An Interview with Richard Knaak

By Raistlehoff

This time, we get around to presenting a somewhat late but rather worthwhile interview with the excellent Richard Knaak!

Of course, we wouldn't get these interview if we didn't continue to make shameless plugs for authors who don't need them, so look for the second volume of the Minotaur Wars trilogy, Tides of Blood, this April!

Raistlehoff: What is your name?

Richard: Sir Robin of Lockesley ---- aaaieee!

(climbs up very, very tall cliff)

Raistlehoff: What is your quest?

Richard: To seek out new life, new civilization, to boldly write novels people enjoy.

Raistlehoff: What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Richard: What, African, European, or the one in your throat?

Raistlehoff: How did you get your start as an author and how did you first get involved with Dragonlance?

Richard: I literally walked off the street into TSR and asked to see the book editor. After they got over their shock, they summoned him and he took my writing samples. Two weeks later, I was asked to submit story ideas for three anthologies in the Dragonlance world. I sold to all three and they then asked me to write Huma.

Raistlehoff: What do you think about the fact that your first DL novel, "Legend of Huma", has reached iconic status with fans?

Richard: I'm very honored. It's amazing that it's touched the lives of so many people.

Raistlehoff: How do you think of the upcoming comic from Roaring Studios will turn out?

Richard: Probably on paper with ink. As for the results, I think most readers will be very happy.

Raistlehoff: What's with the fascination for minotaurs?

Richard: I'm very bull-headed myself and my grandmother was a Taurus. It's in the genes.

I also always enjoyed mythology and found the minotaurs of Krynn something different from the elves and dwarves, who are in every other fantasy world. Really, the elves and dwarves are everywhere. It's like a plague of locust!

Raistlehoff: Is your version of minotaurs and minotaur society heavily influenced by any particular source? Romans? Greeks? Klingons?

Richard: Much Roman, some Klingon, no Borden cows.

Raistlehoff: Do you think minotaurs have any favorite past times? Favorite sports or anything? Hobbies?

Richard: Knitting is a highly-competitive sport, with events held in the Great Circus. Crocheting is becoming more popular, as is origami.

For some reason, though, many minotaurs also enjoy wrestling, racing, archery, music, and the minotaur version of chess

Raistlehoff: What other projects are dragging you away from Dragonlance these days? The suspense of waiting for the rest of the Minotaur Wars trilogy is killing us!

Richard: I'm writing a Warcraft trilogy for Simon & Schuster and then a standalone novel for Diablo. I also have a couple of projects with Tokyopop, the manga publisher.

Raistlehoff: Any particular spoiler you can give us in the two upcoming Minotaur Wars novels that our readers can cheer about for having been the first to know?

Richard: Many die. A few live. Some minotaurs run amok, others run inns. Amoks are popular these days and the franchises are cheap.

Raistlehoff: Since we are now in the full swing of the holiday season (which is now well over), what's your favorite holiday?

Richard: What's a holiday?

Raistlehoff: Is there anybody else's sandbox that you'd really love to have a chance to play in?

Richard: That question begs answers I don't dare give.

Raistlehoff: Is the pen truly mightier than the sword? Or do people just say that to feel important?

Richard: The pen is definitely mightier than the sword, especially when it's ten foot long and sharpened or fitted with a laser.

Raistlehoff: Margaret Weis once stated, "I'm my own worst critic, next to Rohan Tolstrup." Who is your worst critic?

Richard: Myself. I tried bribing myself to be nicer, but it didn't work, the scoundril.

Raistlehoff: Here are some simple questions for you to answer. Please pick your favorite of each. And don't worry, we won't hold the answers against you! :)

Blizzard worlds: Warcraft or Diablo?

Richard: Warblo and Diacraft.

Raistlehoff: Klingons: Kang, Koloth, or Kor?

Richard: Angel Soft.

Raistlehoff: Minotaurs: hooves or feet?

Richard: FEET. FEET. FEET.

Raistlehoff: Minotaur women: horns or no horns?

Richard: Horns

Raistlehoff: Human women: horns or no horns?

Richard: ------!

Ha! It's always good to leave them speechless! As always, we thank the esteemed Mr. Knaak for submitting himself to this semi-painless procedure that we call an interview.

If you want, you can visit Richard's website at http://www.sff.net/people/knaak.

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