So, is Lawhead EVER going to write more fantasy?!

[gracebridges]

I would also love to see more fantasy. But I'm really sad that he stopped writing science fiction. Empyrion is one of THE greatest works of that genre. Anyone agree?

[Margim]

Absolutely. Empyrion remains my favorite book written by any author, ever.

[Caledvwlch]

Well, like everyone, I suppose I have my own preferences and biases. I've always been a huge fantasy reader, ever since I picked up LOTR in sixth grade. I'm writing a fantasy, for heaven's sakes. Anyway, since LOTR I've read Lawhead, obviously, and i do love his historical fiction...

but since he left his fantasy/sci-fi in the past i've been turning to others to fulfill my yearning for fantasy. R. A. Salvatore is the best I've found. Terry Brooks was quite unoriginal and cliche at the beginning, but he's gotten much better as he's progressed.

In the arena of sci-fi, I am a huge fan of Star Wars--("I, Jedi" by Michael A. Stackpole is the best Star Wars book ever written)--but outside of Star Wars i'd have to say the best sci-fi book i've read is Ender's Game.

I really enjoyed Dream Thief, despite all the criticism it seems to get. Everyone says it's the worst of Lawhead's works, blah blah blah....ahem...people...Lawhead's worst is still REALLY good. sheesh.

So i suppose the point of this was to say YES! MORE FANTASY! MORE SCI-FI! And as Messenger of Eden pointed out, Lawhead's style has matured a whole bunch, and he would blow the genre away with his skill.

So yeah. Write more fantasy/sci-fi, Steve!

EDIT: an afterthought on the Dream Thief thing--I'm a writer, so i did notice the novels weakpoints. But the statement stands. It was a great book, and so was Empyrion, btw. Wonderfully reminiscent of Dune....oh yeah! Dune! Dune is an awesome book! I might have to revise my statement about Ender's Game now...hmmm...not sure. *shrug* oh well. they're both great.

[Jherprincess]

I've not read any of his sci fi stuff yet. Not a big sci fi freak myself, but I also would love to see more fantasy from SRL! My favorites of his are definitely SOA and DK. It seems to me that a lot of authors earlier works are the best, and I think that is the case with Lawhead (although I enjoyed Hood immensely!)

[kernos]

Well I sort of disagree. I do not think Lawhead writes Historical Fiction. I created a new category for his sort of literature, in my book database I call Historical Fantasy. Most of SL's books and those of authors like Juliet Marillier, Bernard Cornwall (the Viking books), Stephen Grundy, Morgan Llywelyn, Evangeline Walton etc I put in this category.

Though Lawhead uses historical, possibly historical or legendary/mythological figures, there is little real history available for these people, even Patrick. There is much more information about the cultural milieu in which they lived or were placed.

i call it Historical because the milieu is as accurate as possible (like in Pendragon - an area of research which has blossomed in the last 20 years), but the characters and many of the events are fantasy or quasi-fantasy. Lawhead is a favorite of mine because he is so good at this.

Kernos

[dgan]

I always thought fantasy was a sub-category of fiction? Fiction can come in many forms, one being fantasy. So perhaps it would be more precise to call it historical fantasy, but I don't think it would be inaccurate to call it historical fiction either. I'm no librarian, so perhaps I'm way off.

Plus, to be fantasy, you're making the assumption that what he describes never happened!

[hamameliss]

I have to chime in on this discussion and say that I would love to see some more sci fi from SRL. I did enjoy both Dream Thief and Empyrion. There are so few authors who can write a good sci fi that inspires me to think about things in a good way. I discovered long ago that actually I thought about books more if I disagreed about something in the story or something that the character did.

Despite that, I really enjoy historical fiction as a genre as well as fantasy and would agree with others that SRL's books tend to border between the two. That said, I would love to see SRL break out of EnglandEurope and English/Celtic history to explore other realms. I am a backseat history buff, so it would be interesting to see a SRL based in Central Asia, Africa, South America or China/Mongolia. There is so much historical material in those places that is rarely tapped by the English (referring to the language, not the nationality) writers.

[Caledvwlch]

oooooooo!

Mongols! Now that would be BRILLIANT. Dear SRL, write us something about the Mongols. Please?

[twyrch]

For those of you who missed the announcement, Lawhead plans to write more Fantasy starting in 2010!

Thomas Nelson Fiction announces new contract for Stephen Lawhead

When Stephen Lawhead’s Scarlet was announced as the 2008 Christy Award winner in the Visionary category, Lawhead didn’t forget to thank the “little people” in the acceptance remarks he passed along. Those “elves, dwarves, and assorted pixies and sprites” will likely be pulling extra hours again soon.

Thomas Nelson Fiction is pleased to announce a newly signed contract for Lawhead—a five-novel series titled Bright Empires. The contract continues Thomas Nelson’s exclusive North American publishing relationship with the author.

“I’ve had the idea for the Bright Empire series for over ten years. In my mind, I’ve always thought of it as my ’super-fantasy.’ Now, in Allen Arnold, I have a publisher—along with an editorial and marketing team—who are every bit as enthusiastic about it as I am. After years of indulging my passion for historical fiction, I’m keen to get back to my first love—High Fantasy,” said Lawhead.

“Twenty years ago, Stephen Lawhead captured my imagination with his novels. Now it is my great privilege to be both his friend and the publisher of these epic tales,” said Allen Arnold, Vice President and Publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction.

The first book in the new series—The Skin Map—is planned to release September 2010, followed annually by The Bone House, The Spirit Well, The Shadow Lamp, and The Fatal Tree.

Stephen Lawhead currently has nine titles spanning three trilogies with Thomas Nelson. Tuck, the conclusion to the King Raven trilogy releases next February.