Recipe for a Propulsive SF Novella
An interview with A.D. Sui, author of "The Dragonfly Gambit"
If you’re following me on Twitter or Instagram, you’ll have already seen my announcement! If not, my fantasy debut will be out next summer with Titan! And you can add it on Goodreads now! I’ll keep newsletter subscribers updated on all the fun publishing things.
In two weeks, anticipate the recipe for a folklore-infused dark fantasy with Salinee Goldenberg, author of The Last Phi Hunter.
A.D. Sui (she/her) is a Ukrainian-born, queer, disabled science fiction writer. She is a Theodore A. Sturgeon Memorial Award finalist, and her Pushcart-nominated writing has appeared in Fusion Fragment, Augur, HavenSpec, and many others. The Dragonfly Gambit is her debut SF novella with Neon Hemlock. The Dragonfly Gambit is a rage-filled, Top Gun-esque, Sapphic space opera in which a disabled ex-pilot plays a game of double-crossing and manipulation with the heir to a warring empire.
What inspired The Dragonfly Gambit and how did the story evolve?
Sui: I have so much pent-up rage about being disabled. I’m not shy about it. I think disabled folks aren’t allowed to be angry or vicious or sexual. We’ve come a long way from disabled characters only being villains, but we’re not quite past the moral paragon of virtue stage. So, I wanted that rage and violence, and sexuality on page. I wanted it presented in such a way that the reader can’t look away. It’s a bit violent, I’ll admit. I also wanted to explore how disability intersects with femininity, and class, and imperialism. I’m Ukrainian, so the imperialism question is especially pertinent to me right now. Dragonfly started as a typical revenge story, and the layers kind of grew organically. If you have a queer, female-presenting, disabled character, the question of how the disability plays with their queerness and femininity will come up.
It was very cathartic to write, but I haven’t re-read it back-to-front since pass pages. It’s a bit too close to home.
What did your path to publication look like?
Sui: I had zero words for a novella when I first saw Neon Hemlock’s open call. I was obsessed with the press for quite some time because everything they publish is very queer and innovative and voicey. I love it! So, I had about a month to draft the novella, polish it, and send it in. So, that happened on time, and then dave read the novella in slush and promptly came down with COVID and thought he dreamt up the whole plot. Which, I can’t blame him for.
But it all worked out because now it’s out in the world!
What has been your experience working with a small press?
Sui: Working with Neon Hemlock has been great. When you work with a small press you have tons of input on the cover design, and the editorial process feels very collaborative. I love working with dave and feel that his editorial vision was strongly aligned with my own. We make a good team, if I say so myself.
What about the novella format lent itself to telling this story?
Sui: I really have just one plot line in Dragonfly (Okay, maybe Nez trying to get into Rezál’s pants is like a secondary plot). A single plot line, with a single set piece works really well in 40k words. The pacing was also a lot easier to pull off because I could just ramp higher and higher without worrying that my reader would burn out.
If you existed in the universe of The Dragonfly Gambit, how would you fit into the Rule or be rebelling against it?
Sui: As I told one of my friends two days ago, I would attempt to rebel and then promptly die since I don’t have any actual skills necessary for said rebellion. I am a chickenshit when it comes to conflict. I’d probably spray-paint some slogans or something, and run away.
Do you see the future of spec fic moving towards shorter long-form fiction, like novellas and novelettes?
Sui: Definitely shorter. I think we’re slowly shifting into the golden age of the novella. People have less and less free time and as much as I’d love to get lost in a good book for six hours, sometimes all I have is two hours in the evening. So, serialized novellas are going to be the next hot thing. You can quote me on that.
Can you recommend any other novellas for fans of Dragonfly?
Sui: Countess by Suzan Palumbo comes out in September!
How did your experience writing short fiction inform Dragonfly?
Sui: It made me realize that different lengths of publications are like different running races. Some people are sprinters, and some are marathoners. Once in a generation, you’ll see someone who is so versatile that they can do multiple lengths with high success. Personally, I’m a marathoner. I’m most comfortable in the novella-to-novel range. But I wouldn’t have learned that if I didn’t write a bunch of short stories first.
Can you tell me a little about your next project?
Sui: Publishing runs on secrets so I can’t say much, but I am working on a dark SF romance! It’s going to be dark, and queer, and it will make you cry/laugh!
Where can we find you to follow your work?
Sui: You can find me as @thesuiway on every social media platform or at www.thesuiway.ca. The best way to stay up to date on all my shenanigans is to subscribe to my newsletter at https://thesuiway.beehiiv.com/subscribe
What are you enjoying right now?
Sui: We Speak Through the Mountain by Premee Mohamed just dropped and I’ve been waiting for SO LONG for this novella, and it’s finally on my e-reader, so I’ll be disappearing now.
You can get a copy of The Dragonfly Gambit from Neon Hemlock or Amazon, or add it on Goodreads.