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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Oct 2012 : 01:08:52
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If it's not part of a series, I think they go by popularity. Ed, RAS, and Elaine usually come first or last. [As in "Reserve the first row of seats for the VIPs," or "Save the best for last."] At least that's how it is in The Best of the Realms anthologies. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2012 : 02:46:35
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| I've always understood that the two star spots in an anthology are the first and last. Many times, they will go to the two authors who are considered the biggest names. It is also possible for an editor to assign them to stories he considers to be especially strong. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31774 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2012 : 02:57:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
So I was talking to my GF last night, and I think I may have inadvertently made a faux pas (on another, related site).
Is there a 'pecking order' in anthologies? Does it matter to anyone "who goes first?", or what order they are in, at all? This is something I had never even considered until I was asked myself - I just never gave it any thought.
I unfortunately don't have too many FR anthologies anymore, but I think that if the anthology is connected to a related series, then the author of the main series goes first... am I correct in this thinking? What if the anthology isn't related to a series?
Generally, I don't think it really matters.
I've read and re-read the anthologies that aren't tied to particular trilogies both in published order, and randomly... even going so far as to read the stories contained within each on my personal whims rather than the orders in which they were published.
The trilogy-specific anthologies are hard to judge, but, again, I haven't had too much problem applying the reading method I mentioned above, to these as well. However, both volumes of the Realms of the Dragons series did prove somewhat confusing for me, when I read the second volume, then the first, and then finally the trilogy.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Dennis
Great Reader
9933 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2012 : 03:04:24
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Honestly, it doesn't matter to me, either. I read the stories in most of the anthologies not in order. Usually read first (and sometimes, only) those by my favorite authors, realms, and characters. Others I reserve for future foray, or simply ignore. |
Every beginning has an end. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 23 Oct 2012 : 18:11:15
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It doesn't matter to me either, and thats why I never gave it any thought. In this instance, I am going to take Richard Lee Byers info as sanctimont on this issue. His name appears first in the anthology connected to his Haunted Lands series, and RAS is the anchor. Funny... I bet this is something most people not in the industry don't ever notice (and I've read tons of anthologies over the years).
I requested both the first and last spots in something, and now I understand the... ummmm... attitude it was met with. It hadn't even dawned on me that it meant anything (I was just thinking about the best impact for what I was writing - it needed to be cut into two parts, as far away from each other as possible, to have maximum effect). In a way, almost becoming both the prologue and epilogue for the rest.
Ahhh well... maybe when I get famous.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 23 Oct 2012 18:13:47 |
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Gabrielle_H
Acolyte
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - 22 Dec 2012 : 07:56:54
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In my anthologies, the first and last spots go to two of the strongest stories.
The first story sets the tone for the entire anthology, so it should be the best and most powerful example that shows the reader what they're getting into. For WHEN THE HERO COMES HOME, Ed and I choose Jay Lake and Shannon Page's story because we wanted to show the reader that they hadn't opened a whole book of fantasy stories where the knight rides up victoriously to the castle gates.
The last story gives closure to the anthology, so it should be the best and most powerful story that ends on the right note, with the feel the anthologists want the reader walking away with. For HERO, it was Erik Scott de Bie's "Oathbreaker." I'm not sure how many anthologists do this particular trick, but in both our anthologies so far, Ed and I have chosen a final story that ends with a protagonist making a dramatic exit.
It's not as much a popularity contest as it is a consideration for the flow of the stories. You want some of the big names in the middle so that people don't just read the first and last stories and ignore the rest. Some people will just spot-check their favorites no matter how you order the stories, but it's important to have a flow for the people who read front to back.
My ever-learning 2 coppers...
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Gabrielle Harbowy, scribe and editrix
http://www.gabrielle-edits.com
twitter: @gabrielle_h |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2013 : 22:09:00
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I am happy to anchor that one! Great anthology, one every FR fan should read.
Cheers
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Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2013 : 07:59:47
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First, thanks for taking the time to frequent this forum.
I invite each of you to go to the Wizards site. Look up any one of your 185 audio books and click on it. You’ll see that it goes exclusively to Audible.
You would never know it by frequenting the Wizards site, but there’s about 185 Forgotten Realms Books in the Itunes store
Not everyone has a membership (or wants one) to Audible, but everyone can access Itunes. I doubt there is a person in this forum that doesn't have a partially used Itunes card either in their desk or wallet/purse.
Last note: When I search Itunes by author your contributions in Anthologies do not show up in the results either.
Here’s an example using Richard Lee Byers…
All of these except The Shattered Mask (I don’t think they did that one) turned up by searching “Forgotten Realms”. If I wrote “Yes” it’s available on Itunes.
The Halls of Stormweather (Yes: Searching by “Richard Lee Byers” fails probably because it’s an Anthology, but it turns up when searched by title)
The Shattered Mask (Search by Author and/or title fails to find this. Maybe not released yet)
Dissolution (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
The Black Bouquet (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Realms of the Dragons Anthology (short story by RLB) (Yes: Searching by “Richard Lee Byers” fails probably because it’s an Anthology, but it turns up when searched by title)
The Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy - The Rage (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
The Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy - The Rite (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
The Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy - The Ruin (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Queen of the Depths (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Realms of the Dead - The Haunted Lands Anthology (short story by RLB) (Yes: Searching by “Richard Lee Byers” fails probably because it’s an Anthology, but it turns up when searched by title)
The Haunted Lands trilogy -Unclean (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
The Haunted Lands trilogy -Undead (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
The Haunted Lands trilogy -Unholy (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Brotherhood of the Griffon - The Captive Flame (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Brotherhood of the Griffon - Whisper of Venom (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Brotherhood of the Griffon - The Spectral Blaze (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Brotherhood of the Griffon - The Masked Witches (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
Brotherhood of the Griffon - Prophet of the Dead (Yes: Search by “Richard Lee Byers”)
The Sundering - The Reaver (not released as of yet)
I only bring it up because I want you all to be filthy rich. I mean like disgustingly dirty rich.
