Wild Cards!

I've been sitting on some very cool news for a little while. For the past several weeks I've been corresponding almost daily with a particular mega-bestselling author. We've been talking about whether I might be up for writing for a little series of books he's been editing for, oh, over twenty years now. He asked me to pitch some characters. I did. We batted them back and forth a bit until one in particular took shape. Then a contract came my way. I signed, and I was in! What am I talking about?

Well, the bestselling editor-very-much-in-chief is none other than George RR Martin. He needs no introduction. The ongoing series is Wild Cards, which is the terribly cool sci-fi/comics/alternative history/collaborative project that's been churning out books since 1986's Wild Cards (Volume 1). They have twenty volumes out so far, and hey, there's more to come.

First, go here and take a look at the announcement George just made about the "Fresh Blood" of which I am part.

Back? Okay, cool. Over all those volumes the series has included the work of wonderful writers, too many for me to start naming them here. I'd encourage you to look the series up, though. Even Wikipedia has quite a bit of information on it and on specific characters, of which there are many. Here's part of the intro cribbed from the Wiki page...

The series relates an alternate history of the earth after World War II. In 1946 an alien virus that rewrites human DNA is accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It kills 90% of those who come into contact with it (referred to as 'drawing the Black Queen'). However, 9% mutate into deformed creatures (known as 'Jokers') and the remaining 1% gain superpowers (known as 'Aces'). There is also a class known as 'deuces' - Aces who have acquired useless or ridiculous powers, such as the ability to levitate up to two feet, or to grow bodily hair at will. The airborne virus eventually spreads all over the world, affecting tens of thousands.

It's an inspired combination of traditional comic elements spliced into a rather realistic, and decidedly dark version of our world and of the passions that drive people. The various books over the years have seen a collaborative effort among authors of the consortium, creating mosaic novels, standalone novels, and all sorts of variations, including lots of gaming variations (which is where it all began, really). The series has plumbed the depths of Jokertown and traveled right around the world.

Most of the volumes are out of print at the moment. It would be nice to see more of them back in print, admittedly, but if you're interested in giving the series a try you need not be daunted by all those hard to find volumes. Getting your hands on the first book, Wild Cards, is a good place to start. But so to is jumping in at Inside Straight, part of the newest cycle which is followed by Busted Flush.

What will I be doing in this world? Don't know yet. If I did I wouldn't be able to tell you anyway, but at the moment the future projects are in the furious planning stages. I may be in there somewhere as a writer in a future volume, and my characters may appear in other writer's stories. I can say that everyone - lead by George himself - has a great deal of enthusiasm for pushing the series into the future. I'm thrilled that he invited me in, and I'm really looking forward to how the new books take shape!

By the way... Yes, I have George's email. Yes, we correspond often. But, NO, I'm not going to ask him about A Dance with Dragons for you! You think I'm crazy?