LBC Podcast #4: Rupert Thomson

Nominator:  Megan Sullivan

Nominee: Divided Kingdom, Rupert Thomson

Subjects Discussed: How the idea came about, relentlessly cheery Swedish girlfriends, how Rupert Thomson processes his prodigious research, Ian McEwan, inspiration vs. craft, the trappings of being a "speculative fiction writer," entertaining novels vs. literary novels, the difficulties of first-person narration, George Orwell, Anthony Burgess' The Wanting Seed, Mikhail Bulgakov and literary influences.

 Backup Link:  (MP3)

(A co-production of the LBC and The Bat Segundo Show.)

Comments

[Dan Wickett]

That was fascinating to listen to - a very interesting literary conversation.

Maybe one day there'll be a 900 page "director's cut" version of Divided Kingdom out there for we fans. I am stunned to hear that Thomson rewrote this book between ten and eleven times including one draft at 900 pages.

I loved his statement that he sees his work as a balance between the imagined and the real facts, with the imaginary facts being the more important of the two.

Also, Thomson = FOC's literary godson? Have to mull that one over a bit.

Another great job!