoker Award and contains what I consider two of my three best long poems: “Pavane for a Cyber-Princess” and “She Was There for Him the Last Time.”
With regard to fiction, I would single out three books. My first novel, Stained Glass Rain, a coming-of-age novel set in the drug culture of the 1960s, is an attempted literary tour de force, combining narrative, diary entries, along with poems and stories written by the characters. Its language is the most dense and poetic of any of my fiction. The aforementioned sf novel, The Guardener’s Tale is probably my most entertaining and compelling work, rich in adventures and surprising plot twists. And finally, my story collection Masque of Dreams brings together the best of my shorter fiction, including six novelettes and seventeen short stories.
You are married to Marge Simon, also a writer and artist. How is it living with a fellow writer?
It’s worked out pretty well for us because we have similar aesthetics and tastes. It has also led to collaborations on poems and short stories that we’ve subsequently sold, but would have never been written if we weren’t living together. Another advantage of living with a fellow writing whose opinion you respect is that when you are working on a story or poem or have just finished one, there is always someone there to give you feedback and respond to questions about it, all the way from the construction of individual lines and sentences to how well it works as a whole.
You’ve been an active member of PBS for a while. How did you hear about us? If you could change one thing about our site what would it be?
Periodically I do an online search on my name to see if anything of interest pops up: raves or pans of my work, websites or foreign publications that have posted or translated and published something of mine without permission, etc. During one of these searches I came upon comments and a rating on some book of mine, don’t remember which, that had been made on PBS. I began exploring the site, and soon joined.
I wouldn’t change anything about PBS. In fact, I’d like to offer my compliments and thanks to your designer. From the very beginning, I’ve found the site, as opposed to many others, very easy to understand and to navigate. However, I might add something to PBS — a page listing authors, who are also PBS Members, who would be willing to field questions from other members about their writing.
What’s on your nightstand?
A lamp, a clock, a white noise machine…sometimes a glass of wine or a cup of coffee…but you no doubt mean what books am I currently reading. I’m usually into several books at once. Right now I’m reading two unpublished novels by writer friends. One is a love story about a jazz musician and a Japanese artist set in the forties and fifties. The other is a contemporary psychological mystery loosely based on Shakespeare’s Othello. I’m also rereading Pascali’s Island by Barry Unsworth, a tale set in 1908 on a small Greek island that is part of the crumbling Ottoman Empire.
I think that is a great idea about a page listing authors who are members! I know when I read certain books I sometimes want to know how the author came up with this idea. Great interview by PBS, I have never heard of Bruce Boston before but now I am intersted in reading his work as it is right up my alley!
These books sound great, I had already had Pitchblende on my TBR list. What a wonderful interview. I love reading about what authors are reading.
Bruce, it’s great to see how you have broadened and diversified as a writer. I can learn from you in negotiating the pop/lit boundary. Congratulations!
I think the blog is a great way to learn more about books and be exposed to new authors — and I second Bruce’s suggestion to have a PBS area with member-authors who are willing to engage in dialogue with the community. That could make for some interesting discussions.
I LOVE Bruce Boston! Coolest interview ever!
Great interview, great books, and great blog idea. What more can you say!
I really like to hear authors answer questions of how they think their works have changed over time. Sometimes leads to some very personal and interesting answers. Big fan Bruce Boston!
“psychedelic exploration” I love this author already 🙂 Now I need to check out some of his work. Thanks PBS for the great interview!
I really like these blogs, it’s a great way to introduce writers to readers. I am very interested in reading the books and poetry of Bruce Boston.
Thanks for such a great interview!
As a fan of Bruce (and Marge) for years, I really enjoyed this interview. This site is such a great idea. Going to poke around some more now….
I am now anxious to read some of Bruce’s books. I love poetry of all kinds and have several books. This was a great interview and extremely interesting. His idea about a page for author/members is cool. I have wondered if some of my favorite authors were members or not. Keep up the great work!!
Thank you for the interview, Mr. Boston, it is helpful and interesting!
A question for any published poet, really, does anyone have any suggestions for finding sources for poetry submissions, that is, in addition to the standard ‘Writer’s Market’ volume?
