The News: The Slow Regard of Silent Things

So here’s the news:

I have a book coming out around November-ish.

Slow Regard - Front

It’s not book three. It’s not a mammoth tome that you can use to threaten people and hold open doors.

It’s a short, sweet story about one of my favorite characters.

It’s a book about Auri.

That’s the news. The short version. If you’d like the long version, I’ll give that below….

*     *     *

I didn’t set out to write a book about Auri. I really didn’t.

What happened was this: a while back, I was invited to contribute something to George Martin’s Rogues anthology. I mentioned it a while back on the blog…

Wow. I just went looking for the blog post where I mentioned the Rogues anthology, only to discover that I kinda never wrote it.

Well. Okay. I guess y’all get a little side order of news with your news today:

rouges cover 2

I’m in this book too. It’s coming out in June.

What happened was this: a couple years back, George Martin and Gardner Dozois invited me to be in an anthology called Rogues. I said yes, because back in 2009, when I was working on The Wise Man’s Fear, they’d invited me to participate in a different anthology: Star Crossed Lovers.

But in 2009 I was behind deadline and freaked out about it. So I said “No” and went back to struggling with WMF. It broke my heart a little. Because it’s one of those anthologies you dream about being invited to. It was the anthology equivalent of getting invited to the cool-kid party back in high-school.

Anyway, when they asked me to contribute a story to Rogues back in 2012, I said yes for two reasons.

1. Because how fucking cool is it to be in this anthology? Look at my name up there, right next to Neil Gaiman’s. Seriously. Look at that. My name is almost touching Neil Gaiman’s name….

I know I should be cooler about this. I should pretend that I’m a professional and a grown-up and everything. But I’m really not. I’m still the same person who read Neverwhere back in the late 90’s and went, “What? Seriously? You can do that?”

And now I’m anthology-buddies with him. In fact, Gaiman’s story is “How the Marquis Got his Coat Back.” It’s about the Marquis De Carabas from Neverwhere.

The other reason I said yes was…

2. I’d had a story idea about Auri tickling around my head for a while. What’s more, I thought she would make a nice counterpoint to some of the other  classic rogue-type characters in the anthology. Sort of a trickster rogue, as opposed to a thief, swashbuckler, or a con man.

“Besides,” I thought to myself. “It’s just a short story. Three or four thousand words. Maybe 6 or 7 thousand if I run long. That’s about two week’s writing, tops.”

So I started writing about Auri. But as it unfolded, it went in directions I hadn’t expected. The story was… strange. I hit 3000 words and I was barely started. Writing about the Underthing was more complicated than I’d anticipated.

So the story got longer. I hit 7ooo words without even realizing it. I kept going, unearthing more secrets about Auri and the Underthing.

Eventually I hit about 15,000 words and forced myself to stop. It wasn’t going to work for the anthology, it was too long, and it wasn’t a trickster tale of the sort I initially expected it to be. Honestly didn’t know what the hell kind of story it was, but it wasn’t going to work for the anthology.

I e-mailed George and Gardner and begged for an extension on my deadline. They were very kind and understanding. I tried a few different things that failed miserably, then I realized who *really* belonged in an anthology about Rogues: Bast. Once I figured that out, I wrote “The Lightning Tree” for the anthology, and it worked out really well.

But I was stuck with half a story. Half a strange story. Half a strange, too-long story that wasn’t doing the things a story is supposed to do.

Reluctantly, I walked away from it and went back to working on book three. I love Auri, and the story had an odd sweetness to it. But I had work to do.

But the Auri story kept tickling at me. And let me tell you this, having a half-finished story stuck in your head is ten times worse than having a song stuck in there.

And there’s only one way to get it out. So when I came to a good stopping point in my revisions, I went back to the Auri story. It just wouldn’t leave me alone.

It ended up over 30,000 words long. An odd length for me. Much too long for a short story. Much shorter than my usual novels. (For a frame of reference, 30,000 words is about the same length as Neil Gaiman’s Coraline.)

What’s more, the story had unfurled into something full of secrets and mysteries. Something sweet and strange. Not a normal sort of story at all. I suppose it was silly of me to assume a story about Auri would be usual in any way.

The problem was, I had no idea what to do with it. I liked the story, but I like strange things. And I’m fond of Auri. And most importantly, I’m the author. Asking me if I like my story is like asking a mom if she likes her baby….

I showed it to a few people, and they seemed to like it pretty well. But they were friends, you can only trust them to be so honest with you.

I revised it a couple times, then showed it to a few authors. They liked it, but they agreed, it was an odd story.

Then I took a big risk and showed it to Vi Hart. As I’ve mentioned in an earlier blog where she put some of my lyrics to music, we are now Best Friends.

So I knew her, and respected her opinion, but since we haven’t known each other very long, I trusted her to tell me the truth.

She read it, and we talked about the story. She pointed out some things she thought were problematic. I agreed. She pointed out some things she liked, and I was flattered.

We were in a bar in San Fransisco at this point. The Casanova. We’d spent a lovely evening together, and I was drinking a little bit, which is unusual for me. And it might be because of that that I started to lament the fact that the story was kind of a hot mess. Good stories are supposed to contain certain elements, I explained, and my story didn’t have those things.

Vi said she liked it.

I told her I liked it too, but that didn’t change the fact that people expect certain things from a story. If people read this story looking for those things, they wouldn’t get them, they’d be dissatisfied. Disappointed.

And Vi said something I hope she’ll forgive me for paraphrasing here without asking her first. She said, “Fuck those people. Those people get all the other stories in the world. Everyone writes stories for them. This story is for people like me. We deserve stories too.”

That shut me up. Because she’s right. It might not be for everyone. But not every story has to be for everyone. Maybe this was just a story for people like me and Vi. People who are curious about Auri and the life she leads. People who are, perhaps, not entirely normal.

Vi said a few other things that gave me enough confidence to send the story to my agent. He liked it, and said we should show it to Betsy, my editor at DAW. Betsy liked it. Really liked it. The people in her office liked it.

That made me think that maybe it *was* a story for everyone. Or maybe there are more people like me and Vi in the world than either of us expected.

Anyway, the end result is this:

Slow Regard - Front

I’ll have more details about it later. Exact dates. If and when I’m touring. Those things are still up in the air a bit right now.

But today’s the day we’re officially announcing the cover, showing it off to people at C2E2 and letting it out onto the internet. I’ve been holding off on this post so y’all could be some of the very first people to see it.

I think a lot of you are going to like it.

Fondly,

pat

This entry was posted in book covers, cool news, geeking out, Neil Gaiman, Stories about stories., the business of writing. By Pat157 Responses

125 Comments

  1. BrendanTWhite
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:21 PM | Permalink

    Yay.

    Seriously, yay. I’ve wanted to know more about Auri ever since … well, since forever.

    And of course now we have a new yardstick to measure ourselves by – are we the sort of person who *loves* Silent Things, and can therefore claim some sort of intellectual kinship with Vi Hart, or are we only a person who *claims* to love Silent Things, in which case we’re still claiming the same kinship but know deep inside that we’re not…

    Okay, that may have made no sense to anyone outside my own head. Ignore that last part.

    I’m really looking forward to the book, though. :-)

  2. Ari
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:37 PM | Permalink

    Wow ::epic intense bliss delight understatement::

  3. Club Neon
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:49 PM | Permalink

    I was going to do a little dance, but forget it… This deserves a huge, all-singing, all-dancing production. Auri is my favorite character in Kingkiller books.

  4. BJE
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:51 PM | Permalink

    That’s Great! I had a feeling the news was going to be about the Auri book but I’m super excited none the less!
    Now I can stop refreshing your blog like a maniac at work as I have been the last two days and get something done.
    I love Auri as well and can’t wait to read this.

    • Motleyone
      Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:59 PM | Permalink

      You aren’t the only one who will now be able to stop frantically refreshing the blog. I do the same with XKCD What If every single Tuesday.

  5. Dantetoledo
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:57 PM | Permalink

    Maybe the key thing is about putting your heart in your writing…

    Maybe.

    But I can tell (for certain) that it is not about expectations.

    And judging by your writing so far… seems to me that you’re pretty good at spilling your heart through your fingers (think of that as a really strange and awesome kind of sympathy)…

    We’re waiting for the book, Pat… as usual =]

  6. hail2daredskinz
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:58 PM | Permalink

    Fuuuuuuuuck yeah!!! Go books!

  7. SilverTpt
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 4:59 PM | Permalink

    Perhaps it’s a book for the silent majority?

    A lot of vocal/noisy people disproportionally affect culture and narrative devices. Seems really apparently in Hollywood these days, where many things get distilled down to the formulaic approach. Trouble is, they don’t actually speak for everybody. To finish the analogy, some of the best films of all time would never be greenlit today. Too few explosions. Too few hot females. No love triangle.

    Trouble is, formulaic excitement can itself get boring. An unconventional book about secrets long buried and forgotten should do very well. I look forward to reading it…

    • Gabriel
      Posted April 25, 2014 at 10:55 PM | Permalink

      This.

      And even if I do expect some things in a story, even if I’m prone to get disappointed, it’s good to see a different kind of story. We’re used to a kind of stories, seeing it done in an unique way open minds, it amazes.

      Just make sure that whoever is interested or is buying it knows what to expect (or rather, what not to expect). If they expected to be buying a normal story about Auri’s origin, that’s bad. They should be warned that it is a strangely told story about a girl with an unique mind.

  8. Zeppe
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 5:03 PM | Permalink

    Yay!!!

    Stupid question because I apparently suffer from some OCD-ish illness: Will it come with a cover that matches the British (?) editions of NOTW and WMF? (The shiny ones with leaves.)

  9. Posted April 25, 2014 at 5:21 PM | Permalink

    Omg yes!! I literally screamed when I saw this blog post, so happy. :D
    I’m sure it will be great, I love your writing rothfuss :)

  10. He without a clever name
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 5:35 PM | Permalink

    “Half a strange story. Half a strange, too-long story that wasn’t doing the things a story is supposed to do.”

    My wife and I just nodded in a mute stupor of agreement reading this. That’s what trying to write is like often, for us anyway.

    “Vi said something I hope she’ll forgive me for paraphrasing here without asking her first. She said, “Fuck those people. Those people get all the other stories in the world. Everyone writes stories for them. This story is for people like me. We deserve stories too.””

    I don’t know who Vi Hart is, but I just fell in love with her a little bit.

    I am so excited for this book. Auri is my favorite. Bast is my wife’s so this was one Hell of a news post for us (and we’re finally getting Gaiman’s ‘How the Maquis got his Coat back,” teased a decade ago in my favorite book of short stories ever, Fragile Things!?)

    Take your time Pat, I hope you feel the love for you the patient fans have, and, if it’s not to greedy of me to say, feel free to stop and give us 30,000 word wonders whenever the moments come.

    • He without a clever name
      Posted April 25, 2014 at 5:41 PM | Permalink

      Damn! *too greedy* in that last paragraph. That’s what I get for being too eager with the post button…

      I suppose in closing I can say that Auri protectively cradling Kvothe in Book 2 is way, way up there in the list of my favorite moments from the books. So beautiful. Along with Kvothe playing for his talent, the fire in the artifacy, the Caeth…

      I’m going to stop now or we might be here for a while.

  11. Posted April 25, 2014 at 5:56 PM | Permalink

    I was pretty sad not to win a chance to beta read this through Worldbuilders, but November is SOON! I can wait until November. I can be as patient as three stones. I’m looking forward to it :-)

  12. katherineofyork
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 5:57 PM | Permalink

    Yes! Oh, I am so pleased. I love Auri, and I hope one day to see the same attention paid to Elodin ;)

    • Danercast
      Posted April 26, 2014 at 6:03 PM | Permalink

      Well, we actually might, since Elodin does seem to know Auri from before even Kvothe met her. And as things are, if this books comes up as a precuel*cross fingers*, we might end up seing how those two met or something like that, only time will tell though, I may be guessing too too much.

  13. Lastasis
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:05 PM | Permalink

    Yes! Glorious! And I think you did announce the anthology on the facebooks

    But, I am excited for this story. I am excited for both stories. Maybe I am excited for all stories. But these two in particular will probably set my heart aflame and leave me patiently wanting more. Or, they may leave me quenched for a while thus.

    Who knows? Besides, a little bird told me time isn’t real so who’s to say?

    Whatever the case: I am excited. And happy. And maybe a little bit afraid.

  14. priscellie
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:06 PM | Permalink

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. The scenes with Auri are some of my favorites in the series, and I am thrilled beyond thrilled at the prospect of a Coraline-sized book of her! And in October/November, just in time for my birthday! Thanks for listening to that niggling half-storyworm.

  15. ceradia
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:10 PM | Permalink

    This news is amazing.

    I am really looking forward to reading more about Auri. This books sounds just perfect!

  16. jchutch9
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:21 PM | Permalink

    Awesome! And I’m now an even bigger fan of Vi for saying what she did. She is absolutely right. Looking forward to learning more about Auri. And thanks.

  17. Robo
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:22 PM | Permalink

    Be honest. Does Auri ride any lesbian unicorns in this thing?

  18. Vainilla
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:30 PM | Permalink

    Almost die of a heart attack… OMG! I am so exited about the stories, they (Auri and Bast) are probably the best characters ever, literaly I can’t wait for those books…
    Thanks for being an amazing, peculiar and my favorite writter
    Love form Mexico!!

    • Searchonce
      Posted September 22, 2014 at 11:19 PM | Permalink

      Do you have any idea if they are gonna sell it in mexico? I havent find anything about that.. anywhere..

  19. cageo
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:37 PM | Permalink

    Hehe talk about a roller coaster of emotions you just put me through. I foolishly hoped for a few milliseconds that it was book 3. Then “It’s not book three” cue instant disappointment. Then – a book about Auri! Like not even a short story, a whole book! And Coraline size feels like a good fit for Auri, all I could have asked for but never thought to ask. So thank you, for being the super awesome generous author that you are. No rush on book three, take all the time you need

  20. cynrtst
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 6:50 PM | Permalink

    You had an Auri worm! Glad you itched it…..

  21. There Was a Time
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 7:04 PM | Permalink

    I’ve always wondered why Elodin was so impressed with Kvothe’s connection with Auri… A story seems a perfectly Elodian solution to this dilemma. And given his rather ironic style of instruction it actually makes sense that the story would come out while we anxiously anticipate the third installment! Bravo…

  22. Nicham
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 8:22 PM | Permalink

    It has taken every ounce of self control in my body not to totally spoil this announcement for everyone after you told us about in at the Paul and Storm show in Portland. It is a testament to the amount of respect that I have for you that I did not.

  23. danooli
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 8:24 PM | Permalink

    oh, this is such lovely news. TWO new stories!! Thank you Pat!

  24. Taravangian
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 9:14 PM | Permalink

    SQUEE

    • samward
      Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:15 AM | Permalink

      Yes. This.

  25. Liefje
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 9:15 PM | Permalink

    I’m so incredibly happy/excited, that I’ve begun to cry with the sheer joy of it all.

  26. Vince
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 9:26 PM | Permalink

    I get asked almost daily why I am different, why I change and why I make the decisions I do. I am looking forward to the story Pat. Auri was a great character and someone I’d happily read a book about.

  27. thistlepong
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 9:43 PM | Permalink

    Concerning Games, Torment, and a Sense of Play might have been the post you were looking for?

  28. craazymumma
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 9:46 PM | Permalink

    Cannot express how thrilled I am by your news. Even made me a bit teary, i must say.
    To them that demand you finish book 3, I say piffle! You are a conductor of greatness, listening to your tales & developing them in the manner that best fits them. Bravo!

  29. GhostWriter
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 9:59 PM | Permalink

    Wonderful news. I can’t wait to read them, Pat. Lovely cover on Auri’s book as well. Very mysterious.

  30. ravenchow
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 10:06 PM | Permalink

    Sounds like it will be a wonderful book. It would not be fun without the cryptic title.

  31. Leafhawk
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 10:23 PM | Permalink

    It was awesome to be at C2E2 for the announcement in person and so incredible to be a winner of a poster of the book cover! Auri is my favorite character next to Kvothe and can’t wait to read more of her story. Meeting you made a already great day, fantastic and this new book and story in Rogues was the cherry on top!

    • JeremyM
      Posted May 1, 2014 at 12:02 PM | Permalink

      I am super jealous of you. My ticket was only 4 numbers away from the one that was called for the large poster. That was an awesome panel and great first day to the convention.

  32. amara64
    Posted April 25, 2014 at 11:13 PM | Permalink

    Since I am always short on cash I was wondering if I need to buy both the new book and the anthology in order for the 3rd book to make sense. I know I will eventually buy all of the books but for a while I will be very, very broke.

  33. Sandhya
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:10 AM | Permalink

    Overjoyed!

  34. ali rahemtulla
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 1:41 AM | Permalink

    That does sound lovely. But I am confused about one thing. Other sites reported the existence of this book with what seemed like authority quite a while ago.
    So then, what’s going on?

  35. Erzberger
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 4:54 AM | Permalink

    Oh my. Thanks, Pat! I’m looking forward to November

  36. Baashterd
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 5:31 AM | Permalink

    Thank you. ^^

  37. Maarten
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 6:07 AM | Permalink

    Okay…. That’s like…. the coolest thing…. this month. Is it november already?

  38. Holmelund
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 8:21 AM | Permalink

    Pat.
    Has it ever occurred to you that we (your fans) love all your work because it dares to be different? :)

    If you wrote it and Vi liked it, i am sure the overwhelming majority of us will love it as well.

  39. christie
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 8:55 AM | Permalink

    Auri!

    Amazing cover.

  40. SporkTastic
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 9:58 AM | Permalink

    ::Fanboy Squee::

    Holy! Shit! I had to stop reading just so I could post this re: NEIL GAIMAN! (NEIL GAIMAN!) The two of you are probably my favourite authors and OMG YOU’RE BOTH APPEARING IN A THING! It is a thing I must have!

    ::ahem::

    We now return you to your regularly scheduled program, already in progress.

    • SporkTastic
      Posted April 26, 2014 at 10:03 AM | Permalink

      …and now that I’ve read all the words (well, not *all* the words, but all of the ones that are here), gotta say – this sounds fucking awesome. I’m one of the slightly askew who is also counted among your readership/fanbase, and…damn, man. You just gave me two new books to buy. (One can never have too many.)

    • SporkTastic
      Posted April 26, 2014 at 10:07 AM | Permalink

      And OMGOMGOMG the Marquis De Carabas is possibly one of my favourite characters! He’s the embodiment of at least one aspect of the Fae.

      • Dingyy
        Posted April 26, 2014 at 1:03 PM | Permalink

        CAN I JUST BECOME FRIENDS W YOU plz
        because I love your face and knife ears.!
        AND FANBOY/GIRLING IS JUST MY THING, SO…
        DAmi. I need to read more books.

  41. Thomas Witherspoon
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:20 AM | Permalink

    This is wonderful news!

  42. Brandon Nichols
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:22 AM | Permalink

    Stoked about this! Any chance of this receiving a Subterranean Press treatment?

  43. akemi
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:22 AM | Permalink

    Oh my god.

    Not only did you write about Auri, but a story for BAST? I think I might seriously cry just from the news.

    We met in Saint Paul and I gushed over the fact that I would eagerly devour *anything* you wrote. I didn’t even think about WHO you may be writing about.

    This is too good. <3

  44. quietone
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:58 AM | Permalink

    Auri! …and that title is a thing of beauty. I love it!

  45. Vantastic
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:59 AM | Permalink

    I almost woke the baby up with my excited squee about Rogues! You, Neil, and George are my very favourite authors. Ever.
    Also, HOLY FUCKING AWESOME!! I can’t wait to read The Slow Regard of Silent Things! This just made my fiance and I’s day. Thank you. Thank you so much.

    -Laurel

  46. unsleepable
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:03 PM | Permalink

    Should these be read before or after the third book?

    I plan to buy both as soon as they come out either way, but I like to plan my reading according to what most enriches the story. I don’t want to go into any story with too much or too little knowledge.

    • jimu00
      Posted April 28, 2014 at 6:50 PM | Permalink

      I don’t think he would release something that wasn’t supposed to be read before something else that hasn’t come out yet…

  47. aurus
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:04 PM | Permalink

    Can’t wait to get my hands on this story, Auri is one of my favorite Characters!! Thanks Path!

  48. ElimTain
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:05 PM | Permalink

    Thanks Pat this is the best birthday present I’ve got.

    • Dingyy
      Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:54 PM | Permalink

      I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY.!.?.I JUST //dies//
      I. love. Auri.
      Don’t want to sound like big hater or anything (rather leaning toward a zealot) but she’s the only girl you got right, Pat. She’s absolutely brilliant.

    • Dingyy
      Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:56 PM | Permalink

      Sorry, didn’t mean to reply to you. Happy birthday though, fellow netizen ♥ ;)

  49. Laila
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:07 PM | Permalink

    This sounds awesome! Very much looking forward to it *big excited grin*

  50. anchiel
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:11 PM | Permalink

    When I read the announcement on Facebook, I think my heart stuttered. Now I have goosebumps, so close to the threshold of jumping into her strange and wonderful world… I can’t wait to see your name on the shelves again. I can’t wait to read it.

  51. drgnlvr
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:19 PM | Permalink

    Okay, I know this will earn me damnation by many, many fans, but… I’m not particularly fond of Gaiman’s writing. ::blush:: ::sadface:: I know. I’m awful. Abercrombie, however –and ::SQUEE:: there’s the “Rothfuss” nearly touching the “Abercrombie”– and Willis, and Lynch, OH MY!

    This is me, setting aside monies, already…

  52. Nicky
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:21 PM | Permalink

    Love this, love you, thank you x

  53. King4
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:28 PM | Permalink

    When is the rest of the book series comming out?

  54. asdrubael
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:30 PM | Permalink

    This are really awesome news, I am so looking forward to the book! Especially because I don’t like short story collections…

  55. Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:32 PM | Permalink

    Anyone expecting a story about Auri to follow the rules of what we *think* stories should be, really doesn’t get it.

    I can’t wait to get my paws on these new projects, congrats!!

  56. richard8rown
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:37 PM | Permalink

    I can’t wait – she is one of my fav characters. I have read both books twice now and eagerly await your third :o)

  57. reki76
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:39 PM | Permalink

    That piece of news just saved my day. Thank you.

  58. Trowby
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 12:53 PM | Permalink

    I love Auri. Can’t wait to read the book!

  59. FightFromTheBlack
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 1:16 PM | Permalink

    Pat, are you seriously reading my thoughts from miles away? When I read about Auri in the books, I often found myself with Kvothe, waiting for her to appear. I always had a feeling that Auri was one of those characters that would play a bigger role in the story you are reading when it all comes to fruition, but I wasn’t sure at the same time. I always thought that it was a character that could be well fleshed out in her own novel, and now I see that it is coming true. I look forward to reading this and anything else you put out. Want to write a story about the guy writing the story about Kvothe? Yeah I will read that to. It’s what I do…

  60. michael.h.tritter
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 1:27 PM | Permalink

    Love Auri with a strong and weird love and will definitely buy this. But I might not read it. It might just sit on my shelf looking beautiful with a straight spine.

    There is a reason for this, beyond that my bookcase would be nicely prettified by the addition of SRoST. I love the mystery of Auri, and I always hoped and anticipated that her story comes out in Doors of Stone. I can’t imagine that 30k dedicated to Auri might not shed some light on her, but I can’t decide if I want to uncover the truth of Auri in this book, or in DoS.

    Patrick, are there any, well, *spoilers* of a sort about Auri in SRoST? Is it stand-alone? Could someone *not* read it and still know everything they need to make the KK trilogy end in a neatly tied bundle?

    I know you must have given this some thought – can you speak a little about how DoS and SRoST work together, where they overlap and where they don’t?

  61. Dalar
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 3:10 PM | Permalink

    Logged in for the first time in along time to put this down, but Pat you could write the menu for a restaurant and I would pay good money to read it. Please continue writing whatever your heart desires and know that fans like me will be patiently waiting to read it.

    Count me in on pre-ordering both Rogues and the SRoST as soon as they are available!

  62. _Aes_Sedai_
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 3:14 PM | Permalink

    Oh to live your life. “I was just hanging out with Vi Hart, because you know, I do that”

  63. Knightrous
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 4:48 PM | Permalink

    Oooh, now this is a tough one. I’m guessing, when you’re talking about how this story doesn’t have the things people would normally expect, that, at least in part, you’re referring to “answers”.

    Auri is an intriguingly mysterious character; most people would think that, if they sat down and decided to write a story specifically about her, it would reveal everything, or the important things, about how she came to be who she is and how her situation arose. The way you’re describing the various conversations, I’m taking it that whilst we may get a few answers, inadvertently, we are getting a whole load more questions being raised.

    Whilst I would welcome the former assumption, and would gladly read it, I think it’s safe to say that you’re one of the few authors who could take it the other way entirely and make it a better outcome.

    • Knightrous
      Posted April 26, 2014 at 4:50 PM | Permalink

      Oh heck, I knew I wanted to ask something:

      Should I be looking on Amazon UK at the same time, or is this going to be a US release first?

      • thistlepong
        Posted April 27, 2014 at 12:22 AM | Permalink

        Gollancz acquired UK and Commonwealth rights for a November release well, so you’re all set.

        • Knightrous
          Posted April 27, 2014 at 5:57 PM | Permalink

          Thanks for the heads up on that, now to go see if Amazon UK have it listed yet! :)

  64. ACDragonMaster
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 4:56 PM | Permalink

    I registered an account just so that I could comment with this, but!

    I just wanted to say, Pat, that I showed your paraphrased quote about writing stories for those “other” people to a friend of mine (who I’ll call K) who’s an aspiring author, but recently has had another similarly situation friend level a lot of criticisms at some of K’s writing for being, well, basically not what they expected a story to be like.

    Needless to say, K was very encouraged by it, especially the idea that yes, yes it IS okay and even possible to succeed at writing the things that YOU want to write, not just what everyone else thinks you ought to write.

  65. Rawrkanos
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 5:28 PM | Permalink

    Dear Patrick Rothfuss,

    You’ve actually mentioned both Rogues with Bast, and Auri’s story as well. Sometime in the recent past you did a Reddit AMA wherein these things were things that were mentioned. I found out about it here: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/01/patrick-rothfuss-ama

    And the moment I found out about it, I was consumed with that nameless desire and eternal wait for these books to come out, because I am a person like Vi Hart and I don’t need “certain elements” to enjoy a book.

  66. tigerptt
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:06 PM | Permalink

    yesyesyesyesyesyessyesyesyesyesyesyesyes gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  67. kccub1206
    Posted April 26, 2014 at 11:19 PM | Permalink

    Any excuse to escape into the wonderful world you have created is magnificent news! Expanding on Auri’s story is just an extra topping. I just finished my third listen through the books a couple of weeks ago. I cannot wait for this book and the anthology to learn more about Bast. Keep up the great work!!!

    B

  68. Pettorres
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 1:09 AM | Permalink

    ……………………………………………………………………….
    ……………………………………………………………………….
    ……………………………………………………………………….
    WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Well, just the traditional. “No words can explain what I`m felling here now!”

    It`s not because I`m not able to explain it….
    It`s like when Elodin tried to teach Kvothe naming and the brat argued saying: “Just, because you can`t explain something does not mean it is not explainable.” (sort of it. =P) There are things unexplainable! And this thing, this moment is one of this things!
    Explain what I`m felling know is like say how I love my girlfriend!
    It`s like explain the felling when I listen a perfect song. (There are perfect songs!)

    So… In moments like this I will say what I usually say: “I Love You!”
    I love you Pat! And one day I will say it personally! (Come to Brazil man!)
    I loved the news!
    I love Auri!
    I love Ivi! And I love Betsy! And, despite the fact I never met you both, I do love you as well now!

    Thank you sir! Thank you ever person who is party of this! =D

  69. TreeBean
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 4:24 AM | Permalink

    Auri was one of my favorite charters!!!! When I heard this was going to be about her, I jumped for joy!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Patrick for what I hope will be another GREAT book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  70. Caz0
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 5:17 AM | Permalink

    Alas, my kids put me onto your books without warning me of your writing habits.

  71. raspoutine
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 7:50 AM | Permalink

    Me : Skweeeeeeeeeeee!! A new book by Patrick Rothfuss
    Wife : Who?
    Me : My favorite author, come on! I talk all the time about him!
    Wife : Isn’t he the one who writes pictures?
    Me : Huh?
    Wife : well you know, he’s..picturesque…

  72. Bianca
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 8:47 AM | Permalink

    I woke up this morning, jet lagged. I had to be brutally dragged out of bed. The only thoughts on my mind were my deadlines. The day was cursed from the start. Until I read this.

    Now I can’t stop squirming.

  73. TalYadin
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 11:39 AM | Permalink

    Well, it seems I have two more books to read. I’m serious Pat, at this rate I’ll have no money left.
    Just kidding ;P I’ll read everything that you write be it a child story or a poem or a ten thousend pages long book telling about a singing squirl.
    Your writing is just wonderfull and I’m proud to be a part of your fanbase :D

  74. apveay
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 11:41 AM | Permalink

    AKSJDFHASKDFADFKJ YEEEAAAHHH, I’M SO EXCITED, IT’S LIKE A SUPER-LATE-BIRTHDAY-PRESENT FOR ME (April 12th), OR EARLY-CHRISTMAS-PRESENT!!

  75. John Cross
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 1:56 PM | Permalink

    God, when its traduced to Spanish?, i cannot wait!

  76. szilagyigab
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 2:27 PM | Permalink

    I think you should seriously consider taking up training so that you could live for a a very, very long time writing books for us! This post was like was my Easter surprise for me.

  77. Robert N
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 4:36 PM | Permalink

    The world needs more odd stories.

    It keeps the magic alive.

  78. SMantzoros
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 6:16 PM | Permalink

    SO HAPPY.

    This is the definition of “Trust the system”

    Let pat do his thing and be happy and while you wait for the third book THERE’S A SURPRISE MINI BOOK. *Immasculine squeals*

  79. GodForsaken
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 7:58 PM | Permalink

    Amazon recommended this book to me about two weeks ago. Initially I was angry and disappointed at the announcement of a NoTW Novella. I was hungry, nay, desperate for the third piece of the puzzle that is Kvothe-Kote. But I’ve gotten over that, and now I am mostly intrigued.

    The description/birthing of this story reminds me of the night in The Eolian when Kvothe plays a trick on the untrained guests in the room. His fellow musicians appreciated it to the fullest, but some were angered by it. I look forward to it and hope to discover that I am the type of person who thoroughly enjoys it.

  80. Evilbeckums
    Posted April 27, 2014 at 9:25 PM | Permalink

    Why in the world would you expect that a story about Auri would be anything but strange? Also I can commiserate with having a story (or rather entire working universes) trapped in your brain, and the need to get it out before it drives you crazy(er). Fortunately for you, writing is a thing you can do. Like, really well.

  81. Ellexyr
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 2:35 AM | Permalink

    Wo, I am so exited!!!, really I scream of happiness, I cant wait, you are my favorite author, you are amazing, I love yor books, sincerely I am very happy to read this, greetings from Mexico!, again you are great!!!

  82. elennonf
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 6:07 AM | Permalink

    Wow!
    So in all I’m getting a Bast short story, an Auri strange size story and, a couple of other stuff by Martin and Neilman! This are great news!
    .
    Greetings from Brazil!

  83. grinch
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 8:48 AM | Permalink

    I like Auri. I really do. So all of your Auri lovers out there don’t go all postal on me here.

    What I REALLY want is a story/backstory about Devi. Don’t you? Someday, Pat. When you get your bigger obligations met. We need to hear Devi’s tale.

    • Holmelund
      Posted April 28, 2014 at 3:02 PM | Permalink

      I am not sure I could bear the real story about Devi. The one I imagine from the small hints that is dropped over the books already make me cry.

    • Robert N
      Posted April 28, 2014 at 4:44 PM | Permalink

      From my perspective Auri stands for the beauty, mystery and weirdness of magic in the world that Pat has created.

      Devi is the opposite of that coin.

      She shows the brutal and merciless side of the magic and the world.

      I can’t help but wonder how someone with the background and occupation of Devi ends up living more in the light of day than Auri who seems mostly confined to the darkness of night and the Underthing.

      I’m sure this book will answer some of those questions but personally I would love to see Pat write a more darker tale. You know the type of book that puts you on the edge of your seat for the entire ride and you can’t put down until its done leaving you wide awake even though you haven’t slept in the last 24 hours :)

      And maybe a fast pace story would be perfect short story practice for you Pat :)

      Anyway I’m getting ahead of myself, can’t wait for the book and for the love of all that is magical please keep writing odd stuff we love it <3.

    • pdxtrent
      Posted April 29, 2014 at 8:39 PM | Permalink

      I agree with both of these, a Devi story would be fantastic!

  84. StirlitzA
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 9:11 AM | Permalink

    It’s so great! I really like Auri. She is one of my favourite characters. But I don’t speak English very well :( So I think I won’t be able to read it.
    Is there anyone who knows when it will be translated in hungarian? (or into? I don’t know how to say it)

  85. Ojodelgato
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 9:30 AM | Permalink

    2014 – the year my Rothfussian library grows by 2 volumes.

    Thanks Patrick, I’ll look for them.

  86. ursus405
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 10:44 AM | Permalink

    Love Auri, and look forward to reading her story…already pre-ordered on Amazon!

  87. Friar_Tuk
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 11:50 AM | Permalink

    Pat,

    “Who’s your favorite author?” is one of those annoying questions people ask in that vague, “getting to know you by finding out what brand of pop culture you like” phase of a relationship.

    I am an avid reader, so picking a “favorite” author is like picking a “favorite” food. It depends; sometimes I want nothing more than a pepperoni pizza, but who can say no to filet mignon (excluding vegetarians of course)?

    When asked this questions I alternate between saying “Patrick Rothfuss” (because your books are awesome and you’re a Wisconsin writer) and “Neal Stephenson” (because his books are so extra nerdy!). I have read and reread everything you both have written and I go into full fanboi convulsions every time either of you release a new novel.

    However, you now win. How do I know you win? The fact that you released a surprise novella about Auri made me cry. In the middle of work. At my desk. I had to go sit in the bathroom. Seriously.

    So: thank you. Please continue your good works, both fictional and practical. Thank you.

    Andrew H. Bleecker

  88. Posted April 28, 2014 at 11:56 AM | Permalink

    Looking forward to it Pat! Although I must admit, I’m a bit more stoked for the Bast story. Don’t get me wrong, I like Auri, but Bast has been a favorite of mine for a while…pretty much since he said he’d string Chronicler’s guts into a fiddle. That was just metal.

    Although I did enjoy how the description of the Auri book says, “Auri, a former student….”

    DUN DUN DUN….one theory answered already. :)

    Also, quite like the cover, it fits well with my other editions I think.

  89. 5ofusirelands
    Posted April 28, 2014 at 5:18 PM | Permalink

    We are beyond delighted! Thank you!

  90. firebird
    Posted April 29, 2014 at 12:14 PM | Permalink
  91. 7OuterElements
    Posted April 29, 2014 at 3:47 PM | Permalink

    I want desperately to read all of these things. I want to read them alone on my bed, all in one sitting, with my phone on silent and all the clocks turned off. And I want to read them slowly, with voices, to my girlfriend on long car rides.

    She will undoubtedly have read them already too, but that’s not really the point. The point is, I do a lot of voices, and we like my voices for your characters the best.

  92. Brady Dill
    Posted April 29, 2014 at 5:10 PM | Permalink

    I am set atwitter with ecstasy and the fiery passion of a first lover here–yet I must say that my mood is significantly flaccidified by the cover’s inability to be embiggened.

  93. ainm an ghaoth
    Posted April 29, 2014 at 6:45 PM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,
    Ok its not that I’m against a story about either Auri or Bast but anything that distracts you from the main story is bad. Yup think Misery, and I’m the nice guy in this when my girlfriend finds out shes gonna let rip a few choice expletives about you and your sluggardly ways.
    In all honesty don’t really care as long as they even approach the level of your previous tales, but at the same time I’m not condoning any more blatant misuse of your time!

    • Brady Dill
      Posted April 29, 2014 at 7:50 PM | Permalink

      Exactly. Pat should be chained to the desk in my basement and forced to write what he owes us as quickly as possible! Any joy that he might experience is a blatant misuse of his time, whether it’s creating art or fundraising millions for starving youngsters. The *#&@*W arsewad…

      http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/05/entitlement-issues.html

      • pdxtrent
        Posted April 29, 2014 at 8:43 PM | Permalink

        You’re my favorite person on the Internet today. Thanks for saying this:-)

  94. lozlo
    Posted April 29, 2014 at 10:12 PM | Permalink

    You can’t please everyone. Some days I wonder if you can please anyone, lol. I think it’s good to think of your fans when you write a book, but the most important thing is being happy with what you wrote. There will always be people who like it and dislike it no matter what. Saying “I wrote it like that for the fans” will probably leave a bad taste in your mouth though. Among other things. You should always write the story you “believe in” or “feel is right” for you. It’s your story afterall. In a way it’s like a resume, or a glimpse at you. I think I’m going to stop rambling now.

    With that said, I’ll definitely have to take a look at this book when it’s out since a story about Auri has potential to be quite amusing.

  95. Tinker
    Posted April 30, 2014 at 7:55 AM | Permalink

    I don’t think it is possible for me to be any more excited than I am for this news!

  96. Wundawuzi
    Posted April 30, 2014 at 10:49 AM | Permalink

    Is the Book gonna get translated to german? I hope so because I really like your Books but I tried reading books in another language but my native and it just isn’t the same.

    • Bilbo
      Posted May 1, 2014 at 2:50 AM | Permalink

      es wird mit sicherheit übersetzet, könnte bloß eine weile dauern…

  97. B
    Posted April 30, 2014 at 9:44 PM | Permalink

    Pat – Hello;

    You are an amazing writer, if you wrote a textbook on the grammatic rules of the English language and how proper writers should learn to break them… it would be a must read for me as well as a good portion of your fans. That would also definitely be a book for a limited audience, but still it would find an audience of fans happy to read it.

    Again, I can’t speak for everyone – but I imagine many of the blog-hits you see are people looking for D3 news, but I find myself (and again, I’m sure many of your other fans as well) reading every word of every post because even your blogs are masterfully written, witty, entertaining, at times funny, dramatic, tragic, sad, or all of these things in one fell swoop of your vorpal keyboard…..

    I for one am grateful. I think your contribution to Unfettered was brilliant, I can’t wait to read a short Bast story, and I have a feeling that the Stauri of Auri I will want to read over and again….

    I guess what i’m getting at is this.

    First, you are a great writer, and there is a shortage of great writing in this world, whatever you are compelled to create, many of your current fans will like, and any fans that are dissappointed will likely be heavily outnumbered by new fans discovering something that resonates with a new audience….. think of all the unique/bizarre choices your buddy Gaiman has made in his work – and you were 110% on-board wherever he decided he was going.

    Which brings me to my second thought – you have earned a huge amount of, let’s call it ‘fan equity’ – your name means something, and i’m grateful that you want to protect your brand, you want to satisfy your fans, you don’t want to put your name on something that most of your fans have no interest in whatsoever (Casual Vacancy? :P ) But as I said, I’m on-board, I’m HIGHLY curious to learn a great deal more about Auri – and to read a smaller story in your magical world, maybe a story that doesn’t involve Gods and Demons and the end of the world as we know it…. and again, speaking out of turn here – but I can only imagine all the ‘different’ folks who found comfort and peace in some of the things you publicly geek out on (Buffy and the Whedon multi-verses for example) – I am confident many will find not just a few hours of entertainment in your work, but so much more.

    Thank you for taking the time to make the best ending you can to one of the greatest things i’ve ever read. Thank you for your blog, and your picture books, and your short-stories, to tide us over and keep us Rothfussian-Dennerlings from going into withdrawal convulsions…. The world is a better place because your stories are in it.

    Sincerely – B

  98. quadrox
    Posted May 2, 2014 at 11:45 AM | Permalink

    Any chance to get signed copies, like they were made available for your previous books?

    The book sounds really cool and would love to add it to my collection – but it just would be even better if I could get a signed copy!

  99. Fawnslayer
    Posted May 2, 2014 at 9:15 PM | Permalink

    Excellent News. I was getting a bit annoyed that book 3 was taking so long to come out without even a publication date . Like in a restaurant, however, if the hors d’oeuvres are tasty, the meal can wait a bit.

    Looking forward to the Auri book.

  100. Posted May 3, 2014 at 4:05 AM | Permalink

    Vi Hart is my fortheday hero.

Post a Reply to ali rahemtulla Cancel reply

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • RSS info

  • Visit Worldbuilders!

  • Our Store

  • Previous Posts

  • Archives



  • Bookmark this Blog!

    (IE and Firefox users only - Safari users, click Command-D)