I personally think an anthology of short stories is a great idea for a first Pathfinder book (allowing us to explore several areas/characters/power-struggles/themes)...it'd also give some us unknowns a chance to strut our fiction stuff. I've been scrawling out short stories for years and have never shown them to ANYONE, except close personal friends, and I think the Lords of Paizo would be the only people I would enjoy writing fiction for to be honest...I'm weird about my short stories...even though I love writing plays and getting them out there.
I think a contest is a great idea too. Give everybody a chance to get involved.
An anthology is a great idea. I would definitely submit a story or three.
By the way Nicolas, I've been writing prose for years but alot of my mates are in theatre and they have finally convinced me to try writing a play. Only I have no idea how to estimate script length. How many pages would you say is about 90 minutes on stage? Just roughly of course, I know it would depend on many other factors.
Also, my lame attempt at humour above was somewhat hampered by the fact that I accidentally posted as kahoolin first, and then the board wouldn't let me delete it despite numerous clicks on the delete button. Now it's too late, so if anyone out there has the power to delete the post right above James Spence's first one in the interests of comedy that would be great :)
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Also, my lame attempt at humour above was somewhat hampered by the fact that I accidentally posted as kahoolin first, and then the board wouldn't let me delete it despite numerous clicks on the delete button. Now it's too late, so if anyone out there has the power to delete the post right above James Spence's first one in the interests of comedy that would be great :)
Don't worry mate, its gone. (You probably need to log out then log back in to see that its gone ... happens, dont know why)
Phew! Comedy prevails!
That's a relief. One thing I'll say for these boards, the edit features keep you guessing! I suppose that's what I get for being chronically indecisive with my words...
I think Andrew likes China Mieville. Or mabe I'm just reaching there with that assumption.
I would add to add my voice in too, that an anthology of short stories selected from a contest like submission call would be great. OH, and make sure one of your guys don't quit their job just so that they can turn around and submitt themselves into the contest.
Does anybody read any of the story hour entries over at EN World?
I read an awesome series a while back by a bloke named 'Lazybones'. If you missed it, he did a novelization (told in serial form, natch) of the entire Shackled City campaign and showed a strong ability to tell a story where the game mechanics didn't seem mechanical.
Mind you, everyone seemed to get stabbed in the shoulders a lot, but when you have 30+ hit points, where else can you get stabbed, right?
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And I did not pick Stephen R. Donaldson because I want him to hurry and finish The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant
Rose Estes...
(Just kidding)
Oh my god NO! :P
Oh my god NO! :PRose Estes...
(Just kidding)
What? We could follow a rogue goblin wolf rider named Gika and his worg companion Bam Bur . . . it would be great.
By the way Nicolas, I've been writing prose for years but alot of my mates are in theatre and they have finally convinced me to try writing a play. Only I have no idea how to estimate script length. How many pages would you say is about 90 minutes on stage? Just roughly of course, I know it would depend on many other factors.
The rule of thumb is one correctly formatted page = one minute on stage, of course if the play is really monologue heavy, includes lots of movement/dance/stage combat then this changes things a bit.
The rule of thumb is one correctly formatted page = one minute on stage, of course if the play is really monologue heavy, includes lots of movement/dance/stage combat then this changes things a bit.
The solution, then, is to write a play with no dialogue, dancing, movement, or stage combat. That'll avoid any confusion.
On the subject of authors, though, I wouldn't count out Rose Estes so quickly. What Pathfinder really needs is a good Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book.
Robert Aspirin! --- But I doubt he'd do it.
Sticking with authors who write for published series like this, I would love to see Mel Odom. His Forgotten Realms series, "Threat from the Sea," is the only one I've ever read that approaches the kind of mature reading I would like to see with Pathfinder.
As someone else said before , based on the Tyralandi Scrimm-journal I'd vote for James Jacobs (and in fact for Erik Mona, given how much i enjoyed reading trough the Whispering Cairn-adventure and the Diamond Lake Backdrop).
and Lisa Smedman of course
Let me second this 100%. By all means, keep the writing "in-house" and don't give it to someone with nothing invested in the setting to ruin it. As far as I'm concerned, RAS destroyed the Forgotten Realms. I remember it when it was just something in Dragon.
Judging from the Tyralandi log and several mentions of JJ's copious homebrew notes, he's the best for the job. His creativity shines through over and over.
The rule of thumb is one correctly formatted page = one minute on stage, of course if the play is really monologue heavy, includes lots of movement/dance/stage combat then this changes things a bit.
Great thanks! I'll give it a go...
Indeed . . . Richard Lee Byers . . .
(Why do I sense the set up for a Duck Season/Rabbit Season moment here?)
Let me second this 100%. By all means, keep the writing "in-house" and don't give it to someone with nothing invested in the setting to ruin it. As far as I'm concerned, RAS destroyed the Forgotten Realms. I remember it when it was just something in Dragon.Judging from the Tyralandi log and several mentions of JJ's copious homebrew notes, he's the best for the job. His creativity shines through over and over.
