Lookee here:
A nearly final version. For the full effect, here:
You can never have too many knives. Yes, indeed, a development of the theme from the last two books but, you know, if it ain’t broke, as they say, why fix? I continue to love the way these UK covers blend something a little bit fantasy with something a little bit not and have a style all of their own – a brand, if you will. Once again, Dave Senior has provided the map, Didier Graffet the weapons, while Laura Brett has officiated over the marriage of the two and done all the design work under the watchful eye of Gillian Redfearn, while I howled unhelpfully from the sidelines. I daresay we’ll take a slightly different tack next time around, we shall see. Ah! The copy:
“They burned her home.
They stole her brother and sister.
But vengeance is following.
Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she’ll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she’s not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb’s buried a bloody past of his own, and out in the lawless Far Country, the past never stays buried.
Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust…”
Are you excited? Cause I’m pretty damn excited, I can tell you that. Red Country will be published in the UK on October 18th, and British persons of taste and distinction can pre-order here, should they so desire. Red Country will be published in the US on October 23rd, and American persons of discernment and high character can select a willing advance vendor here. Of course, you don’t have to. I’m just giving you all the options…
75 comments so far
Love the cover and glad the publisher is sticking with this style in the UK, it looks great. Also good to see they’ve put your other books on the back cover so people who happen to pick it up can see there is an entire dark and insane world of Abercrombie awaiting them.
Just to point out on the © section bottom left of the larger image it says © Didier Graffet Axe Illustration, shouldn’t that be daggers?
Great cover and an interesting new book – congratulations! I’m thoroughly enjoying making my way through your first at the moment.
“You can never have too many knives”
I did say nearly final – the copy’s not quite right either.
It looks amazing, I can almost hear the scratch of the fountain pen nib as it draws the scenery on the map. Can’t wait for the book to be released!
good old bowie knives Alamo style! I’m not sure they ever appeared on a “fantasy” book cover… but I approve! 🙂
Rather looking forward to this.
Oh WOW!
“You can never have too many knives.”
SO MUCH AWESOME!
Oh yes. I am excited. The saviour of (anti-)heroic Fantasy Fiction gives us another dose of literary splendour. And like a dose of the pox, it’s fun getting it, and stays with you for ages (with perhaps a faint itching and scarring).
There will be blood.
There will be betrayal (a natch with lawyers?)
There will be awards!!
You’re right the covers are a brand in themselves! Can’t wait for the release, it’s the only series I buy on day of release!
I do love that the copy is now just flat-out telling us to expect Cosca, and all the madness that comes with him. Excellent.
I do love these covers, they have strokeability, and are just damn pretty. You are a lucky dude, congratulations yet again.
I just phoned my boyfriend freaking out about this. You were the author he used to get me reading fantasy and I loved all your other books. We did have a massive fight about “Best Served Cold” though.
I love these covers, I work in a bookshop and these really stand out on the fantasy shelf. I refuse to buy any of the others. So looking forward to it!
I loved the previous 2 covers, they’re among the favourites on my shelves. And this one looks awesome too. Knives and blood and gold. It says in one glance everything you need to know about your books.
The American covers have a certain ‘cool’ factor to them, but they’re nothing compared to this.
So fricken excited.
Great artwork as always! And shouldn’t Nicomo Cosca be characterized as “a famed soldier of fortune” and being ready for dinner? 😉
Fantastic cover … again!
I love your book covers and please stick with the same “style” as you are right it has come to signify your brand. Just as the Ben Aaronovitch covers also signify his books, my 2 favourite authors with my 2 favourite cover styles!
I think there’s a mistake in the cover: 16,99£ is way to cheap for such an anticipated ace of a novel.
Looking good. Can’t believe this has all happened so quickly.
I absolutely love this distinctive type of cover art. I, like many others, can’t wait. Keep up the brilliant work!
can’t wait for the release in austria(next year….)
i think i need the uk versions of your books 🙂
the title and the covers are nothing compared to the uk versions 🙁
Squeeeeee!
I Live in the U.S. but I’m buying the British version. So much cooler.
Just did my pre-order through Amazon here in Phoenix . . . now I have two reasons to hope for October; lower temps and Joe!!
Like I tall u 2 NYC Comics con I hope the Someone in Holywood rea your Work and put u on TV Si the rest of the Wolrd can see what We all know for at long time u are one of the best of all can’t way for this new book
Nice cover, but a bit too reminiscent of Best Served Cold, personally. That being said it looks dark and truthful to the Abercrombie style.
“Can never have too many knives” eh?
Why do I have this feeling we “might” get a glance of Craw and Hardbread’s crew in this one?
I think I need a change of under-garments, I’m so excited!
The UK art is so great. Not as enamored with the US art, namely the two-handed grip on what appears to be a rapier of some sort.
