An Introduction to John M. Ford
by Will Shetterly
John M. Ford's first short story was published in Analog when he was eighteen. His first novel was published when he was 23. His third book, The Dragon Waiting, won the 1984 World Fantasy Award for best novel when he was 27. A few years later, he won the World Fantasy Award again for a poem, "Winter Solstice, Camelot Station." What more do you need to know to be impressed?
Very well. He has had stories and poems published in Omni, Analog, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, Amazing, and various anthologies, including Starlight, Dragons of Light, Invitation To Camelot, Silver Scream, and all but the first of the Liavek series. He writes science fiction and fantasy and horror and espionage thrillers with equal facility. He has written the only two Star Trek novels that are admired by those who love Star Trek and those who despise it.
Ah, but you're nosy, too. He's done the things that writers do to support themselves through the early parts of their careers. He's washed dishes and served as a computer consultant. He was an editorial assistant for Asimov's. He has designed games, and won three Origins Awards (given by the Game Designers' Guild).
You want more? Well, then:
You won't find better than Mike Ford. There are traits that storytellers should have, and all of us who have made that art into a trade have at least one: a nimbleness of wit (or the ability to fake it after writing many drafts), a felicitous touch for choosing and arranging words, an insight into the great and terrible things that make us human, a way of making old stories seem new and new stories seem eternal. Mike Ford comes with the complete package, and half a dozen options that the dealer never imagined.
The world lost a great stand-up comic when he decided to be a novelist. Anyone who's seen his "Ask Dr. Mike" show knows that. For those who haven't, the show's a simple routine that only requires an audience, a lab coat, a blackboard, and Mike Ford. The audience asks any question. Mike Ford answers. And the universe changes.
On second thought, the world didn't lose a great stand-up comic when he decided to be a novelist. Like Mark Twain, Mike's performances may delight, but his work is there to be appreciated at any time. Take a look at two of my favorites, "Scrabble With God" (collected in the NESFA Press book, From the End of the Twentieth Century) and How Much For Just the Planet?
I find myself not wanting to tell you much about Mike Ford, because his achievements are daunting, but the man is not. Like all great thinkers, he's interested in everything. That's frustrating to those of us who wish he would write more fiction, but those who love his work with role-playing games probably wish he wouldn't spend so much time on novels, short stories, and poems. His knowledge of comic books is at least as deep and embarrassing as my own. (Very early in our friendship, Mike and I discovered that we both remembered Bee-Man, a silly and obscure superhero of the 1960s. This revelation made my wife a bit concerned for both of us.)
So, if you find yourself in his company, introduce yourself and ask him about something. Anything. Or share an interesting or amusing thing you know. If you have the chance to hear him read or talk, go. You'll be glad you did. You won't find better than Mike Ford.
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