Stacy
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[As of right now, I'm halfway through Age of War and have finished all the Chronicles and Revelations. I have enjoyed your books very much. I realize that not characters are all "good" or all "bad", but in the Legends series, you sure don't like the Fhrey very much. Can you speak to why this is? Even the fall of Rome didn't result in former Romans being reviled as elves are in the Chronicles/Revelations. (hide spoiler)]
Michael J. Sullivan
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hey there, Thanks for reading and I'm glad you are enjoying the tales. Well...here is what we know. In the time of Legends of the First Empire elves are thought to be gods, then mankind learn they are mortal after all. They rise up against the beings that kept them "down" for centuries.
In Riyria we don't see elves (until the very end) but there are a lot of half-elves that are hated. I patterned the way they are treated off of the way American Indians were treated after White Anglo-Saxons came or how Jews were treated just prior to WWII.
So how did things change so much? Well, obviously a lot happened between those 3,000 years. Humans became dominant, full-elves were locked behind the Nidwalden (and prohibited from crossing) and interbreeding between mankind and elves started. Eventually those half-breeds were looked down upon as humans became the "ruling peoples."
What you really need is the "bridge books." Something that tells what happened between the rise of the First Empire and it's destruction. And that's what's next, in fact. Awhile ago I started Arrow of Death (Book #1 of the Rise and Fall) and this series will show how the tables start to turn and why the half-elves are so poorly thought of in Riyria. Stay tuned. (hide spoiler)]
In Riyria we don't see elves (until the very end) but there are a lot of half-elves that are hated. I patterned the way they are treated off of the way American Indians were treated after White Anglo-Saxons came or how Jews were treated just prior to WWII.
So how did things change so much? Well, obviously a lot happened between those 3,000 years. Humans became dominant, full-elves were locked behind the Nidwalden (and prohibited from crossing) and interbreeding between mankind and elves started. Eventually those half-breeds were looked down upon as humans became the "ruling peoples."
What you really need is the "bridge books." Something that tells what happened between the rise of the First Empire and it's destruction. And that's what's next, in fact. Awhile ago I started Arrow of Death (Book #1 of the Rise and Fall) and this series will show how the tables start to turn and why the half-elves are so poorly thought of in Riyria. Stay tuned. (hide spoiler)]
More Answered Questions
Travis
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi, Michael! I have seen that most of your books are in paperback, ebook, and audio but that is not the formats I prefer. So I was wondering if your Riyria series will be released in hardcover anytime in the future?? Also, I am stoked for your First Empire series to come out (already pre-ordered) and they are in hardcover which is a plus for me!!!

A Goodreads user
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
You have put yourself in a unique situation of writing the stories from which your previous books have built myth and religion. I am loving every minute as you untangle (and tangle) myth from reality. Care to offer insight on how you go about deciding what is myth and which is reality? This is quite a ride! I'm loving every minute of it.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more