Q&A with Robert Reed

Long-time Asimov’s writer Robert Reed answers questions in this interview about his new work “Oliana’s Skull” in our [July/August issue].

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Asimov’s Editor: What is the story behind this piece? 
Robert Reed: An earlier story of mine—“The Neighbor”—had a chapter set in this seaside city. I wanted to go back and explore the hills and neighborhood, and the giants living in the adjacent sea.

AE: Is this story part of a larger universe, or is it stand-alone? 
RR: This is a Great Ship story. So yes, the universe is big, broad, and hopefully deeper than most.

AE: What made you think of Asimov’s for this story? 
RR: I thought you’d buy it. That’s the first reason why I send anything anywhere.

AE: What is your history with Asimov’s? 
RR: Now and again, my work has been published in your magazine. Someone’s keeping a running tally. Not me. But last I heard, nobody was close to my title total.

AE: What is your process?
RR: I start each project with a clear idea of where I’m going. And when my characters tell me that I’m wrong, I listen to them. Oliana, for example. She delivered a nice surprise in the end.

AE: What inspired you to start writing? 
RR: It was the 1970s, and I was a child who thought writing would bring easy money.

AE: What other projects are you currently working on? 
RR: More Great Ship stories, plus once a year, I write 12-13 little stories wrapped inside my “Retrograde” universe.

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The author tells us, “Most of my recent work is focused on my dear old friend, the Great Ship. Some GS stories appear in established magazines. Asimov’s, for example. Others get sent straight up to Kindle. A story called “The Neighbor” was one of those self-published efforts. My favorite chapter takes my protagonist to a habitat where mortal humans live on one side of a deep, narrow sea, while the other shoreline is jammed with immortals from a multitude of species. An intriguing setting, and later, wanting to learn more about the realm, I decided to write a second novelette. “Oliana’s Skull” was always set on the mortal shoreline. At the beginning, I was convinced that the second city and those giant aquatic aliens would be allowed their own chapters. But alas, there wasn’t room. Millions of watery brains and tens of thousands of years of history . . . that’s more than enough terrain as it is.”