The Raymond E. Feist Internet Resource Index
http://www.unc.edu/~smrussel/Feist_Resources.html

NEWS ARCHIVE 3
10/18/99 -

Return to Krondor Fan Site Missing
1:44 pm
The big RtK site that was located at http://www.pacificnet.net/~jeffl/rtk/ has been missing for some time, so I've removed it from the Link Page. If anyone knows where (if) this site has moved, please let me know. Thanks.

Riftwar Geneologies Moved
1:40 pm
The URL for the Riftwar Geneologies page has changed to http://home.st.net.au/~carlill/riftwar.

RiftMUSH Status
1:35 pm
Karsiss posted this about RiftMUSH:

Due to a lack of players on RiftMUSH, we have stopped Administrating the game but left it on for people to connect and look around or check the place out, while former players can connect to talk to other former players if they wish, or start role-playing with each other.

We are slowly coding up a new RiftMUSH, but it's a long and difficult process that will take quite some time still. The coded systems are going to be quite intense. When we get to the point that the system coding is in the testing/debugging phase, I will start recruiting people to build the city that we make the Mush in. Once the team has started working, and the coded systems are being tested and debugged, I will start posting information about the new Mush including Theme, Systems, and Character information so that anybody who's interested will gain the knowledge of the Mush and what it's all about.

I don't expect the Mush to be at this point until sometime in 2001, so it will be quite some time until I start sending out the Emails.

There is some code on the Mush that allows me to see how many people have connected during the month and how long they are online for. If ever the existing RiftMUSH produces enough players to start having an Admin presence, I will rebuild the Admin team and help get things going again.

Also:

Due to a server move (after a hard drive crash), RiftMUSH's new IP address is: 63.238.226.186 port 4202

The End of Nakor?
1:31 pm
All you Nakor fans out there will be a bit upset by this post by Ray:

You'll probably get more hints from Nakor about his life if he shows up again, but I have no plans for him to play a significant part in the next series.  Maybe later.

Conclave will not be the final Midkemia series, according to what Ray has said in the past, so hopefully that "maybe later" will come true.

Tear of the Gods Update
1:29 pm
Ray posted this about the timeline for Tear:

That's the target, but it's going to be late.  Figure in November.  I haven't finished it yet, and it probably won't be finished for another month.

On a related note, Ray said that Krondor: The Assassins should be out in paperback by Christmas.

Timeline Moves
1:24 pm
Canaan Machida let me know that the URL of his Midkemia Age Timeline is now http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kageyama/feist. I've updated the Link Page accordingly.

Norwegian Publisher Website
6:51 pm
Morten Hansen posted this note:

Ray's Norwegian publishers, Tiden norsk forlag (www.tiden.no), have just revamped the fantasy section of their website and given it a separate domain: www.fantasy.no There's a section on Ray there. It's all in Norwegian, though, except for a few quotes here and there.

Midkemia in Your Palm!
6:19 pm
Somehow hearing and responding to a silent prayer I made (there is no map in Rage, remember), Ralph "I Live to Map, I Map to Live" Askren has released a version of his great map for the Palm!

For any other list members that are Palm Handheld enthusiasts, I have posted the first of several Midkemia maps for the Palm Pilot on the Unofficial Atlas. When I first showed the map to REF, he said he was really starting to worry about me. My wife has already written me off as a an obsessed fan. As I have shared with them, I am really not nuts...this is just recreation for me: an opportunity to not worry about medical stuff or the business. Enjoy! The address is http://www.elvandar.com

Ralph also posted this about an update to his core map:

I have tried to use only published maps for the Unofficial Atlas and did not have a copy of the edition you mention. Of course, one can make an easy stab at the location based on the text in Silverthorn (p.275, 1st American Ed) "Now they were properly in the Great Northern Mountains, in that area between the elven forests and the Northlands. Moraelin lay higher in the mountains, in a rocky, baren plain, just below the crest."However, I checked with the "Great REF Publishing Guru" across the sea and Mr. Bunting quickly provided me with a copy of the map with Moraelin. Actually, it appears three additions were made to the original 1st edition map when Magician went into mass market format: Moraelin was identified, the Thunderhell Steppes were also labeled, and Elvenhome was changed to Elvandar. I have now added Moraelin to the map at the Unofficial Atlas.

I'm Back
6:18 pm
I survived my trip to San Francisco, killing time on airplanes by re-reading the Serpentwar Saga. I'm about halfway through Rage now. Several news items to post, including a great announcement by Mr. Mapman himself.

Message Board
4:19 pm
The URL of the Feist Message Board, a web-based discussion forum for Feist fans, has changed. It is now located at http://204.27.118.4/wwwboard/feist/wwwboard.html.

Riftwars
4:14 pm
Ray posted this about the later Riftwars:

I know where they are, and not down south in the Keshian Confederacy.

The Fourth Riftwar was relatively short (a couple of years) and nasty, with the destruction of the Tsurani culture as we know it one of the byproducts. One of the reasons LaMutians "today" (role playing game time) are very different than the Tsrurani influenced culture of the post 1st Riftwar era.

The Fifth Riftwar as VERY short and VERY nasty (months) and had dire consequences for the entire planet of Midkemia.  It changed land masses.

Population
4:13 pm
Another note from Ray, this time on the population of the Kingdom of Isles:

Depends on which eara you're talking about.  At the time of the books, the Kingdom is about 2-3 million.  No exact figures are available.

Atlas of Midkemia Update
4:11 pm
The Atlas will be done, says Ray:

Seriously, Steve and I will be working on the Atlas in the 2nd half of this year, but we have some other business to finish, first, and when we do, we'll announce it and everything will make sense.

Hebrew Magician
4:11 pm
Ray posted this tidbit recently:

P.S.  Hey, John, heads up: we just signed a deal to do a Hebrew editions of Magician in Israel!  No details.  Can't even tell you who the publisher is yet.  I'll post that info when I get it.

Ray's Website...
4:08 pm
...doesn't exist yet. But on is in the works:

No, I don't have a web site yet.  The Bitter Sea Company will have a web site, probably before the end of this year, once a few things that are in negotiations get finalized.

Dutch Translations
4:07 pm
Arrian Rutten posted this news item today:

The Dutch translation of SoaBC ("Scherven van een verbrijzelde kroon") has been released.

The next one (KtB, "Krondor: Het verraad") is scheduled for release in August.

And John Bunting had this to say:

Here is the News from the publisher

This fall we will publish Zilverdoorn, Duisternis over Sethanon, Prins van den bloede and Boekanier des konings in hardback.

