Star Interview

Robert Rankin

The man, the legend, the teller of far fetched fiction and exceedingly tall stories. His unique prose style and extra ordinary imagination have brought him considerable success. He has sold over a million books and is translated into numerous languages (including Welsh) and has over 200 web sites dedicated to him.

Stand back and enjoy the world of ROBERT RANKIN...

1. A large percentage of our readers are from the US, tell us about yourself for their benefit

Well, I've served my time as Arnold Swarzenegger's stunt double and also as Jamie Lee Curtis'. So I'm versatile. I'm worshipped as a god by a Melanesian cargo cult but have been condemned as the Antichrist by several leading televangelists. I'm an enigma, wrapped in a mystery, bundled up in a brown paperbag and mailed to your aunty in West Virginia. My mother believes she is Dutch.

2. Do you still get nervous and/or excited when a new novel is released?

I find it very exciting and I always get a buzz out of going into a shop and seeing my books on the shelves. Especially if it's a butcher's shop. But I'm not certain whether all my books have actually been released. I think that some of them escaped.

3. Web Site Story? Are you embracing the internet, or is it your way or getting you own back on the www?

One of the best things about writing what is called Comic Fantasy, although I prefer the term Far Fetched Fiction to describe my work, is that you can say some pretty outrageous things that would get you punched on the nose if you said them in a bar. I'm no fan of computers, everyone who knows me, knows that. I happen to have an aversion to them, I don't like the look of them. I write in exercise books in long hand and my partner types the books up for me. I like the human touch, I couldn't work on a computer. But then I don't like dogs either, or cows or bicycles. But, as I say, I can have a go at all the things that I don't like in my books. Computers are perhaps an easy target, but so is a really large cow, or a bicycle with wheels that are ten feet high. Salad is OK though, as long as you have plenty of meat with it.

4. Do you have a favourite character to write for?

I get pretty attached to my characters, as I spend a lot of time with them when I'm writing the books, I have to believe in them and they have to believe in me or we can't work together. But if I have to have a particular favourite, I suppose that would be good old Jim Pooley. I love that man.

5 Do you believe that your characters are alive and you guide them, or do you just make them up?

Ah, I didn't see this question coming, so I partially answered it with the last answer. They are definitely alive inside my head. I just write down what they're doing. I'm not kidding about that. That is the way it's done. If they're not speaking, then I can't write. Sometimes they're quiet for much too long and deadlines approach, then they have to be teased into action. Mostly we get on well though.

6. Do your children display any signs of following you into writing?

No, mostly signs of madness. One is heavily into computers. One sprays cars for a living. One is a DJ. I can't remember what the other seventeen do. Some are trying to master the English language.

7. Did you watch popstars?

If I did, do you really think I'd own up to it?

8. You are trapped on a desert island and can take 2 books, one of which must be one of your own, what are they to be?

The Brentford Triangle.
How to build an ocean-going liner out of sand in a single day.

9. Describe your writing process

Good grief....
Well, I sit at a table, generally in a bar. I have before me an exercise book and several biros. I drink ale and smoke cigarettes. I am at peace with the world. I open the exercise book and write CHAPTER ONE and then I close it again. That's enough for one night, there's no point in getting carried away.

10. How long will you continue to write?

Until it is all finished. All of it. The lot.

11. As you were at Ealing Art College with the great Freddie Mercury, have you ever been temped to include him in one of your stories?

What? Big butch Freddie? When I knew him he was a beer-drinking womaniser, no woman on the course was safe from that man. He was a champion dart player in Ealing and he taught me how to spit over a double decker bus. He could also fart louder that anyone I've heard, before or since. I've no idea why he pretended he was gay, perhaps he thought it was good for his image. He has made several guest appearances in my books, but not under his own name. He's there if you care to seek him out.

12. Tell us about your forthcoming exhibition

It's at Waterstones in Brighton (UK) throughout April and May. It's all the models that myself and my partner Sally have constructed for the covers of my books. And one or two new things, like the Cosmic jester that was commissioned by SFX magazine. A lot of time went into making these models and also making the showcases for them. I'm very proud of the results. They're all for sale, come along and buy one.

13 Do you feel any authors are using you as their influence?

Oh yes. And I know who they are, and they know that I know who they are. But I'm not going to state in public who they are. All I can say to the readers is, if you notice any similarities between my work and other people's, just check the publication dates of the books concerned. But ideas aren't copywrite and you can only do people for direct plagiarism of actual passages. Shame, eh?

14 What would you like your eulogy to say?

He was different. He was fun.

15 Do you read Terry Pratchett?

No, never. I haven't read at work of fiction in twenty years.

16 What are your hopes/fears/plans for the future?

More books, more exhibitions, more of everything. More life, please.

Amen to that

Many, many thanks to Robert for taking the time to answer our questions. For more information on Robert check out www.steelcaves.com.

For the best web-site on Robert check out the out official fanzine sproutlore here

This interview is the express property of SteelCaves and cannot be reproduced within written permission from SteelCaves.