<jedigrover> We're just a few minutes away. Everybody has to get synched up!

<jedigrover> "Vision of the Future", Tim Zahn's new SW novel!

<jedigrover> (you all knew that of course)

<jedigrover> First, the ground rules.

<jedigrover> This chat will be moderated. It will last approximately 1 hour, maybe more if we're nice!

<jedigrover> The first 45 minutes or so will be of questions submitted to either TF.N or CJ by email.

<jedigrover> After that, we will open the room.

<jedigrover> Please, keep it clean!

<jedigrover> Also, please try to stay on topic.

<Ghitsa> Welcome, Tim. Jeff and dunc, I believe you know.

<Ghitsa> And allow me to introduce you to JediGrover -- Darin

<JeffP> Timothy Zahn is here!!!!!

<TimZahn> I know most of the rest of you can't say anything, so just wave or something.

<TimZahn> (Thank yhou.)

<Ghitsa> Darin, why don't you get started?

<jedigrover> Please elaborate on any future planned/desired involvements with Dark Horse Comics.

<TimZahn> After the Mara Jade comic, nothing is specifically planned. I hope to talk DHC into continuing the Mara series, but that's in the future.

<Ghitsa> And if you all keep up these changes, you'll never hear Tim.

<dunc>: Please keep froming changing your nicks)

<TimZahn> Mike Stackpole and I are also planning to pitch a 4- or 6-part series featuring Thrawn and Fel in the Unknown Regions.

<Ghitsa> We only have an hour or so, and if you keep changing nicks, you'll never see what Tim says, got it?

<TimZahn> We need to do that probably in October or November if it'll be done in time to fill the slots DHC has open.

<JeffP> will you be working on any other Star Wars projects? Specifically any Del Rey novels?

<TimZahn> Please, everyone, don't try to message me. I'm going to have enough trouble keeping up with the main chat.

<TimZahn> At this point Del Rey hasn't asked me to do any SW books, so the current answer is no. However, we all know that these things can change.<G>

<TimZahn> If the SW Adventure Journel revives, either from WEG or otherwise, I'll want to do stories for it, too.

<Ghitsa> Tim if given the opportunity, would you consider writing a prequel about Admiral Thrawn's life before Heir to the Empire?

<TimZahn> Actually, the pictures in the WEG sourcebooks haven't been too bad. I mainly didn't like them portrayed as Incredible Hulk-sized beings

<TimZahn> I would be very interested in writing about THrawn pre-HttE.

<TimZahn> At the moment, though, nothing like that is planned.

<TimZahn> I can also say that I originally envisioned Vader's mask as being a stylized Noghri face.

<TimZahn> LFL wouldn't let me explicitly state that in the books, though.

<jedigrover> In your first book, Heir to the Empire, Pellaeon notices a particular sculpture, which Thrawn identifies as his one failure. I thought that this might be a sculpture from his own homeworld, but none of the books say for sure. Comments? Does this play a part in any current or future works?

<TimZahn> No, the mark of Thrawn's failure was just supposed to be a "grace note" in the writing. I never intended that as a plot line to be picked up.

<TimZahn> Mostly to show that Thrawn WAS fallible, and what usually happened when he DID fail.

<Ghitsa> Do you intend to write more of Thrawn's early history if given the opportunity?

<TimZahn> He certainly didn't fail with his homeworld. They just didn't understand him, or agree with him.

<TimZahn> Thrawn's early history would be fun to write. But again, no one in publishing authority has offered it to me.

<TimZahn> It might make an interesting basis for a CD-ROM game, though. I'll have to talk to my agent...

<jedigrover> You've already mentioned that LFL wouldn't let you write some things in your books. Would you care to elaborate or provide examples?

<TimZahn> Actually, most of them were minor points.

<TimZahn> The biggest was that Joruus C'baoth was supposed to be an insane clone of Ben Kenobi.

<TimZahn> LFL wouldn't let me do that.

<TimZahn> THey almost backed out on Vader being in command of the Noghri midway through the Thrawn tril, too.

<TimZahn> Fortunately, the plot line was already going, and we couldn't change it, so they let me keep it.

<TimZahn> We also had some problems with R2 flying Luke's X-wing out of the pirate asteroids in Specter.

<TimZahn> We finally compromised by adding a "tractor assist" to the Starry Ice's landing bay.

<TimZahn> Mostly, though, they let me do pretty much what I wanted, for which I am VERY grateful to them.

<JeffP> did they have any problem with the Luke and Mara relationship? or provide any guidelines on what you could and could not do with it?

<TimZahn> When my outline for Hand of Thrawn was submitted in October '93, they wanted the L&M relationship kept "vague" at the end of the book.

<TimZahn> I argued that that, plus the peace treaty, were necessary for closure of this era of the SW universe.

<Ghitsa> 1) The last line of VISION says that Mara has a "vision" of children. Although I know that you say this is your last STAR WARS book, and we don't even know if there will be other books after VISION, what did **you** have in mind for Luke and Mara, as far as children are concerned?

<TimZahn> Apparently they saw my point, because both of those were accepted in April '94.

<TimZahn> Oh, I definitely intended for them to have at least two children.

<JeffP> but not twins?

<TimZahn> Between Luke's upright farmboy ethics and Mara's streetwise abilities, the kids will be a real handful for any villians who come along.

<TimZahn> But not twins, no. That follows the mother, not the father, and Mara wasn't a twin.

<TimZahn> Trust me on that one.

<TimZahn> <G>

<JeffP> good. just getting the question out.

<TimZahn> Yes, I think the Skywalker line should go on.

<TimZahn> (As opposed to the Solo line.)

<JeffP> you mentioned you had problems with getting the peace treaty approved. Will it be honored in the Del Rey timeline?

<TimZahn> I sure hope everyone here has read Vision. Otherwise, we're committing major spoilage here.

<TimZahn> If the Del Rey timeline picks up after Vision, I would presume they would honor the peace.

