AUTHORTALK: Kevin J. Anderson AOL Messages [16-apr-1996]
Alec Usticke
Here are some messages from KEVIN J. ANDERSON, author of THE JEDI
ACADEMY trilogy, DARKSABER, and THE SITH WAR comic book. He also
edited TALES FROM THE MOS EISLEY CANTINA, TALES FROM JABBA'S PALACE,
and TALES OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS and is writing the YOUNG JEDI KNIGHTS
saga with his wife, Rebecca Moesta. These are reposted from the
America Online Star Wars Forum.
If you'd like to ask Kevin a question, send it to me. I'll post it on
the AOL SW Forum and when Kevin responds, you can see the answer when
I repost the message here. Kevin asks that you pose these questions
publicly, so everyone may see the answer.
Thank you.
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Subj: Re:All Apologies
Date: 96-03-31 13:12:10 EST
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
Cay, thanks for your posting (and thanks Susan and others for your
support) -- if it helps any, I *wanted* to kill Mon Mothma. That was
in my original outline, but LFL made me save her. At least they let
her retire!
Oracle, actually the real explanation about the Chu'unthor is neither
of your rather unkind assumptions: when writing DARKSABER, I had
available to me only the first draft of Barb Hambly's book, in which
much of the backstory of the Chu'unthor and Callista's master and Chad
was included. I spoke with Barb about this at great length to get my
details right and sent her my manuscript of DARKSABER so *she* could
check all the details. Unfortunately, in one of the last rounds of
editing COTJ all of that backstory was cut from her book (I don't know
who made the request), but I wasn't in the loop there, and Lucasfilm
didn't catch the connection until after DARKSABER was published. Yes,
it's an inconsistency, but not because I didn't pay any attention and
not because I have such a low opinion of the readers.
I'm not going to change your mind, apparently, but since I am here
on-line and since I have been very open in answering these sorts of
questions, why don't you give me the benefit of the doubt and let me
respond before you make up a snide explanation and post it as an
insult?
Kevin J. Anderson
Subj: Re:explanations
Date: 96-04-01 16:46:08 EST
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
Dunc, thanks (positive reinforcement, positive reinforcement <g>).
There is usually some kind of reasonable explanation, and I have
always been quite willing to offer the explanations... unfortunately,
there are some fans who just like to throw stones and will use any
excuse to do so.
I don't expect Oracle to come back and apologize; making a jab at my
expense and muddying the waters seems to have been the sole intent of
his/her posting.
KJA
Subj: Re:A message for KJA
Date: 96-04-02 20:12:40 EST
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
SBdamon -- thanks for passing on the kind words from your friend in
Japan. Lucasfilm just mailed me copies of the Japanese edition of
DARK APPRENTICE and it looks really cool (of course I can't read
anything in it). Tell your friend I appreciate his enthusiasm, and
that there will be plenty more books coming out, by me and by other
old and new SW authors.
Wedge, the XF book is RUINS, and it will be out in hardcover in
another three weeks or so. I don't know the coverprice (in fact I
haven't even seen a cover yet), but it'll probably be the same as
GROUND ZERO. My first XF comic book, a two-part story, should be out
in June from Topps.
all for now.
KJA
Subj: Re:New X-Files Book
Date: 96-04-04 15:29:28 EDT
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
Leikin -- I pop over in the XF folders, but nobody seems to be
discussing anything there. I will post, I promise... (btw, the XF
comic is a 2-part original story. I may eventually adapt one of my
novels, but not for a while.)
Unc, thanks for forwarding the messages.
AChrisC -- I'm very glad you liked my books so much and are supporting
them so enthusiastically...but don't go overboard against Dunc. She
has been much better recently, and there's nothing wrong with
legitimate criticisms. I just wanted the insults to stop.
KJA
Subj: Re:Some Questions
Date: 96-04-06 21:02:49 EDT
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
Wedge, I have Shadows, but won't be able to read it for a month or so.
As a general practice, I do not comment on other SW writers'
novels...I don't think it's professional.
