CHAT TRANSCRIPT
Kevin J. Anderson
December 2, 1998
Organized and Moderated by Sir Steve of www.sirstevesguide.com
Hosted by Echo Station at www.echostation.com
<kja> Thanks for being here, everybody. What a crowd...
<SirSteve> Thank you for joining us Kevin...
<echo_dave> Thanks for showing up yourself, Kevin. On behalf of everyone, we appreciate it.
<kja> I will be happy to answer (or dodge <g>) any questions you can come up wiht
<SirSteve> :)
<kja> make that, "with"
<SirSteve> Anything you would like to say before we get started or are you ready?
<kja> To save a lot of headaches when the chat really gets going... I am not working on the PHANTOM MENACE or any spinoffs of the prequels so don't ask me any insider questions. Besides, you guys probably know more about it that I do. Come on...you've watched the Prequel trailer frame by frame, I know it.
<SirSteve> :) Countless times...
<SirSteve> <Ajamedor> ask him about qui xux and wedge - whether that
relationship should have been since it was the worst portrayal of wedge ever
<kja> Sorry you didn't like the Qwi Xux and Wedge -- a lot of fans loved it. I don't understand why some people had problems with Qwi. She's a gorgeous, ethereal alien, of the same species the Diana Ross character was in the Holiday special. If Wedge doesn't want her...
<SirSteve> <AnakinSolo> Mr. Anderson. In your upcoming Star Wars Chronology, how will you deal with the incompatability between the ending to the novel "Vision of the Future" by Timothy Zahn, and your Young Jedi Knight series? As you know, Luke is married to Mara in Vision of the Future and turns the Jedi Academy into a Jedi Preschool. And in your Young Jedi Knight series, Luke still teaches at the academy and there is no mention of an "Aunt Mara".
<kja> Don't go by her picture in the Essential Characters guide -- yuk!
<SirSteve> Also - 1 question per person. Make it good! ;)
<kja> We knew about Tim's plans for Luke and Mara all
along, and we made the YJK series compatible -- it is years later and it is never
mentioned whether Luke is married or not. We knew he was, but he and Mara have one of
those long-distance relationships! Since the marriage was supposed to be a surprise in
Tim's book, we couldn't very well blow the secret in the YJK books. I think you're
misinterpreting the "Jedi preschool" bit -- the academy was growing and
expanding to include many other trainees.
I should note that a lot of people a whispering questions to me directly
<echo_dave> Kevin, before I forget, Ann Crispin was in here earlier this evening for a while, and asked us to pass along a "hello" to you. She didn't want to stay and steal your thunder, apparently <chuckle>
<kja> I can't answer them individually -- let's do questions for the whole group
<echo_dave> ...and I'll follow that up with "Don't Private Kevin"...he'll get annoyed eventually and refer you to me <g>
<kja> Ann is a great writer, not only in Star Wars, but Trek as well, and V and Alien, and her own originall stuff
<SirSteve> <Anakin> Sir steve, ask KJA if he is planning to write any Star Wars novels in the near future
<kja> Right now we have just finished the 14 volumes in the Young Jedi Knights series. My REDEMPTION comic series just completed the Tales of the Jedi story and the Jedi Academy LEVIATHAN tells another story of Kyp Durron Right now the main SW project for me is the CHRONOLOGY, a massive compilation of all the stories, placed in a "history book" context. No new "regular" novels in the works for SW -- I'm keeping very busy writing my massive Prequels to DUNE. I hope you all have read DUNE?
<SirSteve> <Chrono> Mr. Anderson, my question is: have you/do you expect to be approached by Del Rey to write any novels?
<kja> I am doing the CHRONOLOGY for Del Rey right now, with Dan Wallace. I have known the Del Rey editorial team for quite some time, and I would like to work with them, if they have a project for me
<SirSteve> <Draco> Ask KJA, what type of hints he has for aspiring fan fic writers?
<kja> Fan fic writers have plenty of SW fanzines and webzines they can send their stories to. I was chosen by LFL on the basis of my original science fiction writing. You have to be a professional writer before you can be considered to work in the SW universe. So that means you need to write your OWN stuff and get it published, then perhaps LFL will consider you as a possible author for them
<SirSteve> <crisi> Me and a lot of other young jedi knights, are wondering why the last three books aren't as good as the first 11. Most of us seemed to think they were rushed and not as good a the rest. What do fell about that, were they not as good?
