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News Archives - 2009

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December 12, 2009

Dear Friends,

I have finally reached the printer's representative and, I'm sorry to say, The Fireseed Wars book will not be finished and ready for shipping until January, 2010. I was told to expect them around the middle of January and I will do my best to get all pre-orders out within a week after receipt. I apologize for the delay, but I've done everything, short of physical mayhem, to get the books out in a timely fashion...

The printer's explanation is that they laid off about half their workers in the bindery due to the recession and the New York publishing slow down. Then, to add insult to injury, he went on to say our book got caught up in the flurry of pre-Christmas releases. The printer knows quite well just how displeased I am.

Sadly, small publishers (like Rodney Dangerfield) don't get any respect.

In regards to things Paratime, I am doing the final rewrite of my Part III/ending to H. Beam Piper's Time Crime. The book is scheduled for publication in 2010.

I wish you all a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year.

John F. Carr

September 30, 2009

Dear Friends,

the new Kalvan book, The Fireseed Wars, is now at the printers. I apologize for the long delay, but the book was held up at the typesetters. When the typesetters originally converted my Works files to their Apple program, it turned out they typeset an "earlier" version (less 10,000 words and all the copy editing!). The typesetters only noticed it when they realized that the newly typeset copy was missing two chapters that were in the printed reference copy I sent them!

When I found out about it, I had them typeset all 770 pages over again. This cost us several months of time and the book galleys had to be proofed during vacation time, again adding to the delay. Still, I must commend the Post-Proofing Team for their excellent work and for making the shortened deadline. Great job, guys and gals!

The corrected galleys of The Fireseed Wars went back last week to the graphic designers and are now off to the printers. The books should be printed and sent out sometime in the next month or two. Unfortunately, Pequod is a small press and I can't get a firm date. The printer we use does printing for most of the firms on Publishers Row. While this means we get a top quality book, sometimes we get shoved to the back of the line when Tom Clancy or Stephen King's publishers have a big rush job...

I thank you all for your patience. It's a very good book and will be worth the wait.

The H. Beam Piper Memorial Headstone unveiling will be on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at Fairview Cemetery in Altoona, Pennsylvania. I hope to see many of you there.

John F. Carr

June 4, 2009

Dear Friends,

The Fireseed Wars

Here is the new cover art for The Fireseed Wars. This Limited Edition hardcover book is scheduled for publication in August. If you'd like to pre-order a copy, we are offering a $5.00 discount and free shipping. Visit our Shop and reserve your prepublication copy of The Fireseed Wars today.

The Fireseed Wars opens right after the Siege of Tarr-Hostigos, with Great King Kalvan in full retreat from the victorious armies of Styphon's House. With the Kingdom of Hos-Hostigos in ruins and under Investigation, King Kalvan faces his greatest challenge since arriving in Hostigos.

Kalvan has to find a way to outrun the Grand Host of Styphon's House and save his subjects from the inquisition of Archpriest Roxthar and his thugs. Using scorched earth tactics, Kalvan flees with a quarter of a million refugees, a ragtag army, completely dependent upon him for salvation. To the northwest, lies the Upper Middle Kingdoms where King Theovacar of Grefftscharr awaits with his Navy and Army. Theovacar, the ruler of the largest territory in the Middle Kingdoms, doesn't want any competition from an outsider - especially one with as big an army as Kalvan's. To the southwest, awaits the army of Nestros the Traitor, Great King of Hos-Rathon, who has allied himself with the godless priests of Styphon's House.

Verkan Vall, Paratime Police Chief, faces his own battles on Home Time Line as his enemies engage in a relentless propaganda war against him and his administration. Shackled by work to First Level, Verkan deals with corruption inside and outside the Paratime Police Department. His enemies are legion and threaten the stability of Home Time Line as well as the Paratime Secret forcing him to make the most momentous decision of his career.

Styphon's House on Earth has a new Styphon's Voice and he means business. Having defeated Kalvan's army at Ardros Field, the Gunpowder Theocracy is determined to turn the Five Great Kingdoms into their personal fiefdom. It's no longer just a fight between Kalvan and Styphon's House; it's a war of total destruction. And Styphon's House intends to win by any means!

To read about our adventures at the May 16, 2009 Irregular's Muster, visit our sister web site: www.h-beampiper.com

Work has now begun on the H. Beam Piper Memorial Headstone. As soon as I receive it, I will post a scan of the proposed headstone design on the H. Beam Piper Memorial Site. We will have an unveiling ceremony in November and I hope to see many of you there.

John F. Carr

April 16, 2009

Dear Friends,

The Fireseed Wars is finished and off to the typesetters. The Kalvan Copyediting Team did a great job of editing, and kudos go to Jim Landau, Dwight Decker, Dennis Frank, Wolf Dietr, Richard Oakley and Pequod Press Editor Victoria Alexander. The book will be at the printers by this summer.

A very special Irregular's Muster will be held on May 16, 2009. The Muster is a gathering of H. Beam Piper fans and scholars in Centre County, home of Hostigos. Piper researcher, David Hines, has located two friends of Piper's who live in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, about an hour away from State College. John Hunsinger knew Beam from his work at the Lycoming Historical Museum and Bob was one of Beam's drinking buddies. They have a number of tales and stories they are willing to share about their friend, H. Beam Piper.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to listen and talk with someone who knew Beam during his time in Williamsport. Here's what David Hines had to say:

I gave John Hunsinger a call yesterday -- he's the busiest 80-year-old I've ever known. He's started the (Piper) biography and is working his way through: so far, his major annotation has been that Beam told John's friend Bob that he had been expelled for shooting oil drums in front of the high school. But of course, John realizes from your book, Beam told lots of stories. Anyway, I mentioned to John that you and some other folks, including me, were going to be doing a Piper ramble at some point, and I asked if he'd be willing to reminisce for us. He said he'd be delighted, and he'd also bring his friend Bob (whose last name, alas, I didn't catch, but John will be emailing before long) -- John didn't drink, so Bob was the one who used to go out drinking with Beam, and they talked about writing a good bit. So, yeah, guests at Piperminicon 2009!

Contact me or Dennis Frank (djfrank@penn.com) if you'd like to attend the Irregulars' Muster. Unfortunately, the weekend of May 16th is graduation weekend at Penn State so if you're coming from out-of-town you might want to find accommodations in Williamsport.

We've added a new menu bar to the right for Wargaming. Peter Anderson, a well-known historical 25mm miniatures gamer, has given us a battle report on Ardros Field which was fought at Historicon last year. I think you will find the details fascinating.

(When you click on the button it will launch Adobe Reader, if you don't have Adobe Reader on your computer it will give you the option to save the file to disk, the Adobe Reader is available free from www.adobe.com for free - Mark.)

I'm really happy with the new Kalvan book, which takes us into heretofore uncharted territory. I will post a scan of The Fireseed Wars cover as soon as I receive it from the designer.

John F. Carr