January Ask Terry Posted

Amy Farmer writes: I love annotated editions of favorite books, and just finished reading and enjoying The Annotated Sword of Shannara. Is there any possibility of The Annotated Elfstones of Shannara and The Annotated Wishsong of Shannara? Maybe even an Annotated Magic Kingdom for Sale-Sold? Thanks.

Terry Brooks replies: Well, anything’s possible, Amy. I haven’t heard anything about further plans for Annotated Editions, but I will ask. My guess is the publisher will wait to see how Sword does with sales, since that’s what drives almost everything. If it does well, they will consider going on to Elfstones. And then maybe Wishsong. Magic Kingdom For Sale will be annotated I imagine if the movie gets made. But I promise to keep on them about doing more of these editions. I like them, too!

Atricia Lowry writes: I only have one question. When will you write the follow up to Measure of the Magic?

Terry Brooks replies: Atrica! What a cool name! I may have to steal it. But meanwhile, let’s answer your “only one question” question. I don’t know. Yes, that is the answer. I am done with the new Dark Legacy of Shannara set and now working on a series of independent (mostly) Shannara stories. So I haven’t got a time table yet for the follow up books to Measure. That’s the problem with there being only one of me. I can’t stretch myself too thin. Hurts like heck when I do. Brain cramp and all. I will write those books, right up to the convening of the First Council of Druids. But patience is required.

Daniel Padilla writes: Is there going to be an omnibus collection for the Genesis series as well as the Word and Void trilogy, like the other series have gotten?

Terry Brooks replies: See Answer #1 to Amy’s question. I think so, but I don’t know when. If there is enough interest expressed, it will help. Maybe Shawn should run a poll on this that we can submit to Del Rey. How many readers would want to see an omnibus edition of Genesis?

Rob Lucie writes: Having recently delved into some of your characters a little further with The Paladins of Shannara short stories, are there any other characters you would personally like to go back and write more about? And would you go back to the Star Wars universe if you were invited by Disney and George Lucas?

Terry Brooks replies: I would not do anything more in the Star Wars world. That was a one-time deal for me, and I would be hard pressed to persuade myself to do anything for anyone in a world that was not my own. “Does not play well with other children,” my school records clearly indicate. I just have so much to do in what I’ve set for myself in my own work that i don’t think I will stray again.

That said, I do have some thoughts for doing shorts on other familiar characters in the Shannara ebooks series. I don’t want to talk about them just now, but I will listen to suggestions from readers. If anyone feels strngly about another story featuring a character who already appears in a long-form book, write to Shawn. Remember, if I choose not to follow through on your suggestion, blame Shawn.

Mark Baer writes: Terry, I’m very concerned about the future of printed books. I see you have been publishing some short stories digitally especially the Paladins of Shannara series. Hopefully these will be available in a single-volume printed edition. Do you forsee a time when books and bookstores will be a distant memory? What did you think of the news that Barnes & Noble are gradually reducing the number of stores in the U.S.?

Terry Brooks replies: I don’t see bookstores and paper editions of books disappearing any time soon. I think we are already seeing a shift over for readers who like digital forms, and there is a clear need and space for these types of books. But an awful lot of people still want their books printed on paper and not read on a screen. The drop-off in sales because of digital purchases is not yet so severe that we should write an obituary for paper books. I think the space will end up being shared. Many readers want both, as it happens. We can track that from the nature of the purchases made and the comments of buyers. This whole business model is still shaking out.

As for my short stories online, these are a publicity experiment. We want to reach those readers who have gone fully digital and offer an opportunity to those who might want to go both ways. But there is every intention of compiling these and other short stories from over the years into a single-volume print edition at some point down the road. First, I really need to write a few more or the book will only run about 100 pages!