The Ruin of Angels: A Novel of the Craft Sequence | Max Gladstone | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Max Gladstone discusses his approach to creating unique systems in his fantasy novels, drawing inspiration from anthropology, history, and social dynamics.

Transcript

ANN: I'm here to introduce Max Gladstone. When Max came to audition for the writers group that we are now both a part of, my hopes were not particularly high. We'd had a couple of folks try out, and their writing was mediocre and, more importantly, their critiquing style was very soft and very bland. "Oh, I liked this story a lot. It's really nice.... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Gladstone focuses on creating original and comprehensive systems in his fantasy novels.
• ❓ He draws inspiration from anthropology and history to develop unique cultures and societies.
• ❓ Gladstone values flexibility and creative exploration in his worldbuilding and system development.
• 👯 He explores the impact of systems on human behavior and emphasizes the importance of understanding how people interact within these systems.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Max Gladstone develop his fictional systems?

Gladstone conducts research, particularly in academic anthropology, to understand how real-world cultures and societies function. He then uses this knowledge as inspiration to develop unique systems in his fantasy novels.

Q: Has Gladstone ever regretted a worldbuilding decision in his books?

Gladstone mentions that while he has made minor changes to things like names, he has not regretted any major worldbuilding decisions. He believes in keeping the framework loose, which allows for flexibility and creative exploration in subsequent books.

Q: How does Gladstone approach the chronological order of his books?

Gladstone initially numbered his books to indicate their chronological order, but this has caused confusion. He now focuses on contained stories within each book, while still providing connections and a sense of history between them.

Q: What inspires Gladstone's worldbuilding and system development?

Gladstone draws inspiration from academic sources, including anthropology and history. He explores how people react to their environments and how systems shape human behavior. He also uses game metaphors, like the game of Go, to describe his writing process.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Max Gladstone emphasizes the importance of creating original and comprehensive systems in fantasy writing.

• He draws inspiration from academic anthropology and historical events to develop his fictional cultures and societies.

• Gladstone uses the game of Go as a metaphor for his writing process, laying down stones to form a loose framework that he can later fill in.

• He explores the impact of systems on human behavior and how people interact within and respond to their environments.

• Gladstone shares his approach to worldbuilding, focusing on the reactions and relationships between characters and the systems they operate in.