Brandon author Craig Russell was at the Portage Regional Library last night in Portage la Prairie reading from his new book entitled Fragment. Russell signed copies of his book and answered several questions. He explains what the story's about.

Craig Russell"In the past, we've seen some very large events taking place in Antarctica where Larsen A and Larsen B came off the ice shelf," says Russell. "So, the plot of Fragment starts with an enormous piece coming off of the Ross Ice Shelf. It starts this chain of events."

He said a sideline story also takes place when a scientist begins communicating with a blue whale that turns into an interesting character in the story. Russell notes we all know how smart our pets can be, and the kind of mind working behind their eyes. Whales have enormous brains and can communicate through sound.

Russell notes his previous book was his first, a fantasy novel entitled The Black Bottle Man that begins in Manitoba in 1917 and follows a man until he's 90 years-old. Russell explains he likes to take the current world and add a fantastic element to it, then explain how it changes the world.

Russell adds, "It's great to be in Portage again."

You can find copies of Fragment at the Portage Regional Library.