More wine flowed.
Gordy sympathized eloquently, pointing out that this was a problem all writers
encountered as they grew more and more successful. Time! Time to fulfil your
commitments and still be able to write the fun things you really want to write.
As an example, he pointed out that there were countless story potentials in his
Dorsai universe, but that he was barely able to find the time to complete the
Childe Cycle novels, much less pursue all the spin-offs.
More wine flowed.
The ideal thing, Lynn suggested, was to be able to franchise one’s ideas and
worlds out to other authors. The danger there, Gordy pointed out, was the danger
of losing control. None of us were particularly wild about letting any Tom,
Dick, or Harry play around with our pet ideas.
More wine flowed.
Anthologies! If we went to an anthology format, we could invite authors to
participate, as well as having final say as to the acceptability of the stories
submitted.
Gordy ordered a bottle of champagne.
Of course, he observed, you’ll be able to get some top-flight authors for this
because it’ll be fun. They’ll do it more for the love of the idea than for the
money.
I remarked on the ease with which ‘our’ idea had become ‘my’ anthology. As the
weight of the project had suddenly come to rest on my shoulders, I asked whether
he intended to assist or at least contribute to the anthology. His reply set the
classic pattern for nearly all the contributors to Thieves’ World: I’d love to,
but I don’t have the time. It’s a lovety idea, though.