Morcyth Emails 2

Dear Mr. Pratt:

I am writing for two reasons

Firstly, I dearly - as dearly as reading can get, that is - need to know when book V will come out,i.e. I would greatly appreciate to be informed when it is out. Do not want to miss the earliest opportunity.

Secondly, as to why I do not wish to miss that opportunity, I should very much like to thank you for your great work. While I am currently reading through the first book, I seriously dread the moment when I will have finished this volume and will be on to and past II, III and IV, who are all on one of my bookshelves - no need to worry, I know exactly where - as it is good. Actually, really good. Sure, it is what is in German called an "Erstlingswerk" (~ a first oevre), but it is really something.

I do not mistake myself for an authority in the field of literature or fantasy, I am just a reader commensurate with many other who are roleplayers and have gladly suffered from the reading affliction for an increasingly large number of years. The great thing to getting older and "wiser" is that you get to read more.

I am - so you know your readers - 36, a lawyer by craft, a historian at heart, a divorced father with two daughters who are sadly not with me, a passionate fantasy roleplayer, a lover of books and a dog person.

To me, as I should humbly want to state, your book no. I carries a huge promise for the next ones coming on. So, keep going! (N.B.: Glad you already did with II-IV.)

Aside from this, hope you do not find that sacrilegeous, your book is better and deeper than Raymond Feists' Magician. While Feist is what I would call a simple-epic-fantasy-yarn-inspired-by-roleplay-driven-by-great-character-descriptions-and-personality (and that already is a big compliment in my book, believe it or not) your work is - please remember I am just at book one, for a sorely limited future now - much, much more personal, which makes it stronger. Maybe that is because of the classic beginning of a "our world"-young man being drawn into a real fantasy world.

Further, and that is one more reason which makes the book superior to Feist, I think it is contrary to Feist great for children to read, for easy identification and jolly good adventure, great action, steady story flow and as a coming-of-age-novel. In my opinion, it is even better than the Hobbit; while your language, hope you do not mind me being frank, is not as strong as Tolkien's,you are much better at writing simple-to-the-point sentences and I do not think that you are able to bore a young reader for more than a few sentences whereas Tolkien.. well, you get my drift, I am sure. While I prefer to read the English original, I am crossing fingers here for you to be published at Klett Cotta's! That is one great and prestigious German publisher with the most beautiful fantasy books (inter alia carrying incidentally Tolkien and "The last unicorn").

To cut a long story short: Tonight I came home from work at 1 a.m. and I could not resist to read your book for another 1 1/2 hours. 'Nuff said.

Thank you!

Kind regards,
Hendrik Hdrterich

Dear Brian

After reading "The Unsuspecting Mage" I realised that here was a true fantasy adventure that fans would love to live out never mind just read. You have managed to capture the quintessential elements that make fantasy readers tick and have instilled them into James making him the person we all long to be and therefore the perfect fantasy character.

His cast of memorable sidekicks give the necessary camaraderie element and the addition of the ranch was a master stoke - we all need a home to go back to.

I read your comments about passages of description with interest. I do think that they can get in the way sometimes but at the same time you do need a break from constant action otherwise it can get monotonous.

Having now read all six books I look forward to the next. Perhaps James can receive a little bit more recognition for the work he is doing and he surely deserves a little hate/love relationship with a princess!

Once again thank you for putting pen to a life we all secretly wish we could have.

Best wishes

Peter