<TimZahn> But as yet they haven't announced where in the SW history their books will be set.

<TimZahn> You might remind everyone that we're having a Vision discussion here, complete with spoilers.

<TimZahn> If we want to have a chat sometime that only covers Specter, we could do that.

<JeffP> Timothy Zahn is here!!!!! {VISION SPOILERS}

<jedigrover> It seemed as if you tried to clear up a lot of details regarding the Force and various character issues. Did you consult the other authors on that?

<TimZahn> I would certainly be willing to do a future chat that DOES include spoilers after more people have read the book.

<TimZahn> Mike Stackpole was the only author I consulted with on the change of direction I intended to put the characters through.

<TimZahn> I tried to bring the characters back to my vision of how they should be behaving.

<jedigrover> Ping timeout

<TimZahn> Mostly, of course, I concentrated on the characters I had orignially introduced.

<TimZahn> Again, folks, please no messaging. I haven't got the hang of dealing with five conversations at once.

<JeffP> but you have also done alot with Characters originated Mike stackpole's books, what is it like working with another author's characters?

<TimZahn> You'll have the chance later (I think) to ask questions.

<TimZahn> (I'm still something of a novice with IRC chats.)

* JeffP asks people to please stop changing nicks.

<TimZahn> Actually, Mike and I have had a blast borrowing each other's characters.

<TimZahn> The reason it works---probably the ONLY reason it works---is that we have very similar views of the SW universe.

<TimZahn> We therefore understand each other's characters well enough to write them reasonably accurately.

<TimZahn> And of course, we vetted each other's use of the characters extensively before the books went to Bantam.

<dunc>: PLEASE stop changing your nicks, people.

<TimZahn> It's also because I don't have this kind of working relationship with any of the other authors that I've avoided using their characters.

<Ghitsa> 10) Will you be able to write a back story for Mara Jade?

<Ghitsa> I have always wanted to find out more about her background.

<Ghitsa> I also want to know if you could say if either of her parents would be

<Ghitsa> alive, because wouldn't she have to have someone give her away at the wedding?

<Ghitsa> Would that be Talon Karrde?

<TimZahn> Using someone else's characters is always tricky, and not to be done lightly.

<TimZahn> I don't know if Mara's parents are still alive. Certainly they don't know her as Mara Jade.

<TimZahn> I think the best place to do her backstory would be in a Dark Horse comic.

<TimZahn> If Dark Horse was interested.

<TimZahn> If I wanted to reveal all those shadowy details.

<TimZahn> Maybe I'll just keep them to myself. <EG>

<TimZahn> Seriously, that is a future Mara project I would probably like to do someday.

<JeffP> you said that you and Mike Stackpole understand each other's characters. Have you read any parts of I, Jedi, and if so do you think he got Mara "right"?

<TimZahn> I think he did pretty well with Mara, yes. There are probably minor details I would have done differently, but nothing at all serious.

<TimZahn> And no, I can't recall anything specifically at the moment.

<TimZahn> And no, I can't recall anything specifically at the moment.

<jedigrover> Can you establish a pecking order for fighting skill of the Noghri, the Mistryl, and the Royal Guards? It seems they're all pretty bad.

<TimZahn> I did read the Mara sections before he submitted them, as he did the Corran and Booster parts of Specter and Vision.

<TimZahn> (Didn't mean to stutter there.)

<TimZahn> Good grief, Grover. Do you think I want to get ANY of those groups mad at me by putting them THIRD?

<JeffP> Vision opened up the unknown regions. Will there be anything else set in this area?

<Ghitsa> Pardon me if this has been asked yet, but Tim could you tell us what happened to Moranda and Ghent?

<jedigrover> : )

<TimZahn> Seriously, I suspect any of them could take out any of the others on a given day.

<TimZahn> I don't know if the Unknown Regions will be dealt with in the Del Rey books. I would hope they would pick up on that plot thread, but they might not.

<TimZahn> (Assuming they're after Vision in the time line, of course.)

<TimZahn> Moranda survived the bombardment of Bothawui. Ghent survived, too---in fact he's seen briefly in the last chapter.

<TimZahn> If I'd realized Moranda's fate would be in question, I would have made that clearer.

<TimZahn> I wasn't trying to be mysterious or vague on that one.

<jedigrover> SOTP/VOTF was over 800 pages alltogether. Did you think about making it into a trilogy?

<TimZahn> Actually, it was SUPPOSED to be a single standalone book. THings somehow got out of hand.

<TimZahn> What happened was that my outline contained a lot more story than I realized.

<jedigrover> ) wow! War and Peace in the SW universe!

<TimZahn> I was about 70,000 words into Specter (about 3/4 of the way) when I realized I wasn't going to be able to squeeze it all into one book.

<jedigrover> Could you comment on your inspiration for some of the characters? Such as Mara Jade, Thrawn, Karrde, etc.

<TimZahn> At about that same time, though, LFL postponed the prequels one more year, giving Bantam an extra year to publish books.

<TimZahn> I suggested splitting HoT into two parts, and they agreed.

<TimZahn> I didn't realize at the time that Vision would be two books' worth of material.

<TimZahn> But even if I had, with Bantam's publishing deadline, they couldn't have split it into two more books.

<TimZahn> I really can't say where most of the characters came from. I developed Thrawn from the idea of a tactically brilliant opponent to Our Heroes.

<TimZahn> Mara started out as a link between the rescue of Han from Jabba to the rest of the Empire/Rebellion plot line of the movies.

<TimZahn> For me, the characters usually start out as place-holders in my plot, and develop from there as I develop the story further.

<jedigrover> Many fans have commented that Force powers had gone too far. What are your perspectives on the Force?

<TimZahn> Karrde, I think, was what I envisioned Han being if he hadn't been at that cantina on Tatooine...

<TimZahn> I think it's dangerous from a literary standpoint to make characters TOO powerful.

<TimZahn> Superman is hard to write, after all, without kryptonite.

