Character Interview
Hi, Archibald! Thanks
so much for stopping by for a cappuccino and a chat. Oh, wait, do androids drink coffee? I
enjoy a good coffee, Belle. Please, and thank you. Oh, great! Well, have a seat and let’s get to it. Ali’s fans are as eager to get to know you as
I am.
- I’m so curious about life as an android. What is your earliest memory? Your happiest memory? Your saddest?
My
earliest memory is not technically my own. My Creator gave it to me upon my
birth—as he has done with all my brothers and sisters. It’s a memory of his
love for us, so that we will always remember his purpose in creating us, so
that we might always stay true to that purpose.
My
happiest memory—well, that’s a little harder to define. I suppose the first
time I held Serantha in my arms and she looked up at me and recognized me. I’d
been joined with her since her creation, my programming had prepared me for
this moment. And yet . . . it hadn’t. The reality of it, the truth of it, was
so much more. Yes, becoming Serantha’s Servant was the happiest moment of my
life.
As
for my saddest . . . I suppose you’ll be able to figure it out when you read
Serantha’s sad tale.
- What was your relationship to the traitor,
Galen, before the uprising?
Galen was my first friend. We were born on the same day—released from
our stasis to begin training for our roles as Servants. Even though he was
created to be a commander of the King’s ships, and I to raise the King’s child,
we found we had much in common and enjoyed one another’s company. We both enjoyed
games of wit—though he was much snappier than I. I always appreciated that
about him. He could make me laugh, help me to “loosen up” as he called it. I
was grateful for his tutelage in this because Serantha was not a sober child
and Galen’s influence helped me to be a better Servant to Sera.
- What’s it like being in service to the royal
family of the West?
Serving the royal family was my greatest privilege. The king and queen,
while engrossed in their respective responsibilities, were kind and thoughtful
toward their daughter, and to me. It was an honor living among them while I
prepared Serantha for her role as queen over both the West and the East.
- Before the andie uprising, what were the
political relations like between the East and the West?
It was my hope that Serantha and Nicolai would breach the divide that
had grown wider during the reign of their parents. Relations between the East
and West had always been . . . tenuous . . . but Nicolai’s father was
particularly obtuse and unlikely to be swayed from whatever course he set his
mind to—even when he was wrong. Forgive me, it is not my place to pass judgment,
but . . . I had confidence that Serantha and Nicolai would repair whatever
damage their parents might have caused.
- At what point did you know your purpose in life
was to guard and rear princess Sarantha?
From
the moment I awoke, I knew. And I was overjoyed to be of service in such a way.
- What was she like when you first met her? How old was she? How did it feel for you when you first saw
her? Held her?
I
became Serantha’s Servant before she was born—before she was conceived. My
nanos were already a part of her mother, the queen, in anticipation of her
conception. So the moment the proper cells were aligned to create her life, I
was there, nurturing her, encouraging her to grow.
As I
said, when I first held her, I began the first of many Transfers, sharing my
symbiants with her so that we could be joined at a molecular level. When she
opened her eyes and her gaze met mine . . . at that moment I comprehended what
wouldn’t be possible for any other android but a Servant—the value of human
life. Not just Serantha’s but all life.
- What’s it like when your symbiants communicate
with Sarantha? What did it feel like
during those years you had no connection with her?
My
words are inadequate to truly convey how it feels to be a part of her, to know
her needs and wants intimately in a way no human can truly be. It feels . . .
like magic.
When
I was cut off from her—those long years were the darkest of my existence. I
felt like only part of myself. Like I was missing a limb—but more so. Like I
was missing my heart.
When
we were reunited, and our symbiants once again began sharing their communication,
it was like I could breathe again, like my heart beat again. It matters not
that I possess no actual heart—what matters was that Serantha was my heart and
she gave me purpose.
- Before the uprising, what sorts of recreational
activities did the humans enjoy aboard ship?
Dancing.
Always dancing. The king and queen enjoyed lavish parties and partook of them
quite frequently. Many humans enjoyed physical activities and the ship was
equipped to meet their various desires from long running tracks that could give
the runner the feeling of being in whatever environ they chose, to
rock-climbing structures that mimicked the most challenging of mountains on
Earth.
The
art of storytelling had enjoyed a resurgence, and Serantha particularly enjoyed
it. I have to say I had become rather good at it, myself, mastering the art of
impersonating several individuals on the ship that brought particular joy to
Sera and the other children.
- What is your greatest hope for Sarantha’s
future? Your greatest fear?
My greatest hope is, as all parents wish for their child, that she will
find happiness. That she will find joy in the simple things of life—friendship,
companionship, love. That she will learn to laugh and find many opportunities
to do so.
My greatest fear—well, I suppose it would be that she should forget me.
But that is selfish of me, I suppose. I fear that the East will not allow her
and Nicolai the happiness they so deserve. I fear that war may come to them far
sooner than they might wish. I fear she’ll experience sorrow and loss—and if I
had any true magic, I would save her from such heartache.
- Is there anything you have on your mind you’d
like to discuss?
I would like to thank you for your interest—it is a joy to speak of
Sera and my calling to be her Servant. It was too long that I was forced to
pretend to have forgotten her that I feel I have all these memories clamoring
to be shared. Also, I wish that the humans could know that Galen and his Mind
do not speak for the whole of the android population. There is goodness in us,
yet. There is the capacity, the desire, to serve. I hope you and your people
will remember.
Thank you, Archibald. That was a very informative interview, and I'm glad that I finally got to meet you. Don't tell the other characters this, but you are my favorite!
My Review of Blood Crown
Oh, how I relished every word of this smartly-written science fiction novel! I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say that my favorite things about this wonderful book are:
- I loved the alternating points of view in this book. It's very unique and gives the reader the ability to see a fuller picture of what's going on. In each chapter, we get the opportunity to see things from each of the main characters.
- Without giving too many spoilers, I'll just say that Ali had a unique idea in that the nations of the world are represented by different ships in outer space. I loved experiencing the political dynamics between those nations from that vantage point.
- The characters are believable and easy to care about.
- I adored getting to know the characters within the confines of a space ship. I must be careful here that I don't give spoilers, but the ship is a very special character in this story.
- The antagonists in this book are fabulously evil, and there were a few times I gasped while reading Blood Crown.
- Ali Cross's ability to weave a story that draws you in and keeps you spellbound is my favorite thing about Blood Crown. This is a story I won't quickly forget. The characters stayed with me for days ... especially Archibald. When you read this book, you'll discover the scene that actually made me cry.
- There was enough of a cliff-hanger that made me want more.
What my least favorite thing about this book was:
I didn't have the next book in this series immediately to read!
My favorite quote from Blood Crown is:
"It only takes a brief inquiry, sent through secure channels, to determine the android crew has mutinied." ~Archibald, Blood Crown by Ali Cross
That quote is in the first chapter of this book, and once I read it, I was hooked!
I loved this book to the moon and back!
That's why I give BLOOD CROWN:
Oh! I forgot to tell y'all! Request a snazzy Authorgraph like this one for all of her books here.
GIVEAWAY!
Ali is offering up one signed copy of BLOOD CROWN to one lucky winner in the US!!!! Woohoo!
ENTER TO WIN!
