So I’ve dropped a couple of hints that I’d have a short story in an anthology coming out next year. Its co-editor, the very wonderful Lou Anders, has now posted the table of contents so I feel free to reproduce it, because it is a doozy, and you are going to want a piece of this, oh yes you are:
“Introduction: Check Your Dark Lord at the Door” – Lou Anders & Jonathan Strahan
“Goats of Glory” – Steven Erikson
“Tides Elba: A Tale of the Black Company” – Glen Cook
“Bloodsport” – Gene Wolfe
“The Singing Spear” – James Enge
“A Wizard of Wiscezan” – C.J. Cherryh
“A Rich Full Week” – K. J. Parker
“A Suitable Present for a Sorcerous Puppet” – Garth Nix
“Red Pearls: An Elric Story” – Michael Moorcock
“The Deification of Dal Bamore” – Tim Lebbon
“Dark Times at the Midnight Market” – Robert Silverberg
“The Undefiled” – Greg Keyes
“Hew the Tint Master” – Michael Shea
“In the Stacks” – Scott Lynch
“Two Lions, A Witch, and the War-Robe” – Tanith Lee
“The Sea Troll’s Daughter” – Caitlin R Kiernan
“Thieves of Daring” – Bill Willingham
“The Fool Jobs” – Joe Abercrombie
Ouch. I think you’d have to agree, that is pretty darned heavyweight. Lou and Jonathan wanted to produce an anthology that would combine some old masters of Sword and Sorcery with some of the newer writers in the form and get a definitive look at the field, and I’d say they’ve succeeded with some pretty flying colours. Particularly pleased to have a short story in an athology alongside Michael Moorcock, since I read and really enjoyed his stories as a kid. Shool-an-Jivan, Lord of all that is dead in the Sea, may well still be my favourite name in all of fantasy…
The book’s due out from Harper Eos, June 22 2010, but you can pre-order now. There’s also going to be a limited edition from Subterranean Press in due course, I believe.
A collection not to be missed by anyone who likes sorcery with their swords, or vice versa. My own story is relatively chunky (8-9,000 words, which puts it in the novelette bracket, I believe) and features some characters from the forthcoming The Heroes, but I know next to nothing about any of the others. I’m actually really keen to get a copy myself so I can find out more…
20 comments so far
Awesome Joe right on my birthday too no less.
damn…that does sound very interesting, plus NO GRRM priceless. I will have to buy it.
Elric AND The Black Company in one volume? I'm surprised they were allowed to fit that much awesome in a single book, for safety concerns.
…oh yeah, yours will probably be good to, Joe. 😉
That's good company. Consider a copy sold.
That is a seriously impressive line-up.
Thanks for the great news!
Erikson, Cook, Lynch and you, Joe. That's quite an amount of lovely, tasty gritty.
It surprised me that in the discussion spawned by the negative review of BSC no one mentioned Cook. Well, neither did I but I'm late to the game as I've just finished BSC..
Oh, even Willingham! Wonder what he'll be like without an artist.
You've definitely made my day with this announcement
I usually don't read anthologies but this time I'm already looking forward to reading it. That impressive line-up should make for an awesome read. I especially liked Tanith Lee's title.
Well, one question remains: Where's Brent? 😉
Fantastic news. How many pages constitutes a J.A. short story? Still has to be at least 100, right?
Oh, I'm definitely "signed up" for this anthology. What a line up!(including yourself, of course)
Hey Joe, was this a story you had floating about in the back of your head, one you couldn't quite place in one of your novels or something the cash offered inspired?
Don't worry I'll be buying it, perfect reading for next years holiday.
Bryce
read that as foot jobs….gotta cut down on the porn
Read that as foot jobs……gotta cut down on the porn
Eight months is a loooong wait, but looking forward to it already!
SwindonNick
I don't tend to buy anthologies, but I reckon this one'll be a keeper.
Ya just keep pumping them out!
Good show, Joe.
Jeez. Slumming again.
Great line up. Preordered, now sitting on hands until delivery…..
This is great news!!!! Two of my favorite authors in the same book…can't get better than that!!! Thanks Joe for heads up and for giving me something to look forward to!!!
Shelley:)
IT HAS ARRIVED
It’s a good day to be a spoiled can-work-from-home white collar worker.