52 replies to this topic

[j-steven-york]

Okay, folks. The books are out there. Let's hear what you think.

For anyone in the Portland, OR, area, I signed a stack of copies of both books at the Beaverton Borders the other night. I also sighed stock at a Barnes and Nobel on the west side as well, but I'm not sure if it was Beaverton or Hillsboro where the store was located. I'm afraid I don't know my way around there very well. <g>

I'll be back in Portland next weekend for the Orycon science-fiction convention. There's a signing, and a reading from "Scion of the Serpent" scheduled, and if time permits, I'll try to do a few more "drop-by" signings at other stores in the area.

For anyone elsewhere wanting signed copies of any of my books, I'd suggest contacting my local bookstore. I'm told they do phone orders, and if they don't have a signed book in stock, they order them, give me a call, and I usually drop over and sign the new stock within a day or two. I'll also be glad to go over and personalize books on request.

This goes for my Conan books, or anything else. The stores owner also owns several used and collectable book stores here in town, and they may be able to locate out-of-print titles as well. Worth asking anyway.

THE BOOK END (541) 994-9393

[JacktheKnife]

Got my copy today and been reading it. Liking it, but I got two slight question/criticisms for ya Steve.

First of all the title. "Anok, Heretic of Stygia: Heretic of Set" Sounds a little redundent. I like both titles, but seems almost silly seeing them next to each other. A little thing, I know.

My other was the massive info dump we got in...chapter 2 i think. I mean, with the books coming out a month apart, it's not hard to remember what happened last book. Unlike if the books were coming out six months apart or something. And I doubt that many people reading this didn't read volume 1. And if they did, I think they should have.

Anyway that chapter was a little of a bore to get through, but everything else has been pretty great.

I saw somebody trying to make parallels between Star Wars and this back in the "Scion of the Serpent" thread, but I disagree. Instead there are parts of this that almost seem more like "Evil Harry Potter." But honestly as I read about Anok heading off across the desert I wish there was more of that in it. More of seeing the inner working of the Cult of Set.

Oh and as I never said anything on the other thread I'll go ahead and say it here. Great choice in name for your main character. Anok. It's simple. Sounds good. Much like "Conan" in fact. No disrespect to your friend, but the name "Kern" just bugged the hell out of me. Everytime I saw it my brain did some kind of wierd word association and I'd think "Corn." And somehow that would yank me right out of the book. I love "Anok" Also I now realize it could be a hero or a villains name.

Oh and thanks for mentioning Thoth-Amon. We know all these "Age of Conan"books take place after Conan is King. But that in itself gives the book even more of a "time". Now we know this is happening after "Phoenix on the Sword" as Thoth has regained his ring and returned to Stygia. In fact, seeing that in print almost makes it seem like a follow-up to "Phoenix" as that story was as much about Thoth-Amon as it was about Conan.

[j-steven-york]

Got my copy today and been reading it.  Liking it, but I got two slight question/criticisms for ya Steve.

First of all the title.  "Anok, Heretic of Stygia: Heretic of Set"  Sounds a little redundent.  I like both titles, but seems almost silly seeing them next to each other.  A little thing, I know.

My other was the massive info dump we got in...chapter 2 i think.  I mean, with the books coming out a month apart, it's not hard to remember what happened last book.  Unlike if the books were coming out six months apart or something.  And I doubt that many people reading this didn't read volume 1.  And if they did, I think they should have.

Anyway that chapter was a little of a bore to get through, but everything else has been pretty great.

I saw somebody trying to make parallels between Star Wars and this back in the "Scion of the Serpent" thread, but I disagree.  Instead there are parts of this that almost seem more like "Evil Harry Potter."  But honestly as I read about Anok heading off across the desert I wish there was more of that in it.  More of seeing the inner working of the Cult of Set. 

Oh and as I never said anything on the other thread I'll go ahead and say it here.  Great choice in name for your main character.  Anok.  It's simple.  Sounds good.  Much like "Conan" in fact.  No disrespect to your friend, but the name "Kern" just bugged the hell out of me.  Everytime I saw it my brain did some kind of wierd word association and I'd think "Corn."  And somehow that would yank me right out of the book.  I love "Anok"  Also I now realize it could be a hero or a villains name.

