Looks like the Crimson Guard will be back in action this book. Steven Erikson's new Malazan novel, Forge of Darkness, will precede this to publication in August.In the western sky the bright emerald banner of the Visitor descends like a portent of annihilation. On the continent of Jacuruku, the Thaumaturgs have mounted yet another expedition to tame the neighboring wild jungle. Yet this is no normal wilderness. It is called Himatan, and it is said to be half of the spirit-realm and half of the earth. And it is said to be ruled by a powerful entity whom some name the Queen of Witches, and some a goddess: the ancient Ardata. Saeng grew up knowing only the rule of the magus Thaumaturgs -- but it was the voices out of that land's forgotten past that she listened to. And when her rulers mount an invasion of the neighboring jungle, those voices send her and her brother on a desperate mission.
To the south, the desert tribes are united by the arrival of a foreign warleader, a veteran commander in battered ashen mail whom his men call, the Grey Ghost. This warleader takes the tribes on a raid like none other, deep into the heart of Thaumaturg lands. While word comes to K'azz, and mercenary company the Crimson Guard, of a contract in Jacuruku. And their employer... none other than Ardata herself.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
New info on Ian Cameron Esslemont's next MALAZAN novel
Ian Cameron Esslemont's new Malazan novel, Blood and Bone (formerly City in the Jungle) will apparently be published in December 2012. Tor USA have issued a cover blurb for the novel:
Could the grey ghost be Kallor?
ReplyDeleteHow does it take George R.R. Martin a full five years to put out a book when these two guys can crank 'em out almost annually?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I wish all my favourite fantasy authors were as prolific as Esslemont and Erikson.
3 Malazan novels in one year, WHOOP WHOOP! (I'm pretty sure OST came out in January right?)
ReplyDeleteAm currently reading Orb Sceptre Throne and quite liking it.
"How does it take George R.R. Martin a full five years to put out a book when these two guys can crank 'em out almost annually?"
ReplyDeleteWell, they don't employ editors.
Makes the process much faster. But makes their books much worse.
Not only do they publish almost a new book every year, but most of the books are actually great reads as well. That’s what makes it so extremely impressive, that the quality can be that high despite such a short writing time.
ReplyDeleteBecause the entire series has been them cranking out nonsense as quickly as they can. They throw anything they think of into these books and just run with it.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing they seem to have overlooked sympathetic characters and some sort of logic.
I thought the next novel was supposed to be set in Assail ?
ReplyDeleteICE has been working a book ahead of publication for a while, which I think has confused things. When he's said 'the next book' for the last year or so, he's been referring to the book after BLOOD AND BONE (which he'd already finished), though the fans hadn't even gotten ORB SCEPTRE THRONE at the time.
ReplyDeleteSo BLOOD AND BONE (aka 'the Jacuruku book') is up next and ASSAIL (working title) will follow in late 2013 or early 2014.
"Because the entire series has been them cranking out nonsense as quickly as they can. They throw anything they think of into these books and just run with it."
ReplyDeleteI disagree, most of the things that happen in each book have a reason for being there. While things might feel random at the time you are reading it, most plot points are given a good reason for happening later on. There is very little that didn’t make sense in the long run.
"The only thing they seem to have overlooked sympathetic characters..."
No sympathetic characters? It’s really weird that you feel that way. Malazan is one of those series where even the villains seem sympathetic most of the time.
"Well, they don't employ editors.
ReplyDeleteMakes the process much faster. But makes their books much worse."
I'd rather have no editors than a terrible one. Yes, I'm looking at you, Anne Groel!