This fall we will present a Feist-compendium De wereld van de magiër.

Absence
4:06 pm
The absence of any really important news is my excuse for not updating in a while, but i'm posting several things today. Also, I will be on vacation in San Francisco from June 22-July 2, so don't expect any updates then. And I just bought a Palm IIIe today, and I like it. :)

Conclave of Shadows Update
8:01 pm
Ray posted this note today regarding the Conclave series:

It's Talon of the Silver Hawk, and it's the character's name.  The book title isn't set in stone.  I'm leaning toward _Hawk Ascending_ right now, but that could change.

Krondor: Tear of the Gods Update
7:59 pm
Ray said today that he hoped to have Tear turned in to his publisher by the end of next month. After that, it will be rushed to print without the normal publicity routine.

Online RPG?
8:49 pm
When Ray was recently asked about the chance of an online RPG, Ray had this to say:

Right now I can say nothing on the above subject.

Translation: There are, or have been, or will be (or may be) legal dealings with the intent of producing such a game... Keep your fingers crossed.

Gladiator
11:02 pm
Gladiator is awesome. Just simply awesome. Go see it. It is the best movie I've seen in the theaters in a long while. Go see it. Now. 'nuff said.

Lots of Honoured Enemy Information
11:36 pm
Yes, I am still alive... even after exams. I'm back home for the summer. In the interim, Ray has had a lot to say about the first Tales of the Riftwar novel, Honoured Enemy. So here we go. The first post deals with the creation of the Tales series:

I met Janny at World Fantasy Convention in '83 in Chicago.  My first reaction was very much "single male," as in "hey, this is a very attractive lady."  I was introduced by her ex-boyfriend (and now current husband <g>), Don Maitz.  Short version of a long story: got to know Janny and decided she'd be a great friend even if not a romantic possibility, she and Don got back together, and she and Don have been great friends of mine for the last 17 years.  In the process of hanging with her, we'd talk story some times, and at one point I mentioned the idea for the start of (what at the time I thought was one book, Servant of the Empire).  She jumped in and said, "You know, you could do this, that, this other thing," and the ideas just kept rolling.  It took me about five minutes to decided I needed her to collaborate.  It too me a year to convince her.  I loved the results. Great experience.

As for the three I'm doing now, that was a completely different set of reasons.  Midkemia has always been about "other voices" but you guys never got to hear any of them.  The story telling that evolved out of the gaming sessions, the "history" Steve and Jon and others dreamed up, all of that was of a piece, and I wanted something along those line.

I approached a half-dozen writers who I respect, including Janny, and three of them had the time now to make a commitment.   I'm five chapters through the book with Bill and I'm finding it great; I think you'll enjoy the efforts and find the presence of other voices in the Midkemian narrative refreshing and rewarding.

Next, Ray describes the writing process with Bill Forstchen, the co-author of Honoured Enemy:

It varies with each writer.  With Bill we talked about the overall outline, defined some characters, and he jumped in.  By chapter 3 I had some sense of where he was going, so my rewrites became more consistent with his mood and tone, and by then he had a better idea of what we needed to do to keep the book consistent with the other Midkemian stories.

Next, we get the names of the other Tales novels:

Honored Enemy, the book I'm doing with Bill Forstchen is all new characters, as is Murder in LaMut, the book I'm doing with Joel Rosenberg. Steve Stirling and I will work on a book called Jimmy the Hand.

Finally, Ray gave this tidbit about the plot of Honoured Enemy:

In the Northlands.  A Tsurani/Kingdom skirmish is interrupted by a whole lot of Moredhel, and the two enemies have to unite temporarily to survive.

I will say no more.

In another post, Ray said that the books will be listed as authored by "Feist and..." ie "Feist and Forstchen."

Site News
9:20 pm
Sorry for the recent lack of updates. There hasn't been a whole lot to say, and I am entering the exam period. So, don't expect a whole lot for the next week and a bit, as I have to take all my exams and then move back home. Sorry!

Tear of the Gods Release Troubles?
9:19 pm
Ray posted this note about the release of Tear of the Gods. I don't know what it really means yet, but I'll keep you posted:

As far as TotG, there's a debate underway right now about when it's going to be published.  Stay tuned.

Time in Midkemia
9:18 pm
Ray posted this note about the difference between the RPG and the books:

In the game reality, it's a 220 day year of 20 hour days.

In the books, a year is a year.

More Submarine Movie Stuff
8:03 pm
I am still on my submarine movie kick from last weekend, so I rented the Director's Cut of Das Boot. This DVD weighs in at OVER 3 1/2 hours, but if you like WWII-era sub movies, it is well worth it. It follows a German U-Boat crew, and is full of great characters... You will find yourself hoping these guys survive against the Allies. Now back to your regularly scheduled Feist-related programming.

Mad God's Rage
8:02 pm
There has been a lot of talk on the mailing list recently about Nalar, the god of evil. Here's what Ray had to say about how this relates to future novels:

Nalar's madness is the subject of several subpots to come.  So, don't hold your breath, but eventually you'll get some insight into why it happened.

Soap Box
4:55 pm
Just to rant... The Government has really overstepped it's bounds in regards to Elian Gonzalez. They went in without a court order, and with way too much force... And his hair does look a little long in that photo with the dad. The Miami relatives should (and surely will) sue the pants off of the INS.

On a lighter note, both U-571 and Rules of Engagement are good movies. If you like submarine movies or military/legal movies (respectively), they are both worth the ticket price... And you get to see a preview of Gladiator!

Update
4:52 pm
Mehmet Baykara posted this note:

I want to let you know that I updated my page dedicated to Ray.I would be happy if you visited it.

Here's the URL: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Opera/7982

The Road Ahead
4:49 pm
Ray posted this recently about the schedule for the next few years:

As far as new projects, I should be finishing up two by the summer, Honored Enemy (with Bill Forstchen), and Krondor: Tear of the Gods, third volume in the Riftwar Legacy.  Then I start on another collaboration and the 1st volume of the Conclave of Shadows.

Should be two books a year for a while.

Honored Enemy is the first book in the Tales of the Riftwar series.

Czech Website
4:45 pm
Jan "Belcarnen" Cerovsky emailed me about his new Feist website. It is in Czech, so if you can read it, check it out! It looks quite informative.

Crydee.com Updates
4:42 pm
John Bunting posted this list of updates to www.crydee.com:

Well the site is back on line! I have taken the down time to add a few updates.

