The Internet Book Database of Fiction

I am curious as to what you think you might do when the time comes, Mr. Modesitt.

My experience with others writing stories in an original author's worlds is mixed. Take Asimov's Foundation series. The three B's (Benford, Bear, Brin) were very well written and a good read, but was very zoomed in on a prologued point so didn't add as much as it could unlike the unofficial future book by Kingsbury where all parties had access to psychohistory which was a good read and "extended" the universe.

Anne McCaffrey's kids writing Pern books was a huge disappointment to me... not only they did they not extend the story, so instead made mini stories within the existing story that therefore had no bearing on the universe and seemed almost pointless, but they definitely did not have their mother's sense of the characters, bad enough with new characters that had no soul, but when they messed up existing characters it was jarring.

But on the other side, as a Wheel of Time fan, I was so glad Sanderson was able to finish off the series and he did a great job at matching the style and characters.

Mr. Modesitt, being my favorite writer leaves me trepidatious. On the one hand I'd hate for things to ruin his legacy, and he does tend to "cap" his series... ie making Death of Chaos a fairly definitive ending. But on the other hand, nothing in my life has given me more pleasure than the time I've spent reading Recluse and Imager stories... often over and over again, and the thought of those universes just ending makes me sad. I want to find out where the druids that became the ancients came from, where did they learn the immortality they taught Justin, and how soon did they learn it... is Nylan still there as an ancient? I want stories of the angels and the rationalists in their universe before coming to the Recluse universe... and I want stories that take place centuries after the Death of Chaos as time returns the power of chaos and order after society has progressed without their limitations. I want stories in the imager universe that move forward in time past the first trilogy, and a story about Rholan the Unnamer way way back in the past. Heck also a story about the Naderans. The thought of Mr. Modesitt retiring completely (which, let's be honest, he more than deserves, and I know how selfish I'm being wanting him to both live forever and never retire) leaving all of these stories untold is depressing.

So all of that has me wondering, what are your thoughts, Mr. M? When the time comes will you call it a wrap and the show is over, or would you be interested in allowing others to extend and expand your legacy like Mr. Brooks is doing?

Although I believe I know what his answer will be, I will keep my thoughts to myself on that question and wait to hear from the man himself.

That being said, I would like to note that I bought ever "Dune" prequel that was written and -- though I devoured them as quickly as they became available -- and loved the chance to see "behind the curtain" into Frank's mind -- I was thoroughly disappointed with how "un-Frank-like" every part of them were.

The characters, the tension, the dialogue, the lore, the plots within plots ... some things should just be left to the master.

There were bit of the sequels that set my teeth on edge but -- somehow -- it was easier to stomach. (At least for me.)

At this point, I'm not making any decisions about retiring. As always, once I finish the book I'm working on, I'll go over it, then send it to my editor, and see what she thinks. It could be good; it could be a disaster; or somewhere in between.

One thing I have made clear to my wife and offspring -- I don't want anyone else writing books under my name or in my various universes.

L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

I respect that, finding a writer that could do your works justice is probably harder than for a lot of other authors. For all the jokes about your books chronicling the eating of cheese, biscuits, and ale... there is a lot of depth written in a very subtle, easy to read way. It's not just coming of age stories, or empire stories, or dealing with changing times stories, there's lots of philosophy, military, and economic thoughts... and actually lots of religious thoughts as well especially in the Imager series although because they're made up religions it's not proselytizing or blatant. Not to mention so many great social relationships with surprising depth. I love an easy to read book that sends my thoughts on tangents

And I do want to stress that you of all people do not OWE me any more books, this is not a guilt trip, whenever you make the choice to retire, I will still thank you for the lifetime of joy your books have given me (as I do to this day).

Although if you ever do retire, can we have a week to ask you all the questions we've always wondered about that you couldn't tell us because it might have been in a future novel or short story? (Whether in a book or a message, I want to know how the chaos towers came about before I die, but I'm holding out hope it'll be in one of the next two Alikayal books (sorry I still can't spell his name, or even pronounce it, properly)).