New Books Network Gretchen Felker-Martin, "Black Flame" (Tor Nightfire, 2025)
Oct 24, 2025
Gretchen Felker-Martin, author of Black Flame and previous works like Manhunt, delves into the haunting themes of her latest novel. She explores the complex character of Ellen Kramer, whose obsession with a cursed film mirrors her own repressed desires. Felker-Martin discusses the historical significance of 1930s Berlin and its connection to current political issues. The conversation also touches on the portrayal of violence and consent in queer relationships, and the challenges of indecision in a morally complex world.
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Repression Shapes A Difficult Protagonist
- Ellen Kramer is deeply repressed and dissociated, which drives much of her harmful behavior toward others.
- Gretchen Felker-Martin says this inner suffering makes Ellen neither purely evil nor easily likable.
Historical Trauma Mirrors Today
- Felker-Martin links the 1930s queer Berlin exodus to present-day fascist and genocidal tendencies.
- She argues the parallels make that historical context narratively and politically essential.
Why Film Works As A Plot Device
- Film functions as a uniquely subversive medium because it records action and communicates messages directly.
- Felker-Martin also values the sensual, hands-on craft of film restoration as narratively rich.
