MARVIN KAYE

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Yes, Mr. Kaye. Also what a pleasure it is to enjoy a short story and I must say a frightening story is a special pleasure. I feel you share this pleasure. "If these amazing experiences are real I shall go mad; if they are fanciful I am mad already." The Damned Thing scared me. accardijohn@yahoo.com

I, too, loved the Masters of Solitude, and I'm a professional writer. Although the details are a bit blurry to me now, I remember it being completely gripping. The division between the three "worlds" was very well wrought and suggestive. Any scifi/fantasy publisher who wouldn't jump at the chance to publish the next in the series shouldn't be in the publishing business. Of course, there are a lot of publishers who fit that description, unfortunately. But don't give up!

Dear Mr Kaye,

I was only 8 or 9 when I first put my hands on "The Masters of Solitude". Since english is not my native language, I had to wait a few years. It may surprise you to know that it was the first english book I read, and took me 3 years to finish while I looked up the strange words in dictionary, or got buried in encyclopaeidas for hours -even days- just to read one more page and understand it :) Unbelievable, isn't it?

I have been waiting for the third book for a long time. I hope you will complete this trilogy- and why not put all three in one book when you do it?

Still waiting :(

Eru

TRILOGY UPDATE -- SINGER AMONG THE NIGHTINGALES

Because of some interest shown by an agent who was recommended to me, Parke Godwin and I are giving the idea of writing the final volume of the trilogy that began with "The Masters of Solitude" and "Wintermind" another try.

While I don't have my hopes all that high that this will happen, we have at least discussed the floor advance we would require, and have decided to keep it fairly modest.

If and when further news develops, I'll report it here.
MK
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I'll add my voice as well... I'm 32 now (yes, only sightly older than the book itself) and first read my paperback version of Masters of Solitude back in... well, a long time ago. I think high school. My paperback's holding up nicely. It only has three major crease lines on the spine and one harsh fold on the front cover, the paper's gotten to be a nice shade and the red tint to the edges of the pages is holding up nicely. It hasn't lost any pages yet, nor are there any pages or sections stuck back in and the cover side glue is still intact.

It's even in better shape than my paperback of "The Player of Games" by Ian Banks even though I've read "Masters..." many times more.

I actually never realized there was a second book because I never saw or heard of it (very few people I've met know of "Masters...") and I'm going to find it today even if I have to drive an hour or more to find a used book store that still has it. "Masters of Solitude" really meant a lot to me back then and even now.

I'm quite content with the first book being a stand-alone masterpiece but if there's more of the story to be told then I would love to read the conclusion in a final published novel rather than someone's collections of notes and drafts from authors gone by in fifty years from now. So add my voice to the requests for a third novel :)

How nice! Been a fan of your work since I read The Incredible Umbrella in College. By coincidence my parents had a record of a radio show with Basil Rathbone playing Scrooge. He was (of course) fantastic!
Jeff Baker

I can't tell you how important Masters and Wintermind are to me. Let's just say that I would not be the person I am had I not read them both 20+ years ago, and I've also reread them multiple times since then. In fact, living in a hurricane area, when evacuating, they go with me. I'm not taking any chances of losing them. I understand your problem about writing the last part of the Trilogy without a significant advance. I have a suggestion... as others have stated, I too would be more than willing to pay $100 or even more for the story IN ADVANCE! I'm sure others feel the same. This is an important book, as are the two previous... what can we do for you? Please consider setting up a way that we can pay for the book IN ADVANCE... a boxed set would be great, but the third book in any form would be acceptable and greatly appreciated. I don't think the publishers realize how important to how many, this story is.... Thank you,
Lynne Heller ( livesalone502@yahoo.com )

Dear Mr. Kaye,

Would you kindly make available some excerpts of "The Last Christmas of Ebenezer Scrooge", perhaps on Amazon? It would help me and perhaps others to decide whether to buy it. Thank you.
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There is a site available for this purpose; it was set up my friend Kathy Szaj, who is Educational Director of The Open Book (q.v.).

This is the address -- https://sites.google.com/site/lastchristmasofebenezerscrooge/scrooge-resources
mk
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Mr. Kaye,
I have been a big fan of yours since reading the Masters of Solitude when I was 13. I have re-read it several times since, and each time I have found something new. I first read Wintermind in the special holdings section in the library at Michigan State as a sophomore. This book has also held up extremely well with time. Please add me to the list of fans who would love to read the finale of the trilogy.

Jamie Faulk


Just another reader who would love to see a finish to the Singer trilogy. Please!

