BETHESDA SOFTWORKS AND DEL REY BOOKS ANNOUNCE NOVELS
BASED ON THE ELDER SCROLLS VIDEO GAME SERIES

Rockville, MD – April 27, 2009 – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, and Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, are pleased to announce that Del Rey Books will publish two novels based on Bethesda Softworks' award-winning, high-fantasy video game series, The Elder Scrolls®. The best-selling game series is known for giving the player the ability to choose how their story will play out and unfold, and for the incredible amount of lore and depth found in these rich game worlds.

Penned by New York Times bestselling author Greg Keyes, the novels will be all-new, original stories based in The Elder Scrolls universe. The first novel – The Infernal City – is set to be published in Fall 2009. Among Keyes' prior works are the Age of Unreason tetrology (for which he won the prestigious "Le Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire" award), and three New York Times bestselling Star Wars novels in the New Jedi Order series.

"We've been big fans of Greg's work for a long time, and we're thrilled he agreed to bring his talents to The Elder Scrolls," said Pete Hines, vice president of public relations and marketing for Bethesda Softworks. "We see these books as a natural extension of the franchise and think fans will love the stories and characters Greg has created."

The Infernal City is set after the events of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion®, the latest game in the video game series, and finds the citizens of Tamriel once again facing an uncertain future. Floating high above the land is a strange and mysterious city that is casting a horrifying shadow – wherever it falls, people die and rise again as undead. It is up to an unlikely duo – a seventeen-year-old girl named Annaig and the Emperor's young son, Prince Attrebus – to rescue the kingdom from doom. Annaig and Attrebus' quest will take them through the Elder Scrolls universe and their adventure is sure to add to the series' already magnificent mythology.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Born in Meridian, MS, in 1963, Greg Keyes spent his early years roaming the forests of his native state and the red rock cliffs of the Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona. He earned his B.A. in anthropology from Mississippi State University and a master's degree from the University of Georgia, where he did course work for a Ph.D. He lives in Savannah, GA, where, in addition to full-time writing, he practices ethnic cooking--particularly Central American, Szechuan, Malaysian, and Turkish cuisines--and Kapucha Toli, a Choctaw game involving heavy sticks and no rules. While researching "The Age of Unreason," he took up fencing, and now competes nationally. Greg is the author of THE WATERBORN, THE BLACKGOD, the Babylon 5 Psi Corps trilogy, the Age of Unreason tetrology (for which he won the prestigious "Le Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire" award), and three New York Times bestselling Star Wars novels in the New Jedi Order series.

Shack: With respect to the two Elder Scrolls novels by Greg Keyes, is Bethesda looking to increasingly leverage its franchises in this sort of way?

Pete Hines: In so much as we can find stuff that feels right for whatever particular brand or series we're talking about, in terms of what it is and how it's executed and stuff, yeah, I think so.

This was something that was born out of a conversation I had with folks that work on our strategy guide. They're also owned by the same parent company, and they eventually put me in touch with some of their book folks. And I talked with them a bit, and talked to a few of our guys on the dev team about it.

It was an initiative that really [Bethesda senior designer] Kurt Kuhlmann and I sort of ganged up and hounded [Elder Scrolls director] Todd Howard like, "We really need to do this, you need to let us do this." And Todd finally sort of came around. It's not that he didn't want to do it. He just worries about distractions to his team, and getting away from the focus.

But you know, we talked to him about it, and worked through a long list that they had suggested, and ones we had suggested to them. And we read Greg Keyes' book, and just loved it, and were like, this is the kind of guy who in our world could do some really great stuff. So not just doing the book, but doing it in the right way with the right author.

So in so much as we find opportunities like that where it just feels like a good fit--the right person doing the right project for a game--then, yeah. But at the same time, we're pretty selective, so if we don't find any of those, then there won't be any. It's not like go find five projects like this in the next year. We evaluate each one as it comes in and see whether it's worth doing or not.

Shack: These will be books that stand alone, but use the Elder Scrolls world as their setting?

Pete Hines: No, actually part of our thing is, if you're going to write it, then it needs to fit into the Elder Scrolls lore and canon.

Shack: So future games will take this fiction into account?

Pete Hines: It's hard to say. Hard to say, because we haven't gotten to future games yet. Certainly the reason that these two key guys--well, three: Bruce [Nesmith], Kurt and Todd are all involved in it--is to make sure that [Keyes] doesn't write anything that messes with the lore. "That race would never do that," or "those guys would never work together"--everything has to fit. But beyond that, we are doing it as if it's part of Elder Scrolls lore and canon.

