Subterranean Press Cover Release – Best Served Cold

Subterranean Press are releasing a limited edition of Joe Abercrombie’s first standalone novel Best Served Cold - http://www.subterraneanpress.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=abercrombie04&Category_Code=B&Product_Count=1 - and yesterday the cover art was released.

Surely a thing of beauty, featuring the central figure of Monza Murcatto – The Snake of Talins.

Springtime in Styria. And that means war.

There have been nineteen years of blood. The ruthless Grand Duke Orso is locked in a vicious struggle with the squabbling League of Eight, and between them they have bled the land white. While armies march, heads roll, and cities burn, behind the scenes bankers, priests and older, darker powers play a deadly game to choose who will be king.

War may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso’s employ, it’s a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular —a shade too popular for her employer’s taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto’s reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

Her allies include Styria’s least reliable drunkard, Styria’s most treacherous poisoner, a mass-murderer obsessed with numbers and a barbarian who just wants to do the right thing. Her enemies number the better half of the nation. And that’s all before the most dangerous man in the world is dispatched to hunt her down and finish the job Duke Orso started…

Springtime in Styria. And that means revenge.

Subterranean Press plan to release the book in the Autumn.

Abercrombie, Hamilton Updates

There’s been a couple of updates on two on-going projects of interest over the past 24 hours.

First up (A) Red Country by Joe Abercrombie. The publication dates have only just been announced and now the American cover has been released.

This follows the theme already seen with the re-releases of The First Law trilogy and Best Served Cold. Not sure I’m overly keen on this style of cover, I much prefer the UK ‘damaged parchment’ style.

Next up, and thanks to Fantasy Faction - http://fantasy-faction.com/2012/a-red-country-release-date-teaser - we have a neat little teaser.

Very stylish, and for all you eagle-eyed types, did you spot anything missing on the bloody hands at 19secs in?

Tied in with the US cover (look at the hands) the worst guarded secret surrounding this new novel seems to be confirmed.

Next up Peter F Hamilton and his new novel Great North Road, thanks to The Wertzone - http://thewertzone.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/cover-art-and-blurb-for-peter-f.html - the cover art and blurb have been released.

In Newcastle-upon-Tyne, AD 2142, Detective Sidney Hurst attends a brutal murder scene. The victim is one of the wealthy North family clones – but none have been reported missing. And the crime’s most disturbing aspect is how the victim was killed. Twenty years ago, a North clone billionaire and his household were horrifically murdered in exactly the same manner, on the tropical planet of St Libra. But if the murderer is still at large, was Angela Tramelo wrongly convicted? Tough and confident, she never waivered under interrogation – claiming she alone survived an alien attack. But there is no animal life on St Libra. Investigating this alien threat becomes the Human Defence Agency’s top priority. The bio-fuel flowing from St Libra is the lifeblood of Earth’s economy and must be secured. So a vast expedition is mounted via the Newcastle gateway, and teams of engineers, support personnel and xenobiologists are dispatched to the planet. Along with their technical advisor, grudgingly released from prison, Angela Tramelo. But the expedition is cut off, deep within St Libra’s rainforests. Then the murders begin. Someone or something is picking off the team one by one. Angela insists it’s the alien, but her new colleagues aren’t so sure. Maybe she did see an alien, or maybe she has other reasons for being on St Libra .

This is Peter’s first standalone in a long time, and his longest book since The Night’s Dawn trilogy. His next project is a return to the world of the Void but set on a different planet and with no plans to include any previous Commonwealth characters.

Great North Road is due for release September 27th in the UK & December 26th in the US.

 

(A) Red Country by Joe Abercrombie Publication Dates

Joe has posted the (hopefully) firm release dates for his new novel (A) Red Country over on his blog

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2012/04/02/red-country-publication-dates/

UK – Thursday 18th October 2012

US – Tuesday 20th November 2012

There are links to Amazon so you can pre-order (already done mine).

 

Joe Abercrombie Post On The Editing Process

Over on his blog Joe Abercrombie has posted about the ongoing editing process for his current work in progress (A) Red Country.

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2012/03/30/first-words/

I like these informative insights into a writers methods, as one myself – albeit juts starting out – I find it incredibly interesting seeing how others manage their word counts. Looking at his cutting of chapter two its a marvel that he can get rid of 2,400 words – that’s a decent short story – and still have a chapter that works.

Looking forward to more posts like this, and more news on the progress of the book.

 

2nd Joe Abercrombie Update

Hot on the heels of his Last Words update last week - http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2012/03/13/last-words/ - Joe Abercrombie has posted another, more in-depth, update about the first rough draft of (A) Red Country.