Jim

I was saddened by the notice on the passing of Bill Bonham on your website and the website of Murray State University. I have fond memories of Prof. Bonham with whom I had a class in 1965. My father, J. Albert Tracy, was the Chair of the Speech Department who hired Bill. While I had graduated by the time Bill left the College, I remember how much my father appreciated Bill's exceptional talents as a teacher and as a person and hated to see him leave.

Martin B. Tracy

Mr. Kaye,
I've been an inspired fan of The Masters of Solitude since i was 14 -- it sits on my bookshelf between my 2 other treasured writers Vladimir Nabokov & Gore Vidal. I think you should seriously consider submitting a screenplay version to Joss Whedon -- This is a Joss Whedon movie. I sent an email suggesting he read your novel to his production company Mutant Enemy. You can find the contact info on www.imdb.com. This would just about make my year. Fingers crossed! Best Wishes and thank you for Singer, he saved my childhood... Regards, Livvy.

Hi Marvin, I have just read The Haunted Single Malt and was surprised to read about my song The Massacre of Glencoe. One slightly pedantic note, the song is written in a major key, no minor chords .. but then again some people might fit the odd one in. Anyway it was a nice surprise and I liked the story, too! Kind regards, Jim Mclean (JawMac@aol.com)

Like the website, but would LOVE to see Masters of Solitude completed. Like others, I would pay handsomely for an electronic, simple printed or even handwritten on a napkin version. Give Tor a call again, they seem to be running out of good works to print. Brad Weber

I'm totally impressed by your website. Greetings from a voice from the long past. D. Ossar
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COMMENT FROM MARVIN KAYE

Dear Dave! Am thrilled to hear from you! Would love to see you again. Where are you, what are you doing, how can we be in touch? If you still see Bill Handley, send him my fond regards!
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I would love to see the story finished for the "Masters of Solitude Series". It is a great story.
Well, what can I say, except that which so many others have iterated before me? Please, Mr Kaye, do not let such a fantastic piece of fiction die such an ignoble death. It has been 35 years since I read Masters, and not until recently that I found the true name of this work. (I read Masters of Solitude while doing National Service, lent the book to someone, and could not remember the name.) The story left THAT much of an impression. I happened upon this site by chance while searching for this work, and lo and behold, there is another book? Wow. But the trilogy is unfinished. Sad day. (OOPs, better make that 25 years!)

"Singer Among the Nightingales" needs to be written. As a Professor of English Literature, I am convinced that the previous two books are more than just great fiction -- they are important literature. Perhaps they haven't been noticed as such yet, but they will in time. For the sake of humanity, please find a small publisher. I would suggest a new-age publisher such as Hampton Roads, or one dedicated to publishing on the margins, such as Ephemera Bound, or a second-tier academic press such as Parlor Press. There are many, many other possibilites. Write it, and I will assign the whole trilogy to be read in various courses. Write it and I will push it at academic conferences, publish articles on it, demonstrate its importance to the world. Literature is the foundation of meaning, not just entertainment. To fail to write this novel would be on par with Descartes incredible failure to invent the Calculus (setting the world back two generations) or the cultural blindness of Durkheim (setting the world back a century). You owe it to the world!

I do like the website, actually. Very easy to navigate and remarkably on point with content geared to headings. Comment - I just discovered Wintermind (several decades after "Masters"). While the working title for the finale is scary, I hope that someone will pick it up soon ~ Baen/Flint perhaps. It's a tale worth concluding, and Arin is a character that calls for follow up. Thanks for your work with Open Book - a vibrant resource. Rick

A while back I was in a Goodwill and was idly perusing a bin of books for sale. I was undertaking a roadtrip to California that same day and wanted something great to read. Suddenly, out of the jumble of Nora Roberts romances and other such unmemorable penny dreadfuls leapt the title, "Devils and Demons". I knew this was the book for me. There are some really great stories within the bindings, but by far my favorite is "The Philosophy of Sebastian Trump or The Art of Outrage". I laughed until I couldn't laugh any more and then I gave the book to my brother to read the story. He also loves it. Thanks so much for putting it in the book! p.s. Strangely enough, none of my friends appreciate the unique brand of humor the story showcases. Well, their loss.
It is too bad that the publishers are so "out of touch" with science fiction fans. Passing on the final MASTERS OF SOLITUDE story is very short sighted. If you take the typical number of readers represented by the comments here, then you have to multiply these calls for the book by one thousand - do the math TOR. Maybe they could market it as fantasy or magic to sell the number of copies needed to make it "worthwhile". One last thought. Write the book ask your fans to pay $100 for a digital copy of the work ans see if it makes it worth your while. I'd pay $500 if it was available!