The Hungarians have been printing again. The Kings Buccaneer has been released in two parts, and also the second part of Rage of a Demon King. Thanks to Dani Zoltan, Ray's Editor for providing me with signed copies of the books.
I have just posted the cover art to my site.
It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select the Hungary Editions Button
Look for        The Kings Buccaneer  - A Kiraly Kaloza I resz
Look for        The Kings Buccaneer -  A Kiraly Kaloza II resz
Look for        Rage of a Demon King Part 2 - A Demonkiraty Duhe II resz
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

I have just posted the cover art to my site.
It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select the Czech Republic Editions Button
Look for        Rage of a Demon King - Hnev krale demonu - Ustup
Look for        Rage of a Demon King - Hnev krale demonu  - Boj
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

The Return to Krondor CD audio Soundtrack
I have just posted the cover art to my site.
It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select  the Other Works Button
Look for        Return to Krondor Soundtrack
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image
In the same section you will also find newly uploaded cover art for several other items

I have jut posted the cover art for several SFWA Bulletin Magazine in which Ray wrote some articles on contracts
They can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/misc/miscindex.htm
Select the SFWA Bulletin Button
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

I have just posted an image from a Magician Flyer produced in 1982
It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/poster/postindex.htm
Select the Magician Flyer Button

I have just posted the cover art from the SOADQ Paperback Proof
It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/refindex.htm
Select the US Proofs Button
Its the really fancy proof between SOADQ and ROAMP
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

The Midkemia Press section of Miscellaneous Artefacts has also been updated with a new cover variant for The City of Carse
They can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/misc/miscindex.htm
Select the Midkemia Press RPG Button
Click on the thumbnails for a larger images

Some additional Paperback cover variation have been uploaded to the US Editions section, including SOADQ and ROAMP
They can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select the US Editions Button
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

Also :-
Following on from my Books wanted section. I am creating a For Sale section in which i propose to advertise for free, Feist books, and other Feist related ephemera that list members, and in some cases others, wish to sell.
It can be found here http://www.crydee.com/feist/refindex.htm
Select the Feist for Sale button

To advertise in this section, i would require you to email me the following information in this format to forsale@crydee.com, i hope to update on a weekly basis at weekends. I would also appreciate an email to the above address when a book has gone

Title/Description       : ******
Publisher               : ******
Format                  : ******
Edition                 : ******
Condition               : ******
Asking Price            : ******
Shipping                : If known or Extra
Location of Book        : Your Country
Hyperlink to scan       : http://yourlink
Contact Email           : Your email

Where Did Crydee Go?
3:32 pm
John Bunting sent this to the list:

If anyone has tried to email me at john@crydee.com over the last week, your email may not have arrived and been bounce

Please use crydee@freezone.co.uk until next week

Also note my website will be off-line this weekend as I need to re-upload to a new web account. Sorry for the inconvenience

Rate Change
11:44 pm
Chad Keffer emailed me today to let me konw that the address of the RateItAll page for Ray has changed. It is now here.

Feist Interview
8:59 pm
There is a new, informative interview with Ray available at http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/mar00/feist.htm. I've added it to the Link Page.

Rate Ray
3:41 pm
I received notification of this new website via email:

I just wanted to let you know about a new Web site called RateItAll.com (www.rateitall.com) that lets you share your opinions on Science-Fiction/Fantasy Authors (and lots of other things).  Check it out right here:  http://www.rateitall.com/Topic.asp?Category=6&Subject=3&Topic=6

To Check out Feist's Item page, simply click on his name in the list, or follow this direct link: http://www.rateitall.com/Item.asp?Category=6&Subject=3&Topic=6&Item=45#

ConDoin Family Reign
3:39 pm
Ray posted this message on the extent of the ConDoin's rule of the Kingdom:

I don't have the exact scale.  They ruled for about two hundred years prior to Magician, then the dynasty was ended about the time of the 5th Riftwar.

They do not rule during the time of the game.

FYI, the game he mentions is the original RPG (set after the 5th Riftwar), not Betrayal at Krondor or Return to Krondor.

Nakor's Future
2:34 pm
Ray posted this about everyone's favorite non-magician:

Nakor will not be a major character in the new series, at least not at first.  I may have him show up, but you might not recognize him for a while.   No plans to do anything in Kesh, which doesn't mean I won't; just no plans.

Dutch Rage and UK Assassins
3:14 pm
Arrian Rutten posted this note to the list:

The Dutch translation of "Rage of a Demon King", called "De razernij van een demonenkoning", has been released and is available at bookstores. I also saw that a "special overseas" paperback edition (UK version), i.e. an export edition, of "Krondor: The Assassins" has been released.

Myth Makers Video
3:13 pm
John "Smiting Ignorance Left and Right" Bunting sent me this email about the Myth Makers video:

The video was of Ray at FantasyCon XXIII in Birmingham England last September. It has Ray talking about his works etc. It also has pictures of the covers of many of the books.

The video is available in PAL or NTSC and is in a signed limited edition of 200.

Geneology Update
8:50 pm
Greg Carlill, creater of the nifty Riftwar Geneologies site, posted this to the list:

I've done a few minor changes on my Riftwar Genealogy site. The latest addition is the PDF version of some of the Genealogies. This contains the conDoin family tree in pdf format among other reports such as the sources where some of the information has been derived. There is also a VERY large chart (not suitable for printing) with all of the people in the database on it on the pdf & gif page.

http://home.st.net.au/~carlill/riftwar

If you find any errors or have something you wish to see added just email me and I'll include it. Please send a book and page reference for any correction/additions.

The PDF version is pretty neat, the site's search feature is helpful. If you haven't already, be sure to check this site out.

Myth Makers Video
11:16 pm
John Bunting posted this notice to the list:

Just posted to my site the cover of the video and a brief description.

It can be found here

http://www.crydee.com/feist/misc/miscindex.htm

Click the Myth Makers Video button to display the page.

I am not sure of the specifics of it, but I do know that Myth Makers is a video from England about Ray... Okay, that's not very specific... sorry.

Tear of the Gods Release
4:34 pm
Ray posted this about the current status of his next book:

I've got less than 100 pages of the book finished.  I am trying to get back into a regular writing routine, but it is not easy, given all the emotional stress and the million irritating details of this divorce.

More Riftwar Legacy Novels?
4:32 pm
I was under the impression that the Riftwar Legacy series would end with Tear of the Gods, but Ray posted this recently:

No "Rillanon: something" in this lifetime.  The "Krondor" series was originally going to be computer story based, and related, fiction.  Once that series is done, it's done.  I suspect it'll involved one or two books beyond Tear of the Gods, to put paid to Sidi and his minions.

eFeist
4:30 pm
Ray is one of the most internet-friendly authors around, but when asked if he had been approached by publishers about following Stephen King's footsteps and releasing a novel over the net, here's what he said:

Nope.