I have to disagree with the Salvatore objection. I find it unfair to say that he has ruined (let alone destroyed) the Forgotten Realms. He wrote a series of books with an amazingly popular character, perhaps the first to reach out to others outside of D&D circles -- and for this he seems unfairly punished by those circles.
Gaming, whether we like it or not, is a business. His books sell, his publishers want him to write more, and likely he enjoys writing them. I have played FR for many years (along with Dark Sun, Greyhawk, etc), and in no way shape or form did I find Drizzt to be a figure that was detrimental to my gaming.
Let us not roast the author for creating something that people enjoy.
as for Jacobs writing the novel or keeping it in house . . .that would be very cool. I know the Paizones would bring a lot of passion to the endeavor.
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For broad name-recognition appeal tied to D&D fantasy characterization, I'd vote for Salvatore. I think he could really have fun with the unique twists you guys have given the goblins and I think his writing style would complement the feeling I'm getting from the Pathfinder blog, the imagery of the runelords, sin magic, etc.
Even if you can just get him to contribute to an anthology, I think it would whet his appetite for more exploration of the setting, and I think he'd enjoy helping to define another new world.
I'd also love to see what Greenwood could do with it.
That said, I think James Jacobs should be given the job of introducing the setting in written form. I know he can do skilled characterization, and he'd give us the most faithful introduction to the setting possible.
So, if you aim to start a book series tied to Pathfinder, I'd love to see a three-tiered approach:
1) A trilogy by Salvatore to draw in people who might not otherwise hear about it. Let him create his own new character ensemble or protagonist and keep your fingers crossed that the Drizzt lightning strikes twice. :)
2) A trilogy by Jacobs to take us on an introductory romp through the world. Use the iconics or whatever other characters James is comfortable with, and let him give us a real D&D-style epic journey through the lands that showcases the flavor of the setting for existing D&D enthusiasts.
3) An anthology that links stories by Salvatore, Greenwood, Jacobs, and anyone else you can get. The goal here is to give people a taste of the setting and encourage them to bite on the meatier books mentioned above to scratch their newfound Pathfinder itch. :)
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First off, I think Paul Kidd would be an excellent choice.
He wrote one of my favorite takes on Greyhawk fiction, the Justicar Trilogy (White Plume Mountain, Descent into the Depths of the Earth, and Queen of the Demonweb Pits), and handles characters and world enjoyable.
Another I would recommend is Don Bassingwaithe, not only do I enjoy his writing, a lot, but he handles new worlds introduction with a steady hand that does not ignore characters and plot. Not only has he written for Eberron and Forgotten Realms, but he's also wrote for Dark*Matter, which shows a handle for setting fiction AND fiction based on new settings.
Oh, yeah, although I know he is working on another project, or projects, Monte Cook has yet to let me down in fiction. I enjoyed his Realms piece, his Dark*Matter pieces, and his Arcana Unearthed and Evolved bits, too.
Now, on names I've seen said, I think Salvatore would be a good choice and a lot more reasonable than some of the other names I've seen. Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to see George RR Martin, but he's got his hands very, very full. *grins*
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Robert N. Emerson
Grand Master Delver at http://www.delverssquare.com
Magister of http://www.glenravin.com
The Emerson Papers at http://friadoc.livejournal.com
...I'd love to see a three-tiered approach:
1) A trilogy by Salvatore to draw in people who might not otherwise hear about it....
2) A trilogy by Jacobs to take us on an introductory romp through the world....
3) An anthology that links stories...to give people a taste of the setting and encourage them to bite on the meatier books mentioned above to scratch their newfound Pathfinder itch.
I've got to back Chris up on this recipe for success. A name like Salvatore and his track record for generating immediate interest in a new world...just on the literary side of things, much less the gaming side of things...would make for great business sense in ensuring Pathfinder fiction takes root.
Secondly, no one is going to define the flavor of this world quite like those who created it in the first place. So someone like James, Erik, or even one of the more consistent adventure writers should be given a chance to further shape things by contributing to the novels. Whether that's a trilogy written by a single author...or a collection of books where each one transitions from one author to another...either would be fine, I think.
And lastly, anthologies are powerful things. They can be a headache to manage, of course. But you get so many quick-hit interpretations and stories that help round out a campaign world, that an anthology should be given heavy consideration. Something along the lines of a shared-world concept like Thieves' World might be nice. And maybe you could tap Lynn Abbey and see if she's interested? She's already ventured into the RPG marketplace with Green Ronin's adaptation of Thieves' World for D20. So who knows? It couldn't hurt to ask...
Just my two-cents,
--Neil
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I certainly agree with having Richard Pett write a Pathfinder novel. I really like his adventures, and I can't wait to read The Skinsaw Murders.
Also--I mentioned to Douglas Clegg that Paizo was looking for an author to write Pathfinder novels, but he said that he had too much on his plate right now and that he preferred to write in his own worlds. Oh, well. I think he would have done a good job.
