SIGEL%umass-cs.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA@caip.RUTGERS.EDU (02/08/86)
From: Andrew Sigel <SIGEL%umass-cs.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA>
The dekalogy has apparently been finished for some time, and will be
released over the next two years. The following is taken from an ad in
the January 31 issue of Publishers Weekly:
"... after its release on March 13th, BLACK GENESIS [Vol. II] will be
followed by a new volume of MISSION EARTH every other month throughout
1986 and into 1987. All 10 volumes of the dekalogy -- over 1,000,000
words of spell-binding adventure -- are now complete and coming your way."
The ad goes on to claim that in three years, BATTLEFIELD EARTH and
THE INVADERS PLAN have grossed four million. Shown, spine only, are the
remaining volumes of the dekalogy. For those who are curious, the titles
are: THE ENEMY WITHIN, AN ALIEN AF9
FAIR, FORTUNE OF FEAR, DEATH QUEST,
VOYAGE OF VENGEANCE, DISASTER, VILLANY VICTORIOUS, and THE DOOMED PLANET.
I would be unsurprised if the announcement of Hubbard's death, and the
inevitable court battle over the will, greatly increase sales of the
dekalogy. It is a well known phenomenon that next to a successful
new work, nothing will increase sales on ones entire oeuvre more than
the creator's demise. In fact, this phenomenon has been used to good
effect in many mysteries, where the artist/author is either killed or
fakes death. Timing can be very effective in this sort of thing.
I agree with Will Martin. The next several months are going to be
very interesting.
Andrew Sigel