The other thing that is going really well is the Chernevog imminent release and the Yvgenie edit—I may finish that before Monday.
These are the Russian novels. And they had so much baggage—back in the day. I’m not going to describe the wretched details—we’d all get depressed, but suffice it to say it involved a several year stretch of writing uphill both ways in a blizzard of catastrophe for, oh, much more than one year. The result was that—these books, while successful, had flaws.
Well, the beauty of e-books—is you get a re-do. I did a fairly light rewrite on Rusalka. Jane chipped in and helped me on the Chernevog rewrite, which was in 2012—she was, by then, in far better shape than I was. And then there’s Yvgenie, which I am about to finish up. Oh, my. Chernevog has major, major fixes. And I just flat rewrote Yvgenie. There’s hardly a line in the book untouched, new bits, some erasures, and it is finally a work I’m really happy with and that I’m proud of, the way I’d wanted to be when I first wrote the set.
These books are, for those who don’t know, set in long-ago Russia, draw pretty heavily on Russian myth and folklore, but are definitely not about Russian elves and fairies, or wizards in long black robes. They’re about two young men who land in deep trouble in their town and end up in worse trouble in a lonely woods. The way wizards work in this story is a deliberate departure from the modern method of magecraft…it’s effortless, it’s ‘free’, it’s dangerous, and the more you try to wish yourself out of trouble, the deeper you can dig the pit. A rusalka, for those of you who’ve not run into that word before, is the ghost of a maiden who died for love, specifically by drowning, and they’re quite, quite dangerous. And lest you think these books are cover-to-cover dark and grim, our two troublemakers have a very lively sense of humor. I mean, if you’re in love with a dead girl, what worse can go wrong with your week?
Out of all your books I have always felt that this set was the weakest. Glad it wasn’t just my personal foible and that you have redone them. I’ll go buy one of those anon. £25 paypal/visa plazzy gift card to use and get the set.
Rusalka works on many levels, from the supernatural to the all-too-human parent-child conflicts. It leaped off the library shelf into my hands many years ago, when I was looking at the ways in which writers handled fantasy, and I found it intriguingly different. My son and I both wanted more, but it was the only book of that series the library had, and we assumed that it was a stand-alone story. I am delighted to know there are two more books and I’m eager to get my hands on Chernevog. And if Yvgenie is so close to ready–I’m going to be deep in reading, but that’s fine. Monday we had twelve (12!)inches of snow. Roads closed, power lines down. Damages have been repaired and about half the snow has melted away — so what is it doing today? Snowing, of course. Spring!!
Carolyn, it makes my heart glad that you are feeling so good again! <3
I’m glad I held off reading them. (Did I somehow instinctively know they weren’t up to your usual snuff?) Now I’ll be able to have the full set from Closed Circle on my Kindle Fire and I can indulge in a reading orgy. I’d vote for more Chanur stories with Pyanfar and Tully, more “Riders at the Gate” world stories, and I’d especially like a Foreigner story told strictly from the point of view of an “old school” adult Atevi — someone like Ilisidi — either post Human settlement or — even better — pre Human settlement. Actually, I’d really like one that was preHuman, and on a small scale, say, about a single family and the family dynamics involved.
I enjoyed the stories and I’m looking forward to seeing how they’ve changed.
I’d vote for more stories, and I don’t care what they are. Get Jane moving, too.
Thank you!!!!
check out the little bar on my blog! For the first time in years making some real progress! Up to 40,000+ on the next ‘NetWalkers book! I read that to Carolyn yesterday, and she said it was my best work yet! YAYAYAYAY Considering the convolute setup needed for four big books and ten years of time, I was doing a snoopy dance. I’m trying, even on days like today that have TAXES written all over them, to get in at least a couple of hours of New Book writing time.
Meantime, there’s alpha reading and editing for all the books Carolyn’s talking about, not to mention conversions. For some reason, Mobi pocket creator won’t run on this computer, and I use it to do my mobi/prc file, so I’m going to have to figure out another method…
I loved the originals, and even more loved them when I reread them, and can’t wait for the fixed versions.