<TimZahn> Furthermore, I don't believe the level of power shown in the SW movies is consistent with some of the event shown in some of the books.

<TimZahn> My goal with HoT was to bring the power level closer to what Yoda had demonstrated in lifting an X-wing, and to give a plausible reason why the power should be so limited.

<JeffP> so then moving star destroiers is beyond most Jedi?

<JeffP> (destroyers)

<TimZahn> Again, super-powerful characters are hard to write. Most stories about them can be resolved by chapter 2.

<TimZahn> Also, remember Han's comment about "simple tricks and nonsense." Moving ISDs around is well BEYOND the level of simple tricks.

<TimZahn> With Jedi doing that sort of thing all the time, I don't think their memory would have been so easily dismissed.

<jedigrover> What about Vader's comment that destroying an entire planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force? Did he mean, perhaps, that the Force's guidance is so powerful that men cannot withstand it?

<TimZahn> I think it was metaphoric, or perhaps symbolic, rather than literal. Again, remember that neither Vader nor Palpatine used that level of power, either.

<TimZahn> I think Vader's comment would be more akin to "the pen is more powerful than the sword."

<TimZahn> Or Gandhi saying that peaceful protest is stronger than the British army.

<jedigrover> Did LFL hold in the reins on Luke & Mara's romance, or did you intentionally leave out an abundance of passion as might be fitting the characters? BTW, how much arm twisting was required to make the final events in HoT possible with LFL?

<TimZahn> (I don't know if Gandhi ever specifically said that, but he certainly demonstrated it.)

<TimZahn> No arm-twisting with LFL was necessary, once they accepted the basic premise of a romance.

<Highlander> That wasn't me who said that!

<TimZahn> As to why no passion, I see Luke and Mara as effectively skipping past the infatuation stage of a relationship.

<jedigrover> : )

<TimZahn> THey'd been friends for ten years, and with that Jedi melding during the droid battle,they entered the kind of deep love that takes most non-Jedi years to reach.

<TimZahn> As far as I'M concerned, there's no tease. They're together, and that's that.

<TimZahn> Bear in mind, though, that I'm never going to be the final word on anything in SW. If LFL changes their mind, the mind gets changed.

<jedigrover> Ah! OK, we've been on for most of an hour, so let's open the room. Remember, keep it clean & stay on topic everyone!

<Helena> Do you believe that Luke has become the is-all-end-all character some believe him to be? It does sometimes appear that all it takes is Luke Skywalker to defeat most enemies, even if he gets beat up in the process.

<Coruscant> What do/did *you* think of Mara's illustration on VotF's cover?

<LMS> I wanted to thank you sincerely for bringing Mara Jade into the Star Wars Universe! When is Del Ray coming out with their books, and do you have any plans to write for them?

<Hershey7> HEY ZHAN!!!!!!!!

<Kyp> ber Han's comment about "simple tricks and nonsense." Moving ISDs around is well BEYOND the level of simple tricks.

<Flim> mr zhan, please don't say your done writing sw!

<Tbone> LOL

<Kyp> <jedigrover> What about Vader's comment that destroying an entire planet is insignific

<Tbone> Poor Tim.

<chris> zahn you the man

<Helena> Do you believe that Luke has become the is-all-end-all character some believe him to be? It does sometimes appear that all it takes is Luke Skywalker to defeat most enemies, even if he gets beat up in the process.

<Zandra> msg numa thanks for booting the people who would not stop changing their nicks

<LukeSkywalker> ZAHN, YOU RULE!!!!!!!

<Flim> you rule zahn

<LukeSkywalker> ZAHN, YOU RULE!!!!!!!

<TimZahn> I hope that Luke is not the primary hero in the SW universe. the others ceratinly have a role to play.

<ZahnFan> So, who are those two faces on the cover of VOTF?

<penny> Do the Prequels influence your writing?

<TimZahn> SLow down, please! Help!

<dunc>: Please guys, slow down...!!!

<dunc>: There is only one Tim Zahn present!

<TimZahn> The VIsion cover was all right. Mara wasn't exactly as I would have portrayed her, but she wans't toobad.

<TimZahn> No plans for books with Del Rey at this point.

<jedigrover> how about if you send your questions to one of the ops, and we will ask them to keep it sane. Thx.

<Ghitsa> Ping timeout

<TimZahn> I don't know anything aboutthe prequels, so there's no influence there.

<TimZahn> The background face on Vison is supposed to be Thrawn. The eyes are wrong, but it was too late to change it.

<TimZahn> I can't come to any private chats at the moment, anyone. Sorry.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Hey Mr. Zahn. I want to know why you killed off Thrawn so easily? Could he not of been killed in the heat of battle other than getting killed by his bodyguard?

<TimZahn> It would be hard to kill Thrawn in battle because he knows when to cut and run.

<jedigrover> So, Mr. Zahn, what inspired you to make a blue-skinned alien?

<TimZahn> Besides, the noghri were the direction he would NOT have expected trouble to come from, because he didn't know Leia was Vader's daughter.

<TimZahn> The whole thing unraveled from that one bit of unknown information.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> How was Thrawn's involvement in the Xwing Flight Sim arranged and how does it affect his role in the novels, or vice-versa? With the same thought going towards character development and what not.

<JeffP> The bit you introduced about the force resistant rock was very interesting. Was that based on something in past SW history, or something new you introduced?

<TimZahn> THrawn's blue skin was mostly chosen just to make him an alien---I didn't want him to be a human.

<TimZahn> No particular reason I chose blue, other than it looks good against a white uniform.

<Ghitsa> Leaving

<TimZahn> I had no input with Thrawn's appearance in any of the computer games. I'm flattered that LFL incorporated him into the games.

<jedigrover> Have any of your ideas had to be scrapped or reworked because of what other authors have done with your characters?

<TimZahn> It wasn't a Force-resistent rock, but a lightsaber-resistant rock. It was a useful plot device, and I figured that SOMETHING out there would screw up a lightsaber that way.