Oh and thanks for mentioning Thoth-Amon.  We know all these "Age of Conan"books take place after Conan is King.  But that in itself gives the book even more of a "time".  Now we know this is happening after "Phoenix on the Sword" as Thoth has regained his ring and returned to Stygia.  In fact, seeing that in print almost makes it seem like a follow-up to "Phoenix" as that story was as much about Thoth-Amon as it was about Conan.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Glad you're (mostly) liking it. Sorry about the info-dump, but while I suspect most people here will read the books fairly quickly, I couldn't assume that most readers would, or even that they'd have read the other books at all. Or for that matter, that they will read the books that follow. I made an effort (successful or not) to try to make each book as self-contained as possible.

Of course, that causes different problems in different books. Book one has a fairly open ending. Book two has the info-dump problem, bringing everyone up to speed, but I think it has a better sense of closure at the end than book one.

Glad you like the name Anok as well. In Loren's defense, he may have been given the name of his character when he signed on. I was given a page or two of descriptive material when I started the project, giving a general idea (and a few specifics) of what they wanted for the trillogy. In it, the character was name Sekhemar, and that name survives in the book as Anok's birth name.

But I confess I didn't especially like it, and contrived that my character would take on an assumed name as an adult (when in doubt, cheat ). From there, it was a matter of researching ancient Eqyptian names, and coming up with one that had a good sound, a meaning that was somehow relevant to the character, and seemed at home in the Conan universe.

Yeah, there are some parallels to Harry Potter, accidental, but there anyway. I suppose a Hollywood pitch for this trilogy might be "Harry Potter goes to Hell." The important difference to remember is that in Harry's universe, magic seems to be a neutral force, or perhaps even a good one (though bad people certainly use it for evil purposes).

In Conan's universe, while magic can potentially be used for good purposes, there is a heavy cost to the one wielding it. The use of magic is not at all neutral. It's heavily weighted towards corruption and evil. I found coming up with the various ways characters (and groups of characters) find to get around this (or to embrace it, or a little of both) to be one of the more interesting aspects of the books.

And fear not. You'll not just be hearing about Thoth-Amon in the series. He'll be making an appearance or two as well.

[JacktheKnife]

And fear not.  You'll not just be hearing about Thoth-Amon in the series.  He'll be making an appearance or two as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yah! That makes me a happy happy Hyborian Age fan.

Oh and I'll say I am more then "mostly" liking this. How about, "Almost totally".

I do like the writing itself. Something very important. It's written pretty well. Perfect? No. But not even REH was perfect. Good? Definitely. The story flows pretty good.

I figure since my last post was the criticism, I'll go ahead with the praise in this post.

I really loved the whole "you are defined by your enemies" scene between Ramsa and Anok. It was really neat seeing what Conan means to somebody from that side of the fence. Ramsa obviously looks down on him for being a northern barbarian, but he also respects Conan's skills and thinks of him as a glorious enemy for Thoth-Amon. The kind of enemy that makes you stronger in trying to overcome. To me that's the mark of a really smart villain. One who will acknowledge his foes strengths.


Oh and one questions. Was there some kind of editorial mandate on geography for these books what with the MMORPG coming out next year or so?

That's the feeling I got reading "Legends of Kern" with the Wolf Pack roaming all over Cimmeria. I felt like it also kinda disrupted the flow of his story as he constantly had Kern and Company on the movie seeing this valley, or that side of clan. This book, while it seems seems like it's only going to be moving to three different cities over the course of the series, there is a good bit of mentioning about the surrounding areas. I got that same feeling that part of the book is to give readers and possibly future gamers a good feel for what different parts of Stygia is like.

And you do know that by having Dejal say, "...the whores of Kheshatta engage in depravity that the whores of the Paradise could scarecly dream of.." you just guarenteed that people are going to be racing towards Kheshatta once the game launches.

Anyway one last thing. I really do like how Stygia is in this book. I saw you say somewhere that Stygia couldn't be all temples and Cults. And your right. It wouldn't make sense. They live in a freaking desert, they'd have to import some foods and stuff from other people. At least until they take over the world! "Insert evil laugh* It only makes sense they'd be forced to tolerate, if not accept, outsiders just a little.

