GREGORY FROST is an American writer of fantasy, horror, and SF. An art major in college, he might never have written fiction had it not been for a college apartment fire that wiped out years of paintings and charcoal sketches while only slightly singeing a ten page story he’d written. A graduate of the Clarion SF and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop program, he published his first story in 1981 in The Twilight Zone Magazine, edited by TED Klein, and his first novel three years later.
His latest work is the three-volume RHYMER series, published by Baen Books. The first book, Rhymer, is set in 12th century Scotland. Its sequel, Rhymer: Hoode, takes place in 13th century England, and came out this past summer. Of the latter, author Rick Wilber says, “Intricately plotted and peopled with fantastic characters… Frost’s Rhymer: Hoode occupies a fresh space in the legend of Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest. Very highly recommended.” Prior to Rhymer, his fantasy novel Shadowbridge was an ALA Best Fantasy Novel pick, and his historical horror novel Fitcher’s Brides (Tor) was a World Fantasy Award finalist. His horror novel The Secret House is due out in 2025, as is final “Rhymer” novel, Rhymer: Hel, set in Elizabethan London.
A new story collection, Beyond Here Be Monsters, has just debuted from Fairwood Press. It includes an Asimov Readers Award story collaboration with Michael Swanwick. An earlier story collection, The Girlfriends of Dorian Gray and Other Stories, is available in ebook format from the Book View Café cooperative online. Frost has been a finalist for Best Novel or Short Story for the World Fantasy, Stoker, Nebula, Hugo, James Tiptree, International Horror Guild & Theodore Sturgeon Awards. He taught Fiction Writing at Swarthmore College for 18 years.
The Questions
—If you were transported into one of your books as a character, what kind of character would you be and what kind of adventures would you have?
I would probably choose Shadowbridge, where, like my main character Leodora, I would be a shadow puppeteer. While researching that book, I had the opportunity to sit inside a real shadow puppeteer’s booth as he performed—somewhere between giving a reading and putting on a play. It was a cool experience, the more so for getting to hear the audience’s reactions to the stylized shadow figures upon the screen.
—If you had to choose between being a mermaid or a dragon, which would you pick and why?
I would choose to be a Mermaid, I think. I spent a lot of my youth swimming, and later did some scuba diving (I wish I’d done more). I find being underwater to be very calming and meditative. Soothing.
—If you could choose any real-life celebrity to make a cameo appearance in one of your books, who would it be and why?
If we include short fiction anthologies as well in the “books” category—in this case the anthology Three Time Travelers Walk Into…—then I’ve already chosen my celebrity: an almost unnamed Cary Grant, who takes a most unexpected trip in his last LSD-fueled psychotherapy session.
—If you were to write a book about a group of superheroes with completely useless powers, what would their powers be?
Flat-soda Man: He can re-create the effervescence of a Coke you left out overnight; The Ink Stain: Like a leaky fountain pen, she can spatter her enemies indiscriminately with permanent ink; Captain Midnight, who can only accurately tell time once a day, but you have to stay up late; and Black Cannoli, who magically adds chocolate bits to the ricotta in any traditional cannoli.
—If you had to choose between having the ability to speak with animals or plants, which would you choose and why?
I’m fascinated by communication among trees, but I have to go with animals, specifically cats, and that’s just because I’ve always engaged in dialogues with my cats, and often can infer what they’re trying to tell me; they’ve all proven to be smart enough to teach me what they want by looking at me then then at the object of desire (food bowl, back door), Still, I would prefer to hear it from the source if I could.
—If you had to choose one of your books to be turned into a cheesy made-for-TV movie, which one would it be and who would you want to play the lead roles?
Probably Lyrec, my first novel, if only because I can imagine it sort of leaning into the cheesiness). Alan Bates, circa 1969, as Lyrec, and Roddy McDowall as the voice of Borregad the cat (his was the voice I had in mind as I wrote it).
—If you could have any sci-fi gadget in real life, what would it be and what practical uses would you have for it?
Much as one pines for their own sonic screwdriver, my “gadget” would be Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet, because he’s like a Swiss Army robot, and can do anything from lifting furniture to synthesizing fine whiskey.
—If you had to choose between being a cyborg or a hologram, which would you pick and why?
A cyborg. As I understand holograms, there would be no real self there, just a recording, whereas the cyborg would presumably have a full and interesting personality (calling Martha Wells!).
—What off-beat location would you like to see host a convention, and why?
Well, it’s probably done this already, but Portmeirion in Wales, where The Prisoner was filmed. I visited it once many years ago while cycling through Wales, but did not have the opportunity to stay there overnight. Taking over The Village for a weekend would be a true Free For All.
—If you could alter any one single natural law, what would it be and how would you change it?
I should like to change that time is immutable. I would insert a “Do-Over” law, allowing you to return to a specific moment and adjust it in hindsight. I know it never works in fiction, but I’d give it a go anyway.
—Define “Science Fiction” as Damon Knight did (“What we’re pointing to when we say ‘Science Fiction'”), but without using your finger.
I had Damon as a teacher at Clarion. I think I would adhere to his argument (I believe it was his) that a science fiction story is one where, if you remove the “science” element—whether it’s real science or invented science, like time travel—the story falls apart. Otherwise it’s just a story wearing SF window dressing.
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Gregory Frost’s latest Rhymer novel is Rhymer: Hoode, from Baen Books.
You can learn more about Gregory and his works on his website
