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Aswad -> RE: Summer Reading (7/1/2009 5:15:49 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Naturallurker
As I recall, ghost writing implies largely attempting to write as the author in question, mimicking their style, their choice of words, and so forth. Brandon is not making any attempt to copy Jim's style, beyond what is strictly necessary to be true to the legacy Jim left (i.e. he'll be spending more time on descriptions than he usually would, although less than Jim would, etc.). In this sense, it is more akin to what I would call a post-mortem collaborative work than to ghost writing, if I understood Brandon correctly.
Jim had intended one book, of approximately 1500 pages, but Harriet and Doherty were both dubious about him being able to round it off in so short a book, as well as being more than just dubious about the prospect of finding some way to bind it all. Sure, the hard cover version could have been bound in one book, by using paperback fonts, linespacing and margins. But the paperback would have to be split in any realistic circumstance. For Brandon to finish it in 1500 pages is unrealistic, since he can't be as heavy-handed with the editing, and lacks the 20 years of writing on the series that Jim had, but some 2000-2500 pages is doable, and that fits in three books with normal binding techniques. Even so, he's made it clear that he's writing one book that will be split due to pragmatic concerns, not three books that are conceptually seperate. Besides, Jim wouldn't have the same feel for what the fans want answers to, which Brandon does have, seeing as he's spent a lot of time in the fan communities, including those devoted to speculating on series and setting details.
Regardless, Jim left excruciatingly detailed notes, as well as tape recordings from those times he was too ill to write, and he told the conclusion to the story 'round the fireplace for the extended family some three days before he passed away. A quick-witted live-in secretary is apparently to thank for documenting this telling of the story. Also, if you've followed Jim's comments on the extent of the notes he has kept, you may have done some math on the file sizes he mentioned. Mine led me to the conclusion that there are a few thousand pages on the lesser inhabitants of the White Tower alone, and similar figures for all other major institutions in the setting. Back around book three or four, the magic system had been documented in about 400 pages or so. There's enough material there that Harriet was (is?) planning an in-setting encyclopedia, as well as a guide to the OT. I doubt Brandon will lack the background documentation to realistically portray the setting and characters.
But, yeah, notes are far from a finished text. Only about 150 pages were finished when Jim died. The rest he will have to write on his own, with the notes and his keen familiarity with the series to guide him. So far, I count about 1300 pgs being at the draft stage or later. Harriet is indeed continuing as editor (not proof reader), and will no doubt make sure her late husband's legacy receives a fitting and worthy conclusion.
As for WoT fans... there's more here than you know, I suspect... [;)]
Health,
al-Aswad.
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