Charles Stross
Short answer:
Book nine, "The Labyrinth Index", is written and on its way to publication (October 30th); beyond that, nobody knows.
Longer answer:
In the beginning there was just one short novel. Then it was going to be a trilogy. Now ...
Provisionally I am thinking in terms of a final three book story arc (after "The Labyrinth Index") to close out the core series. There are also some shorter stories to be told in the setting, and possibilities for spin-off novels (ever wondered what the Invisible College got up to in the 1920s, for example?). But I don't want to commit to an open-ended series or string you along for too long, and it's very hard to keep track of everything in a continuity that's already over 1.1 million words.
So right now, I plan to step back for a while (after "The Labyrinth Index" comes out), work out how exactly I want to run the last three books, and then get them done.
However, no plan survives contact with the real world. Upheavals or disruption in the publishing industry could kill the series prematurely. Or, on the other hand, it could be optioned and turned into a massively successful television franchise in which case I'll be compelled to write endless sequels. Who knows? All I know is that I have a provisional plan, and I want to keep writing them as long as it's fun.
Book nine, "The Labyrinth Index", is written and on its way to publication (October 30th); beyond that, nobody knows.
Longer answer:
In the beginning there was just one short novel. Then it was going to be a trilogy. Now ...
Provisionally I am thinking in terms of a final three book story arc (after "The Labyrinth Index") to close out the core series. There are also some shorter stories to be told in the setting, and possibilities for spin-off novels (ever wondered what the Invisible College got up to in the 1920s, for example?). But I don't want to commit to an open-ended series or string you along for too long, and it's very hard to keep track of everything in a continuity that's already over 1.1 million words.
So right now, I plan to step back for a while (after "The Labyrinth Index" comes out), work out how exactly I want to run the last three books, and then get them done.
However, no plan survives contact with the real world. Upheavals or disruption in the publishing industry could kill the series prematurely. Or, on the other hand, it could be optioned and turned into a massively successful television franchise in which case I'll be compelled to write endless sequels. Who knows? All I know is that I have a provisional plan, and I want to keep writing them as long as it's fun.
More Answered Questions
Rob Rea
asked
Charles Stross:
Hi Charles, I read recently that Iain Banks (RIP) asked his good friend Ken McLeod to pick up where he left off on the Culture series and use his notes to write the next book. Unfortunately Iain was not able to complete these notes and Ken has no plans to write a Culture novel. Understandable but a pity he would write a great book as I believe you could. Pure hypothetical if asked to write a Culture novel would you?
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