Wouldn't be interested, either.

Upcoming Absence
5:26 pm
My Spring Break starts tomorrow (woohoo!) so don't expect see any updates for the next week or so. Sorry, but sunny Florida is more important than this website :)

FAQ Link
5:25 pm
PsiHawk posted this note for webmasters:

To the best of my knowledge... most people pass the link around as

http://www.psihawk.com/feist

If anyone has it coded anywhere as

http://www.psihawk.com/feist/index.html

PLEASE remove the index.html part of the link.

It will be changing to index.shtml

More Tour Stuff
5:23 pm
Ray posted more yesterday about future tours:

I do know we'll  be doing some major promotion for 2002.

Before that?

I don't know.  I will probably be doing some things between now and then, but what and when is still not decided.

For those that do not know, 2002 is the 20th anniversary of the publishing of Magician.

FAQ AutoResponder
7:06 pm
PsiHawk posted this note to the list:

The site is moved and over the next few days I'll be looking to see if there were any goofs in the move.

The AutoResponder address is feist-faq@psihawk.com

Sending an email there will respond with the mini-faq.

Feel free to try it out, and let me know of any fixes that are needed.

Now that I have more free time... the 50 or so changes to the main FAQ can get done as well :)

Future Tours
7:05 pm
Ray posted these notes today about upcoming tours:

I'm hoping the 2002 tour will include my first stop to South Africa.

I expect that when I next do Europe (probably in 2002 or 2003) I might do Holland, Germany, and France.

FAQ Status
9:51 pm
PsiHawk posted this to the list:

There may be some difficulty in getting to the FAQ for the next 24 hours. If for some reason you cannot get there using http://www.psihawk.com/feist please use http://oceanus.carroll.com/p/psihawk/feist

This is only if there is a problem in the next 24 hours.

I have moved my domain over to a new site, but there is 24 hours worth of lee-way for the internet to 'sync' itself.

Also... with the new site, I will also be able to bring back the FeistFan Mini-FAQ Autoresponder.. I'll have more info on it later and I will make a post when everything is moved over and working properly.

Crydee.com Updates
7:27 pm
John "How 'bout dem updates" Bunting posted this to the list:

Finally got around to some updates

The Netherlands Mistress of the Empire has been released. Thanks to those who have provided information, I have still to get my copy :)
I have just posted the cover art to my site. It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select the Netherlands Editions Button
Look for Vrouwe van het keizerrijk
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

The Swedish paperback Editions of Mistress of the Empire
I have just posted the cover art for part 1 to my site.
It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select the Sweden Editions Button
Look for Imperiets Dotter : Det Forbjudna
Click on the lower thumbnail for a larger image

The Hungarian Rage of a Demon King has been split into 2 parts
I have just posted the cover art for part 1 to my site.
It can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select the Hungary Editions Button
Look for A Demonkiraty Duhe
Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

The Midkemia Press section of Miscellaneous Artifacts has also been updated with a number of other items. Including items produced under the Chaosium banner and the Village of Hoxley which was published in Sorcerers Apprentice
They can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/misc/miscindex.htm
Select the Midkemia Press RPG Button
Click on the thumbnails for a larger images

There have also been a few items added to the Others section
They can be found at http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm
Select the Others Button
Click on the thumbnails for a larger images

The End of Locklear
7:26 pm
Ray gets asked a lot about Locklear's death, particularly his reasoning for making it occur "off-camera." Here's what Ray has to say (so stop asking him!):

I was done with Locklear.  Originally he was a foil for Jimmy's character development, and with where I was heading with the character of James, Locklear was "flattening out."  There wasn't anything more I wanted to do with him.

I killed him off camera, in much the same way I killed Roland off, "off camera" because not everyone gets an heroic death.

One thing I would do differently would be add a line or two more on the emotional reaction of James and the others to the news, as it was almost nonexistent in the text.  I underplayed that too much.

The King's Buccaneer in Hardcover
8:48 am
Chad Keffer posted this very interesting note to the mailing list. I might just buy my copy today...

For those of you who like hard covers...

Barnes and Noble, http://www.barnesandnoble.com , has The Kings Buccaneer in HARDCOVER for $15.95

Amazon.com has it listed as "Publisher Out of Stock" but you can get it from Barnes and Noble still.

The Kings Buccaneer in HARDCOVER
ISBN: 0385236255

New Interview
8:45 am
Ray posted this note:

For those who are interested,

http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/mar00/feist.htm

my most recent interview, with an on-line writer's magazine.

There is no new information in the interview, but it does have a "writer's" slant, not a "fan's" slant. Read it.

RiftMUSH Opening
6:08 pm
Karsiss posted this to the mailing list today:

RiftMUSH....

Upon the world of Midkemia, the mighty Kingdom of the Isles rose, beside the vast Empire of Great Kesh to the south. The Kingdom was then nearing an era of greatness; the nation spanned a continent, from the Kingdom Sea to the Endless Sea.

A young kitchen boy by the name of Pug, was orphaned early in his childhood, left to the care of the kitchen staff of Crydee Keep. Twelve years after his birth, he was made an apprentice to the magician Kulgan during the midsummer festival. Unsure of himself at first in his studies, he suddenly found himself faced with the feat of single-handedly saving the daughter of Duke Borric, Princess Carline from certain death. Soon afterward, he finds himself a squire of the Duke's court, much to the awe of his best friend Tomas.

Our story begins with the discovery of a strange alien sailing ship that had washed up upon the shores of Crydee. Upon investigation by Pug and Tomas, they discover a broken ship full of strange artifacts, a man hovering near death, and a strange scroll. Before the ship is taken away by the raging seas, the two boys manage to retrieve a few items, the man, and the scroll. Investigation by the court officials at Crydee along with a mind contact type of magic induced by Father Tully, the Duke's priest, yield the unimaginable. The man was from a distant world, connected to ours by a magic gate. He was a part of a mighty empire that dominated the distant world, a race of warriors known as the Tsurani. His mission was to simply scout out our world, perhaps even paving the path toward invasion of the entire Kingdom. This theory is further reinforced when Kulgan induces his investigation of the scroll, when he accidentally opens up a magical portal between the two worlds.

Soon Tsurani forces are seen moving through the woods around Crydee, forcing the Dark Brotherhood to leave their homes in the forest and seek refuge far away from the invading forces. Crydee prepares for the worst as Duke Borric and his eldest son Lyam, leave to command the Armies of the West, leaving the Keep in care of his youngest son, Arutha.

