I was fortunately given the opportunity to write a history of the Transformers. Geekgirl heaven!
This story, complete with luscious full colour art illustrations, many of them from the original ‘Transformers Bible’ at Hasbro, reveals the never-before told origins of all thirteen of the original Primes and the evolution of the Autobots and the Decepticons.
Fans should note that the history here is the legendary backdrop to the Prime Continuum only (as shown in the animated TV series and in the tie-in novels) and not a comprehensive, multi-verse capture of all Transformer stories ever written.
Hello, dear Justina Robson, sorry to bother you, my name is Julia, I from Russia.
I’m a fan of science fiction, fantasy and transformers, as well as the author of the book “the Fabulous world of dreams, only recently set foot on the difficult path of the writer. I love the world of transformers and all connected with them, for the first time learned about them from movies by Bay. After watching the second film I got a strong desire to learn about the world of transformers as much as possible. I began to search and translate English articles about this amazing world. For seven years, translated the 30 articles and have learned so much from the translation.
I recently stumbled upon your amazing book “the Covenant of Primus”. When translating articles, I often ran into him, and now know that this book, and you her author.
I have a question, what inspired you to write this unique story? I have suggest that dreams, because some authors will help to create masterpieces one of these masterpieces, I believe “Covenant of Primus”. Because it’s great that you were able to write this wonderful book.
Me dreams helped to create the first book, it was the book “the Fabulous world of dreams”
I was upset what your book is about transformers not translated into Russian language, after all it is your hard and honorable work. Please, allow me to translate “Covenant of Primus”. I assure you I will do it for the sake of knowledge that will derive from the translation. If for some reason I will be denied this, I understand you. Because only you solve possible to translate your lovely a book or not.
Dear Julia,
Thank you for your letter and kind words about “The Covenant of Primus”. In answer to your question about the story – much of it already existed but hadn’t been written down officially. I invented and embellished widely on certain parts of it but mostly I was expanding on notes that had been made by various people during the Transformers’ evolution within Hasbro’s creative departments.
I wish I was able to help you out re your request to translate, but I wrote the book on a work-for-hire contract and all the rights to it are owned by Hasbro, the owners of The Transformers. I don’t have any rights over it at all.
I think that if there are any Russian translation versions (official ones) of ANY Transformers books or comics in production your best bet is to contact the Russian publisher of those and ask them if they have any interest in you translating the book. They are most likely to be able to negotiate with Hasbro if they have existing relations with them. If such a thing does not exist then contacting Hasbro directly is your only option at this point, I would think, or else getting some interest from a Russian publisher and having them acquire translation rights. But do try, it doesn’t hurt to ask, you never know where it may lead.
I wish you all the best with your studies and development. Justina.
Thanks for the advice, I will definitely use it.
I found the official website of hasbro and this is in Russia. And contacts found, I will try to send the request for the translation of the book there.
Good luck, Julia 😉
Just wondering for myself is there a way I could purchase a autographed copy of the Covenant of Primus? Have read it twice and loved it since I grew up with the series myself. I have no problem having an extra copy signed for a treasure please.
Matthew Wheeler
Birmingham ,Alabama
I would be glad to autograph one, however, I don’t have a spare one myself. You could either buy one, post it to me, and I can write in it and post it back to you, or I can send you an autographed sticker/loose sheet to put in your existing copy. Let me know what you think. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and took the time to let me know. 🙂
Justina,
My son bought me this book a few years back because they knew what a huge Transformers fan I was. I have read it several times and used it as a reference point when watching the new trilogies and even going back to some of the G1 and comics by Marvel and IDW. It is a very good read and very enjoyable — was there any lore that you got to create from scratch for the book, did you get to put your own mark on the Prime universe. Would you have liked to put in more about the Shattered Glass (evil Autobots/good Decepticons) universe? What was your favorite part to write?
On a side note, I am taking my copy with me to a Peter Cullen and Frank Welker autograph signing soon along with my G1 Prime and Megatron. I saw that you offered to sign someone else’s copy, may I ask for the same? It would be neat to have your autograph on my copy as well!
Sincerely,
Brett Smith
Barkdale AFB, LA
Thanks, Brett. Sorry for the ages that have passed in the interim. Yes. I have sent you an email.
Dear Justina,
I hope this message finds you well.
I am Cecilia, a Transformers fan which love your book “The Covenant of Primus” so much and I am reading it again recently.
When I read this book, I have some questions about the content of the book . The first question is that in the second half of the book, you quoted Shakespeare’s famous line “Journeys end in lovers meeting.”
I like your quote here, so I want to ask you what kind of inspiration you have to choose such a sentence. This is also my second question, what do you think of the relationship described by the word “lovers” here. Is it the kind of love you mentioned at the beginning?
Finally, I would like to express my love for this book again and thank you for reading my message.
Looking forward to your reply 🙂
Best regards,
Cecilia
London,UK
Dear Cecilia,
Thank you for your message. I’m so happy you enjoyed the book.
In answer to your question – when I’m writing something I am always looking out for anything which resonates with the story. That could be other art, a memory, a chance event, something I see just in passing etc. I can’t remember exactly why that phrase came up but I think that my editor and I had decided we wanted to write something more emotionally intricate than just a friendship or rivals situation. The phrase itself, taken away from the origin, is very ambiguous to me, on many levels. I felt that there are many seen and unseen connections between people and it doesn’t necessarily mean that the connection is overtly loving or kind, it may even be hostile. But it is still a connection of importance. Together, apart, pulled, pushed, we dance around. Thus are the meanings of our lives formed. In the end, these movements, however they go, are part of something which feels to me like it is always lovers meeting, in a spiritual level. Perhaps not on a day to day level! Perhaps the opposite. A journey ends, another begins. So, make of it what you like, it is there to hold whatever you think fits the best given everything else in the story. It isn’t possible within the IP to write something overt in that way. So it is covert. A hidden key. Open whichever door you please.
Wishing you all the best, Justina.
Dear Justina,
I was absolutely thrilled to receive your thoughtful response, and I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to address my inquiries. Your emphasis on the concept of connection has profoundly inspired me, offering a fresh perspective that has reinvigorated my thought process.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of sharing your response with several of my Chinese friends who are also ardent admirers of your book. They, like me, found your reply to be imbued with a sense of romance and depth, and they extend their heartfelt gratitude to you for weaving such a rich tapestry of coexistence and contrast within your narrative.
Moreover, I’m excited to share that the Chinese translation of your book is now available for pre-order. I am confident that many more readers will soon have the opportunity to immerse themselves in your exquisite work.
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your response, and may your week be filled with joy and wonder.
Best regards,
Cecilia
London,UK