Isaac Asimov may have died in 1992, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still publish new books. The sci-fi giant’s estate signed a deal last week with Penguin’s Berkley imprint for a new I, Robot prequel trilogy penned by Mickey Zucker Reichert, the author of the fantasy series Renshai. Reichert becomes the first woman to write an authorized Asimov novel; previous posthumous collaborators include Greg Bear, David Brin, and Gregory Benford. According to Berkley editorial director Susan Allison, the first book, tentatively titled Robots and Chaos, will follow Dr. Susan Calvin on the first year of her psychiatry residency at a New York City teaching hospital. In Asimov’s stories, Calvin goes on to become the chief robot psychologist at U.S. Robotics and Mechanical Men, Inc. Despite what you may remember from 2004’s very loose big-screen adaptation I, Robot starring Will Smith, Calvin was the main human character in Asimov’s Robot stories (Bridget Moynihan played her in the film). There is no publication date for the first book in the new trilogy, Allison says, adding that the manuscript is due to be delivered in late 2010. Reichert herself was unavailable for comment and, curiously for a popular genre writer, her official website doesn’t seem to have been updated in the last eight years.
Asimov is one in a long line of writers who remain incredibly prolific even in death. V.C. Andrews, who died in 1986, still cranks out about two books a year (most are by Andrew Neiderman). Eric Van Lustbader has churned out five Jason Bourne thrillers under the name Robert Ludlum™ since the original author’s 2001 death. This fall, we’ve seen estate-authorized sequels of everything from A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh (David Benedictus’ Return to the Hundred Acre Wood) to Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer’s And Another Thing…) to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series (Brandon Sanderson’s The Gathering Storm). At least Colfer and Sebastian Faulks, who published the James Bond sequel Devil May Care last year, are writers of some repute. But some of these brand extensions seem not much better than authorized fan fiction. (Anyone remember Alexandra Ripley’s Scarlett?)
I’m not even counting the exhumation of every unfinished (or nearly finished) manuscript or previously unpublished PostIt note by a noted author. This fall brings Michael Cricthon’s Pirate Latitudes, an adventure story set in 17th-century Jamaica apparently completed before his death, as well as Kurt Vonnegut’s story collection Look at the Birdie, William Styron’s The Suicide Run, and Vladimir Nabokov’s unfinished final novel The Original of Laura. Signs suggest that none of these authors have drawers of unpublished material quite as deep as Western storyteller Louis L’Amour, whose estate produced a whopping 15 new books after his 1988 death, mostly story collections from his days of writing for ’30s pulp magazines — his widow, Kathy, insisted that all the material was her husband’s work alone.
At what point does a writer morph from author to brand, a line that can be extended by the original creator’s heirs long after his or her death? To publishers, I guess this practice makes perfect sense — particularly at a time when they keep hearing about the death of reading (and of books). As long as publishers are transparent about who actually writes (or finishes, or polishes) these posthumous works, I don’t have a problem with new stories about popular characters. But the vast number of such works — and the number of notable writers spending their time producing them — suggests that this has become the publishing equivalent of Hollywood studios’ fixation on remakes of old movies and TV shows (and adaptations of toy franchises). Where will the original ideas (and future remake material) come from? No wonder they call it ghostwriting.
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I’m torn-on one hand I’m excited to read about Susan Calvin-one of the great underutilized characters of Science Fiction. On the other hand-I find it hard to believe that anyone can tell the story but Asimov.
I wish that David W. Wixon who finished the last novel (Antagonist) for Gordon R. Dickson would write some of his own novels.
I can’t believe this article makes no mention of the Robert Jordan book that came out yesterday, which interestingly breaks the tradition of ghost writers by boldly putting the new authors name on the cover.
Agreed about Robert Jordan. His family went to great lengths to ensure that his story was completed according to his wishes. It is clear from the vast amounts of blog posts and interviews they’ve done that this was not a business decision, but rather an act of kindness towards him, and the fans. The fact that it’s a valuable franchise is beside the point. Some more jaded people might argue otherwise, but if you sit down with the family and others involved, it’s very clear that they are not in this to stretch out or “milk” a well-known series.
“…are writers of some repute. But some of these brand extensions seem not much better than authorized fan fiction…”
This is implying Brandon Sanderson is not a writer of some repute? I guess writing best selling books doesn’t make you a writer of repute, but rather a glorified fan fiction author.
(lawls, there’s going to be a lot of flak from the WOT community)
Hey, Anthony: I’m not suggesting that Sanderson isn’t a writer of some repute. I confess that I’m not much of a fantasy reader myself and that I for one have not heard of him. I’d argue that Faulks and Colfer are more familiar names to most readers.
Not familiar to me. But I’m not a very knowledgeable person in this area.
What I do know is that grouping the WOT sequel in with the bunch is not correct.
It’s not carrying on a series to milk it for more. The plan was for the series to finish – and the original author had a large amount of content and notes for the last bit.
The whole of the fan community and everyone that’s ever been involved in the series (publisher, editor/wife, etc) are supportive of this move. The new author was approached by them…
I’m just saying make sure what you’re saying is correct. Robert Jordan’s name isn’t on it because they want to make money. It’s on it because he actually wrote a lot of the book.
Hey Thom,
This is a really interesting topic you’ve brought up. May I suggest taking a deeper look into the Robert Jordan / Wheel of Time / Brandon Sanderson thing? Their new book is out this week (“The Gathering Storm”) and should go to the top of all the bestseller lists. You might find it to be a great article for your site and/or the magazine itself. Ping me over email and I can get you all the contacts you need to do the article.
While I will say that Brandon is a very good writer, he did become a “best selling author” after it was announced he was finishing the series. I know that is why I bought his books. What that proved to me is that the family did a wonderful job of picking someone to complete Mr. Jordan’s legacy. Mr. Sanderson has been nothing but humble through out the entire writing of this book. I look forward to saving up and buying the book.
Good heavens, you can’t get repute from being a best-selling author. Then Dan Brown would have some, and we can’t have that. But I agree that Brandon Sanderson has at least as much as Eoin Colfer.
I think an interesting example of this is the Dune series. Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have actually written more books than the late, great Frank Herbert. It not quite the same as Frank Herbert is not credited as an author but i think it shows that Dune has also become a brand name.
I feel a little ashamed that we have writers who shame other writers, and most especially without doing their research.
No…if anything…these last three books are and have been done with much care, respect and love for the man and his work, and his wife is moving forward with his wish to complete the series for his fans.
The whole process has been done in such a way to express again and again that this is not a ‘ghost writer’ nor is it to ‘copy’ his work, but to merely ‘let the story go on as he wished it to be!’
Is Robert Jordan famous? Well yes he is, being in the Author Hall of Fame…
So please do your research. Just as Authors have to do!