Michael Mammay is Done With Your Soldier Tropes

Science fiction writer and a retired army officer Michael Mammay talks heists, generation ships, and bad soldier stereotypes in science fiction--and we get the scoop on his newest release.
Typo Productions presents TROPED OUT. The podcast for booklovers where we interview your favorite—and future favorite—about all things tropes (and more)!

Today’s guest is Michael Mammay. Michael is a science fiction author whose novels include Planetside, Colonyside, Spaceside, and his latest release—THE MISFIT SOLDIER. All of Michael’s books are available in our TROPED OUT bookshop—link at the bottom of notes.
  • EJ asks Michael to start by telling us about his latest book, THE MISFIT SOLIDIER.
  • Michael explains that while the book is billed as military science fiction, and that label technically works, this book doesn’t really follow those traditional military SFF tropes. THE MISFIT SOLDIER is a heist novel set in space. It is about a con-man running from the mob and is hiding out in the military, where he finds the opportunity for a big score.
  • EJ asks Michael about his other books, and Michael explains about his love of creating rogue characters, and how his books are all technically military SFF, but often follow the tropes of other genres, such as noir mystery.
  • Michael explains how his first book is linked to the war in Afghanistan (he was stationed at an Afghanistan air force base when he first had the idea for the novel). The novel takes place in a war—but it isn’t about the war. 
  • Em asks if a heist story was something that Michael always wanted to write.
  • Michael says the characters for a specific scene in THE MISFIT SOLDIER (space whales!) came first, but the idea for the heist came at near about the same time. 
  • Em says that she cannot think of another science fiction (not fantasy) heist story and Michael suggests THE QUANTUM MAGICIAN.
  • EJ says that heist stories have sort of transcended into their own genre. That one of the best things about them are the twists. The twists are great—but can also make creating a heist story really difficult. 
  • Michael talks about the character tropes in heist stories and how they work in a science fiction genre.
  • Michael explains how a heist novel works within a military setting. And how soldiers are unique characters—that he purposely bucked the idea that “all soldiers are the same” in books.
  • Em asks Michael if it was difficult to move on from writing a series and if the PLANETSIDE series is truly finished.
  • Michael laughs and says he will let us know in a year! The series works as more of three stand alone books than a series with a huge arc. You could read each book on its own—so there is always the possibility of more.
  • Michael says he is now working on his dream novel—the book he has been wanting to work on for years.
  • His dream book is a story about a generation ship that is reaching its destination—and there is a revolt happening. 
  • Michael speaks about his love of the generation ship trope.
  • EJ asks Michael if there is a trope mashup that makes him stand up and take notice.
  • Michael admits that he doesn’t really follow tropes to that degree—except for possibly generation ship. He loves character-driven stories—more general than specific tropes.
  • He says that he has loved time travel/military science fiction as a mashup that shouldn’t work—but worked very well in the case of Kameron Hurley’s THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
  • Em and Michael and EJ talk about time travel novels. (Em’s favorite!)
  • Michael suggests THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR if you love a time travel novel.
  • We talk about strengths and knowing what you do well—Michael does pacing amazingly!
  • We ask what Michael is reading. He recently finished LIKE A SISTER by Kellye Garrett, and LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS by Ryka Aoki. 
  • TIME TO PLAY TROPED OUT!
  • Time travel or warp speed?
  • Alien abduction (they took you and no one believes you!) or alien invasion (they’re here and no one believes you!)?
  • Unified galaxy alliance or space, the final frontier?
  • Aliens who want to rule (take us to your leader) or aliens who are down to mingle (take us to your breeder)?
  • Secret baby or secret engagement? 
  • Michael jokes that the next book in his series should be an only one bed trope—except only one airlock!
Find Michael Mammay across all platforms as @MichaelMammay (links below), and you can visit him online at:

Michael’s books are available in out TROPED OUT BOOK SHOP. 

You can connect with TROPED OUT PODCAST, as well as EJ and Em’s other pods, by following TYPO PRODUCTIONS across social media at @TypoPodcasts. 

 
You can find EJ at www.EJWenstrom.com
You can find Em at www.EmmaCWells.com 

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Until next time when we chat with YA crime fic author, Andrea Contos! 
2021 Typo Productions