08-14-2006, 09:24 PM
Hi Caius, sorry that you thought the book was anti-Christian. I'd like to know why you might think that, given that I made no conscious attempt to slap christians. Dan Brown? You mean the grandson bit? Possibly, but the trouble is that anyone who who writes anything about the early days of the movement is in for that accusation these days.
On the firewood front, I noticed that some of the Bedu in Jordan gathered scrub-wood and carried it with them into the desert. They also used dung as a fuel. If you've been in the desert in that area you'll know how nippy it can get at night and how much a fire is needed to appreciate the efforts people will go to ensure a supply.
As for presumption of familiarity with characters, well I think by the seventh book in any series you'll find the same applies. I do make an effort to bring readers up to speed on who is who out of recognition of the fact that I may be writing for a first-timer.
Still, glad that you enjoyed it. You might find it difficult to buy the next in the US since St Martins will only be publishing up to the sixth book at the moment. You might be interested to know that The Eagle in the Sand was supposed to be the fifth book in the series, but once St Martins Press got wind of the plot they refused to print it for fear of the reaction amongst christian and pro-Israeli lobbies in the US. I found that hard to believe at the time, but given what I have read about what is happening by way of censorship on US campuses I am not surprised. Still, it's the book I wanted to write and it's out there now. If you haven't read it yet, do please track down the fabulous book on the era by Neil Faulkner - Apocalypse.
On the firewood front, I noticed that some of the Bedu in Jordan gathered scrub-wood and carried it with them into the desert. They also used dung as a fuel. If you've been in the desert in that area you'll know how nippy it can get at night and how much a fire is needed to appreciate the efforts people will go to ensure a supply.
As for presumption of familiarity with characters, well I think by the seventh book in any series you'll find the same applies. I do make an effort to bring readers up to speed on who is who out of recognition of the fact that I may be writing for a first-timer.
Still, glad that you enjoyed it. You might find it difficult to buy the next in the US since St Martins will only be publishing up to the sixth book at the moment. You might be interested to know that The Eagle in the Sand was supposed to be the fifth book in the series, but once St Martins Press got wind of the plot they refused to print it for fear of the reaction amongst christian and pro-Israeli lobbies in the US. I found that hard to believe at the time, but given what I have read about what is happening by way of censorship on US campuses I am not surprised. Still, it's the book I wanted to write and it's out there now. If you haven't read it yet, do please track down the fabulous book on the era by Neil Faulkner - Apocalypse.