Me too – I loved these books – they got slow, steady reading from me, and have been re-read twice. This second time was a few years ago, with some of the reading taking place on the bus. People asked about the books – the book jackets drew attention – and I promoted them to the regular bus riders, giving little bits of the story, and the bannik action each morning. I hope you got at least a couple of new readers from that activity. I’ll enjoy reading the new versions.
Re: Chanur and Compact space, I have two different opinions. Well, my overriding opinion is, YES, I want more! 😀
On the one hand, I’d love to see more of the established characters. I’m sure there are unexpected situations that are just waiting to happen there. (I have ideas, but if I said that, you couldn’t use them. Besides, I’d love to be surprised.)
On the other, there are eight known species, the four oxy-breathers from the Compact, the three methane-breathers, and then the humans. There’s room for a different viewpoint. Other hani, or another species as the POV. It’s a given that someone, somewhere is going to start another situation.
I love the hani and the established characters. I’d love to see more. I’m sure there are other things about hani we don’t know. Then again, there is plenty about the other species we don’t know, and they could be fascinating too.
I’m likely just wishing, but I’ll still wish.
…Hmm, besides pre-human atevi, there’s also… what would’ve happened in an alternate reality where the atevi achieved space travel without human contact? Heh, could be a short story at least.
…Yes, I’d love more Alliance/Union books too. I’m sure I’m repeating myself. :blush:
…And when the Russian trilogy comes out, I’ll definitely get them.
I’m excited to see the changes. When I saw you mention that you where going to give them a going over, I reread the three of them. Nice to visit old friends — can’t wait for the next veiwing.
I vote for more of Morgaine and Vanye –I have always wondered what happened after they followed Chei thru the Gate. Oh and definitely more Alliance and Union pretty please.
Holding back some pennies because I am truly excited about a revision of this trio – my first exposure to Russian fairy tale based fantasy!
CJ – I downloaded FAERY MOON, your extended rewrite of FAERY IN SHADOW. I think I’ve mentioned in long-ago correspondence that FAERY IN SHADOW is one of my favourite among your books, and IMO the single, hands-down BEST Sidhe/Faery book out there: I’ve read it twice and have never understood (aside from the awful US cover they’d stuck you with) why it wasn’t a bestseller.
Almost halfway into FAERY MOON, I’m awed. I did read your notes on the genesis of the rewrite, and on the old Gods. This is a new book, and the big chunk of new material at the intro is tremendous. I’m going to evangelize this one! Also, are you getting it reviewed (Locus, Tangent, etc.?) Because, as a new book, it sure ought to be.
And if this is a harbinger of Things To Come, I’m greatly looking forward to re-reading the Russian trlogy, too.
Best,
Dario
Thanks! Hadn’t even thought about reviews. I’m just trying to do justice to books that I wrote in a hellish time in my life and while suffering ill health and publisher idiocy…not to mention my editor dying in the middle of it all.
People don’t expect me to write fantasy, I think, and I don’t do the unicorn thing—though I suppose Dubhain qualifies as a faery horse. (Ha.) My background being ancient world, I just try to write in the viewpoint of somebody who really respects these powers. Never have been able to do the ‘recipe’ sort of magic—mmm, we need three red crystals and one of these blue cubes… I’ve spent a lot of time walking alone in the woods, and the old gods were a little scarier (and to my mind more poetic) than the recipe-respecting sort.
Agreed about the old gods, and I know you don’t use the word ‘poetic’ by accident 🙂 I’m a big fan of Graves, and he *got* it. LOL. The unicorn, dwarf, elf, recipe magic stuff leaves me cold., FAERY MOON raises teh hairs on my neck! Then again, I’ve spent time alone in a lot of wet old woods in the UK. For which I have to tell you, rereading this is making me terribly, terribly nostalgic.