<TimZahn> And the stone was my invention, yes.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> ) Did you have Peter Lorre in mind when writing Entoo Nee?

<TimZahn> Actually,none of my ideas had to be reworked because of other authors, though I sometimes found myself duplicating them.

<TimZahn> I had the swooper fight with Shada planned before I knew there was a similar fight in Shadows of the Empire, for instance.

<TimZahn> I just had to do my best not to look too derivative.

<TimZahn> Entoo Nee is actually someone else entirely. Say his complete name quickly out loud.

<JeffP> Will "Jade's Solitare" ever be published?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Mr. Zahn, of all of the images you've seen of Thrawn, which one would you say most closely resembles the Thrawn that you dreamed up?"

<Paradox> Long live Thrawn

<TimZahn> It looks like Bantam will be doing one more SW anthology. "Jade Solitaire" has a fair chance of being published there.

<TimZahn> I dont' think I've ever seen a Thrawn that exactly fits my image. However, I rather like the suggestion that Jeremy Irons might fit the role.

<Hal_Horn> *Helena* Do you believe that Luke has become the is-all-end-all character some believe him to be? It does sometimes appear that all it takes is Luke Skywalker to defeat most enemies, even if he gets beat up in the process.

<jedigrover> Do the ysalimiri push the force back or feed off of it, because if the force is created by all living things, how can they survive without it?

<TimZahn> I can't do any private chats tonight, and I really can't give out my email address, either. Sorry.

<TimZahn> I tried to put a balance between what Luke does and the other characters do. In Vision, for instance, I think Han and Leia and Karrde play parts as important as Luke's.

<TimZahn> Certainly in saving the New Republic from collapse.

<TimZahn> I think the ysalimiri suppress the Force to a level that Jedi cannot access it.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Have you seen the Jeremy Irons as Thrawn pic that someone did? it's rather humerous (would Thrawn wear a tie? <grin>)

<TimZahn> You'll notice that vornskyrs can still hunt via the Force near ysalimari, so it's obviously not destroyed or eliminated.

<TimZahn> I've never seen the Jeremy Irons Thrawn pic. And no, I don't believe Thrawn would wear a tie.

<JeffP> With Regards to Garm Bel Iblis, a chracter created in the Heir to the Empire Trilogy, would you consider exploring his post-Corellian treaty (everything before the HTTE trilogy) exploits in more detail if given the opportunity?

<Rogue_Enforcer> We came...we saw...we kicked there gopher butts and went home.

<TimZahn> Remind me later and I'll list the cons I'll be coming to in the next couple of months.

<jedigrover> Any idea how many more books Bantam will be publishing before Del Rey takes over full-time?

<TimZahn> I would be willing to explore Bel Iblis's life after the Corellian Treaty, again if a publisher was interested.

<TimZahn> I think Bantam just has the remaining X-wing and Bounty Hunters books, the anthology, and the I, JEDI and VISION paperbacks.

<jedigrover> i might have missed this but could you ask him why the big reason of his stopping SW books

<ArtyEwok_TFN> What dis mean by changing the direction of the characters? Mara was the only character of his in other pro books. Most authors didn't use his characters.

<JeffP> on the topic of the Xwing books. Fel doesn't seem to fit in VOTF. is there a inconsistancy with the books? or is there more forthcoming?

<TimZahn> Besides Mara, I also felt that some of the other characters had been taken in directions that wern't consistent with how they were portrayed in the movies

<TimZahn> Luke, for instance, was becoming far more powerful than Yoda, and I felt that his power needed to be reined back a bit.

<TimZahn> I don't understand the question about "stopping SW books."

<jedigrover> You mention a Thrawn game in a lot of your interviews (or at least the ones I've read). How serious are you about making one and how much time do you think you'd put in it?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <penny> On the cover, why does Mara Jade have a green lightsaber when its supposed to be blue.

<TimZahn> I'm not sure why Fel doesn't fit with Vision. If it's because of something in the current X-wing books...be patient. That WILL be covered.

<jedigrover> I want to know why you aren't writing anymore SW books.

<TimZahn> I'd like to help develop a THrawn game, but the last time I pitched it to LFL (about a year ago), they weren't interested.

<TimZahn> Mara has a green lightsaber instead of blue because the artist goofed. I did, however, include a scene where she was holding Luke's ignited lightsaber, just to cover that.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Kadr> Amara, ask him if for the Thrawn Trilogy LFL collaborated him more than with novels since then. After all, it was the first big "jumpstart" to Star Wars.

<TimZahn> I'm not writing any more SW books at the moment partly because I'm a little burned out on SW and partly because no one has asked me to.

<TimZahn> If Del Rey DOES ask...well, I'll deal with it then.

<JeffP> <Khabarakh> Mr. zahn do like how your charactors are potrayed in the comics?

<jedigrover> How did you get your start writing SW novels?

<TimZahn> Aside from cutting me out of "forbidden areas" like prequel territory, LFL didn't guide the direction of either the Thrawn Tril or the HoT duology.

<TimZahn> They mostly told me things I couldn't do, rather than tell me things I had to include.

<TimZahn> The comic adaptations have been generally pretty good, aside from hulking noghri. I've been pleased that the writer was able to keep a lot of the flavor of the books, even while boiling them down significantly.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Adrea> Do you read fans stories like on the net?

<Helena> GoodbyeTim

<TimZahn> I got started writing SW books because Bantam and LFL had made a brand-new publishing deal.

<jedigrover> If you had the opportunity to work with "Uncle George" in writing Episodes II and III, what would you like to do in those films?

<TimZahn> Bantam's editors suggested me, LFL agreed, and I got an out-of-the-blue phone call from my agent.

<TimZahn> That was quite a Monday...

<TimZahn> It's hard to say what I'd want to do in Episodes 2 and 3 because I don't know yet what's in Episode 1. Ask me again in a year, and I'm sure I'll have a better answer for you.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Sabrina> I noticed in Votf that you not only ended the Wedge/Qwi relationship [Started in the Jedi Academy trilogy] but replaced it with something else. So out of curiosity, what happens to Qwi during Votf?