<kja> Anytime a writer spends 14 books with the same characters, there will be some books better than the others. We just got two fan letters today that thought the last three were the best of the 14. I think we did some great stuff (especially Jacen's "cliffhanger" on CLOUD CITY but we did feel that we had reached some of the limits of how we could make the characters change and grow. Also, Lucasfilm had a closer hand in dictating the storyline in the last trilogy
<SirSteve> <bobafett12> sir, first off i would like to say, it is an honar to meet you. My question is: DO YOU LIKE The idea of lucasfilm. lmt. selling the rights to your books to decipher to make them into star wars custombizable card game expansions for the game?
<kja> Any writer working in a licensed universe knows from the start that we don't OWN the characters, stories, or situations we create.
<SirSteve> <Darth> When will Crisis on Crystal Reef be released in the bookstore?
<kja> I thinki it's pretty cool to see some of my characters turned into other Star Wars items. I got a kick out of the JEDI SEARCH micromachines box and the Topps trading cards. I got a real thrill to see the double-lightsaber Chris Gossett, Dario Carrasco and I created in the Sith comics show up in the Prequel trailer. OK, next -- CRISIS ON CRYSTAL REEF was released several weeks ago
<SirSteve> <LOREN> Question: Do you think Lucasfilm is OVER merchandising The Phantom Menace and actually turning some fans "off" because of all the commercialism before the movie comes out.
<kja> Lucasfilm and over-commercialism??!! Actually, in this case I think they do have a point. After all, we'v e been waiting WAAAAAY LONG for the new SW movie
<SirSteve> <echo_dave> You mentioned seeing "your characters turned into other Star Wars items"...do you, as the author, see any residuals/kickbacks from that happening...or is that all LFL's pocket money?
<kja> sigh...nope, I don't get any royalties or compensation for secondary items. Presumably, the spinoffs help sell more of the original books...
<SirSteve> <DrHose> C.AN YOU ASK Mr Anderson how he commisioned to write Ai! Pedrito? I RECEIVEd an advanced copy at the bookstore where I worked and loved it
<kja> Ai! Pedrito! is a comedy spy adventure that came out in June, based on an old movie script by classic SF writer L Ron Hubbard. I got a kick out of the script and so I agreed to help turn it into a novel. I had worked with the publisher on a writer's contest they sponsored, and that is how I got asked to do the novel. Btw, I met a lot of you this summer when I did a 27-cities in 28 days book signing tour -- I even broke the Guinness World Record for largest book signing ever!
<SirSteve> <Rob-TDS> Rob from Dune Sea and NewsDroid here - I would like to know what steps you take to prepare yourself for writing, and how you compose yourself for it?
<kja> I love to write and tell stories. I do it seven days a week, usually up to ten hours a day. I read a lot, research a lot, and have numerous projects going at any one time. My best times are when I go out hiking in the mountains or forests, with a tape recorder in hand. I will walk for miles and dictate chapters. Several parts of DARKSABER were written when I climbed Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental US
<SirSteve> <Vornskr> What do you have in mind for the next Tales of the Jedi?
<kja> I really love the TOTJ comics -- in fact REDEMPTION is the best thing I have ever done. But Dark Horse is ending the series with the current story, as they have gotten ride of the X WING comics, and a lot of other titles. They are all focusing on the prequels now. After PHANTOM comes out, maybe they'll go back to the diverse stories
<SirSteve> <Arc> Please ask KJA this: Hello, Mr. Anderson. You might remember me as the Arc from the Sci-Fi Dominion Chat a few months ago. Tell me- I keep hearing rumours of a YJK television series some time after the third prequel. Can you confirm this rumour?
<kja> Sorry, can't confirm it. *I* think it's a good idea, and would make a fine series but LFL is so concentrated on the new film, they don't want to open up to a new project right now. I think the rumors got started when a fan suggested it be made into a TV series and then somebody else said "It's being made into a TV series..." and so on
<SirSteve> <Sabrina> Mr. Anderson: With respect to your X-files book, Ruins, how did you research it?
<kja> For RUINS my wife and I went down to Central America and the Yucatan to spend time actually tromping around in the Maya ruins and the junglesjust to get a hands-on feel for the place. That was also, incidentally, not far from where the Yavin 4 scenes were filmed for ANH, so we doubled it with SW research, too!
<SirSteve> <macewindu> this is kind of off the topic, but i was wondering if you can ask Kevin who decides who illustrates the covers of his books. I whant to know because I'm considering a career in illustrating.
