Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

The author of The Rise and Fall series, Michael J. Sullivan, has kindly agreed to join our discussion of this series. If you have questions for Michael about his writing process, his ideas, how this series fits in with his other books/series, or other things, please feel free to post them here. Michael will join in when his schedule permits.

Please mark any spoilers. (Look at the “some html is ok” link for how to do that.)

Thanks!

Cool!

I have read The Riyria Revelations and Legends of the First Empire; still haven’t gotten to the Riyria Chronicles yet, although they are on my shelf.
My questions is this: Did you have some idea in mind the length & breadth of the stories of Elan when you started writing in this world, and if not, when did you say to yourself, “Hmmm, here are some other stories I can tell to fill in the history of this world”?
Thanks!

Hey Kathi - thanks for asking.

So, my debut series is the Riyria Revelations, and at the time I wrote them I hadn't planned on publishing them at all - twenty years before I was trying to publish, and that just got to be so disheartening that I quite writing altogether (and for more than a decade). So, when I started writing Riyria it was on the CONDITION that I wouldn't see publication. After my wife read the first three books, she made it her mission to get them out there.

I say all this because it's relevant for your question. Originally I was just trying to tell the tale of rogues-for-hire duo known as Riyria. But while I was writing those books, and fleshing out my world in the process, I decided that "history is written by the victors" so I had two things going on.

1. The history as it really happened.
2. The history of what everyone things happened.

The #1 is essentially what the Legends of the First Empire and the Rise and Fall books cover.

In other words when I wrote "Riyria" - I was concentrating on #2, and since I didn't have any plans to publish those books - let along 20 books in this world spread across 4 series) I didn't really plan on writing those other books.

As for when I decided to expand into the other series. It was after the Riyria books were published and doing well. I was 100% adamant about not going "further down the timeline because I was really proud of how Heir of Novron wrapped up the Riyria Revelations series.

It wasn't until I went back to write all the truths about the myths that a new possibility came into being and that was a way to "up the stakes" and be able to top the end of Revelations.

So after finishing Legends of the First Empire, there was the very real possibility of writing what I'm now calling "The Cycle" which WOULD be a post Riyria Revelations series. For the last several years I've pretty much been laying foundation fo those books.

I'm 2 books into (out of 5) of the Cycle books and that, if it turns out the way I hope, will be my Magnum Opus.

Michael wrote: "I'm 2 books into (out of 5) of the Cycle books and that, if it turns out the way I hope, will be my Magnum Opus."

Ooh, that will be worth waiting for! Thanks for tackling my question.

I'm so glad that there will be five instead of three, because I love Hadrian and Royce!

Michelle wrote: "I'm so glad that there will be five instead of three, because I love Hadrian and Royce!"

While "The Cycle" is a post-Revelations story - I've not yet said who will and who won't be included. So you might be jumping the gun a bit about it having Royce and Hadrian. :-)

That said, Blythium Castle - which is what I'm working on now IS a Royce and Hadrian adventure -the sixth chronicle tale - so you have that you can "conunt on."

I certainly DID assume. And we all know what that means :)

Haha - no worries. I plan on starting to "roll out" information about the book in dribs and drabs. There are a lot of characters to choose from.

Thank you for writing such a wonderful series! I just finished Esrahaddon and I was wowed!

The Riyria Revelations is such a great series. I remember all those jaw dropping moments and that last book was amazing. I'm enjoying their spin off series a lot, although I'm almost through them. I thought Legends was really interesting, both in the history that those characters were dealing with and the history that is built on them. I shed tears.....

Kathi wrote: "Thank you for writing such a wonderful series! I just finished Esrahaddon and I was wowed!"

You are very welcome. It's been the thrill of a lifetime to see people responding to the stories that somehow found their way into my head and with my wife's help onto the page.

Helen wrote: "The Riyria Revelations is such a great series. I remember all those jaw dropping moments and that last book was amazing. I'm enjoying their spin off series a lot, although I'm almost through them. I thought Legends was really interesting, both in the history that those characters were dealing with and the history that is built on them. I shed tears......"

The last book of the Riyria Revelations was truly special. It had the benefit of 5-books worth of "setup" so I could do slam dunk after slam dunk as everything was tied together in a very neat and tidy bow. For decades, I thought it was impossible to "beat that."

I'm so glad you have delved into Legends because with the foundational work of those books (and the fact that the "afterlife" and the origins of Elan were explored through those books it opened the door to "The Cycle" - which is a post Riyria Revelations series I'm working on now. If you liked the jaw-dropping moments of Percepliuis . . . well, let's just say you "ain't seen nothin' yet." The cycle is my love letter to the most devoted fans (as it's really only a work that will be truly appreciated by those who read Riyria, Legends, and The Rise and Fall. But for those people who have stuck with me across the entire saga, they'll be rewarded in a truly amazing way.

Looking forward to it!!

As we wind down our discussion of The Rise and Fall, I want to thank author Michael J. Sullivan for joining our discussion.

Besides writing books with engaging characters and complex plots in a fascinating world, your willingness to engage with your readers is a trait that sets you apart from many authors. I feel like I connect with your characters and their world, as well as with you, when I read your books. That’s pretty cool! So, as a reader and as mod for this Goodreads group, I want to thank you for writing great stories and being part of our discussions over these 3 months!