Hopefully, if you’re reading this, you now know that the semi-mythical beast known as The Republic of Thieves has at last been captured in the wild and given official release dates: October 8th in the US and October 10th in the UK. You can read the Gollancz announcement here and the Del Rey Spectra announcement here!
So what’s the deal with all the wacky release dates we’ve seen over the years?
They were more or less artifacts of bookseller databases. Basically, if a book is going to be available for pre-order, it needs to have a release date attached, any release date, even a ludicrous or fictional one. That release date kept shifting as the book kept failing to appear. Eventually, my publishers stopped even consulting tea leaves and the projected dates became still-more loosely tethered to reality. Add inertia and hearsay to the mix (some sites continued to post long-outdated fictional dates, others falsely reported that the book had been published) and you have the ingredients for a gigantic confusion pie.
And how do we know this release date is the real one?
I have Tweeted several times that I would vouch for no release date until I formally shouted it, myself, from the ramparts of my own blog and other social media. This is me shouting from the ramparts. October, 2013 is not a random guess from some poor sod behind a database. My publishers in New York and London hold a revised version of the complete manuscript that pleases them both; with that in hand to work from they have set forth a release date that is not a mere prayer of hope muttered over an empty cocktail glass. In short, to prevent the release of this book, you must now obliterate the planet Earth. Good luck with that.
What about release dates in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, etc.?
I do not have that information at my fingertips, but as I acquire it I’m going to try to set up some sort of central repository of known availability dates.
Now, the next few items are mild spoilers, so if you’re the sort of person who wants to preserve as much of the surprise as you can, skip the rest of this entry until mid-October.
When does The Republic of Thieves pick up chronologically?
The “present day” thread resumes the story a few weeks after the end of Red Seas Under Red Skies. The flashback thread shows several episodes from Locke’s early years, and then a long adventure from when Locke, Jean, and Sabetha were about sixteen.
So Sabetha is actually in this thing?
Yes, Sabetha Belacoros is finally revealed in person for the first time and is a major character in The Republic of Thieves.
Do we find out more about the Bondsmagi?
The Bondsmagi are fairly integral to the plot. We meet several more of them and explore their home city of Karthain.
What else would you say to tempt us without spoiling?
Well, you’ll get to spend more time with Calo and Galdo Sanza, as well as Father Chains, and there are cameo appearances by a few other familiar faces from The Lies of Locke Lamora. You’ll find out how Locke and Sabetha met (you can read it right now, in fact). You’ll witness the very awkward teenage years of the Gentlemen Bastards. You’ll find out more about the customs of the hidden religion of the Crooked Warden. You’ll see Locke and Sabetha deploying the full panoply of their skills, against one another and against the world. You’ll discover who brought proper coffee-making to Therin society, and you’ll learn vital elements of crossbow safety!
Now that TRoT is in the bag, what are you doing?
My immediate project is to refinish a novella (another long overdue project) called The Mad Baron’s Mechanical Attic, which will be published by Subterranean Press.
Although TMBMA and its companion, The Choir of Knives, were conceived as prequels to The Lies of Locke Lamora, I have decided after lengthy reflection that I’m not willing to contribute another inessential prequel to our society’s towering heap of the damn things. Although I think TMBMA is a fun story with a great cast and setting, it ultimately revealed nothing surprising about Locke and Jean’s history and it stretched the boundaries of what I consider acceptable retconning. I have come to believe that prequels should cast some accepted facts of their universes in a new light, and I just didn’t have anything up my sleeve in that department.
What I am deeply interested in, however, is the further adventures of Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen now that I’ve recovered something of my ability to push them forward. Thus, I am retooling these novellas as a bridge story between the events of The Republic of Thieves and The Thorn of Emberlain, one that is entirely optional but hopefully enriching.
After that, I will resume work on The Thorn of Emberlain, already in progress.
Awesome news! I’m really looking forward to this book!
Thanks Scott and happy writing!
This is awesome. I am looking forward to this so much.
To add to the “Fans needs to know” release date pile any words on the audiobook version yet? Will is be a simultaneous release this time, or is that yet to be determined. I am really considering an audio reread of the first two books in preparation.
Thanks!
Michael page did the first two, and he was fantastic. I hope he does TRoT as well. I would say it is very much worth listening too, even if you already know the story.
EEK! (that is all)
Hip hop hooray! Awesome news! Thank you Scott for finishing the book… I am truly grateful that despite the many challenges in your life you carried on. Facing your demons daily and still going through with it, that is courage. Look forward to holding and reading TRoT, and if Canada is publishing later than the US, oh well, the border is not far!
Yes! Congrats! Looking forward to it.
Nice to see another post from you, Scott. Also great to see that TROT has a release date. Good luck finishing it up!