<kja> As for the cover art question, most authors don't have much say in that. We did work very closely with Dave Dorman on all the YJK covers -- in fact we just bought the original painting for LIGHTSABERS and have it framed over our fireplace right now. I got to work with some of the comics covers, but I had nothing to do with the Jedi Academy covers or the anthology covers. In fact, I was shown the cover for DARKSABER and told I had to add a few red guard in some scenes, because the artist wanted to paint them into the background!!!
<SirSteve> <Anak|n> Do U agree with the Yslamari thing, that a creture can block out the force?
<kja> I didn't use the Ysalamiri in any of my stories.
<SirSteve> <UberJedi> Mr. Anderson: what inspiration has other Star Wars writers given you in your books?
<kja> Lucasfilm approved the ysalamiri, though, so I guess they exist. The other SW writers and I have had a great deal of interaction. Ann Crispin talked with me a great deal when she was developing her Han Solo trilogy. Obviously, Mike Stackpole and I had a very good working relationship with his I,JEDI and in fact we were planning to write a "Jedi Academy" comic together with Kyp Durron and Corran Horrn -- but that won't see the light of day, now that both of our comic series are gone. Barb Hambly and I worked hard to tie the Callista story together. We have all seen this as a great interactive game, and we get to tell the whole story
<SirSteve> <Nosre> Nosre asks will Ulic make an appearance in the Saga of Vima Sunrider?
<kja> well, read the rest of REDEMPTION first... At present, there is no "Saga of Vima Sunrider" in the works.
<SirSteve> <Tbone> Do you read reviews of your books and if so have they been fair in your opinion? How high do you place them? AND What is the next book due out.
<kja> I read reviews of the books whenever I see them, but I don't go digging. Reviewers are like any other people, with different tastes. Most of them have been fair enough, though there have been an annoying few who have their own axes to grind. One particularly bad example was a Publishers Weekly review of JEDI SEARCH: the reviewer trashed it, and then said "but I suppose, if you *like* Star Wars you might enjoy it... Sheesh! If you don't like SW, why on earth would you read Jedi Search anyway? Some people, especially on RASSM, made it a habit of trashing my stuff without reading it -- or reading it vindictively. "I've read 12 books by KJA and I hated them all...and I hate this one too!" Well, if you don't like an author after 12 books, you probably aren't gonna like #13 either!
<SirSteve> <David> Joseph Cambell was a fundemental influence on the SW story. WHAT if any influence does cambell play with your mythology?
<kja> I have read a great deal of history and
mythology, but I didn't studyCampbell particularly more than many of my other sources. The
most influence
he had was in the development of the LEVIATHAN story, which we modeled after dragonslayers
in legend and knights of the round table
<SirSteve> <MaraJade> Mr. Anderson, who do you most admire among the other Star Wars writers and why?
<kja> I have always made it a practice of not singling out any particular SW author or book. I believe we are all on the same team and all of us love SW in our own way. Some writers interpretations may be closer to your own view of SW. Of course, the SW "author" I admire most is George Lucas himself -- without him, none of us would be here
<SirSteve> <JawaFortr> Kevin, nice to finally meet you. i'm proud to say you are my favorite author in all your works other than Star Wars. Im going to go a little off topic, but I really enjoyed the books Fallout and Ignition that you wrote with Doug Beason. How difficult where they to write and are there any plans for movie releases? I would like to see Ignition in theatres very much. An your X-Files books are great also.
<kja> thanks a lot! I really like it when my SW fans branch out to my other novels (I do have quite a few of them). IGNITION was sold to Universal studios, but is now lost in the maze of hollywood. Who knows if it'll come out? My books with Doug Beason are like Tom Clancy meets the X-Files. Very different from my SW books. Right now, though, since DUNE is my favorite SF novel of all time, I am very honored to be working with Frank Herbert's son and some original Herbert notes on our DUNE prequels
<SirSteve> <Pride-0-Jawa> Hello Kevin, do you have a figure that you wish could be made? if there isn't, what is your favorite starwars figure? Seeing that this is a StarWars Figure chat, i couldn't resist asking :-) Also, is there a way to get your autograph? :-)
<kja> for the autograph and other information, please check out our web site at www.wordfire.com. We have an international fan club, and if you join one of the things you get are some autographed book plates and original manuscript pages. As for figures...I'd like to see some vehicles made of my AT-MT spider walkers those would be cool.
<SirSteve> <Tycho> Has Lucasfilm given you reason to believe they are reserving topics such as Luke's children and the Solo kids lives as possibilities for their own productions? Like a third trilogy? Ann Crispin said she couldn't write about Han saving Chewie a long time before ANH per Lucas' order.
