| Deryni FAQ
Welcome to alt.books.deryni's FAQ list about Katherine Kurtz.
Contributions, corrections, expansions, and the filling in of missing
information is welcomed, nay, encouraged. Submissions should be sent to
Rebecca.
(Note: This FAQ was originally put together by
Leanne Phillips. I've just added updates and put it into HTML.)
Summary of changes:
- Recent Publications updated
- Future Books updated
- Bibliography updated
- Timeline updated
- Some no longer relevant comments removed from the genealogy section
This FAQ contains the following information:
- Recent publications
- Future Books: projected publishing
dates/titles/etc.
- Bibliography
- Suggested order of reading the Deryni-world
books
- The Deryni Roleplaying Game (still under "Future books" at the
moment)
- Deryni Archives: Book and Magazine
- A timeline of the cycle
- A list of the Eleven Kingdoms, with their
corresponding 'modern' (Kelson-time) counterparts
- A discussion about the genetics involved in the
Deryni heritage
- A depiction of the genealogical relationship
between Kelson and the Mearans. (Also includes a couple of other
charts).
- Instructions on mailing Katherine Kurtz and her
publishers
- Official Katherine Kurtz website address and
other internet resources
- Credits, thanks, etc.
Recent Publications
- In the King's Service softcover: January 2005
- Deryni Rising hardcover: July 2004
- Contains a new introduction by Katherine. Minor revisions were made to the original text.
- Map of the Eleven Kingdoms poster: August 2003
- This full size poster (24 x 36 inches) detailing the Eleven Kingdoms of the Deryni Universe is the first
installment of material related to the Deryni Roleplaying Game. It includes plans of
the city of Rhemuth, St. Georges Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace in Rhemuth. Available
at gaming stores or directly from Grey Ghost Press
- Annales Nuptiarum Kelsonus Regis
- Created per Katherine's suggestion, this is a fan supplement to the original Codex Derynianus.
It covers information found in King Kelson's Bride. 60 pages of text and 21 illustrations, the
supplement is printed on 24 lb paper and is spiral bound with lamenated full color cover illustrations.
$14.00 postpaid in the U.S. email Jesse for details.
- Crusade of Fire: Mystical Tales of the Knights
Templar softcover: December 2002
- A new short story collection about the Knights Templar.
- Deryni Tales softcover:
May 2002
- A short story collection edited by Katherine Kurtz. Includes a new
short story by Katherine.
Back to Contents
Future Books
- Codex Derynianus, 2nd edition
- This new 348-page edition of Codex will be published in October 2005 in trade paperback
by Underwood Books, distributed to the trade by Publishers Group West, and sold through
Amazon.com and all of the major book venues. This version updates the first, including new data
on King Kelson's Bride, as well as new stories and new general entries, in addition to
corrections and amendations scatterd throughout the text. For the first time ever, fans of
Katherine Kurtz's work will have general access to this highly entertaining guide to her
fictional universe. (from Robert Reginald's announcement)
- Childe Morgan
- The second book of the Childe Morgan Trilogy covers the events of Alaric
Morgan's youth. (As Katherine is not finished writing this book yet, there is no publication
date).
- Deryni Fudge Roleplaying Game
- Katherine has licensed the Deryni Universe to Grey Ghost Press,
Inc. for the development of a Deryni roleplaying game based on the Fudge
gaming system (for more information on the system go to www.fudgerpg.com, and for more
information on the roleplaying game go to www.derynirealms.com).
The core book, The Deryni Adventure Game is scheduled for a summer 2005
release.
Deryni Magic will be reworked by Aaron Rosenberg and
Katherine Kurtz for use with the RPG. It is slated for publication in
2005.
Also in the works: The Atlas of the Eleven Kingdoms,
with maps by Ann Dupuis and Daniel M. Davis. There will be maps of each
of the extant Eleven Kingdoms, with detailed maps of various regions,
cities, and some floor plans of castles and other places of
interest. Publication in 2006.