I’ll be buying it as an eBook anyway, so it’s kind of a moot point, but just the same.
Amazing cover art as always. Hugely looking forward to this. Surprised that other markets haven’t adopted this artwork; it looks a lot better and the books stand out a mile in any book shop.
Will be buying several copies!
Am I the only one who thinks the Lawyer is the scariest part of that blurb?
Joe,
By quoting Ninefingers, as well as visualizing and immortalizing said quote on the cover, I feel as if you’ve confirmed Logen is alive and coming back. After that teaser trailer a few months ago, I would be crushed to find that Logen isn’t in the book.
And on another note, I’m preordering the UK edition. American covers are always lackluster at best compared to the overseas covers (take the “Lies of Locke Lamora”, for example, which has a man with a ponytail staring out at a castle stolen from Disneyland). This cover almost makes me want to repurchase the UK editions of Best Swerved Cold and The Heroes.
I have just had a sex wee in my pants. Am I allowed to say that? I don’t care, it’s the truth.
Love your work Joe, seriously, to the point that I’ve developed a slight man crush on you. Don’t be alarmed though, my girlfriend keeps me retrained at night… Just kidding (or am I?)
P.S. Your cover looks amazing. Love your cover artwork (despite owning your books on my Kindle, so I don’t actually get to see them).
Looks better than the horrible US version.
Oh, and don’t pull a GRRM on us and slay off Nine fingers for good. An ambiguous ending isn’t so bad. =)
I did a bit of wee.
Has to be one of the better books this year, being released on my birthday. I known what i’m asking!
Damn but the UK covers are always better. Love it!
Oh and did I read mention of Cosca? I LOVE YOU!!! Is this… a man crush I’m developing?
Are advanced copies of the UK version at a point of pre-order from the retailers?
It’s funny how you mentioned at the beginning of writing Red Country some influences of westerns, because I’ve definitely always thought of Eli Wallach when I picture Nicomo Cosca. Well, Eli Wallach with a sort of Conquistador Helmet with some absurd plumage on top.
Should I be concerned about the amount of man crush and sex wee being produced by this post?
Probably…
Love the cover! Any word yet on exclusive editions, and/or a signing tour at bookstores in the UK? I’d love to pre-order already BUT if there will be a signing tour I’d also love to come along and purchase the book on the day so that I could get it signed.
Mus,
There’ll be a tour, I can’t say how extensive it’ll be. Six or seven dates around the UK, maybe? Details should be coming soon.
Thanks Joe! I will save my money (soon to be your money) for a purchase at one of the books stores then. Hopefully one of the dates will be in Liverpool.
No, man crushes are only natural. They develop for those you admire, respect and kiss a photo of every night before bed…
Besides, tell me you aren’t damn well smug about it! Writers feed of the appreciation of their crazed fans praise and admiration (and endless purchasing of new books).
Seriously though, Joe. Keep up the good work, I absolutely love it.
If you’re doing a tour: Oxford or death. I’d love to go to your Forbidden Planet signing, but traveling to London is just… so… expensive…
Argle pargle, I’m so excited for Red Country it’s not even real. Looking at the cover just makes me want it even more. I’m probably going to dream about it. One of those truly horrible dreams where you wake up just as you’re pulling open the front cover… Graahh I hate you, Joe. I love you, but I hate you 😉
Glad to see you’ve carried on in the same style as Best Served Cold and The Heroes. Blood, Gold and Blades. what better symbols to draw people into another twisted tale from the dark mind of Mr Abercrombie 🙂
Can’t wait!
Shy South? Seriously? It’s a good thing I love your characters, that’s all I’ve got to say. Also, would it have killed the Brits to have a bloodied lasso rope on the cover? Otherwise, yes, lady squee.
Awesome. Ordering this version, shipping to the US.
Awesomehappydanceofjoy……
Sorry if this has been asked/answered elsewhere but i want to ask you what might be one of your most asked questions when you’ve got a new book coming out (maybe?)…..
Will there be a map in this book? God i love a good fantasy map.
Aidan,
If you keep a close eye on my blog at https://joeabercrombie.com//news/ you’ll get occasional updates about forthcoming releases…
I won’t lie, the knives are a little to “Iron Chef” and not enough “Bloody Nine” for my taste’s. They look like kitchen knives with modern Ginsu handles. When I think of a knife from these books, I think of a wide blade with a fat handle, wrapped in leather straps and such. But anyway, a minor nitpick, I have already pre-ordered the book and can’t wait for October!
“…the amount of man crush and sex wee…”???
[reads earlier comments]
Oh.
OOOOHHHHHH….. (yikes!)
No sir. Nothing to be concerned about at all. Well… maybe the sex wee, which might depend on your position relative to the… nevermind. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
AWESOME!.
I chuckled to read the name “Squaredeal” for a town, how very Western!.
