| From: | Jak Koke jak@****.org |
|---|---|
| Subject: | role of SR novels |
| Date: | Sat, 17 Jul 1999 12:58:57 -0600 |
If anyone else is having a similar problem (Sending posts and them not
showing up in the regular messages), please let me know via private email.
Thanks - Adam
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First of all, I appreciate all the considered responses to my query. Thanks
to Jon for reposting it. This listsever seems to have been acting strangely.
I was kicked off and didn't get any messages the last couple of days
(seemingly by accident, though I wonder... <laugh>)
Anyhow, despite not getting any of the list messages, I checked the archives
so that I could follow the discussion. I simply don't have time to address
each and every one of the concerns brought up, but I will say that I've
taken them into consideration.
One thing to note is that while Mike Mulvihill coordinates the ongoing SR
plotlines, and does a damn good job of it IMO, he doesn't edit the novels.
He does read the proposals, and in many cases (including mine) he has
significant input, but the novels are edited by Donna Ippolito. Also, the
novels have a much larger lead time than the sourcebooks. They are
completely finished and turned in to Roc at least a year in advance of
publication. Sourcebooks are tweaked at FASA up until they go to press
(about a month or so before they hit the stores). Often there is material in
a novel which is incorporated into a sourcebook or adventure which will see
print first. FASA likes to have ties between the two, and I for one hope it
provides for a richer SR universe.
The extraordinarily long lead time for the novels makes the publication
timing of Burning Bright and Bug City an amazing feat, possible only because
of the vision which Tom Dowd had for Shadowrun since he wrote the novel and
was orchestrating the creation of the sourcebook.
Anyhow, thanks all for your input. You all make good points. The primary
point of gaming fiction (and all media-related fiction) is entertainment.
The authors don't purposefully write crap, but we don't delude ourselves
that we're writing the next Literary (capital L) classics either. I wrote
what was called literary fiction for my college thesis, and while it was a
good learning experience, I found it boring. I much prefer writing novels
which entertain. SR is a unique universe, blending fantasy and science
fiction; it's a fun world to write in.
Ciao,
--Jak
Jak Koke La Jolla, CA
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http://www.koke.org/jak/
