AUTHORTALK: Kevin J. Anderson AOL Q&A Transcript
Alec Usticke
Center Stage. This is a log of that event.
------------------------
OnlineHost: Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc.
OnlineHost: The auditorium consists of two major areas: the
audience, where you are right now, and the stage, where the speakers
appear. Text which you type onscreen shows only to those in your row,
prefaced by the row number in parentheses, such as (2) if you are in
row 2. To interact with the speaker, use the Interact icon on your
screen.
OnlineHost: To send your question to the speaker, click on the
Interact icon, then use the Ask a Question option.
OnlineHost: Welcome to the Live Star Wars Q&A with Kevin J.
Anderson! This event is sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy
Forum (keyword SF) and the AOL Star Wars Fan Club. To join the club
mailing list, simply e-mail Vader129.
OnlineHost: KEVIN J. ANDERSON has spent a lot of time in a galaxy
far, far away. He is the author of the STAR WARS: THE JEDI ACADEMY
trilogy, the forthcoming novel DARKSABER, and the SITH WAR comic book
series. He is currently editing three STAR WARS anthologies, TALES
FROM THE MOS EISLEY CANTINA, TALES FROM JABBA'S PALACE and TALES OF
THE BOUNTY HUNTERS. He has been nominated for both NEBULA and the
BRAM STOKER awards.
OnlineHost: He and his wife, REBECCA MOESTA, are writing the six
volumes of the YOUNG JEDI KNIGHTS saga, as well as creating the JUNIOR
JEDI KNIGHTS series for younger readers.
OnlineHost: His other science fiction novels include CLIMBING
OLYMPUS, RESURRECTION, INC., and several others with DOUG BEASON. He
has worked for ten years as a technical writer at the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory.
Uncle Owen: Welcome to the Center Stage, Kevin!
KevReb: Hi everybody. Thanks for showing up in virtual space. I hope
I can answer some of your questions and entertain you at the same
time.
Uncle Owen: Ready to start on the Star Wars questions?
KevReb: Yeah, let's get right to it!
Uncle Owen: The first question is from DRKSYDE . . .
Question: Who are the authors working on "Tales of the Bounty
Hunters"?
KevReb: The BOUNTY HUNTERS book is a little different from the CANTINA
and JABBA collections -- instead of a lot of stories, BH has only five
*novellas* or long stories, each dealing with one of the bounty
hunters sent off by Vader in ESB. I'm writing IG-88, Dave Wolverton
is writing Dengar, Kathy Tyers is writing Bossk, and two of my
favorite new authors are writing the others -- M. Shayne Bell is
writing Zuckuss and 4-LOM and Daniel Keys Moran is writing Boba Fett.
They're all terrific stories, much meatier than the shorter pieces.
Uncle Owen: The next question is from Cuptoman . . .
Question: What do you plan to do about Anakin in your Young Jedi
Knights novels? I loved your work. Keep it up.
KevReb: Anakin shows up in Book #3, THE LOST ONES, which comes out in
November, when the adventures take place back on Coruscant. Anakin is
also the star of the new kids' series JUNIOR JEDI KNIGHTS which comes
out next month; we created the series, but someone else is writing the
first three volumes. Rebecca will be writing the next three.
Uncle Owen: This question is from HackerMAS . . .
Question: Hey Kev, what movie do you think is the best?
KevReb: Empire Strikes Back -- no question about it.
Uncle Owen: This one is from Raymond6 . . .
Question: Kevin, now that you've done quite a few Star Wars
projects, is there anything in the future I can expect to see from
you?
KevReb: Hmmm, I'm not sure what the question means. My bio listed a
lot of my upcoming SW projects... I am also writing the next major
X-FILES novel, in hardcover, out in November. But beyond SW and XF, I
don't think I'll be dipping into any other media universes. I have a
lot of my solo work, too -- and my best book ever, BLINDFOLD, comes
out in a few weeks, in paperback. I hope some of you will try my
original stuff as well as my SW novels.
Uncle Owen: JediKnght asks . . .
Question: I love Star Wars. I heard you published a new book,
Darksaber. What is it about?
KevReb: Darksaber (out the week of October 2) is a sequel to my Jedi
Academy trilogy and takes place immediately after CHILDREN OF THE
JEDI. Admiral Daala teams up with Pellaeon, and meanwhile Luke and
Callista go off in search of her lost powers. More than that would be
giving away too much! I think it's my best SW book of all I've done.
Uncle Owen: The next question is from Gwaun . . .
Question: I really enjoyed the story of Het Nkik in Tales from
the Mos Eisley Cantina. Can you tell us about some of the stories in
the upcoming anthologies?
KevReb: I already posted an answer about the BOUNTY HUNTERS book.
TALES FROM JABBA'S PALACE comes out in Jan. I think the stories in
there are even stronger than the CANTINA ones -- and they tie together
better, too. You'll see that practically EVERYONE was trying to kill
Jabba with one plot or another!
Uncle Owen: VCox10026 has an interesting question . . .
Question: Is there a chance of seeing a film done on your books?
KevReb: Well...are you a filmmaker? <g> There isn't much chance my SW
books will be made into films -- Lucasfilm wants to surprise the
audience, not tell a story many people have already read. As for my
non-SW books, though, we keep trying to interest Hollywood. My recent
novel with Doug Beason, ILL WIND, has generated quite a lot of rave
reviews and interest from Hollywood producers -- eighteen, so far --
so we just have to keep our fingers crossed.
Uncle Owen: Let's see if you can handle Dmd12812's non-book
question, Kevin . . .
Question: When is the next Star Wars movie coming out?
KevReb: Rumor has it that we should see the new SW movie in 1998 --
but I should make it clear to the audience that I just work on the
books, which are way down the totem pole at Lucasfilm. *I* personally
am not working on the new films and I don't know anything about them,
so I can't answer those questions!
Uncle Owen: Jedi Dirk asks . . .
Question: What is going to happen to Admiral Dalla?
KevReb: That would be spoiling DARKSABER! It's only a few more weeks
until you can read it -- so be patient.
Uncle Owen: Here's one from Kirk Vade . . .
Question: I love your books. I am finishing CHAMPIONS OF THE
FORCE. Kids at school laugh at Star Wars. I tell them that it is a
great thing that can relate to life. Do you a agree? I do. The Dark
Side is like cheating on a test, quick and easy.
KevReb: I would say that the kids who laugh at STAR WARS just don't
have enough imagination -- or sense of wonder! Kids, and adults, need
that sort of thing! Luckily, I am seeing first-hand how many people
are getting into reading and enjoying their imaginations because of
SW. Our YOUNG JEDI KNIGHTS books are among the best-selling young
adult novels ever.
Uncle Owen: The next question is from Sgt Dodon . . .
Question: Kevin, what was your favorite Star Wars book to write
or edit?
KevReb: That's a tough one -- I'm thinking... DARK APPRENTICE and
DARKSABER were very satisfying experiences to write, and I loved
hitting readers with the cliffhanger at the end of APPRENTICE. On the
other hand, working with Ralph McQuarrie on the upcoming ILLUSTRATED
SW UNIVERSE was an awesome experience -- he has such a cool, non-stop
imagination that I would have a great time just brainstorming with
him, and I think the book turned out very lavish and gorgeous. I also
love the comics and working with Tom Veitch. I really like how the
anthologies came out, but it's a great deal of work trying to get 19
authors all to get their work done on time!
Uncle Owen: BrentLynch, the new Editor-in-Chief of the AOL Star
Wars Fan Club newsletter, asks . . .
Question: Who's this guy again? <g> Um, Um, Q1: In Darksaber,
does Pelleon undergo a character shift from cowardly underling to an
heir to Thrawn's glory? Q2: Thanks for using my Jedi Joke in Heirs to
the Force. Q3: Highlights from Ralph McQuarrie book?
Uncle Owen: (You can tell he's a reporter.)
KevReb: Reverse order: The McQuarrie book will be out in November,
with a cover price of $35 (but discount stores should have them
cheaper) -- it's large format, 200+ pages, full color on every page,
and you get to see places from the films you never got to see -- such
as Alderaan and Coruscant. #2, as for Brent's jokes...well, we needed
something really ridiculous, and Brent came through for us! And
finally, Pellaeon's character shift (if any) -- all I can say is that
I worked with Tim Zahn when I was plotting DARKSABER, trying to set up
things for him and his last SW book as well as to make him into a nice
counterpoint for shoot-first/think-later Daala.
Uncle Owen: He just can't stop! One more question from BrentLynch
. .
Question: One more Q., character list release date for Tales
from Jabba's Palace! Huzzah!
KevReb: Character list would take a LOOONG time to compile -- some
highlights, though, are Rancor Keeper (me), Mara Jade (Tim Zahn), Oola
(Kathy Tyers), as well as the Usual Suspects, Fett, Salacious Crumb,
Bib Fortuna, and a bunch of other unsavories. Release date is January
1996.
Uncle Owen: Here's one from Sgt Dodon . . .
Question: Mr. Anderson, how did you start your Star Wars writing
career?
KevReb: My non-SW writing career had been going well, with ten novels
published before JEDI SEARCH. I had been nominated for some of
science fiction's most prestigious awards, and Lucasfilm had read my
stuff and liked it. I didn't even know I was under consideration
until they called me out of the blue and asked if I would like to
write three sequels to SW. Naturally, I thought long and hard for a
fraction of a second until I agreed. I really enjoy working with LFL,
and they seem to enjoy working with me -- that's why they keep
offering me projects to do. I almost never come to them and ask; they
call up and pitch new projects to me.
Uncle Owen: JediWookie asks . . .
Question: Kevin is there going to be a Jedi academy follow-up?
KevReb: It's DARKSABER.
Uncle Owen: Here's one from LstAmeric . . .
Question: Does the Sun Crusher have a chance of returning in a
future book?
KevReb: Are YOU going to go down a black hole to retrieve it? <g> A
lot of people criticize writers who use "superweapons" (somehow
believing that once the first Death Star was destroyed that the Empire
would just FORGET about them from that point on <?!>). Yeah, just
like we dropped one atomic bomb on Hiroshima and never built another
one? However, I did try to make it clear that the first Sun Crusher
was truly lost forever and that Qwi's memories were erased. Somebody
else is going to have to invent a new one if they want to...
Uncle Owen: Jedi 2000 asks . . .
Question: Will you write any other SW books after Darksaber?
KevReb: You mean other than eleven Young Jedi Knights books and more
anthologies, and comic books, and pop-up books and the art book and
kids' science books... Whew, l just need to catch up on the projects
I've got in the works! I really appreciate all the enthusiasm the
fans have been showing toward my work -- the CANTINA book is the
Number 1 bestselling SF anthology *in history* and my Jedi Academy
books were the top three bestselling SF novels of 1994. But I make it
a point to write at least one or two of my OWN books each year. One
of these days I'd like to slow down... <g>
Uncle Owen: Here's a question from your friend and mine, OtterPop1
. .
Question: Kevin, have you started writing the "Star Wars
Chronology," and what can you tell us about the project so far?
KevReb: I have done some background work on the CHRONOLOGY, mapped it
out, you might say, and I have the frame work and format, but I
haven't done any actual writing. The CHRONOLOGY is going to be the
last new SW book to come out just before the new movies, and it will
be a James Michener-like "novel" telling the saga of STAR WARS from
5000 years before the films (the Tales of the Jedi comics) to 25+
years after the films (Young Jedi Knights) -- and it will be a
readable chronology, not just an encyclopedic listing of events. The
frame will pretty much be Luke Skywalker constructing his own Holocron
and telling the story as he knows it.
Uncle Owen: Here's a question from Yarg Nora . . .
Question: Kevin, why isn't Callista in your young Jedi Knights
books?