A daring attempt by the Tsurani brings them success by raiding the town of Crydee, and soon afterward a solid foothold against the front door of the keep. Soon, the defenders of Crydee are repulsing wave after wave of attacking Tsurani forces, with little hope of the siege ending, Crydee's forces grow increasingly tired. Before all seems lost however, the commander of the attacking Tsurani forces is suddenly recalled to his homeworld, ending the siege in a matter of hours, leaving the weary people of Crydee to rebuild their lives.

However, even with Arutha being named victor of the siege, the war continues to rage throughout the kingdom, dragging on until some begin to wonder if the war will ever end.

************************************************

Join us on February 26th, 2000 as we open up our doors to all those who wish to role play in the world of Raymond E. Feist's 'Riftwar Saga'. For a two week period we will be recruiting Feature Characters (Some who will take up the roles of Faction Head) and allowing players to create characters from scratch and join their faction (Crydee, Eledhel, Moredhel, Dwarven).

You may join us at: 150.135.88.235 port 4202

We look forward to rp'ing with you.

Out of Town
4:15 pm
I am going to be out of town from Thursday afternoon to Sunday evening, so don't expect any updates during that time. Sorry!

More on Push for Magician 20th Anniversary Edition
9:57 pm
You may remember an earlier posting about how to contact Ray's US publisher to "encourage" them to bring the upcoming 20th Anniversary Magician to the USA. The original posting can be found on this site, from January 20th. Here is an update Ray posted today:

Unfortunately, Pat LoBrutto is no longer there.

His place was taken by Anne Gorell (and don't take that spelling to the bank.  I've only heard the name, never seen it in print).

The address listed below should be the same.

RIP Jim Varney
6:42 pm
No Feist news so far today, but I thought I would let everyone know that Jim Varney, best known for playing Ernest P. Worrell, died today of lung cancer. My condolences to his family. He was a funny guy.

New Tear of the Gods Excerpt
3:19 pm
I received an email from EOS today, stating that the latest excerpt from Krondor: Tear of the Gods has been posted to the Krondor website. Apparently this will be standard procedure now instead of mailing the excerpt to site subscribers. The latest bit involves the beginning of Bear's actual attack on the Ishapian ship.

Atlas of Midkemia ETA
9:59 pm
Ray posted this about the status of the Atlas:

Now that I'm living alone, I suspect I'll soon have more time to work with Steve (Abrams) on it.

On Magic...
9:57 pm
Ray posted this message about the differences between Greater Path and Lesser Path magic:

The labels, Greater and Lesser, are Tsurani by nature, and reveal the Great One's bias on the subject.

Basically, Lesser Path magic is the more complex in significant areas, and would encompass what we here on Earth would call shamanistic magic, spirit magic, sympathetic magic, etc.

Greater Path is a more direct manipulation of "mana" (i.e. what Nakor calls "stuff") by cantrips and spoken spells.

Pug's Future
12:59 am
Ray posted this message about Pug's future:

Pug will always "be around," even if he's not the central character in a narrative.

He will be a major figure in the 5th Riftwar, assuming I stay in business long enough to write the darn thing.

There is no evidence for this, so don't trust me, but here's my guess at the 5th Riftwar. We know that a lot of Midkemia gets chewed up and reformed through some catastrophic event. Pug has lately seemed to always focus on the greater good and not necessarily individual lives. Perhaps Pug (who by that time would be mightier than imaginable) is the cause of the destruction, in an effort to wipe out some huge invading army... Maybe, maybe not.

Eastern Kingdoms Map!
12:56 am
Ralph Askren made this announcement today:

Dear Fellow Feist Fans,
You can now visit the Eastern Kingdoms at the Unofficial Atlas to the Worlds of Raymond E. Feist.
Go to http://www.elvandar.com and click the Eastern Kingdoms on the map of Triagia. (Or, simply follow this link: http://www.shoalcreek.com/feist/eastern.htm).
Ray and Steve have kindly made a closer look at the Eastern Kingdoms possible. PLEASE do not bother them with questions for more details. We will all just have to wait until the Conclave of Shadows. <G>

The map is very cool - brand new stuff none of us have seen before. Be sure to check it out.

Land Sizes
1:21 am
Ray posted these two tidbits today on the relative size of Novindus, and all of Midkemia, to Earth. First, Novindus:

About the size of Australia.

Second, the entire planet:

Slightly smaller.  About 20% less surface area.

Recent Absence
1:49 am
Sorry that the site has been so quiet of late. Several things have happened in the last week or so - UNC got smacked with about 20 inches of snow in the big blizzard, so of course I was out enjoying myself in that. Also, I have been mysteriously unsubscribed from the mailing list a couple times, causing me to miss some emails. Hopefully things will get back to normal as the semester gets back into normal swing.

Tear Update
1:48 am
Ray posted this note about the current status of his next novel, Tear of the Gods:

Right now Tear of the Gods is on hold.

As I mentioned to those here at the start of the month, I'm going through a divorce and it has been hell on my concentration.

When I get back to work I'll have a better idea when the book is likely to be turned in and published.

20th Anniversery Magician - You Can Make it Happen!
7:11 pm
As you might know, Ray's U.S. publisher has not committed to releasing a 20th Anniversery Edition of Magician (his UK publisher has). If you want to help influence them to make the right decision, follow Ray's directions:

I can not badger.  We can request it, but it's up to the reprint committee at Bantam Doubleday Dell to make the call.  You can badger them.  POLITELY.

Send a note to Pat LoBrutto, Editor.

Bantam Doubleday Dell
1540 Broadway
New York, NY  10036-4039

Again, POLITELY.

Sort of a "Dear Sir, as the publisher of REF's Magician, I'm sure you realize we are approaching the 20th Anniversary . . . etc.  I would really love to have a new hardcover. . . etc."

Use please and thank you, like you did when you were a kid trying to wheedle things out of your parents.

E-mail doesn't count.  Right now it doesn't have the clout snail mail does.

Moreover, requests for folks in other markets don't count, really.

Please follow what Ray says and be polite and mature. Check for spelling and grammar. Let's hope we can make a difference.

Pug's Parents
7:10 pm
Ray has repeatedly said that Pug's parents were normal, but people ask again and again. Here's his latest statement on the matter:

No.  I've told people that they were a serving woman and a soldier, but I just said that to get across the fact they were ordinary.  I never knew who Pug's parents were, never cared, and don't know.  But they are ordinary.

EOS Con III
7:06 pm
I received this announcement from HarperCollins about its upcoming Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention. Ray won't be there, but Empire co-author Janny Wurts will be.