All of these books will be available
through game and hobby stores, some bookstores, Amazon.com, and directly
from Grey Ghost Press, Inc.
- Other Projects
- Re-release of The Deryni Chronicles. Revisions may be made to the original work (though there wasn't much
done to Deryni Rising so don't fret too much!) Ace plans to release a volume
between publication of each volume of the Childe Morgan
series. Deryni Checkmate,
will be released in October 2005.
A book about Orin and Jodotha is planned.
A book about 948 is also planned, as a 4th book of the Camber's Heirs
series.
Katherine and Deborah Turner Harris will be writing a sequel to
The Temple and the Crown, this one featuring Robert the Bruce's
brother who briefly became King of Ireland.
Katherine and Deborah also have another Adept book planned. It will
be a sequel to Lammas Night and tell the story of Philippa
Sinclair and John Graham.
Scott MacMillan is planning a third book, Order of the Sword,
although it is still not yet written.
Back to Contents
Bibliography of books by Katherine Kurtz
- The Deryni Chronicles
-
Deryni Rising (1970); 2nd edition (2004)
Deryni Checkmate (1972); 2nd edition (2005)
High Deryni (1973)
- The Camber series
- Camber of Culdi (1976)
Saint Camber (1978)
Camber the Heretic (1981)
- The Histories of King Kelson
- The Bishop's Heir (1984)
King's Justice (1985)
The Quest for Saint Camber (1986)
King Kelson's Bride (2000)
- The Heirs of Saint Camber
- The Harrowing of Gwynedd (1989)
King Javan's Year (1992)
The Bastard Prince (1994)
- The Childe Morgan
- In the King's Service (2003)
- Stand-alone books
Deryni Archives (short stories) (1986)
Deryni Magic (a grimoire) (1991)
- Codex Derynianus (with Robert Reginald) (1998); 2nd edition (2005)
- This 'A-Z guide to the Deryni world' is a signed, limited edition
(500 copies) hardcover. It incorporates information from 9 B.C. to
1126 A.D., filling in many of the blanks of the history of the
Eleven Kingdoms. It was written mostly by Robert Reginald, in an
in-world view (from a historian of Kelson's time).
- The 2nd edition is a mass market trade paperback, updating the 1998 (limited) edition.
- Venture in Vain (short story) (2001)
- A signed, limited edition (300 copies) written for Katherine
Kurtz's visit to the John M. Pfau Library at California State
Univeristy, San Bernardino. The story details, from the Mearan
point of view, King Donal Blaine's invasion into Meara in the
year 1089 and its consequences.
- Deryni Tales (short stories) (2002)
- Katherine Kurtz, ed. + story
- Non-Deryni books
- Lammas Night (1983)
- The Legacy of Lehr (1986)
- The Adept (with Deborah Turner Harris)
- Book I: The Adept (1991)
Book II: The Lodge of the Lynx (1992)
Book III: The Templar Treasure (1993)
Book IV: Dagger Magic (1995)
Book V: Death of an Adept (1996)
- Templar Books (with Deborah Turner Harris)
- Book I: The Temple And the Stone (1998)
Book II: The Temple and the Crown (April 2001)
- Two Crowns for America (1996)
- Saint Patrick's Gargoyle (2001)
-
- Knights of the Blood (1993)
- (lightly edited by Katherine Kurtz, written by Scott MacMillan)
- Knights of the Blood: At Sword's Point (August 1994)
- (lightly edited by Katherine Kurtz, written by Scott MacMillan)
- Tales of the Knights Templar (1995)
- Katherine Kurtz, ed. + story
Story: "Obligations" (follows The Templar Treasure.)
- On Crusade: More Tales of the Knights Templar (1998)
- Katherine Kurtz, ed. + story
- KK's story is an Adam Sinclair story dealing with Henri
Gerard.
This also contains a story by Rob Reginald, titled "Occam's
Razor."
- Crusade of Fire: Mystical Tales of the Knights Templar (2002)
- Katherine Kurtz, ed. + story
- KK's story "White Knights" is about the founding of the Knights Templar.
