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Interview
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BOOKLOONS -
early/2002 |
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interviewer:
Hilary
Williamson |
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Q:
All
three of the
recent kids'
series that have
been making big
waves -
Artemis Fowl,
Cirque du
Freakand
of course,
Harry Potter-
are about very
powerful young
heroes. Of
these, Darren
has made least
use of his
abilities so
far. Is he (at
the end of Book
2) a full
vampire yet? And
will we see him
apply his
supernormal
strength and
other powers?
A:
Darren isn't a
full-vampire,
and won't become
one in the near
future. We will
see him make use
of his
superhuman
strength and
endurance in
later books
(starting with
Book 3) but I'm
more interested
in exploring
what life would
be like for a
real boy who
became a
vampire's
assistant -- not
in having a
super-strong kid
stomp about
knocking bad
guys left, right
and centre!
Q:
On
the same theme,
Harry has
Hermione,
Artemis is up
against Holly
Short. Will
there be a
strong female
character in the
Saga of
Darren Shanany
time soon (and
if so will her
name begin with
H)? Will
Darren's sister
play a role in a
later book?
A:
There are a
number of VERY
strong female
characters in
the
Saga of Darren
Shan.
We meet the
first of these
in book 3,
Tunnels Of
Blood--
the charmingly
named Debbie
Hemlock. In book
4 we meet our
first female
vampire, a
tough,
no-nonsense lady
who makes Xena
look like
Shirley
Temple!!! Annie
probably
returns, but not
for a long time.
Q:
Darren wasn't on
the best of
terms with Steve
when they last
met (the stake
through the
heart attempt
seemed a little
bit unfriendly).
Will they ever
renew their
friendship and
will Darren see
his family
again?
A:
Steve Leopard
returns in Book
8 (yipes!!!!).
Readers will
have to wait
until then to
find out if he's
evil or good, a
villain or a
hero, an ally or
an enemy ...
Q:
I
once came much
too close to a
huge hairy red
spider in
Tasmania, with
resulting
nightmares. Have
you ever been
bitten by a
spider and do
you have
technicolour
nightmares about
Madame Octa?
A:
I've never been
bitten by a
spider -- most
spiders (even
tarantulas!) are
utterly harmless
and totally
disinterested in
humans. I was
actually a bit
scared of
spiders for a
long time, until
the launch party
for
Cirque Du Freakin
the UK, when I
had to hold a
live tarantula
-- since then
I've been fine
with them!
Q:
Who
are the Vampire
Generals? Are
they more scary
and sinister
than Mr.
Crepsley? Will
we ever get to
know individuals
amongst the
anonymous Little
People?
A:
Good questions!!
We learn all
about the
Vampire Generals
(and Vampire
Princes!) in
books 4 to 6,
when Darren and
Mr. Crepsley
travel to
Vampire
Mountain. The
Generals are
harsh but fair
-- although
their laws are
ultra strict!!
Book 4 is also
when we learn
who and what the
Little People
are ... (The one
known as Lefty
-- from book 2
-- has a BIG
part to play in
the overall
story.)
Q:
How
do you think
Darren would
measure up in a
confrontation
with Harry
Potter or
Artemis Fowl?
A:
In
a magical duel,
he wouldn't
measure up
(magic isn't his
speciality), but
in a plain
old-fashioned
fisticuffs
scrap, he'd wipe
the floor with
them!!!!!!
Q:
And
here are two
questions from
another of your
fans, my 11
year-old son
Alan who is
concerned about
Darren's friends
from the
beginning of the
first book. Will
Darren ever
spend time with
his friends
again,
especially with
Alan? Why did
you pick my
name?
A:
Darren MIGHT
meet a couple of
his old friends
again (when he
meets Annie) --
but he just as
easily might
not! As for your
name being the
same, that's
just a freaky
coincidence --
or else it's the
work of a
certain Des Tiny
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