Fantasy legend Raymond E Feist on his new novel, book two of his Firemane Saga, Queen Of Storms
Fantasy legend Raymond E Feist reveals why he isn’t keen on comparisons with Game of Thrones author George RR Martin, and his relief that people don’t hate him.
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Fantasy legend Raymond E Feist is back with a new book and a reminder for fans — “I was killing off characters in fantasy novels while George RR Martin was doing TV scripts”.
After decades of writing about the world of Midkemia, which began with Magician — rated one of the best 100 books of all time by Australian readers — Feist has created a new world for a new series.
Before King Of Ashes came out, he admitted he was nervous how fans would react to a new world.
“Let’s say I was relieved people weren’t throwing it across the room and writing me hate mail,” he says.
“I still don’t read reviews. When I was a kid, my dad said: ‘If you believe the good ones, you have to believe the bad ones, too, so it’s better not to believe any of them’.”
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Book two of his Firemane Saga, Queen Of Storms, is out now, following on from King Of Ashes.
“I will not spoil anything, if I can help it, but let’s say that even if you thought you had an idea as to what was really going on, nope,” says Feist.
“You are probably wrong. We start seeing serious action, lots of bad guys, and more evolution in our characters’ lives.”
And while the world of fantasy has changed dramatically since Magician was published in 1982, the new series is still full of Feist’s trademark twists and finely-drawn, sympathetic characters.
Yet the changes have allowed him to go darker.
“In Silverthorn (1985) I had a brief scene with Laurie and Carline in bed before they were married and got an angry letter from a librarian somewhere taking me to task about showing that in a book ‘designed for young readers’,” Feist says.
“After King Of Ashes, I got a letter asking me why I was ‘normalising’ child endangerment and paedophilia. I didn’t bother responding — I’ve learned better after 38 years.
“Doesn’t mean I ever endorsed premarital sex or child endangerment. I give those examples to show the range of tolerance for nasty themes in fantasy has gone from Lord Of The Rings to Game Of Thrones, so I could broaden my approach to the cultures.
“And that means I could dig deeper into the dark stuff.”
The Firemane Saga is a classic “hero’s journey” style story — actually two of them — given the Feist treatment that he calls “peeling the onion” as the character’s layers are revealed.
And of course there will be shocks, which new fantasy fans who came to the genre after Game Of Thrones have come to expect.
“George (RR Martin) was hardly the first writer to dust a beloved character though, to give him credit, few of us did it with that level of style and gusto, not to mention frequency!” Feist says.
“It’s hardly a new thing since George got famous for it. I was killing off characters in fantasy novels while George was doing TV scripts where the networks wouldn’t let him commit wholesale mayhem.
“I have gotten my share of: ‘Why did you kill off so-and-so! That was my favourite!’ I usually respond a bit about a character being a tool for narrative, or simply telling the complainant: ‘Just go back to the earlier books, he/she is just fine back there’.”
However, COVID-19 has put a slight delay in his writing of book three — although nothing like a George RR Martin 10-year delay.
“Master Of Furies was going OK until life intruded,” Feist says.
“COVID-19 pretty much has made it hard for every creative person I know — writers, composers, painters — to focus and be productive.
“It’s getting slightly better, and if there’s one good thing, I’m getting new ideas, some totally unexpected, so in that case it is like ageing wine.
“My mission originally was to have this done by September. Maybe by Christmas? Generally, the third book is the easiest, because you should know where you’re going, rather than trying to figure that out in the earlier volumes.”
Of course, GoT and the planned TV series for Wheel Of Time and Lord Of The Rings means Feist is getting even more questions about when one of his works will become a TV series.
“I’ve had literally I don’t know how many discussions with TV folks in almost 40 years,” he says.
“I’d prefer Magician, and the Riftwar, because it’s my ‘firstborn’. Other than that, my only requirements are give it the best treatment possible … and that the cheque doesn’t bounce.”
Meanwhile, Feist has no plans to stop writing.
“I’ll keep at it until I fall over, become physically or mentally unable, or win the lottery and buy an island where I can sit on the beach drinking funny cocktails with little paper parasols in them,” he says.
“There are always more stories. I’ve got stuff in my head that have been my second or third idea for 30 years, but they never get to the top of the queue.
“Writers drop dead, they don’t retire.”
King Of Ashes and now Queen of Storms are out now through HarperCollins, RRP $39.99
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY
Set firmly in this world is our Book of the Month for July: Karin Slaughter’s The Silent Wife. Readers can get it for 30 per cent off pre-orders at Booktopia with the code WIFE.
And do drop by our Sunday Book Club Facebook group to discuss fantasy, fiction, factual and any other literary genres.
Originally published as Fantasy legend Raymond E Feist on his new novel, book two of his Firemane Saga, Queen Of Storms
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