Attn JT: FT Novels

> Full Thrust: the Lunchbox. Lemming-like, FT completists rush out and
A question: wouldn't the Sa'Vasku lunchbox EAT the lunch?

Just checking..

Hi Jon:
        Recently I had a chance to pick up a copy of the new Weber/White
Starfire novel (On Death Ground). While leafing through it I was wondering
"Why can't we do something similar with the Full Thrust universe." I mean,
your offical universe is full of war, intrique, and oppertunities for epic
storytelling. Have you considered the idea of coming out with a series of
novels?

Later,

In article <33C282C0.9F1D1A35@csd.uwm.edu>,
> Mark A. Siefert <cthulhu@csd.uwm.edu> wrote:

Full Thrust, boldly going where every marketing consultant has gone before,
the last best hope, for a quick buck..

Full Thrust: the Lunchbox. Lemming-like, FT completists rush out  and
get one, to complete their set (the Kravak lunchbox, the Savasku lunchbox, the
ESU lunchbox...)

I bags a storyline where Aussies help restore self-determination  to
East Timor.

> Hi Jon:

Yes, Mark, it is something we have often considered and would dearly love
to do - I certainly know enough professional SF writers over here that
like and play FT and would love to do something. As always, the problem is
money
- it is not viable in "mainstream book" publishing terms unless we can
interest an established publisher. Of course, printing small-press
fiction

> Recently I had a chance to pick up a copy of the new Weber/White

Funnily enough, being a writer, I've thought about basing stuff in the FT
universe...

---

> > Recently I had a chance to pick up a copy of the new

Perhaps the answer lies in a collection of short stories, or even a couple of
novellas, bound together in the one volume. Maybe even bundled with the
next supplement - I know people are going to object to that! - to ensure
some sales.

Just a thought.

---

> Full Thrust: the Lunchbox. Lemming-like, FT completists rush out and

No. The Sa'Vasku lunchbox IS the lunch.....
> [quoted text omitted]

[snip]

> Perhaps the answer lies in a collection of short stories, or even a

If we ever managed to get a "proper" FT fiction book published (I mean for
the book market, not just the gamers, like the Weber/STARFIRE stuff), I
reckon the best way would be basically as you suggest - a "shared world
anthology" style of book with plenty of short stories and novelettes. This
way, the individual authors would be free to explore the more minor, quirky
aspects of the FT "universe" - even humourously if they wish - rather
than having to take the "big picture" approach that a full novel might be
forced into. As mentioned, I already know several good published UK writers
who, though they could not fit a full novel into their schedules, could easily
be prodded into doing us a short or two.

This is definitely a subject for further discussion and thought....

> On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, Ground Zero Games wrote:

> If we ever managed to get a "proper" FT fiction book published (I mean
...

Hmm...? I hope you're not suggesting that "Crusade", "Insurrection" or "In
Death Ground" aren't published for the book market? Just as all those
AD&D-based novels (Dragonlance chronicles etc) are published for generic
Fantasy readers but have an extra appeal to AD&D players, the novels set in
the Starfire universe are published for generic SF fans. They sell a
lot better than the game Starfire - it can't be Starfire addicts only
who buy them.

To continue the parallel with the AD&D books, there is a Starfire module
covering Crusade, ISW4 - covering "In Death Ground", as well as its as
yet
unpublished sequel - is available from the SDS in beta-test format, and
we're currently working on an Insurrection module. These are, of course,
published for the gamers only - but they shouldn't be confused with the
novels themselves.

> ... I
This
> way, the individual authors would be free to explore the more minor,

A word of warning: Don't tie the books too closely to the game, or people
might start thinking of the game as firmly fixed to that background. OK,

we old fans won't, but I don't want to see potential new players spoilt
:/

Another thing to be wary of is how tech works in the books... and especially
tech feedback from the books to the game. We (the Starfire
Design Studio) have problems with several aspects of Weber's material -
things that are great Space Opera, but just won't work in a game. Then a
player reads the books, and says "...but they do this in the novel! Why can't
I?", taking the books as canon. I think Full Thrust is a lot
sturdier than Starfire in this respect, but I know first-hand what a
mess an inspired author can cause <sigh>.

Later,

> Full Thrust: the Lunchbox. Lemming-like, FT completists rush out and
A question: wouldn't the Sa'Vasku lunchbox EAT the lunch?

