Eugenesis

Banzaitron · Post by **Banzaitron** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:54 am

I'm trying to find a copy of the book Eugenesis, by James Roberts. I've been told it's an extremely rare, 500 page novel of the transformers. I wish to purchase a copy, but it's very hard to find. So I've been putting up posts all over my favorite transformer fan sites to see if anyone can help me find a copy of the book or get in touch with the author. If any of you can help, please do.

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:55 pm

Same response as at TFA, really -- I've mailed, haven't heard anything back yet.

It's doubtful anyone's up for parting with a copy. All we can do is wait for the site to become a reality.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:16 pm

Whats Eugenesis, ie, what time line, G1 etc, who did the art etc... ?

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:20 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:Whats Eugenesis

Fanfic novel

ie, what time line

UK comic / Transmasters UK

who did the art etc... ?

No art. All prose.

Utterly superb.

I own a copy. I think Besters has it. Maybe Spidey.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:28 pm

I think Besters has finished it.

James the writer said it would go online, we can but hope.

http://transfans.net/interviews_roberts.php

In the meantime, IDW should be seriously thinking about hiring the guy.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:34 pm

I guess .pdf distribution is against the writters wishs?

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:36 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:I guess .pdf distribution is against the writters wishs?

Actually it's his intention.

I can drop him a line if Den hasn't already done so.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:57 pm

Yeah, he's got a sample up that Den or someone linked to from the interview thread in News... I loved the sample and want the rest.

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:34 pm

Please post a link if any of you find something on this novel. I've been itching to read this for years now.

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:40 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Actually it's his intention.

I can drop him a line if Den hasn't already done so.

I have, but it's not like email is a particularly reliable medium for communication when spam filters are factored into the equation -- you've got nowt to lose by dropping him a line yourself.

Impactor returns 2.0 wrote:I guess .pdf distribution is against the writters wishs?

I've passingly considered a "type a couple of pages a day" type project once or twice; it's a really annoying thing to do with books because of the spines. Not prepared to destroy the binding and borrow a sheet-feed scanner without having a spare.

Banzaitron · Post by **Banzaitron** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:59 pm

denyer: I tried using his zoom site to send him an email, but it said there was an error delivering it. I fear that that address is no longer valid. Any ideas where else we could get in touch with him?

veritech · Post by **veritech** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:13 pm

Not to sound like a jerk . . . . but wouldn't an author rather have a manuscript such as this circulated as much as possible? If you think about it, he isn't going to make a dime off of this book as its unlisenced fanfiction . . .

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:50 pm

He wanted people to be able to read it as a book rather than off-screen (and achieved that, though it cost him a fair bit -- the expenses weren't recouped on the first print run.) If the story was crap that'd come off as arrogance, so it's a good job it isn't. Having a bound copy's certainly nicer to sit down and read, and if an author tells you they'd rather have digital-only as opposed to trying for a printed copy as well, they're probably lying...

Bit of background -- TMUK was/is mainly a small group writing for each other, with print fanzines and the like available through word-of-mouth, and a bit of digital side to things in recent years. Some people have either gone out of contact since then and aren't contactable for permission, or don't want stuff they wrote when they were younger distributed, so it's a similar word-of-mouth thing to get hold of older material (which I really want to find a few spare months to sift and read properly... sadly hasn't happened yet.) Anyhow, the UK scene is/was still keen on making/printing stuff and passing around amongst friends.

The delay on a site for Eugenesis is likely a combination of having a young family and him wanting to go through and make small editorial tweaks. Life tends to get in the way of hobby stuff.

Yeah, it's been a bit frustrating to not be able to point people towards a place they can read stuff (I can't remember whose review prompted me to mail a complete stranger in 2002 and send them a cheque; would thank 'em if I did) but it's finally in the pipeline.

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:55 pm

Banzaitron wrote:denyer: I tried using his zoom site to send him an email, but it said there was an error delivering it. I fear that that address is no longer valid. Any ideas where else we could get in touch with him?

If you're trying the james.roberts one that might still be mentioned on one or two old sites, try j.roberts2 instead. Probably switched for spam / ISP issue reasons, but it was a switch quite a long time ago.

This was the mail that was sent out at the end of last year, anyhow:

Earlier this year I announced that there would be a second edition of Eugenesis, the Transformers novel that I self-published back in 2001. The idea was this: if enough people committed to buying the re-release and paid up front, I could run off a few hundred copies in the knowledge that all of them would be snapped up. First time round the whole endeavour cost me more than I care to remember; this time, I wanted to know that I would break even. (I should stress that the whole enterprise, then as now, was avowedly non-profit-making.)

If I've managed my address book properly, you are a person of taste and sophistication who put their name down for the revamped book.

It's been a good few months since I started taking names, and unfortunately only about 50 or so people have expressed an interest in the new edition. Granted, some of them have promised to buy multiple copies (and good on them for that), but for this exercise to be worthwhile (i.e. to save me losing money) I need about 300 orders. And to be honest I don't think that's going to happen.