- Anthology Contributions
- Flashing Swords #4: Barbarians and Black Magicians
- Editor: Lin Carter
Published by Nelson Doubleday (book club edition; 1977)
Also published by Dell Publishing Co, Inc.
- Story: Swords Against the Marluk
- Tale of how King Brion's power was awakened and his battle and duel
arcane with Charissa's father the Marluk. Katherine mentioned in
the anthology Deryni Archives that this story was not reprinted
because it will be expanded upon and superceded by the Childe
Morgan trilogy.
- The Fleet #5: Total War
- Editors: David Drake and Bill Fawcett
Published by Ace Books (1990)
- Story: Manstopper (with Scott MacMillan)
- This story was mostly written by Scott and edited by Katherine, but
completists would probably want it.
- The Crafters, Book I
- Editors: Christopher Stasheff and Bill Fawcett
Published by Ace Books (1991)
Story: The Summoning
- Once Upon a Time: A Treasure of Modern Fairy Tales
- Editors: Lester Del Rey & Risa Kessler
Published by Del Rey (1991)
Story: A Tinkling of Fairybells
- The Gods of War
- Editor/Creator: Christopher Stasheff
Published by Baen Books (1992)
Story: Sir James the Rose
- Battlestation #2: Vanguard
- Editors: David Drake and Bill Fawcett
Published by Ace Books (March 1993)
Story: Battle Offering
- In the Shadow of the Gargoyle
- Editors: Nancy Kilpatrick and Thomas S. Roche
Published by Ace Books (1998)
Story: The Gargoyle's Shadow
(This story was expanded into the novel St. Patrick's
Gargoyle.)
- Books by Others in Katherine Kurtz'
Worlds:
- Deryni Challenge, by Stephen Billias (a Crossroads Adventure,
set in 905)
- Books About Katherine Kurtz and Her
Worlds:
- Fantasy Voices
- edited by Jeffrey M. Elliott, (Borgo Press, 1983). An
earlier version of the interview in the below work appeared in
this as well. Still available, ($10 postpaid).
- The Work of Katherine Kurtz: An Annotated Bibliography &
Guide
- by Boden Clarke and Mary A. Burgess. (Borgo Press, 1993). Includes
an article by Katherine Kurtz, bibliographical data, and a very
long interview with her. Still available, ($10 postpaid).
- Xenograffiti: Essays on Fantastic Literture
- by
Robert Reginald (Borgo Press, 1996). Includes an essay,
"Derynian Dreams: The Fantasy Worlds of Katherine Kurtz."
Still available, ($15 postpaid).
These three books can be purchased from Millefleurs:
Millefleurs
P.O. Box 2845
San Bernardino, CA 92406-2845
Back to Contents
Suggested Reading Order of the Deryni Books
The publishing order (see above), is also the
order of suggested reading. Deryni Archives and Deryni
Magic should be read after the Camber series for complete
understanding, but otherwise can be fitted in anywhere.
If you want to read them in internal-chronology order see below.
Back to Contents
Deryni Archives
There are two entities referred to by the name 'Deryni Archives', and
these sometimes produce confusion.
- The Kurtz-written short story collection, spanning the chronology
from the year 888 to the year 1118.
- The magazine Deryni Archives: The Zine. This contains fan
fiction. It was originally edited by Kurtz herself, but after 10
issues, she handed it over to someone else to concentrate on her own
writing, coinciding with her move to Ireland. She still vets all
material published in the magazine.
Back issues of the magazine are available; however, some or all may
need to be reprinted for a given order.
An order form and additional information about all the issues of the
magazine can be found at the Deryni Archives webpage.
The newest issue, #19, is available.
Story Submissions can be sent to Julianne
Toomey-Kautz.
Back to Contents
General Timeline
This is a basic timeline, describing which books/stories cover which
years.
