Back in the 1980s, I took on a lively and challenging project, which was to write a young adult novel based on a series outlined by one of my writing idols, Roger Zelazny. I’d never done anything like that before: sharecropping, they called it. Byron Preiss Visual Productions did a lot of that for a while. Big-name writer creates a world for newer writers to play in. Who could resist a world created by Roger Zelazny—especially when that world is a solar system dedicated to faster-than-light spaceship racing, and the protagonist is a young man whose desire to fly, and fly fast, I could feel burning in my own veins?
This turned out to be one of the best times I’ve ever had writing a book. I enjoyed the story, begun by Roger and sculpted by me, and I enjoyed the characters. It even gave me the chance to have someone believably say, “Eat dust, Earthman!” Clypsis was published by Byron Preiss through Bantam Spectra, and it got great response from readers. I got rave letters from strangers (this was before email). In the end, it was published just as an SF novel, not a YA novel. But the kid in me lived in the book.
Then it went out of print. And so it remained, year after year. Byron Preiss (who owned the copyright) intended to reprint it in some fashion. Then Byron died tragically in an auto accident. His company went into bankruptcy. Eventually the literary assets were purchased by John Colby of Brick Tower Press. By this point, I had lost the trail; it took me years even to establish who owned the rights. Finally, we established contact, and I prepared the text of the book for ebook publication (with the assistance of Anne King, who had helped with several of my ebooks). And now…
It’s out! It’s in the Kindle store! The Sony store will be next. I’m not sure where else. I’m delighted to see this book return to life. And with this publication, every book I’ve written is now available in one form or another as an ebook!
Here’s a link. (If you buy it through this link, I’ll see a bit more return in the form of a referral fee. Thanks.)
Anonymous
I was lucky enough to buy a signed copy from you at a book signing at a water park in Ohio. Now I just have to get copies of the next two books, which have also been out of print. I Suppose I could buy them used if I had to. – Marco
Jeffrey A. Carver
Hi Marco! I suspect you will have to buy books 2-3 used. I don't know the author (Tom Wylde) personally, though we've corresponded. I think he's out in California somewhere.
Actually, I should email him to let him know what it took to overcome the inertia to get my book up. He probably needs a good challenge. 🙂
Anonymous
Jeffrey,
I really enjoyed reading the first Alien Speedway novel. Very cool!
I also liked the Hayashi spaceship drawings in the back of the book.
Bought the 2nd and 3rd books in the series and wondered why you did not write those? Wish you had!
Takle care… James
Jeffrey A. Carver
I'm glad you enjoyed it, James! I would have enjoyed writing the other two books, as well, but they were offered to Tom Wylde, who was known to the editors. We actually did some brainstorming together on the background of the series. I think we wrote our books more or less simultaneously. Seemed like he enjoyed the project, too.