Desperately Seeking JMS'

[PlasmaBoy]

I LOVED B5 enough to try out Jeremiah, which did not disappoint, except its short run. After that, life got in the way, but I recently returned to the hunt for all works JMS. I had heard, and figured it a good enough excuse to return to another previous love, that JMS had done Spiderman (and learned the unfortunate back story), as well as other comics. I parted with a rule and started buying The Twelve (I would not USUALLY follow individual issues, I'm more of a TPB guy. I cannot say how relieved I was to see the CBR interview quote " after finishing ôThe Twelveö -- and yes, it's going to be finished come hell or high water." That deals with one of my questions right there. Thanks JMS, it truly is appreciated!

My pursuit of all things JMS led me additionally to the novels. I was able to obtain "Demon Knight" and "OtherSyde" (BTW, I snickered at the B5 comment that the main character made about no other quality Sci Fi being available ) through my local library. At the end of "OtherSyde" there was a reference to a next novel, "It's Getting Dark", which apparently never was published. I did a web search and found this archived comment from 1995:

=======================
"It's Getting Dark" was originally planned to be my third published
novel after "OtherSyde," but in the interim, after I began writing it (and
IGD was planned to be a modest sized novel, 500 pages max), I stumbled
upon a much better and, unfortunately, bigger story I wanted to write, a
contemporary dark fantasy whose title is too cool to sacrifice by giving it
out here. The new book will probably be about 1,000 pages, give or take,
and I've got all the research and reference stuff here, ready to go, as oon
(soon) as I have the time to write it, when B5 is done.

jms

===================
So, my point...Did IGD ever get written/finished? has it been or will it ever be published? what was the mystery 1000 page book? was that "Tribulations"? I have requested T through my library, but it's not in the local area, so I'm waiting...

and again, I am comforted knowing that JMS has committed to finishing The Twelve, at some point. I will keep an eye out.

Cheers!

[Jan]

Doesn't look like it, judging frpm a post in 1997,

It's Getting Dark I shelved when I came up with a better
story...

and in 1998

"It's Getting Dark" has yet to be written.

There's at least one other novel that got scrapped when the events of 9/11 pretty much were events that happened in the book. And possibly one that he'd started that was lost in a hard drive disaster a few years ago.

As for 'The Twelve', keep an eye on the Comics forum as I'm sure one of us will post once it's out again. Meanwhile, have you read 'Midnight Nation' and 'The Book of Lost Souls'?

Jan

[glindros]

Don't forget Rising Stars. It's an amazing piece of work.

[Doom Shepherd]

Don't forget Rising Stars. It's an amazing piece of work.

Indeed. And now available in one gigundous collected edition!

[Jan]

Actually, goldglove has a question about the RS Compendium over in the Comics Forum that maybe one of you could help with?

Jan

[JoeD80]

Yeah, I think you are correct; I was under the impression that "Tribulations" was the 1000 pager referred to and the "better story" he mentioned in the quote that Jan posted there.

[PlasmaBoy]

appreciated!

gee, that's a bummer about IGD, but I am more excited about Tribulations getting to the library!

RS, you ask? Oh yes! I saw that early on, maybe 8 months ago, when I took up the JMS odyssey again, and now I just received the "gigundous collected edition" for over $100, oh about 2 months ago. Speaking of Tribulation, I wasn't too happy with Top Cow, which was like the only place I could find the deluxe hardcover with case, etc edition. I submitted the order and got the confirmational e-mail with a "free" (but not 800, 866, 877, etc) number to call Top Cow if I had any questions. After a couple of months, I tried it, and it went to a guy in shipping who said it wasn't Top Cow, but they handle TC's shipping, and that they were out and he hadn't seen any for quite awhile. I e-mail TC several times before finally getting a poorly written reply that generated no real answers but very real frustrations, then suddenly the order arrived. I hope TC had shaped up a bit since then and no one else looking to buy their "Top Shelf" items has to go through something similar. Yes, LOVED Rising Stars. I don't know how I didn't see it when it came out, except that I wasn't reading comics at that time I bought it so I can be sure that my kids will be able to read it when they're a little older.

