[Called-by-the-Voices]

I'm starting to hope that this breaking news has something to do with the CoD/TMTotF movie... Or something like that. don't ask me what it ha to do with ICE, maybe he'll be the director...

[cauthon]

I just hope the Crimson Guard kicks Lasseen arse all over the place.

[Mithfanion]

Let's hope it has to do with Return of the Crimson Guard because I have always found that group one of the best aspects of the series by far, even though they get so precious little screentime.

I am very eager to see more of them and most of all to finally learn something about their mysterious Prince K'Azz D'Avore.

[Ivan the terrible]

@Kallor just a quick question was ICE announcement to come via Pat5150's interview or is this an unrelated thread and we have two things to look forward to

[lfex]

I guess it will be this:

http://www.emcit.com/announce/?p=71

[Tattooed Hand]

I agree, The Crimson Guard are an interesting and tanatalizing part of this world that I am dying to know more about. They are resistance fighters that have vowed to fight the Malazans and they have this skill and honor thing going on. But I want to hear more about their back story, their clashes with the Bridge burners and how they got to Lether. What else could it be?!

[Tattooed Hand]

Wait, based on the press release, does this mean that the books are written, but we have to wait YEARS to get them?!

Another reason why capitalism thwarts human happiness.

[Ivan the terrible]

Nah not all five, bear in mind it ain't official could be all speculation. But if it is real it would mean that Return of the Crimson Guard is finished in Draft form at the very least. Wait for the official announcement to be sure

[Anomander Rake]

For those who have not followed the link Ifex posted, this is what it said:

Jarrold Agency two-book deal with Bantam

Filed under: Book Sales, Agent Deals — John Jarrold @ 12:13 am

IAN CAMERON ESSLEMONT – WORLD RIGHTS DEAL WITH BANTAM UK
The John Jarrold Literary Agency has sold world rights in two fantasy novels by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont to Simon Taylor at Bantam UK, for a good five-figure sum.

Esslemont created the world of Malazan together with Steven Erikson – whose novels in this world are already bestsellers for Bantam UK and published successfully across the world. Esslemont’s first short Malazan novel, NIGHT OF KNIVES, was published by UK small press PS Publishing in 2004. Now it and his next, major novel, THE RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD, will see mainstream publication from Bantam.

In his introduction to NIGHT OF KNIVES, Steven Erikson said: ‘Readers of my own work will recognise the world, its atmosphere, its darkness; they will see the characters in NIGHT OF KNIVES as simply more players woven into the same tangled tapestry’. Following this theme, Esslemont’s next novel picks up the story of the Malazan Empire not long after the events of Erikson’s latest book, THE BONEHUNTERS. Erikson’s first Malazan novel, GARDENS OF THE MOON, began life as a jointly-written film script, since when both authors have worked on the background, history and characters of the world.

Bantam are planning to publish NIGHT OF KNIVES in the UK as a hardback in spring 2007.

[Mithfanion]

Hmmm.

So good news on a two book deal. But they will be publishing Night of Knives first, and only then in Spring 2007. Not even a word on when the book we are actually waiting for will be released.

Maybe an official announcement from Ice is to shed further light on this?

[RodeoRanch]

Cool beans.

[Abyss]

Hmmm.... so if we're lucky, we get Reaper's Gale in 2007, plus wider release of NoK, then RotCG in 2008. Not bad, i think i can manage not to eat the brainz of anyone important for at least that long.

Of course, if we're NOT lucky, we get nothing but a rerelease of NoK until like 2009... But NoK NEEDS a wide release at an affordable price point.


- Abyss, literary pessimist.

[Werthead]

About time!

Btw, a novella is a work of fiction is any book less than 50,000 words (some define it as shorter than 40,000 words).

Peter F. Hamilton's The Reality Dysfunction is about 360,000 words and 930 pages in hardback. Therefore, assuming a similar font/type size, Night of Knives at 250 pages in hardback should be roughly 90,000-100,000. Even with a massive error margin of 40,000 words, that still makes Night of Knives officially a novel. Given Richard Matheson's I Am Legend is officially a novel at 160 pages in paperback, as is Paul Kearney's The Iron Wars at 254 pages, I'd say that ICE can rest easy that his book will be considered a novel. It's only because we're so used to Erikson's 250,000+ word behemoths that this is even a question.

[Astra]

Anomander Rake said:

Bantam are planning to publish NIGHT OF KNIVES in the UK as a hardback in spring 2007.

Great news!

[werewolfv2]

Yay!!!

[Kallor]

You're welcome.

[Set'alahd Crool]

Good job, Pallor. With your soul already spent what wer you forced to prostitute for this one?

[Folken]

2 posts above yours is Kallor.

He is also a close friend of Steven Erikson and so is privvy to infromation uknown to us.

Though as ICE is still writing RotC or atleast is on a re-write, I suppose the release dates are not so bad, adn they were expected. However if this affects Steve's release dates i'll be seriously pissed off.