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Paizo high ups:
When will we be able to read novels set in Golarion from Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham? these are very talented writers, and the recent 4$ Realmz Extreme! may have killed off their main characters (due to the time jump) and I bet they'd be ready to show us Golarion through the eyes of brand new, fresh young heroes!
Creative Director
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Paizo high ups:
When will we be able to read novels set in Golarion from Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham? these are very talented writers, and the recent 4$ Realmz Extreme! may have killed off their main characters (due to the time jump) and I bet they'd be ready to show us Golarion through the eyes of brand new, fresh young heroes!
As soon as Pathfinder #19. Sort of. Elaine Cunningham will be taking over the writing of the Pathfinder Journal then, with a brand new story and a brand new character. It's not a novel... but by the time we get to the end of her arc in Pathfinder #24, it'll be a novella at about 27,000 or so words.
Beyond that... nothing official to announce yet... but eventually, I'll be very shocked if we don't have some sort of Pathfinder fiction some day...
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Paizo high ups:
When will we be able to read novels set in Golarion from Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham? these are very talented writers, and the recent 4$ Realmz Extreme! may have killed off their main characters (due to the time jump) and I bet they'd be ready to show us Golarion through the eyes of brand new, fresh young heroes!
Can you consider this a vote for "Yes on Elaine, No for ED".
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Paizo high ups:
When will we be able to read novels set in Golarion from Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham? these are very talented writers, and the recent 4$ Realmz Extreme! may have killed off their main characters (due to the time jump) and I bet they'd be ready to show us Golarion through the eyes of brand new, fresh young heroes!
I have somewhat strong opinions on fantasy fiction in general and rpg fiction in particular. So here goes:
Sweet Jesus, no.
If they're going to produce Golarion fiction -- something I'd be very interested in, myself -- there's a lot better writers available. Now, Elaine Cunningham isn't always bad -- although she doesn't always turn up with her 'A' game, it seems to me -- and Greenwood is far from the worst writer of Forgotten Realms fiction, but a few noble exceptions aside (Azure Bonds and sequel, say), Forgotten Realms fiction is horrible, horrible, horrible garbage. Not a good bar to set.
Obviously, this is my opinion and some people do, inexplicably to me, like Forgotten Realms fiction, but about the only good thing about WotC blowing up the Realms with what happened during the timeline advance is that my demented compulsion to read the execrable Forgotten Realms fiction in order to keep up with timeline and flavour has now ceased. I'd love there to be Golarion fiction that was worth reading for itself other than for gaming purposes, but taking leaves out of the Wizards/TSR book isn't a promising start, so far as I can see.
This isn't just a problem with Realms fiction, of course. A lot of other D&D fiction is awful -- re-reading the dimly-but-fondly remembered original Dragonlance trilogy is eye-opening and the Greyhawk fiction, including Gygax's, is mostly painful other than the Robin Wayne Bailey book that wasn't even marketed as Greyhawk -- and rpg fiction is often teeth-grindingly bad (with some exceptions, such as a fair amount of the Battletech stuff, at least before Loren Coleman was writing a lot of it, and the Shadowrun stuff, with Bob Charette producing the best of either, plus the lamented Nigel Findley's Shadowrun, whose D&D Spelljammer book also wasn't half bad. Michael Stackpole's Battletech stuff was pretty decent, as well.
I don't know for sure why rpg fiction is so hit-and-miss, with the Forgotten Realms stuff being nearly all 'miss' (perhaps I can blame Bob Salvatore; once it was decided that his stuff was some sort of gold standard, the quality of the whole was almost inevitably going to be subterranean). The good stuff -- and I would say that Battletech has the highest 'hit' ratio -- is an enjoyable addition to playing the game. Indeed, it could even attract one into playing the game. Rolemaster fiction is interesting, with one good book, written by Roxanne Longstreet (better known as Rachel Caine), and two or three terrible ones by some mysterious hack or group of hacks, which maybe indicates that the important thing is to, you know, get a decent author and don't be tied too closely to the game's rules. Fortunately, Erik and Paizo are already in that business (although they did keep buying Gygax's terrible fiction, I guess as the aim is to sell material and Gygax's stuff presumably sold, that's a sensible decision; however, when trying to make something good for Golarion, one would hope that authors would be contracted for their quality).