Прочитал сюжет:"Над землями Тамриэля появился огромный летающий город, отбрасывающий жуткую тень. Везде, куда бы она ни упала, люди умирают и превращаются в нежить. По воле судьбы, на сей раз спасителями страны станут 17-летняя Аннаиг и младший сын императора, принц Аттребус." -

Имхо, это полное убожество, а не сюжет. В стиле фентази боевичка.

Над землями Тамриэля появился огромный летающий город, отбрасывающий жуткую тень. Везде, куда бы она ни упала, люди умирают и превращаются в нежить.

на сей раз спасителями страны станут 17-летняя Аннаиг

младший сын императора, принц Аттребус

Shack: These will be books that stand alone, but use the Elder Scrolls world as their setting?

Pete Hines: No, actually part of our thing is, if you're going to write it, then it needs to fit into the Elder Scrolls lore and canon.

Shack: So future games will take this fiction into account?

Pete Hines: It's hard to say. Hard to say, because we haven't gotten to future games yet. Certainly the reason that these two key guys--well, three: Bruce [Nesmith], Kurt and Todd are all involved in it--is to make sure that [Keyes] doesn't write anything that messes with the lore. "That race would never do that," or "those guys would never work together"--everything has to fit. But beyond that, we are doing it as if it's part of Elder Scrolls lore and canon.

Охренеть. Чо с лором париться, вот забабахали летающий город.

Еще и имечко у него... Атттребус - это же безумный кекс, захвативший трон во временаВторой Эры и устроивший гонения на акавирей

Это чтобы побыстрее сделать.  dry.gif

Казуальчеги, только в Обливион игравшие, об этом то не знают. 

Ну летающий город на самом деле - еще куда не шло...  но вот его абилка и принцип действия заставляет мой мозг кровоточить.

Казуальчеги, только в Обливион игравшие, об этом то не знают.  dry.gif

Над землями Морровинда пробудился древний вулкан, вызывающий пепельные бури. Везде, куда они достигают, люди заболевают моровыми болезнями или превращаются в монстров. По воле судьбы, на сей раз спасителем провинции станет никому не известный заключенный, действующий в соответствии с хитрыми планами престарелого Императора и дейдрического принца Азуры...

Про невозможность существования в ТЕСе летающих городов

Над землями Тамриэля появился огромный летающий город, отбрасывающий жуткую тень. Везде, куда бы она ни упала, люди умирают и превращаются в нежить. По воле судьбы, на сей раз спасителями страны станут 17-летняя Аннаиг и младший сын императора, принц Аттребус."

Везде, куда бы она ни упала, люди умирают и превращаются в нежить.

Казуальчеги, только в Обливион игравшие, об этом то не знают.

После параноидальных теорий заговора в квестах Морроувинда и Обливиона это кажется прямо таки ересью.

Почему то вполне явно представляю себе аниму с таким сюжетом.

можно грабить...

И кстати, что за кекс этот Greg Keyes? Кто-нибудь читал его произведения?

Параноидальная Теория Заговора была в сюжете Даггерфолла, собственно... его сюжет и есть одна большая Теория Заговора.=)
В Морровинде заговорные теории уже не такие заговорные... в Обливионе и подавно.

Анима по ТЕС!
Вот это будет угар.%)

Но он писал книги по Стар Варс

Я уг и в Даггерфол не играла. Но чем линейка Темного Братства, квесты Морнхолда, главквест Морроувинда тот же не параноидальные ТЗ? По сравнению со стандартными эрпоге, вестимо...

Добавить панцушотов, увеличить размер мечей, глаз и сисек (не обязательно в такой последовательности %)) в несколько раз - и гениальная анима готова. %)

Кстати, автора кто-нить знает? Ересь не пишет?

И кстати, что за кекс этот Greg Keyes? Кто-нибудь читал его произведения?

Страшно то, как могут воспринять эту книжку нек-рые "loreведы" из Бефезды.

Но чую все равно будет дичь.

Я лично не собираюсь воспринимать это произведение как часть TES Lore.

Вопрос с количеством как раз не стоит.

А у нас есть выбор? =)

Есть. Как, предположим, многие фанаты Звездных Войны не воспринимают медиохлорианы, так и мы можем не воспринимать "летающие города-убийцы". wink2.gif  yes.gif

Уж если писать полноценное произведение о мире TES, то в основе сюжета должна быть повседневная жизнь обитателей этого мира. Было бы куда интереснее...

Писатель-одиночка скоро выдохнется и начнёт выдавать тексты один отвратнее другого.

