JohnH
January 23rd, 2002, 06:22 PM
Word is that there will be a Legends follow up, Legends II if you will. Del Rey is supposed to publish this sometime in the fall of 2003. The contributers (and the world they plan on writing their contribution in) listed are as follows:
Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time)
Terry Brooks (Shannara)
Anne McCaffrey (Pern)
Orson Scott Card (Alvin Maker)
George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Others lined up:
Neil Gaiman, Tad Williams (Otherland), Raymond Feist, Robin Hobb, Elizabeth Haydon, and Silverberg (Majipoor).
First of all, I look forward to Jordan, Martin and Hobb. Martin's Hedge Knight was much better than books two and three of aSoIaF, imo. Any Dunk story would be marvelous. And anything added to the WoT universe is greatly welcomed.
However I have to wonder at some of the picks. The original premise of Legends was to line up ten of the best (and bestselling) fantasy novelists and have them introduce their worlds and styles in a novella set in their most popular series.
Even in the first Legends, I had a problem with who the editor (Silverburg) considered worthy of the tap on the shoulder. One complaint was *braces for the howls* Martin. Much as I loved 'The Hedge Knight', at the time of the publication he had just put out the second book. Not quite yet a bestseeling series. Though he has proven his popularity with the release of the third book and so might have ended up being a prophetic pick, he was hardly a 'legend' at the time (and remember we are going by quality, just fandom and sales).
Silverberg's Majipoor series is not quite fantasy either, but then I guess you have to take what you get when the guy serves as editor.
I don't see exactly how Elizabeth Haydon qualifies. One trilogy that sold okay within the genre but certainly broke no records and already gets thrown in with the likes of Jordan, Brooks, Martin, Feist and McCaffrey? Love or hate em, you have to admit that all have the capacity to sell books. And all have pretty well established worlds that are recognizable outside the fan circles.
One thing I was hoping in Legends II, was some new blood. At least we get Hobb. McCaffrey, Feist and Brooks would all fall by the wayside if I had my choice. Gaiman is not necessary nor Card.
I cannot believe that Elliott, Roberson, Kurtz, Kerr, Cherryh, Wurts, Jones or Rawn were all too busy to contribute. Yet surely Haydon was not an immediate choice? Surely she was a back-up?
Now this is all subject to change. Legends was origianlly slated to be released by Del Rey and was done by Tor instead. Eddings, Rice and Brooks were all on board at one point or another and jumped ship (rumor has it that all three took a dim view of playing second fiddle to Jordan who had the most best-selling clout and hence the name at the top of the cover even before the book went to Tor).
So anyhow on to the discussion. Wondered what your picks would be for Legends II were you the editor. Here are the guidelines (and for the purpose of clarity could the effort be made to folow these?):
A. Author must be living and well-known
B. work from Author must be based in one of the worlds that said author has or still is writing a series in
C. author should have at least two novels in said series released
D. number of contributers must be ten; no more no less
My Legends II wishlist
1. Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time)
2. Robin Hobb (The Liveship Traders)
3. George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
4. C.J. Cherryh (Fortress)
5. Kate Elliott (Crown of Stars)
6. Melanie Rawn (Dragon Prince/Star)
7. Stephen Donaldson (Mordant's Need)
8. Dave Duncan (The King's Blades)
9. Katharine Kerr (Deverry)
10.Tad Williams (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn)
If I could bend my own rules, I would have Ricardo Pinto (The Chosen) and Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Dart) on the list instead of the last two.
Now remember these are novellas we are talking about not novels. The story takes place within the world but is not esential to the ongoing story that the series puts forth. The novellas are stand alones and the reader does not need to have read the series in order to know what is going on in the novella.
So list away. You know you want to.
Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time)
Terry Brooks (Shannara)
Anne McCaffrey (Pern)
Orson Scott Card (Alvin Maker)
George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Others lined up:
Neil Gaiman, Tad Williams (Otherland), Raymond Feist, Robin Hobb, Elizabeth Haydon, and Silverberg (Majipoor).
First of all, I look forward to Jordan, Martin and Hobb. Martin's Hedge Knight was much better than books two and three of aSoIaF, imo. Any Dunk story would be marvelous. And anything added to the WoT universe is greatly welcomed.
However I have to wonder at some of the picks. The original premise of Legends was to line up ten of the best (and bestselling) fantasy novelists and have them introduce their worlds and styles in a novella set in their most popular series.
Even in the first Legends, I had a problem with who the editor (Silverburg) considered worthy of the tap on the shoulder. One complaint was *braces for the howls* Martin. Much as I loved 'The Hedge Knight', at the time of the publication he had just put out the second book. Not quite yet a bestseeling series. Though he has proven his popularity with the release of the third book and so might have ended up being a prophetic pick, he was hardly a 'legend' at the time (and remember we are going by quality, just fandom and sales).
Silverberg's Majipoor series is not quite fantasy either, but then I guess you have to take what you get when the guy serves as editor.
I don't see exactly how Elizabeth Haydon qualifies. One trilogy that sold okay within the genre but certainly broke no records and already gets thrown in with the likes of Jordan, Brooks, Martin, Feist and McCaffrey? Love or hate em, you have to admit that all have the capacity to sell books. And all have pretty well established worlds that are recognizable outside the fan circles.
One thing I was hoping in Legends II, was some new blood. At least we get Hobb. McCaffrey, Feist and Brooks would all fall by the wayside if I had my choice. Gaiman is not necessary nor Card.
I cannot believe that Elliott, Roberson, Kurtz, Kerr, Cherryh, Wurts, Jones or Rawn were all too busy to contribute. Yet surely Haydon was not an immediate choice? Surely she was a back-up?
Now this is all subject to change. Legends was origianlly slated to be released by Del Rey and was done by Tor instead. Eddings, Rice and Brooks were all on board at one point or another and jumped ship (rumor has it that all three took a dim view of playing second fiddle to Jordan who had the most best-selling clout and hence the name at the top of the cover even before the book went to Tor).
So anyhow on to the discussion. Wondered what your picks would be for Legends II were you the editor. Here are the guidelines (and for the purpose of clarity could the effort be made to folow these?):
A. Author must be living and well-known
B. work from Author must be based in one of the worlds that said author has or still is writing a series in
C. author should have at least two novels in said series released
D. number of contributers must be ten; no more no less
My Legends II wishlist
1. Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time)
2. Robin Hobb (The Liveship Traders)
3. George R. R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire)
4. C.J. Cherryh (Fortress)
5. Kate Elliott (Crown of Stars)
6. Melanie Rawn (Dragon Prince/Star)
7. Stephen Donaldson (Mordant's Need)
8. Dave Duncan (The King's Blades)
9. Katharine Kerr (Deverry)
10.Tad Williams (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn)
If I could bend my own rules, I would have Ricardo Pinto (The Chosen) and Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel's Dart) on the list instead of the last two.
Now remember these are novellas we are talking about not novels. The story takes place within the world but is not esential to the ongoing story that the series puts forth. The novellas are stand alones and the reader does not need to have read the series in order to know what is going on in the novella.
So list away. You know you want to.