<TimZahn> I don't read fan stories on the net, no, or anywhere else. Since I've been writing SW professionally, my editors and LFL don't like me touching what is essentially unlicenced material.

<TimZahn> But for fans who don't have such restrictions, I think it's a great way to hone their writing skills.

* ArtyEwok_TFN notes that she and the other ops are quite spammed, so be patient and don't be offended if we don't get to your questions.

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* would you ask him if he thinks there will be other sw films covering such things as corran and the rogues, or the solo kids, and if so if he would help in the plotting

<TimZahn> I don't know where Qwi was during Vision. Off camera somewhere, but I really don't know where.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Kyp> Can you ask Mr.Zahn, What made you pick the Bothans as the race to start a cival war? Also did you know that the Camaasi thing was what Fay'lya was woried about in TLC when you where writing it?

<TimZahn> I doubt LFL will do anything with characters from any of the books. Adapting other material has never been GL's style up to now.

<TimZahn> Mind you, I'd sure LIKE to see movies based on some of these characters. Unlikely, though.

<Rogue_Enforcer> We came...we saw...we kicked there gopher butts and went home.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Jedi Z wants to know what your inspiration was for Mara Jade and he is also writing a radio drama and wants to know what kind of things to know as far as the rules go.

<jedigrover> I would like to know what it is that prompted Mr. Zahn to begin working with Mr. Stackpole.

<TimZahn> Yes, I knew about the Camaasi when I had Fey'lya worried about Mount Tantiss. I put that in just in case I did another SW book someday.

<TimZahn> As to why the Bothans, why not? I'd already established them as conniving little sneaks who wouldn't evoke much in the way of sympathy. Perfect types to be caught in the middle of a crisis.

<TimZahn> Mara just sort of arose from the outline---she was originally to be a link between the Han/Jabba rescue part of RotJ and the rest of the Empire/Rebel plot line.

<TimZahn> SHe then developed from there.

<TimZahn> As to radio dramas, I've never written one, so I can't give you any advice.

<Hal_Horn> *MJKarrde* Does Mr. Zhan have a personel favorite SW novel?

<TimZahn> Mike and I had already made contact at cons before he was signed to do the X-wing books. When he wanted to use Karrde in a scene, he called me to discuss that appearance. From that point, the working relationship began.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> From Thrawn (Looks lkike he came back from the dead <grin>) Are your stories from the SW Adventure Journal going to be reprinted together in an anthology? I really want to read more about Thrawn and Karrde..

<Hal_Horn> *Palleon* Was the red head dancer int ROTJSE Mara or just some one everyweremarawas in that short story you wrote.

<TimZahn> I really don't have a favorite SW novel. To be fair, I haven't had time to read all of them, either.

<jedigrover> Do you know if the HoT books will make it to become comic adaptations?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Coruscant asks "Why don't you narrate any non human characters?"

<TimZahn> I don't know if I've done enough SW stories to fill an entire anthology. Again, though, I don't know if DelRey will be doing anthologies, so the question is probably moot.

<TimZahn> I'd certainly like to see such an anthology, but I doubt it'll happen.

<jedigrover> In VotF, I got the impression that Wedge had become something of a protege to Garm Bel Iblis, would you consider this possible?

<TimZahn> No, the dance in the ROTJSE wasn't Mara. (Not human enough, really.) I suspect Mara was off camera, skulking in the shadows, waiting for Luke.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> How do you feel about the resurrection of characters such as Boba Fett and the Emperor?

<TimZahn> Imperial operatives HATE to have their pictures taken.<G>

<Hal_Horn> *JediRobert Mr. Zahn, what type of environment do you write in? I always find it interesting to see where authors dream up their masterpieces (i.e. George Lucas' office as seen in Lynn Hale's diary, etc)

<TimZahn> I don't think DHC will be adapting HoT into comics.

<JeffP> ) <MaireG>

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <LMS> What do you think of the Mara Jade figure sceduled to be released?

<TimZahn> I personally don't like the idea of resurrecting "dead" characters as a general policy. It always leaves the reader wondering if he's "really" dead this time.

<TimZahn> I don't go into the minds of nonhuman characters (or droids) in the SW books because I like to leave their thought processes somethin of a mystery.

<TimZahn> I think Wedge and Bel Iblis are quite close in their working relationship. Protege? Perhaps.

<TimZahn> I work in an ex-dining room in our house, overlooking the Pacific, typing on a laptop computer. Usually I have classical music playing in the background.

<Grand_Admiral_Thrawn> Well it's been a pleasure to listen to you Tim, well then.. if your going to give some other seesion why don't you try over UNDERNET?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> .What is your opinion on the Audio books? I have heard mispronunciations and some strange voices. Do you have any control over them and have you even been upset that something was left out (assuming you've heard them)?

<TimZahn> Classical, or movie theme CDs. And of course, there's always chocolate at hand. <G>

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* This is a really dumb question mr zahn, but what's your favorite ship in the starwars galaxy??

<TimZahn> I don't know what exactly happened to Alex's fingers, but I arranged that with Char before I wrote her in.

<TimZahn> I figured it was Char's job to write that particular story.

<TimZahn> I haven't seen the Mara Jade figure yet, but am very flattered that they chose to make one.

<TimZahn> I've never had the nerve to listen to the audio tapes, knowing that so much was chopped out of the books.

<TimZahn> I do know that there are a lot of mispronounciations, though. Annoying.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <TK-421> Since LFL hasn't officially ruled out Episodes 7-9, have you entertained the possibility that we may one day see Mara on the screen?

<TimZahn> I have no control whatsoever on any spin-offs to these books,be it audio tapes, figures, or computer games.

<TimZahn> All of it is owned by LFL. As it should be.

