This month’s progress report, in an unprecedented and likely never to be repeated circumstance, is actually early, for the very good reason that I am heading off on tour in but a few short days in support of the mass market paperback releases of the Devils, which comes out in the US on April 28th and the UK on May 28th (you can get it early at the tour events). My beautiful copies with art by Will Staehle are already in my hands…
TO THE MATTER the last couple of months have mostly seen me revising and improving the sequel to The Devils, which will be coming out next May (2027). I’ve done my own character pass, working on the voices and central arcs, and am just now getting the line edit back from my wonderful editors (this is the detailed edit where the manuscript is actually marked up – once upon a time with pencil on paper but in this era of wonders using Microsoft Word’s track changes feature – I actually rather wish it was still done in pencil as I kinda prefer the physicality of it, but it is tough to take a paper manuscript on tour with you). I’ve been steadily trimming it and it’s now running about 192,000 words, which is maybe 20k shorter than The Devils, and I’m actually starting to get quite pleased with it, which is always a delightful relief following the unspeakable horrors of writing a first draft.
I’ve got a busy couple of months coming up. Touring in the US first week of May, the UK second week of May, then I’ve got the British Book Awards on the 11th, a London event with Brandon Sanderson on the 21st, and a Bath event with Shannon Chakraborty on the 2nd June. I’ll also be doing the line edit on the sequel to The Devils and my own final pass through the details before I hand it off to the copy editor. There’s also art approval and signing going on for a couple of special editions of The Devils (one very special, of which more in due course), and as with the last couple of seasons, I’m writing some scripts for Season 5 of Love, Death and Robots (based on other people’s stories, incidentally, not mine).
I should also say that May 4th brings a significant milestone, as it’s the 20th anniversary of the publication of that seminal pillar of gritty epic fantasy, The Blade Itself, still every bit as dangerous, subversive and exciting as it was when it was released on 4th May 2006. I’ll likely do a post about that if I get the chance.
20 years in the business. And still a fresh new voice…
21 comments so far
I’ve never read The Blade Itself. I was waiting for the 3rd book to come out from Curious King so I could read the trilogy together.
However, it sounds like May 4th I will be picking it up. What better way to celebrate 20 years.
Congratulations on all the success
More tour dates in the east/southeast US please!
Nice.
While it’s fantastic to hear updates on the books, I’m frickin delighted to hear you’re still involved in “Love, Death and Robots”. “Masons Rats” is one of my favourite things ever.
Allow me to be the first person to congratulate you for not including any talking cats with silly names in your books. Well done, sir.
I’m looking forward to seeing you TWICE in May! I have tickets to your book signing on the 9th, and the event with Brandon Sanderson on the 21st! Hooray!
Please come to Atlanta!
God damn it Greg
Congratulations brother can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel to The Devils. In fact I just finished reading a it a few weeks ago. I don’t know why I waited so long to read.
While The Devils is a bit of a departure from the First Law trilogy & co., in the sense of being more Grimdark than Fantasy, do you have any plans on continuing to expand on this world beyond what, I assume, will become a new trilogy?
Also, any potential updates on James Cameron’s intentions with the film rights to the first novel?
I saw you when you were in Preston – a wretched hive of scum and villainy – promoting Half a War, which was a terrific night.
Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of The Blade Itself. It remains a truly fantastic, genre subverting book.
I wonder, with 20 years more experience, what you would do differently now compared to what you wrote then? If anything!
Please stop calling it ‘the sequel to The Devils’ and call it by the name we all want it to be; ‘The Devils II: Electric Boogaloo’. Thank you.
The Devils ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on audio have accompanied me on my commute to work. An excellent cast of characters you’ve created in a semi familiar Europe. Thank you!
If you ever feel like revisiting old characters I would love to have more adventures of Monza Murcatto.
Hi, its all great stuff!
Thanks
Good morning or evening, Joe, I just wanted to ask if the last book in the First Law series, Of Great Change (And Other Lies) will be a physical hardcover release, because there is certainly a demand for it, especially in North America, in the U.S.
Wow, 20 years! Oddly it’s such a great book and set the scene for the completely superb “world” which your truly inspirational tomes inhabit. I’ve got pretty much all your novels, even the short stories and the those aimed at “young adults” (which certainly isn’t me unfortunately!), hey a good read is a good read, forget the pigeonholes!
Don’t knock being labelled a “Fresh New Voice” Joe, time to worry is when “they” regard you as an “Elder Statesman” of the genre!
Looking forward to seeing you again at Me Oh My in Liverpool this week.
Balls, missed the thing with Sanderson in London. It will teach to check in here a bit more regular, like.
Anyway, good luck in the States.
Was looking for new author & worlds to explore & your “The Devils” was recommended. Dipped my toe with the audiobook and have had it on permanently until it finished. Then brought the hardback because it was so bloody good…
Amazon UK thinks book 2 is called “The Heretics” (https://amzn.eu/d/05NKhMBv) & sorry if this is “spoilers…”
More than happy to join your loyal followers & think I’ve a interesting 12 months of reading & re-reading to come.
I miss the Bloody Nine and the First World characters. Any chance of revisiting that world in future books. So many great stories and characters. Surely Bayaz has some more history to be told…
2027 for the next book. I could cry. God I miss having a new ABERCROMBIE book to read. Maybe I should just start reread the whole set.
Congratulations on The Devil’s tour and 20 years of The Blade. I’ve tried twice now to get into The Devils, but haven’t quite made it. I think the reason is that I’ve read all of The First Law books three times and have really grown to love those characters. Twat, I hear you say and rightly so. I’ve now wandered off into some present day mysteries and will return to The Devils with a clearer head. I know you are being inundated with calls to return to the First Law world and again rightly so. Logen must only have been in his late Fifties at the end of Red Country, so feel sure he has a great ending for you to tell. Best of luck in all you do. K;)