We chat with author Molly Tanzer about And Side by Side They Wander, which asks the question: In a future where there are clones, androids, and a sentient mycelium that creates fungal simulacra, who is real and what is fake?
Hi, Molly! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! Sure! I’m a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I’m the author of the weird western Vermilion, Creatures of Will and Temper, and lots of short fiction. Recently, I’ve been working with the estate of C.L. Moore to revive the first woman S&S heroine, Jirel of Joiry. I’ve written three Jirel stories so far, for New Edge Sword & Sorcery magazine, and more are coming!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My first publication was when I was still in elementary school—a poem in the local newspaper—so I’d say pretty much forever! My parents were both big readers, and so was I from a young age. I started writing more ambitiously in middle school, but never pursued publication until about twenty years ago.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading:
- A “Little Golden Book” called Toad Flies High, based on The Wind in the Willows
- The one that made you want to become an author:
- Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about:
- Neuromancer by William Gibson
Your latest novella, And Side by Side They Wander, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Philosophical art heist in space!
What can readers expect?
A fast-paced far-future museum caper that focuses on why people would want to pull of an art heist to begin with (apart from remunerative rewards). It’s a short book—only about 100 pages!—but there’s a little bit of everything, when “everything” means thinking about what art means, the reasons we’re fascinated but repelled by forgeries, the culture of the copy, a love story…bug-eyed aliens…a sentient mycelium…and more!
Where did the inspiration for And Side by Side They Wander come from?
Back in 2020 I read an article about some tech guys who decided they could solve the problem of the repatriation of the Parthenon marbles by digitally scanning the marbles, quarrying stone from the same quarries, and using lasers to perfectly reproduce them. That way, the UK and Greece could both have them. Predictably, Greece was like “we don’t want reproductions, we want our originals back,” and the UK was like “we’ll see you in court.” The strong reaction to the idea of trying to use technologies to try to make perfect reproductions of works of art really grabbed me.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed constructing the alien pilot/getaway driver, Tchik-Tchik. The characters don’t know if Tchik-Tchik is this being’s name, or the name of their species, due to translation issues. I wanted to create a truly “alien” alien, so that was a lot of fun!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I got the idea for this in 2020, as I said, but I didn’t start writing it until early 2023. It was strange to write and revise this as generative AI was starting to (try to) take over creative spaces. I also did a bit of revising after the 2024 election here in the US. The book always dealt with irresponsible billionaires and their political and social ambitions, but Elon Musk’s involvement with the election and the DOGE stuff in early 2025 meant I went back in to change some things as I did my final tweaking with my editor.
What’s next for you?
I mentioned the Jirel revival project, and right now we’re gearing up to launch the crowdfund for the first-ever Jirel of Joiry novella. It’s called Blue Fire, and if any readers are interested in campaign updates, they can sign up here! I also have a novella out next year called Ferry-Loupers, which is a folk horror story based on a real-life incident…in 1814, on Christmas Day, a person informed the newly appointed sheriff of Orkney that a tenant farmer was destroying the Standing Stones of Stenness. The sheriff rode out that instant to put a stop to it, but the story didn’t end there. I heard about this while traveling on Orkney a few years ago and knew there was a story in there!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I just read and enjoyed Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s new noir, The Intrigue, which will be out soon! I also managed to get an advance copy of Robert Jackson Bennett’s new Ana and Din mystery, A Trade of Blood. It was, unsurprisingly, super good. I think Joe Abercrombie is writing a sequel to his The Devils, which I quite enjoyed, so I’m looking forward to that, and W.P. Wiles’ sequel to the fabulous The Last Blade Priest, The Dead Man’s Empire, just came out. In terms of not-new books I’m reading, I’m finally making my way through Moby-Dick, and it’s fabulous! So funny.