Sterling Lanier did not finish his wonderful story of Hiero, leaving the third book unwritten. Please don't follow his lead. Finish the Masters of Solitude trilogy.

Leaving the MASTERS OF SOLITUDE "Trilogy" unfinished is just plain cruel. No author wants to write a novel that he can't sell, but just because your agent isn't interested does not mean that book publishers would feel the same way. I can't believe that David Hartwell would pass on it. Write it for your fans!!

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UPDATED COMMENT FROM MARVIN KAYE: While you are preaching to the converted (I REALLY want to write the final volume!), so far no publisher has expressed interest. My agent thinks it's just too long after the other two books to arouse much interest. A pity; I would like to do a minor reedit of the "Masters" and reissue it along with "Wintermind." As for Dave Hartwell, with whom I've had a long amiable relationship, I don't know what his personal feelings might be, but he's part of the editorial staff of Tor Books, and they passed on the chance of publishing "Singer Among the Nightingales."

I receive more mail and personal requests at conventions to write "Singer Among the Nightingales," so it is extremely frustrating that no one wishes to publish it. It would be difficult for me to write it without Parke's participation, and he is no condition (no authors are!) to write it on spec. I'm not able to do so, either, but while Parke is ready to forget about it .. and that goes double for my agent! -- I very much would like to write it. But unless some publisher rises out of the mists and offers a good advance, this will not be possible.

FYI, though at present, I'm at work on a sequel to "Frankenstein," I have done a deal of advance plotting on "Singer Among the Nightingales." Its story is pretty well set. It involves interaction between Singer, of course, Arin, a new character in Myudah, and a surprise character from "Masters."
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Hello, Mr. Kaye, a few months ago I found copies of your books The Masters of Solitude and its sequel in a small store and on a whim I bought them and I'm so glad I did. When I started reading the first book I was truely stunned at what a unique and interesting story it was, I almost didn't read the sequel because the first part of the story was so... perfect? on it's own but I'm glad I did. This is one of the first stories in I can't remember how long that I really became engrossed in - I enjoyed the books, they were stunning. I'm looking forward to reading even more of your work. The Masters of Solitude has become my favorite book of at least the last decade and I'd love to know - would you do the honor of signing my beat up old copy? You've already given so much with your writing but it's something I would treasure for years and years to come. Thanks for your time, Tiffany boredbody08@gmail.com

Hello, Mr. Kaye, I have 3 of what I think are your best books, I know you did not write them but you selected some of the best stories I have ever read, Masterpieces of Terror and The Unknown, Masterpices of Terror and the Supernatural and Weird Tales. I love these books,I have owned them ever since I was a kid, my dad gave me them to me when I was young. I treasure these books more than any other in my collection. Sincerly, Daniel

Hello, Mister Kaye, My name is Ronny Decuyper and I live in Belgium. In 1983 I read "The Masters of Solitude" (in Dutch translation) and I was stunned! The book was from a friend of mine and recently I could purchase a second hand one in perfect shape. Of course I re-read it in no time even discovering much more detail than 24 years ago. So I started searching the web and found out that it is part of a trilogy. So now I ordered Wintermind and like many other readers I wonder if there is gonna be a part 3? I would be much obliged if you would be so kind to answer to that question. Other readers are welcome too of course. Thank you so much in advance, RD (Belgium) ronny.decuyper@telenet.be

Hi, Marvin. My name is Mikaela Lewis and I am insanely interested in the status of Singer Among the Nightingales. I read both Masters of Solitude and Wintermind twice before I turned 16 and now that I've graduated from high school I'm reading Masters of Solitude out loud to my younger sister. It would be really wonderful to have the third book in a much-loved and highly under appreciated (by the public) series. Please reply asap. Thank you. My email is dawn_sister@hotmail.com. Anxiously awaiting your response, Mikaela Lewis.

Hi. Marvin. I would love an update on "Singer Among the Nightingales." I was very excited when I first heard the news. My father and I have been following Singer for a long time. Thanks, Chris [chris@sidesix.com]

deer mister kay, I wood like to be a actor and riter if you could teech me how yours truly/pete godwin age 10

An excellent web site! I visit it often! Keep up the good work! --Loay H. Hall, Blackwell, Oklahoma

I like it very much!
-- Susie from Idaho