Announcement of multi-volume Zelazny collection

I'm delighted to announce on this newsgroup that a definitive, multi-
volume collection of Roger Zelazny's works is in progress. Here's a
few details that I can provide:

- projected 5 hardcover volumes + a separate bibliography
- the intent is to include (likely in chronological order) all of
Zelazny's short stories/novellas/novelettes and all poems, including a
number of previously unpublished stories, film treatments, plays and
poems (some of which I have mentioned before on this newsgroup)
- excerpts of novels or serialized novels will not be included, except
that we will probably include a previously published excerpt/chapter
for each of Lord of Light and Creatures of Light & Darkness, and we
will probably include ...And Call Me Conrad in its original two-part
form with the first-person summary in between the two parts
- will probably include selected non-fiction articles by Zelazny
- each piece will have introductions that have been compiled largely
from Zelazny's own comments obtained from various sources, both
published and previously unpublished (these have already been compiled
and written by me but are being polished as additional material is
discovered from old interviews etc)
- each piece will have an afterword that annotates the stories and
poems in order to identify the allusions and references, define
unusual words, etc. The effort is not to interpret (since meaning/
interpretation is in the mind of the reader) but to facilitate the
reader gaining insight into deeper levels of meaning that may have
been intended by the author. These annotations have already been
written but are subject to ongoing revision after each re-reading
uncovers something else that warrants annotation.
- there will be a biography running through the five volumes
- there will probably be 2-3 introductions or afterwords per volume by
established authors who knew Zelazny or whose careers were influenced
by him
- the project will be published be NESFA Press (www.nesfa.org/press)
and it is being edited by David G. Grubbs and Christopher S. Kovacs
(me). That website has been updated in the "Upcoming Books" section
to indicate this project
- the plan is that all five volumes will be compiled before the first
one is actually published, and then all five volumes would be released
over the course of 2-3 years.
- the ISBN for the first volume is 1-886778-71-X or 978-1-886778-71-9

NOTE: I have obtained copies of all of the known stories and poems
that appear in various bibliographies (in print and on-line),
including rare pieces that were never reprinted. I have also obtained
copies of previously unpublished pieces that were not recorded in the
bibliographies. It is possible that someone may possess a copy of a
story or poem that I do not know about and which would be important to
include. I would encourage anyone who thinks that they may possess a
unique copy of an obscure or unpublished story or poem to consider
providing a copy so that it can be considered for inclusion in this
collection. Also, if you've come across an obscure interview or
letter which you think might provide some fact for the biography, or
commentary for a story introduction, then please let us know about it
as well. All contributors (and there have already been many) will be
acknowledged. The intent is to publish a definitive collection of
works by Roger Zelazny which will do justice to the works and memory
of this author, and to all of his readers and fans!

NOTE ALSO: The stories and poems have already been converted to
digital text and initially proofed once by me, so it is not necessary
for anyone to forward e-texts to us that they may have made themselves
or downloaded from another source.

AND NOTE: If there's anything you think of that we should be including
- even if it's a certain phrase or allusion in a story for which
you've always wanted to know the meaning or source, or only you know
the meaning and source - then please let us know in case we have
overlooked it.

Chris

Best email for me is ckovacs (at) mun (dot) ca
The mac dot com address is defunct.

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007, Michael G. McGough wrote:

> So why the hostility towards John? What did he do that waranted the
> observation at the top of this posting, except produce a product,
> under contract, which quite a few people enjoyed?
The comment seems to be aimed at not the fact that he -started- the
project, but rather that he did not -finish- the project. Perhaps one
might re-read and ponder a bit before posting?

And the "Oh, no, I -am- respecting Zelany's wishes to not write -sequels-
by writing -prequels-" arguement is a little thin*.

3ch

*I once saw a claim that the atmosphere on mars is about 5cc of gas
at STP in the volume of the astrodome. About that thin.