Simon Roy on A Star Called the Sun

About this episode

Simon Roy discusses his new short story collection, A Star Called the Sun, and the influences behind it.

We’re all the product of our influences. Cartoonist Simon Roy, on this week's podcast discussing his new short story collection, A Star Called the Sun, refers to his influences as "foundational mulch." We dig into a bunch of them—everything from Jack Vance novels to Soviet comedies. Celebrating the shoulders he stands upon while building comics filtered through his imagination that feel and look unlike any others. Each story in A Star Called the Sun exists within Simon Roy’s Altamira universe. It’s a post-human realm where many subgenres get to play alongside just as many different tones. If you’ve read previous Roy comics like Griz Grobus or Refugium, then you are well-traveled in Altamira, but if you’re unfamiliar with this strange domain, then there is no better place to start. Beyond discussing the stories and creators who inspired A Star Called the Sun, we plunge into the themes that hop throughout the collection. How far can humanity stretch before it stops being humanity? What the heck is consciousness anyway? It’s all a matter of context. A Star Called the Sun is now available in paperback from Image Comics. Make sure you’re following Simon Roy on BlueSky and Instagram…

People in this episode

Hosts: Brad Gullickson, Lisa Gullickson

Guest: Simon Roy

Topics covered

• influences
• comics
• post-human
• Altamira universe
• consciousness

Keywords

• A Star Called the Sun
• foundational mulch
• Jack Vance
• Soviet comedies
• humanity
• Kickstarter

Sponsors

2000 AD

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Altamira, A Star Called the Sun, Image Comics

Books & works: A Star Called the Sun, Refugium, Watch The Stacks, Comic Creators Name, Final Round of Plugs

Places: Herndon, Virginia

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