<TimZahn> My favorite ship is probably the Katana Fleet Dreadnaught that sits on a stand overlooking my desk. A gift from the folks at SciFi Supply.

<TimZahn> It would be a real kick to see Mara on screen, even if GL skips a generation and she's 50 years old.

<TimZahn> However, if he DOES make Episodes 7-9, remember he's under no obligation to follow ANYTHING any of the books have introduced.

<JeffP> Some of your nonSW books are out of print. will any of them be re-printed in the future? If not how does one go about finding them? <ZahnFan>

<TimZahn> "C'baoth" is pronounced "Sabbaoth." As in the Biblical term "Lord Sabbaoth."

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Kadr> Is there a timeline inconsistency with Vader's discovery of the Noghri now that we have an exact date on the prequels? Would Vader have only been a child at the time? Of course, who says he was there immediately after the accident, but... straight from the horse's mouth.....?

<TimZahn> At the moment, I think only the Bantam books are still in print. (SW and Conquerors Tril) We might get the older ones reprinted someday, but at the moment there are no plans to do so.

<TimZahn> Check your local used bookstore or library if you want to track them down, I guess.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Did you like/dislike how Mara was portrayed in Mysteries of the Sith?

<TimZahn> Yes, there is indeed a time-line discrepency. When I wrote HttE there was no firm date for the Clone Wars, so I made my own assumptions.

<TimZahn> It turns out that I was about 15 years off, wherein lies the discrepency. Sorry.

<TimZahn> I haven't seen very much of Mara in the "Sith" game. We own it, but I haven't had time to play it yet.l

<ArtyEwok_TFN> )

<TimZahn> (Nor probably the skill, either. <G>)

<JeffP> <Palleon> How many Biblical terms did you use in the books and any that realy stand out?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> If Terry Pratchett can play Xwing, so can you play MOTS, Tim ;)

<Ghitsa> Leaving

<TimZahn> I don't know Del Rey's email address offhand, but their snailmail address should be printed at the beginning of every book they publish.

<Hal_Horn> I think they have a website at www.randomhouse.com

<JeffP> will there be any more books set in the Conqueror's universe?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Barb> I noticed the audio book version of VOTF is only 2 cassettes, the same as much shorter novels - a lot of good stuff must have been left out. Do you have any control over the editing of the script?

<ILikeZahn> I hope Del Rey hires you!!

<jedigrover> "Is Mr. Zahn aware that there is a character in the ROTJ Radio Drama (acknowledged by Steven Sansweet as 'canon') that there is a character named 'Arica' who spoke briefly with 3PO before mysteriously disappearing?"

<TimZahn> Aside from C'baoth, "Mara" means "bitter." Nothing else comes to mind, though the planet "New Cov" was named after the church we were attending at the time.

<Hal_Horn> )

<TimZahn> Yes, I know about Arica in the ROTJ radio drama---and was QUITE thrilled that she'd been put in there. Tony Daniels's suggestion, I believe.

<TimZahn> I don't have any more Conquerors books planned, but the universe IS wide open for more. Maybe some day.

<Hal_Horn> I remember an interview with you published in the first Star Wars Adventure Journals and you said you wanted to make the Noghri "the Sith" but LFL didn't let you. The sometime later Jedi Academy comes out and goes into the Sith. Is this the early build up for the prequels?

<TimZahn> Again, I have no control over any spinoffs of my SW books.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Mr. Zahn, what type of environment do you write in? I always find it interesting to see where authors dream up their masterpieces (i.e. George Lucas' office as seen in Lynn Hale's diary, etc)?

<TimZahn> LFL didn't want me to make the Noghri the Sith because they didn't know what GL wanted to do with them and didn't want me pre-empting them, as it were.

<TimZahn> By the time the other Sith stories were done, I presume that had all been more firmly nailed down.

<TimZahn> "Noghri" is adapted from the Persian word for "silver," by the way.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> )

<JeffP> So then are the Noghri somewhat tarnished by their work for the empire?

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* Mr. Zahn, were you tempted at all to kill off a major character in Votf, considering it was the last book in the timeline?

<TimZahn> I type at my desk in a room overlooking the Pacific ocean, with music playing in the background.

<TimZahn> "Tarnished Noghri." Cute. Real cute.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> where did you get the idea for the character of Grand Admiral Thrawn, and did you base the character on someone out of history? if so, who?

<TimZahn> I wasn't at all tempted to kill off a major character. However, I wanted you all to think I MIGHT do so---hence, the creation of tension in the reader.

<TimZahn> Did it work?

* JeffP felt that Mara would die.

<TimZahn> Thrawn isn't specifically based on anyone. He's probably someone my subconscious came up with by melding Robert E. Lee, Rommel, Ghengis Khan, and a dozen other military leaders of the past.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> )

<Hal_Horn> Science Fiction and Fantasy is quite big and a rather undeveloped field when you look at the rest of fiction. Out of all the fads and titles that have come and gone is there any universe you'd like to write in. And if so what?

<TimZahn> I never like to kill off a character unless the story line requires it. But when it IS necessary, I'm certainly willing.

<TimZahn> Thrawn, for instance.

<TimZahn> Generally, I prefer creating my own universes. That gives me more room to create the "feel" of the universe, as well as the characters and technology.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Yes, your books were more grandoise (sp!) than the Xwing books (I love Allstomn) but here's another Q (enough of us, it's you we want to know about <grin>) <Khabarakh> mr. Zhan do know many of the SW actors?

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* this is probably a wasted question, but did you find the sneaker in rotj mr zahn?

<TimZahn> I've met probably a half dozen of the actors, including Threepio, Boba Fett, Vader, Bib Fortuna, and the Wampa in the SE.

<TimZahn> The sneaker?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <HawkMcJonez> Where is Mara Jade in the Young Jedi Knight Books, Luke doesn't talk about her very much...'

<ArtyEwok_TFN> ) <Thrawnfan> The question was Could you explain your ideas on the Chiss? What would you like to do with them in future works

<TimZahn> Luke doesn't talk about Mara in the YJK books because we didn't want to telegraph that developing relationship.