But not so rich you stop writing.  |
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2015 : 20:19:42
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Not a question, but a bit of humor for authors. Go ahead and indulge your evil chuckles. Though I'm sure it's not new and you may have seen it before.
Seen on uberhumor (not my own composition):
"If I was a famous author I would publish a book with ten different endings which all went to print with varying degrees of rarity, but not tell the fans about it so that I could watch their confusion as they disagree over how the story ended. Then when they figured it out I would 'come clean', telling them I had released eleven alternate endings and watch them panic again as they all try to find the last ending." |
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Duneth Despana
Learned Scribe
Belgium
273 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2015 : 13:46:05
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| Why are there so many 'typos' ... or rather consistent misspellings in the early FR novels? (e.g. Lloth, mithal, Deep Sashales, Aber-Toril, Solausein etc.) |
« There is no overriding « epic » in the Realms, but rather a large number of stories, adventures, and encounters going on all the time. [...]. Each creative mind adds to the base, creating, defining, and making their contribution to the rich diversity of the Realms. [...]. But Ed built the stage upon which all the plays are presented. Thanks Ed. » -FR Comic no.1
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36804 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2015 : 16:45:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Duneth Despana
Why are there so many 'typos' ... or rather consistent misspellings in the early FR novels? (e.g. Lloth, mithal, Deep Sashales, Aber-Toril, Solausein etc.)
Typos happen. It's not just 2E novels. I'm still amused by the month of Ukta in one of the 3E sourcebooks.
Heck, I've been reading the new Southlands book that I got via Kickstarter -- this is a brand new book from Kobold Press, and it has typos in it. And at least one line of repeated text, and a place where the punctuation wasn't correct... |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Duneth Despana
Learned Scribe
Belgium
273 Posts |
Posted - 31 Aug 2015 : 20:11:15
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I used 'typo' for lack of a better word. I'm talking about misspellings that are consistent throughout novels. I was thinking about this because I'm currently reading Evermeet and the misspellings mithal, Deep Sashales, Aber-Toril are not once written correctly throughout the novel. I'm wondering if this is because the reference material given to the authors was handwritten notes hard to decipher or some other reason.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Duneth Despana
Why are there so many 'typos' ... or rather consistent misspellings in the early FR novels? (e.g. Lloth, mithal, Deep Sashales, Aber-Toril, Solausein etc.)
Typos happen. It's not just 2E novels. I'm still amused by the month of Ukta in one of the 3E sourcebooks.
Heck, I've been reading the new Southlands book that I got via Kickstarter -- this is a brand new book from Kobold Press, and it has typos in it. And at least one line of repeated text, and a place where the punctuation wasn't correct...
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« There is no overriding « epic » in the Realms, but rather a large number of stories, adventures, and encounters going on all the time. [...]. Each creative mind adds to the base, creating, defining, and making their contribution to the rich diversity of the Realms. [...]. But Ed built the stage upon which all the plays are presented. Thanks Ed. » -FR Comic no.1
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2428 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2015 : 01:13:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Duneth Despana
I'm talking about misspellings that are consistent throughout novels. I was thinking about this because I'm currently reading Evermeet and the misspellings mithal, Deep Sashales, Aber-Toril are not once written correctly throughout the novel. I'm wondering if this is because the reference material given to the authors was handwritten notes hard to decipher or some other reason.
You put the blame on wrong heads. If the problem was with the authors, we shouldn't be able to see it anyway. It's a problem with editors.
And the editors who know what the writers should write, but unable to do their own jobs any better than an average circus monkey would were a problem back from TSR times.
And yes, a company treating quality control as a plum job for toadies shows exactly how much it cares about customers.
quote:
"I can tell you that many individuals from an entire generation (and heading into a second generation) of teachers, journalists, and, yes, professional editors in North America seemingly managed to get through school without ever learning proper grammar—and we can all read the results, every day."
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People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
Edited by - TBeholder on 02 Sep 2015 01:20:33 |
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Duneth Despana
Learned Scribe
Belgium
273 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2015 : 16:52:14
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quote:
Originally posted by TBeholder
You put the blame on wrong heads.
Don't get me wrong. I wasn't trying to point fingers and place blame so much as I was curious, wanting a peek behind the scenes (kinda like how I wonder why there is so much greco-roman art in Faiths&Pantheons, Demihuman Deities and Powers&Pantheons.) |
« There is no overriding « epic » in the Realms, but rather a large number of stories, adventures, and encounters going on all the time. [...]. Each creative mind adds to the base, creating, defining, and making their contribution to the rich diversity of the Realms. [...]. But Ed built the stage upon which all the plays are presented. Thanks Ed. » -FR Comic no.1
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