OK, Dunc -- let me throw some planets at you: Kessel, Umgul, Maw
Installation, Dantooine, Ithor, Calamari, Khomm, Carida, Tsoss
Station, Mulako Water Quarry, Hapes Homeworld, Nal Hutta, Eol Sha,
Vortex, Harrsk's Homeworld, Teradoc's Homeworld, Delvardus's
Homeworld...and those are just the ones that come to mind. Each one
of those is either my own creation, or an original description of
something that was mentioned but never shown anywhere else. Each one
of those has at least an entire chapter in a book. I think you'd be
hard pressed to find another author who has created as many new worlds
in the SW universe. (And I didn't even list the ones I created in the
comics.)
[This is a comment some of my bashers have used before, but I just
don't get it ... how can people not see all the new planets I've
created? Not flaming you, Dunc...but I'm really puzzled as to where
this impression comes from?]
Thanks, Andy and others -- I really appreciate your compliments.
Meanwhile, back to writing SHARDS OF ALDERAAN (Young Jedi #7)....
Kevin J. Anderson
Subj: Re:stuff
Date: 96-04-09 17:54:54 EDT
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
I strongly second the DUNE and SNOW QUEEN recommendations; they are
two of my favorite SF books of all time. You might also want to try A
FIRE UPON THE DEEP by Vernor Vinge; it's of the same breed.
I think you're being needlessly restrictive about the planets, Dunc.
Just because the name "Kessel" was mentioned once in the three movies,
I don't get any credit for designing, describing it, working out the
spice details, the mining in the darkness... all of that is entirely
my creation. If I had called it "Sessel" instead, then it would
count? You can keep score however you want, but I think you should
recognize the worlds I created, rather than just which names I made
up.
I don't know any final details on the Disney SW convention, but
Rebecca and I will probably be there.
Sguil, you might want to check out Frank Herbert's story collection
EYE, in which he writes an editorial complaining about all the
similarities between DUNE and SW.
KJA
Subj: Re:SW names
Date: 96-04-10 17:52:00 EDT
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
I second Dunc's recommendation (see, we don't disagree on everything!)
-- read THE SNOW QUEEN and THE SUMMER QUEEN, by Joan Vinge. Nebula
Awards are given by the SF writers for "best" novel/story/etc, Hugo
Awards are given by fans for the same thing; naturally, they don't
always agree.
Bear in mind that when I chose Yavin 4 for the Jedi academy, we hadn't
seen the jungle moon anyplace else other than those few intriguing
minutes in ANH plus some of the newspaper comics. It seemed like a
place with a lot of mystery and potential. Now, though, I'm getting
rather tired of it myself, and am trying to take most of the YJK
adventures elsewhere, just so we can look at new landscapes.
Hive -- I would *never* use a name like Grn'lanm'nthlr. Remember, I
do most of my writing by hiking and dictation...if I can't pronounce
it, I can't write it!
(btw, *all* writers have a god complex!)
Also, just to let you know of our upcoming appearances, we will be at:
Topeka Public Library and The GateKeeper Comics store in Topeka, KS,
on Saturday, April 20
Goodenough Books, Livermore, CA Tuesday April 23
Nebula Awards ceremonies, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA, April 26-28
Baycon, San Jose, CA, May 24-28
DragonCon, Atlanta, GA June 20-23
San Diego Comic Con, San Diego, CA July 5-7
If it's in your neighborhood, stop on by.
KJA
Subj: Re:Sith War Audio
Date: 96-04-11 20:44:14 EDT
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
We're still hoping for a Sith War audio (Rebecca and I might even get
to do a few minor voices in it), but I haven't seen a script yet. I
would sure like to hear one, since I liked what they did with the
other Tales of the Jedi comics.
KJA
Subj: Re:pronunciations
Date: 96-04-12 19:11:36 EDT
From: <Kevin J. Anderson>
Jacen is JAY-sin and Jaina is JANE-ah. (Also, we just learned that
Coruscant is pronounced Corra-sahnt, not Cora-skant--George Lucas
himself said it during some brainstorming sessions, so that's the
pronounciation that counts.)
Tenel Ka is 16, Lowie is the equivalent Wookiee age (which makes him
about 70 or so, since Wookiees live so much longer).
KJA
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--
Alec Usticke - unc...@nai.net - uncl...@aol.com
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