An Aversion to Sequels
When the author of Fezariu's Epiphany told me the title to his guest post today it sounded just perfect. He doesn't like sequels and I'm writing one. I'm also reading, of course, and have just finished reading his unsequeled novel, Fezariu's Epiphany. He's created a huge and fascinating world, filled with social and geographic history, great characters, curious nations and much much more. But perhaps I should let him tell you about it.
Click here for my review of Fezariu's Epiphany, and read on to learn of author David M. Brown's aversion to sequels. Thank you David for visiting my blog.
An Aversion
to Sequels
When I published Fezariu’s Epiphany back in May 2011, I sometimes found interview
questions wanted to explore the possibility of a sequel. I can say for certain
that you will never find me writing a follow-up about another epiphany Fezariu
has. The Elencheran Chronicles are intended as a series of self-contained
novels, a visit for the reader to a different period of history, and a brief
amount of time spent in the company of some of the characters. The timeline currently
stretches to 47,000 years and may go further when I revisit the world history
at some point, so readers are not short of literary destinations for their
summer holidays.
So, am I saying that sequels are completely
taboo? My next novel, A World Apart,
will not have a follow-up. It’s a long novel but by the end there have been
enough resolutions to say the story is well and truly over, there isn’t a need
for any more from the three main characters – Demetrius, Eleyna and Halcyon. That
said the idea of writing a series of novels about the same characters is not
one I can readily dismiss, the history of Elenchera simply won’t allow it!
Looking through the history I find I have
many ideas waiting to be written and it becomes more difficult trying to decide
which one will be the third book in the Elencheran Chronicles. Some events in
the history are so action-packed and stretch across a vast range of years that
one novel may not be enough to contain them all. I think inevitably sequels
will be necessary, perhaps a trilogy, but no more than that, I simply can’t
commit to that many books.
When I first started writing about the
world of Elenchera I knew that I wouldn’t and couldn’t write a series like
Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time or
Terry Goodkind’s The Sword of Truth.
I never got into Jordan’s work despite completing the first Wheel of Time book but I read every one
of Richard and Kahlan’s adventures in The
Sword of Truth series. Goodkind did very well to sustain those characters
through one long and continuous narrative but I did find the later instalments
inferior to the earlier books. I didn’t want to go down that same path. I love
my characters but the thought of spending half a dozen books with them is not
an appealing one. I would strangle them before their stories were finished!
This is one of the reasons I am drawn
towards Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
They’re always in the same world but they are self-contained novels and feature
a wide range of characters, always plenty of variety. Although regulars like
Rincewind, Death and the Guards of Ankh Morpork would request that you read
their books in order I don’t always think it’s essential. Elenchera will be
just the same. If you saw a pile of books about Elenchera you could pick any of
them up and not be missing anything.
When I come to write those longer novels I
will have to commit to a maximum of three books to tell the story but no more
than that. I’d rather have just one novel to tell a story but some are such
long narratives I fear they could stretch to 2,000 pages which is an epic book
for any reader, it would even put War and
Peace to shame. I’ve seen many people roll their eyes at the mention of
Tolstoy. I don’t want that to happen to me!
My aversion to sequels means that some
much-loved characters may only get a brief time in the spotlight but although
that saddens me to a degree I think it’s also a mark of great characters if
readers can get attached to them after knowing them for only a short time. The
more I focus on self-contained novels, the more of Elenchera I can show you.
There is a lot that goes on in those 47,000 years, certainly more than I can
tell you in a lifetime but I will endeavour to whisper as many secrets as I
can. Just remember that if a novel of mine does not end on a cliff hanger then
the chances are you won’t be getting a follow-up.
Thank you for visiting today David, and, having read the book, I can certainly agree that Elenchera is an amazingly detailed world worthy of many more novels, and Fezariu's Epiphany is a wonderful introduction to its peoples, history and places.
More Information
Title: Fezariu’s Epiphany
Author: David M. Brown
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Author: David M. Brown
Genre: Epic Fantasy
12-year-old Fezariu
thought his mother died when he was little, but when his beloved stepfather
dies the boy discovers she is alive and well - and working at the most famous
brothel in all of Elenchera. When she cruelly rejects him it's more than he can
bear, and he runs away to join a band of ruthless soldiers for hire. The
Merelax Mercenaries will fight for anyone who can pay them, no matter the
justice of the cause.
Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.
Fezariu grows up among the soldiers and becomes one of them. He thinks his time with the mercenaries has hardened him. But a campaign in his old home town pushes him too far, and he discovers what really happened to his mother. Maybe there are some things money shouldn't buy... and maybe it's time Fezariu took his revenge.
Author Bio
David Brown could be
considered a fantasy fanatic, especially since he has spent the last 10 years
developing a 47,000-year history for his fictional world of Elenchera. When
converting his obsession into literary form, David commits himself to a rigorous
writing and editing process before his work can meet his approval. Combined
with the critical eye of his wife and a BA Honors in History and English,
David's dedication leads him to his goal of inspiring readers through heartfelt
stories and characters.
Although David is inspired
primarily by fantasy fiction, he also finds his muse in the form of anime,
world cinema, history, and biographies. His own books, Fezariu's Epiphany and
the in-progress A World Apart, combine aspects from worlds both old and new into
compelling tales of a world not soon forgotten., David himself certainly does
not lack a spirit of adventure; in fact, he left his job in 2007 in order to
spend a month traveling. Second only to meeting and marrying his wife, David
counts this as one of the most amazing experiences of his life.
Important Links
The
Elencheran Chronicles http://elenchera.com
Twitter
http://twitter.com/elenchera
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/fezariu
Comments