HarperCollins Publishers announces
EOS CON III
January 29, 2000, 4-8pm EST
http://www.eoscon3.com & http://cybertown.com
(NOTE: The eoscon3.com site will be available after January 23, 2000.)

EOS CON III, The Third Annual Real-Time Online Science Fiction Convention, begins At 4:00pm EST featuring lectures and panels with authors such as Gregory Benford, Anne McCaffrey and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

HarperCollins's science fiction and fantasy imprint, Eos, has announced the return of EOS CON, the real-time online science fiction convention initiated in 1998 as part of its launch publishing season. On Saturday, January 29, 2000, EOS CON III will begin at 4pm EST continuing the tradition established by the original EOS CON, the first online convention ever sponsored by a publisher. The convention is part of an overall commitment by Eos to help expand the existing science fiction and fantasy readership, and to effectively introduce outstanding popular and literary science fiction and fantasy works by new and established writes.

"Cons," short for conventions, are a tradition and a staple of the SF/F genre. All over the country, throughout the year, cons large and small bring together authors, readers, artists, reviewers and publishing professionals to network and exchange information and ideas. Featured guests at EOS CON III include some of the most notable names in science fiction and fantasy such as Dennis Danvers, Dave Duncan and Guy Gavriel Kay. Eos's online real-time con will feature panels and lectures all with question and answer sessions.

EOS CON III will be brought to you in part by its host http://www.cybertown.com. Cybertown is the "Sci-fi Community of the Future"---a futuristic off-world city accessible via the Internet. It has become one of the largest 3D communities on the web with over a quarter of a million members. Multi-national citizens inhabit and socialize in richly detailed 3D Bladerunner-type worlds using 3D avatars to represent themselves. Citizens immerse themselves in these virtual worlds by owning personal 3D homes and objects, holding jobs, forming clubs, shopping in the virtual mall and much more. Members are actively involved in the community and with each other. Cybertown also provides special programming for its members through entertainment and educational formats including contests, celebrity chats, parties, classes, town meetings and more. Cybertown is produced by blaxxun interactive and uses blaxxun Contact to offer members a wide range of multimedia communication features.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4-5pm ROOM A
Worldbuilding From The Ground Up
DAVE DUNCAN, DENNIS JONES, ANNE McCAFFREY, and JULIET MCKENNA discuss what it takes to build a world and bring it alive with characters and story.
4-5pm ROOM B
Technological Access: The New Caste System
KAGE BAKER, DENNIS DANVERS, KATHLEEN ANN GOONAN, and SEVERNA PARK talk about how access to technology and information will create new class distinctions.
5-6pm ROOM A
History of the Alternate
DAVE DUNCAN, ELIZABETH HAND, GUY GAVRIEL KAY, and MARTHA WELLS know how to make history suit their needs.  Find out how they do it in this panel discussion.
5-6pm ROOM B
The Science of Disaster
Things will always go wrong-it's just a matter of time. GREGORY BENFORD, ELIZABETH HAND, JACK MCDEVITT, and WALTER JON WILLIAMS explain how scientific fact plays a role in their novels.
6-7pm ROOM A
Military Maneuvers in SF and Fantasy
We have a wealth of military history and theory at our disposal.  Join TRACY HICKMAN, SUSAN R. MATTHEWS, and KRISTINE SMITH as they discuss how they put this knowledge to use.
6-7pm ROOM B
Fantasy Outside the Box
JEFFREY FORD, SHARON GREEN, JANE ROUTLEY, and MAGARET WEIS don't write your typical fantasy novels.  Find out what drives them toward redefining the genre and making it truly their own.
7-8pm ROOM A
How to Get Published
Get the facts straight from acquiring editors and published authors.  Eos Editors CAITLIN BLASDELL, JENNIFER BREHL and DIANA GILL team up with authors JAMES ALAN GARDNER, VICTORIA STRAUSS, and MAGARET WEIS and explain what to do in order to get published.
7-8pm ROOM B
How To Promote Yourself: Spec Fiction and the Media
A publicist can't do everything. Publicists Andy Heidel and Lindsay Lifrieri team up with authors SUSAN R. MATTHEWS and JANNY WURTS to explain how to promote yourself once you've been published.

Web Site Update
5:21 pm
Mehmet Baykara posted this note to the list:

I just want to make you know that I've updated my page dedicated to Mr.Feist.I would be very happy if you visit it...
The URL is: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Opera/7982

Collaborations
5:19 pm
Ray posted two notes today about collaborations, relating to the Tales of the Riftwar series. The first deals with the financial aspects:

All collaborations are negotiated.  The worse of the "big name/little name" books that get inflicted on the public often have the big name getting most of the money while the little name does most of the work.

All  my collaborations are true collaborations and we split the money 50/50.

The second lists the authors signed to co-write Tales novels (incase you missed them previously):

So far there are three Tales under contract.  The three writers I'm working with are Joel Rosenberg, William R. Forschten, and S. M. Stirling.

Confirmation
4:54 pm
Ray confirmed that Honored Enemy is the name of the first Tales of the Riftwar novel.

Tales of the Riftwar News
6:40 pm
Ray posted this note about collaborating with Janny:

OK, one more time.  I have never said I won't collaborate with Janny again. I talk to her all the time and we discuss lots of things, including maybe working together again.  What i've said (over and over) is we'll never do another Kelwan novel together.

Janny might write a Tales of the Rifwar with me sometime down the road.

Also, he posted this note, which I think includes the title of the first Tales novel:

The next two are Tear of the Gods and then Honored Enemy (the one I'm doing with Bill Forstchen), and no the collaborations haven't been canceled.

I'm not positive about that though... I'll post a definitive answer when Ray weighs in on it.

Pug's Future
9:48 am
Ray posted these two snippets about Pug's future:

I never said that Pug would become a black magician.  I said he would be as powerful as Macros the Black by then.

...

Pug can't time travel . . . yet.

Czech Editions
9:46 am
John also posted this note about purchasing the Czech editions of Ray's books:

Anyone interested in the Czech Editions, 4 new titles are available. They appear to be the first 2 books of the Serpentwar. Legends is also available.

I will update my site as soon as possible with the new info

Anyone interested in purchasing try here

http://knihkupectvi.krakatit.cz/search.frm

enter Feist  where it says Jméno autora

They are about 3GBP each or 4.80 USD Legends is about 5GBP

Crydee.com Updates
9:45 am
John Bunting posted this update to his site:

I have just posted the cover for Part 2 of Shards of a Broken Crown to my site.

