In Shawn Speakman’s case, it was both.
Lacking health insurance and diagnosed with Hogdkin’s lymphoma in 2011, Shawn quickly accrued a massive medical debt that he did not have the ability to pay. That’s when New York Times best-selling author Terry Brooks offered to donate a short story to his friend and long-time webmaster, to sell toward alleviating those bills—and suggested Shawn ask the same of his other friends.
Unfettered is the result, an anthology built to relieve that debt, featuring short stories by some of the best fantasy writers in the genre.
Every story in this volume is new and, like the title suggests, the writers were free to write whatever they wished. Here is the list of contributing authors for Unfettered:
- The Shade of Allanon by Terry Brooks (a Shannara tale)
- Imaginary Friends by Terry Brooks (a precursor to the Word/Void trilogy)
- How Old Holly Came To Be by Patrick Rothfuss (a Four Corners tale)
- River of Souls by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (a Wheel of Time tale)
- The Old Scale Game by Tad Williams
- Martyr of the Roses by Jacqueline Carey (a precursor to the Kushiel series)
- Dogs by Daniel Abraham
- Mudboy by Peter V. Brett (a Demon Cycle tale)
- Nocturne by Robert V. S. Redick
- The Sound of Broken Absolutes by Peter Orullian (a Vault of Heaven tale)
- The Coach with Big Teeth by R.A. Salvatore
- Keeper of Memory by Todd Lockwood (a Summer Dragon tale)
- Game of Chance by Carrie Vaughn
- Heaven in a Wild Flower by Blake Charlton
- The Chapel Perilous by Kevin Hearne (an Iron Druid tale)
- Select Mode by Mark Lawrence (a Broken Empire tale)
- All the Girls Love Michael Stein by David Anthony Durham
- Strange Rain by Jennifer Bosworth (a Struck epilogue tale)
- Unbowed by Eldon Thompson (a Legend of Asahiel tale)
- In Favour with Their Stars by Naomi Novik (a Temeraire tale)
- The Jester by Michael J. Sullivan (a Riyria Chronicles tale)
- The Duel by Lev Grossman (a Magicians tale)
- The Unfettered Knight by Shawn Speakman (an Annwn Cycle tale)
With the help of stalwart friends and these wonderful short stories, Shawn has taken the gravest of life hardships and created something magical. Unfettered is not only a fantastic anthology in its own right but it’s a testament to the generosity found in the science fiction and fantasy community—proof that humanity can give beyond itself when the need arises.
After all, isn’t that the driving narrative in fantasy literature?
Here is video of Terry Brooks talking about Unfettered:
Edition Note:
There are two editions of Unfettered to consider.
The first is a leather-bound Signed & Numbered 1st edition/1st printing edition limited to 500 copies and signed by all contributors. It is $150.00. Note: This edition is now sold out!
The second is a 1st edition/1st printing trade hardcover that is unsigned and is $35.00. The text for both editions of Unfettered is the same. This edition also includes a blank signature page featuring all of the contributors for those of you wanting to get autographs from some of your favorite writers on your own!
To order Unfettered and/or Shawn’s novel, The Dark Thorn, click HERE!
Thank you for your support!
29 responses to “Buy Now: Unfettered”
Ordered the trade today. REALLY wanted the signed and numbered edition but timing on the finances didn’t work out. Looking forward to reading all these great stories, while simultaneously helping Shawn, who has been an online acquaintance for more than a decade, with his burden.
Thank you!
Thanks, Justin! Means a great deal to me. Especially from someone who has been around my web work as long as you have! Sucker! Ha!
Let me know when/if an e-book is available since I am unable to hold or turn the pages of a print edition
The eBook version will be published in the spring. There sadly is no way to take pre-orders via Amazon or B&N if you are a “self-published” writer, even for an anthology like this.
Looking forward to ebook, loved darkthorn and imaginary friends. Best wishes!
Sucks to miss out on the leather bound. I will have to order my hardbound copy next week on payday.
This is impressive. I’m looking forward to reading these stories…. and for a good cause!!! You have some pretty cool friends, Shawn!! Good luck to you!
I do. I’m very thankful for all of them. The’ve saved me.
Is there really an Eldon Thompson tale!????
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is. And it’s a good one too!
I am looking forward to this Shawn. Best of luck. Would you care to make a comment on Terry’s story “The Shade of Allanon.” Even a mild synopsis?
It’s the short visit between Walker and the Shade of Allanon that fits within Ilse Witch but was written a year after that book was finished.
Shawn,
Im the executive editor for our newspaper’s online entertainment webite and just read about this amazing story because Im a huge Terry Brooks fan. Would it be okay if I contacted you to write a breif story about this effort for our paper? It would resonate with our readers and Brandon is from here in Utah Valley and has a lot of fans here. Email me if you’re interested. Good luck with everything!
Hey Shawn, I hope you are doing well. Thanks for supplying us fans such a great website. Is there a format which is more beneficial? I prefer ebooks, but would buy the hardcover if it helps out more.
I make more on a hardcover but ebooks will be pretty good too. Buy the one best for you and your budget, not what is best for me. Please. 🙂
Can you give us a brief premise for Terry’s new story (“Shade of Allanon”)? Where does it fit into the Shannara timeline? Thnx!
Just ordered my copy of Unfettered – I can’t wait, it looks awesome! Keeping my fingers crossed we can erase that bill…and planning on getting The Dark Thorn as soon as my budget allows. 🙂
This looks amazing. I’m sad it took me so long to find my way to the website. Too bad I missed out on the signed edition. I’m eagerly looking forward to reading Unfettered.
There are a few S&N copies — if you order quick enough today. I had about 75 I could sell once people didn’t order their The Dark Thorn matching copies. They will sell out today some time. Better be quick!
If I have already ordered a copy of the trade hardcover, would it be possible to transfer that money towards an S&N copy since new ones just became available?
Trust me, you don’t want to do that. Not only is it a super pain in the ass for me to find the order and make the proper documentation, but you don’t want to read the S&N edition. You’ll want to keep that pristine and untouched. Read the trade edition for that instead.
I am just hearing about the reasoning for this book and I think it is wonderful. If the authors decide to do a second round of signing of the books to raise even more money I would be honored to be able to help by purchasing the book. Our prayers are with you Shawn.
looking forward to the book but very sad and disgusted that there will be a version covered by the skin of a cow. i would not want a book made from dog skin, cat skin or human skin so why make one from cow skin? people should check out the horrendous cruelty behind leather production before supporting such a gruesome and unnecessary industry.
Hi, was just curious if this book would be available in stores anytime soon? thanks!
The book will be available at the end of this month but NOT in bookstores. It can be ordered at http://www.grimoakpress.com.
I just got my copy in the mail – it’s beautifully done. Can’t wait to get started reading!
Is it still possible to purchase a hardcover book. I have been out of the loop for awhile and saw this. I clicked the link but I couldn’t buy it and I am not a big fan of ebooks.
It will be. The Grim Oak Press website is down right now but should be back up sometime this week.
Thank you. It’s back up and I just bought one and can’t wait for it to get here.