The future of the RuneScape novels: Massively's interview with T.S. Church

I had a lot of fun recently reading and reviewing Betrayal at Falador. This RuneScape novel was published in a very limited format a few years ago, and this month it's being re-released in paperback on a much wider scale.

I enjoyed the opportunity to read the book and give my perspective as a RuneScape novice, but the follow-up was even better. Author T.S. Church spent some time chatting with me about the the characters, his plans, and the world of RuneScape.

Church was very open and forthcoming about the story so far and gave plenty of exciting details on what's to come. Follow along after the jump to see what he had to say.

Massively: What made you decide to reissue Betrayal at Falador two years after the hardback release?

T.S. Church: The success of the hardback in its limited edition persuaded me that the book needed to be available in stores rather than solely online. There were a number of fans who emailed me to say that they couldn't purchase it as they had no means of doing so, and so we teamed up with Titan Books to increase its availability.

Can we expect to see some of these characters, such as Kara-Meir, Castamir, and Theodore in future RuneScape updates?

Hmm. Tough one this. The heroes have a number of adventures to go through yet, and RuneScape can be a very dangerous place. And, as with any other adventurer starting out, the enemies only get tougher and tougher. So by the time the books reach their conclusion, just a few short years after Betrayal at Falador, there might not be many of these characters left...

Do you view Betrayal at Falador as an introduction to RuneScape for those who aren't familiar with the game?

Absolutely! The purpose of Betrayal at Falador, and of the series as a whole, is to give someone who is entirely unfamiliar with RuneScape an in depth knowledge of the world, with all its politics and religions touched upon. For existing players, it will provide an entertaining back story of the world they know so well, with oblique references to the game that they should have fun spotting.

Return to Canifis is set for release next February, and is the sequel to Betrayal at Falador. Can we expect a similar mix of familiar game elements and new characters?

Tying in game elements to a plot line requires the correct balance. If you put in too many references, or make the in game elements too prevalent, then you risk alienating new readers and destabilizing the plot. Far better to have slightly veiled and minor references that players will pick up on and that won't be enough to ruin the tale for a non-player. It might sound odd, but some of the best feedback in this sense from Betrayal came from the very minor paragraph where one character stated he had learned to fish in Catherby, a place where many players do likewise. It is these "golden moments" that link the players' actions to the story that can help to create a bond with no risk of alienating new readers. Of course, the same rule applies, however: too many of these and the effect is lost.

Will we see a return of most (or all) of the characters we met in the first book?

Indeed you will. It follows the characters from the first book as they reunite six months later in Varrock. Many questions and tensions left hanging from the end of Betrayal resurface, and for heroes thrown together in war, a time of peace is hard to get used to. Having said that, its a novel about an adventure, so you can be guaranteed the peace won't last for long.

Do you have a set number of RuneScape novels in mind for this series?

We do have a series of books planned. Book 1 (Betrayal) focused on Falador and Asgarnia, whereas subsequent books will take the heroes into different realms, starting with Varrock in book 2. By the end of it, the three great human kingdoms will have been explored enough to give a good feel of the world in which millions of players inhabit.

What do you most hope readers will take away from Betrayal at Falador?

I hope quite simply that they enjoy it, and that they will want to find out more about the characters subsequent adventures as they carry on.

Thank you for your time!