Finished Merchant Prince

I can't find any faults with the Serpent War Saga, I think it's right up
there with the best fantasy books ever written.

I have a hard time choosing my favorite book though. I'd probably say that
The King's Buccaneer is definatly one of my faves.

On another note, anyone here like hardcore SciFi? I've recently re-read an
older A.A. Attanasio book called 'Last Legends of Earth' pretty amazing
stuff.

Wonder if REF likes hardcore SciFi?
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

In article <1108430915.a650942af3adfe365cc596f2f9b098fb@teranews>,
Blade <me.DeleteThis@home.com> wrote:

 > I can't find any faults with the Serpent War Saga, I think it's right up
 > there with the best fantasy books ever written.
 >
 > I have a hard time choosing my favorite book though. I'd probably say that
 > The King's Buccaneer is definatly one of my faves.
 >
 > On another note, anyone here like hardcore SciFi? I've recently re-read an
 > older A.A. Attanasio book called 'Last Legends of Earth' pretty amazing
 > stuff.
 >
 > Wonder if REF likes hardcore SciFi?
 >
 >
 >
 >

Define "hardcore."

I grew up reading Norton, Isaamov, Heinlein, Blish, Herbert, Brunner,
Bester, Ellison, Piper, and a host of others.

Most SF is social science fiction; for SF to be "hard" IMHO the science
basically has to be a character in the story, i.e. Andromeda Strain,
The Forbin Project, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dragon's Egg, etc. Most SF
either deals with the social consequences of science or it's just
window dressing.

Best, R.E.F.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

I'm not bashing the book or the series. I think they're both wonderful, I
just found the detail about this trade and that in Merchant Prince to be a
lot. And then the fact that we never find out rough prices for some things
in Midkemia made me wonder.

I'm also wondering what happened with John Vinci, after he tells Roo of the
big news, the only other mention of him in the book is that Dash sends him a
message. Last I checked 2% of the 6 million or whatever is still a lot of
money for a small time shopkeeper. And there was no word on weather he would
take Roo's offer and come work in Krondor.

Also, doesnt anyone (Calis/Miranda/Nakor) wonder what the Saaur are and
where they came from? I would think considering their intelligence they
would be asking why did these Saaur people just pop up all of a sudden? It
seems like nobody will figure this part out until the answer is given to
them.
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

 > I thought this series was pretty good actually. I enjoyed the focus on
 > Roo's business, although some of it seemed to come to easily. It
 > developed the Midkemia world a little more completely, IMO.

I loved RotMP. I thought the whole Barretts / corner the market scene was
exciting and integrated into the story well. I'm glad Ray thought to
include such a tale in his world.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

 > Define "hardcore."
 >
 > I grew up reading Norton, Isaamov, Heinlein, Blish, Herbert, Brunner,
 > Bester, Ellison, Piper, and a host of others.
 >
 > Most SF is social science fiction; for SF to be "hard" IMHO the
 > science basically has to be a character in the story, i.e. Andromeda
 > Strain, The Forbin Project, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dragon's Egg, etc.
 > Most SF either deals with the social consequences of science or it's
 > just window dressing.
 >
 > Best, R.E.F.
 >

I define hard as dealing with a lot of science in the novels, last legends
of earth is about a creature called the Rimstalker re-creating humans from
DNA remnants from earths destruction, seven billion years in the past, as
bait for the Zotl (a creature that feeds on pain and fear). The humans are
bread in what is essentially a vast machine created by the Rimstalker,
which the regenerated humans view as a solar system.

I am defiantly not an author so my idea of hard SF is probably not correct,
but just curious if you read this kind of book.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

In article <1108523057.65af0686973ecdcc92a99aac85e2eee2@teranews>,
Blade <me DeleteThis @home.com> wrote:

  > > Define "hardcore."
  > >
  > > I grew up reading Norton, Isaamov, Heinlein, Blish, Herbert, Brunner,
  > > Bester, Ellison, Piper, and a host of others.
  > >
  > > Most SF is social science fiction; for SF to be "hard" IMHO the
  > > science basically has to be a character in the story, i.e. Andromeda
  > > Strain, The Forbin Project, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dragon's Egg, etc.
  > > Most SF either deals with the social consequences of science or it's
  > > just window dressing.
  > >
  > > Best, R.E.F.
  > >
 >
 > I define hard as dealing with a lot of science in the novels, last legends
 > of earth is about a creature called the Rimstalker re-creating humans from
 > DNA remnants from earths destruction, seven billion years in the past, as
 > bait for the Zotl (a creature that feeds on pain and fear). The humans are
 > bread in what is essentially a vast machine created by the Rimstalker,
 > which the regenerated humans view as a solar system.
 >
 > I am defiantly not an author so my idea of hard SF is probably not correct,
 > but just curious if you read this kind of book.
 >


It's not a function of being "correct," but rather just clearly
indicating what you mean, which you did.

I don't read as much as I'd like, because by the end of the day, I'm
pretty word-blind. I'm currently working on a novel, a TV pilot, and
a movie script, so afte 14 hours in front of the computer, I just turn
on the TV. When I do get to read, I mostly read thrillers, detective
fiction, or history.

