Wizards Discoveries Folding

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (tems) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:40:20 GMT

Thanks for that. To be fair, I think naming a new line is a difficult thing these days for a major corporation, mostly because of all the legal worries. They have to clear the names, make sure there's no trademark infringement, unfortunate associations, etc.--something smaller presses normally don't worry much about. The editors were looking for work that grabbed them, that seemed new and different, and I was impressed--I think they did a great job editorially. The name might not have...

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Rich Ristow) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:25:41 GMT

Ah, that's a good point. Perhaps "discovery" means, "discovery" by the big corporate houses, when dedicated small press readers have always been farther ahead of them.

Just a thought.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (alienmotives) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:25:54 GMT

Oh, and I do have one question:

How the hell does Steve Rasnic Tem get included in a "Discoveries" line anyway? I've got a copy of Other Worlds 1 from 1979 here... with what are described as "probably Steve's first published science fiction/fantasy stories." And Melanie Tem... how many novels does one need to have under your belt before you're considered discovered?

It frustrates me that certain authors have to get discovered and...

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (alienmotives) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:10:26 GMT

Hopefully the folding of this line will mean some other publisher will see a void and try to fill it. It happens sometimes, although not nearly as often as I'd like.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Craig Wolf) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:01:06 GMT

Aw, shit. Found this out last night through the Necon grapevine. I guess I can uncross my fingers now. I'm bummed that QUEEN OF ALL THE NIGHTBIRDS won't have the chance to be a Discoveries book (and it had looked very promising) but I think I'm even more bummed that there won't be a Discoveries line, period. I thought they did a good job with Richard Dansky's FIREFLY RAIN, and I loved THE MAN ON THE CEILING.

Damn. Well, like Steve said, that's...

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Savage Steve King) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:49:19 GMT

My copy of Rob Rogers Devil's Cape arrived today. Kudos to Rob for getting the book published, it is a damn shame that Wizards isn't going to continue the Discoveries line of books.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Shrews) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:51:01 GMT

that's too bad.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Norman Partridge) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:11:33 GMT

Hope "moving on" means "moving up" for all concerned. Hang in there!

Norm

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Sam W Anderson) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:45:15 GMT

Steve, I'm really sorry to hear this. I know how excited both you and Melanie were about your projects there and I'm very disappointed their publication will now be delayed (because I'm sure they'll find homes somewhere).

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Tim Waggoner) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:43:56 GMT

Well, CROSS COUNTY will still come out, so no worries there. As for a sequel, I've outline one but not written it, so no harm there. I was just looking forward to spending more time with these characters and exploring the mysteries of Cross County, Ohio.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (lucysnyder) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:04:35 GMT

Tim, Steve, Melanie - that sucks I hope your novels find new homes quickly.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (JamesRobertSmith) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:20:29 GMT

That totally sucks. I've been waiting decades to read DEADFALL. Ever since I first heard you mention it in an interview. Damn.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (tems) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:11:48 GMT

Tom said: I frickin' love the title DEADFALL HOTEL.

Thanks, Tom. I think this hotel is far and away the best place/location as character I've ever created in my fiction. I'm chomping at the bit for people to get a chance to read it.

-- Steve

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (LeatherZebra) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:13:03 GMT

I'm very sorry to hear this. I've enjoyed all of the Discoveries books that I read. I had hoped with Devil's Cape that super heroes would jump to fiction instead of just comics. Good luck finding new homes for your books all.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Tom Piccirilli) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:22:43 GMT

Good luck getting the new manuscripts out elsewhere, Steve (and the new series, Tim). I frickin' love the title DEADFALL HOTEL.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (tems) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:03:11 GMT

I try to look at it as when one door closes another usually opens. I think my major disappointment is that I really liked working with Phil Athans, our editor there.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Tim Waggoner) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:51:39 GMT

I'd hope it might be the start of a series, too. After the book's been out for a bit, I guess I'll see if I can't place the series elsewhere.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Shocklines) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:33:48 GMT

Very sorry to hear Tim.

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Tim Waggoner) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:27:10 GMT

Sigh . . . (from the guy who has a Discoveries novel coming out in September.)

Re: Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (Savage Steve King) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:16:28 GMT

Par for the course for Wizards of the Coast. With D&D 4th Edition coming out they will throw all their energy behind D&D 4th for a year until the sales start to lag and then they will go back to launching new product lines again in about 24 months.

They have never been smart enough to build a 'portfolio' of good properties, they just focus on whatever is hot at the moment and drop everything else in the meantime.

Wizards Discoveries Folding

feeds@yuku.com (tems) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:33:29 GMT

Unforunately we found out today that Hasbro, owner of Wizards of the Coast, has made a corporate decision to focus the Wizards business on their core products: the D&D and Magic the Gathering part of the business, and so are ending the Discoveries program after the 2008 year. I'm told this has nothing to do with Discoveries itself, other than it's not part of their vision. I'm told that at least at this point they still intend to do mass market editions of MAN ON THE...