Brent Weeks's Blog, page 68
March 19, 2013
Literary Criticism and Other Crimes Against Reading
I don’t usually write reviews, much less post them, but this is something of a special case. Peter V. Brett is a friend of mine, and as you probably know, he too writes epic fantasy. We entered the club at nearly the same time and met early in our careers.
Because we share many of the same fans and are each writing multi-volume epic fantasy, a review on one of his books really gives me a chance to share my views on the genre and on architecture of storytelling.
In this review, I avoided covering many of the topics that I felt other reviewers had hit at length and instead focused on only a few points where I disagreed with other reviewers, or where I wished to talk about endings and multi-volume epic fantasy specifically. The review is without spoilers, though my points are clearer if you’ve read the book. If you’re into this sort of thing, it’s over HERE.
March 11, 2013
Lightbringer #3 Update (Early 2013)
“So when’s the next book out, Weeks?”
When I was on my book tour a few months ago, I expressed my hope that the next book in The Lightbringer Series might, might be out in a year. (I was careful not to promise: I’ve learned from others’ mistakes!) So now, of course, with fans having patiently waited for five whole months (!) I’m getting more emails asking, “Hey, when can I further fund your lavish lavish lifestyle, O Master Weeks?”* (*actual quotes may bear no relation to reality)
Neil Gaiman might tell you that you haven’t any right to ask. I gave you a good story, o book buyer, so shut up.** (**Not an accurate paraphrase) But as I made the mistake of publicly disagreeing with an SFF icon, it seems to me I should put up or shut up. So here’s the word in brief: No New Lightbringer Book from Weeks in 2013.
For those of you who want to know a bit of the why, continue reading.
You epic fantasy fans may be familiar with Tolkien’s quote that “the story grew in the telling.” So it’s been with The Lightbringer Series. I’d planned for book 3 to be a bit shorter. (By which I mean 600+ pages, about the length of The Way of Shadows and Shadow’s Edge–not short books.) I’m a fairly consistent daily producer of pages, and if I’d made this book as long as I’d planned it to be, it would indeed have been published late this year. But… it’s longer. It’s longer than The Way of Shadows. It’s longer than Shadow’s Edge. It’s now longer than Beyond the Shadows. It will likely be longer than The Black Prism.
The work? It’s going well. I’m really pleased with the progress of this one. Where I was proud of The Blinding Knife because the story flew–high tension to high tension to surprise, with the world expanding and characters deepening all over the place–in this next book I’ve chosen to deepen the resonance while keeping a breakneck pace and not adding any fluff. (Title still to be determined. I’ve been calling it The Blood Mirror just to call it something, but that works better as a title for book 4, and my editor hasn’t liked any alternative titles I’ve proposed yet. Nor, to be honest, have I.)
It’s been my philosophy to write the best books I can, as fast as I can. To be honest, where I am in my career, I could make the most money by cranking out books faster.
But I’m making a living writing–that is my wildest dream, and you fans have given that to me. I have no interest in “cranking out books” to put as much of your money in my pocket as possible. I believe I owe my fans and myself the best stories I have it in me to tell. In this case, that means some more waiting for all of us. I’ve had long talks with my agent and editor about this, and they are both successful enough and wise enough that they’ve told me to get it right, to have fun with it, and to make it the best book it can be.
The writing is going brilliantly. I haven’t been stuck once. (Well, not for more than a day or so.) Yesterday, I finished a scene I think will stick with you, maybe forever. There are loose ends to be tied. There are hints to add about the series resolution. There’s a finale to write. I’m productive, having fun, and writing as well or better than I’ve ever written in my life.
I understand if that isn’t happening fast enough for you. I simply hope that when I give you the final product, it will more than make up for the wait.
You can expect another longish update on or before September 2013.
March 7, 2013
Le Couteau Aveuglant
by CAPSLOCK
We’re very pleased to announce that The Blinding Knife (or rather, Le Couteau Aveuglant) will be published in French on March 29, 2013. You can pre-order HERE.
And here’s the cover!
And the blurb in French: Gavin Guile se meurt. Il croyait encore avoir cinq ans de répit avant de succomber au sort de tous les Prismes. En vérité, il lui reste à peine une année… À travers le monde, la magie des couleurs devient incontrôlable et menace de destruction les sept satrapies. Les anciens dieux reviennent à la vie, levant une implacable armée de spirites. L’unique salut pourrait se trouver du côté du frère renégat de Gavin. Celui dont il a volé la liberté il y a seize ans…
March 6, 2013
Der Spiegel Bestseller
by CAPSLOCK
We’re pleased to announce that this week Die blendende Klinge (The Blinding Knife) made Der Spiegel’s Bestseller List for trade paperback fiction, at number 14. Take a look below. (And again, a big thanks to German readers!)
March 4, 2013
The Biggest Awards in Literature
Lame.
Lame.
Lame.
Lame.
A big thanks to elquesogrande of reddit/r/Fantasy for putting together the contest and the fantastic prize. And of course — thanks to all of you who voted so I could win the prize!
February 27, 2013
The Blinding Knife in Poland: Oślepiający nóż
by CAPSLOCK
Oślepiający nóż, the Polish translation of The Blinding Knife, is set to be released on March 20, 2013. The translator is the excellent Małgorzata Strzelec, who has translated all of Brent’s books into Polish.
Here’s the cover, and you can pre-order HERE.
February 19, 2013
Bestseller in Germany
by CAPSLOCK
We’re excited to announce that DIE BLENDENDE KLINGE (The Blinding Knife) is a bestseller in Germany. A big thanks to all the fans who bought the book!
For those who read German, the official announcement is at left. (Oh, and if you haven’t picked up the book yet and would like to, go HERE to order.)
February 8, 2013
Writing Advice: How to Write Bad Guys
What? Were you asleep during Postmodernism 101? There are no bad guys, there are only different points of view. Sheesh.
Oh? You’re serious? Fine. Go HERE.
January 29, 2013
The Blinding Knife In Trade Paperback
by CAPSLOCK
Actually, both The Black Prism and The Blinding Knife are scheduled to be released in trade paperback. The Black Prism trade paperback will be released on July 23, 2013 and The Blinding Knife trade paperback will be released on August 27, 2013.
Check out the new cover for The Black Prism!
(Character Photos by Shirley Green, Photo Illustrations by Silas Manhood, Cover Designs by Lauren Panepinto.)
Also, new poll!
January 21, 2013
The Blinding Knife… in German
by CAPSLOCK
The Blinding Knife (Die Blendende Klinge) is available today in Germany and German-language markets!
Go HERE for links to purchase from your preferred German retailer.
And if you read German, here’s the blurb, which…eh, may be spoilery:
Sein Leben ist eine Lüge, seine Macht geraubt.
Gavin Guile stirbt. Der hoch geehrte Lord Prisma glaubte, er hätte noch fünf Jahre zu leben – doch jetzt bleibt ihm nicht mal mehr eines. Viel zu wenig Zeit, um auch nur seine drängendsten Probleme zu lösen: Denn die alten Götter werden wiedergeboren und setzen sich an die Spitze einer unbesiegbaren Armee, die Tausende von verängstigten Flüchtlingen vor sich hertreibt. Gavins einzige Chance, dem tödlichen Chaos Einhalt zu gebieten, könnte ausgerechnet sein Bruder sein – dessen Leben er vor sechzehn Jahren raubte …
(Also, new poll!)