Am so excited!.
Yeehaw!. ( Sticking with the theme there, see?).
Oh ho ho Cosca! You scaly bastard I have missed you, I just left our mutual friend Shivers (The boys got the devil in him but i still love him) in the North a few weeks ago. I never did find Logen like I wanted, but you have to be realistic about these things. I did make some new friends up there though. Huge beast of a man named Gorst with a voice like a maid and passion for heroics, always seemed to be thinking, not much for talking…but really can’t blame the man. There was Corporal Tunney a man I believe after your own heart. Say one thing for Corporal Tunny, say he put the honor in dishonorable (or maybe he didn’t) . Met Whirrun and the Father of swords…before he went back to the mud he showed me something called a cheese trap, real simple food but I swear its gunna catch on and they will sings songs about that too. Fools will sing about anything if you make it sound glorious enough. I ‘m surprised your still getting yourself in to trouble, especially after your close call on your adventure with Monza but your an opportunist man if there ever was one. Well I gotta run, hope Friendly’s still got your back. I will be back around in a few months and we will drink and swap stories…be careful Nicomo. …and hey…where’s your goat?
I like the daggers on the cover.
“You can never carry too many daggers!”
🙂
Great cover and nice to hear the blurb bit as well. Proper excited now, but October seems a long time away…..
Joe, this excites me immensely. I’m a very happy man after seeing that. That cover certainly has a resounding awesomeness to it that cannot be praised enough. But heap praise on it I shall nonetheless. It is moving, captivating and of such an exquisiteness that it should make any fantasy fan boy moist.
On another note, is there the possibility that you will be doing a book signing for it in Southampton like you did for the Heroes? I treasure my copy of The Heroes that you signed and my Joe Abercrombie book collection would not be complete without a signed copy of Red Country.
I buy nearly all my books on Kindle these days, except for these – the covers are just too darned beautiful 😉
I am very excited about this. I have just finished re-reading the previous books look forward to seeing Cosca again
is the kindle version coming out at the same time for us futuristic types? 😉
Yay! Nice one that will fit nicely next to the other ones I own already 😀
Say…
Remember me btw? I’m the Belgian guy that paid a lot of money for an arc of “the heroes” on ebay when that one was coming out. Any chance perhaps on you sending me a signed one this time around? 😉 Otherwise I may have to pull the same stunt 😀 Anyway, I’m looking forward to your new book and I have it on preorder already. Doing signings in Belgium? Holland? UK?
Greetings & hi from Belgium!
Since I’m American (and our book covers are never as good), ours will probably end up having a picture of Cosca’s goat on the front.
Wait…that would be totally awesome!
Loverly! And I’ve just started a re-read, taking things from the top and working my way back through the parchmenty bound universe you’ve created. I forgot just how good things got when we met Bayaz for the first time. AND the first time we meet Dow et all and they have that first stand off over who’s leading and whhere they’re going… Goose bumps ensued.
and looks like I’ll be ordering the UK cover again. From the USA. Need to keep the matching set.
Was just rereading The First Law series and thought I would check here to see if anything new was on the horizon. I am also very excited to see a new offering coming. Looks like a good read, just wish October was here already. 😉
Keep up the awesome work Joe.
“You can never have too many knives.”
AHA! Gods, I’m slow sometimes.
Loving the Bowie on the cover – sets the flavour from the off while staying in a set with the other covers.Good job all!
Oh October can’t come soon enough for me, Season Three of The Walking Dead and more importantly, a new Abercrombie novel to sink my teeth into!
I hope this lives up to my expectations Joe…. Oh Hell, what am I saying? I know full well it will!
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Oh yes very excited. Monzacarro became a good name for a new instrumental track i recorded. Can’t wait for more inspiration and a hell of a good time reading it. Wyoming
As always, the UK cover is immensely superior to the US one. I wonder how much better you’d sell in the States with the UK covers?
And here in Germany, we have to wait until ETERNITY… Damn ;(
The UK-covers all looks very impressing, while ours are… boring.
Nice at all, I will try to pre-order it (or anyone wants to give me one as a present? ;D)
Greetings from Dresden.
Joe, your covers are starting to look like whiskey labels!
Oh God… Cosca has a lawyer…
How can I safely self-induce a coma and wake up Oct 23?
Help! What isbn from the uk do I have to order to make sure I get the large paperback cover to keep my set matching. I don’t want the hard cover, nor the smaller 6inch paperback. Helppp
Nelson,
isbn on my trade (large) paperback = 978-0-575-09583-0. Mass market paperback’s not out yet, so that should be the only paperback you can get, anyway. it’s an export edition at the moment, though.
You’re the MAN Joe,
Amazing writing – I am in Canada so I might get lucky and find one this export editions close to home.
Thank you for the ISBN.