Interviews

Brandon Mull Interviews Seth Sorenson

Brandon: Thanks for agreeing to this interview.
Seth: I thought it was mandatory.

Brandon: It is. Tell us a little about Fablehaven.
Seth: It's kind of a secret.

Brandon: Right, but in this interview you can speak freely.
Seth: If you say so. Fablehaven is a wildlife refuge for magical creatures. My Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson are the caretakers.

Brandon: How long have you known about Fablehaven?
Seth: A couple of years.

Brandon: You're thirteen now?
Seth: Correct. This is really riveting. I'm glad you made it mandatory.

Brandon: I'm just trying to get some of the basics out there for the uninitiated. So is Fablehaven unique?
Seth: There are secret wildlife preserves for magical creatures hidden around the world. Some are specialized, like the dragon sanctuaries.

Brandon: Have you been to a dragon sanctuary?
Seth: Just once. We all almost died, but it was pretty awesome. I got to see my first dragons. We don't have dragons at Fablehaven.

Brandon: Why not?
Seth: They'd kill everybody and destroy everything.

Brandon: What kind of creatures live at Fablehaven?
Seth: You want a list? Fairies, demons, satyrs, centaurs, fog giants, naiads, dryads, nipsies, witches, trolls, ogres, brownies, astrids, leprechauns, minotaurs, dwarves, undead creatures, a golem…and plenty I haven't named. Am I supposed to include the creatures in the dungeon?

Brandon: That was sufficient. At Fablehaven, what type of creature do you like the least?
Seth: The centaurs.

Brandon: Really. I thought you might have said the demons.
Seth: We know the demons are evil. And the wraiths and stuff. The centaurs should help out more, but they don't. Centaurs are jerks.

Brandon: Favorite creatures?
Seth: The satyrs.

Brandon: Aren't they kind of selfish?
Seth: Yes, but they're fun. Newel and Doren are my best friends at Fablehaven. They've helped me get better at tennis.

Brandon: I understand you guys are currently dealing with a serious threat.
Seth: You mean the Society? The Society of the Evening Star is dedicated to stealing artifacts from preserves like Fablehaven. Their main goal is to open Zzyzx, the demon prison, which holds a horde of the worst demons in history, including the Demon King. Preserves like Fablehaven are deadly enough without the Society making everything worse.

Brandon: You seem a little young to be involved in something so dangerous.
Seth: You and my grandparents should get together and go bowling. Seems like no matter how much I prove myself, my grandparents won't give me any credit.

Brandon: You have made occasional errors in judgment that have caused some problems at Fablehaven.
Seth: Okay, that's true. But my stupidest mistakes came partly because I didn't fully get what was going on at Fablehaven and I was insanely curious. I'm smarter than I used to be. Besides, everyone makes mistakes. Haven't you?

Brandon: I have. But I don't think I've ever put lives in danger.
Seth: Have you ever been to a secret wildlife park full of magical creatures?

Brandon: Not really.
Seth: There you go. If I spent all day typing in my basement, I probably wouldn't have put many lives at risk either. I'm just saying.

Brandon: You have a point. The preserves are inherently dangerous.
Seth: A wildlife preserve in Africa, like with lions and water buffalo and hippos and elephants, would be a dangerous place, right?

Brandon: Yes.
Seth: You wouldn't go there and roam around alone.

Brandon: Probably not. I'd at least stay in my car, or want a bunch of guides with guns.
Seth: Now imagine you're at a wildlife park with minotaurs and giants and dragons.

Brandon: I get the point.
Seth: Even experienced adults get eaten at these magical preserves. So far, I'm doing pretty well.

Brandon: Any parting words?
Seth: Everyone likes to criticize me, but one day I'll be the caretaker of Fablehaven. Just you wait.

Brandon: Not Kendra?
Seth: If everything goes wrong, maybe. But I more picture her as president and founding member of the Save the Fairies Foundation.

Brandon: She has bailed you out before. Rescued you.
Seth: What are you trying to do, stir things up? Kendra is great. Someday she might make a fine, hesitant, nervous caretaker.

Brandon: Mind if I tell her what you said?
Seth: Put it in a book, she'll get the news quicker.

Brandon: She's a big reader?
Seth: You guessed it.

Brandon: You're not?
Seth: Depends on the book. Is this over? You mentioned parting words...

Brandon: Sure. Thanks for your time.
Seth: I had no choice, but you're welcome.