<TimZahn> I tried to suggest in Vision that she would be cleaning up stuff with Karrde's organization for awhile, and then taking Jedi students off Yavin for further training.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> X-wing vs. Tie fighter, Jedi Knight?

<TimZahn> I'd certainly like to do more with the Chiss in future works. Whether I'll be allowed to explore that area or not, I don't know.

<jedigrover> Why 800 pages to set up a story and 20 to close it off? Kinda like a Star Trek episode...how about more detail on the peace treaty? (idea for another book?)

<Hal_Horn> *JediRobert Does Mr. Zahn regularly visit Star Wars websites? If so, which ones does he frequent?

<TimZahn> I haven't played any of the SW games, though I think we own most of them. That part of SW I usually leave to my son.

<JeffP> Do you have any any other non-SW books in the works or is he basically full time on comics now? <Phoenix7>

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Talon`> "Any tips/pointers for the aspiring writers?"

<Hal_Horn> There are of course several greats of science fiction. And plenty of great work out of the '50s and '60s when it comes to science fiction and I feel science fiction has somewhat lost what it's had over the last 20 or some years, but you seem to have captured that spirit in your star wars stories. Who was the biggest influence on your writing? What did you read when you

<TimZahn> Books (and other stories) generally end soon after the climax because everything afterward is literally "anti-climactic". Aside from cleanup and wrapup, you don't want to spend too much time after it's all "over."

<TimZahn> As to the peace treaty, and how it works, that would be the topic for another book.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Ziv> Mr. Zahn, In what I've read of VotF so far there is tension between Karoly and Shada (about half way), In Tales fron the Mos Eisley Cantina they work as a team, does this take place before, after, or later in VotF? Thanks

<TimZahn> I don't usually look at SW sites, except occasionally the official one. There are too many of them, and if I start surfing all of them I'll never get any work done. Our creditors HATE when that happens.<G>

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* would you have done anything different in the original trilogy mr. zahn??

<TimZahn> I'm just finishing up a standalone, non-SW book called THE ICARUS HUNT. I believe Bantam has it scheduled for August '99.

<jedigrover> "Thrawn" sounds an awful lot like "Zahn." Was that by intent?

<TimZahn> keep writing. It's the only way for you to hone your skills, and develop your style. Just keep writing, keep submitting stories, and keep writing.

<TimZahn> I read SF voraciously when I was growing up. The four writers I deliberately set out to emulate when I began were Larry Niven, Theodore Sturgeon, Keith Laumer, and Alistair MacLean.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Khabarakh> Mr. Zahn is your son interested in Star Wars too?

<jedigrover> *Rob-TDS* Why do you say that about books and what not? Reason being is that one of my current grad courses is "Form and Theory of Fiction". We spent nearly three hours discussing formats, Rising action, climax, and falling action. Some authors have several MINI-climaxes, while others have one large one. Would you say that you go with the typical greek tragedy design (which it appears you don't), if not - what format do you use, if you use one at

<TimZahn> THe "Tales" story takes place during ANH, about 19-20 years before Specter/Vision.

<JeffP> will there be any more on the fate of Captain Niriz, from the SWAJ Thrawn story? and where can we find more of the SWAJ stories? <ZahnFan>

<Hal_Horn> *JediRobert I'd just like to thank Mr. Zahn for breathing new life into the long-dormant Star Wars universe... we all remember what it was like during the "dark years," and how Mr. Zahn's books rekindled our passion for that galaxy far, far away.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Rob-TDS> Question #2 - Here goes another one - back to your discussion about the strength of the "force" - Kevin Anderson made Kyp Durron almost limitless in his Force Powers, does that bother you - or is it safe to say that Kyp's powers we an abnomality in Force powers. Granted they did come from the Sith, and his turn. Luke has also tested the Dark Side and returned.. do you feel that his powers have been enhanced or limited due to his experiences

<TimZahn> Do you mean MY original trilogy or the movies?

<TimZahn> My son likes the movies, but isn't all that interested in the books. Not even mine.

<mith> Thank you for your time, Mr. Zahn.

<TimZahn> alternating action/tension with calmer moments.

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* the original GL tril Mr. Zahn (sorry for confusion)

<TimZahn> I'm not sure exactly what the Greek tragedy design is.

<Hal_Horn> *Palleon* Mr.Zahn Ive tried writing small Star Wars books in the past.Most of my ideas were covered in your book VOTF or on this chat.But I ccan never get dialogue right.I have my charachters do nothing but think and do things. P.s The lightsaber proof rock was one of my earlier ideas. [all great minds think alike.]

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Kadr> Since you've been so generous with your time, Mr. Zahn, I'd like to give you a non-question and say that I absolutely LOVED your short-story character "Quelev Tapper." I think that he and Mara play off each other well in their positions with Karrde. Great work!

<Hal_Horn> *Kyle_Katar Mr. Zahn, are you at all surprised with the cult followings that some of your characters have??? Thrawn is almost as popular as Boba Fett and Mara Jade isn't too far behind Thrawn. Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, imagine that this would happen?

<TimZahn> I suspect Niriz is still out in the Unknown Regions. Aside from past issues of the Adventure Journal, and the Bantam anthologies, there aren't any other places the stories have been printed.

<Hal_Horn> *Kyp* Tell Mr. Zahn it's been an honor to talk to him but I have School tomarrow

<Hal_Horn> *Palleon* Oops I wanted to ask for his suggestion.

<TimZahn> I disagree with making ANY Jedi too powerful---again, referencing back to the limits shown or implied in the movies.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> With the empire defeated, who will be the new enemy?

<TimZahn> As to Luke, he may have gained in power by dabbling in the dark side, but I think it damaged him emotionally and spiritually.

<TimZahn> Which is something I tried to bring out in HoT.

<jedigrover> *Rob-TDS* Darin - PLEASE THANK HIM FOR ME <G> Done, Rob. Thanks, Tim!