The Book of Lost Souls... I'll have to work on that. I've never seen it in my meanderings, but will make it a focus of effort after Tribulations gets read and returned. I have read snippets about it here and there and think it sounds great. I appreciate the replies, the suggestions, and the support!

The Twelve, I'll continue calling my local comics hack and harassing him until it shows up I had been downright angry for quite awhile hearing how the artist had been sent to some other project or quit or something, and JMS wouldn't do it without him, because that had been the deal, or whatever, but a few days before my post, finding the JMS quote that he'd finish it regardless...my faith and patience are made whole again.

thanks all!

[Jan]

The Book of Lost Souls... I'll have to work on that. I've never seen it in my meanderings, but will make it a focus of effort after Tribulations gets read and returned. I have read snippets about it here and there and think it sounds great. I appreciate the replies, the suggestions, and the support!

That's another one that's going to have to wait for your kids to enjoy but it's really good. Of all the books JMS has left that one makes me saddest.

The Twelve, I'll continue calling my local comics hack and harassing him until it shows up I had been downright angry for quite awhile hearing how the artist had been sent to some other project or quit or something, and JMS wouldn't do it without him, because that had been the deal, or whatever, but a few days before my post, finding the JMS quote that he'd finish it regardless...my faith and patience are made whole again.

I don't know for sure but I think it was a situation where JMS slowed down in sending scripts and the artist, of necessity, accepted other jobs while waiting. Then it got complicated getting the two back in synch. I like JMS's desire to work on the finite series so that they can be complete before they're solicited...even if it seems to take forever. It seemed forever before we saw the Silver Surfer mini but it was worth the wait.

Jan

[PlasmaBoy]

Waiting is such sweet sorrow...

Well, the library came through again! "Tribulations" just arrived. It was actually in my state! The version I have is 362 pages (paperback) rather than the 1000 previously anticipated. That's a double-edged sword I suppose
I've just started reading it, and so far it feels very much like his other two. Please note "FEELS", which means I'm starting to recognize his novelization style (of couse, it's a totally different story), but it was nice to have that familiar "coming home" sensation.

OK, here we go with another IGD-type thing... At the beginning it states that JMS is "currently" (2000) working on a new NOVEL "The World on Fire". I found a reference elsewhere that stated it was going to be a series. Does anyone know, if it's been scrapped, or back-burnered? It doesn't appear that there's a novel or series. When I looked into it, I couldn't find anything recent, but there was a disheartening comment that seems to be made by JMS himself about how it's not do-able anymore because it included an attack on NY as the beginning of the story. <sigh>. That must be what Jan referenced in the 5 Jul post.

I continue to take solace in his commitment to finish The Twelve :}

I've added The Book of Lost Souls TPB to my "list."

Speaking of which.... I want to buy a "definitive" Midnight Nation. I was about to get what Amazon or whoever was offering, then I heard a "rumor" that there was going to be new, larger edition released, with like a "director's cut" type of treatment or something. Any specifics on that??

and while we're on rumors...I do know that JMS is doing the Red Circle stuff and had heard (and read) about a Brave and Bold run, but the min-wage lackey at DC refused to even acknowledge my question about B&B, only referencing and returning to Red Circle. Is B&B still on track do you know?

thanks!
-J

[Jan]

"World on Fire" was a project that JMS and Chris Carter worked on together. It fell through initially when a series of Carter's was cancelled and later when the events of Sept. 11 mirrored too closely the events in the show.

There may have been a novel with the same name. JMS has been known to re-use titles that he likes.

For the latest in JMS comics news, check out the Comics Forum. The 'Red Circle' mini will be coming out during August and I believe the Brave and the Bold will be starting around the same time.

I haven't heard anything about different versions of the Midnight Nation Compendium. If I hear anything while at Comic-Con I'll be sure to post.

Jan