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2012/03/19/second-last-words/

Some interesting insights into how Joe works, and how the whole process is going. Some interesting questions raised as well. In his previous post Joe had the title A Red Country, here he uses Red Country? So I believe there will be two different titles for the UK and US markets, one with the A and one without, perhaps he’s trying both out to see how they feel.

More interesting is one line near the end of the article where he is talking about the characters that have appeared in previous books. - They need to feel consistent and vivid, and as a result I probably need to do a read through of the First Law and Best Served Cold - so he only needs to re-read First Law and Best Served Cold. From that can we assume there will be no characters from The Heroes making a return? Also, we already know that Nicomo Cosca is in the new book – hence the re-read of BSC – but why would he need to re-read First Law, there has been no mention so far of any characters from there?

Or has there?

A lot of speculation has been hinging on a certain character by the name of Lamb, he is the step-father of the central figure in the story. All that Joe has revealed so far about Lamb is that he has a bloody past, bloodier than most. Makes me wonder even more if this is a subtle clue that perhaps Lamb appeared in First Law but under a different name.

Joe Abercrombie Update

Joe has posted a new update on his blog regarding his current novel A Red Country.

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2012/03/13/last-words/

He’s said it’s looking at around the 170,000 mark which would make it his shortest book to date. Publication is possibly September/October 2012.

Interestingly I notice that this is the first time he’s put the title without the A in brackets, he has been unsure up to now whether or not to have the letter in the title. Does this mean he’s now settled?

Joe Abercrombie Interviewed By Fantasy Faction

The guys over at fantasy-faction.com have launched their first podcast, the plan is for this to be a weekly event, alternating between an author interview one week, and Q&A session + book review the next.

To launch the series they’ve posted an interview with Joe Abercrombie (The First Law, Best Served Cold, The Heroes), where he talks about his work, his current novel and shoots the breeze in general.

A good start to what I hope is a weekly treat for fantasy fans all over.

Here is a linky to the podcast http://fantasy-faction.com/2012/fantasy-faction-podcast-joe-abercrombie#comment-13041

 

 

Joe Abercrombie Update On (A) Red Country

Joe Abercrombie has posted an update to his current WIP (A) Red Country - it might loose the A prior to publication.

Along with the current state of progress he also posts a rough synopsis.

“Shy South comes home to her farm to find a blackened shell, her brother and sister stolen, and knows she’ll have to go back to bad old ways if she’s ever to see them again.  She sets off in pursuit with only her cowardly old step-father Lamb for company.  But it turns out he’s hiding a bloody past of his own.  None bloodier.  Their journey will take them across the lawless plains, to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feuds, duels, and massacres, high into unmapped mountains to a reckoning with ancient enemies, and force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, a man no one should ever have to trust…”

Already a lot of people – myself included – are latching onto the character Lamb and his bloody past, speculation already rife that he is Logen “The Bloody Nine” Ninefingers, last seen falling from a castle window into a fast flowing river at the end of Last Argument Of Kings.

But even if it is his return, the book features another great character with the return of Nicomo Cosca.

According to Joe’s comments this book is set roughly six years after The Heroes, making it fifteen years since the end of The First Law trilogy.

Here is a link to Joe’s site - http://www.joeabercrombie.com/2012/02/02/part-iv/

 

Looking Forward To 2012

There is a lot to look forward to in 2012; it seems every year the range of genre on offer just gets stronger and stronger. So here is my list of what I’m looking forward to in the coming 12 months.

Books

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King – A new novel set during King’s Dark Tower sequence, said to cover events between Wizard And Glass and Wolves Of The Calla. I have some trepidation about this, for me the series went downhill after Wizard and lost its way. But King is still a fantastic writer and so this is on my list. Due out in April.

The Great North Road by Peter F Hamilton – A standalone epic set on a colony world. This is said to be Hamilton’s biggest book in a long while (an estimated 250,000+ words), and with it being nearly two years since Temporal Void it should be worth the wait. Comments he has made on his website hint that his next project is a return to the Void, with a new trilogy but set on a different planet and not including any previously seen characters. Due out in October.

Republic Of Thieves by Scott Lynch – The third title in The Gentlemen Bastard sequence. This book has been a long time coming – Red Seas Under Red Skies came out five years ago – due to Lynch’s health problems affecting his ability to write. At the end of the second book readers were left on a cliffhanger, with Locke Lamora having ingested a poison and the only antidote gone to the grave with its creator. Due out in October.