It can be found at

http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbnindex.htm

Select the German Editions Button

Look for

Shards of a Broken Crown Part 2 - Der Schatten der schwarzen Königin

Click on the thumbnail for a larger image

Book for Sale
9:44 am
Kyle "The Professor" Kneisl posted this not to the list:

Hey, You guys are going to let the beautiful copy of aDaS HB original BCE with sweet dust jacket I am selling on eBay escape for $8?????  Less than a day left on the auction.

It's funny you know...I am selling a bunch of things.  The books I didn't expect to do well are doing very well, and the Feist book, which I thought would be bid right up, is sort of languishing at $8. 

I ship international.  Somebody wants it I'm sure.  I'd much rather the winning bidder was one of us than some random eBay person.  I also have a complete set of BCE hardcovers in great shape of the Empire trilogy--which I would consider selling (since I actually have TWO sets. heh).  If somebody wants to entice me to put those on eBay, write me an email with a subject line like this: "READ THIS KYLE"

Apologies
9:42 am
Just wanted to say sorry for neglecting the site for the past couple weeks... All the Christmas and New Years hooplah, and work, distracted me from updating... However, I am back now. So let's get on with the first updates of the last year of the Millennium :)

New Site
9:36 pm
Richard Gillies has created a new Feist site with some nice features. It has several lengthy character biographies and reviews of several of Ray's works, as well as of other books in the genre.

More Photos
9:34 pm
John "Say Cheese" Bunting posted this message:

I have finally had the couple of Photo's developed that I took of Ray whilst he was in Cambridge back in September

They can be found at

http://www.crydee.com/feist/photo/photoindex.htm

Select the Heffers UK 1999 button

First Tear of the Gods Sneak Peak
10:06 pm
Avon Books emailed out today the first excerpt from Tear of the Gods. It is in Word format, and if you aren't already signed up, be sure to go to the Avon Krondor site and sign up!

Magician 20th Anniversary Information
11:18 pm
Ray posted this info on the 20th Anniversary Edition:

There will be a 20th Anniversary hardcover of Magician in the UK.

The jury's still out on what Doubleday may or may not do for the US.

New Fantasy Site
11:16 pm
Darragh Murray posted this note about his new website, currently in development:

Hello, I have finally put up the very-very-very-beta version of my fantasy site

it has a few authors on it, and my views on em, plus some links, but the main attraction to most of you Feistians will be the incomplete Feist glossary of characters/places/etc please note that this glossary is very timeconsuming and I have only glossified all of SoaDQ, RoaMP, and a  bit of RAGe on the PAGE (even though on paper I have done more than half the REF book collection) - NOTE MAJOR CHARACTERS HAVEN"T BEEN ADDED YET as they require extra info

test site : http://student.uq.edu.au/~s356179/myth/index
glossary : http://student.uq.edu.au/~s356179/myth/glossary/glosmain.html

Problems with Submission Forms
11:10 pm
I have been made aware that the submission form on the Link Page, and the one on the FEISTFANS-L Members Listing. If you want to submit a link to the Index or your info to the Members Listing, please just email it to me. Thanks, and sorry for the inconvenience.

More Tour Photos
6:39 pm
Pieter Lak announced today that more pictures of Ray's recent Netherlands book signing can be found on his web site.

Congratulations!
5:01 pm
I want to send out my congratulations and best wishes to long-time list member Richard Williamson and his wife, who gave birth to boy on Friday. May he never have his father's looks (but perhaps his wit) :)

Video Update
8:36 pm
John Bunting posted this note today:

For those who have not placed reservations here is an update on Ray's Myth Makers video.

They are running into the usual teething problems with new equipment.

Revised release date is 15th January.

Here is the website through which orders will ultimately be able to be placed

http://www.reeltime.co.uk/

Lack of Updates
8:35 pm
Sorry the site has been so quiet lately. There has been a general lack of news, and I am mired in the middle of exam week (ugh).

Tear of the Gods Tease
6:48 pm
Ray hinted at the plot of Tear today:

Anyway, a war in the east would have suited Sidi's plans far better than a war with Queg or Kesh.

But then, I'm not telling everything just yet.

French Editions
6:41 pm
John "J'aime des livres de Feist!" Bunting informed the list that information on the French version of Silverthorn (as well as Magician) can be found here. Hope they enjoy more Feist-bourn Americanization!

Clarification
6:31 pm
For those wanting more information on the Feist video mentioned yesterday, or wanting to place a reservation order, please email John Bunting, not myself. Thanks.

Same Interview, Only Longer
11:52 am
A longer version of the interview mentioned below is now available at The SF Site.

Conclave and Jigsaw Lady Tidbits
11:47 am
One of the features on new Krondor website is a short interview with Ray. Here is what he had to say about Conclave of Shadows:

Conclave of Shadows is the next "down the timeline" series. It's set in the Eastern Kingdoms and will be about half-way between the "high fantasy" of the Riftwar and the "court intrigue" of the Empire Series in tone. More I won't say, except to mention the name of the central character of the first book, a tribal youngster named Talon of the Silver Hawk.

On The Jigsaw Lady, a science-fiction novel Ray has wanted to do for a while, he said this:

Jigsaw Lady is the working title of a science fiction novel I've had in my head for darn near fifteen years. I think I'll start work on it next year (in all my spare time) but I'd like to get it finished some day.

New Krondor Web Site
8:36 pm
Avon Books has posted a nice, new website for the Krondor series of novels. Among the features are excerpts from Krondor the Assassins and an offer to receive pieces of the first chapter of Tear of the Gods later in the year. Finally, the site states that the release date for Tear is November 2000.

Where Profit was Published
8:36 pm
Ray posted this note about his first short story, Profit and the Grey Assassin:

Profit has only been published twice, in Fantasy Book and in a program book for the Chicago World Fantasy Con years later. 

The Atlas has Moved!
8:22 am
Ralph Askren has moved his excellent site, The Unofficial Atlas to the Worlds of Raymond E. Feist to a new address. I've updated the links page accordingly.

Russian Covers
8:20 am
John also posted this site update:

I have just uploaded the new Russian covers to my site for Magician Master, Shadow of a Dark Queen, Rise of a Merchant Prince, Rage of a Demon King

http://www.crydee.com/feist/isbn/isbn-rus.html

Larger pictures can be seen by clicking on the image

Thanks to Jack for providing the info on these.

You can also find the cover from the Russian edition of Legends at

http://www.crydee.com/feist/other/other.htm

Ray's Video Debut
8:17 am
John Bunting recently posted this about an upcoming video featuring Ray:

The Myth Makers is the first in a new line/series of video tape interviews with famous actors/writers/production staff from SF & Fantasy.

