Scott Lynch auctioning REPUBLIC OF THIEVES for charity

Scott Lynch is auctioning a galley proof of The Republic of Thieves for charity. You can bid on it  here.

The auction is in a good cause, raising money for the families of the 19 firefighters who lost their lives fighting wildfires in Arizona last month. As some may be aware, Scott doubles as a volunteer firefighter when he's not writing fantasy novels. Scott talks about the situation further here.

Matt Stover interviews Scott Lynch

Matt Stover, author of the splendiferous Acts of Caine SF/fantasy series, talks to Scott Lynch, author of the also-splendiferous Gentleman Bastard series, over on the Orbit blog.

No, I haven't got one. No, you can't have it afterwards if I do get one.

Scott has also revealed that ARCs of The Republic of Thieves are being assembled at Gollancz Supreme Headquarters in preparation for distribution to the masses. Since revealing this news, Gollancz Towers have become encased in an impenetrable forcefield and ED-209s have been seen patrolling the grounds, so don't even think about it.

Cover blurb for THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES

Via A Dribble of Ink:

Locke Lamora is dying…

Locke and Jean barely escaped with their lives from what should have been the greatest heist of their career, in the port city of Tal Verrar. Now they head north, looking for sanctuary and an alchemist who can cure the poison that is slowly killing Locke. They find neither, but with their luck, money and hope exhausted, they receive an offer from a power that has never had their best interests at heart: The Bondsmagi of Karthain.

In exchange for the chance that Locke might be saved, the Bondsmagi expect the two Gentlemen Bastards to rig an election in their home city of Karthain. They will be opposed. The other side has already hired the services of Sabetha Belacoros, the one person in the world who might match Locke’s criminal skill, and the one person in the world who absolutely rules his heart.

Now it will be con artist against con artist in an election that couldn’t be more crooked, all for the benefit of the mysterious Bondsmagi, who have plans within plans and secrets they’re not telling…

The Republic of Thieves will be published by Gollancz in the UK on 10 October 2013 and Del Rey in the USA on 8 October. It should be noted that the UK hardcover is currently about half-price as a pre-order on Amazon.co.uk.

I am already planning to acquire an advance copy by putting together of team of like-minded bloggers with complimentary skill-sets to raid Gollancz HQ in a manner Locke would be proud of. Unfortunately, Gollancz have assembled their security team from the cream of SFF villains and entities, meaning that the last obstacle to getting hold of the manuscript is defeating the Shrike. This may not go well.

Publication date confirmed for THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES

Gollancz has confirmed a publication date for The Republic of Thieves, the long, long-awaited third book in The Gentleman Bastard sequence. It will be published on 8 October 2013 in the USA and 10 October in the UK.

Tyrion Lannister approves this news.

Gollancz's Deputy Publishing Director, Simon Spanton, commented:

"Some of you will know about the real difficulties that gathered around this novel for Scott. I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank Scott for sticking with it. I know that he was always painfully aware of the delays and what those meant both for his publishers and his fans. So I’d also like to thank Scott’s readers for their patience and for the immense support and the profound goodwill towards Scott that they have shown during this time. It’s been a long wait but I have every faith that their patience will now be rewarded with The Republic of Thieves."

HUZZAH!

UPDATE

Scott Lynch has posted his own take on the news at Fantasy Faction. He confirms that work is already underway on Book 4 of the series, The Thorn of Emberlain, and he hopes to return to a sane production rate and not have to get Brandon Sanderson to finish the series. Lynch has also formally surrendered his 'Crown of Lateness' (which, arguably, he never had in the first place, cough cough Melanie Rawn/David Gerrold/Patrick Tilley/Diane Duane/Harlan Ellison cough).

Scott Lynch update on THE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES

Scott Lynch has posted an update on The Republic of Thieves to the Fantasy Faction website, amusingly in response to the question, "What books haven't you finished?".

The Republic of Thieves.


(I am so sorry. I simply couldn't resist. In the immortal words of my grandfather: "If you can't laugh at yourself, you're an asshole.")

Cheers,

SL

P.S. It ain't the finishing that's the issue, it's the editing and the miserable damned anxiety attacks.

P.P.S. I'm working on both as you read this.

P.P.P.S. None of this is the fault of my editors or publishers. They have been patient and steadfastly helpful during a long difficult period of my life.

Based on Gollancz's prior information (in their 2013 catalogue) that Republic would be out in the summer if Scott finished before the end of January, and given that he has not finished, we can conclude that book will now not be out in the summer. In fact, at the moment a 2013 publication at all must be doubtful. Hopefully we'll have some better news soon.

A LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA TV series?

The new Gollancz catalogue reveals some interesting information about Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series.

For the obvious question, the catalogue reveals (on page 47) that the latest hand-in date for The Republic of Thieves (the third book in the series) is at the end of January. If Lynch can hit this date, the book will be published in July. Of course, after almost six years of getting hopes up, I wouldn't be too surprised if this date is not achieved.

More intriguingly, the press info also reveals that The Lies of Locke Lamora has been 'optioned for television'. I can find no information at all about that elsewhere online, which is odd as that kind of news is normally formally announced to the trade magazines before anywhere else.

More news as I get it.

Scott Lynch sets up a new blog

Scott Lynch has set up a new blog at Lynch Industries.

To kick things off, Lynch provides a mini-update on the status of The Republic of Thieves (still revising) and also comments on the current status of the film version of The Lies of Locke Lamora, which was optioned several years ago. Apparently the option has now lapsed, so there will be no further movement on that project (unless it is re-optioned, presumably).

It's worth bookmarking and keeping an eye on the site for further news about Scott and his projects.

Details of a new (old) Scott Lynch book

Or rather, details of a book we heard about more than four years ago but had since dropped off the radar. After completing Red Seas Under Red Skies back in 2007, it was announced that Scott Lynch would be writing two short stories set in the same world, The Mad Baron's Mechanical Attic and The Choir of Knives. These would be assembled into an omnibus edition, The Bastards and the Knives, for publication at a later date.

We haven't heard much about the book since, and it was assumed it would be delayed until some time after The Republic of Thieves (the third novel in the sequence) was published. According to Upcoming4.me, Gollancz have now indicated that the book will be published on 1 March 2013, with a length of approximately 100,000 words. Whilst rough cover art is provided, it's unlikely to be the final artwork as the image is a placeholder that has been used for several Lynch books in the past, and given that the art style has changed radically for the final version of The Republic of Thieves it's likely this will change as well.

As for The Republic of Thieves itself, it is still listed for a very late 2012 release but this date is - still - not finalised yet.

Note the source for the above appears to be Amazon.com, whose reliability is dubious.

Update: The release date of March 2013 is incorrect. It will follow some time after The Republic of Thieves has been published (whenever that is).