A Red Country by Joe Abercrombie – The third standalone set in the universe created with The First Law trilogy. According to posts on Abercrombie’s blog this novel will have the feel of the Old West, leading some commentators to speculate that this tale will be either set in the far south and feature Ferro – last seen at the end of Last Argument Of Kings demon possessed and bent on revenge against the Gurkish, or possibly set in the Old Empire with its frontier-like towns. No firm release date has been put out yet, Gollancz say late 2012.

The World Of Ice And Fire by George RR Martin, Elio Garcia and Linda Atonsson – Garcia and Atonsson run the popular Westeros.org website, and they have been working on this companion book the Martins A Song Of Ice And Fire series for some years. Martin himself has given a lot of input and time to this project; and the book is said to include extensive histories of the Seven Kingdoms, new maps – including a World Map, that may not include not yet seen regions around Asshai and the Jade Sea – and exclusive artwork by Ted Nasmith. Due out late 2012.

Dangerous Women edited by George RR Martin and Gardner Dozios – A new collection of short fantasy from some of the biggest names in the genre. Highlight for me will be the fourth Dunk & Egg story called The She-Wolves (or possibly The She-Wolves Of Winterfell), detailing Ser Duncan and Egg’s adventures in the Stark stronghold some eighty years before A Game Of Thrones. Due out late 2012.

 

TV

Supernatural S7 – The last half of season 7 started airing on January 6^th in the US. The CW has ordered an additional episode making this season 23 episodes long. Whether the plan is to go out with a bang – there is as yet no news if there will be an 8^th season – or they plan something extra special. This season has been a rough ride for fans, with the Winchester’s facing a threat that is seemingly unstoppable, the loss of Castiel and death of father-figure Bobby Singer.

The Walking Dead S2 – The second season is halfway through its run in the US and scheduled for Channel 5 in the UK during the summer. This was the breakout hit of 2011 with its premier breaking cable TV records.

Game of Thrones S2 – Due to be aired in April in the US – with a next day airing in the UK – the second season covers events in the second book of George RR Martin’s series, war has erupted in Westeros and five kings lay claim to the Iron Throne. Season 2 has an even bigger cast than the first and a lot more ground to cover for the writers in ten episodes. Highlight for me, episode nine called Blackwater written by Martin himself.

Downton Abbey S3 – Yes you’re reading that right, the third season of this brilliant period drama is scheduled for the autumn. Said to be set in the early 1920s – and said to be the last series as writer Julian Fellows only ever envisaged three – it will probably cover the slow demise of the aristocracy in England, and hopefully tie up what happens to Bates.

 

Films

John Carter – Pixar releases its first live action film. This is a lavish film version of Tarzan creators Edgar Rich Burroughs Barsoom books. The trailer looks great, with plenty of action and a heroic looking hero, stars Taylor Kitsch as John Carter. Due out in March.

Wrath Of The Titans – This sequel to Clash Of The Titans sees the hero Perseus embark on a quest to the underworld to rescue Zeus from his brother Hades. Sam Wothington stars as Perseus. Due out in March.

The Avengers – Joss Weadon writes and directs what must be the most ambitious project of the year. Bringing together the superhero team of Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow and the Hulk to do battle against Loki and an as yet un-known threat to Earth (though most people think it’s the Skrulls). Due out in May.

Snow White And The Huntsman – Based only on the trailer I’m giving this a go. It looks dark and moody, and has no singing animals. Due out in June.

Prometheus – Ridley Scott returns to the genre he defined with his Alien/not-Alien prequel. Due out in June.

The Dark Knight Rises – The third, and last, in Christopher Nolan’s re-booting of the Batman legend. Going on the trailer and teaser poster I’m hedging my bets that this will end with Bruce Wayne/Batman broken and in traction. Due out in July.

Expendables 2 – Stallone, Swarzenegger & Willis on screen together. What else does any red blooded man want? Due out in August.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – This needs no introduction, Peter Jackson back where he belongs in Middle Earth. Gandalf, Elrond and Golem return for this tale of lost treasure, a dragon, a battle between five armies, Oh… and a ring. Due out in December.

The First Law Wikia

Searching through the net over the weekend I came upon a recommendation to a new Wiki that has recently started up. Thanks to the Wertzone - http://thewertzone.blogspot.com/ - I was directed to The First Law Wiki - http://firstlaw.wikia.com/wiki/First_Law_Wiki

It’s pretty basic at the moment, there are only 17 pages created, but from little acorns and all that. They are looking for editors and contributors, I’ve signed up and already created a few pages. The First Law universe is still only a fledgling place, but with five books published – The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, The Last Argument Of Kings, Best Served Cold and The Heroes – and a sixth on the way – A Red Country (working title, it might loose the A) – it is already full of interesting characters, places and customs.