And So Book Three Ends ... · 3:42pm Oct 22nd, 2019
So, just minutes ago, as of the time I write this, I put the finishing touches on the last author's note for The Dusk Guard Saga: Hunter/Hunted.
What a project.
Now, I know most of you are going to be switching out of this tab and over to the story proper for the final chapter, because well ... who wouldn't? And I'm posting these one after another. But after you've read the final chapter, left your comments, etc etc, well ... I hope you make it back here to read my final thoughts.
Book three of The Dusk Guard Saga was, as I've mentioned a few times in the notes, a tough project in a lot of ways. I had to juggle a lot of background the show never really explored. I had to try out new ways of ratcheting up tension and suspense. But hardest of all, and most important ... I had to show a group of characters take that first step along the path to being true heroes.
I had to write a war story. And at its core, that's what Hunter/Hunted really was. Which, by the way, is why I chose the closing theme I did. Hunter/Hunted is a war story. About sacrifice, and what it means to be a soldier.
The Dusk Rogues? Well, they're a bit more like anti-heroes, being the mercs they are. And they've all already seen violence and some of the horrors that a conflict can produce. They're used to it, to the degree that they can laugh, joke, and generally kick flank without much worry. They've crossed the bar, each of them, long before the story starts.
And that wasn't the case with the Dusk Guard. Sky Bolt, Nova, and Sabra are all characters that have read about it, but never faced it. Not on a scale a threat like Sombra can unleash. I couldn't have them be joking and brushing off the horrors around them as they hit. Or even just being quiet and silent, as Blade, Kain, or even Steel might do. Because, well ... for them it's new. They have to deal with it. They have to look that horror in the eye, ask what they're really there for, and come to a conclusion about what they're doing.
And, well ... I'm proud of them. Yeah, I know. They're fictional. But I'm still proud of them.
Myself too. I think I nailed it. And personally? I think it might be the truest "war story" on Fimfiction ... not that there's many others out there. But they tend to be either Schwarzenegger style Commando stories or just kind of middling middle-of-the-road drama stories.
I'll confess as well that one of the reasons I dove into this challenge was because I do plan to put this sort of serious, thoughtful war-story tackle to use in a future book series. Someday. I'm not ready to write it yet. But with Hunter/Hunted complete, I think I'm a lot closer.
What's the point of this post? Well ... mostly to ramble my thoughts on what's easily been the toughest Dusk Guard story to date. Honestly, from here I think it's going to be easier. Well ... maybe. Fires of the Earth is going to be a piece of cake once I find the time (plus more stable finances), so I'm not worried about that one at all. Spear of the Sky, on the other claw, may be a bit trickier ... mostly because like this one, it has a more limited character perspective. Plus something else going on. Kind of. You'll understand when we get there.
But that's a ways off. But don't worry, it will come. There's a good number of books between now and then but ... Hey, you guys are getting professional quality literature in fanfic, so you can't be too upset about the wait, right? And if you are, I'll always drop a helpful reminder that the better my books do, the more time I'm going to have to finish off The Dusk Guard Saga. So you know, try them out or promote 'em a little.
Again, I'm kind of rambling here. I just ... it's always nice to finish a project. And now ... to do some more work on Jungle.
Oooh, names on both. We are getting some good spoiling.
Those are some excellent names, sir. Especially Spear of the Sky.
Congratulations on writing a good war story. I'm glad to have been involved.
And Sabra is still Best Zebra.
Nice to get some insights, but I have a question about the story. You say you're done, but the fic still sits that it's incomplete. Is there another epilogue coming, or has the switch just not been hit yet?
Thanks for the story!