Nov 16 2010
Bitter Seeds is pretty incredible so far…
We provide advice about how to write novels, comic books and graphic novels. Most of my content applies to fiction-writing in general, but we also provide articles specifically about superhero stories.
Through the first several chapters, I’m amazed by the quality of the writing of Bitter Seeds, a paranormal 1920s-1940s novel not merely straddling but making sweet, sweet love to the line between superhero fiction and urban fantasy. I hope it will retain the charm after we get move heavily into the paranormal WWII stuff.
Some early highlights:
- The author, Ian Tregillis, is preposterously good at handling settings and scene-building. Even if you read the first chapter for nothing else, I would recommend checking out how Tregellis uses setting details to set the mood and develop characterization. (Hint: those kid-sized burial mounds outside the Nazi laboratory? Not influenza victims).
- The writing is remarkably tight. Nothing is wasted.
- The main character establishes himself pretty early. Even as a child, he’s sort of interesting.