Great feature, introducing new authors on the site for us to get to know and read… I didn’t know of Bruce Boston, so am glad to read about him and some of his work! A great way to explore new ideas/genres/horizons. =)
In response to Susan —
Try http://www.ralan.com/. Lots of poetry markets here, mostly genre/speculative, but many are also open to mainstream work.
Thanks to all for their comments.
A great interview with a great writer. The Guardener’s Tale ranks as one of my top 5 books of the past decade.
An informative and fascinating interview, as is always the case when you discuss your work and life, Bruce. Particularly interesting to me is the balance you have tried to strike (more so in recent years, you say) between the literary and the populist in your writings. By literary, I know that some readers automatically connect the word “inaccessible”, but I have never found even your most complex works to be closed to any questing mind; you mention two of what I think are among the finest creations I’ve read in fiction and poetry: your novel “Stained Glass Rain”, and your poem “She Was There for Him the Last Time”. In each, you push the boundaries of language-as-art to astonishing levels of peception and revelation, and yet there is also a powerfully human aspect to both, which also reaches deep into the consciousness. I emerged from both of them changed…and that is testimony to the power of words in your hands. I hope that readers will reach out to all of the works across your creative spectrum, reveling in the humor, adventure and drama when the arc of your pen swings to the populist side, and standing astonished at the layers of the human mind and spirit laid bare in your revolutionary works. No reader will walk away from them as the same person who entered in; celebrate and beware, because Bruce will shake the walls of your world.
Your work is wonderful. You’re a master of language and your style is unique and always fresh. I’ve enjoyed a lot of your work over the years and I’ve learned from it. I especially enjoyed your flash fiction collection, Flashing the Dark.
Just had to say…GO BEARS!
Thanks to PaperBackSwap for featuring a new author for me to explore! I’ve added “The Guardener’s Tale” to my wishlist and I look forward to enjoying it 🙂
Wow!!! This is great PBS thanks for doing this. A big thanks to Bruce for a wonderful interview. I found it very information as well as intriguing. I believe now I need to add a few to my WL. Congratulations on the Pushcart Prize and the three Bram Stoker Awards among the others you didn’t mention. What an honor to be able to blog with such an accomplished author. Stained Glass Rain and Masque of Dreams sound excellent. So what is it like being married to another writer/artist??? Does it make it nice to have someone so close to talk to about each others ideas???
Thanks again for doing this Bruce it was exceptionally nice a you to take time for the rest of us here at PBS.
Misty
I’m curious to read this guy’s work just for the wonderful eclecticism he shows through the genres in which he writes–poetry, speculative, sci-fi, flash fiction. I’m a big fan of new wave sci-fi, and of lyrical, poetically approached sci-fi–so there’s a good chance I’d like this guy’s work. Thanks for the spotlight, PBS.
Good, revealing interview.
I’d seen adverts for “The Guardener’s Tale” in various copies of books and mags from SamsDotPublishing and had to buy it. In the realms of dystopian fiction “The Guardeners Tale” stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the most well known works – a great read.
Bruce is one of genre fiction’s finest poets, if not the best.
CHRONICLES OF THE MUTANT RAIN FOREST is a classic, the best
of the best.
I think he is an under-rated prose fiction writer–both is novels and
his short stories.
He is analytic and perceptive of other writers in the field.
A fine interview.
It’s amazing how Mr. Boston resembles Paulo Coelho, a very famous Brazilian author! Make sure to visit his website: bruceboston.com to learn a lot about him. I am looking forward to reading some of his work. Thanks for the interview!
Cool. I had no idea PBS did interviews with authors. I love that this is more than your typical author blog post like you see on Amazon. There’s actually some interesting questions that reveal more of who the author is as a person. Bravo!
I am a long time fan of Bruce’s poetry and fiction. I became a head over heals lover of his poetry some with Robert Frazier in the fantastic Chronicles of the mutant rain forest http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-mutant-forest-Robert-Frazier/dp/B0006R7690 That love got me started with Bruce’s work, since, I have read a huge amount of poetry and fiction of Bruce’s and I try to support him whenever and wherever I can. Truly I think Bruce is a fantastic writer, poet and person.