Speaking as someone that has spent thousands and thousands of dollars on terrible rpg fiction, of course, I am aware that you can still sell crap. To me, for example. Selling good stuff, though, that has to be worth doing.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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I've never read much gamer fiction, primarily because I was never invested as a player or GM in any shared world that captivated me enough to read more about it, but what little I have read of licensed fiction (primarily Star Wars and Star Wars) hasn't ever left a noticeably bad taste in my mouth. I equate it to any pulp novel you'd pick up from Michael Crichton, Tom Clancy or Sue Grafton. I don't think anyone expects them to be literature that will garner someone any awards, but if they're compelling stories, settings, and aren't written too unprofessionally, I don't see a problem with them.
As to who writes fiction set in Golarion, I have no preference. I trust that the Paizo folks can tell a good writer from a bad, given their selection of Planet Stories novels thus far, and the success of the Pathfinder's Journal (which was written by a dozen authors, many of whom are not fiction writers by trade).
I think speculation into who's writing what and what quality it will be is a bit preemptive, especially since there's nothing on the schedule for Pathfinder fiction any time soon.
...but a few noble exceptions aside (Azure Bonds and sequel, say), Forgotten Realms fiction is horrible, horrible, horrible garbage. Not a good bar to set.
Meh... I've always been entertained by Forgotten Realms fiction. Of course, I made the mistake of reading the original Dragonlance trilogy when I was 30 rather than 13, but I did grunt through that as well.
I don't think anything in FR fiction is masterful, but it passes the time as an easy pulp-fantasy read - I would say it's the romantic serials (in terms of cheesiness, but well selling) for our chosen genre.
But you can't trust my opinion too far. I am an avid fan of Sci-Fi Original Presentations.
I mean this as no offence to anyone, but I wonder sometimes if people have their opinion of FR fiction based on the second edition days, when nearly everyone that worked at TSR got a book contract at some point in time?
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I mean this as no offence to anyone, but I wonder sometimes if people have their opinion of FR fiction based on the second edition days, when nearly everyone that worked at TSR got a book contract at some point in time?
I've been reading FR fiction since the beginning (and if anything I'd maybe even say it's got worse, although that's a hard call). The recent stuff is terrible, too, in my opinion.
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I can't see Ed Greenwood being an expert on Golarion, The reason he wrote the early FR novels well is that FR was HIS homebrewed world. He is Elminster.
I did like some of the Eberron novels. As I'm not buying new novels based on the forced edition, I would love to see some good mature fiction based on Golarion.
It has evertyhing available in it. let's get some good fiction out of it.
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Some of the FR fiction of 10 years ago was very poor whatever the reader's age, but hopefully we've moved on from assuming game designers automatically make good writers.
A swift change of computer later, I can post again.
I don't think that it really got better between the first novels (starting with Darkwalker over Moonshae, if I recall rightly) on through to some of the ones I've read this year.
However, I agree that Golarion fiction would be worth reading (and I don't think that they'd aim it at 12-14 year olds, given what seems to be their target demographic).
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And hopefully, any books won't be based on an adventure path, but be more character based. Good fiction makes you care about the characters and shouldn't be there just to show case the setting. This is where alot of the FR fiction falls down. The reader just doesn't care enough about the characters.
I agree here - it seems that many of the FR books feature an area- going "don't you want to adventure here?" This is compounded by that stupid %^&*() Drow ranger, who seems to be around solely to promote underground locations for adventures sometimes (sorry - he's the only reason I dislike DROW)
I vote for James Jacobs. The lazy bugger currently wastes 4 hours a night sleeping; he needs another project.
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FR fiction is great if you need to fall asleep.
I honestly cannot stay awake long enough to find anything worth reading.
I do think that is becuase the target audience is teenagers. I would be very interested in Golarion stories IF they were more mature. By mature I do not necessarily mean sexual, or violent, but as in more developed.
I am not interested in seeing Golarion become another Disney Land game world. I want Lord of the Rings quality writing with Thomas Covenant depth of story. I want stories that grip me deep down in my gut and make my soul ache and my heart bleed. I want to see Golarion as if I were there with all the amazement and awe of new eyes in a new world.
I am not looking for halflings skipping around singing jolly songs or swashbucklers who can't swash nor buckle and their only redeeming quality is their crappy sense of humor.
I do not want stories making massive use of Deus Ex Machina. I want to see heroes in the truest sense of the word facing the most vile villians imaginable.
I want mature stories with DEPTH... not bed time stories.
