Been a while since I’ve done a straightforward Q&A. So post your questions here about my work or my thoughts on stuff or wha tever and I’ll do my best to answer them. Please, for God’s sake, one question each.
PAD
Been a while since I’ve done a straightforward Q&A. So post your questions here about my work or my thoughts on stuff or wha tever and I’ll do my best to answer them. Please, for God’s sake, one question each.
PAD
• 
What is the airspeed of a cocoanut-laden African swallow?
DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE COCONUTS.
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRSPEED OF AN UNLADEN EUROPEAN SWALLOW IS 11 METERS PER SECOND OR 24 MPH.
Will DC be releasing the rest of Fallen Angel in a third trade?
Will you be writing the dark tower after the first mini series?
DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER TO EITHER ONE.
If there was to be a movie version of one of your books, be it your own creation or someone else’s, who would be your dream star for the lead?
I’D LOVE TO SEE SETH GREEN AS APROPOS.
Can you give a rundown on how and what you use to work: pc/mac, MS word?, desktop/laptop, outline, etc.
A SONY VIO DESK COMPUTER. MY COMIC AND NOVEL WORK I USE MS WORD, AND FOR SCREENPLAYS I USE FINAL DRAFT.
Any tips on continued weight loss?
Almost 30 lbs for me since December but I was curious to hear from someone else how they are keeping it going as the months go on.
THE LONGER IT GOES, THE MORE IT BECOMES INGRAINED HABIT. WHEN I’M HUNGRY I CRAVE WATER OR FRESH FRUIT RATHER THAN JUNK. IF I DON’T GO AND EXERCISE, I GET SO TWITCHY THAT I NEED TO GO OUT AND BURN OFF CALORIES. IT’S NO LONGER REALLY A MATTER OF WILL POWER; HAVING MADE THE RESOLUTION TO LIVE MY LIFE DIFFERENTLY, I PRETTY MUCH REWIRED MY BRAIN SO I’M NO LONGER THINKING LIKE AN OVEREATER WHO NEVER EXERCISES.
A LOT OF WHAT HELPED FOCUS ME IN THAT DIRECTION, I THINK, WAS THAT I WEIGH MYSELF EVERY DAY. FORGET THE NOTION OF ONCE-A-WEEK. THERE’S TOO MUCH TEMPTATION TO CHEAT IN THE INTERVENING TIME.
How does your relationship work with the other Spider-Man writers? Like, what type of contact do you have with them to make sure all three titles make sense?
MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE IS PRETTY MUCH THE JOB OF THE EDITORS. SOMETIMES SCRIPTS GET SENT AROUND SO THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.
Through the NF and TNG novels you have written I have become an admirer of all your books. Thank you for your contribution to Literary Society. My question for you is, given that there are so many Star Trek fans out there who get all out of sorts and upset because they do not feel that the books follow any sort of continuity or some even hold that they do not have a place in the Star Trek world and cannot be considered cannon. How do you feel about that and what steps do you take to stay True to the world of Star Trek, past present and future and ensure your characters and books keep a place in that world?
WELL, I CERTAINLY TRY TO HEW TO THE CONTINUITY THAT I MYSELF ESTABLISH. AND I TAKE PAINS TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON’T CONTRADICT ANYTHING THAT WAS ON TV (MORE PAINS, I SHOULD NOTE, THAN THE PRODUCERS ACTUALLY DID FOR THEIR OWN SHOWS.)
Thanks You for taking time!!!
Steve R.
Why were you so eager to quit X-Factor the first go round – was it really because of all the crossovers and tie-ins forced up you by editorial? And if so, why are you so willing to embrace them now?
I WASN’T “EAGER.” IT WAS BECAUSE, BETWEEN THE INCESSANT CROSSOVERS THAT KEPT DERAILING MY ONGOING STORIES, AND THE EDITORS BLITHELY REWRITING MY DIALOGUE WITHOUT CHECKING OR CLEARING IT WITH ME, I GOT FED UP. THE “TIE-INS” THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW ARE A VERY DIFFERENT ANIMAL. I’M WRITING STORIES THAT ARE REFLECTING THE CHANGING STATUS QUO IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE RATHER THAN WRITING SINGLE CHAPTERS IN ONE MASSIVE STORY. AND YES, THE STORYLINE LAUNCHING IN OCTOBER IS EXACTLY THAT; BUT IN THAT INSTANCE I HAD SEVEN MONTH’S NOTICE SO THAT I COULD BE SURE THE DECKS WERE CLEARED FOR IT.
