Francis-Knight-QandA

Meet Francis Knight

debut British author

 

What inspired you to write FADE TO BLACK?

I’ve always loved darker stories. Not grit exactly, or anything overly graphic, but explorations of the darker parts of people, the darkness we all have inside. I had a character in my head with a scarred past who was trying to overcome it. And lo, Rojan was born. He started talking and would not shut up, and he was as cynical as they come which is great to write. And slowly it became his struggle with who he is. It’s a theme that seems to crop up quite often in what I write – people struggling against the chains that bind them, even, maybe especially, the invisible ones.

What section of a bookstore do you visit first?

Science Fiction and Fantasy, always, though it’s next to the history non fiction section in my local shop and I can get distracted. I can spend hours browsing.

What books were your childhood favourites?

I had a fabulous version of King Arthur’s tales, with colour plates and gold edging on the pages. I really loved that book! I had a thing for talking animals too – Watership Down, Farthing Wood. I couldn’t get enough.

What book is on your nightstand right now?

Which one? I generally have two or three on the go. I’m re-reading the classics of SFF, so currently I have the Many-Coloured Land, by Julian May, as well as a couple of others – Incarceron by Catherine Fisher and Beware of Pity by Stefan Zweig.

Is there any book you wish you had written?

Ooh, loads! I’d love to have written the The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, though. The way everything weaves together...

Orbit

Before the Fall

By Francis Knight
A reluctant hero takes on dark magic and corruption in this fantasy adventure - the second novel set in the vertigo-inducing city of Mahala.MAHALA - CITY OF CONTRASTS. LIGHT AND DARK. HOPE AND DESPAIR.

Rojan Dizon just wants to keep his head down. But his worst nightmare is around the corner.

With the destruction of their power source, the vertical city of Mahala is crisis. Riots are breaking out, mages are being murdered and the city is divided. But Rojan's hunt for the killers will make him responsible for complete anarchy. Either that, or an all-out war. And there's nothing Rojan hates more than being responsible.

THE ADVENTURES OF ROJAN DIZON

A tale of corruption and dark magic set in a world that's both vertigo-inducing and awe-inspiring.Full of fierce energy, fast-paced an inventiveA savage stab at organised religion and social control . . . emotionally powerfulBrilliantly exploredPowerful . . . a distinctive debutA great fantasy debut . . . The beginning of something really quite brilliant . . . very highly recommendedFrancis Knight was born and lives in Sussex, UK. She has held a variety of jobs from being a groom in the Balearics, where she punched a policeman and got away with it, to an IT administrator. When not living in her own head, she enjoys SFF geekery, WWE geekery, teaching her children Monty Python quotes and boldly going and seeking out new civilisations.From a British debut fantasy author comes this highly original trilogy that's drenched in atmophere and will thrill you to the coreEntrancing world-building based around the concept of a unique 'vertical' fantasy cityA central character with a highly commercial and accessible voice, and a compelling noir plotCombines the the murky atmosphere of SIN CITY, with the adventure and the pacing of Scott Lynch and Douglas HulickAn Orbit international title for worldwide coordinated promotion
Orbit

Fade to Black

By Francis Knight
An anti-hero takes on dark magic and corruption in this thrilling debut British fantasy adventure - set in the vertigo-inspiring city of MahalaFROM THE DEPTHS OF A VALLEY RISES THE CITY OF MAHALA

It's a city built upwards - where streets are built upon streets, buildings upon buildings. A city that the Ministry rules from the sunlit summit, and where the forsaken lurk in the darkness of Under.

Rojan Dizon doesn't mind staying in the shadows, because he's got things to hide. Things like being a pain-mage, with the forbidden power to draw magic from pain. But when the fate of Mahala depends on him using his magic, he can't hide for ever.

THE FIRST ADVENTURE OF ROJAN DIZON

A debut fantasy tale of corruption and dark magic set in a world that's
both vertigo-inducing and awe-inspiring.A savage stab at organised religion and social control . . . emotionally powerfulBrilliantly explored and a great metaphor for urban corruptionFull of fierce energy, fast-paced and inventiveThe world building is crazy interesting, the characters are very noir, and the plot was enough to keep me on my toes . . . I'm very excited to read the second in the series!A very strong debut from a novelist of vision who has built an intriguing sandbox to play in, with plenty of twists, turns and surprising momentsA great fantasy debut . . . The beginning of something really quite brilliant . . . very highly recommendedKnight's debut recalls the vibrant, urban-based fantasies of
China Mi?villeFull of witty quips, strong emotion, broken yet charming characters, and jam packed with astonishing revelations and fantastic ideas, Fade to Black is a must-read for 2013Top notch prose alongside a cast that really adds flavour all round makes this a cracking debutA thoroughly enjoyable read with plenty of twists and turns, and darkness enough to make the title perfectly apt. Highly recommendedFrancis Knight was born and lives in Sussex, UK. She has held a variety of jobs from being a groom in the Balearics, where she punched a policeman and got away with it, to an IT administrator. When not living in her own head, she enjoys SFF geekery, WWE geekery, teaching her children Monty Python quotes and boldly going and seeking out new civilisations.From a British debut fantasy author comes this highly original trilogy that's drenched in atmophere and will thrill you to the coreEntrancing world-building based around the concept of a unique 'vertical' fantasy cityA central character with an addictive, accessible voice, and a compelling adventure plotCombines the murky atmosphere of SIN CITY with the pacing and excitement of Scott Lynch, Brent Weeks and Ben AaronovitchAn Orbit international title for worldwide coordinated promotion