Star Wars – Lightsabre

Interview with Terry Brooks

Welcome to Star Wars – Lightsabre.  Our latest guest is top-selling fantasy author and writer of The Phantom Menace novelization Terry Brooks.

Q –Terry, welcome to Star Wars - Lightsabre

A - A Happy New Year, Lightsabre

Q - You're best known for your Shannara series of fantasy novels, which began back in the 70's.  What similarities are there between that series of novels and the themes of Lucas' Star Wars films?

A - I think that the Shannara and Star Wars series are quite similar, and it is one reason I felt comfortable writing Phantom Menace. Both George and I are writing about an archetypal confrontation between good and evil. We are writing about a quest, about characters coming to grips with family secrets that will change their lives, and about magic in one form or another. Both are sweeping sagas covering many years with numerous plot lines. Both are centred around making difficult choices that will harm others.

Q - Which of the four films stands out as your personal favourite, and why?

A - I don't know that I have a favorite film. I suppose I like them all for different reasons. Empire is a strong story and contains the key to the real secret of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker.

Q - Given your reportedly turbulent time working on the novelization of Hook, what ultimately drew you to saying "Yes" to doing the same for The Phantom Menace?

A- Well, I almost said no. But I knew what my kids would say if I just refused out of hand, so I agreed to do it if I could talk with George and satisfy myself that I wasn't sticking my head into the bear trap a second time. Talking with him, and with the people who work at Lucasbooks, convinced me that this would be a good experience. And it was.

Q - In your opinion, what makes for a good book, sci-fi, fantasy or otherwise?

A - Easiest question you could ask. A good story. You always start with the story. If the story doesn't work, nothing else will either. So whatever I write or read or view had better not disappoint me in that regard or I consider it a failure of art.

Q - Where do you draw your inspiration?  The blank page can be a very intimidating sight - what's the initial spark that leads to that first word?

A - Inspiration comes from looking at a stack of unpaid bills!! Okay, just kidding. It really comes from within, from loving what you do. I have always wanted to be a writer. That hasn't changed. I love the puzzle-solving aspect of writing, of making words into sentences, sentences into paragraphs and the whole business into a story. It is such a fascinating challenge, every time out. That is all the inspiration I need, once I get an idea working.

Q - Do you believe the Internet will broaden or narrow the appeal of printed books, and do you envisage a day when no more trees are pulped to distribute stories around the planet?

A - Well, since I've turned into my father, I think the old ways are best. I like printed books I can hold, not ebooks and the like. But my seventeen-year-old son prefers his reading online. So things change, as we know. I think there will be a place for both sorts of books and probably a few more that haven't been invented yet. Maybe print books will disappear, but I don't think it is likely to happen anytime soon.

Q - If offered the opportunity to continue with the characters that were available to you in Episode One, whose story would you tell?

A- My favourite character to write about was Qui-Gon Jinn. But he's dead, so I guess my next favorite would be Anakin. There was a lot left unsaid about his character and the reasons he would turn out to be Darth Vader. But another writer will have to work all that out.

Q - What's in the future for you?  After the many millions of sales and awards what lights you up?

A - I am in the middle of a five book Shannara set that is different than anything I've done before. It is a trilogy titled Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, then two additional books that play off of the events set out in the first three. I am looking at some new issues, including a collision between technology and magic, and an examination of what redemption really means. It is a big, sweeping sort of story, so it will consume my time for the next few years. I also have a Shannara Companion coming out next fall, which I didn't write, but have been involved with peripherally, and one or two other surprises I'm not ready to talk about yet.

Q - What were your thoughts on Episode I, in relation to the novel?  You had an unprecedented amount of scope given to you.  Would you have liked to see some more of that translated to the screen?

A - I never felt that anything I wrote for the book belonged on the screen. My job was to make the movie script feel more like a book. George gave me a great deal of latitude in writing new material and changing around the old to accomplish this. I think he understood the limitations of film in storytelling just as I understand the limitations of books. So I think we both did the best we could with what we had to work with. I couldn't ask for anything more for the book than what I got.

Q - What surprises are you anticipating when Attack of the Clones arrives on Thursday May 16th 2002?

A - You hope Episode II arrives on May 22nd. I suppose it will, but I don't presume to guess at the surprises. Maybe I can bribe Bob Salvatore into telling me what they are. I think the relationship between Anakin and Amidala will offer a few unexpected twists and turns. Oh, yes. I hear Jar Jar turns out to be Darth Sidious's twin brother, separated at birth.

Q - Any thoughts on Star Wars - Lightsabre? Constructive criticism is more than welcome.

A - Are you kidding? Then you might want to critique me, and I'm not ready for that. You're doing fine without my help.

Q - And finally, three publishing companies come knocking at your door on Christmas Eve, desperate for you to come up with a concept for a new series.  One wants fantasy, the second science fiction, and the third erotic fiction.  Depending on your mood RIGHT THIS SECOND, which would you take?  And why?!

A - It is not after Christmas, and no one came knocking on my door from any publishing company. Plus, I've had time to dwell on this deep and probing question. Hey, the answer is the same now as ever. Any new series I write will be premised on a fantasy framework. That's who I am, that's what I write. I can't see my doing anything else with fiction just now.

So there you are, guys. I've taken my best shot. May the Force be with us All in the new millennium. See you at the movies. Terry Brooks.

Many thanks to Terry and a special thank you to Shawn Speakman for helping arrange this interview.