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The Augur's Gambit / The King's Justice
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 1:58 pm
by wayfriend
In StephenRDonaldson.com News was wrote:Some readers may wonder what I've been doing since I finished "The Last Chronicles." The answer, of course, is: many things. But along the way I've written two substantial novellas, "The Augur's Gambit" and "The King's Justice." And both have just been picked up by Putnams, to be published together in hardcover and paperback. I don't yet know the title Putnams will use. As for when the book will be published: rumor has it that the pub date will be in October 2015. But at this point that is *only* a rumor, not an announced fact.
Do I need to add that these two stories are entirely unlike each other? After all, I wrote them. But they are both fantasy.
1/7/15
So, yes, there are indeed TWO new novellas on the way, which explains why we have been hearing snitches of two different titles.
It's interesting that they will be published as one book - making it something in a murky region between a novel and a collection of short stories, I guess. But I suppose it make sense that a novella would not be published individually.
Discuss.
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 2:08 pm
by Frostheart Grueburn
Uuuuuu exciting!
Does the rumor whisper anything about hawt Giants featured in either piece of prose?
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:45 pm
by aliantha
Pretty sure there weren't any hawt Giants in the part we heard at WFC. There were some funny bits, though.
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 5:48 am
by StevieG
"Funny bits" eh? Interesting!
Well, I now have a mission: read the Last Dark before these books are published
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 12:59 pm
by ussusimiel
Didn't SRD call one of them a novelette? Still two of those (at under 20,000 words each) wouldn't make up a book. I'm happy to see two novellas rather than a book of short stories as I am more likely to reread them. I almost never go back over the short stories.
u.
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 2:51 pm
by kevinswatch
Cool. Crepuscular news.
-jay
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 3:22 pm
by Roger
The King's Justice is already available for pre-order from Amazon.com. It shows a publication date of October 13, 2015. No picture yet.
I wonder if there is any advantage to the author if you pre-order a title.
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:36 pm
by wayfriend
Other than getting an sense of how many need to be printed, I don't know.
Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:18 am
by Menolly
I seem to recall SRD saying something about pre-orders helping rankings on best seller lists the first week of release?
content
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:21 pm
by SkurjMaster
No hints as to the content of either or the new novellas?
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2015 10:37 pm
by Savor Dam
Apparently, aliantha heard SRD read a portion at WFC last fall. Maybe she can share what she recalls...other than there was humor and no hawt Giants.
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:39 pm
by aliantha
Romeo was there, too....
From what I recall, the main character was a woman who had (I think -- it's been some months...) inherited her father's kingdom, and was now proposing marriage to the leaders of neighboring kingdoms in turn. I can't recall now whether her strategy was meant to stir up trouble or suss out who would support her against which other kingdom. Maybe both. But it was an entertaining scene.
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:45 pm
by wayfriend
aliantha wrote:I can't recall now whether her strategy was meant to stir up trouble or suss out who would support her against which other kingdom. Maybe both.
Sounds a bit like Joyse.
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 6:51 pm
by aliantha
wayfriend wrote:aliantha wrote:I can't recall now whether her strategy was meant to stir up trouble or suss out who would support her against which other kingdom. Maybe both.
Sounds a bit like Joyse.
This guy wasn't necessarily crazy. Or hooked on playing checkers, either.
But now that you mention it, I see the similarity.
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 2:40 am
by Savor Dam
Interesting. My first thought in terms of similarity was
Daughter or Regals.
aliantha wrote:Romeo was there, too....
Aye, but he is far less dependably
here than you are!
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 3:25 am
by Linna Heartbooger
aliantha wrote:Romeo was there, too....
From what I recall, the main character was a woman who had (I think -- it's been some months...) inherited her father's kingdom, and was now proposing marriage to the leaders of neighboring kingdoms in turn. I can't recall now whether her strategy was meant to stir up trouble or suss out who would support her against which other kingdom. Maybe both. But it was an entertaining scene.
Alright!!!
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:45 pm
by wayfriend
An update was posted on the official site:
StephenRDonaldson.com wrote:a new book forthcoming -- 2
Putnams has announced October 13, 2015 as the publication date for a book they refer to as THE KING'S JUSTICE. I don't yet know what the official title will be. At one point, I had reason to think the book would be called "THE KING'S JUSTICE and THE AUGUR'S GAMBIT: Two Novellas." Now I'm not sure. But I'll post more reliable information when I get it.
2/12/15
So the good news is we have a release date.
The bad news is that the publisher's may not let Donaldson have a title that reflects there being two novellas in one book.
"
The King's Justice and Other Story" ?
I suppose we should be happy if we don't get a
tête-bêche!
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 11:27 pm
by Orlion
wayfriend wrote:An update was posted on the official site:
StephenRDonaldson.com wrote:a new book forthcoming -- 2
Putnams has announced October 13, 2015 as the publication date for a book they refer to as THE KING'S JUSTICE. I don't yet know what the official title will be. At one point, I had reason to think the book would be called "THE KING'S JUSTICE and THE AUGUR'S GAMBIT: Two Novellas." Now I'm not sure. But I'll post more reliable information when I get it.
2/12/15
So the good news is we have a release date.
The bad news is that the publisher's may not let Donaldson have a title that reflects there being two novellas in one book.
"
The King's Justice and Other Story" ?
I suppose we should be happy if we don't get a
tête-bêche!
All right! Better pre-order it so the local bookstore can mess it up!
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 11:30 pm
by Jussi
Here is the blurb for
The King's Justice:
edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ProductDetailPage.aspx?sku=0399176977
This beautiful book is made up of two new, original novellas, never before published a sure cause for celebration among his fans. It is Donaldson’s first publication since finishing the Thomas Covenant series, and takes him in unexpected directions.
In The King’s Justice, a stranger dressed in black arrives in the village of Settle’s Crossways, following the scent of a terrible crime. He even calls himself “Black,” though almost certainly that is not his name. The people of the village discover that they have a surprising urge to cooperate with this stranger, though the desire of inhabitants of quiet villages to cooperate with strangers is not common in their land, or most lands. But this gift will not save him as he discovers the nature of the evil concealed in Settle’s Crossways.
The “Augur’s Gambit” is a daring plan created by Mayhew Gordian, Hieronomer to the Queen of Indemnie, a plan to save his Queen and his country. Gordian is a reader of entrails. In the bodies of chickens, lambs, piglets, and one stillborn infant he sees the same message: the island nation of Indemnie is doomed. But even in the face of certain destruction a man may fight, and the Hieronomer is utterly loyal to his beautiful Queen—and to her only daughter. The “Augur’s Gambit” is his mad attempt to save a kingdom.
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 11:49 pm
by wayfriend
Awesome, thanks!
I may have a new favorite Augur. It's been Patera Silk since The Book of the Long Sun.