I also want to thank PBS for your interview and for the many services, Science, music, podcast and more that I have and will support as well.
David
Bruce’s nightstand sounds a lot like mine, and probably a lot like all of us on PBS-not only the several books but also to the non-book contents as well! Reading several books at a time is something I’ve done for years and I’m always intrested to know when others do the same, and to know if they have a hard time keeping them from blending together.
Having an interview with an author really does bring that author into perspective as a fellow human. I have a tendency to shape and mold some authors into how I would like them to be. To read about their reactions and insights to the questions posed is not only fun but also a learning experience. I look forward to more.
this is great… how exciting..
Am really taken with the way Bruce expresses himself. Would absolutely love to win and read one of his published works.
This is a very exciting way to get to know authors new to me. Your books look very intriguing. Thank you very much for the interview.
I enjoyed reading the interview. I will now being adding Bruces name to my books to look for!!!!!!
this blog is a wondeful way to find new authors..
I have never read any of your books but I have a few students whom have. They love them! I will need to try one of your books for myself! 🙂
Wow. That’s amazing. I now have some new WL books.
I became introduced to Bruce Boston when I came across a small publisher named Sam’s Dot Publishing, and their managing editor used his infamous used car salesmen pitch to get my interested and buying. I was shocked at the quality of work I found, expecting a small publisher to less than special work. Instead I’ve found some of my most entertaining reads and my introduction into Boston. What is great about Bruce, is that he gets his work and thoughts out there for fans, whether its linking up with a small publisher to get his work out there, or other sites and blogs where you find him lurking about, he’s an accessible writer to fans and an author more speculative fiction fans should be reading. The Guardener’s Tale in the actually next book in my reading queue, but I’m already intrigued and ready to get my hands on Masque of Dreams and Stained Glass Rain.
I have several Bruce Boston books on my reminder and wish lists. I am really looking forward to reading his work! I have to ask ( as a long-time resident of Boston, MA) has Mr. Boston ever lived here?
Edie,
I’ve never lived in Boston, but have enjoyed visiting. And yes, in case you are wondering, this is my real name, not a pseudonym.
great interveiw!
I ditto what Kelsey said, I’ve never heard of this author but am now anxious to read some of his work. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this site! (Although it’s definitely worsening my “addiction” to reading….)
These are too cool! I enjoy reading and corresponding about/with these authors. Sci-fi has always been my life’s read and yet it is so interesting to hear of a genre of speculative fiction and poetry! I believe I can’t wait to get ahold of some of Bruce’s books for this sounds like it combines my love for sci-fi and my wife’s love for poetry. I believe these could lead to interesting conversations between us.
Dear Bruce,
I liked what you had to say about having a list of authors who are also members of this club. To be honest it never occured to me that authors of these books would also be a member. It was just assumed that they would be too busy writing to take an interest but it does make a lot of sense that they would also want to be a part of the whole spectrum.
It’s so nice of you to take the time to reach out to us like this. Thanks!
Amazing. Some of the “unpopular” authors seem to be the best. I look forward to reading your books, Bruce!
I’m new to this site and so far I LOVE it! It’s awesome to get to read about new authors and new books that are being published. Bruce’s books seem awesome!
Seems pretty good, nicely work 🙂
I totally agree with him about what the best of speculative fiction does – comment on the real world. He also has the best definition of speculative fiction I’ve ever read.
I love seeing what books authors are reading.
Another author to add to my ever-growing list! I had never heard of Bruce Boston before, but now I will be checking out his books. Thanks, PBS!
It’s always so interesting to see the “real person” behind the words! Thank you PBS for this feature, and thank you Bruce!
Hello … I just read a bit about you and am interested to read some of your books. I’ll be be putting your newest on my wish list. Happy trading!
Tim
Its nice to think that a well known published author might be willing to take the time to answer questions from people who are trying to do there own writing. It’s always interesting to see what influences people to write the things that they think are there best works. Thanks for the great interview and the very insightful questions.
Great interview, interesting man. I have to admit that I had never heard of dark poetry. Sounds fascinating.