Ketchup

Most of you know I'm not much for fantasy. It just don't speak to me. Magic is such a slippery thing, and the epic plots often drag. So it may surprise you that among my All-Time Best Library is The Gandalara Cycle, a seven-volume set of swashbuckling swords-and-sorcery. Why? Partly because these books are old school. They're high fantasy adventure with sf guts and sensibility, written in the 1980's (and out of print now, I believe), but these are classic fan favorites, still widely available online and in used book stores. Highly recommended.

Interesting side note. The Cycle was written in collaboration by the esteemed, seasoned pro Randall Garrett and his bride-to-be Vicky Ann Heydron. Garrett fell seriously ill after they'd completed the first book and a detailed outline. Heydron went on to finish the series alone... My secret is that I've always wanted to write a second Cycle, picking up after the first set of books ended. It would be an insane career choice, of course. We'd need to secure permissions and clear every legal hurdle. The first books would need to be re-released first with a big splash. But I've already sketched out the plot and some titles. The characters and the setting are that powerful to me.

In the first Cycle, the sixth installment is entitled Return To Eddarta. This phrase only makes sense and is thus far more captivating if you've read the series, but, secret number two, I would call the first book of my Cycle by the same evocative name.

Return To Eddarta.

Labels: Randall Garrett, Recommended Reading, The Gandalara Cycle, Vicky Ann Heydron