As a writer and the husband of a cancer survivor, I can assure you that
any major illness involving close family can seriously affect your
story-telling abilities. Your concentration wanders, and what you might
have
considered unacceptable before passes with flying colors.
Also, I'm pretty sure his editor is an ass. I've found so many
editorial
mistakes in the last two books as to almost be an embarrassment to Clive.
One of the most memorable is in 'Trojan", where Dirk, Jr and Summer
surface
in the submerged cave. The narrative says that they are speaking through
the
communication system in their suits, but in the next paragraph, with no
mention of them removing their helmets, Summer says they're breathing air
that could be thousands of years old, and her brother agrees. It's not
important, but it IS something a good editor working on a major release
should have caught.
I'm not a nit picker about it. 'Valhalla' could have been better, but
it was clear his heart wasn't in it. Considering the state of mind he was
in, it's forgivable.
'Trojan' rocks, though. I had thought that the immaculate conception
and
appearance of Dirk, Jr and Summer at the end of 'Valhalla' was the note of
doom to the series, but the new characters seem to liven up the plot,
giving
Clive a chance to expand and cram more fun into his book. It's clear that
he
has found a new voice, and it's one that I hope to hear from more often.
The Doc
"JAH" <anotherwriter@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:3fe2fe9d.1492996@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 17:15:39 -0500, "E. A. Fagan"
> <fagan2035@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
> > The death of his wife certainly has had an effect on his stories.
>
> She wasn't dead yet when he finished the latest book, but she was very
> ill.
>
> JAH
>
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