Welcome back to The Pop Quiz at the End of the Universe, a recurring series here on Tor.com featuring some of our favorite science fiction and fantasy authors, artists, and others!
Today we’re joined by V.E. Schwab, author of YA novels The Near Witch, The Archived, and The Unbound. Schwab’s first adult novel, Vicious, debuted to critical praise and reader accolades. Her latest novel, A Darker Shade of Magic, takes us on a journey through parallel Londons—available now in the US from Tor Books and publishing February 27th in the UK by Titan. You can read an excerpt here, and check out an in depth look at the US cover art by Will Staehle. You can also check out Schwab’s digital tour dates, as she stops by various blogs to answer your questions!
Join us!
If you could choose your own personal theme music/song to play every time you enter a room, what would you pick?
“If I Had a Heart” by Fever Ray.
If you regenerated as a new Doctor, what would your signature outfit/accessory be?
A black, high-collared Burberry trench coat.
What’s the best Halloween costume you’ve ever worn?
When I was six, I was D’Artagnan, complete with hat, saber, and moustache.
Choose your dream cast for a Hollywood adaptation of your new novel.
Kell: Eddie Redmayne
Lila: Lizzy Caplan
Holland: Mads Mikkelsen
What literary or film science fiction technology do you wish existed in our world right now?
Teleportation, no contest. I love being new places and HATE getting there, and have been known to say on multiple occasions that I would give anything from a piece of my soul to a limb to a portion of my life savings to teleport. Especially when bad weather keeps me off planes.
What was your gateway to SF/Fantasy, as a child or young adult?
Harry Potter. And I know a lot of people probably say that, but the thing is, I grew up with Harry, quite literally. I started reading the books when I was eleven, almost twelve, and aged alongside him, and while I don’t often credit my age with much, I will say that was an incredible luxury as a reader.
If you could open a new shop in Diagon Alley, what would you sell?
Inspiration.
If you could design a line of clothing/accessories based on your favorite fictional character, what would it look like?
Oh, I’m going to play such a narcissistic card here and say Kell, one of the leads from ADSOM, but only because he has SUCH MAGICAL OUTERWEAR. I’m a bit obsessed with fabulous coats, and Kell’s are the best.
Please relate one fact about yourself that has never appeared anywhere else in print or on the Internet.
I’m pagan.
List three things you’d like our readers to know about you and your work.
I like to play with tropes.
People always ship the boys in my books.
It’s not what people do that matters, it’s why they do it.