As a pseudo-revision of my earlier "keep it in the house" post, I'd say let an anthology be written by the folks who are working on the setting right now. James Jacobs, Nick Logue, Richard Pett, and so forth.
As much as Logue and Pett feed off eachother now, I'd love to see them dueling in a book series.
As a pseudo-revision of my earlier "keep it in the house" post, I'd say let an anthology be written by the folks who are working on the setting right now. James Jacobs, Nick Logue, Richard Pett, and so forth.
As much as Logue and Pett feed off eachother now, I'd love to see them dueling in a book series.
It woud be rude, bearing in mind Nick's very well publicised temporary absence from these boards, to say anything derogatory about Logue right now:)
...although:) The thought of him doing a book signing with that big cheeesy grin on his face is almost impossible to get out of my head...urgh!
It would be good fun to have something else to bait him about though:)
Cool of you all to even consider the recommendation though chaps -consider yourselves at the top of my xmas card list:)
And yes I'd love to have the chance to do it.
...although:) The thought of him doing a book signing with that big cheeesy grin on his face is almost impossible to get out of my head...urgh!
I could loan you a steel-wire brush. Those things seem to be able to remove pretty much ANYthing if applied with enough vigor!
(trying to visualize RP, desperate look on his face, shoving steel-wire brush in through one ear and scrubbing back and forth VIGOROUSLY to remove offensive mental image...)
:D
The problem, as I see it, with an outside author is that first you've got to educated him about the world and people he/she is writing about. Then you've got to sit back, cross your fingers, and feel dread wondering how they're going to "tweak" it.
Inside authors already are immersed in the setting. They've already created memorable places and people.
C'mon, let the guys run with it.
::INSERT CHEESY GRIN HERE::
I would enjoy destroying Pett's vulgar attempts at prose with my work. I would love a chance to write part of an anthology of Pathfinder fiction. In fact if I can submit some writing samples to All Powerful Erik Mona...who's exquisite taste in fiction is obviously beyond reproach...I am 100% certain he would give me a shot at it...Pett on the other hand...well, he could hope. ;-)
Back to bachelor game-a-thon bliss!!! No sleep for three days...but so much gaming!!!
So that would be role-playing?
;)
GGG
So that would be role-playing?
;)
GGG
MUUUUHAHAHAHAA! ;-)
oooh Nick, you had the chance to check out
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/pathfinder/general/whileTheLoguesAwayyet?
Oh, I've been lurking on that motherf%%#ing thread since post one. Be aware, there will be retribution.
;-)
Ok, so my vote (if I had one) would go to someone already mentioned, Tad Williams. Memory Sorrow and Thorn was the best written fantasy book I have ever read.
As others have mentioned though this is D&D literature and it needs to stick to the rules so on that basis I vote for any of the following, James Jacobs, Nick Logue or Richard Pett, fight it out between you guys....
Elcian
As far as writing fiction from licensed material, Michael Stackpole and Dan Abnett are the best of the best.
oooh Nick, you had the chance to check out
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/pathfinder/general/whileTheLoguesAwayyet?
Oh, I've been lurking on that motherf*#!ing thread since post one. Be aware, there will be retribution.
;-)
so much for 2 weeks utter silence:)
Well, as much as I would like to see someone like a Tolkien, Feist, Martin, etc write a Pathfinder Novel, I'm going to limit my suggestions to those authors that:
A) Aren't already hopelessly behind with their own fantasy series (*cough* Jordan, Martin *cough*)
B) Have a proven record (or at least past history) writing in a shared world, gaming related or otherwise
C) Are prolific... or at least are turning out more than 1 novel a year, so they are more likely to be able to put a novel for Paizo sometime in the next 2-3 years...
=
Stephon Kenson. Excellent work on Shadowrun novels
Michael Stackpole. Has written some of the best Star Wars novels, which is saying something considering they must be approaching 200+ titles in print. Also wrote world/universe defining fiction for Battletech. And while I'm not a huge fan of his latest Cartomancy trilogy, his DragonCrown trilogy (+ 4th prequel novel, Dark Glory War) is one of my favorite fantasy series published in the last couple of decades.
S.M. Stirling. Depending on how "gritty" the Pathfinder world is intended to be, I think he could write an excellent novel for Paizo. And he has done excellent work in shared worlds before earlier in his career.
Neil Gaiman!
Raymond Feist, Tad Williams, and...
Joe Abercrombie, author of "The Blade Itself" - great new writer.
And to really catch the attention, how about David Gemmel?
Got to agree with the choice of Joe Abercrombie. Nice and grity, accessable and with a nice vein of irony
CHINA MIEVILLE!!!!
That's right, I'm yelling. And for those of you David Gemmel fans out there, you must have missed the message that he is no longer with us.
http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=10912&pt=e
Not sure how to create fancy links
Definatly Don Bassingthwaite! His work on the Eberron novels got me interested in the setting...hence his writing can get me interested in the pathfinder setting too!