KevReb: I'll have to evade the answer to that. Trust me, it will all
come clear...
Uncle Owen: Here's one from Jedi231 . . .
Question: Will the Dark Horse Comics of Tales of the Jedi be
turned into novels like the Aliens and Predator stories? If so, how
long before they reach the shelves?
KevReb: Tom Veitch and I tried to convince Bantam to let us novelize
the comics, but they eventually declined, fearing that it might
overload the market. You can, however, listen to full-cast audio
dramatizations from Time-Warner audio -- those are kind of cool.
Uncle Owen: The next question is from BobaFett8 . . .
Question: Your books are awesome. Are they coming out with a
RPG sourcebook for them?
KevReb: I know WEG is working on a sourcebook, but because I have so
much stuff coming out, it's hard to focus the book. I think they may
do a book on the "Jedi Academy" itself, and maybe another one on some
of the worlds I showcased. All that is still in the draft stages,
though. The WEG materials are all very useful, and I have worn my
copies down through frequent page-flipping.
Uncle Owen: BUCKER08 asks . . .
Question: Kevin, where do you get your ideas for the machines in
your novels?
KevReb: I've worked for 12 years at one of the nation's largest
high-tech research labs, I have a security clearance, and I have spent
a lot of time with scientists and engineers. That's where most of it
comes from.
Uncle Owen: BigBen21 has this question . . .
Question: As a fan, I'm sure, of the SW universe, what do you
hope to see in the new trilogy?
KevReb: I hope to see something that blows my mind and takes me
completely by surprise! I hope I DON'T figure out any of the details
before that first time I sit in the theater seats and wait.
Uncle Owen: Here's a question from Jedi 2000 . . .
Question: What is your favorite aspect of Star Wars?
KevReb: The sense of wonder! The spectacular visuals and the amazing
imagination really got my heart pounding and it gave a freshness to
science fiction that some had previously seen as too analytical or
depressing. STAR WARS made me feel like a kid again reading adventure
science fiction.
Uncle Owen: Here's a one from Dagobah33 . . .
Question: The Jr. Jedi and Young Jedi novels don't seem to fit
with each other. According to the Jr Jedi books, Anakin is 11 and the
twins are back from the Academy. This seems impossible with their one
year age difference. How would you explain this?
KevReb: We expected that, being younger, the kids would go for
"shifts" at the Academy, for several times, sort of like boarding
school or summer camp -- you go more than once, and you don't go there
for the whole year. Remember, too, that the kids are some of the only
younger ones at the Jedi academy; Luke spends most of his time with
the adult students -- and his own duties for the New Republic.
Uncle Owen: Hive69 asks . . .
Question: Do you know anything about Shadows of the Empire?
KevReb: I know plenty...but if I told you, I'd have to freeze you in
carbonite until the book comes out! <g>
Uncle Owen: We're running out of time, so only two more questions.
JLCHAM asks . . .
Question: Do you think there is a future for Luke and Mara?
KevReb: Ah, see my previous answer -- order more carbonite!
Uncle Owen: From Jp13 . . .
Question: What helped you to become inspired when you were
writing the Jedi Academy trilogy?
KevReb: Rebecca, leaning over my shoulder, claims to have been my
inspiration -- a TRUE claim, I might add! As I've stated in several
interviews, I do a lot of hiking and exploring when I write, whether
it's climbing mountains or going down in the Grand Canyon, or up in
the redwood forests. I'm going to Death Valley (again) in two days --
which is a great place for Tatooine inspiration. The more things you
see with your eyes and mind, the more exercise you give your
imagination. And writing SW projects takes a lot of imagination!
KevReb: Aww come on, Uncle Owen -- I don't have any books due for at
least a week or so, why don't we take two more questions?
Uncle Owen: Two more, huh? Okay, let's see . . . Here's one from
Sgt Wedge. Maybe he didn't know you're already married. :)
Question: Are you going to marry Luke and if so when?