Я вон за еду могу нормальный сценарий получше придумать.%)

ПОчему? Можно забабахать и приключение в стиле Redguard. написали бы про Eyes of Argonia, раз игру не сделали.
Можно очередную укуреную сочающуюся бредом и параноей теорию Заговора влепить, на основе дворцовских интриг и предательства после Обливионского Кризиса.
Можно многое чего было сделать, но у нас... Shadowkey и то сюжет в этой игрулее более оригинальнее и не столь глобальнее, как в данном произведяге.

Если полностью игнорировать существующий факт - это не значит, чт оего не будет.

Не рано ли делим шкуру неубитого медведя? smile.gif

Факт чего? Бреда горохового?

Все должны поклоняться и благодарить разработчиков за эту ересь, которая вообще противоречит простой физике.

Понятие Звездные Войны и физика - вещи слабосовместимые.=)

Я имел ввиду довольно распространенное противоречие, заключающееся в том, что Кристаллы в Джедайских мечах(и не только), способные проводить и концентрировать Силу, не могут априори иметь в себе никаких метиохлориан, ибо неорганика сие есьм.

Да и теневые города-убийцы всё таки можно загнать в рамки лора, см. пост акавиря про тени.

Загнать да, загнать таки можно все. Вот только посмотрим будет ли это пипл хавать.

Amazon.com Review
The Briar King, Greg Keyes's latest elegant entry into the world of high fantasy, lays the groundwork for what promises to be a mesmerizing four-book series--the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone. Keyes spins his tale in a meticulously crafted fantasy realm on the brink of apocalyptic change. The Briar King, a legend cobbled from children's stories and rural folklore, is waking from his slumber to an unknown but cataclysmic end. Dark agents are afoot in the land, stirring war and edging an ancient prophecy closer to fulfillment. In destiny's path are a king's woodsman, his headstrong lover, a bookworm priest, a cocksure swordsman, and the embattled (from within and without) kingdom of Crotheny. Keyes masterfully intertwines far-off courtly intrigue with the personal quest of the woodsman and his brave companions who seek to unravel the secret of the Briar King before all is lost.

Although The Briar King will suffer the inevitable comparison with George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, it should be said that Keyes's work is no mere rip-off. This is excellent world building, applied with a dark, powerful touch that should convince Martin fans to become Keyes fans, too. --Jeremy Pugh

Amazon.com Review
With The Charnel Prince, author Greg Keyes keeps up the pace set by The Briar King with a second taut entry in his series--the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone. The Briar King has awoken and mythical beasts roam the land. Crotheny's king and his daughters are dead by betrayal. His bereaved wife Murielle keeps tenuous hold on the throne and the hope that her headstrong daughter, Anne Dare, has escaped the assassins' blades. The queen sends her most trusted and lethal knight, Sir Neil MeqVren, on a quest to discover her daughter's fate. He will find Anne has narrowly escaped the massacre at Saint Cer and lives on the run in the company of her maid, Austra, and the duel-prone swordsman Cazio. Meanwhile, woodsman Aspar White is sent on a mission to slay the Briar King. All will fight for their lives in the wake of dark forces emerging from shadow to force a dangerously forgotten prophecy into the world.

Keyes is among authors like George R.R. Martin whose work is reinvigorating the often tired genre of high fantasy with rich, dark, and mature storytelling. His characters are vibrant and range far beyond Dungeons & Dragons cliché. He places these starkly drawn men and women into a world built upon a squirming foundation of myth, legend, prophecy, and folklore, which, to their own peril, they are only beginning to understand. --Jeremy Pugh

From Publishers Weekly
The age of Everon is ending in the elegiac second installment of bestseller Keyes's fresh and imaginative high fantasy saga that began with 2003's The Briar King. Told in a inventive prose often as disturbing as it is beautiful, Keyes's sprawling multiple-viewpoint narrative explores a weird landscape fraught with "ancient evils and fresh curses." Black briars spurt up "like slow fountains" wherever the Briar King walks in the King's Forest. As the Briar King turns villagers into unholy monsters, creatures such as greffyns and manticores once deemed the stuff of myth attack anyone who dares challenge him. In a land on the brink of civil war, assassins have claimed most of Queen Muriel's family except for her gifted youngest daughter, Anne Dare, who escaped death with her servant Austra, and is now struggling to return home to fulfill a prophecy. Other well-drawn characters include Sir Neil MeqVren, the queen's protector, and Leovigild "Leoff" Ackenzal, a talented composer. Those who haven't read The Briar King may have problems at first following the plot, but Keyes's lyricism, pacing and deft handling of eternally important topics—the dance between church and state, man and woman, life and death—make this a thought-provoking entertainment.
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