Sterling E. Lanier Message Board
posts on 7/23/2006 7:52:15 AM
I can only agree with all that has been said about a third book in the Hiero series, I found my first copy in a pile of books, it was the first Science Fantasy book I ever read.
It set me on the road to a lifetime of reading, I continue to hope for the 3rd.
S.E.Lanier, is the only author I have ever felt the need to write to, I sent the letter to his publisher, must have been 20 years or so ago, again to ask about the follow on from Unforsaken, I did not receive a reply, at least it wasnt No..
posts on 7/2/2006 9:35:38 PM
I also read Mr lanier's Hiero books many years ago and have looked dor book 3 (and others for years now).
His books remind me of a recent writer e.e. Knight that is doing a vampire series in post (21 century destroyed) earth.
What I can't understand is why a successful publisher (i.e. like TOR) would not go out and offer to publish the third book (assuming that it was written). I and it appears many other eagerly look forward to a continuation of the saga. With that in mind I am also wondering why other great stories of the 70's, 80's and 90's are not being continued. For example Roland Green never finished his Wander series, Paul Zimmer still had one book left in his dark border series (and a lot of short stories), Gene Lancour wrote four short books about a barbarian that was every bit as good as Conan, Mark Perry had two books writen about the Morgiou (I may be spelling that wrong - if so please forgive).
I can't believe in today's world (2006) with the sheer number of Fantasy hardbacks being sold that a publisher is not knocking down the door to these guys or their heirs. Martin, Jordan, Kerr, Gemmell, Erikson & Feist are just a few of the great fantasy authors of epics in the last 12 months that were published in hardback.
Some of the Authors I named initially are also great writers or at least had a great story that deserved(s) to be told.
Why arn't publishers going after these authors?
posts on 6/24/2006 8:52:03 PM
I don't think I have ever seen a writer begged to finish a story with any more passion than Sterling Lanier's Hiero's Journey. Being somewhat of a writer my self, mostly poetry and short stories about riding motorcycles. I have from time to time fallen victim to the desire all fans occasionally feel to write about other peoples characters. TV and movies, Science Fiction for the most part but so far I have been able to avoid that pitfall except for my own entertainment and the entertainment of some of my friends. Most writers would sell their souls for the type of fan adoration Sterling E. Lanier evokes. Some times I think that fanatic was a term coined just to describe the love Mr. Lanier's fans have for him. As mediocre as I am as a writer I have been asked by my reading club friends to write a third and maybe even a forth novel to finish up the wonderful story of the futuristic priest and his traveling companions. Even my ego makes it seem unlikely that I will be chosen to take on this burden but with so many people craving a finish to this story I am sure that enough letters to the publisher just might be what is needed to get this story finished. Mr. Lanier is a wonderful writer and even though the apocalypse so many saw in our future just might be less likely now the story remains just as viable and popular. If the apocalypse comes as asteroid impact, a super volcanic eruption, or a nuclear war people will always be interested in what causes the end of the world. Mr. Lanier had a unique way of putting you in the middle of that future and connecting that future with our own.
Michael
aurea mediocritas
posts on 6/24/2006 5:48:44 PM
As a kid, around 1993, I sent fan mail to Mr. Lanier through an address I found for his editor or agent, and asked about him completing the trilogy. I recieved a couple of postcards back and he said that he had "a chapter and a bloc" completed. Also some interested tidbits of trivia about indian history in the area I was writing from, upstate NY "haudensaunee country" which he said was known as the Western Gate. It was pretty cool that he addressed them to me as "keeper of the western gate." Sadly that is all the info I have.
posts on 6/24/2006 12:10:45 PM
I picked up "Hieros Journey" at London airport on my way out to Australia in 1979 when it was a compulsive and fascinating read. This book has been one of my favourite re-reads ever since, as for me it never loses its freshness.
Book two "The Unforsaken Hiero" came much later and again was a very good read. However by the useage of the words and English it was apparent that it had not been written in totality by the same author as "Hieros Journey". Schemed definitely, but apparently largely ghost written.
I have searched for many years for book three but I have become almost certain in my mind that unfortunately Sterling has given up any idea of writing it. His publishers do not really comment and I now believe that the only way we will see a book three is if there is a concerted input from us, to the publishers, for one. They may be able to pursuade him to release his outline for another ghost writer to complete.
Whether or not it is better to have one is open as surely most of us have ghost written in our minds book three many times and imagination is always good.
One idea that has crossed my mind is that books of this subject, the possible nuclear disaster aftermath, may well have had a bigger effect on world politics of the 90's than we realise.
posts on 6/24/2006 10:31:49 AM
does anyone know if S.E.L. is writing or has written a follow up to 'the unforsaked Hiero '?
posts on 6/15/2006 2:34:51 AM
I'd love to see the 3rd book in the Hiero series too, As I'd read the 1st book in the series in 1972, Of course with Mr Lanier not willing or maybe not able to finish It, It may have to wait for someone else to do after His passing, Maybe. And so the Yellow Circle will have to wait.
posts on 4/10/2006 11:33:32 PM
Other authors who decided not to finish a series or who may have died before the series was finished have had their work completed by someone else. With all the great science fiction/fantasy writers out there, isn't there someone who could do this since Lanier doesn't want to?
posts on 4/8/2006 6:21:27 PM
Just reread HJ and UH back to back -- what fantastic books they are.
Given the ease of animation/quasi-real animals in cinema today (like Scooby Doo or Garfield) wouldn't the characters really be fantastic?? I mean, a visual bear or morse?? This would be the most incredible series of movies....making Lanier and his compadres filthy rich!!
But of course Lanier needs to get off his duff and close out the books! What, he's captured our imaginations, and made his buck, and now doesn't feel he owes his most dedicated fans closure???? C'mon, already -- somebody in the know make it happen!!
THIS BEATS POTTER TO DEATH! Does anyone else see the $$$$ potential here???
Anonymous posts on 4/2/2006 5:18:10 PM
I am glad to see that there are some other fans of Mr. Lanier out there still. I would hope that someday there would be an anouncement that his third book (and 4th,5th,etc) books have been written and are waiting to be published. And as I stated in the past there are many authors with well written books out of print who could certainly be bringing revenue to the publishers as well as to themselves and also be bringing much joy to the reading public.
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