After World War Hulk, is there any chance you’ll get Rick Jones back in a regular book? I’d love to see you pen him a meeting with the Winter Soldier.
I DON’T SEE HIM AS REALLY FITTING IN WITH THE TITLES I’M CURRENTLY WRITING, ALTHOUGH PERSONALLY I THINK IT’D BE A KICK TO SEE HIM WANDER THROUGH “DARK TOWER”…
[Insert pointless inane fanboy question here]
INSERT GENERIC RESPONSE HERE.
Look, it was either I write that crack or something stupider, because I couldn’t think of any question—good or fanboyish. (This is a pre-emptive strike on any potential replies to a joke)
TOO LATE.
Could you pass something on to Stephen King for me? : -)
[Seriously, another approach worked out]
What’s your convention/out-of-town appearances schedule look like for the rest of the year?
I’LL BE ATTENDING HEROES CON IN JUNE, SHORE LEAVE AND SAN DIEGO IN JULY, DRAGON CON AND THE ORLAND COMIC CON IN SEPTEMBER.
What was the first comic book you ever remember reading?
A CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST COMIC IN A BARBER SHOP.
Peter, before I ask my question, please allow me to opine that responding to the questions in boldface, as you did in the last couple of Q&A’s, looks much better. It reads better, and is more pleasantly, in part because all-caps is an Internet meme for screaming.
I KNOW, BUT I’M A LITTLE FUZZY ON HOW TO USE FB. IF I DID IT IN THE LAST FEW, IT WAS ENTIRELY ACCIDENTAL.
Now my question: I compiled and organized into categories the contents of the last four Q&A threads, but some answers are a bit dated, and there is at least one instance of answer you gave to a question repeated on two of them being contradictory.
DO I CONTRADICT MYSELF? VERY WELL, I CONTRADICT MYSELF. I AM VAST; I CONTAIN MULTITUDES.
If I emailed you some of these, could you offer your thoughts, and if so, post it as an FAQ section on your site? Many personal sites have FAQ’s and this may alleviate fans asking the same questions over and over. Thanks.
I CAN RUN IT PAST GLENN.
And for those of you who don’t know where those previous four threads are, here they are:
ANY QUESTIONS? August 26, 2003
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/000943.html
WHAT’CHA WANNA KNOW? October 21, 2003
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/000870.html
WHAT’CHA WANNA KNOW? November 26, 2003
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/000817.html
What’cha wanna know? June 20, 2006
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/004131.html
And if any of you want a copy of the PAD FAQ (which is still incomplete), let me know where to email it. 🙂
A few genre series currently on the air show intelligence and wit, the qualities I associate with your writing. I’m thinking of Heroes and The Dresden Files specifically; some others might include Battlestar Galactica. Given that you have some status in genre fiction and screenplay writing, do you still have to submit spec scripts to these shows to write for them? I’m guessing that Straczynski would come asking for you if he needed scripts, since he knows you and has worked with you, but has anyone come to you out of the blue and asked you to write for them, based on your reputation only?
I’D BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THE GUYS FROM STARGATE SG-1 ABOUT WRITING FOR THEM, BUT THE WHOLE CANCELLATION THING KIND OF KILLED THAT. REALLY, THE PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO WRITE FOR TV IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF EPISODES ARE WRITTEN BY STAFFERS, AND THE HANDFUL THAT ARE FARMED OUT ARE USUALLY TO FRIENDS OF PRODUCERS AND SUCH.
Okay, ONE question:
Professionally, do you have a “dream” project that has yet to be fulfilled?
Clarification:
You know, like there might be an existing/licensed character or creator owned idea that you have yet to write.
Personally, I would love to see you do a Doctor Who episode or novel, but I digress… 😉
A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES: TARZAN VS. THE PHANTOM.
Any glowing nuggets of wisdom for the first-time father of an absofreakinglutely adorable 13-month-old girl?
-Rex Hondo-
DON’T BLINK. IF YOU BLINK THEY GROW UP.
Given that you and Joe Quesada are big Mets fans, and Stephen King’s baseball team predilections (or if you prefer, perversions) are well known– is there a gentleman’s agreement in place to never discuss 1986, or to mention the word “Mookie”?
HASN’T REALLY COME UP, NO…
When you were Marvel’s Direct Sales Manager, what were your responsibilities, and what did you like most about the job?
