The Gathering Storm - Prologue Read by Robert Jordan at JordanCon (4/18/09)

[Kathana Trevalaer]

I don't think its the fact you're speaking up that brings this reaction. I think it's your dogged determination to have the last word.

Thread locked until someone releases something.

[CUBAREY]

Some day these notes, recordings, tapes will all come out as a matter of record.

That is why they were made, I imagine. RJ wanted this tale to be told. Perfectionist he may have been. Sensitive about his notes and writing...But he has passed away and all that remains of his tale and its ending is contained in these documents, recordings, recollections of his people. And us.

Our desire to read and hear more from him and his tale are tribute to his effect upon us...

What remains of his tales are the books he wrote and those that Sanderson is writing, plus the Encyclopedia that Harriet is said to be compiling from RJ's backnotes which will be published after the Sanderson has finished the three remaining books. The notes (and the recording, which in fact comprises part thereof) will very likely never be published. Similarly to many authors RJ was loath to permit the public to see "rough drafts' or back notes. Indeed, the backnotes of most famous authors are not published or subject to public inspection. Some authors go as far as burning their notes at their death, others direct that their notes be preserved but access to them be strictly guarded. The backnotes of many famous authors of the 19th and 20th centuries can be seen only under strict conditions and then only by scholars. Most authors (and here I think RJ can definately be included in this group) would never permit their unpublished materials being publicly availiable, whehter we are talking of RJ or most other authors what we get to seen is what is published, nothing more.

That is why the playing of the tape at Jordoncon was so special, it was totally counter to what we would get from RJ. Perhaps in the future once Harriet has time to heal from the untimely loss of her husband she might be willing to make the recording (or a transcript thereof) more publicly availiable. You and many of us have voiced the heartfelt desire to be offorded the privilege to hear the recording. Jason has stated that he will ask Harriet if the tape might be made availiable at some future date. That  being said what is left to be discussed? If you have some new reason or perspective as to why the tape might be made availiable I (and others) would be quite interested in hearing them. But with all due respect, simply rehashing the reasons that have already been fully vented is somewhat pointless.