Release info: Martin, Bakker, Erikson, Keyes & Rothfuss

[Werthead]

Locus Online are now postulating a June 2008 release date for A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George RR Martin. Locus only release dates, even tenuous ones, when they get information from the publisher, in this case probably Bantam US (remember that the UK publishers, HarperCollins Voyager, usually publish the books a month or so earlier). This is in line with other information, particularly that gleaned from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist when he spoke to GRRM's editor (that the manuscript was expected in autumn/winter for release a few months later).

As usual, take nothing for granted until official announcements are made, but this news is nevertheless encouraging.

The Locus release schedule does not appear to have taken into account other recent changes however:

The Great Ordeal (Book 1 of The Aspect-Emperor) by R. Scott Bakker is still shown as a March 2008 UK release, when, according to Amazon, Orbit recently pushed it back until August 2008 to match the American release date.

Toll the Hounds (Book 8 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen) by Steven Erikson is still shown as a June 2008 UK release, when again it seems to have been pushed back until August (presumably due to delays following a recent and regrattable death in the author's family). This is another Amazon date, though, and other sources are still saying June.

The Wise Man's Fear (Book 2 of The Kingkiller Chronicle) by Patrick Rothfuss is still listed as an April 2008 US release date when Rothfuss recently suggested it would miss that date, although hopefully not by too far.

The Born Queen (Book 4 of The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone) by J. Gregory Keyes seems to have been pushed back from March to April 2008.

 

[GOLLUM]

Good information nevertheless. Particularly looking forward to the final volume in Keye's current series plus the new Erikson novel.

 

[Lucien21]

Amazon is one of the most unreliable release dates around.

Wouldn't take any stock in those dates.

 

[GOLLUM]

Amazon is one of the most unreliable release dates around.

Wouldn't take any stock in those dates.

UM...generally true but this is coming from the well respected Locus, not from Amazon.

 

[Werthead]

I see the confusion though. The Erikson and Bakker books have both been put back by Amazon but this hasn't registered on Locus yet. Erikson seems to have confirmed the delay on his book (he reported an understandable pause in writing because of a death in his family) and the delay with Bakker was expected so that the American and British editions would come out simultaneously.

Normally, unverified Amazon dates should rightly be regarded with suspicion.

 

[Pyan]

Waterstones in the UK have the release of ADWD as March 31st, 2008!

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Format: Hardback 704 pages
Date of publish: 31/03/2008
Publisher: Voyager
Available for pre-order
£11.39 - List price: £11.99 - You save: £0.60

 

[Werthead]

Waterstones in the UK have the release of ADWD as March 31st, 2008!

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Format: Hardback 704 pages
Date of publish: 31/03/2008
Publisher: Voyager
Available for pre-order
£11.39 - List price: £11.99 - You save: £0.60

Yep. They also had it listed ages ago as coming out in 2006 or 2007.

As usual, treat all dates as guesses until GRRM himself makes an announcement on his website.