[daknight]

Now I am really looking forward to the Heretic books! Still working through the Kern series and The Home by Scott Nicholson. The Thoth mention really has me looking forward to it!

[JacktheKnife]

Now I am really looking forward to the Heretic books!  Still working through the Kern series and The Home by Scott Nicholson.  The Thoth mention really has me looking forward to it!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yea. I hate to dis somebody in front of their friend...but...

HEY STEVE! LOOK OVER THERE! IT"S THAT FIRE TRUCK!



Okay with him distracted for a second...I think is series is much better then Kern. In fact, I'm tempted to go out and find some of York's other books.

Too bad I just noticed "Son of a Witch" when I got my copy of "Heretic of Set". I didn't even know "Wicked" was getting a sequel, but that is definitely my next book.

[j-steven-york]

[quote name='JacktheKnife' date='Nov 2 2005, 05:32 AM'][quote name='j-steven-york' date='Nov 2 2005, 12:10 PM']

And fear not.  You'll not just be hearing about Thoth-Amon in the series.  He'll be making an appearance or two as well.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/quote]

[quote]Yah!  That makes me a happy happy Hyborian Age fan.

Oh and I'll say I am more then "mostly" liking this.  How about, "Almost totally". [/quote]

Thanks, much.

[quote]I really loved the whole "you are defined by your enemies" scene between Ramsa and Anok.  It was really neat seeing what Conan means to somebody from that side of the fence.  Ramsa obviously looks down on him for being a northern barbarian, but he also respects Conan's skills and thinks of him as a glorious enemy for Thoth-Amon.  The kind of enemy that makes you stronger in trying to overcome.  To me that's the mark of a really smart villain.  One who will acknowledge his foes strengths.[/quote]

I was fairly pleased with that myself. Ramsa was really not intended to be a major character. Certainly you wouldn't know he was important from reading my outline. He was just a flunky there. But as sometimes happens, he just took on a life of his own in the writing, and insisted on becoming important.

Anyway, I'm not a fan of cardboard villains. Since this book is almost all about the bad-guys, I really had a chance to develop them more than the usual.

[quote]Oh and one questions.  Was there some kind of editorial mandate on geography for these books what with the MMORPG coming out next year or so? 

That's the feeling I got reading "Legends of Kern" with the Wolf Pack roaming all over Cimmeria.  I felt like it also kinda disrupted the flow of his story as he constantly had Kern and Company on the movie seeing this valley, or that side of clan.  This book, while it seems seems like it's only going to be moving to three different cities over the course of the series, there is a good bit of mentioning about the surrounding areas.  I got that same feeling that part of the book is to give readers and possibly future gamers a good feel for what different parts of Stygia is like. [/quote]

There was some effort made to have the books be consistant with the game where possible. Perhaps fortunately for me, very little work had been done on Stygia when I was working on the books. I got some sketches and concept paintings well into the writing, but by then, it was too late to change much, so there will be differences. For instance, looks like the MMORPG version of Khemi has an island in the harbor, possibly with Odji (the city of outsiders) on it. That's a good idea and I'd have happily written it that way, but in the book, Odji is a walled area nestled up against the much higher walls of the inner-city.

Mostly, I used various versions of Howard's map, and the ones in the RPG guide.

Loren had, I know, more troubles, because the game version of Cimmeria was more developed, and yet sometimes not as developed as it should have been. I know, for instance, that Mt. Crom kept moving around, causing him all manner of trouble. If you see him at a convention, buy him a drink and ask him about it. <g>

But nobody said, "move around a lot and show a bunch of territory." I could easily have set my entire trilogy in Keshatta if I'd wanted to. Moving around was entirely my idea. My plan was to set each book in a different city and to highlight the differences between them. That broke down by the time I was writing book two, which is still mostly set in Keshatta. That meant I didn't get to develop Luxur as much as I'd have liked to. I had a load of good ideas that I just didn't have space to use.

But just like real-world cities, each is distinct. Keshatta is as different from Khemi as Los Angeles or New Orleans is from Seattle. Luxur is much different again.

[quote]And you do know that by having Dejal say, "...the whores of Kheshatta engage in depravity that the whores of the Paradise could scarecly dream of.." you just guarenteed that people are going to be racing towards Kheshatta once the game launches.[/quote]



Remember too, that's just Dejal talking, and that boy doesn't show whores the respect that they deserve.