KevReb: No, I'm not going to marry Luke. As Unc said, I'm already
married to the wonderful lady who cowrites the Young Jedi books with
me! (Also, see that carbonite response...)
Uncle Owen: Our Monday night trivia host, Yavin IV, asks the last
question of the evening . . .
Question: Kevin, who is your favorite author, sides you and yer
wife? ;)
KevReb: It might be a surprise, but I read so much science fiction
that the stuff I tend to ENJOY most is often in other genres. I have
favorite books rather than favorite authors. I love LONESOME DOVE by
Larry McMurtry, THE GODFATHER by Mario Puzo. My favorite SF book is
DUNE by Frank Herbert. Orson Scott Card is frequently great, as is
Daniel Keys Moran (read THE LONG RUN!), and Greg Bear (THE FORGE OF
GOD). The best part about Star Wars books is that it's getting so
many people to READ, and we hope they move on to other works by the
authors they like.
Uncle Owen: Thank you for answering our questions tonight, Kevin.
Any closing remarks?
KevReb: I'd just like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and their
compliments tonight -- I get a lot of fan mail, and believe me I
appreciate all of it. It's good to know people are enjoying my book
enough that they want to talk about it. Some people think they have
to like either one author or another -- I think there's plenty of room
for us all to like STAR WARS and to look at how the different authors
take different approaches. My time seems to be up -- but I'll try to
answer many of the remaining questions on the SW message board on AOL
-- thanks very much for a great chat session.
Uncle Owen: And thank you once again, Kevin, for spending the
evening with us. And thank you to everyone who attended. I hope
you'll stop by the Star Wars Forum at keyword SF and join our
community of Star Wars fans. Good night!
OnlineHost: This event was sponsored by the Science Fiction and
Fantasy Forum (keyword SF) and the AOL Star Wars Fan Club. To join
the club mailing list, simply e-mail Vader129. For a transcript of
this event, please check back in approximately 24 hours. Thank you for
joining us and good night!
OnlineHost: Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc.
------------------------
This transcript was edited for ease of reading and to correct
typographical errors and was prepared by uncl...@aol.com.
__________________________________________
_________| |_________
\ | May the Force be with you . . . | /
\ | | /
\ | Alec Usticke AOL Star Wars Host | /
/ | unc...@nai.net -or- uncl...@aol.com | \
/ |__________________________________________| \
/____________) (___________\
JWooten
>Question: I love your books. I am finishing CHAMPIONS OF THE
>FORCE. Kids at school laugh at Star Wars. I tell them that it is a
>great thing that can relate to life. Do you a agree? I do. The Dark
>Side is like cheating on a test, quick and easy.
More proof as to the complexity of the Jedi Academy series...
>KevReb: I'd just like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and their
>compliments tonight -- I get a lot of fan mail, and believe me I
How much is written in crayon?
>appreciate all of it. It's good to know people are enjoying my book
>enough that they want to talk about it. Some people think they have
>to like either one author or another -- I think there's plenty of room
nobody really cares who wrote what...I mean, I'm not personally in love with
Mr. Zahn, his books are just more 'mature'.
I am intrigued about the 'Chronology'...perhaps it will show an actual
understanding of the thematic aspects of the Star Wars epic.
John
----
"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realize how hard it is putting up with all the idiots in the world."--Calvin
"If, several years from now, you find me in an airport selling petunias and looking lobotomized, I'd appreciate your strangling me."--Opus
OSU 45 Pitt 10
GO BUCKS!!!
JWooten
>>How much is written in crayon?
>You know, this really gets me, in a post immediately preceding this one
>you decry the stupid little insults flung at Anderson,et al and that's
>the reason he doesn't take care for rassm. So what do you do? You do
>it here.
Yeah, I knew when I wrote it that I may sound hypocritical, but I really
couldn't pass that one up...I mean, that's the whole problem with his
books...I get more out of reading some children's books than I do Mr.