Best, R.E.F.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

Oooo TV pilot and a movie script? Sounds good, being a big fan of the
books I always thought it would be good to see some of your works in an
another medium. Are we allowed to know any more details or is it all
hush hush still?
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

Thanks for the reply, its nice to know an author has his fingers firmly
on the pulse of his fans. I look forward to seeing this new work of
yours and wish you all the best with this.
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

In article <1108552376.077578.12640.TakeThisOut@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
<jolyon.fahy.TakeThisOut@Egg.com> wrote:

 > Oooo TV pilot and a movie script? Sounds good, being a big fan of the
 > books I always thought it would be good to see some of your works in an
 > another medium. Are we allowed to know any more details or is it all
 > hush hush still?
 >

Not a movie script, but a TV pilot yes. I can't talk about it, but let
me quickly say it's not based on any of my novels. It's non-fantasy,
non-Midkemia, and contemporary adult drama.

Best, R.E.F.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

Just curious,
I see that you occasionally read detectives/history novels. Have had the
chance to read any of WEB Griffins series? This is a newsgroup dedicated to
you, and I don't mean to side track, just curious. I can understand the
desire to distance oneself from the days work.
I, as others have already stated continue to look forward to the further
novels centered around Midkemia/Kelwan
Thanks for giving me an enjoyable time when I am reading your works.

Richard Manning
"Raymond Feist" <raymond.DeleteThis@bittersea.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:150220052036569335%raymond@bittersea.nospam.com...
 > In article <1108523057.65af0686973ecdcc92a99aac85e2eee2@teranews>,
 > Blade <me.DeleteThis@home.com> wrote:
 >
   >> > Define "hardcore."
   >> >
   >> > I grew up reading Norton, Isaamov, Heinlein, Blish, Herbert, Brunner,
   >> > Bester, Ellison, Piper, and a host of others.
   >> >
   >> > Most SF is social science fiction; for SF to be "hard" IMHO the
   >> > science basically has to be a character in the story, i.e. Andromeda
   >> > Strain, The Forbin Project, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dragon's Egg, etc.
   >> > Most SF either deals with the social consequences of science or it's
   >> > just window dressing.
   >> >
   >> > Best, R.E.F.
   >> >
  >>
  >> I define hard as dealing with a lot of science in the novels, last
  >> legends
  >> of earth is about a creature called the Rimstalker re-creating humans
  >> from
  >> DNA remnants from earths destruction, seven billion years in the past, as
  >> bait for the Zotl (a creature that feeds on pain and fear). The humans
  >> are
  >> bread in what is essentially a vast machine created by the Rimstalker,
  >> which the regenerated humans view as a solar system.
  >>
  >> I am defiantly not an author so my idea of hard SF is probably not
  >> correct,
  >> but just curious if you read this kind of book.
  >>
 >
 >
 > It's not a function of being "correct," but rather just clearly
 > indicating what you mean, which you did.
 >
 > I don't read as much as I'd like, because by the end of the day, I'm
 > pretty word-blind. I'm currently working on a novel, a TV pilot, and
 > a movie script, so afte 14 hours in front of the computer, I just turn
 > on the TV. When I do get to read, I mostly read thrillers, detective
 > fiction, or history.
 >
 > Best, R.E.F.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

In article <cv0tk0$276@library2.airnews.net>, Richard <rem1061.TakeThisOut@pdq.net>
wrote:

 > Just curious,
 > I see that you occasionally read detectives/history novels. Have had the
 > chance to read any of WEB Griffins series? This is a newsgroup dedicated to
 > you, and I don't mean to side track, just curious. I can understand the
 > desire to distance oneself from the days work.

I've read a couple of his things. Very good writer. I liked his
police stuff a little better than the military.

 > I, as others have already stated continue to look forward to the further
 > novels centered around Midkemia/Kelwan
 > Thanks for giving me an enjoyable time when I am reading your works.
 >

Thanks for the kind words. I'm going to revisit Kelewan in the new
series, the Darkwar Saga. Should be a lot of surprises in this one.

Best, R.E.F.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

 >
 > It's not a function of being "correct," but rather just clearly
 > indicating what you mean, which you did.
 >
 > I don't read as much as I'd like, because by the end of the day, I'm
 > pretty word-blind. I'm currently working on a novel, a TV pilot, and
 > a movie script, so afte 14 hours in front of the computer, I just turn
 > on the TV. When I do get to read, I mostly read thrillers, detective
 > fiction, or history.
 >
 > Best, R.E.F.


If you, or anyone else in this thread, wishes to read a fantastic SF book,
I highly recommend it.

Again, your Riftwar, Serpentwar, and the upcoming Darkwar books define what
fantasy adventure is supposed to be. Thank you for your dedication to the
Midkemia world and its continued success! I also enjoyed the Farie Tale
novel.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince 

In article <1108612186.3cb5152bc0e0ee1914f1ff9469a53f87@teranews>,
Blade <me.TakeThisOut@home.com> wrote:

  > >
  > > It's not a function of being "correct," but rather just clearly
  > > indicating what you mean, which you did.
  > >
  > > I don't read as much as I'd like, because by the end of the day, I'm
  > > pretty word-blind. I'm currently working on a novel, a TV pilot, and
  > > a movie script, so afte 14 hours in front of the computer, I just turn
  > > on the TV. When I do get to read, I mostly read thrillers, detective
  > > fiction, or history.
  > >
  > > Best, R.E.F.
 >
 >
 > If you, or anyone else in this thread, wishes to read a fantastic SF book,
 > I highly recommend it.
 >
 > Again, your Riftwar, Serpentwar, and the upcoming Darkwar books define what
 > fantasy adventure is supposed to be. Thank you for your dedication to the
 > Midkemia world and its continued success! I also enjoyed the Farie Tale
 > novel.
 >
 >
 >


Thanks. I'd like to do another contemporary dark fantasy one of these
days. And a science fiction story once, too.

Best, R.E.F.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Finished Merchant Prince