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <LMS> Was Coruscant origionally your idea, or did it come fromLFL?

<TimZahn> I think I would have made the ewoks more believeable (at least to me) as warriors capable of taking on mechanized soldiers.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> ) (yubyub!)

<TimZahn> One of the women, of course. (Don't tell my wife!) If an alien, probably one of the Duros---I've always liked them.

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* another personal q Mr. Zahn, what's your favorite SW planet?

<TimZahn> I never imagined Mara and Thrawn would gain the popularity they did. It's very gratifying to have hit that kind of chord with so many of the readers.

<JeffP> can you tell me a little about THE ICARUS HUNT?

<jedigrover> More thanks from Adrea.

<TimZahn> If Del Rey picks up the story line, I would hope they would use the threats in the Unknown Regions as enemies. Not knowing what---if anything---Del Rey has in mind for that era, I can't answer further.

<TimZahn> The idea of the Imperial Planet was from GL. I merely gave it a name, which he chose to accept. Again, an unexpected honor.

<Gojhira> Oh look at me!!! I'm making people happy!!! I'm the magical man from happy land, with a gumdrop house on lollipop lane!!!! Oh by the way...I was being sarcastic.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> I just got it! "Entoo Needaan E-elz" is Anthony Daniels! He says he's mistaken for a droid and C-3PO calls him a "Curious little man." Very funny!

<TimZahn> "Thrawn" rhymes with "fawn," not Zahn. (Zahn rhymes with con.) Nothing intended there.

<TimZahn> No favorite SW planets, really.

<jedigrover> *DLoS|Deadpool* could u ask Mr. Zahn how he comes up with names in his books?

<TimZahn> Congrats, ArtyEwok. A little nod to Tony.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> )

<JeffP> <ZahnFan> Could you please ask T. Zahn if he intentionally left the beckon call plot thread open from the Thrawn trilogy to part of the (fascinating) backstory from Car'das and adventures on Dagobah (like the Caamssi idea)?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Khabarakh> I like the idea of the Noghri but I wanted to knowthat if you meant for them to be killers or molded and brought to shame by the Empire? The Nogrhi to me always seemed like peaceful intelligent creatures from your discriptions.

<TimZahn> I get names from various places, usually spending more time creating "major" characters' names. Mara means bitter, for example; Thrawn is Scottish for twisted.

<TimZahn> Other names I just create as I go along.

<TimZahn> Sorry, JMM. Congrats to you.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> JMM says 'Good night!"

<TimZahn> I didn't really plan the beckon call thread to go that far. When people kept commenting on it, and wondering aboutit, I went ahead and melded it in.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <Ziv> Speaking of ewoks (sorry, big fan) is there any chance at all one could pop up some where in any future SW books you may write? ;)

<JeffP> so then "Mara Jade" is a "bitter, disreputable woman"?

<TimZahn> honorable beings who happen to have skills the Empire found useful and exploited.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> It might be covered in VotF i don't know but I'm curious of how Palleon got the Chimera back. (In Darksaber Anderson seemed to right it out.) Is it the same Chimera or did Palleon rename is flag?

<TimZahn> I won't be dealing with ewoks if or when I do more SW. There are a lot of other characters/aliens I would rather work with.

<TimZahn> I don't know exactly what Kevin did with the CHimera. I presume it's the same one.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> <LMS> Of all the Mara Jade pictures you have seen, which one fits best with your vision of her?

<TimZahn> It's getting pretty late, especially on the east coast, and I want to list my curren convention schedule.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Great minds, yadda yadda ;)

<Hal_Horn> *Flim* thanx for your time Mr. Zahn, your a genious [sic]

<jedigrover> Tim, we're getting lots of applause. It's been an honor!

<TimZahn> I'm not too tired---really. Let me list my con schedule

<Hal_Horn> Who (and how) would contact if we were interested in having you appear at another online event?

<TimZahn> Sept 25-27, Mad Media con, Madison WI; Oct 9-11, Necronomicon, Tampa FL;

<TimZahn> Oct 17-18, Phoenix library celebration, Phoenix AZ; Nov 6-8, SciCon, Virginia Beach, VA

<Hal_Horn> *Kyle_Katar Mr. Zahn, thank you for staying so long and answering our questions. My last one for this evening is a simple one, if you had your own lightsaber, what color would it be??

<TimZahn> To contact me about cons (or anything else) you can write me at P.O. Box 1755, Coos Bay, OR 97420

<TimZahn> I'm a VERY slow correspondant. (Books to write, you know.)

<TimZahn> I really haven't seen a Mara Jade yet that was completely satisfactory, but the Vision cover isn't too bad.

<Hal_Horn> You can have Mr. Zahn writing YOU letters or US novels.

<ArtyEwok_TFN> ) Thanks Tim! <warm n fuzzy ewok hug!>

<TimZahn> On-line events can be coordinated through Jeff or Darin---they know how to find me.

<TimZahn> My own lightsaber? Frankly I don't CARE what color it is. I just want one!

<TimZahn> THank you all for coming. I've enjoyed it. We'll have to do this again sometime, right?

<ArtyEwok_TFN> I have one that you can have, Tim, but.. there's some trouble with the batteries... they don't make those crystals like they used to ;)

<JeffP> yes we will

<TimZahn> Good night, all.

<JeffP> Thanks for coming Tim

<ArtyEwok_TFN> Indubitably, Tim! Good night!

<Hal_Horn> You did a great job, Mr. Zahn.

<jedigrover> Ok, everybody is saluting and thanking and bowing kissing feet! We love you man!

<Sabrina> Thanks for the chat Timothy Zahn!

<Hal_Horn> You did fine. No author minds hering someone likes theirwork.

<Hal_Horn> *Palleon* cLAP CLAP

<TimZahn> If you have more convention qustions, btw, most of them have websites. I don't know them offhand, but they should be easy to search for.

<TimZahn> Good night.