RESPONSIBILITIES: PUTTING TOGETHER THE SOLICIT INFORMATION, ASSEMBLING THE ORDER NUMBERS AND HELPING DETERMINE PRINT RUNS, INTERFACE WITH DISTRIBUTORS AND RETAILERS, ATTEND CONVENTIONS TO PROMOTE THE BOOKS, OVERSEE MONTHLY PRESS CONFERENCES, HELP ADMINISTER VARIOUS RETAILER PROGRAMS SUCH AS RACK CREDIT AND CO-OP ADVERTISING. INTERFACE WITH PRINTERS AND TROUBLESHOOT. WHAT DID I LIKE MOST ABOUT IT? PROBABLY THE CONVENTIONS.
What do you think Marvel can do in order to reestablish death as an actual plot device? I WANT to care about the death of Captain America, but I don’t. And I want to care about the death of Aunt May, but after the “genetically altered actress” death of a few years ago… how can I?
HONESTLY? AT THIS POINT? PROBABLY NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I MEAN, YEAH, THE MEDIA GOES NUTS OVER THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA, BUT HOW MANY LONG TIME FANS REALLY BELIEVE IT?
Hi PAD
You’re not an author living in New York – you’re an ordinary guy (with no powers) living in the Marvel Universe.
Who would you be and why? (you don’t get to choose yourself in NY!)
I WOULD PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE GUYS WHO WRITES THE AUTHORIZED MARVEL COMICS ABOUT THE SUPERHEROES.
Simon.
Peter David said:
“WELL, NO. THEN AGAIN, I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY REMEMBER MULTI-MAN, FLUID MAN AND COIL MAN.”
—–
{blink}
{blink again}
{go to bathroom, look in mirror}
{return to computer}
Well, I remember ONE of them!
🙂
We tend to agree 100% on politics. Have you seen/heard of the book Rise of the Vulcans by James Mann ? At first I thought it was a Trek novel I hadn’t heard of, and quickly looked to see if you’d written it, but it is subtitled “The History of Bush’s War Cabinet”. I promptly choked. Allegedly, though I’d never heard of it before, bush’s (I will not use a capital here) War cabinet is known as “The Vulcans”, which, as far as I can see, is about the biggest oxymoron I’ve heard in a long time. Unfortunately, the book was being shipped elsewhere and I didn’t have time to look at it in more depth. Sorry, dubya, Tricky Ðìçk Cheney may be a Ferengi, but he ain’t no Vulcan.
I DID HEAR ABOUT IT, ACTUALLY, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN’T READ IT. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DAVID WU DECLARED THAT THERE WERE, IN FACT, KLINGONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE RATHER THAN VULCANS, JUDGING BY THEIR WARLIKE TENDENCIES. WU WAS WIDELY SEEN AS RAVING NUTS BY PEOPLE WHO WERE UNAWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE BOOK OR THE NOTION THAT BUSH’S CABINET OF ADVISERS REFERRED TO THEMSELVES AS VULCANS. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THEY DIDN’T DO IT IN A TREK MANNER; THEY NAMED THEMSELVES AFTER A STATUE OF THE GREEK GOD IN RICE’S HOME TOWN.
> A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES: TARZAN VS. THE PHANTOM.
I would pay to see it
WELL, THAT’S ONE SALE RIGHT THERE.
Well, I don’t have any deeply insightful questions, especially as we’ve had some very good questions and answers here already – such as the one about which former series of yours you’d like to return to and resolve as you originally planned – but I have wondered: Are you reading the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8 series, and do you have any thoughts about it which you’d care to share?
IT’S NICE TO HAVE THEM BACK, ALTHOUGH I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED OVER THE NOTION THAT AMY WAS STILL IN SUNNYDALE WHEN IT WENT DOWN. NOW IF IT HAD BEEN ANYA DISCOVERED MIRACULOUSLY ALIVE, THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A LITTLE MORE SENSE TO ME. LOVING THE GIANT DAWN.
(And thank you for once again taking the time to do this. There’ve already been many interesting new insights given and curiosities satisfied [and, of course, just plain fun replies].)
1What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is the airspeed of a coconut laden swallow traviling northward?
SORRY, I WAS VERY SPECIFIC, ONE QUESTION ONLY.
If you worked in a bookstore, which books (not counting your own) would you put on the “reccomended by the staff” shelf?
ANYTHING BY ROBERT CRAIS. “ADAMS VERSUS JEFFERSON.” THE NEW TRANSLATION OF “DON QUIXOTE.”