[quote]Anyway one last thing.  I really do like how Stygia is in this book.  I saw you say somewhere that Stygia couldn't be all temples and Cults.  And your right.  It wouldn't make sense.  They live in a freaking desert, they'd have to import some foods and stuff from other people.  At least until they take over the world!  "Insert evil laugh*  It only makes sense they'd be forced to tolerate, if not accept, outsiders just a little.[/quote]

I spent a lot of time thinking about things like that. Where do Stygians get their food? What do they eat? How do they trade, and what trade-goods do they export? I still don't think they have enough farm-land to be viable, but I waved my hands over the situation pretty hard to make it work. You'll see a lot of dried fish and dates in these books. I also created the "chewy" Stygian breakfast beer. Yum!

Along the same lines, you'll get some hints about silk production, the export of mystic artifacts, caravan trade, and the very important "poison" industry.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/quote]

[JacktheKnife]

Maybe that's why I like this series so much so far. It is all about the bad guys and what can I say...I'm a huge fan of the villains. I think a well crafted villain is almost always more interesting then his hero counterpart.

And at the point I'm at they have just arrived in Kheshatta and I did want to say something. Somewhere on the other thread I saw you comment that you wanted Fallon to be more then just Conan in drag. Now at that point I was reading the first book and I kinda thought to myself, "Uh huh. Sure seemed like Conan with boobs to me." But I didn't mention it earlier because I knew she was going to show up again and was going to wait to call you on that.

But I can say that as of the middle of book 2, Fallon certainly doesn't seem like Conan anymore. Maybe a bit around the edges, but she also now is quite different. In fact when she wanted to keep her camel I couldn't help but think of that scene in Conan the Barbarian where a drunk Conan punches a camel. Also it seemed her reasoning was for twofold. She liked it, sure. But also sees how it could make her money in the future. That is thinking ahead that Conan certainly wasn't known for.

In fact, he didn't really learn the lesson of thinking ahead until the last chronological REH Conan story, "Hour of the Dragon." When he discovers just how fragile his reign is without an heir of any type.

So I'm glad I wasn't too hasty and tried to call you on that early and waited to see how things turned out.

Oh and of course, like always, a question. Have you written any other fantasy. I saw you mention somewhere about MechWarrior or something. But I can't say that's my thing. I really only go in for fantasy. Either like this, or like the works of Neil Gaimen(My favorite writer by the way). Kinda wierd fantasy set in the modern day. Like Neverwhere or American Gods.

[j-steven-york]

For those of you who would like one of my Conan books (or any of my books) signed, I refer you to a local (to me) independent bookstore here in Oregon, the Book End. I spoke with the manager the other day, and they're glad to take phone orders. They usually have signed books on hand, and if not, can order them and I'll sign them when I'm in (once or twice a week). If you want a book personalized, that can be arranged as well.

Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in the store, and don't make anything off the sales (other than the royalties I'd make if you bought them anywhere else). I just pass this along as a service to the readers. (I should also mention that they've gotten book one and two at least a week or two before the rest of the world, perhaps because they have standing pre-orders on them. I assume this will probably be true of book three as well.)


THE BOOK END (541) 994-9393

[JacktheKnife]

Well just finished the book and what can I say?

Well two things pop into my mind.

1) Want a wonderful series. Really enjoying and action packed. Good characterization, engaging plot. There is very very little I didn't like so much about this series. I loved the climactic battle at the end. As they headed off for Neska's tomb with so few pages left I was honestly scared that this book would leave with a cliffhanger. Oh how could I lose my faith so easily. They got there, got the object they were looking for, and still had time to give Anok and Dejal a final confrontation and a fitting end.

2) But more importantly a plea to the not exactly elusive Mr. York.

Steve. You gotta dip into the sword and sorcery gendre more in the future. You capture the spirit perfectly. Is it sultry and sexy at points? Check. Is it gritty at parts? Check. Good writing, plot, characters, ect...? Check. I'd love for you to dwelve again into the Hyborian Age. Be it the return of Anok and company, or even a new Conan novel one day perhaps. This book, and the former one, have both shown me that you are more then fitting to travel the trail that was blazed by Robert E. Howard.

