Books On The Horizon

This is a thread for books that have yet to come out, but which we think others might enjoy.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Comes out August 31st. This is the first book of a new series by Sanderson, who is known for his Mistborn Trilogy as well as the author who will finish Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. From the synopsis online, it sounds like it's going to be a very interesting fantasy series; one that it says he has been planning and developing for more than a decade. I'm especially excited because he will have perfected his craft already with the other books he has already written.

Synopsis:

Quote :

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

Speak again the ancient oaths,

Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.

and return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

Oh, now that I mentioned the Wheel of Time, the next book in the series called The Towers of Midnight written by the aforementioned Brandon Sanderson is set to be released on November 2nd of this year.

I'm especially excited for this book because of the synopsis below. Mat entering the Tower of Ghenji means that he will be rescuing Moiraine, who's apparent death was one of the pivotal moments in the entire series. On top of which, he's IMO the best character in the series and so any time the spot light is on him makes the book that much better

Synopsis:

Quote :

The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One's prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight.

The sun has begun to set upon the Third Age.

Perrin Aybara is now hunted by specters from his past: Whitecloaks, a slayer of wolves, and the responsibilities of leadership. All the while, an unseen foe is slowly pulling a noose tight around his neck. To prevail, he must seek answers in Tel'aran'rhiod and find a way--at long last--to master the wolf within him or lose himself to it forever.

Meanwhile, Matrim Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways--the Aelfinn and the Eelfinn--have confused him, taunted him, and left him hanged, his memory stuffed with bits and pieces of other men's lives. He had hoped that his last confrontation with them would be the end of it, but the Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills. The time is coming when he will again have to dance with the Snakes and the Foxes, playing a game that cannot be won. The Tower of Ghenjei awaits, and its secrets will reveal the fate of a friend long lost.

This penultimate novel of Robert Jordan's #1 New York Times bestselling series--the second of three based on materials he left behind when he died in 2007--brings dramatic and compelling developments to many threads in the Pattern. The end draws near.

Dovie'andi se tovya sagain. It's time to toss the dice.

And as many here will already know, Terry Goodkind's newest Richard and Kahlan book, called Omen Machine, is set to be released on February 15th of 2011. It is supposed to take place soon after where Confessor left off, which should be very exciting.

No official synopsis as of yet.

Steven Erikson's tenth and newest installment of his Malazan Book of the Fallen series is set to be released on February 22nd of 2011. It will be titled The Crippled God. There is no official synopsis as of yet.

Jim Butcher's Blood Rites, the latest book in his Dresden Files series, is set to be released on July 6 of this year (that's just over a couple of weeks!).

Synopsis:

Quote :

New in hardcover from the #1 "New York Times" bestselling author of the Dresden Files series.
For Harry Dresden, there have been worse assignments than going undercover on the set of an adult film. Still, there's something more troubling than usual about his newest case. The film's producer believes he's the target of a sinister curse-but it's the women around him who are dying.
Harry's even more frustrated because he only got involved with this bizarre mystery as a favor to Thomas-his flirtatious, self-absorbed vampire acquaintance of dubious integrity. Thomas has a personal stake in the case Harry can't quite figure out. But Harry is about to discover that Thomas' family tree has been hiding a shocking revelation that will change his life forever...

::blink

You have far too much spare time on your hands. Have we introduced you to the joys of maille? You'll bleed, you'll swear, you'll throw hard objects at furry squishy things, and in the end you'll have a new shirt. Should be right up your alley!

This does remind me, though--Snodgrass's new book is coming out soon/should be out. The first one, "Edge of Reason", is sort of like what SOT would be if Mr. Goodkind wrote urban fantasy. It lacks the epic quality that SOT has (this genera always does), but it hints at some deep philosophy. The fact that all gods are extra-dimensional beings who feed on fear and terror was a nice touch (well, not QUITE all gods.....One's somewhat okay, but he keeps braking).

I can't wait to see what the next book brings. The first one started out standard, then took some serious "What the....She's....But he....GAH!" twists, particularly if you read urban fantasy. And something which isn't a god, but is kinda the equivalent, is trapped in glass. And I'm pretty sure there's going to be a magic/nuclear blast somewhere.

But of course in the move my copy of Edge of Reason got rained on. So now I need to buy two books.

That only took me 12 minutes to post all of those. I knew about them all being in pre-order while at work, fielding various questions about all of them so I had to know it

And there isn't any pre-order date for a book by her yet. The Edge of Ruin was released in April of this year, unless that's the one that you meant

Calwyn wrote:

Jim Butcher's Blood Rites, the latest book in his Dresden Files series, is set to be released on July 6 of this year (that's just over a couple of weeks!).

I'm afraid this information is incorrect. Blood Rites was book 6. And has been out for some time. The next book is book 13. It will be titled Ghost Story. The release date as of this moment is March 29, 2011.

Speaking of the Dresden Files; I recommend them to everyone. I just finished book 12 the other day. And it, like the others, is awesome.


As for your WoT opinion, i agree. Matt is by far the best character. I'm also looking forward to ToG. The only reason i wouldn't be, is because Perrin is my least favorite of the male characters. And, i hate his wife. So hopefully having plenty of Matt will make up for my Perrin and Faile.

Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks

Quote :

BLACK STAFF Del Rey Book Description

"For more than three decades, New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks has ruled the epic fantasy realm with his legendary Shannara series. With each new novel the mythos has deepened, ever more fascinating characters have arisen, and increasingly breathtaking vistas of magical adventure have emerged. Now, in Bearers of the Black Staff, the revelatory Genesis of Shannara cycle continues the evolution of the most beloved world in imaginative fiction.

Five hundred years have passed since the devastating demon-led war that tore apart the United States, leaving nothing but scorched and poisoned ruins and nearly exterminating humankind. Those who escaped the carnage and blight were led to sanctuary by the boy savior known as Hawk—the gypsy morph. In an idyllic valley, its borders warded by powerful magic against the horrors beyond, humans, elves, and mutants alike found a place they believed would be their home forever.

But after five centuries, the unimaginable has come to pass: the cocoon of protective magic surrounding the valley has vanished. When Sider Ament, only surviving descendant of the Knights of the Word, detects unknown predators stalking the valley, he fears the worst. And when Panterra Qu and Prue Liss, expert Trackers from the human village of Glensk Wood, find two of their own gruesomely killed, there can be no doubt: the once safe haven of generations has been laid bare and vulnerable to whatever still lurks in the wasteland of the outside world.

Together, Ament, the two young Trackers and a daring Elf princess race to spread word of the encroaching danger—and spearhead plans to defend their ancestral home. But suspicion and hostility among their countrymen threaten to doom their efforts from within. While beyond the breached borders, a ruthless Troll army masses for invasion. And in response, the last wielder of the black staff and its awesome magic must find a successor to carry on the fight against the cresting new wave of evil."

talonnolan wrote:

I'm afraid this information is incorrect. Blood Rites was book 6. And has been out for some time. The next book is book 13. It will be titled Ghost Story. The release date as of this moment is March 29, 2011.

No, it's correct. At least for Canada, since I do know that sometimes books are released later here than the USA or Britain, depending on where its originally published.

The Blood Rites hardcover is released to our company's stores (the only major chain in Canada) on July 6th, and a second new hardcover has a pre-order date for October of this year (I forget the title), though that might not be a Dresden Files book.

You're telling me Canada is 6 books behind? Well that sucks.

Maybe it's a re-print of a new hardcover then?