Hi, Peter. I’m a fan of your Trek books and have been reading your blog for a while. My question is, out of theme, plot, character, and style, which element is most important to you in your writing, and which one drives your work? (I hope that’s not two questions–I see it as one issue.)
WELL, THAT’S KIND OF LIKE SAYING WHICH BODY PART HAS TO BE FUNCTIONING BEST FOR THE BODY TO SURVIVE, HEART OR BRAIN OR KIDNEYS. IDEALLY EVERYTHING RECEIVES EQUAL CARE. IN YOUR EXAMPLE, I’D PROBABLY LEAN MOST TOWARD CHARACTER. IF THE READER DOESN’T GIVE A ÐÃMN ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERS, THEN NOTHING ELSE IS GOING TO MATTER.
I liked the wildman character from your run on Hulk. I don’t remember his story ever really be resolved. Did you have more plans for that character or was his story side tracked by the Heroes Reborn/Return events at the time?
THERE WERE OTHER THINGS KICKING AROUND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND WITH HIM, BUT YEAH, WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON I NEVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEM.
These are part of your standard “any advice for someone trying to break into the industry?” questions, I suppose. I’ve had articles published in newspapers around the country, but I’ve never had any of my fiction or prose published. Does the fact that people have paid me to write help me get my foot in the door?
IT INDICATES A CERTAIN DEGREE OF PROFESSIONALISM.
Also, would it help to go to conventions this summer to try to meet people, or is that just a waste of my time?
NO, IT DEFINITELY HELPS. ALLOWING EDITORS TO HAVE A FACE TO PUT TO THE NAME CAN AID IN LIFTING YOU ABOVE THE REST OF THE HERD.
Have you enjoyed the Planet Hulk storyline so far? As a lifelong Hulk fan, it’s been the closest thing since your departure that hits (to me, at least) alot of the same themes, I’m just curious to your feeling on how it wrapped up.
WITH THE REPEATED UNDERSTANDING THAT I’M THE WORST PERSON TO COMMENT ON THESE THINGS, IT SEEMED LIKE “GLADIATOR” MEETS “JARELLA’S WORLD,” BUT TOOK A LOT LONGER. I FELT AS IF THE LENGTH OF THE STORY WAS MANDATED NOT BY THE STORY, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT BY THE NEED TO KEEP THE HULK OUT OF CIVIL WAR, WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT GREG PAK’S FAULT.
Your comment re HOWLING MAD. Wasn’t it optioned by some film studio a year or two ago? If so, any progress being made on that front?
DO THE WORDS “DEVELOPMENT HÊLL” MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU…?
Any chance of seeing more “Cowboy Pete’s?”
YUP.
PAD,
Do you like Iron Man and would you ever consider writing his series? I’ve noticed that I haven’t ever seen the character pop up in any of your works, but he’s my favorite Marvel character and you’re my favorite Marvel writer, soooo… How about the Avengers?
IRON MAN HAS SHOWN UP SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY RUN ON “HULK.” HE’S NOT MY FAVORITE, BUT HE’D BE A LOT OF FUN TO WRITE.
Thanks.
I own a first edition of Howling Mad. I should have been more clear in the question by pointing out that I was kind of hoping for a straight horror novel from you these days and wondering what it would read like from the more experienced writer and storyteller you’ve become.
Missed the Shock Rock stories. I’ll have to check them out. Thanks again.
DON’T BLINK. IF YOU BLINK THEY GROW UP.
Amen, Brother. Amen.
What was the inspiration for the current ‘Lin’ storyline in FA? Was it Linda fans clamoring for more? Was it your wanting to write Linda one more time? Or a little of both …
WHO SAID THAT WAS LINDA? *I* NEVER SAID THAT WAS LINDA.
NOW IF IT *HAD* BEEN LINDA, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY COMMENTS FROM DC MANAGEMENT THAT SHE WAS PERMANENTLY GONE FROM THE DCU, CONSIGNED TO OBLIVION. AND I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WELL, Y’KNOW, THAT BEING THE CASE, WHY NOT PROVIDE A PAYOFF TO ALL THOSE FANS WHO WAITED TO SEE A CONNECTION.
BUT I’M NOT SAYING THAT’S THE CASE.
Peter David said:
“WELL, NO. THEN AGAIN, I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY REMEMBER MULTI-MAN, FLUID MAN AND COIL MAN.”