I am really looking forward to the grand finale to all this later this month. One thing that really interested me back when I just heard what the series was supposed to be about was the hopelessness of this quest. Anok can't take down the Cult of Set. He's inevitably going to lose that battle. Now I am sure he is going to wound the Cult. Ramsa is so going to die next issue. And probably rather painfully. But now I wonder if maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the game developers decided they don't want the Cult of Set in their game and this is the end of the Cult. Perhaps Anok is going to take out Thoth-Amon. Who knows. Which gives a lot of credit that the last two issues of this series has fostered that feeling that "anything can happen."

So bravo Steve. Good book that even if, and I am increasing feeling dountful it could happen, but even if you fumble the ball next issue, you have still managed to produce two great Sword and Sorcery books that each can totally stand on their own.

[Strom]

Finally picked up a copy of Heretic of Set...

Read the Prologue - 4600 years before the Hyborian Age? Sweet!

I'll give my thoughts - and read others - after I finish the book.

By the way - i really like this books cover - wicked awesome art!

[j-steven-york]

Thanks for the kind words, Jack. Your timing is good, as I just got a bad review of book one on Amazon (I suspect, from various clues, that this particular reader would only have been satisfied if RAH himself had risen from the grave). Yours more than makes up for it.

Well just finished the book and what can I say?

Well two things pop into my mind.

1) Want a wonderful series.  Really enjoying and action packed.  Good characterization, engaging plot.  There is very very little I didn't like so much about this series.  I loved the climactic battle at the end.  As they headed off for Neska's tomb with so few pages left I was honestly scared that this book would leave with a cliffhanger.  Oh how could I lose my faith so easily.  They got there, got the object they were looking for, and still had time to give Anok and Dejal a final confrontation and a fitting end.

2) But more importantly a plea to the not exactly elusive Mr. York.

Steve.  You gotta dip into the sword and sorcery gendre more in the future.  You capture the spirit perfectly.  Is it sultry and sexy at points?  Check.  Is it gritty at parts?  Check.  Good writing, plot, characters, ect...?  Check.  I'd love for you to dwelve again into the Hyborian Age.  Be it the return of Anok and company, or even a new Conan novel one day perhaps.  This book, and the former one, have both shown me that you are more then fitting to travel the trail that was blazed by Robert E. Howard.

I am really looking forward to the grand finale to all this later this month.  One thing that really interested me back when I just heard what the series was supposed to be about was the hopelessness of this quest.  Anok can't take down the Cult of Set.  He's inevitably going to lose that battle.  Now I am sure he is going to wound the Cult.  Ramsa is so going to die next issue.  And probably rather painfully.  But now I wonder if maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe the game developers decided they don't want the Cult of Set in their game and this is the end of the Cult.  Perhaps Anok is going to take out Thoth-Amon.  Who knows.  Which gives a lot of credit that the last two issues of this series has fostered that feeling that "anything can happen." 

So bravo Steve.  Good book that even if, and I am increasing feeling dountful it could happen, but even if you fumble the ball next issue, you have still managed to produce two great Sword and Sorcery books that each can totally stand on their own.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[JacktheKnife]

Thanks for the kind words, Jack.  Your timing is good, as I just got a bad review of book one on Amazon (I suspect, from various clues, that this particular reader would only have been satisfied if RAH himself had risen from the grave).  Yours more than makes up for it. 

You know it's kind of funny. Having ran out of new things to read I fell back on my "Coming of Conan the Cimmerian" and was reading the REH "Hyborian Age" essay last night.

You mentioned how Stygia couldn't be all temples and pyramids or something and you were right. Now the essay wasn't overly concerened with the economy of Stygia, but it was concerned with the geneology and that you did synch up with. The pure blood upper class and the mixed blood lover class. And I'd never thought about it, but if there is a so heavily mixed blood lower class, that means there has to be foriegners. So according to REH Stygia wasn't completely walled up against outsiders.

Oh and I read that guys review. I wouldn't be overly concered with somebody who says themselves that they didn't finish the book. Obviously this series just wasn't for them. I'm sure there are lots of excellent things out there that just aren't my cup of tea so I don't read them/see them/or if I do don't really like them.