Back in 2001 there were no official comics and the possibility of a new movie existed only in the minds of madmen. Fandom was different and I guess people were hungry for new product. These days there is so much out there - so much official material - that a weighty slab of fan-fiction based around the intricacies of Marvel-era continuity isn't that appealing. Fan-run sites have avoided mentioning the release, perhaps because they don't want to be seen to be promoting un-official material.

No matter. A sudden surge of interest in a tangible copy of Eugen notwithstanding, I intend to release the new, improved, dusted-down, proofread version of the book in a shiny pdf format, complete with new cover. I'll probably make it available on its own site and add a few extra items of interest (the script of the comic strip prequel, 'Liars, A to D', an FAQ section, glossary etc.). Maybe even a message board. We'll see.

And that ends the update. Expect the see a Eugen micro-site in Spring 2007. Thanks again for supporting a fellow TF fan by sticking your neck out and agreeing to part with funds. If you've not read Eugen before, I hope it's worth the wait.

Unless you tell me otherwise, I'll write to you again ahead of the site's launch.

Warm regards

James

Banzaitron · Post by **Banzaitron** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:51 pm

thanks, I just sent him an email. Maybe we can work something out. Where did you get your copy?

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:02 pm

Got one of the last few from James five years ago.

Banzaitron · Post by **Banzaitron** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:11 pm

perhaps he has a few secreted away.

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:25 am

As an aside, could someone point me towards other TMUK stuff that are available online (and ideally some timeline if it is necessary) which I believe are scattered on smaller sites? I've been hearing that this Globequake or somesuch is good.

Warcry · Post by **Warcry** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:03 am

*delurks*

Ozz wrote:I've been hearing that this Globequake or somesuch is good.

It's rather awesome, but IIRC it's also very continuity-heavy and confused me in a few places. It's worth a bit of confusion, though, because the author does a wonderful job of making you genuinely care about his characters. I've got absolutely no idea where you'd find it (or most of the older TMUK stuff, really) online these days, though. Most of the TF-related hits Google gives me for "Globequake" are posts by Cliffy at the Archive telling us how awesome the story is.

If you're looking to get your hands on Globequake your best shot nowadays is probably to find someone who has the .PDF files (I'm not sure if I've still got 'em myself, but I can look if you'd like) and get them to shoot you an e-mail.

*goes back to lurking*

Death's Head · Post by **Death's Head** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:44 pm

The Underbase is a good starting point for Transmasters UK stuff. As is the Hub's Fanfic Forum.

Post by **Denyer** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:55 pm

Ozz wrote:As an aside, could someone point me towards other TMUK stuff that are available online (and ideally some timeline if it is necessary) which I believe are scattered on smaller sites? I've been hearing that this Globequake or somesuch is good.

Timeline, with some links: http://www.theunderbase.co.uk/

Globequake (~600K): http://www.sendspace.com/file/fu0n27

Not much is online, though. I've got a snapshot from sometime last year of various works that someone kindly sent me on DVD (Thunderbird's search and/or my choice of keywords isn't giving me much help in remembering who...) -- PM me if you want me to hook you up with a copy of that, but you might be better off just asking at The Hub, since the collection I've got may not be current. Haven't been back there myself because I want to read a decent chunk of it first...

(I've offered Brendan's assistance in hosting in the past with that [it's about a gig] and previously the CG2 Archive but it's not likely -- aforementioned issues of some writers being uncontactable and others not wanting stuff they wrote many years ago widely disseminated.)

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:02 pm

On the subject of all that, is this Roche?

http://www.theunderbase.co.uk/images/starscream.jpg

rusty_herring · Post by **rusty_herring** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:56 pm

From seeing Roche's IDW work I'd say it doesn't look like his style but then I could be wrong. I have no proof

Banzaitron · Post by **Banzaitron** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:49 pm

Hey Denyer, does one have to be well versed in the Japanese Transformers history in order to enjoy Eugenesis? I am conversant in american G1, G2, Beast wars, Beast machines, and the U.S and UK story lines. will that do or would some study of the others be necessary?

Post by **Denyer** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:17 pm

You don't even need to have read the UK comic, but it's a lot more enjoyable if you have. Some familiarity with 'core' characters (Prime, movie characters, Soundwave, etc) and nodding familiarity with others would get a non-fan through the story having had a worthwhile read.

Ozz · Post by **Ozz** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:59 am

Thanks, guys, I'll take a look at the sites later.

Post by **Best First** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:35 am

Brend, i have your copy - let me know where it needs sending next.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 1:52 pm

to Washington.

Btw, Roberts does have a series of "Polyhex Chronicles" or some such available for download off that site.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 2:01 pm

Best First wrote:Brend, i have your copy - let me know where it needs sending next.

Back to me.

I will massage you (fnar fnar) with my addy.

Death's Head · Post by **Death's Head** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:38 pm

On the subject of all that, is this Roche?

http://www.theunderbase.co.uk/images/starscream.jpg

That's Jack Lawrence, I believe, of 'Lions, Tigers and Bears'. Another magnificent TMUK artist.

Also, for anyone who wants to get ****-loads of TMUK stories; although there's not a lot online there's currently a CD-ROM of stories doing the rounds; best asking at the Hub, of course.