<kja> Lucas left a few "Keep Out" signs in the prequel time frame because of things he wanted to do himself. I am not aware of any similar restrictions in the SEQUELS
<SirSteve> <THX1138> The original trilogy had major characters related to each other. Do you think having more relations unveiled in the prequels would be interesting? Or too soap opera-ish?
<kja> Well, it's a BIIIIIIIIIIG galaxy, so I hope all the main characters don't turn out to be related to each other. However, when Vader removed his helmet in ROJ, he *did* look a bit like Yoda. I would keep my fingers crossed they stay away from soap opera details, though
<SirSteve> <Sita> could you please ask kja if it's true that he had wanted to get Luke and Mara together but Zahn wouldn't let him?
<kja> When I was originally plotting the Jedi Academy trilogy, I thought it was apparent that Tim was leading toward a romance between Luke and Mara. when I talked to Tim directly, though, he said that he wanted them to remain "just friends." I respected that. However, he changed his mind, in part, because of the outpouring of fan response -- see, you guys really do have an effect! And you won't see anymore superweapons from me, either! <g>
<SirSteve> <QelDroma> Which preexisting character inspired you the most in writing your novels?
<kja> I thought Luke was the most interesting person, with the most to lose and the most to gain I took his character away from the "I am Superman and I can do anything with the Force!" and developed him in the spirit of a true Jedi, the way Lucas had intended and drawn him. I know there are a few fans out there who saw that as turning him into a "boring monk" but that shows they really don't understand what Star Wars is about and how the characters are portrayed. Look at Obi-Wan and look at Yoda -- *this* is what an esteemed Jedi aspires to. Luke does his best to play by those rules. When he does otherwise (as when he went over to the dark side in DARK EMPIRE) he really messes things up!
<SirSteve> <Tempus> Are you going to be involved in another "Tales from the..." book?
<kja> no more anthologies from me, sorry. While my three TALES still stand as the best-selling SF anthologies of all time, they were a LOT of hard workand a lot of headaches and coordination, because I didn't want to just throw a bunch of stories together. I think they turned out very well, but I still have to split the paycheck about 20 ways. Writing an original novel was easier.
<SirSteve> <nerf> what did you think of the trailer?
<kja> I saw it only once, so far, but I thought it looked cool. Liam Neeson particularly. I *could* probably wrangle a chance to read the PHANTOM script, but I think I want to keep the magic for myself and see the movie fresh
<SirSteve> <Joker> Is Daala going to appear in any more SW adventures, or will she remain on the colony planet?
<kja> We have a few ideas left for Daala -- it just depends on which *venues* remain. Del Rey hasn't announced their plan for the new SW novels, yet.
<SirSteve> <JediRobert> Mr. Anderson, I think the idea of a Jedi Academy was one of the best things to happen to the SW Expanded Universe. I was so inspired by your vision of a Jedi Academy, I even went and created my own Jedi Academy-themed website. It just seemed like the natural "next step" for Luke. So I was wondering, how did you come up with the idea? Did Lucasfilm LTD approach you, or was it of your own conception?
<kja> It was my own conception, but it seemed a very natural extension of the material. Something had to be done to bring back the Jedi.
<SirSteve> <JediJademan> I have waited a long time! I have to go!! Kevin said it was ok!! The Question: I take it you meet with other writers as well? How often do you meet and where do you meet? Skywalker ranch? Joe's Dinner? <kja> we're running out of time, folks. I thank you for your patience
<kja> I often meet with other SW writers because we are frequently at science fiction conventions. We also try to meet our fans at many book signings and appearances. We have met at Skywalker ranch, but because we are all across the country that doesn't happen often. I used to live close to Skywalker Ranch, so I went there dozens of times; some of the others have not visited there. SF writers are a small community, aznd most of us know each other
<SirSteve> Last question:<Pealleon> Is Luke going to marry in any of the future novels?
<kja> Well, I think that one's already been answered, if you've read all the novels! Of course, I suppose we could always clone him again and marry him off to several other characters! <g> Thanks everybody for your interest and your many questions. I'm sorry to those of you who didn't get your questions answered.. I can only type so fast!
<SirSteve> Thank you Kevin for taking the time to answer these questions with your fans.
<kja> I'm glad they keep reading! Again, check out www.wordfire.com for our travel and appearance schedule as well as information on upcoming books. May the Force be with you (had to end on that note!)
<echo_dave> Thanks again for stopping by Kevin. We really appreciate your time.
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