Listians in the Labyrinth
This story came about in the summer of '98, my first year on the Labyrinth List. Writing it was one of the most fun experiences I've had with them. I started the story when one of the Listians made a wish for Jareth to take the entire list away. It wasn't exactly an original idea. I was mainly inspiried by other attempts I'd read, none finished. So I really didn't have any clue what I was doing. I just dashed off the first chapter in a sudden burst of creativity, and sent it to the List. Then I sat there thinking: Now what?
So I designed a short info sheet for the Listians who wanted to participate to fill out and send back. I used as much as I could of whatever they sent me, including ideas for the next part of the Labyrinth. In particular, In the Name of the King's puzzle was from Dreamin', the idea for Water Ballet was from Cerridwenn, the game in Bits and Pieces belongs to its solver, Nyt Angel, and Riddler himself made up his riddles for me. Those are (I think) some of the best chapters, and the story never would have made it to the finish line without the help of these and all the others on the Labyrinth List.
It was kind of a thrill to be doing these mini portraits of the Listians. But I think what they really liked was seeing not just themselves, but all of us working together as a team. I don't think it was my writing that was special about this story. I think it was the Listians watching the story unfold, getting to know each other, solving puzzles, cracking jokes...it was that feeling of defying all the miles over land and sea that keep us from just hanging out and watching Labyrinth together over peach cobbler. I think it's easy to see that I have a lot of love for the List. This story is forever dedicated to them, my brothers and sisters in dreams.