Seanan McGuire, author of the story for Lorwyn Eclipsed, answers some questions from Magic Untapped about her soon-to-be-released work.
Throughout the 2020's, Seanan McGuire has been one of the most constant Magic: The Gathering authors. She has been an author of the Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, Dominaria United, Phyrexia: All Will Be One, Murders at Karlov Manor, and Duskmourn. For the last one, McGuire even talked with Magic Untapped about it previously.
She isn't letting up.
Not only has she wrote the first paper Magic novel since War of the Spark, but she added yet another Magic story to her list: Lorwyn Eclipsed. Once again, Magic Untapped spoke with her about it.
Magic Untapped: What was it like returning the story to the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor plane after nearly two decades?
Seanan McGuire: Simultaneously nerve-racking and just like going anywhere else. Because Lorwyn-Shadowmoor had a full trilogy the first time we went there, a lot of the details were already fleshed out and waiting for me to use them. I didn't have to try figuring out how to, say, describe a modern suburb using Magic terminology in only 5,000 words (to give a non-specific example). But I also knew how many people cared a whole, whole lot about this plane, and wanted to do their need for a successful return visit justice.
MU: What were the challenges in bringing out the changes to the plane since last time it was shown?
SM: No matter what had changed, we knew some people were going to be unhappy about it--but those same people would be unhappy if everything was exactly the same. So the challenges were mostly in-line with everything else I've done for Magic.
MU: You integrated Strixhaven students into the story - what was it like integrating characters from one plane suddenly into another another like this?
SM: Outside of Magic, I'm most well-known for writing portal fantasies, so it was basically like riding a bike. I did push back, a lot, to keep them as limited as I could, because I knew people wanted Lorwyn, not Strixhaven. At the same time, bringing in the students here meant that we'll have a solid through-line for the next set, and that's something people have been asking for a lot. It's important to remember that we know all about both planes, but the students do not. This is all new to them.
MU: What was your favorite moment of the Lorwyn Eclipsed story and why? Was there any favorite moment of artistic liberty you added in?
SM: Artistic liberty, definitely Wylde being able to communicate easily with the Lorwyn merfolk because they both use sign. They're not using the same sign, of course, but the way her hearing aid works, it basically becomes a universal translator under the right circumstances. My favorite overall moment was probably Sanar and his "Prismari study track" explanation for why he was blowing stuff up.
MU: When planning out the story, how tricky was it to figure out the balance between Lorwyn and Shadowmoor - light/dark?
SM: Not at all.
MU: Did the artwork help guide you with the story?
SM: Not as much as I would have liked. I had most of the story written before I got to see much art.
MU: Who was your favorite character in the story?
SM: In this story, probably Wylde. She's our first canonically Deaf character, and it was so important that I get her right. I spent a lot of time working on making sure everything with her was just so.
MU: With several Magic stories now under your belt, is there a certain plane or character you would like to tackle in the future?
SM: Kaldheim. I want Kaldheim. I want Kaldheim and I want Tyvar back and Roy [Graham] knows he can make me behave forever just by telling me that misbehaving writers don't get to write Kaldheim if we ever go back.
I also want Duskmourn back. I love my messed-up horror movie plane, and I think it has so much potential, and I want to spend more time there.
Thanks to Seanan for the interview.
Other of Magic Untapped's author interviews can be found below:
