Books

275 thoughts on “Books”

1. Just a suggestion, though it may seem a bit too self-serving for your taste: You might consider putting links to sites that the books can be purchased in this area. If I were to do it, I would have the picture of the cover be a clickable link to the Discussion Page for that book, and on the Discussion Page, that is where I would list the links of locations, which will take me directly to the site that I can purchase the book.

   Also, I don’t know if you did it on purpose, but you haven’t listed “The Desecrator”.

2. I love the site upgrade! One thing: the thumbnail image for Jhegaala is actually Gypsy again.

3. Noted; thanks.

4. Are there any plans for the next Vlad Taltos book?^^

5. I’m working on Hawk now; about a third of the way through the first draft. Thanks for asking.

6. Hi Steve,
   I’ve been an avid consumer of your books since 1985. Throughout all of those years I’ve built relationships with many of your creations. For the last decade or so a sadness has crept into my heart. …..I miss Kragar!
   I would think that Vlad probably feels the same way only more so.
   I have thought that while the mystery surrounding Kragar is in and of itself an enjoyable enigma. I am wondering if one day before #18 (17 houses +Taltos) I will have an opportunity to know my favorite supporting character of all time.
   30 years is a long time to wait, but oh what a ride!

7. Thanks. So far, there appears to be a fair bit of Kragar in Hawk.

8. I was perusing the bookstore one day when someone recommended the Vlad Taltos novels. Not wanting to commit myself to a purchase yet, I borrowed the whole series from the library (which I read through in about two weeks). I loved them so much that I now have all 5 of the printed anthologies, but my question is, are there plans to release “The Book of Iorich” any time soon?

9. Thanks kindly. I don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised, but I haven’t yet heard anything.

10. The Vlad Taltos series is far and away my favorite series of books. I’m very much looking forward to the release of Hawk. I’m glad the series didn’t end with Pheonix, as mentioned above, or I wouldn’t have been able to read my favorite of the series, Issola.

11. Hi Steve,

    I realise it says “books”, but it would be immensely helpful for completists like me to have a list of your short fiction that has appeared elsewhere. That fascinating poker piece in the Roger Zelazny anthology, the “Nightslayer” piece on Tor and no doubt others I haven’t read!

    Thanks,
    Derek
    P.S.: Minor typo, “Clauswitz” -> Clausewitz

12. Nuncupatory: Thanks for the correction. If someone has a list of the stories, I could post a link, but the idea of putting one together is too daunting. As a note, the character in the Zelazny anothology is a protagonist in The Incrementalists (Tor, September 2013), and in another story for another Zelazny anthology, scheduled for, uh, I’m not sure.

13. I don’t know if this list is complete, but I guess it’s a good place to start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Brust#Short_stories

14. Much appreciated. I’ll see if Corwin or Felix wants to put a link on my front page.

15. I’ll take care of that sometime this weekend.

16. I love your books. Anyway unfortunately few have been published in Spanish, do you know if there is any plan to publish them in Spanish? .

17. Thanks, Carlos. I’m sorry, but I don’t know who might be planning what regarding publication.

18. …just curious (and some of the participants act like reminding them that they have participated in this series is like grinding lemon into an open wound with sandpaper made out of salt, infused with gasoline — if this includes you, then … well, sorry!), but I wonder why you left out your foray into the Thieves World series? Personally, I enjoyed your contribution quite a bit, and not “just” because I was nostalgic for another romp through Sanctuary…

19. If you mean “left out” of a list of short stories, I didn’t make the list, so if something is missing from it, I don’t know why. But I was fairly pleased with that story, and have no reason to disavow it.

20. Mr. Brust,
    thank you. I’ve enjoyed all your novels and short stories for years. As I enter the second half of my fifth decade I enjoy rereading Vlad’s journey most of all. If you never write another past Hawk, I would owe you a great debt, but I wistfully hope to see some burning questions answered in time. I find your comments on your own works fascinating and enjoy your website as much as any I can remember visiting. My hope is a long life for you sir*twinkle* ,and a hard , hard work ethic ;)

    Harry Hopper
    Kissimmee, Fl

21. I was curious why some but not all of your novels are available in eBook format. You are one of my favorite authors and I would very much like to have all your works in electronic form.

22. It has to do with what I have rights to, and what Berkely wants to do. I’m checking into it.

23. That makes sense. I always marvel why any rights holder wouldn’t want their works available in as many formats as possible. Why limit your readership? Seems crazy.

24. Has there been any demand for your books to be translated into Japanese?

25. No idea. I don’t pay much attention to marketing.

26. Love your writing. I have turned many friends to the Vlad series and all have been hooked like I was. Keep them coming…

    I drive for work a great deal and have become a user of Audible; several of your works are there already – any chance that your non-Vlad, non-Dragaeran works will go to Audible…(say yes)?

27. Hello Mr Brust. Been a fan for many years. Thank you for the hours of entertainment. How is the first draft of Hawk coming along?

28. Thanks. Update coming soon.

29. I have been an avid reader of your works since i was in my 20’s and have introduced many a fan to your works. but I am worried… I cant seem to find any info on anything new you have coming out, and it is March!! This is the time I usually get the thrill of the count down till the new Vlad book!!
    Just wanted to say how much I adore your writing style from the Viscount of Andrilanka series. That series is something else me and my Ex will always have in common and can actually agree on and laugh about! I love the evolution of your epic characters and am waiting with bated breath for your latest twisty and turny plot shift!! xxoo

    Mia Cavanagh

30. Thanks for the kind words, Mia. This will be out in September: http://www.amazon.com/The-Incrementalists-Steven-Brust/dp/0765334224/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362955577&sr=8-1&keywords=incrementalists

    I’m working on Hawk now, but can’t say when it’ll be out.

31. skzb,

    I’ve read your books to tatters several times over.

    Thank you.

    Tom

32. I’ve read almost all of your books to actual pieces, replaced them and eventually replaced those too (friendly theft and gifting seems to be common when a friend gets a sample). Yet I still manage to find something new, something I missed or something I finally understood the right way every time. Thank you for your amazing story telling! I look forward to Hawk when it lands.

33. Many thanks; that’s nice to hear.

34. Skzb,

    I love the Talos books. I read them all multiple times.
    I can’t wait untill hawk is out. It’s a shame that writing takes more time then reading.
    But maby it’s also a good thing so it is something special to look out for.
    I have read a lot of books and i find the Talos story the best i ever read in my live.
    If wish they would make movies of them instead of the hobbit.

    many thx and good luck writing,

    Wouter

35. Hi Steven, all i can say is that you have an ability to write books that can be re-read and still be fresh .. i first bought the sun the moon and the stars then the Vlad series and then all your others.. thanks so much for the reads and entertainment!! my fave book is Issola.. its magnificent

36. Wouter and Richard: Thanks kindly.

37. I have loved this series since the first book. Many things that happened in my life seemed to parallel Vlad, y marriage my divorce, my kid being raised without me being in his life, I thank you for your insight into the character and helping me to gain better insight into myself. By far this has been one of the most unique settings I have ever read about. For years I wanted to make a dungeons and dragons type of game based on this world to share it with my friends who though they are fantasy fans are not as avid readers as myself. I am curious why you have not yourself either attempted to create some sort of RPG or be willing to work with someone else to do so. I know I would enjoy the experience of roleplaying in Vlad’s world. Anyway, thank you once again for you dedication and I hope you finish the series while i can still read (age and time do bad things to eyes).

38. The audible books are great, but they have the wrong art up for some showing your collections as a single work (I have both so I know).
    Always a pleasure to read (and now listen) to your work.
    May the days of joy be slow and eternal and those not so great at the pace you desire,
    best wishes,
    Ed

39. Was curious about the progress of the next Vlad novel, which brought me to the dream cafe. I’m glad to see that you are working on Hawk, hope for its release in 2013. Until then I will daydream about a good meal and fine wine at Valabar & Sons.

40. I am so glad that your sister is doing so much better. I have all of your books and find myself re-reading the old ones until the new one comes out. I am looking forward to Hawk, but understand that the release might be delayed due to the current circumstances. I wish you and your family well and hope for the best of outcomes.

41. Hi, I laughed at the comment that said “I’ve read almost all your books to actual pieces” because yeah, totally. I think I would have been cool with letting go of Vlad until I read Issola. That ending wrecked me so hard I dreamed about it for weeks. The beginning of Tiassa had me itchy because of the chronology, but oh man did that turn out fine. So yeah, now I am with all these other fiends checking your webpage for hints about Hawk :D

42. Just had this thought: Who would be the optimal reader for any work by Paarfi? All possibilities are making me laugh, and none seem to work. Makes for a fun mental game, though. Can’t imagine another narrative voice so challenging.

43. I’m not remembering the name of the guy they got, but he’s very good.

44. @JP – I suggest Ian McKellen, being as dramatic as possible. That would be entertaining!

45. @SKZB – I recently tried John Scalzi due to your association with him. I picked up “Old Man’s War”, and now I’m about half way through it. So far, I find it predictable and too complimentary of the main character. Those two combine to make reading it a little boring. I’m hoping that he matured as an author since then, as you did with your writing, but you started out at much higher quality (IMHO) than he did.

46. Hi, Steven,

    I was wondering – can you perhaps get a message to Vlad for me? I have an offer for him should he decide to perhaps resume his old profession. A certain acquaintance of mine, upon having skimmed through (not read) Jhereg, called it “childishly absurd.” I find this insulting, and would like to give him reason to understand that his attitude is unacceptable.
    If Vlad won’t be available, perhaps you could see if Kragar could contact Mario?

    Aside from that, though, I must say I am one of the multitudes that wait impatiently for the next Dragaeran book, either the next in the story of Vlad’s life, or even another of Paarfi’s – ummmm… “historical” books. Perhaps Paarfi could write something on the even earlier history of the Dragaeran world: say, perhaps, when Verra and the other servants of the Jenoine rebelled and overthrew their masters? (Talk about a saga!)

    Thanks.

    Dan

47. I have been on holiday, running Pirate’s Alley, otherwise known as the Gulf of Aden, under a security regime which included blacking out the ship’s visible lights, and banning us from our balconies and the open decks, after dark.

    I had a lot of fun considering the probable reactions of your characters in similar circumstances…

48. Dunno about my characters, but I’d have been hiding under the bed, whimpering.

49. No, you wouldn’t; there wasn’t enough room for the hat. I checked it out.

    Besides, I was not in any danger; I had a pleasant chat with the security team leader, in which I mentioned that my father had put in 35 years in the RAF. He had put in a mere 24 years in the Marines, and thus he would literally rather have died than see me raising an eye brow in his direction as I was hauled off as a hostage.

    For those unaccustomed to the military, I should explain that only civilians believe that the enemy are the people you are shooting at. The real enemy are the other armed forces on your own side….

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51. Now When you are done with the entire Vlad Series, I do hope that you pick my pocket by selling a leather bound set of the entire series! =) After that we can talk about me starring in the HBO adaptation… =p

52. I’m good with that.

53. I miss Kragar too. Hope that the draft is still on track, and any health issues with you and yours are well under control.

54. Just wanted to thank you for the Taltos series, although it won’t be translated into German anymore. Guess I will start buying and trying to understand & enjoy the English ones.

55. I read The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars almost 20 years ago and loved it, but unfortunately lost track of it. More recently my boyfriend (now husband) introduced me to your other books and I became a huge fan. Slightly later I discovered that the author of the Taltos books and The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars was the same person, and was quite excited to rediscover it, since it inspires me to do more creative things whenever I read it.

    I also love that you describe the Paarfi books as being almost too much fun to write, since I tend to feel that way about reading them. I’ve read the chapter near the beginning of The Phoenix Guards where Khaavren and Co describe their first day’s mentorship in the Phoenix Guards to the captain to a number of people as an example of just how darn funny the books are.

    Anyway, I hope you keep writing for many years, I want to learn as much as you can tell us about what happens to the characters and Dragaria. I am very much looking forward to reading Hawk!

56. First: It took me seconds to realize where To Reign In Hell was going, and my immediate thought was “Ballsy as hell,..can he pull this off?” And, you did so, stunningly and beautifully. I have been reading your books since 1983 when I first discovered them, and must say quite frankly that Zelazny’s statement about you – which led me to you in the beginning – was fully warranted. Really found interesting Vlad’s encounters with the future child of Aliera. You have been a bringer of wonder, and delight, andyes, damnit, I am one of those who loved Cowboy Feng’s most because of the off the wall and eclectic associations from the time jumping, and the underlying plot wove it together well. The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars..actually for some weird reason reminded me of John Meyers-Meyers (Tell me you have read Silverlock),,? Brokedown Palace was simply superlative, and the point of it being placed across the barrier from the location of Vlad, was a subtle background bit. All that aside, I have fallen a few books behind and will have to rectify that, but I lost my whole collection and am starting over. Agyar was so beautifully written that it never really admits openly that he is …well..undead. I love your writing, and look forward to re(x 6 to 9) discovering your prior books and the new ones. Appreciate the hours of entertainment, and will have to find your music soon. Thanks!

57. Thank you kindly!

58. Mr. Brust, been a huge fan since 1992 or so when I was 14. I’ve read Jhereg at least twice a year since then and keep extra copies of Book of Jhereg and the Book of Taltos to give to people who don’t normally read fantasy, they are such engrossing and perfectly paced and voiced works that everyone I’ve given a copy loves them. Was completely enthralled while reading To Reign In Hell and Cowboy Feng’s Space Bar and Grille.

    I’ve used the name Taaltos for nearly all my main characters online games and several other things such as SteamID and what have you, I always meet other fans of your work in doing so.

    I’m writing this to express my gratitude for your amazing work, and also for permission.

    I’ve recently set up a twitch.tv account in which I stream a vast amount if games while I play them called ‘Taaltos plays…’, over 600 games on Steam, and I’d love to get more people into you writing by doing a livestream over several days reading the book Jhereg. I love reading outloud and making the characters come to life and sharing amazing stories.

    I’m asking for your blessing and permission. It’s not for profit or any monetary gain, just a way to get people into your amazing storytelling.

    Thanks for your time and some of the best books I’ve ever read,

    Joseph (Taaltos) Gilligan

59. Thanks kindly. And, sure, go ahead; sounds like a cool thing. And thank you for asking.

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61. How’s the next Taltos book coming along?

62. I am curious if there was ever an attempt to create an RPG based on drageara. Each of the 17 houses granting different attribute bonuses. A break down of available weapons, psionics, the three types of magic (witchcraft, sorcery and pre-empire sorcery). I would enjoy playing in that kind of a world. I tired to run a D&D equivalent years back but lost all the notes i used to create my makeshift version of the city. I know dragon magazine put a psuedo character at one point for Vlad and his jhereg. Anyway, it would be cool to own an RPG based on this world.

63. There’s been talk of it now and then.

64. I just wanted to comment that I started reading the Vlad books in the 80s, not too long after you first started writing them. It’s now 30 years later. Dude, get a move on! I figure there should be 20 books in the series, right? One for each animal of the cycle plus ‘Taltos’. That means you’ve still got 6 to go! If you don’t hurry up and bring the whole series to a dramatic climax with all the loose ends wrapped up, one of us will be dead before you finish! That would irritate me!

    Seriously, I enjoy your writing. Keep it up. (Just hurry up, already!)

65. Whilst I recognise the anguish expressed by Carpus, I have concluded that the best way to deal with this is to radically upgrade my exercise programme to improve my cardio respiratory efficiency, and thus to materially improve my chances of surviving until the final volume emerges.

    Incidentally, bouncing up and down on my trampette whilst reading the hardback of ‘The Incrementalists’ really did produce excellent results; I can thoroughly recommend it. The book was pretty good as well…

66. Take your time Steve.

    Who would ever want the best series I have had the pleasure to enjoy end?

    I savor every book reading each book multiple times until the bindings give out. I don’t merely enjoy the storys I soak on the prose.

    Don’t ….. Rush……a…..thing…….

67. I just re-read my copy of The Sun, The Moon and The Stars, and it’s still as enjoyable as when I first read it. (Which is to say, “very”.) It helps that I like works about the artistic process.

    But it leads me to wonder if there is a “The Death of Uranus” painting to match what the narrator describes?

68. Thanks; glad you like it. Part of it appears as the cover of the original release, rendered by Tom Canty.

69. I have truely loved your books for the last 28 years since I was introduced to the Vlad series. Have you ever considered writing anything about Cawti and Norathar during their time as the Sword and Dagger of the Jhereg?

70. Thanks. It could happen someday if the mood takes me.

71. Hi. Love your books, and own most in hardcover or paperback. But I would very much like them in ebook format. My problem is I have multiple devices (kindle and others) which have competing, proprietary formats. You link to both Amazon and B&N, but is there someplace like baen ebooks that sells them in a format I can download and then convert such that I can read on my kindle, tablet, etc? Would be happy to pay, just preferring not to do it more than once for the same ebook.
    Thanks

72. Nothing that I’m aware of. If anyone would know, it would be someone at Tor. Sorry, wish I could be more helpful.

73. any news on when the next book, Hawk I believe it is called, will be released?

74. If you can buy it in one proprietary format and convert it to something portable, then you don’t have to buy it in a portable version which is probably not available yet.

    I haven’t tried this and I don’t know whether it works. If it works it might work to varying degrees, some competing solutions may be better than others.

    http://www.ipubsoft.com/epub/convert-kindle-ebooks-to-epub.html

    A quick search for “jhereg epub” turned up a number of links to services that claim to let you download it for free. I can imagine ethical ways to use those. Like for example, if you download the material that you can’t find a way to buy, and then send skzb a check for 50% of the cover price. You should be cautious about viruses etc, since people who offer to give you other people’s property for free might have ways to make you pay.

75. Hello Mr. Brust. Were your earlier Vlad books released in hardcover? I’m old school and like to turn pages, and I’d like to preserve your earlier work for my collection in HC. Sethra is my favorite character. Total bad ass.

76. Sorry, no, the early ones are paperback only. Maybe someday some nice small press will want to do hardcovers of them. Thanks for your interest and the kind words.

77. having a week of beach vacation before me, I was thinking about which books I want to read (what else is the use of a week of sitting at the beach?) my first thought of course was to read the whole taltos series again (for at least the fifth time) – but as there’s no new book in the series, this seems a rather pointless goal. please please please, I need to know how the story continues (especially about Lady Teldra). as I know this probably won’t happen this year, I’ll just stick to reading the malloreon and belgariad from dave duncan again, but maybe there’s a chance for the next vacation?

78. Hawk will be out in October.

79. Yay….good to have a firm date…now I can schedule my complete series re-read accordingly. :)

80. Woot woot!! Was looking for hawk release date and I see your last comment. Cant wait for a new adventure in dragaera!! Although my poor wife is going to have to endure months of Vlad talk since I have to reread them all to prep for hawk.

81. Steven – So I just discovered that an old college friend of mine has never read your work. Sorry about that. You can fire me as a publicist. Anyway, I was speaking highly of your writing, particularly your mastery of “voice,” and he asked for a recommendation. I described your entire corpus, which wasn’t, I think, especially helpful.

    So people must ask you this all the time – what to read first? What do you say? Just the most recent thing? Or back to Jhereg and work all the way through? Or what? Particularly with the Vlad books, it’s hard to know what to recommend.

82. Last year you had mentioned looking into eBook release for your earlier books. You had indicated you were talking to Berkeley. Any word yet on eBook release after this discussion? Love Vlad’s series and would like to have the entire series in eBook format.

83. Mr. Brust, is it true that you completely rule?

84. No, that would be Jenphalian.. I only rule when she’s busy.

85. David: Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. When people ask me of which book of mine to read first, my answer depends on what sort of stuff they like. But my default answer is Jhereg, because it was my first novel, and if the guy doesn’t like it I can say, “Well, geez, it was only a first novel.”

86. I second (or third or fourth or Nth) the curiosity about the availability of the whole Vlad Taltos series in electronic form. I know Google Play books has the later books in the series available, but I’ve been holding off buying them there until the earlier books were available as well. I wouldn’t be opposed to buying them from Amazon for the Kindle app (although with their current shenanigans, maybe that’s not the best option) or some other location.

    I have the books in paperback, but being able to carry them and many, many more (Wheel of Time, Song of Ice and Fire, Dresden Files, Foundation, to name a few series) in a package (my tablet) that doesn’t require a back brace is convenient and I’m okay paying a couple bucks for the convenience.

    Thanks!

87. Dear Mr. Brust,

    One day, when I was twelve, my dad, older sister, and I were in a Chapters bookstore. It was our favorite place to go when my dad visited, and we would spend hours checking out new books, old books, weird books…

    I picked up Jhereg and read the back, was intrigued by the cover, and managed to snipe a seat on one of the comfy chairs. I started to read, and fell in love with the sarcasm and style. My sis came up, grabbed the book, flipped through it, and said “you won’t like this book, and also it doesn’t look very good”.

    My dad had such a hard time getting me to put the novel down to go home that he ended up just buying it for me. “waste of money”, my sis said.

    Now I’m a spiteful little cuss (or at least I was back then), so I was determine to like it even if I thought it sucked. Thankfully, I didn’t have to try or pretend, because I loved it, and have loved everything else you have written. Anytime I read some olde time-y book like Jane Austen or even John Carter of Mars, I read it in the voice my brain assigned to Paarfi, and I cannot take those books seriously anymore because I’m reduced to stitches (although I still love them).

    Thank you for providing me and countless others with distractions on long public transit commutes, lazy days with vats of tea, and a perpetually salivating mouth anytime Vlad mentions food.

    Most of all, thanks for letting me stick it to my sister, who will never appreciate klava or the joy that comes from reading your books. She’s missing out.

    -Marjoleine

    Ps: have you ever actually made klava??

88. That was a delightful story. Thanks.

    My attempts at klava have always resulted in something more bitter than coffee, rather than less. But I haven’t given up yet.

89. Hey Brust,

    Sometimes everything looks like a knee cap, and sometimes the Bitch Patrol just won’t stop putting up teleport blocks around my house. So I take my right hand and slap the organization and then take my left hand and shove a six inch stiletto into the right eye.

    That’ll make them see.

    Will Dark Star and Krager have an adventure together? I’d pay to read that.

    –A young writer you inspired over 17 years ago.

    PS: Vlad’s book Dzur made me hungry.

90. Good to hear from you again. And I dunno; could happen. No promises.

91. Any chance you could create an a series of single volume of everything you created ? One volume for Taltos, another for short stories, another for …

    Would that be impossible due to an issue on who holds on the rights of certain products that you created?

92. Rights might be an issue, but a bigger issue is that I’m not a publisher. I don’t decide about volumes and such, I just write the words.

93. So where did you learn about plot, character development, pacing, and other Writer Skills that you’ve mentioned on the blog? Did you just intuit them from favourite works, study them before diving into the pool, or what? As someone who is considering the waters, I was wondering how much of the craft you knew when you first drafted Jarhead. Did you do writing for a writers group before then? Cause, well damn, Jarhead is a nice first try >< :-)

94. When I first drafted Jarhead, I knew fuck-all except what I’d picked up from reading. I was lucky to have a very, very good critique group at the time I finished it. And thanks.

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96. Downloaded ‘Hawk’. Started reading. Finished reading. Sooo … what’s/when’s the next (smile)? THANKS, SKZB!

97. I just finished Hawk, and it has me more excited then ever for what is to come. I’ve been reading the Vlad Taltos books since I was about 12, and my dad bought me jhereg teckla and Taltos, and I have been anxiously awaiting to see how it all ends. I have re read the entire series more time than I thought I had the patience for. I hope you continue the series as you have been doing. I wish there was a way to properly express my love for your writing. Thank you for everything so far!

98. I’m halfway on Hawk and I’m allready thinking about starting to read the series from the beginning or get the books I don’t have like Khaavren Romances etc. or do it both. I guess It’s gonna take at least 2 years to hear again from Vlad, am I right?

99. Something like, I guess. Working on the next one now, but don’t know how long it’ll take.

100. Merry Christmas Sir, and Happy New Year. :)

101. Steven,

     I’ve been a huge fan of Vlad and company since I started reading them in the early 90s. I know taht every good series comes to an end eventually but I hope to never see the end of Vlad and Loiosh. They’ve been very good friends through the years. I’ve visited the Dragaera many times and will come back time and again. Thanks for the great times

102. Many thanks, Adam.

103. What are the chances that all the Vlad books will eventually get released in ebook formats? I’m especially interested in Nook format, since that’s what I own.

104. All the Tor ones are out, and I’m waiting on the contracts for the Ace ones to arrive in the mail. (Of course, I’ve been waiting for two months now, but I haven’t lost hope).

105. Oh! That’s fantastic news! I have the first 8 or so in paperback, but I’d like to read them all again from the very beginning on my Nook, since it’s been so long since I read them the first time.
     I’ll keep watch!

106. Steve,
     Your writing inspires my imagination.Vlad is a trophy of a character.
     Looking forward to more.
     Most importantly, thank you.

     Dave

107. Thank you!

108. I just read Hawk. As per my usual Vlad experience, Loved it.

     Now kindly remember, when eventually the mini series is eventually cast,charismatic, but not pretty. Can you see someone like a young Brad Pitt as Vlad? yeeesh! :-)

     I very much am looking forward to your next installment on the life of Vlad and his shenaniganss with odd assorted compatriots.

109. http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii88/varyok/jhereg.jpg kind of looks like a jhereg. don’t you think?

110. Huh. Yeah, kinda does.

111. darn. The only books I don’t have that you wrote in either ebook format or paperback is
     “The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars” and “Gyspy.” Darn publishers not releasing them in ebook format.

112. SKZB:

     Sorry, I didn’t know there was a dedicated thread about your books. Reposting my question here…

     I just noticed that Book of Athyra and Book of Taltos are available for Kindle now, presumably with Book of Jhereg coming soon (I *DO* wish they’d published them as individual novels, but it’s better than never having them at all)…

     I just wanted to know if the source of these was scanned from hardcopy (I presume so, unless you have some VERY dedicated folks re-typing everything), and if so, if there have been any reports of errors creeping into the process. I’ve had some favorite authors with older works practically RUINED by cheap scanning and no error-checking…

     Thanks, and looking forward to finally getting to reread the older Vlad stories in my preferred format… :)

113. Actually, is there any particular reason for the “Book of” collections (both in the first place, and now that we’re getting them in e-book form for the first time)? Their titles cause confusion with the individual novels, and being forced to have half of my collection in each form disturbs me in a “hobgoblin of little minds” kind of way. :)

     Thanks for your patience… :)

114. Reed: I don’t know. I’ve wondered about that myself. It isn’t how I’d have preferred it, but I trust publishers (generally) know their business. As for the first three ebooks, after about three years of struggle getting them out there (don’t ask), I’m just happy they exist.

115. Hi there :)

     I met Vlad, Loiosh and Human beings in French. Kind of breakfast.
     Then, I had to learn reading English in order to follow the stream…

     I just finished Hawk, and felt here looking for some more Bitch Patrol kickin’ :)

     Thank you so much, Mr Brust, for the good times, past and coming !

116. That’s wonderful to hear, Giles. Thank you.

117. Mr Brust, I just wanted to drop a line that I loved your Firefly story. It absolutely felt like the real deal; I don’t think you could have nailed the feel of the show nor the personalities of the characters any better. If only they’d restart the series… I don’t care if I have seen the movie.
     I’m feeling the need to visit Vlad and Loiosh and all their friends again… but beggars have to settle for what they can get. Best of health to you sir, and eagerly awaiting the next adventure!

118. Steve,
     Thanks for the adventure. I reread the Taltos books once per year religiously, although Robin Hobb has encroached on some of the fantasy time allotted.
     I recently purchased Brokedown Palace and was swept away by the poetical style used. Is this typical of Hungarian prose? And will you be revisiting our friends in the east again?
     Thank you for the years of entertainment.

119. Thanks for the kind words. I’d say that the style is pretty typical of English translations of Hungarian folktales. I don’t know if I’ll be going back there; nothing currently planned, but who knows?

120. Mr. Burst,
     I am a devoted fan of your work and, like Scott above, work my way through the Taltos series at least once a year. I would first like to express my appreciation for the hours of enjoyment you have brought to me. Second I am curious if there are any plans for a full length novel to continue or fill in the Khaavarden Romance storyline

121. thankyou for many years of incredible reading

122. If I may sir, I have loved your novels since I was 13. Vlad has to be my favourite character in any series I’ve read. He’s such a smart ass it kills me. Anyway, a few years back my husband managed to get a signed copy of Taltos for me and I am quite proud to say it sits on my self of collectables so I can brag about it when people are over. You have a wonderful mind and I’m looking forward to what comes after Vallista!

123. You’re very kind. Thank you.

124. Read the entire library de Vlad over the last two months.
     As an old SF reader I skew a little away from fantasy. – but my favorite long time author, Roger Zelazny bridged whatever separation there might be between genres. And he liked you. As do I. Picked you up due to that connection and Jo Walton’s paean to you in her What Makes This Book Great, (that I just picked up).
     Actually read Cowboy Feng— more than a couple of decades ago.
     I question and admire how you have maintained a feel for a character over decades. Probably a unique achievement.
     Also, as a socialist, I appreciate your inclusion of class in the books, without making them didactic.
     Anyway. Thank you.

125. Thank you kindly! And sorry about the delay in approving your posts; I’ve been traveling and neglecting my blog. Mea culpa.

126. I have been reading your chronicles of Vlad Taltos since the early 80’s, ever since Roger Zelazny said “Watch Steven Brust. He’s good. He moves fast. He surprises you.”

     I have been buying your books as they were published, first in paperback, then as hardcovers when you moved to Tor, for over 30 years. I have even (eventually) tracked down a hardcover edition of To Reign in Hell.

     Even after many readings, I still cannot help but giggle in pleasure while (re)reading To Reign in Hell or The Phoenix Guards. Probably the only books to actually make me giggle while reading.

     And after 30 years, I cannot even guess how many times I have gone back and reread the adventures of Vlad and his friends. A dozen? Two dozen? “Doesn’t matter!” as Napper used to say. The stories are always good and will eventually be read again (and again).

     I know that both I and others have asked about ever seeing the Vlad Taltos series reissued in leather clad editions some day. Now that we are in the age of Kickstarter and Amazon’s Independent Publishing Platform and other Print on Demand websites, would there be more of a chance that these might become a reality?

     Of course, I am trying to patiently wait for Tsalmoth (tentatively) and The Baron of Magister Valley…..

127. Was just browsing the list as I’m fairly interested in checking your work in English because not much has been published in French yet and… hey, the latest ones are not in the list !

128. Yeah, just send my remarks on those to Corwin a few days ago. He or Felix will probably update the page soon.

129. Love them all, but a special place in my heart for Agyar, the best of its kind and always a treat around Halloween.

130. Thanks kindly!

131. I have been a fan of yours since I stole my roommates paperback of To Reign in Hell. I disagree that you could do better, it is inspired. I named my Golden Retriever Baez in honor of this book. I didn’t want to have to explain how I am not a Satanist and give her the longer name.

     That led me to the Vlad books and the Khavren Romances. I am going to buy Agyar tomorrow since you think it is your best work.

     You have two of my favorite books of all time, the third being Get Shorty, what can I say, Elmore Leonard is funny and a bit perverse.

     Can you give (or post) when your next Vkad book is expected? I want to order it.

132. Mr. Brust I have enjoyed your Vlad Taltosh series for years since I was young. I have a question. Will you ever write a book about that world that explains the universe in a cohesive whole? I mean you have hinted at pieces of it in the books, about humans, where they came from, where the dragerian humans (elves) came from and pieces about gods, demons, the Great Weapons and their purpose and the uber aliens that enslaved everyone to do experiments on them, on chaos magic and other things. I would just like before you pass from writing at all to write one book that ties it all together as a mostly cohesive whole from beginning to current day. Trying to piece it all together and figure out what the real history is over decades has been frustrating.

133. Thank you, Scott. I’m sorry to tell you I almost certainly won’t do that. The sort of thing I love as a reader requires that I take the pieces the author has given me and try to make sense of them. I recognize that other readers enjoy things differently, but that’s one how I love to approach things (see the work of Wolfe and Zelazny for example), and of course, what I love as a reader informs what I do as a writer more than any other factor. I do understand, and I apologize, but that just isn’t my thing.

134. Scott, you might enjoy my (ongoing) attempts to “piece it all together and figure out what the real history is” at the Dragaera Timeline site: http://www.panix.com/~alexx/dragtime.html There’s another good fan-run site called The Lyorn Records.

135. Hi Steven, would be interested in when the nest vlad novel will be out and will it be this year 2019?? many many thanks for every book you have written since i first picked up to reign inhell..

136. Working on it now, Richard. There will be a Paarfi novel out in early 2020. Thanks for asking.

137. Good question and an even better answer! Looking forward to it!
     Now the anticipation I must overcome.

138. Read the snippet on your facebook page skzb, and i`m yearning to read that as well. Treesaint i1m always doing what you said..

139. Steven, I have never left any kind of feedback or even attempted to communicate with an author. Who am I to critique an author, who is anybody to critique any work or art, except the artist. However, I am compelled.
     When I read Jhereg for the first time, I was impressed. Fantastic book, even more fantastic characters. Then you followed that up with Yendi, and had a follow up book that was as good as the first. In and of itself a difficult task. You are very clever, able to dive into the psyche of your characters like no other. The dialogue is both amusing as well as insightful. However, I just read Vallista, and I have to call you out. The last 4 books have been such a departure from the originals that I have to say that your cleverness is twisting the book itself into being a book about your cleverness, and not about the book itself. You don’t have to write a book that is so cleverly written, that there is no real reason to read the book.
     Upon reading Jhereg, a person is richer for it. It is like reading the Hobbit. Yes, Jhereg is that good. Reading the Hobbit makes a person better for it. The same with Jhereg. Vallista is a book that once read, was just a book to read while killing time on a flight. Except for the part about Verra, the rest of the book did not propel the series in any direction. Hawk was similar, other than a couple of points, the rest was not very meaningful. These couple of books that occur over just a couple of days, do not resonate like Jhereg and Yendi did.
     I ask you as an appreciative reader, that you return to the style of Jhereg when you write the next few books to complete the Cycle.
     Nothing that I am writing is intended in any way shape or form to be disrespectful or unappreciative of your efforts. No matter what occurs, Jhereg and Yendi are two of my favorite books.

140. It’s been 27 years since a middle school acquaintance first got me hooked on your writing back in 7th grade. The early works were awesome, but I think your writing has gotten much more cerebral and complex over the years and it’s great that it isn’t formulaic. Your books have gotten me through some tough times, and have provided a lot of joy also in good times. Are there any plans for Vlad and Cawti to fully reconcile ? Or a new love interest ? I’m hoping Vlad has a daughter some day to help him explore his more sensitive side. I agree with one of the posters that it would be interesting to hear more about Cawti but I’d be more interested in what she has been thinking and doing during Vlad’s nomadic existence.
     Anyway, it must be annoying when your readers make suggestions – we trust that you’ll continue to lead us down exciting paths.
     Thanks again

141. Many thanks for the kind words!

142. The Vlad Taltos series I discovered recently taught me again the joy of reading at a moment where I could no more bring myself to open even a short story.
     I could go for ages describing exaclty how much I love Dragaera and the characters and the style, but I’ll try to make this a little briever than the Viscount of Adrilanka (well, I’ll do my best…).
     As an eastern European, all those references about Eastern European culture and food are a pure delight to read.
     An even greater delight is to notice how your work seem to be inspired by one of my favorite authors Roger Zelany. The ending of Phoenix is comparable to the ending of the “Courts of Chaos” (Chronicles of Amber) and I could not make a bigger compliment. Your statement at Tor.com that Zelasny inspired you to write is just… so relatable.
     Just a question: when you wrote the Khaavren Romances I am reading right now, did it occur to you the theurapetical effect of discovering one of your favorite authors totally fanboying about another one of your favorite authors?
     Despite having appreciated Iorich’s melancholic beauty, I was the happiest finding the old Vlad, snarky and determined, in Hawk and Vallista, so I’m intensely looking forward for the last four novels. Actually, even more intensely since I learned you plan Tsalmoth to happen between Yendi and Jhereg, my favorite timeline of the series (this is the moment of me ridiculously fangirling over the chance to see more of Aliera e’Kieron and especially Morrolan e’Drien, totally not my all-time favorite supporting character).
     And the last thing, I am more than surprised you dislike Yendi, which I found beyond brilliant and probably my favorite of the series. I doubt whether it’s my lack cultural taste or you judging your work too severely.
     Anyway, thank you so much for offering us the world of Dragaera and I am looking forward to attack your other works!

143. Well, this is very kind. Thank you. And, no, that never occurred to me; but I was too busy cackling while writing that one to think about much of anything. :-) Thank you!

144. For me it was seeing a comment by Zelazny on one of your book covers.

     Reader, I bought it.

145. I am reading FHYA for about the 18th time right now, and I am cackling while reading it. So there.

146. YAY! :-)

147. The first few times I read FHYA I thought I was simply enjoying escapist entertainment. Now that I am more familiar with skzb’s views on human nature and the mechanisms of power, I am enjoying the book on another level. There are several nuggets of ideas related to the class struggle sprinkled in, but they fit in so naturally that they do not spoil the story. Indeed, they are the story.

     Khaavren, a loyal servant of the ruling elite, has no interest in helping the populace organize. But he does have an understanding of the circumstances under which the population might do so. And he counsels the emporer away from policies that would needlessly antagonize the people.

     It’s really quite fascinating.

148. :-) We can’t help knowing what we know.

149. so its 2020 and i am going on 75 and hoping to make it long enuff to read the rest of Vlad. any way you can write the last 4 books this year or two????
     thanx for almost 40 years of joy. Peace and Love!!

150. I’ll do my best. :-)

151. Thanks for the many years of laughs! Every couple of months or so on a day off I grab one of your books from my shelf and spend a few hours having a great time. I’m looking forward to adding another book to my Brust shelf soon!

152. Book Cover Question: I am in the process of publishing my first novel and my agent let me know that I wrote the book and to let the publisher worry about the marketing. Do you have input on book covers? You have always had great covers and I have always loved the painted covers all my favorite authors had (Yes you are in the club), but I am being told that those are no longer popular with readers. I trust that my people know what they are talking about, but…Any insight?

153. I think I am now at the point in my career that, if I really really hated a cover, they’d at least listen to me. In general, no, I have no input on the cover. I’ve just gotten very lucky. Also, congratulations!

154. Fan from when I read Jhereg in ’83 (yep, the cover drew me in – and even as a kid I knew covers were a poor reason to pick a book. But Something has to grab your attention..). My email includes one the novels – so, yeah, I love Brust and the joy his books have brought me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. – mm

155. Baron of Magister Valley pre-ordered through my local brick and mortar bookstore.

     Woot!!!

156. Any chance of a nice leather bound set, the Vlad Taltos novels beg to be an heirloom item. I’ve read them so many times on my kindle that I took all the ebooks and put them in word and organized then in chronological order just so I can read a few thousand pages without having to stop and remember which book comes next. I start at the beginning every time a new novel comes out.

157. That would be up to a publisher–I don’t have any control over things like that.

158. I agree with the OP and understand your reply, but wouldn’t your suggestion bare some weight ?
     I know I would covet a collection. My current volumes look atrocious due to my reading and both my sons.

159. A reasonable question, but, no, it really wouldn’t.

160. And I am guessing skzb would be contractually barred from authorizing a definitive leather-bound set, crafted at ruinous expense by an artisinal book-wright?

161. Huh. You might be, I don’t actually know. Erm….I THINK I own the rights to anything like that, but I’d have to check.

162. Lawyers…

163. Holidays, extreme interest.

164. Is an audiobook version of Baron of Magister Valley planned?

165. Not yet, alas. I hope there will be one eventually.

166. Well if it happens skzb needs to be the one reading it.

167. Who is Tukko? where are the rest the great weapons? will Vlad ever talk to Lady Teldra? will Vlad find his soulmate? who will the final contract be? Zerika? Vera? Noish-pa?
     Inquiring minds want to know.

     In all seriousness the Vlad Taltos series has to be the one I’ve read and reread the most, and its older than I am! Thank you for the wonderful world you’ve created that I can lost in.

168. Thanks kindly. :-)

169. I do myself the honor of posing two brief, though I daresay, important questions: 1. In 500 Years, Sethra draws on ‘the power of Dzur Mountain’ to teleport Aliera, the Orb, Mario (?!) and herself. Will there be any further explanation of this? 2. Do you hope to see Vlad and Co. come to the big screen? Any thoughts? Best regards.

170. I would love to see this series turned into a netflix series like the Witcher. I am hoping better minds than me are trying to pitch this idea to netflix, amazon or any of the streaming sevices.

171. Hello Mr Brust, I just wanted to drop a thank you for all the wonderfully entertaining stories. I’ve been following Vlad and Loiosh for over 30 years now. Yendi was long my favorite up until The Phoenix Guards was published, and I think I’ve read that ten times or more. Then Issola. Dzur. So damn fun! I also enjoyed Hawk immensely.

     I recalled the main plot points of both the Count of MC and the Baron of MV to my wife while on hikes in the Rockies; it’s a good way to not just fill up time, but we also inevitably wander down conversational trails that we both find rewarding.

     I look forward to each new Vlad book with anticipation and trepidation, as we get closer to the inevitable series finale. I hope you continue to find Vlad fun to write, and that we find out the answers to a few more questions (but not to all of them!) Just fair warning, that I’ll never forgive you if I don’t hear from Lady Teldra before it’s over; I think I’m in love with her too. Don’t tell my wife. I have this three-way convo between her, Vlad and Loiosh battering around in my imagination, hearkening back to the wilderness scenes in Issola.

     By the way, I still have a beat-up old copy of the ‘choose your own adventure’ booklet published back in the late 80’s, I think? I’m not sure how much of a role you had in it, because the plot doesn’t seem to quite match the characteristics of the houses, but it’s a blast to revisit now and then.

172. Many thanks for all the kind words. Other than the intro, I didn’t have a lot to do with that.

173. I kind of hate you. I read Phoenix when it went to paperback at the local library at about 8yo. It was the first book after the mind blowing LOTR(lotr at 8 is mind blowing) and it was life changing. I asked for more of your books for my birthday and got a the previous Vlad books but my brother and sister stole them and proceeded to gift them to their friends after reading them. I finally got to read Jhereg Yendi and Tekla after getting a paper route and buying them(I didn’t know interlibrary loans existed). Those 3 altered my life. I wanted to be Vlad, and loved Sethra with all my heart. Then came The Phoenix Gaurds and 500 Years after which changed me to something else. I wanted to be the best traits of all the characters. Orca and Athyra are not fun. They are good books but are not enjoyable. Paths of the Dead, Lord of Castle Black, and Sethra Lavode were heart breaking. Dragon is a great read. Issola is the most enjoyable book I’ve ever read. Dzur is great. It’s been rough since then. I miss the fun so much. Please write to be fun again. It makes my life better when you bring the fun. Also please continue the fucking plot. What happens between the Gods and the Jenoine?? I need to know. I have Lavode tattooed on my arm along with a dragon and an exact replica of the Phoenix from that cover art. I spent several years learning martial arts with a fairly good MMA record trying to be more Lavode like. I’m getting older and life is rough right now, it’s 3 am and I’m fairly drunk, and I’d like you to bring back the fun. I want magic and the orb and the gods and Vlad to finally work things through. I want Lady Teldra to wake up! Please

174. I respectfully disagree.
     Hawk was amazing, probably my favorite so far.

     Jhegaala was also very good. Iorich also was good. The most recent one Vallista was different but not in a bad way, just took a reread for me
     to fully appreciate it. I struggled a bit with Tiassa but I blame myself. I think the newer books are just as good if not better than than older ones.
     Issola was outstanding- that I agree with.

175. With the revamped web page (looks good), I was hoping we would get entries here for the books written since (Vallista, Baron, Incr II, Heroes, etc).

     My only gripe is that “recent comments” no longer display at the bottom. At least not on my “smart” phone.

176. Oh, there they are. I switched to desktop view, and there they are. Carry on.

177. Kragar: On Mobile, the sidebar content is displayed when clicking/touching the “hamburger” menu at the top right.

178. In Jhegaala you make mention of Tereza’s flaisl and even make a footnote about it mentioning it as “a warm abstract patterned fabric used by prairie prostitutes”. Is the term something you made up? Is it based on something that historically existed or existed in someone else’s fiction? If so, could you expand a bit upon that?

179. I’m going to ask the question you want to answer first: What are you currently working on?

     Now I’m going to ask the question to which I really want an answer: When is the next damn Vlad book coming out? Ok, two questions: What House will it be?

180. I’m working on Lyorn.

     The next one to come out is Tsalmoth, currently scheduled (I’m sorry to say) for April 2023.

181. that long.. just make copies of the uncorrected proof(about 1-200 please.. we all thank you for whats been done so far..

182. April of 2023? Nice. Now I have something more to look forward to.

     And I think there was a thread on flaisl. There was a fairly mundane explanation iirc. Maybe a typo. Sorry it isn’t more fun.

183. Hello! I read Jhereg when first published back in high school and I’ve been a fan ever since. Thank you!

     I do wish to add that I recently listened to the entire Vlad series on audiobook and Bernard Setaro Clark did an excellent job. Angele Masters as Kiera was also a delight in Orca. Though, I always read Vlad’s response to Loiosh as if said very quickly and playfully, “shut-up-Loiosh” rather than each word spread out. But I can live with that. ;) Readers choice!

184. In Steve’s (and his publisher’s) defense, please keep in mind that there are massive supply-chain issues that are globally affecting multiple different markets right now. One of them, according to many articles I’ve read in the last few months, is the book market. Even though Steve, and many other authors I’m aware of, have turned in first, and in some cases final, drafts, the publishing industry has warned the market at large that they will not be publishing said drafts as quickly as they would like. As with so many other industries at the moment, COVID has had a massive impact on how quickly we will be receiving the books we are frothing at the mouth over…

     So looking forward to “Tsalmoth,” and so glad you’re making progress on “Lyorn!”

     D

185. What about releasing the books on kindle or as pdfs while we wait for the physical copies to be made? I would not argue with reading them on my computer or a tablet.

186. I’m sure all this modern tech we now have was supposed to speed things up. On the other hand the 1980’s version of me would not have been able to imagine thanking you and having the chance to tick off the months to April 2023.

     Still don’t suppose you can get Vlad to persuade your publisher to speed things up a bit?

187. Yeah once skzb finishes a book, a lot has to happen that he has no control over before we get it into our hot little hands.

     So far, every single damn one of them has been well worth the wait.

188. actually one of them was bad ( i would use a brittish euphemism but that would be bad word play). The wandering around a house book was just bad. after a lifetime of waiting to finish the series brust and Jordan both convinced me never to start a series that doesnt already have an ending. I like open and shut stories not neverending paragraphs that meander like George martin’s thrones series. Seriously, bad play. I may die before this series ends and seriously that is a sad thing. I liked vlad and I wanted to play an rpg in that world. never quite worked out when I tried to imitate it myself.

189. Vallista? Actually, read it again. During the second reading, you no longer have to devote brain energy to solving the puzzle, and you can pick up more of the nuance.

     That was my experience, anyway.

190. I’m with Kragar here. The first read on Vallista was a bit of a slowdown and a slog at times after the fast pace of the previous few, but on successive reads I found my enjoyment of it increasing each time. There are some wonderful scenes, notably with the Dancer, the Demon, the Warlock, and Verra, some of which touched on important information as we head into the final few here.

     The only Vlad book that I don’t re-read frequently, and enjoy, is Jhegaala, but I still don’t think of it as “bad,” not at all. I don’t finish “bad” books. Period. My time is too precious to do so.

191. 2023? .

192. There’s a few comments about passing over to the other side before the series gets written (not to mention published)
     But it occurred to me that if we do pass over before the series is completed it is said that being freed from the physical dimensions of time and space we can read the completed series finally (and funnily enough anything our dear “scriptor extraordinair” has ever and will ever write) lol
     Something to look forward to.
     Please form an orderly queue.

193. Am I the only person who likes Orca? The one that broke my heart was Issola.

194. What Derek said. It’s a global supply chain issue, and there’s nothing I or the publisher can do about it, I’m afraid. Believe me, I hate it too.

195. I really like Orca. skzb does, too.

     That probably should count for something.

196. Ken: Huh. I’m pretty sure they’re all available on Kindle now. At least, I thought they were. Hell, what do I know?

197. Privateiron – You’re definitely not alone in loving Orca, nor are you alone in being heartbroken by Issola ;-)~ If it means anything at all, I will tell you that Orca is one of the 4 Vlad books that I enjoy, and re-read, the most.

198. skzb; ken lewis – I imagine that ken was asking about the possibility of releasing Tsalmoth in digital format before releasing it in print (please correct me if I’m wrong ken).

     That’s a complicated question and one that I’ve seen many different answers to, from both authors and publishers, so I don’t feel qualified to give a response to it.

     Anyone else feel like taking that one on?

199. The easiest answer is that, due to events outside of skzb’s control, Tsalmoth is not yet ready in either format. I am speculating, not reporting. Heh.

200. Yeah, that’s about it.

201. I have no problem waiting until 2023 to read Tsalmoth. Especially if skzb is currently cooking something else up, hopefully to be published in 2024.

202. Tsalmoth book drop is obviously being timed for the super-secret release of the new HBO series, House of the Tsalmoth, a cinematic retelling of Adron’s Disaster through the eyes of Deleen, the Tsalmoth librarian.

203. I would love that so much

204. My theory is, the publisher won’t issue the Kindle version a year (plus) in advance of the physical book; presumably, because this would likely cannibalize sales too much. I could be wrong but…doesn’t the hardback usually come out first?

     My hardbacks are Tor, so unless skzb’s changed recently, I’d assume Tor has the initial publication rights, and they have the policy-making authority.

     I liked Orca. Granted: one of the most enjoyable aspects of the books is the byplay, and in Orca, that’s limited to Kiera. Even then their dialogs are often plot-related.

205. Funny but serious scenario – my wife has been using my paperbook copies of Taltos and Teckla as bases underneath her dresser to level it out. Every time I would walk past it I would find myself getting annoyed that two classics were being put to this use. I even asked her to take them out which she rebuffed. Being torn between my heart and head on what to do next I decided to buy extra copies of both online and in the process made sure I had at least one copy of every Vlad book. Problem solved ! I’m rereading Jhegaala right now and got my 3 year old to spell it ! That’s one of the most underrated ones.

206. I love Jhegaala even though some very sad and upsetting things happen in that story.

     The excerpts from the play are brilliant.

207. I’ve been a huge fan of yours since the 90’s, thanks for all the wonderful worlds and dreamscapes. I’ve been collecting your books and leaving them in my bookshelf while purposely not telling my kids about them in hopes that they will immediately read them, when I picked up a couple of rarities that caught my interest; The Dzurlord choose your own adventure, which has the most straight forward explanation of Vlad’s world I’ve ever read, and the Jhereg graphic novel. I know you only wrote the forward to each but I was wondering if you would deign to offer your opinion of how they both turned out. Thanks again!

208. Stoked. A cover, a release date (April 25, 2023 on the Kindle). https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0765382849/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1651360388&sr=8-3

209. A question for Steven – with all of the intricate chronology of events in your books, and with some books having a much different place in that plot timeline than their publication date, do you have a giant timeline with everything marked down, or how do you keep track of everything that has happened and will happen ? It seems really complicated to me to get all of the order of things right but you do a great job of it.

210. So Tsalmoth is almost a year away? Sigh.

211. Yeah. *sigh*

212. Thanks kindly.

     I’m afraid I’m not much of fan of either one.

213. Tsalmoth can be pre-ordered now! And the cover looks great! Yay!

214. Schuyler: Actually, I do that for him :-) (And for my own pleasure, and the benefit of other readers.) It *is* complicated, but I started back when there were many fewer books…
     http://www.panix.com/~alexx/dragtime.html

215. So… Wednesday I found out the Phil Dragash audioscape of LoTR is on Spotify. Thursday, I peeked into my Audible library and found the new Guy Gavriel Kay book, which I had pre-ordered but hadn’t marked the date. Happiness!

     Today, on a whim, I decide to see if my luck will hold. Are you kidding me? There’s a release date for my absolute all time favorite assassin and he’s getting married?! Having Covid for a week has been no fun at all, but if it ends with me marking my calendar with a reminder next year for Vladsday, all’s well that ends better. It’s been an excellent week in the world of literary brain candy dropping on my phone is all I’m saying.

     For the record Vladsday is an actual holiday on my calendar. I have taken it off of work now for over a decade. In the past, before I realized I needed to actually schedule the day off, it was an impromptu sick day following the squee of finding new Vlad or new Paarfi randomly at the bookstore and scraping up all the pennies.

     Now? I schedule *well* in advance, cook a lot of good food the day before, lay out in a hammock with delicious adult beverages, and devour the book on release day. I might remember to eat, but it’s very optional until finished. This is the only series I do this with.

     Thank you for all the joy!

     Also, any plans to followup with more Incrementalists? I recognize that this means Vladsdays are less frequent, but I’m imagining Ren watching Dr. DeShawn Taylor on the evening news talking about reproductive rights and I’d love to see her reaction. Or at the very least, her rants.

216. Thank you so very much. To answer your question about The Incrementalists–I don’t know. Marketing-wise, the books tanked, so there’s no way to interest a publisher. There is the possibility of self-publishing, which I can only say we’re looking into. I remain very, very much attached to those characters and that world.

217. It really is brilliant world building, thank you for creating them! On a possibly amusing note, those audiobooks were along with me for a road trip through Kansas last September, and I absolutely wound up making a day of decision to make a stop in Osawatomie.

     The level of detail to history you gave is just… chef’s kiss. Thank you!

218. Dear Steven Brust,

     I discovered your writing through To Reign In Hell, back when I was a student. On I went to read all your standalone titles – amazed that you could make me care about a painting, and loving how Agyar never said the word – to finally get started on Jhereg. Now, I’ve read ample short fantasy to had have to do a mental double-take about the writing quality: every time I come back to your writing is a relief for how cleverly suprising the plot and sometimes humanly unclever the main character is. (Did that make sense?)
     Thank you for all you’ve written. I hope for many more, but don’t want to apply pressure. Still, I have to honestly admit you’re my favourite author – any genre you write takes me to another world, and I gladly share that when asked for reading recommendations.

     I do have one question, hoping you’ll answer…
     I love needing to put the pieces together when reading, which your writing really invites. As such, I’ve been trying to unravel who Vlad is telling his stories to. (Not everything is written from his perspective, such as Kiera narrating most of Orca, but I’m talking about the parts he does.) Yes, he speaks to the recorder most of the time. But some of his accounts contain inconsistencies, suggesting to me that he regales some tales to another audience. Take for example how he tells different stories about losing his finger.
     Now here comes my question: Am I seeing phantoms here and is Vlad just showcasing some of his dark humour or memory issues when he’s being inconsistent, or am I onto something with the different audiences theory? I do love myself a puzzle, but would love a confirmation whether this is one here. XD

     Oh, and while I’ve screwed up my courage to type here. Is there any connection to the mythical Táltos having more than ten fingers and Vlad losing one?

     Thank you for all the stories!

219. Will there be an audiobook for Tsalmoth, or is Tor abandoning the audio versions? My wife adores the Vlad Taltos series above all others, but she somehow has never managed to read Baron of Magister Valley or any of the others not on Audible. Her favorite series releasing an installment exclusively in her non-preferred medium would create quite some conflict for her I suspect .

220. I THINK they’re still doing audio books of the Vlad novels. Although Lyorn will present, um difficulties.

221. Now why might that be? Pictures? Multiple narrators?

222. skzb–

     You ördög! Dropping an intriguing comment like that about Lyorn, still years away from publication. Sigh. All right, I will settle in.

223. Clearly, it will be written entirely in Jenoine and is thus unpronounceable to humans.
     This is also the actual cause of the paper shortages plaguing publishing as committing the Jenoine to paper caused the disappearance of large stocks of supplies in the past timeframe relative to Lyorn.

224. Everything still on track for April 25 2023 for Tsalmoth? And we should do another soft release party via Zoom. The one for TBoMV was so super super fun.

225. That was a lot of fun.

226. Did the audio and print versions of Vallista release at the same time? I’m still seeing nothing on audible and feeling antsy; maybe I should write a letter to the publisher .

227. Can Bernard Setaro Clark can carry a tune?

228. Let’s hope so.

229. Was wondering that as well.

230. Does the term “high noble” refer to where a house is on the cycle, or are some houses “high” regardless of the cycle? Is a Dragon still a high noble during a Chroetha reign?

231. Hello. Just wanted to know if Thalmoth will be available in trade paper back. I purchased all the other Vald books in that format. So I want to stay consistent if possible.
     Thank you!

232. During the Phoenix reign, Dzur and Issola are relatively ‘low’ in the cycle, but they are ‘nobles’ nevertheless. While Teckla will never be ‘noble’ even when their House is in charge.

233. When the cycle points to Teckla, it’s called a Republic. I have often wondered what happens to the orb during that phase. Maybe they store it in a Phoenix-stone locker.

234. Just wanted to know If Thalmoth will be available in trade paper back? I purchased all the other Vald book in that format. So I’m wanting to stay consistent if possible. I see it only available in hard back at the moment.

235. Interesting reading the first few pages of Tsalmoth. Being allowed into somebody else’s realm who owns and reigns in. It wasn’t so much what the words said that was important but the feelings behind them that either welcomed or irritated me (or if you want to be specific what the author was feeling throughout the creative process)
     The most memorable “realms” are those who’s ruler make you feel welcomed and to experience the magic it has to share and inspire in you.
     Thank you Mr B, much obliged.

236. I believe so, in a year.

237. skzb

     Love your stuff, patiently waiting for an audiobook for Tsalmoth, but if one isnt release soon, my dyslexic brain will try to figure out what you are saying to the best of my ability

     side note, is there a requirement of quantity of books published or establihed sales numbers to join as a PJF apprentice or candidate?

     Mike

238. Nope! All you have to do to join is put the initials “PJF” after something you’ve written. We used to require ritually sacrificing a post-modernist, but that got dropped somewhere along the way.

239. Wasn’t it around the time you ran out of post-modernists?

240. Alas, no. There always seem to be more of them.

241. Tsalmoth is available here in England on Kindle, which is a delightful surprise since I’m in hospital in a negative pressure room so that my bugs can’t get out and decimate my fellow patients, all of which makes getting a physical book delivered rather tricky. My thanks to both yourself and your publishers for making it possible.

242. “Lyorn will present a problem” for audio, because, spoiler alert, it is told from the perspective of a Lyorn and is therefore mostly barking.

243. damn you`ll read it before me WAAAHHH!! glad that you can Stevie

244. Thank you! I hope that you will enjoy it in the future as much as I am enjoying it in the present…

245. Thanks for the info about the availability for Tsalmoth in trade paper back. Having that knowledge I will definitely be purchasing the hard back edition. A whole year is much to long to wait. I apparently will be buying the remaining books in the series in the same format. I was late to the party with the Vald Taltos books. I started reading them three years ago, and have been caught up with the series for quite some time.
     I know you are a bit luke warm about Cowboy Feng’s. Just wanted to let you know I thought it was fantastic!

246. I see the Lyorn is now listed on Amazon, with a cover, stating publication is April 9, 2024. Can’t wait!

247. Hello, I’m a big fan of your work. I have some trouble reading. I am curious what the possible timeline for an audio copy of Tsalmoth would look like? Once again I would like to say I am a big fan of your work. Thank you for building an incredible world with incredible characters.

248. Turns out Audible has no such plans. I’m looking into the possibility of producing one myself. I can’t promise it will happen, but I’m looking at it.

249. I feel like if you did a Kickstarter or some crowdfunding to produce the audiobook, you would probably get very good support. Comments on the internet lead me to believe it would have incredible support. Hard to say for sure; very reliable source, I know. But still.
     I am just upset they decided to stop doing it at this point…

250. Yeah, that is one of the things I’m looking at.

251. Let me know when you do a Kickstarter. Ill lighten the Dragon Treasury for you. Should be easy as I read alot of books.

252. Lawl

253. As a traveling Paleontologist, I live on Audiobooks so I hope to listen to this soon tho for now ill ready at camps. Tho my 2 Daughters Aliera and Kiera both love listening to Vlad argue with Looshi.

254. Oh my.

255. Any news/movement on the Tsalmoth audiobook?

256. David: I’m working on it; that’s all I can say at this point. Thanks for asking.

257. Any Dragaeran novels focusing on the Serioli in the offing?

258. Lester: Nothing planned at the moment.

259. Serioli. Cat-centaur. Jenoine (why not?). Demon (there are episodes with the Necromancer and in The Brokedown Palace, Vallista, and Tsalmoth as well, but not the whole book dedicated to). God… Could be some interesting additions to the whole Dragaera bookworld, still.
     Then again, before the Empire had been created, there were not 17 tribes that became Houses but 31 or so…

260. Thanks! Any thoughts about another in the world of GOOD GUYS ? It’s hard to believe there are not more than two magical organizations. Something Taoust, eg.

261. Lester: I’d like to go back to that world, yes.

262. If there were some sort of crowdfunding campaign for a Tsalmoth audiobook, my wife and I would enthusiastically support it. The Vlad Taltos series is our favorite series by wide margin, but for some reason she can’t bring herself to read books with her eyeballs in English, and my attempts to read just don’t compare well with Bernard Satero Clark. All in all, we find ourselves relistening to other works of yours every night rather than digging into Tsalmoth.

263. How many types of demons are there in the Dragaean universe? Vlad the demon seems quite different from The Necromancer.

264. I can’t help wondering the long-lived daemonic Vlad will become Chair of the Jhereg Council or even Jhereg Emperor!

265. Hey.
     I just finished reading Tsalmoth and Ordered Lyorn now.
     I am happy to buy and read your work. But I Miss bernard setaro Clarks voice narration. Even when I do read, his voice is in my head.
     I would also chip in for an Audio Book Crowdfunding.

     Happy about your story so much.
     I loved beeing in the car and listening to it.
     And my blind freind and fantasy nerd would love to have bernards voice instead of mine and his wives untrained ones again.

     Tobi

266. I believe Audible is working on it now, though I can’t promise.

267. Thank you so much Mr Brust. I already bought the hard copy, but with my dyslexia I miss so much connected just trying to read. I love your stuff and most of my RPG avatars are named for your characters you created. (Sign of respect, no copyright violation intended or implied).

     Waiting on the edge of my seat for the next chapter of Vlads life

268. Read along with Taltos since day one of the paperback love your universes.

     The authors note at the beginning of Lyon was a thing of beauty. The line referencing The Phoenix Guards gave proof.

     Best day in BKK to date (see photo in website link).

269. Husband and I have been, er, analyzing the Lyorn musical, and wondering if the eventual narrator can sing…

270. Yeah, I wonder too. I’m going to ask him.

271. Hello Honorable SKZB and guests. First time visitor, just came looking for info on Tsalmoth audio and wanted to say I would also be happy to support Kickstarter for an audio version. I will go look for a newsletter/blog on the site to stay in the loop and will check back here periodically if there is no word there. I will get a print version of the books I have missed (usually the release of the audiobook prompts me to buy both audio and print). Site looks full of kindred spirits; I’m glad to have found it.

272. Hey, Teri. I THINK there’s going to be an audio book of Tsalmoth–eventually. I hope soonish, but I don’t know. Thanks for asking.

273. @skzb

     Did you ever decide on an official nickname for Lyorn?

     If you mentioned it anywhere previously, I have been unable to find it.

274. @skzb I relayed your speculation to my wife, and she was quite delighted to hear there may well be a Tsalmoth audiobook eventually.

275. Tsalmoth is now officially on Audible and Lyorn has been listed but not available yet. At least here in New Zealand