Just checking..

<snippity snip snip>

> "Why can't we do something similar with the Full Thrust universe."

Could we at least consider changing the name a bit? As it is, I get some
strange looks when, after being asked about any plans Tuesday night, I tell
people I'm going out with the guys to play some Full Thrust. I'm got a feeling
that if a series of titles was published with the masthead saying "Full
Thrust!" that the books would notbe shelved in the Science Fiction area.

BTW: I remember not too long ago someone in this list had mentioned doing a
surface navy set of rules and was calling it "Wet Thrust". Well... that one
I'm not going to touch with a ten foot pole [or eighteen inch one for that
matter].

Lastly, I'm a somewhat new subscriber/reader of this list so I'm not
sure what has been covered in the past, but do members on this list also
discuss the history, events, etc. of the FT: Universe?

> At 10:12 PM 7/8/97 +0100, you wrote:

I'd just like to point out that game fiction is currently in a decline. The
returns from Random House are what almost did in TSR. Their once lucrative
novel line is in decline, a trend seen in other game related fiction. On the
other hand, I had considered writing some FT fiction myself. Instead, I've
been concentrating on my own stuff (including an alternate WWII history novel
which I've put on hiatus to finish a technical writing contract).

In a message dated 97-07-09 14:56:39 EDT, you write:

<<
If we ever managed to get a "proper" FT fiction book published (I mean for
 the book market, not just the gamers, like the Weber/STARFIRE stuff), I
 reckon the best way would be basically as you suggest - a "shared world
anthology" style of book with plenty of short stories and novelettes. This
way, the individual authors would be free to explore the more minor, quirky
 aspects of the FT "universe" - even humourously if they wish - >>

As a enthusiastic reader of the Fleet collections brought out by David Drake
I'd love to see something like this

> interest an established publisher. Of course, printing small-press
The
> returns from Random House are what almost did in TSR. Their once
On the

Maybe I've been really out of touch (hell, it was 3 days after the fact when I
heard about the Mir situation!), but I noticed a heck of a lot of B'tech
related novels out there lately.

Okay....so write up a story in 'another universe' (make it up yerself) and
apply the FT/DS2/SG2 rules to any encounters you play out. Don't tell
any-
one about that part. Then only us FTers will know. For everyone else it'll
just be another universe and the encounters interesting in and of themselves.
The rest of us will go play 'em out.  ;-)

Mk

> On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, John M. Huber wrote:

> Lastly, I'm a somewhat new subscriber/reader of this list so I'm not

Not much at all. From what I've read, it seems that most contributors to

the list use their own backgrounds rather than JT's unofficial, but published,
one:)

Later,

> On Wed, 9 Jul 1997, Ground Zero Games wrote:
...
> Hmm...? I hope you're not suggesting that "Crusade", "Insurrection" or

Sorry, I phrased the sentence badly - I meant exactly what you said, and
should have put it as:
"(I mean for the book market, like the Weber/STARFIRE stuff, not just
the
gamers) ...
Make more sense now??

> To continue the parallel with the AD&D books, there is a Starfire

> novels themselves.
This
> way, the individual authors would be free to explore the more minor,
OK,
> we old fans won't, but I don't want to see potential new players spoilt

I know what you mean! That is one reason why we'd like to look at the little
areas in the stories, ie: "people" stories rather than narratives of complete
wars! Anyhow, thanks for the tips and input.

> <snippity snip snip>
that one
> I'm not going to touch with a ten foot pole [or eighteen inch one for

There is a story behind the title: originally (back in 1990/91) the game
was to be called something horribly mundane like "Grand Fleet" or similar....
then a good friend of mine said to me "that's not snappy enough"; I said
"well, how about "FULL THRUST" then?" His response was, "you wouldn't dare..".
So we did. The rest, as they say, is history....:)

Although our little group does use the background for most of our engagements.
I would like to hear more about what the others of you

who use the background think.. BTW everybody thanks for the great list.

Best one I have ever been on.

                                             Semper Fi
                                              Jon

______________________________ Reply Separator

> John M. Huber wrote:

Could we at least consider changing the name a bit? As it is, I get some
strange looks when, after being asked about any plans Tuesday night
...

I just say Im playing with space ships and ignore the funny looks!