Raymond E. Feist in the Netherlands

    American born writer Raymond E. Feist visited The Netherlands after having been Guests of Honour at the 1999 British Fantasy Society FantasyCon XXIII, which took place in Birmingham, September.

    On his visit to this kingdom he said to have had a great time walking in Amsterdam before the signing events. The streets have a better design for a stroll than those in Ottawa, another favourite place to take a hike, according to Mr. Feist. The window art in Amsterdam was extremely striking, especially since the pictures seemed to move. I can understand that from a man who practically grew up in film studios and on location because of his father, the film director. What better pictures than moving pictures, right?

    After first having had a literary evening in a cultural center (De Bussel) in Oosterhout on Thursday 21 September, Ray was interviewed the next day by the owner of Elf Fantasy Shop in The Hague, with an audience of his readers present. Following that there was some time for questions from the audience. The usual comparison with other works of fantasy such as "The Lord of the Rings" and this time even "Dune" proved to be something close to impossible, mainly because of different motives/motivations of authors for writing their books. The value of Feist's books comes from a mind that wishes to entertain with his work. Ray couldn't even begin to imagine shaping and describing a character that for instance rapes and violates minors for no other reason than having a freaked up sensory system. At least that's what I thought he explained to his audience. If readers get a better feeling from the interacting characters in the stories, e.g. a character that tells another character simply to try to cope with the stump of his leg, pep talks and all, then Ray is thankful, but he will point out this part or whichever part of the story was not intended as morals toward the reader. Primarily the writer feels he is a craftsman. And for the craft of writing you need at least pen and paper. In theory anyone can be a writer but not without lots and lots of practice. The only way to become a writer is to write, to write and to write, as Ray explained upon a frequently asked question regarding tips for the craft.

    Seeing Ray, being at the ready with his writing tool eager to autograph the Author's Preferred Edition of my once given birthday present "Magician", I presented myself with the addition of being from the list. A handshake of mutual politeness and appreciation of being able to finally meet in person was in order <g>. We had minor chit chatty words of conversation for there was a big queue of people behind me and they were dying to get their books signed. I announced that my presence in Rotterdam the next day would most probably be inevitable, because friends of mine were also going to attend the Rotterdam book signing. Happily there was no horrified look on Ray's face, so I dared once again to meet the writer that I experience as a true master of modern fantasy writing, partially rooted in the world of role playing game days gone-by.

   In the Rotterdam interview at Donner Bookshop Ray said he usually asks his good friend and fellow friday-nighter Steve Abrams about the geography in the world of Midkemia, e.g. when Ray is at a loss trying to decide whether the baker is on the left or the right side of a street in Krondor. Then it is amazing how Steve just knows that at that point in the street there is no baker at all, only a blacksmith. Steve has been spending a great deal on building the Midkemian realms, and he knows much of its stuff by heart. To his reading audience Ray announced that there is going to be an atlas of Midkemia soon, co-authored by Steve and him, and he gave a little insight into the stuff he is busy writing: two SF novels, and he is doing a special series Tales of the Riftwar, with three other writers at the moment, if I recall correctly.

   Although Fantasy is selling better at the moment, I'm sure I'm going to be in line to buy the science fiction titles when they hit the book shelves. Raymond E. Feist wrote a very fine book called Faerie Tale some years back which is a bit away from the Fantasy genre. My expectations of the SF books currently being written are great. Anyway, I'm very curious at this moment what the books are going to be like, I'm sure I will enjoy them because REF always failed to disappoint me with his books.

After the booksigning there was still time for Ray to have a "moot" with his Dutch listfans. Unfortunately not every Dutch list member was present. Our small group ordered some drinks and got settled in uncomfy cafeteria chairs. We stumbled over our heavily accented words to make notions clear and fire questions at Ray.

From Left to Right: Ray, Marc, Edwin, Arrian, Irene, Leen

In reply Ray tried his best at impressing us with a German accent, for our entertainment. Suddenly there was an unscheduled, and to some, quite shocking and heavy event: A Frisian Valkyre and her mate chanted to us disturbing historical facts about a yet long deceased geezer named Sigmund(!) Feist and his family. Ray pointed out that the branches of the family tree shown, were not of his own family genealogy.
Ray, enjoying specialty beer at Donner bookstore in Rotterdam

When the Wagner song had faded out some small questions were answered about Faerie Tale, and Ray found out about our professions and current jobs. Anyhow, we engaged in conversation and started to enjoy the beers and other titbits of food and drink and information.

For more information on Raymond E. Feist and his works, click the following link: The Raymond E. Feist Web Ring or the index page