Joel Shepherd

Joel Shepherd is the subject of two interviews. First, John Joseph Adams interviews Joel for Sci Fi Wire, about the recent release of Killswitch. Speaking of lead character Cassandra Kresnov, Joel told Sci Fi Wire, “She’s not entirely sure of where she fits in anything and has no moral certainties save the value of human life and her own desire to do something useful. I think a lot of that comes straight from me.”

Then Jessica Strider interviews Joel for the World’s Biggest Bookstore’s Sci-Fi Fan Letter. Also speaking about Cassandra here (no surprise), Joel tells Jessica, “She’s possibly the least biased and most open minded person you’d be likely to meet on most matters — a natural pragmatist who is simultaneously intrigued by non-pragmatic things precisely because they’re unnecessary. She looks at everything as though it were new and fascinating, which as a writer forces me to do so too.”

And remember, first chapters of Killswitch are available online.

Fantasy Book Critic has just posted a great interview with Joel Shepherd. They talk with Joel about his Cassandra Kresnov trilogy, including the just released third and final (for now?) volume, Killswitch.They also discuss politics in the future, utopian vs distopian fiction, Joel’s new Australian fantasy series, the possibility of more in the Cassandra Kresnov universe, book covers, and who would make a good Cassandra in a Hollywood film. Here’s a taste:

“The only actress I’ve seen who might be able to play Cassandra is Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Bionic Woman). There may be others, but not that I’ve seen — she’s not a character or physical type you see a lot of in Hollywood. There’s more options for Vanessa Rice because the whole idea for her is someone who looks sweet and delicate but in personality is neither. Natalie Portman jumps out as a possibility…maybe she’d enjoy the chance to be cast against type. Ari Ruben IS Adam Goldberg, the character was actually partly inspired by him, in looks and mannerisms.”