The Gemmell Universe

[Phil Keeton]

Often, I read David's books and was left wanting more, and I guess most of you were too. So, where did you want to see the stories go? Which characters did you want another story about? Which tantalising bits of plot left your curiosity piqued but unsatiated?

Are you lost in the Tales of the Drenai..............or a clansman of the Rigante? Did you want more Sipstrassi?

Come and sit around the camp fire and let us exchange stories of our heroes and heroines, their exploits and speculate on their deeds!

[Mikhail Karan]

The war of the Twins, at the end of King beyond the gate there were two twins, one was good and one was evil, i want to know what happened. I think they also mention it in The Swords of Night and Day.

[Phil Keeton]

Reply by Mikhail Karan 9 hours ago
The war of the Twins, at the end of King beyond the gate there were two twins, one was good and one was evil, i want to know what happened. I think they also mention it in The Swords of Night and Day.

Yes, good call!.......Any suggestions how their tail could weave into the Drenai history? Where would this have a knock on effect in the timeline? Would they have been so clearly defined or do you think Gemmell would have given each capacity to change? Given the twins heritage how would you think they'd have developed?

[Mikhail Karan]

I believe that at the start they wouldn't know they were brothers/twins. Heroes would be born on both sides, and the story would follow both Drenai and Nadir. At some point in the story i think that they would realize how they are related and they would face a common evil that is stronger than both nations put together. This would make heroes and the twins to fight together and it would be so epic. I am almost positive that Gemmell has made notes on this topic, and at some point someone should seek out to write this using his notes that i am sure Stella has kept.

[Phil Keeton]

I believe that at the start they wouldn't know they were brothers/twins. Heroes would be born on both sides, and the story would follow both Drenai and Nadir. At some point in the story i think that they would realize how they are related and they would face a common evil that is stronger than both nations put together. This would make heroes and the twins to fight together and it would be so epic. I am almost positive that Gemmell has made notes on this topic, and at some point someone should seek out to write this using his notes that i am sure Stella has kept.

Hmmm..........a common evil? Physical or ethereal? Would there be a need for the talents of The Thirty? Would the twin’s moment of recognition be a spiritual one......in battle or in need? Would other heroes stand by them, as they did in the tunnel at Dros Delnoch? Would Nadir and Drenai fight in common cause? That is if of course the Drenai truly remain following the Nadir invasion?

My own thoughts would be that the twins receive the spiritual training of their respective dual heritage and that they are always subconsciously aware of each other as alter egos. Their journey into adulthood would require their link to be cut to prevent some form of schizophrenic meltdown and The Thirty would act to shield one from the other. In a light / dark style balance the twins would have to battle an ethereal force that is attempting to insinuate it's way into control over the new empire.....the forces required to do so would require the twins to breach the veil and this could unleash all sorts of problems (for later stories) but also allow them to call upon the wisdom and skills of the departed..............however, (twist) these heroes are the illusion of this ethereal power and start to lead the twins toward a sticky end. Perhaps this will result in the death of one and the rise of the other as a puppet (More books required) or the fall of one in order to sacrifice themselves for the other and in so doing prevent the evil force from succeeding.

For me their needs to be human struggle, the pain of loss and the joy of reunion. Gemmell would also weave the spiritual through the physical and twins are often considered as having some ethereal connection even in the secular modern world......so why not make their story one of spiritual struggle as well as a physical one?

[drosdelnoch]

Alas the war of the twins is a book that David tried writing a few times but was never happy with the results we do know a few things about it though, it was indeed a war between the two twins, the Drenai twin, Aradan (mentioned in tSoN&D) was the winner. We also know that the Sathuli were erradicated during the war as were a Temple of the Thirty.

[Phil Keeton]

Cheers Dros....it's been a while since I read tSoN&D, so thanks for the info. I shall be getting it down off the shelf tonight. I pretty sure there are quite a few people that would love to know more about David's works in progress........

I've noticed that by skipping a generation (or two) an author allows for the historical links but gives time for new challenges to arise for new heroes...........perhaps rather like the "Legends" compendium where authors have written short stories for the own worlds, it would be brilliant to see writers pay David's world(s) tribute by telling some "Campfire Tales" of the Drenai / Nadir / Rigante etc...

Your thoughts?

[locke]

Hi all! as mentioned before on this subject, I too want to here the tale of the twins. I also have a great idea. We all know Conn Iggulden is a big fan of gemmells and you can see this in his writing. If you have read his Ghengis series then it's not that much of a stretch of the imagination for him to write this book. There are also several good reasons for Conn to get involved. He can show how much he liked the big man by doing this as a tribute and at the same time cut his teeth in the fantasy world. He would also have a massive crossover appeal from his own series.
What are your thoughts?

[Phil Keeton]

Oh dear, that's more for my reading list.....but it sounds like a plan!I must admit I do like the idea of a non-fantasy genre writer bringing their skills to the field, although one could argue that all fiction is fantasy, and historical writing gives a bit of latitude with reality.

I have been re-reading tSoN&D and although I found reference to the decimation of the Sathuli but have not yet reached any reference to Aradan. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this book too!

As I re-read tSoN&D, I do get the feeling that Gemmell is drawing the tales of this world to a close. Although their is scope for more adventure, I get a feeling of "slippage" in this world which is somewhat irreversible.....is the Heroic Age over and a Dark Age upon them all?

Breathing life into new stories of the Drenai would have to be prior to David's final words. I still feel some short stories would be the way to go..........

[drosdelnoch]

If it helps Phil, Aradan is a throw away name mentioned in the Drenai Heroes list.

I'm not sure if it would work with the whole intellectual copyright, although if memory serves, Conn has said that the more he researched Genghis the more similarities he found with Ulric which he thought was quite spooky.
It could be an interesting option and were anyone to write short stories in Daves world's I would hope that they leave major characters alone, I'd hate to see my memories tarnished of Druss or any of the others.

[Phil Keeton]

Thanks for that Dros!

I agree that the main characters should be sacrosanct......I have always been fond of those moments in books where minor characters discuss their heroes unaware of their presence. Each Hero, particularly Druss, bears the weight of these tales which makes them essentially Gemmell.

I return to the idea of campfire tales............each voice about the campfire adding their own version of a tale about the subject hero / heroine. Perhaps the last tale told would that of the hidden hero. Should an author choose to write such tales then the final tale could be the 'authorised' version of events, perhaps.

[locke]

Sounds good! but the twins are new characters, so are fair game. Besides that, apparently another writer (Sanderson) is finishing the wheel of time for Robert Jordan, so why not!? Even if Conn doesn't do it, I think he should drift this way just to satisfy mine, and, his own curiosity!

[drosdelnoch]

Its tricky there could easily be campfire tales, there could even be a source priest going through the Drenai museum touching items and getting a partial story on them. The point with this though is, if we're going to be honest here, that there are no other authors out there like David. Others may come close but their tales are always missing an essential element that make it specifically a Gemmell story.