| From: | Jak Koke <jkoke@******.UOREGON.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Stranger Souls |
| Date: | Tue, 24 Jun 1997 10:00:47 -0700 |
Right now I think it's unlikely, but am still not sure. If I do end up
going, I'll be hanging around the FASA booth and going to the SR seminars
and would be glad to get together with people and chat.
Next: My plans concerning more story about Jonathon Winger and/or Venice
Jones are amorphous at best. I like these character and I think there's
more story to tell, but I don't have the time to write the book. Maybe next
year.
My quick response to Brett's Questions:
>1) A bit heavy on the super-power characters. But at least you
>recognize it, and have these characters actually represent the best.
The high power characters are required for the level of the stakes in the
book. I know that not everyone will like this, especially because cyberpunk
traditionally deals with more street level action.
>2) Fire whoever did the cover art. A green guy with sparks and
>tubing coming from his hands.
The cover art doesn't look like how I describe Burnout in the book.
However, I still think its an excellent cover. I don't know Doug Anderson
(the artist) and I didn't get a choice on artists or even veto power on the
sketch, but I am pleased nonetheless. Doug did the Dead Air cover as well
and has done a number of other SR work in sourcebooks, etc.
>3) Telescoping fingers? That rip the flesh when used? What's up
>with that?
My invention. Thought they were a cool idea.
>4) I like how you had Roxbaugh(sp) affect Ryan's personality.
Thanks.
>5) Question: Wouldn't rewiring the synapses in the brain affect HOW
>you think, and not your memories? IIRC, memory is a function of RNA.
>(and I know RNA is used in DNA transcription, so don't flame me on
>this unless you are studying bio at a sufficient level.) Now,
>theoretically, if RNA could be extracted form the brain and purified,
>memories could be inserted...
As someone mentioned, the current theory is that memories are a result of
specific synaptic patterns -- engrams. Rewiring synapses should affect both
HOW you think and memory. How the synapses are strengthened or weakened is
another story, though it might be done through the use of specific, targeted
retroviruses -- essentially RNA in a protein coat.
>6) My girlfriend liked the Ryan-Nadja love scene. :) And she hates
>shadowrun.
I'm glad she liked it.
>7) At one point you mention the MCPC. I think it is the MPCP. Are
>you trying to give newbies a headache? :)
If true, it must be a typo. Very sorry.
>8) Even though these are mostly negative comments, I liked the story.
Thanks.
>9) There seemed no level of resolution...Do we have to read all 3
>before we get a sense that something has been resolved?
Spoilers for Stranger Souls below.........
Hmmm, well I thought that the conflict between Ryan and Roxborough (both
inside him and out) was at least partially (if not completely) resolved. We
continue with Alice and Roxborough in the next book.
The Dragon Heart is lost to Burnout, and this plotline is picked up in the
next book, and Oscuro and Lucero have breached Thayla's defenses -- also
picked up in next book.
Some of these wrap up in the next book, some continue into book three. I
realize that it's frustrating to have a book without complete resolution,
but I tried to ride the line between each book standing on it's own and
being an integral part of the larger saga.
>10) Did I mention to fire whoever did the cover art? (BTW, I know
>most authors don't even see the cover art until it's printed...is
>this what happened?)
I'm sorry you hated the cover art. The art never looks like what in the
book, at least in my experience. However, I still like the cover of
_Stranger Souls_.
As far as Skye's comments about the release schedule being too long between
books: This was partially my fault. I wanted them to come out in rapid
succession, but couldn't write them fast enough to make it. That would have
been one every two months. Three to four months per book is my upper limit.
If anyone cares, I did figure out what level of initiation Ryan would have
to be to gain all his abilities, and it's quite high. However, his magic is
a little different from a normal physad's, being trained by Dunkelzahn and
all. Plus there are things about Ryan that you still don't know...
Hope all this helps.
Best,
--Jak
Jak Koke La Jolla, CA
----------------------------------------------------------
I have a new (temporary) web page at:
http://ursula.uoregon.edu/~jkoke