888: Deryni Archives: "Catalyst"
903-904: Camber of Culdi
905-906: Saint Camber
914: Deryni Archives: "Healer's Song"
917-early 918: Camber the Heretic
918: The Harrowing of Gwynedd
921-922: King Javan's Year
928: The Bastard Prince
977: Deryni Archives: "Vocation"
1056: Deryni Tales: "The Green Tower"
1086-1095: In the King's Service
1089: "Venture in Vain"
1100: Deryni Archives: "Bethane"
1104-1105: Deryni Archives: "The Priesting of Arilan"
1105: Deryni Archives: "Legacy"
1115: Deryni Archives: "The Knighting of Derry"
1118: Deryni Archives: "Trial"
1120: Deryni Rising
1121 (March): Deryni Checkmate
1121 (May-June): High Deryni
1123: The Bishop's Heir
1124: The King's Justice
1125: The Quest for Saint Camber
1128: King Kelson's Bride
Back to Contents
The Eleven Kingdoms
- This rhyme is at the front of Camber of Culdi, and is attributed to
the Lord Llewellyn.
Now, these are the Names of the Eleven Kingdoms,
sung rightly well of old:
Howicce, and Llannedd, and fierce Connait;
mountainous Meara, the Land Beyond the River;
and Kheldour, the windswept;
and pastoral Eastmarch;
Tolan, and Torenth, and myth-ridden Mooryn;
and lost Caeriesse, which sank beneath the sea;
and far-reaching Gwynedd, seat of the Haldane Kings.
- --Lay of the Lord Llewellyn
Troubadour to the High King of Mooryn
Tolan, Torenth, Caeriesse, Gwynedd, Howicce, Llanedd, Connait, these
are all pretty straightward. (It should be noted that the Duchy of
Haldane is a part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. However, a cursory summary
of the history of Gwynedd's founding would seem to indicate that the
Haldane duchy was, among several other pieces of land, a precursor to
Gwynedd rather than absorbed by it.)
Mooryn is the original land now comprised of Corwyn and Carthmoor.
Meara became Cassan, Kierney, and what's now called Meara.
Kheldour became the Duchy of Claibourne and the Earldom of Rhendall.
(The Earldom of Rhendall, once held by the heir of the Duke of
Claibourne as Kierney is held by the heir of the Duke of Cassan, is now
in a second branch of the family, by one Duke's will.)
Also a product of this splitting was the Kheldish Riding, held
directly as a Crown territory.
Eastmarch became Eastmarch and Marley.
Back to Contents
Genetics/Deryni inheritance
At the end of High Deryni, there is a discussion of precisely
how Deryniness is inherited. And yet, this seems, in essence, to make
no sense when compared to later books. For instance:
- There seems to be a definite difference in power that can, if
diluted with 'human' blood, decrease from one generation to the next.
If a single gene were responsible, this would not happen; you would have
either the same amount of power as your parent with the gene, or none.
- Dhugal MacArdry McLain's mother is thought to be human, yet he is
Deryni. According to Kurtz's genetics, this is also impossible. Some
indications point at Maryse MacArdry being Deryni; this is not yet
proven, and will undoubtedly be revealed in future books. Similar
problems arise in other families, however.
General tendencies seem to indicate that as she developed the world
more, she began to grow away from the single-gene theory. Either
several genes are responsible, or there's something even more complex
involved.
Katherine Kurtz has, in the past, stated several times that the
theory advanced in High Deryni is in fact only a theory and
should not be considered a definitive look at how things happen; she's
indicated that indeed several genes are likely to be responsible, as
suggested above, or that things are very complex.
(Microbiologist Kristy Henscheid has found a way to make the original
theory work. To view her charts see Deryni Genetics on her Gwynedd page.)
Back to Contents
The genealogical relationship between Kelson and the
Mearans.
The following charts include information from Codex Derynianus
and King Kelson's Bride. However they are truncated; broken
lines indicate areas where generations have been removed for brevity
(therefore the generations do not line up collaterally). To see the
full lines visit the Deryni
Genealogies webpage.
Partial Chart of the Quinnells of Meara and Cassan, Haldanes
and Ramseys |
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