Limited posting round these parts as I’ve got my head proper buried in editing Half a King at the moment, as well as planning the next book and wrangling some cover concepts. However, I bring you news…
I’ve got a story in a forthcoming anthology, ‘Legends: Stories in Honour of David Gemmell’. The clue is in the title – it’s a collection of stories in honour of David Gemmell, so I expect you can expect some hard-edged fantasy stories with an undertone of dark humour and some tough and grizzled morally questionable antiheroes. Announcement over here, and from the Editor Ian Whates, and here’s the table of contents:
1. Introduction – Stan Nicholls
2. Or So Legend Has It – James Barclay
3. A Blade to the Heart – Gaie Sebold
4. Return to Arden Falls – Ian Whates
5. The Drake Lords of Kyla – Storm Constantine
6. A Tower of Arkrondurl – Tanith Lee
7. Who Walks With Death – Jonathan Green
8. Skipping Town – Joe Abercrombie
9. Land of the Eagle – Juliet E McKenna
10. All Hail to the Oak – Anne Nicholls
11. Swords and Circle – Adrian Tchaikovsky
12. Fairyland – Jan Siegel
13. Mountain Tea – Sandra Unerman
14. The League of Resolve – Stan Nicholls
My own story is a to-the-point slice of sword and sorcery featuring Shevedieh and Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp, a sort of female Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser. The collection’s being published by Newcon Press in paperback, e-book, and limited edition Hardback, to coincide with the giving of this year’s David Gemmell Legend Award. Which segues oh-so-smoothly into a hugely subtle mention in passing that Red Country just so happens to be on the shortlist for that award, and you guys could vote for it, if you so desired…
Of course, you could vote for one of the other wonderful shortlisted books. If you’re INSANE. I should say the cover art for Red Country by the (already Gemmell Award winning and World Fantasy Award shortlisted) team of Didier Graffet and Dave Senior is up for the Ravenheart Award. You could vote for them here, should you so desire.
Finally, Justin Landon’s re-read of The First Law Trilogy continues at tor.com, where he’s discussing a couple of chapters of The Blade Itself each Wednesday. Jump in and join the discussion…
14 comments so far
I do like a good short story, here’s hoping yours get released in a collection soon.
Red Country is the best book on that list. You have to be realistic about these things.
So, Joe, this makes 9 First Law short Stories in the books currently ?
Some Desperado
Tough Times all Over
Skipping Town
Hell
A Beautiful Bastard
Made a Monster
The Fool Jobs
Freedom!
Yesterday, Near a Village called Barden
close to another moneymaker I’d say. Can’t wait.
Voted! But how is Mark Lawrence on the short list? Ughhh. The worst fantasy books I’ve read in a long time.
JOE SAYS: Thanks for your comment James, but I’ve redacted some of it. You understand this probably isn’t the forum for ragging on other authors. The internet truly runneth over with places you can do that, should you so desire. In the meantime, let’s keep the conversation to how great I am, hmmmmm? That’s a subject matter that NEVER GETS OLD.
Voted. Twice!. As the great H. Harrison often said, “Vote early, vote often”.
I didn’t even recognise the other fellas in the poll against Red Country, Joe. Scared all the big names away?.
Queue up the slew of self-important bloggers decrying the decay of morality and Western Civilization due to the contents of this book (which are clearly explained on the cover).
I’m looking forward to the book and will obtain a copy. With money!
Looking forward to the anthology, and I voted for Red Country.
Love Gemmell. Gonna buy that book.
AntMac
I’ve read three of the shortlisted books and another on my TBR pile. Which doesn’t make voting easier. 😉
AntMac, out of those on the list I’ve only read Brent Weeks. His Night Angel trilogy didn’t really appeal to me, although it’s quite popular, so I presume I’m in the minority there. But I’m really enjoying the hell out of his Lightbringer series and can’t wait for the next installment.
I have been away for a bit, and missed your considerate comments, and I thank you both most sincerely for them.
Now someone just has to tell me how I get more time to read!. I am presently reading the fourth book about Peter Grant, Police Constable of the London Metropolitan Police,Apprentice Wizard and all round nice guy.
Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch.
The first book is Rivers of London, and I can heartily recommend them to you, ladies. Very nice writing, quite skilled.
If you figure out how to find more time to read, let me know. I’m hoping I can finish Memories of Ice before the next Michael J. Sullivan book comes out, but I don’t think I’m going to make it while being a parent at the same time. I think it may require dark magic.
*Takes his hat off to Angie*
You mean Eriksons Memories of Ice I guess. I am just in awe of the idea of someone trying to get their mind around those million character, hundred thousand city, two dozen plotline novels, with children anywhere in the calculation.
I was three quarters through Crippled God when the confusion got too much for me, and I went to another reader and started asking questions.
He identified my mistake!. I had missed Dust of Dreams entirely, just not realised it was the ninth book.
Have had to start over from the beginning now. :weep:
I really wish we in the U.S could have the wonderful U.K cover art for Red Country. Have you seen what they put on that title over here? Thank God the First Law Trilogy art is the same. Here’s hoping the PB has it.