Hanna-Barbera’s “The Impossibles”
Peter,
What was your favorite Hanna-Barbera cartoon?
SECRET SQUIRREL.
George W. Bush,
Great President…or the Greatest President?
I’D SAY “GREATEST,” ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER DEFINITION BELOW (NOTE THEIR EXAMPLE OF USE: PARTICULARLY APT)
3 : remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness
THE MAGNITUDE AND DEGREE TO WHICH HE HAS SCREWED UP THIS COUNTRY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS WITH WHICH HE HAS SHED BLOOD…DEFINITELY GREATEST.
How far ahead do you know about things such as the Death of Captain America?
ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.
Any chances of seeing something with Spyboy again at some point?
WELL, IF I WERE TO WRITE IT, SOMETHING WOULD HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT WITH MARVEL. EVERY SO OFTEN I HEAR BUZZ ABOUT YET ANOTHER STUDIO BEING INTERESTED IN OPTIONING IT, AND SHOULD THAT HAPPEN, IT’S LIKELY THERE’D BE MORE.
Hi Peter, hope I’m not too late (this is what I get for not going online much the past couple days)…
I was recently looking at all my Peter David books (and marvelling at just how many there are) when I got to wondering — you’ve written a fair amount of short stories, too. Is there a liklihood of those stories being put in a collected volume?
I’VE CONSIDERED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME. NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO DO SO, BUT IT’S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
Thanks for your replies, both to my questions and the others’.
I don’t know if we’re allowed to do this, but it’s worth a try:
“I AM ABSOLUTELY THE WORST PERSON TO ASK ABOUT THE HULK, BECAUSE I HAVE VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS AS TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG”
I’d hope so, which is part of why I asked. I guess I can understand then why you might not want to say too much. If I may ask, though, who among those writers has come closest to matching those specific ideas?
PROBABLY PAUL JENKINS, ALTHOUGH I’M STILL NOT SANGUINE ABOUT THE WHOLE “PROFESSOR” THING.
“AS FOR MAKING ANOTHER LONG-TERM COMMITMENT, I DON’T KNOW THAT ANY COMMITMENT I MAKE WOULD BE LONG ENOUGH FOR FANS.”
I agree with that completely. But even with that, would you be willing to make another 2-3 year+ commitment if offered? (How about if they gave you an exemption to your exclusivity contract that allowed you to do the “Tarzan vs. The Phantom” mini for Dark Horse?)
IT REALLY DEPENDS UPON WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON WITH ME AT THE TIME.
PAD,
In the 80’s a Cap comic depicted Ronald Reagan as a gigantic effin’ snake. Any chance Marvel would let you give Bush(it) the same treatment? >:-D
I THINK A GIANT ÃSS WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. NOT THE BRAYING KIND. I MEAN AN ACTUAL GIANT ÃSS.
Silly question:
Have you ever thought (even remotely) about appproaching (with Paramount) Jerry Anderson’s organisation to see if “Star trek: New Frontier” could be given the
“The New Adventures of Captain Scarlet” “hypermarionation” 3D animation treatment?
Megan
NO, IT’S NEVER OCCURRED TO ME. I THINK IT WOULD BE A HOOT.
What’s the strangest question that you remember ever getting in one of these Q&A sessions and what was your answer?
THIS ONE.
Well, I guess I asked for that. I hope that the above question wasn’t an annoyance to you.
NOPE.
Is there really hope for the return of the True Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider? If so, I would buy 10 copies per month of any Scarlet Spider title.
I AM SOMEWHAT DUBIOUS OF THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF IT WERE IN THE OFFING, I COULDN’T TELL YOU, SO…
Firstly I wanted to thank you for answering an email I sent you. I didn’t really expect that you would take the time to respond and I think it is lovely that you interact with your fans.
My question is when you kill a character do you feel a sense of loss?
YES. I ALWAYS FEEL A SENSE OF LOSS WHEN KILLING A CHARACTER. IT’S ONLY WHEN I KILL ACTUAL PEOPLE THAT I FEEL NOTHING AT ALL…
Megan,
I just want to be the first person here to say that your idea may well be one of the coolest ideas I’ve ever read here. I’m not sure the tone and style would be 100% right, but I’d buy it.
” Jerry Chandler at April 15, 2007 06:55 PM “
Thank you for saying that. We were watching Seasons 1 & 2 of the “New Captain Scarlet” last week, & thinking that it might work with ST:NF.