Ah I got an example in my head now. "The Notebook." My ex-girlfriend dragged me to that movie and while I could see it was probably a very good movie, it just wasn't my kind of movie and so I walked out thinking, "meh". Even though every girl in the damn theatre was wailing by the end.

[j-steven-york]

You know it's kind of funny.  Having ran out of new things to read I fell back on my "Coming of Conan the Cimmerian" and was reading the REH "Hyborian Age" essay last night. 

You mentioned how Stygia couldn't be all temples and pyramids or something and you were right.  Now the essay wasn't overly concerened with the economy of Stygia, but it was concerned with the geneology and that you did synch up with.  The pure blood upper class and the mixed blood lover class.  And I'd never thought about it, but if there is a so heavily mixed blood lower class, that means there has to be foriegners.  So according to REH Stygia wasn't completely walled up against outsiders.

Exactly so. There's a certain amount of contradictory information about Stygia in the canon, and I admit to taking a few liberties (but not many). My feeling is that Stygia is greatly feared by the outside world, and that most outsiders know it mainly by rumor and oft-retold tales that may have little bearing on reality.

Even for those who have visited Stygia, the rules for foreigners are much different, depending on where you visit. Khemi is open to foreigners, but in a very controlled way. Keshatta is very open, but few dare venture there other than wizards, sorcerers, priests, poisoners, and others who aren't likely to mingle with people who aren't their peers.

Luxur is much more closed, much more an "old" Stygian city.

Hopefully it isn't too much of a spoiler by now to say that the Cult of Set actively promotes fearful misinformation. In part, I suspect this is a matter of self-defense. With its long borders and relatively small population, it would seem otherwise to be ripe for invasion.

Oh and I read that guys review.  I wouldn't be overly concered with somebody who says themselves that they didn't finish the book.  Obviously this series just wasn't for them.  I'm sure there are lots of excellent things out there that just aren't my cup of tea so I don't read them/see them/or if I do don't really like them.

Ah I got an example in my head now.  "The Notebook."  My ex-girlfriend dragged me to that movie and while I could see it was probably a very good movie, it just wasn't my kind of movie and so I walked out thinking, "meh".  Even though every girl in the damn theatre was wailing by the end.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You're quite right about that, and I'm not worried about it much. It's annoying that (until somebody else posts a review anyway) that it's the first thing somebody looking at the book on Amazon sees, and that it pulls the rating average down, but that's a minor thing.

Clearly this guy loves Howard and the other great pulp writers, and I certainly can't fault him for that. But reading his one other review on Amazon, he seems to think that the last good writer turned to jelly about 1970, and nothing worthwhile has been done since. It seems like he picked up the book hoping somehow to find Robert E. Howard reincarnated, and then was angry when it was something different.

I don't know how this can come as news to anyone. REH is long gone from this mortal sphere. Nobody told me to try and channel him, I didn't, and I'm not sure that anyone could, or even should.

I tried to be respectful of Howard's work, to stay close to the canon, and hopefully to capture some of the spirit in which he wrote, if not the letter. No, my books aren't Robert E. Howard's Stygia, they're J. Steven York's take on Robert E. Howard's Stygia. If that makes you unhappy, you shouldn't even try to read the books. Go reread some classic REH, and do so with my blessing.

But if you love Howard's world, and are willing to give someone else's take on it a chance, than I hope you'll give me an opportunity to please. If then I fail, I'm sorry, but I appreciate that you gave me an honest chance.

I don't think that, in this case, the reviewer gave me that chance at all.

What's funny is that the guy is in Portland, Oregon, and that's where I was (attending the Orycon sf convention) all weekend. I was amused by the throught of tracking down his address and showing up on his door-step, all 6' 6", 300+ scary-looking pounds of me. I'd never do that, of course, but it was funny to think about.

The irony, I suppose, is that he might even have been at the convention, maybe even running a table in the dealers room (he seems to be an book seller of some kind). I may have stood right next to the guy. But if so he was under my radar, and that is where he'll stay.

[emerald]

Hey Steven, don't let the (virtually inevitable) bad review on Amazon get you down.