The video tape features an exclusive interview with Ray talking about his life and work, together with footage shot at FantasyCon in Birmingham (UK) and a book signing at Dillons. It also includes extensive art from his many overseas editions.

It really will be a chance for Ray's fans to meet the man himself.

It'll be 55 minutes long and available world-wide in NTSC or PAL format via the Internet and specialist shops. Preliminary the price will be about £12.99 +p&p ($21 US Dollars +p&p)

The planned release date is 1st December, at which time a website will be up and running so that anyone interested can order direct using a credit card or by fax, phone or mail.

There are 300 Limited Edition signed copies.

If you wish to place a reservation order, email me, and I will provide you with the details.

He also posted this note about the current status of the video:

I understand there have been delays in production of the video. Apparently editing is starting next week.

Ray in the Netherlands
8:05 am
There is a nice new site, with pictures and description of one of Ray's recent booksignings in the Netherlands, available here.

10,000 Hits
5:12 pm
I'd like to thank everyone who supports this site. The Index topped 10,000 yesterday, a great milestone (and all since I moved the site in August)! Please keep visiting for the latest news on Ray Feist and the world of Midkemia.

Desslock Mentions Return to Krondor
5:07 pm
In his First Impressions of Ultima IX: Ascension, Desslock throws in this mention of Return to Krondor:

There are numerous scripted scenes between NPCs and they're pretty entertaining. Voice acting is variable, but never horrible (not as good as in Return to Krondor, however, which Ultima IX occasionally resembles).

Thanksgiving Weekend
12:00 pm
I will be traveling over Thanksgiving, so I don't know if I will have a chance to update the site. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving with their families, and be careful on the roads.

Korean Editions
11:21 am
Ray posted this about the deal for Korean editions:

As I understand it, it's a done deal.  I don't have the name of the publisher, but I'll find out.

The Thief of Dreams
11:18 am
Although it was never made, there was an developed plot to The Thief of Dreams, Dynamix's planned sequel to Betrayal at Krondor. Sierra dropped the license and Ray moved the next game to 7th Level (before it returned to Sierra amid 7th Level's financial destruction). Here's Ray's thoughts on plot of Thief:

Well, I never read a final script, 'cause one never got written.  I think Neal thinks the idea was his best.  Could be.

Short version.

Jimmy and Co goes to Kesh, to Durbin, to investigate something, I think rumors that the Crawler is in Durbin.  They find a religious movement taking place, with a "prophet" out in the mountains.  He's the guy who found the Codex (I gave it to Nakor when Thief of Dreams fell apart) and he's become very powerful, and a little unhinged because of no REM sleep for years.

Some good ideas, but as I never read a final script, I can't comment on the overall quality.

Neal tends to shoehorn lots of things into scripts and then hook them all together, which is very useful for games.  A pain in the ass for books. <g>

Another Update
11:16 am
Mehmet Baykara posted this announcement:

I proudly announce that I updated my Feist site. Go and see it for yourself. The url is http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Opera/7982

krondor.com Update
11:12 am
A temporary page recently appeared on www.krondor.com, which Ray recently acquired control of. Here is some more information on the site:

I didn't put that [the temporary page] up.  That's network solutions.  Do it for Krondor.net or Krondor.org and you get the same page.  It's their way of saying someone's grabbed the address, but hasn't handed it off to a network administrator.

As for when it goes live and what we're doing with it, that's up to Steve [Abrams]. I'll see him on Thanksgiving and ask what he thinks.

When asked about how he acquired the ownership of the domains (they were previously owned, but unused, by another party), Ray said:

They asked, and I said, "No, no payment. You can keep it if you like, and keep paying for it, but if you use it commercially, I'll hit you with a cease and desist lawyer letter so fast it'll turn your shirt around.  If you sell it to anyone for commercial reasons I'll sue both parties.  Have a nice day."  They let it go.

Hopefully the new site will be live before the end of the year, with tons of "official" information regarding all of Ray's upcoming projects.

Computer Game Update
12:55 am
In his continued effort to be as cryptic as possible, Ray posted this recently:

At this time we have no relations with any computer game company.  We're listening to other people's ideas at present.

Finished
12:53 am
I just finished Krondor: The Assassins, and I really enjoyed it. Until I can write a more detailed review, I'll simply say that it is not as good as Ray's earlier works, but is still damn entertaining. Ray did a great job of weaving in some of the elements from the games, but this book (much more so than Krondor: The Betrayal) covers a lot of new ground. Go read it!

Chuck Mitchell, Jedi Knight
9:32 pm
It seems that LucasFilm has selected Chuck Mitchell, who created the soundtrack to Return to Krondor, to produce two foreign-language editions of Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace. Here's more from the Voice of the Arts' website:

Voice Of The Arts’ Owner and Chief, Chuck Mitchell, has been entrusted by 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilm, Ltd. to supervise the Cantonese and Russian dubs of Star Wars, Episode 1.

From recording to mix, Chuck has been contracted to take the responsibility of interfacing with the studios and talent of both Hong Kong and Russia, and return for final mixing of these versions at the acclaimed Skywalker Ranch in Northern California.

“I think this is a perfect use of my 20 years of audio recording and producing experience.” states Mr. Mitchell. “Working on the projects during the last several months has been an exciting experience. I’m quite proud of my dedicated team members and the final results our efforts.”

If you’re ever in Hong Kong OR Russia, be sure to see the fruits of Chuck’s work at the local theaters.

Krondor: the Assassins
3:27 pm
Krondor: the Assassins has finally been released in the United States, and I just purchased my copy today. Hopefully I'll get it read this weekend and will have some sort of review posted shortly thereafter.

Ray on Libraries
4:34 pm
Victoria Quentin sent me this link, which contains Ray's thoughts on public libraries.

Legends Review
3:19 pm
J.A. Hitchcock posted this to the list:

My review of LEGENDS 1, which includes Raymonds "The Wood Boy" is finally up at EON Magazine at

http://www.eonmagazine.com/archive/9911/REVIEWS/reviews_frameset_reviews.htm

Click on PAPER, then on LEGENDS.

Crydee.com Update
4:27 pm
Over the past week, John Bunting has made numerous changes to his website. There are too many to list them all, but they include new cover art, character bios, and other interesting items. The neatest is a scan of an article titled "Alien Wine" that Ray wrote, which can be found here.

Krondor: the Assassins Review
4:25 pm
While most of us Americans are waiting patiently for KtA (hopefully only a few more days!), J.A. Hitchcock has posted her review:

My review of Krondor The Assassins is up at the EON Magazine web site

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