Interview of Jonathan Blake (cont')

RG: Fair enough. What are your feelings toward other Lone Wolf fans on the 'net that you have been in contact with?

JB: I've always had a good experience with other fans. The Kaiwisdom mailing list has been unusually cordial for a mailing list. As I've said, the feedback I get about the Oasis has always been encouraging and I've come to respect many of us. Many fans I consider to be personal friends.

RG: If you wouldn't mind digressing from the seriousness for a bit, I have a few random queries that I am dying to ask. Would you mind answering a few?

JB: Go for it.

RG: If you met Joe Dever on say, a bus, what would you do?

JB: Judging from my reaction when I received the first email from him, I'd faint. Then I'd get up and gush like a pre-teen girl. I think I'd be more excited than if I met some of the more famous people out there. Once I'd stopped embarrassing myself, I'd ask him if there's any cool stuff about Magnamund and the series that I hadn't heard. I'd probably kill him with questions.

RG: I'm sure most of us would, too. What is your favorite "red herring" item from the series? Something from "Shadow on the Sand" I presume...?

JB: Actually, Shadow on the Sand isn't my favorite book--probably my second favorite. My favorite is The Caverns of Kalte. This may sound strange, but I used to collect the keys. I got the gold one from the Graveyard of the Ancients, a bone one and a silver one from Kalte, a brass one, a copper one, a skeleton key, a black key, etc. I guess they weren't red herrings until after their respective books. I kept them way past when they were useful.

RG: I wonder if any were ever duplicated in later books. Anyway, if you could have one Kai Discipline, which would you choose? Pre-Magnakai abilities only please...

JB: It's a toss up between Weaponskill (I always thought it would be cool to be a kensai) and Sixth Sense. In the end, I'd go with Sixth Sense--much more useful in today's society unless you get mugged with a long sword handy.

RG: You could avoid the mugging with Sixth Sense anyway. ;) What other fantasy characters do you admire?

JB: I always thought Gandalf the Grey/White was a cool customer. I also like Drizzt Do'urden because he's an anti-hero and I like his two scimitars.

RG: Okay. Last one and you are a free man. How much would you pay for a complete, unabridged, mint condition, autographed and personalized copy of every Lone Wolf related book to date?

JB: Given my present financial state of affairs...

(I'm including rare stuff like the audiobook, Gary Chalk's paintbook, etc. and it's autographed by both author and illustrator. I'm drooling at the thought of it.)

I'd gladly pay $1000 maybe more.

RG: Impressive. That's quite a price tag!

JB: I've got a little money stored away for a rainy day and with that set of books on the table, how could I resist?

RG: How indeed. ;) Thanks for the interview, Jonathan.

JB: My pleasure.