At least the guy could actually produce a reason for reacting as he did, and was able to assemble a coherent sentence.
When your star rating is pulled down by someone who can't spell, formulate a sentence, or deliver a more profound criticism than "it was stupid cuz it sucked" then you really feel the pain.

A lot of knowledgable folks are saying good things about your books.
Hang in there.

[Cormac]

Amazon reviews tend to be extreme. Look at how many books get 5 stars, then how many get 1 star (usually with the incredibly witty comment "I wish zero stars was an option ). These folks simply have no perspective. As for new writers not living up to the estalished legend, come on. Legends have to start somewhere. Even Bob Howard wrote the occasional clunker. The man did not crap diamonds.

I like the Age of Conan books. Not just because J Steve York is one of us, an actual REH fan. I like them because I see originality, respect, and most importantly, restraint. These new books have taken no wild liberties, (like Conan having a long-lost brother, or a clone, or discovering moveable type) and for that I am grateful.

As a veteran author, Steve knows all about critics, I'm sure. But in a strange way it's nice to see that bad reviews still get to him. I like a little anger in my fantasy authors. Getting the blood up can be a good thing. Keep doing what you're doing, my friend.

[j-steven-york]

Hey Steven, don't let the (virtually inevitable) bad review on Amazon get you down.

At least the guy could actually produce a reason for reacting as he did, and was able to assemble a coherent sentence. 
When your star rating is pulled down by someone who can't spell, formulate a sentence, or deliver a more profound criticism than "it was stupid cuz it sucked" then you really feel the pain.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

LOL. You're certainly right there...

[heartbreakkid19]

Hey Steven, do you ever do promotions for your books? And if so do you ever find your way to Houston? If so I would love to get the heretic series personally signed.

[j-steven-york]

Hey Steven, do you ever do promotions for your books? And if so do you ever find your way to Houston? If so I would love to get the heretic series personally signed.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for asking. Unfortunately, they don't send you on book tours for this kind of book, and since I live in Oregon, Houston is pretty far off the beaten path for me (last time I was there was maybe four or five years ago, when my younger brother and I took a cross-country road trip from Alabama to Oregon).

The good news is that you (or anyone) who would like a signed copy of any of my books in print (Conan, MechWarrior, whatever) can order one by phone through a local bookstore here in Oregon. The place is called "The Book End" and they have signed copies of current stuff in stock. Anything else can be ordered, usually within a few days, and I'll sign it (even personalize it on request) net time I'm in, which usually happens a couple times a week. Their number is: (541) 994-9393. I think they're open 10AM-8PM PST most days (possibly close earlier Sunday.) The owner also has several large used bookstores, and they may be able to search for out-of-print books for you as well.

Disclaimer: I've got no financial interest in the store or selling these books, other than the royalties I'd get no matter where you bought them.

[Strom]

I just finished the book "Heretic of Set". I am really enjoying these excursions into the Hyborian Age! Cimmeria and now Stygia. This was a well written book and Steven captures Stygia and the Cult of Set very well. But, I did like the first book more - the first book had more interesting characters and purpose for those characters. This book seems to insert random encounters too much that really don't add to the story. What's funny is, Anok reminds me of myself when I keep putting off mowing the lawn! He keeps saying he is going to get revenge against Dejal - but he puts it off - even saving him from death. Then he keeps saying he will get revenge against the Cult of Set - and he puts that off - and even wins them some awful poison! But, Steven does a good job of making us understand that Anok is fighting the corruption in the powerful magic of the Mark of Set. In fact, IMO that was the whole reason for the story - Anok growing in magic and possible madness and corruption - and how he could control that corruption. The story elements in the first story were not advanced at all. That surprised me. Even the defeat of Dejal seemed very convenient at the end - but without that defeat - what was advanced from the plots presented to us in book 1 concerning our hero Anok?

Well, I guess all will be cleared up next book - which I will certainly buy. These stories are well written and very good. It seems - like with Kern - the need to make it a trilogy - slowed down the momentum from the very good first book!

Before I go though - I was so looking forward to Thoth Amon - and you presented him perfectly! Except for the dreaded all metal skullcap! How could you Steven - haven't you seen the awful Conan the Destroyer interpretation of Thoth? The horror!

On Buxom's scale I would place this book at 6 - right behind the first books 7!