Ada Palmer interview - using history to create future worlds

This interview with author, historian and composer Ada Palmer was conducted on location during Balticon 50, in Baltimore, MD. Ms. Palmer talks about her 2016 novel, Too Like the Lightning, She discusses how she uses her expertise in history to help her in her world building of a future society. She also talks about her involvement with the a cappella musical group Sassafrass, and her Norse-mythology-themed song cycle, Sundown: Whispers of Ragnarok.
This interview was originally shown as part of Episode #286 of Fast Forward: Contemporary Science Fiction in August of 2016. The interview was conducted on May 28, 2016.

[@Maren617]

Wonderful interview with a fascinating author, thank you so much!

[@fleabynight]

Thanks for the interview. Great job. Such an interesting book. Hard at times but very rewarding and far far from boring. I will read it again and then delve into her other books in the series.

[@enric-x]

There was no "King of Spain" 500 years ago. In fact there wos no "Spain" 500 years ago,

[@Adonnus100]

yes there was. Ferdinand II (Aragonese: Ferrando; Catalan: Ferran; Basque: Errando; Spanish: Fernando; 10 March 1452 - 23 January 1516) was King of Aragon from 1479 to his death. As the husband of Queen Isabella I of Castile, he was King of Castile from 1474 to 1504 as Ferdinand V. He reigned over a dynastically unified Spain jointly with Isabella; together they are known as the Catholic Monarchs. Ferdinand is considered de facto the first king of Spain, being described as such during his own lifetime,

[@jfGunnTV]

Come on, do you seriously think you're correcting a history professor on the historical background of her novel?

[@enric-x]

@@jfGunnTV 500 years ago half Western Europe was ruled by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke of Austria, King of Castile, King Aragon and Valencia, King of Mallorca and Count of Barcelona, and Duke of Burgundy. No Kingdom of Spain thn. Fun fact, the first time someone called himeslf King of Spain was the Italian Amedeo of Savoy in 1870; he lasted 3 years.

[@Shamino1]

@@enric-x Ada Palmer's CV is twenty pages long. She knows half a dozen languages and has made the 15th century her bread and butter. I'm certainly deferring to Professor Palmer.