Philip K. Dick once said, “The only difference between getting a book shelved in science fiction and one shelved in literature is how many times you use the word fuck.”
I guess I’m literature then 😉
PKD was talking about how publishers view genre books—fantasy and science fiction—as books for kids. Sadly, this leads many writers to tell stories with simplistic, sometimes childish sensibilities. There’s a place for such books and lots of people seem to enjoy them, though I would argue that many readers simply haven’t been exposed to anything else.
I know I’m dying for some adult-perspective genre fiction. That’s why I write it. That’s why I have turned to indie publishing, because I believe that there’s a desire for books that the Big Four won’t touch.
It seems at first glance that Chasing the Wyrm is not a very adult book. There’s not much sex in it. The main character is relatively young, fresh out of training, and makes foolish decisions. Yes, the action is a bit over the top and the villains a bit “Bond.” But Chasing the Wyrm has a modern, adult, political perspective. The insurgent groups the characters fight are real. The characters understand the failings of their own government and question if what they do actually helps people. They use guns more than magic, because that’s what works and what they are trained to do.
So if you shy away from urban fantasy because it doesn’t seem to give a fuck about real issues, Chasing the Wyrm is for you.
Only $2.99 at Amazon until March 22nd.
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Chasing the Wyrm: Christopher Yan – Office of Arcane Affairs
To protect its interests, the U.S. government projects its power militarily, economically, and magically. It leaves the last to the Office of Arcane Affairs.
Christopher Yan didn’t ask for the job. A wizard born with the power to warp reality, the OAA calls on him to neutralize all arcane threats. Part spy, part fixer, part assassin, Topher searches for a way to make his unique gift serve both his country and his principles. When he makes an enemy of a rogue wizard serving a dying insurgency, he learns the limits his conscience can bear.