Unfortunately I cannot see it happening on a deadline... *sigh*
I'm in the camp with Bagpuss. To be honest, I suspect that Bagpuss has read a great deal more TSR/WoTC fiction than I have. The problem with 95% of 'game fiction', is that it is written by people who work in the gaming industry, who aren't top notch authors, and most of the few novels I have read, sound like the author is trying to describe their past gaming sessions in literary terms.
Before you shoot my viewpoint down folks, do consider that you don't see more accomplished "real authors" writing 'gaming novels.' I certainly wish they could be induced to do so, and would buy them if such was available. If I want to read something compelling, there is just too many other classical and accomplished authors. I assume that most people buy gaming novels mainly because they are "set in a fantasy world setting that has elves, dwarves, etc." I need a bigger carrot than that to reel me in. I haven't purchased 95%+ of the previous gaming novels because they weren't written by the caliber of authors that I've come to appreciate. Honestly folks, who are Greenwood and Salvatore when compared to Tolstoy and Jane Austin?
And since everyone's naming authors, couldn't we hire Crichton or Grisham to write a novel? How much would it cost to get them on board for a single novel?
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Creative Director
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And since everyone's naming authors, couldn't we hire Crichton or Grisham to write a novel? How much would it cost to get them on board for a single novel?
It would cost more than we can afford, I suspect.
Also: high profile authors like that generally aren't interested in playing in another person's sandbox. They're more interested in building their own sandbox. And the building nearby. And the beach where the sand comes from. And so on.
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And since everyone's naming authors, couldn't we hire Crichton or Grisham to write a novel? How much would it cost to get them on board for a single novel?
Grisham? yeah, like i want a novel based on Sebastian's character ;)
"..and he approached the dragon, subpoena in hand, hoping to avoid its breath..."
"Myxilpharaeus, you've been served!"
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I have enjoyed every issue of Black Gate: Adventures in Fantasy Literature that I have purchased. They've put out some great stories. And I think that editorial staff "gets us." IIRC, there was even a Kingdoms of Kalamar story in one issue. Maybe one of their bright stars might give a go at Golarian.
I would just like to point out that I've had fiction published on the WotC site, and I'll have some serious free time in the summer months.
*hint* *hint*
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Paizo high ups:
When will we be able to read novels set in Golarion from Ed Greenwood or Elaine Cunningham? these are very talented writers, and the recent 4$ Realmz Extreme! may have killed off their main characters (due to the time jump) and I bet they'd be ready to show us Golarion through the eyes of brand new, fresh young heroes!
As soon as Pathfinder #19. Sort of. Elaine Cunningham will be taking over the writing of the Pathfinder Journal then, with a brand new story and a brand new character. It's not a novel... but by the time we get to the end of her arc in Pathfinder #24, it'll be a novella at about 27,000 or so words.
Beyond that... nothing official to announce yet... but eventually, I'll be very shocked if we don't have some sort of Pathfinder fiction some day...
Excellent news James! thank you for the post!
I hope Elaine stays involved after the novella project, and I hope Ed gets a few Golarion novels or products in (i.e. I hope he will not stop his Golarion involvement with his recent Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting work... and hope he stays onboard much, much beyond that)
I would just like to point out that I've had fiction published on the WotC site, and I'll have some serious free time in the summer months.
*hint* *hint*
~LAUGHTER~
I must say that a lot of the Realms novels were decent reading. Maybe not great, but I could read through them - which isn't true for Gormenghast or The Worm Oroborus (yes, I know I forget several Us in there).
Maybe I'm not the target audience for such exalted works, but the FR books did work for me.
And getting some of those writers to write for a world that hasn't been slaughtered, and writing books where they don't have to be considerate of the sensibilities of a sheltered five-year-old.
I agree, though, that Ed Greenwood's novels weren't the best of them (though his joint venture with Elaine - Waterdeep - was top notch). His strength was clearly in world building and writing background material.
Ouch on Ed. I do not like his stories or style of writing. And his main character is soo boring.
As for Elaine, I have mixed feelings about her. I read some great stuff from her, but also some utter crap.
Only Paul S. Kemp and Salvatore I have found actually read-worthy all the time.
Get Martin on board :)
I am wearied by this lack of ambition.
My vote is for Galorian fiction by Salman Rushdie, Philip Roth, Margaret Atwood and Alan Moore.
Now this is something I wholeheartedly support. And a reason why I don't bother that much with gaming fiction, why should I read it when I can read Salman Rushdie who both has wilder ideas than most and writes them better (this said, I have read about twentyish TSR/WotC books and assorted other stuff from other RPG lines).
