1998
SIMS started when I saw a Times article mentioning that humans and chimps share 98.4% of their DNA. A story began to grow.

I mentioned it to Mitchell Galin (producer of "The Stand" mini-series) and he was interested.

1999
In January I wrote up a proposal for a mini-series. It went nowhere. Sometime in the fall, Rich Chizmar approached me for a story to add to Cemetery Dance’s series of novellas. I told him about the SIMS idea and he said go for it.

After starting the story I realized it was way too big for a 40,000-word limit. I told Rich the problem and he said, No problem. Write a series of novellas and we'll publish them as you finish them.

2000
In January I sat down and started “La Causa.” By the end of the month it was done so I started “The Portero Method and finished that in four weeks.

By April I was satisfied enough with them to send both to Rich. Then I started writing HOSTS.

Four months later, CD published SIMS-1 and it sold out.

I finished HOSTS in September, edited the HEALER galleys for Stealth, then started on “Meerm.”

Here I ran into a bit of a problem. I hadn't fully outlined the series (being one of those anal types who likes to travel with a map, I thought I’d indulge in a tightrope-without-a-safety-net approach), and now when I went back to the story I discovered things that I would have liked to put in the first two novellas. But it was too late: #1 was in print and #2 in galleys.

So I adjusted. I finished “Meerm” by mid-October and “Zero” by early December. “The Portero Method” had yet to appear.

2001
With the HOSTS revisions and proofing the ANEOTS galleys for Stealth, I didn’t get to Part 5: “Thy Brother’s Keeper” until February.

In April I sent parts 3, 4, and 5 to CD.

Still no SIMS #2. Rich said the art was delayed but was confident that the other four would be published in the next 12 months.

I wrote the Sims novellas with an eye toward collecting all five in one volume after CD published them. So I melded them, changing the order of some events for a smoother flow, and took the novelized version to Forge in July. They bought it but said it would be at least 18 months, maybe more, before they could schedule it.

Perfect. That gave a Rich a 6-month (“maybe more”) cushion beyond the year he’d told me it would take to get the novellas out.

Finally, in December, SIMS #2 appeared.

2002
SIMS #3 appeared in August – two full years after #1.
No sign of #4

2003
The novelized version of SIMS was published in April.
Still no sign of #4.

2004
Still no sign of #4.
September: SIMS wins the Prometheus Award just as the paperback is released.
October: the announcement that Sims #4 is at the printer.

Thanks for the information. This at least explains your role in the production of an award-winning novel that was sheer pleasure to read. However, it only indicates that Sims #4 is now at the printer and Sims #5 is a twinkle in the eye of those of us who ordered the complete novella set. Do you have any idea as to why CD has prolonged the agony? They should produce slip cases for the whole set as a reward for our patience.

Paul - you sound as pissed as the rest of us!!!
At least you don't have to shell out the readies as you get your copy for free (I hope - or does Chizmar charge you!!)

Steve

Paul - you sound as pissed as the rest of us!!!

I'm not pissed. But I do think it's a shame that the novellas didn't make it into print before the novel.

And yes, CD just might make a slipcase for the long-suffering purchasers of the set.

(from WFC in AZ -- my wi-fi works!)

Thanks for the info - I went ahead and bought both the hardcover (when it appeared) and the PB (ditto) - and just thought I had forgotten to order the rest of the set.... Must check to see if I ordered the whole set at once or what :Confused:

Great story - ranks up there with Healer/LaNague Cronicles in my favorites list. Of course, I like RJ, too - but would LOVE more Healer and or LaNague tories...

...I like RJ, too - but would LOVE more Healer and or LaNague tories...

Yes, more Healer, please!

Just started reading Sims. I have to say although I got into FPW through the Keep and the Repairman Jack books I am really enjoying Sims. Not to be unflattering to the author but if I had not read the other books I probably would have never bothered with Sims. I would have been wrong!

Oh, and I am sure I am not the only person to have noticed it but cats which do not promote an allergic reaction are apparently going on sale. Hmmmm....

Oh, and I am sure I am not the only person to have noticed it but cats which do not promote an allergic reaction are apparently going on sale. Hmmmm....

I don't actually remember it from the book, but I do remember that it has been mentioned before. Scary, isn't it?

http://www.repairmanjack.com/forum/showthread.php?t=973

i just finished sims last night and loved it, fabulous story

I just finished SIMS, and I must say that it's my favorite non-AC, non-RJ novel by the Man. Gripping, relevent, scary in its believability, with great characters and a very warm touch. As usual with FPW's works, I read like a house afire, and then have to put the book down for a few moments because I'm so wound up - I can't bear then tension. Then I've got to begin reading again because I've got to know what happens. It's an approach to reading that is a tad schizophrenic, all engendered by FPW's amazing ability to create wickedly taut and compelling stories.

Wonderful, wonderful book!