[JohnH]

Two goals or so to this thread.

First, do they work? At least in general?

I can think of two in particular that failed miserably. Perhaps because I thought the author of both was incredibly lazy. Namely Eddings. His Belgarath and Polgara books were wretched imo. Both seemed nothing more than a rehash, a broader outline of the prologues of the Belgariad.

Another 'failure', imo, is Feist's Krondor books. All three seemed almost half-formed fanfictions -- like someone else was trying to write a Feist story.

That said, I will say that I found some that do work. McCaffrey's Moreta and even her Robinton book was okay (compared to earlier efforts). Though her other prequels were a bit weak.

Second part. What series or work deserves a prequel? Not just because you enjoyed the story and just want more of that author's work in a particular setting, but because the author has done and incredible job of creating backstory and history. The author was able to create a driving curiosity about some particular historical event in their world and the further exposition of this plotline or story would not seem redundant or boringly transparent from having read the original series (think the Dune grave robbing, er I mean prequels. Though I think a true prequel can only be written by the author that wrote the original(s).

As much as I dislike most prequels, I still
have an incredible list of books/series that I would love to see have a prequel made.

First I think that all prequels should be single books. I think for the most part this would limit the author's proclivity to rewrite the series that they are prequeling.

So here is my list (and please note that this thread is aimed soley at what you would like to see -- not what you don't ever want to see or what of others' wishes you do not want to see -- if this becomes one of those threads I will ask that it be closed immediately)

Jordan -- not Hawkwing, not the Age of Legends, but some of the tidbits concerning some of the former amyrlins is just fascinating. Gerra Kishar, Shein Chunla, Myriam Copan, Sereille Bagand, Rashima Kerenmosa, Serenia Latar, the various rebellions, unseatings and exiles of the Halls and don't forget oh-so-intriguing Year of the Four Amyrlins. Maybe it has to do with writing a thesis on the secrets of the late medieval machinations of the Popes. Nonetheless Jordan has me wanting more.

Martin -- Hedge Knight, though I can see a nice tight dualogy or a series of novellas that cover a span of years. Other Targaryen doings though seems intriguing.

Rawn -- Merisel and the original Sunnrunner wars.

CJ Cherryh's Fortress series
Also her Faded Sun trilogy -- yes this is a bit more scifi -- but in an email, she replied to my wish for a look at when the mri first left Kutath as rather interesting and something she could definitely write a book or two about.

Donaldson's Mordant's Need.

Judith Tarr's Avaryan Rising series.
So many little historical references tossed aside that made this series so rich and detailed.

And even though it is only one book so far, Pinto's The Stone Dance of the Chameleonhas one of the most fascinating backgrounds for a society and culture I have ever read.

[Eventine]

I have to agree that I would like to see a prequel by Martin to ASOIAF. Or maybe not - half the fun of the books for me is trying to work out what went on in the previous generation.

Same problem with Janny Wurts and her Mistwraith - there is so much mystery about what has gone on before, and I would love to see it explained. On the other hand, if it was explained, all that mystery and work she has done to build up the history in her current books is worthless.

So while I would love to see prequels by these two authors, it is probably better for me if they don't release them.

[estranghero]

I'm of mixed thought on this one. On one hand, I agree with Eventine's thinking that some things are meant to stay in the misty folds of time and history.

That being said, I have to get back to you on what books or series would make good prequels.

However, I know one author who managed to escape the 'prequel' trap by writing it first before starting on the main series-- Michael Stackpole and his The Dark Glory War. Works good, too.

[Cannon Fodder]

I don't much like the idea of prequels for pretty much the same reasons some other people mentioned. Some events simply work better as things mentioned as happening in the past and don't need to be a story in their own right. However, stories that are simply set before other series in the same world without necesarily dealing with the younger days of the main heroes or the events of the oringinal backstory could work. Filling in the gaps in a backstory can simply spoil the original. I far more enjoyed David Gemmell's Waylander which was simply set before his other Drenai books and involved some characters mentioned in it such as the oringinao Duke of Bronze than his Druss prequels, which I felt detracted a little from the legend of Druss, as we saw in Legend. As such, I enjoyed GRRM's 'Hedge Knight' but I wouldn't want to see a story about the fall of the Targaryen house.

[Eventine]

Here is a post I made on a now archived topic called History in Fantasy. Still relevant though:

Also on the topic...
Those familiar with Stephen Donaldsons Thomas Covenant books will be familiar with the back history there, which is important to the story as a lot of the characters believe he is a hero of old come again.
I remember reading an interview with Donaldson once, where the interviewer asked him if there as any chance of him writing a prequel for the Mordants Need books:

So you would never consider writing the prequel to Mordant's Need? The story of Joyse becoming King?

No. And we can say the same thing for Covenant. I would absolutely under no circumstances ever consider writing one, because that is the way my brain works. I'm interested in a kind of hierarchy, where you move this point forward to this point and what have you learned? I don't want to go back to a previous point and figure out what they learned to get to the starting point in the first place. I already talked about that: I didn't do it in detail but I did already tell you the story. Why am I going to do it again? Was I lying last time? Was the truth something else? Or, am I coasting now and just doing it because it's easy? That's not going to happen.

That interview is pretty old and can be found at: http://www-theory.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~aaa/SD.html

[jbcohen]

Perhaps I am a bit odd in this matter, weather I enjoy a prequel or not really depends on the writing ability of the author(s). Some do an excellent job of it others really muff it up. Dragon Lance does an incredible lot of prequeling and I have enjoyed all of it a great deal. But there are some that have a tendency to turn the prequel into a horrible tale. Thus I say again it really depends on the writing ability of the author(s) in question.

[Warewolf]

Haven't read too many prequels, at least not in the fantasy genre. One stands out in my mind as being outstanding, though: Brooks' First King of Shannara. I loved the first three Shannara books and then, when I read the Heritage of Shannara series, I was disappointed. I'd thought he'd lost his touch with that world. First King, though, showed me that he could still write some brilliant stuff.

Now, what would I like to see?

SoT by Goodkind - the short story in Legends was great. I would love to see how Zedd became First Wizard (or whatever the title was) and the beginning of the war.

Rawn -- Merisel and the original Sunnrunner wars.
This would be really cool!!!

How about a prequel to The Talisman? It'd be neat to see the main character's (can't remember his name) father's adventures in the land.

As for a WoT prequel, I'd enjoy reading one on the Aiel War.

How about one in for Farseer about the first time the dragons were summoned?

[This message has been edited by Warewolf (edited February 06, 2002).]

[astrianna]

Warewolf, Debt of Bones is a prequel to SoT, and was just released (in Canada) in the last few months. I haven't read it, but I believe it deals with Zedd when he was younger.
Yay, wishes granted.

[Warewolf]

Astrianna,

Debt of Bones is actually just a reprint of the short story (I guess it actually qualifies as a novella) from the Legends book that I referred to in my post. It's only about 120 pages long. I'm envisioning a three or four book series discussing Zedd's rise through the ranks and then the war with Dhara (sp?). Thanks for the thought, though http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[willowones]

I also judge prequels on the writing and the author. McCaffrey did well with her preqels to the "Rowan" series. I'm still enjoying the "Recluse" prequels by Modesitt.