I do wonder if it were possible to get writers from, say, world of comics? Several of them have been dabbling on other people's sandboxes and managed to turn in good results...
Get Martin on board :)
Now that would be something. I'd say "too bad he's busy writing A Song of Ice and Fire novels" if they weren't so good.
He'd sure be able to write proper Pathfinder novels - he probably doesn't even know what kid gloves are, and wouldn't give a @!#~ about whether you could give the book to a ten-year-old to read.
His characters aren't all Heroes In Unblemished Armour or sterile villains, he wouldn't shy away from writing about Sorshen's legacy or the stuff Calistria's faithful do.
Since all of these are things that are an important part of Pathfinder so far, he'd be a perfect fit.
And, of course, his writing in general is top notch, too...
I'm in the camp with Bagpuss. To be honest, I suspect that Bagpuss has read a great deal more TSR/WoTC fiction than I have. The problem with 95% of 'game fiction', is that it is written by people who work in the gaming industry, who aren't top notch authors, and most of the few novels I have read, sound like the author is trying to describe their past gaming sessions in literary terms.
QFT.
Normally I would say hire on Rose Estes for all I care, I won't be buying any RPG novels, having been burned too many times by the Realms novel line. But in the interests of giving support to a great company, I can be a sport and pick up a book or two if a couple of conditions are adhered to:
1. If and when this venture takes off, it won't cut into the number of modules you put out...move the setting's timeline through them and your Chronicles guides as you have been. And most importantly...
2. ...DO NOT MAKE THEM CANON!!!
I apologize to all if these two points go without saying, but I felt them important enough to redress--especially #2!--and in which case I just need to hear you say it again James. Don't let Golarion go down that slippery slope with the Forgotten Realms.
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And since everyone's naming authors, couldn't we hire Crichton or Grisham to write a novel? How much would it cost to get them on board for a single novel?
ewww not Chrighton or Grisham... they had their one or two original thoughts, the rest of their books are the same things with different titles. I am afraid they would just sound like every other gamer story out there. They already sound like every other hack writer out there.
I think that Paizo would be better off approaching authors who have shown a willingness to play in other folks' sandbox. In addition to some of the names mentioned I'd like to propose J. Michael Straczynski and Peter A David.
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The two authors I would really enjoy seeing are Michael Stackpole and R.A. Salvatore.
Stackpole is OK (he is arguably better when writing in someone else's created world; his Battletech stuff was his best, I think).
In my judgement (and many people won't agree, obviously) R.A. Salvatore could be the World's Worst Living Author. I personally won't buy anything with his name on it (having endured a fair amount of it and being unaware of any evidence suggesting he's improved).
I'd like to propose J. Michael Straczynski
I can see it: The elves find out that elves who die by the hands of other elves are reborn as humans, so they let those Azlants play rulers of the world. :D
Anyway, as a huge B5 fan, I second that.
1. If and when this venture takes off, it won't cut into the number of modules you put out
No fear, that won't happen.
Don't let Golarion go down that slippery slope with the Forgotten Realms.
I must say that I liked the way the Realms were handled up until they escalated the realms-shaking events, turned them into realms-shattering events, and finally turned the realms into a badly-written soap opera.
I doubt Golarion is in any danger of becoming like that.
I think that Paizo would be better off approaching authors who have shown a willingness to play in other folks' sandbox. In addition to some of the names mentioned I'd like to propose J. Michael Straczynski and Peter A David.
Ooh, Peter David would be great (see my earlier comment on looking at people working on comics).
Oh, and I do agree: Don't make fiction canon, or only some specific pieces as such (like specific writers). Keeps the world more intact, while giving the writers more liberty to play also a bit outside that sandbox.
It might also be that a Thieve's World approach, with a bunch of short stories, has promise.
The Realms Anthologies were some of the brighter examples from that whole line. Let me cast my vote for the 'collection of short stories' approach.
My preference would be to see Golarion remain a game world rather than a fantasy fiction world. That said, if there was to be Golarion novels I would agree with the hesitations voiced by many others above, especially about Greenwood...please don't have him write any Golarion novels!
Would be interesting to see China Miéville do a short story set in Golarion. Or perhaps M. Moorcock. Or Steven Erikson.
If we're doing pie-in-the-sky thinking, then my second vote would be Joss Whedon. If there's anyone who knows about killing off characters, gypsy curses, and dark plot turns, its him.