Anderson's...I can see writing a book for all audiences, but he cannot seem
to do this...there are no underlying themes or literary techniques used to
make it enjoyable for most college age readers...now, I understand that some
people simply like it, regardless of anything, but I ask you, what would
your guess be as to the mean age of these people? I'm betting young, so I
made the crack...I also popped off because I am sick of hearing how much fan
mail this guy gets...I mean, it's all he talks about (and the awards he's
won)...this, combined with his 'replies' to criticism makes it seem that he'
s simply out of touch with what the 1st generation SW fans want...this
brings up a question...Independent of the age question, I wonder how many
people who are old enough to remember the original phenomenon in 1977-1985
like his work.
>.and if it counts in your book, George Lucas recieved thousands of
>letters and associated fan mail in crayon, heck I might of even written
>one in Crayola. (Of course being under six post ROTJ, I wasn't about to
I did this too, but this is kinda different...of course, *all* fan mail is
fan mail, Lucas put something out there for everyone, so that is expected...
KJA writes a *novel* with no pictures, etc...get me? It was a crack, I
admit it, but really, I've sort of had it with this guy...if he wants to
publish children's books, more power to him, but, dammit, if you're going to
put that crap on the shelves outside of the kiddie section, put some effort
into it to make it more enjoyable for people who are simply *salivating* at
the prospect of a SW book that actually entertains while giving us something
to think about...I don't expect great literature or anything, just something
that has a feel to it similar to the original and doesn't seem to be for
children or young adults...
>Zahn could be rather silly too, but I see your point (especially in
>the usuage of Mara Jade, cliched as she was)
Oh, I agree, but his books did seem to capture the elusive 'feel' of the SW
epic.
At any rate, my comment would seem to be out of place here in a mature
rebuttal forum...I will endure any urges to make jabs like this in the
future...I slipped...I was temporarily insane...hopefully my explanation
helps everyone see what I was getting at...
A thousand apologies for my hypocrisy (but I *really* couldn't pass that one
up) :>
Brent Lynch
woot...@postbox.acs.ohio-state.edu (JWooten) writes:
>
>
>>Question: I love your books. I am finishing CHAMPIONS OF THE
>>FORCE. Kids at school laugh at Star Wars. I tell them that it is a
>>great thing that can relate to life. Do you a agree? I do. The
Dark >>Side is like cheating on a test, quick and easy.
>
While I disagree with you later in my reply, I must admit I found
this question-comment one of the most incredibly *stupid* ones
I've seen in the past few years, ANYWHERE. <g>
>
>>KevReb: I'd just like to thank everyone for their enthusiasm and
>their >>compliments tonight -- I get a lot of fan mail, and believe me
I >
>How much is written in crayon?
You know, this really gets me, in a post immediately preceding this one
you decry the stupid little insults flung at Anderson,et al and that's
the reason he doesn't take care for rassm. So what do you do? You do
it here.
.and if it counts in your book, George Lucas recieved thousands of
letters and associated fan mail in crayon, heck I might of even written
one in Crayola. (Of course being under six post ROTJ, I wasn't about to
go sending tomes of typewritten pages out to Lucasfilm)
>>appreciate all of it. It's good to know people are enjoying my book
>>enough that they want to talk about it. Some people think they have
>>to like either one author or another -- I think there's plenty of
room
>
>nobody really cares who wrote what...I mean, I'm not personally in
love with >Mr. Zahn, his books are just more 'mature'.
I won't add much more to this with anything more than a big fat, Duh.
Zahn could be rather silly too, but I see your point (especially in
the usuage of Mara Jade, cliched as she was)
>
>I am intrigued about the 'Chronology'...perhaps it will show an actual
>understanding of the thematic aspects of the Star Wars epic.
>
Unless I'm mistaken, Kevin's not going to be dissecting the thematic
aspects of the Star Wars Universe in the 1997 STAR WARS CHRONOLOGY, but
instead linking the events of the Star Wars galaxy from Tales of the
Jedi till 25 years post ROTJ told with Luke as a narrator (He attempts
to restore the Jedi Holocron). It's a Michener like tome more or less.