Super excited, Scott. Came into your books through some sci-fi character death match and, even though Jean lost, I decided to give Lies a shot. I fell in love immediately, and practically force the book down all my friends’ throats. Keep up the good work!
Great news!!!
From your number one italian fan: thanks for your hard work, hope you are better now that the semi-mythical beast is gone. 😀
I’m thrilled to read about Locke, Jean and Sabetha’s past!!!!
Really exciting news, I can’t wait. Thank you.
Will either of the novellas involve the acquisition of Austershalin Brandy, or was that an element that would have fixed the stories in prequel territory?
Awesome news and a ray of sunshine in an otherwise rotten day!
Do you know if the book will also be released in Kindle format in October?
Thanks and keep writing ♥
“You’ll find out how Locke and Sabetha met (you can read it right now, in fact). ”
Where might we read this right now?
My apologies! You can find the prologue to TRoT on:
http://www.scottlynch.us/excerpts.html
Squeeee!
Congratulations on the release… date! The 7-month wait is gonna suck but I’ll manage.
The fact that The Republic of Thieves is coming out keeps smacking me in the nose and making my eyes water with joy.
Yay!
Also, yay!
Congrats, Scott!
From your #1 Filipino fan
AWESOME NEWS! I can’t wait for October to roll around, I think this will make an excellent gift for a few friends… I expect I’ll be ordering 3 or 4 copies for me and my friends!
I am gonna have a pretty fun birthday this year. Can’t wait to get my hands on the book which stars the mythological and legendary Sabetha.
vital elements of crossbow safety
Please tell me it was only your foot!
I am so, so, so immensely glad words cannot begin to express it. Congratulation on finishing the book, can’t wait to read it.
You made my fucking day, Scott. While it should be considered rude to demand that an author write at a pace that suits all his readers, I would be lying if I said I was not extremely impatient to see your next book. I’m both proud and relieved that one of my favorite authors has concluded another project, and I look forward to seeing more works from you in the future.
I shall be hoisting a drink to your health this week with my friends, and endeavoring to introduce them to the world of Bondsmagi, Bastards, and Rhetoric. Keep up the good work.
Congrats Scott, I will figuratively hold my breath until it’s release. Out of curiosity though, I’m going to assume (I know, I know) that the audio book will be released at the same time, or shortly thereafter. Do you have any knowledge of who might be narrating the book? Michael Page did such a great job with the first two I’m hoping to hear he does this one also.
Again, congrats on the release date. I hope it earns you riches beyond your wildest dreams.
I peed a bit when i read your joyous announcement. Thank you so much for this. Live long and prosper.
Mr. Lynch,
This is fantastic news! Congratulations on re-harnessing some of that glorious momentum, and thank you for sticking with it. Amazon.com has not yet accepted the truth of this publishing date, (a website scorned, etc. etc.) but will be getting a pre-order as soon as available. Also, any plans for Subterranean Press versions of this book?
Great news mr. Lynch! Congratulations to you! I hope it’ll match the greatness of the first two. Greetings from Amsterdam.
Wow! I’m suprised I thought when I found out how long I’d have to wait for this book (confirmed wait) it would seem interminable, but it’s actually a relief from the unkown and doesn’t feel that bad at all!
I’m sure come September I’ll be climbing the walls re-reading everything you’ve ever written but right now I’m just a… relaxed happy?… it’s happening.
Sir, I feel as though you are fucking with me. I shall warn you, if you are, I will send you a pile of shit in the mail with instructions to set it on your porch in the wee hours of the night and set it on fire.
All kidding aside, THANK FUCKING GOD. I realize and understand (as much as I personally can understand) what the hold up has been. And I’ve only been frustrated with it because I like Locke and Co. so much. But shit, dude. About damn time. Thank you!
P.S. – Not that it matters, but if the next book(s) take forever to come out again, I will still wait, and when you finally announce them, I will still give you a somewhat douche reply as I have done so here. I think all things being said, about this sort of thing, you have thick skin and can take lighthearted ribbing. So a good day to you, sir.
best news I’ve heard all week.
shit, this is best news I’ve heard all fucking year.
Nice to see you posting again!
I can’t wait to read your new book! The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies are my favorite books, and I keep trying to push them on my friends like some kind of literary drug dealer.
I. am. happy.
Bluntly, “fuck, yeah.”
My wife and I have read the covers off the first two; can’t wait to do the same to the new one. Congratulations.
Absolutely brilliant news ! I’m very much looking forward to the next book and all the ones that will hopefully follow.
And many thanks for providing hours of fantastic entertainment. When I’m reading the adventures of Locke and Jean, I’m there with them, like a fly on the wall. It’s something that very few writers are able to do : drag readers into the lives of characters in a book