Slayers - Volume 8 - Chapter Aft

Afterword

Scene: The Author and L

Au: The reprint of Slayers, Volume 8: King of the Phantom City thus marks the end of the first major novel arc!

L: Several long-running threads are wrapped up here! And I finally get a little time to shine!

Au: Time to shine? Pretty sure this is the volume that got you a reputation as a klutz...

L: I’m not a klutz! I just... I wasn’t thinking!

Au: Wait, hang on. We’re getting into spoiler territory here.

L: Spoiler territory?! Why are you worried about spoilers in the afterword of a reprint?! You were the one already talking about Zuma in the afterword of volume 3 before he even showed up.

Au: We should still avoid anything too revealing about the story at hand.

L: Mmgh. Not sure I agree on that, but... If only I’d been a little more careful, I would’ve been the hero of the next arc! I’d hear about delicious fare in the west and go eat my heart out. I’d catch wind of a high-ranked demon to the east and go sponge off them. I’d visit the dragons to the south and get them to hold some kind of banquet. And I’d demand that the golden dragon elder to the north stop telling those terrible jokes! A magnificent tour de force!

Au: Um, I don’t think anyone wants to read a story like that.

L: Lies! It would be wildly popular and get a Hollywood adaptation directed by George A. R*m*ro!

Au: That’s the direction you want it to go?! Just what kind of story is this?!

L: See? You’re already dying of curiosity!

Au: Am not! It sounds awful. Besides, the reprint of volume 9 came out alongside this one, so we’re already into the second arc.

L: Meh. You should’ve rewritten the entire thing along the lines of what I just suggested.

Au: No way! Anyway, this volume does indeed conclude the first major storyline. On a related note, I have some news. We mentioned before how the short story collections would now be called Smash, so to celebrate that, we’re going to be putting out a best-of edition of the Special stories!

L: The current plan is for it to be five volumes. The content for the first two will be selected by the editor and the author, and the content of volumes four and five—and if possible, three as well—will be put to a reader vote! You can fill the author’s room with postcards like you did during a certain popularity poll!

Au: Oh, please. I’ll have the editorial department counting votes this time, for sure. You can send them in via postcard, website, or mobile! Of course, I have no idea right now when the voting will start... Just stay tuned to Dragon Magazine! They should have the list of stories you can vote on as well.

L: You might be thinking “I want to read stories about this character” or “I want to read that story,” although you might not remember which story appeared where across thirty volumes! But make sure you vote anyway!

Au: By the way, this is all planned for 2008, so if you get this book later, tough break.

L: I wonder if we could have a vote for the best afterwords as well. Granted, the afterword collection would also have to have an afterword, leading to the hilarious and unusual circumstance of an after-afterword. But, oh well. Just so long as I get my screen time!

Au: Yeah, I don’t think we’re gonna do that.

L: By the way, shouldn’t there be some kind of prize giveaway for the voters? A year’s supply of spiked hammers with the Dragon Magazine logo, perhaps?

Au: What? No! And what the heck is a year’s supply of spiked hammers? Do they expire somehow? I should probably talk to editorial about prizes, though.

L: Anyway, await further updates from the magazine!

Au: With Smash, the Special collection, and the second arc starting in volume 9 all happening at the same time, I know it’s a lot to handle, but we appreciate you coming along for the ride.

L: See you all next time!

Afterword: Over.