Last week I completed the first set of revisions on Eversion, and the novel (now around 85,000 words) has now gone back to my editor. If all goes smoothly, there will be one more round of edits then the book will go into production for 2022. A few weeks before that, I also finished a novelette which I've submitted to the marketplace.
Unavoidable production delays have pushed back the Belladonna Nights collection a little, but it should be with us soon. It's a difficult time in publishing with supply chain and distribution issues, as has been widely reported.
In the meantime, I'm working on two things: a new novella, and also the next novel, which all parties have now agreed will be the third "Prefect Dreyfus" book. This one, if all goes well, will be out in 2023 (not 2024 as I originally wrote). And, for those that are interested, this is the one that will resolve the Clockmaker thread from the previous two novels. I don't yet have a title.
I just finished Inhibitor Phase yesterday and panicked because I thought that it could be the end of the Revelation Space universe. I am glad to see the post and see that I was wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think there will be more, as and when I feel like it I can't envisage a point where I'd ever say I was totally done with it.
DeleteSo excited to read some more Prefect, this is fantastic news. I'm still patiently awaiting my Belladonna Nights preorder. Quick question; when does Plague Music take place? Any way to reveal the year it takes in, as i'm currently planning a re-read of the RS series in chronological order and wondering where does that novella fit.
ReplyDeleteAnd as quick aside; I just re-read Pushing Ice and i'm thinking that there's potential here for an insane sequel following the splintered groups. It gets my imagination firing on all cylinders... I hope it's in the cards for the future!
Many thanks. Plague Music is set in the immediate aftermath of the Meldimg Plague, so a year or two after 2510. It's basically about a clean-up crew moving through the ruins of the city.
DeleteI've had ideas about a return to the PI universe but I think that ship has probably sailed in terms of the likelihood of such a book. I think it would be a hard sell for sales and marketing departments.
Please share those ideas!!!!
DeleteI'm sad to hear that Belladonna Nights is delayed, but even though I've heard nothing at all from the publisher, I was kind of expecting it.
ReplyDeleteBut, how can I remain calm when you announce there's a Dreyfus book in the making! This one will resolve the Clockmaker thread as well!? Arrgh! I will have to wait until 2024 for that one (excluding paper shortages and other likely shortages...), that's almost unbearable. So, excellent news! :)
It's not necessarily a big delay, it was more a case of November rather than October, I think, for all I know it could be imminent
DeleteI'm sorry about the timelines for these books. However, I should have said 2023 for the Dreyfus book - I don't know what I was thinking - so there you go, already one year closer!
One year closer, yeah that sounds even better!
DeleteI just finished Inhibitor Phase and loved it. I am very happy to see that your next novel is already completed and other goodies are also on the horizon. I am eagerly waiting for my signed copy of the Belladonna Nights collection; Subterranean Press puts out some lovely books.
ReplyDeleteExcellent news! I'm close to finishing Inhibitor Phase and have thoroughly enjoyed it so far. I was curious if anyone had approached you about making a TV series out of the RS novels. I've really enjoyed the Expanse series on Prime and definitely feel like the Revelation Space universe would be even more compelling!
ReplyDeleteThere's been interest from various parties but you have to get an awful lot of ducks lined up in a row for it to happen. I guess if things like Dune, Foundation etc are successful then that may make it about one percent more likely.
DeleteThe short story adaptations for "Love, Death & Robots" were a real joy for me, and they felt like the first, tentative steps in making some some of your work into longer-form film projects.
DeleteI agree that Revelation Space would fit in with a lot of the SF being made today, particularly The Expanse. The times have finally caught up to where you were 20 years ago! ;)
Hi Al, is Belladonna Nights only available in physical hardback or kindle too? Will there be a paperback version (I have all your books in paperback so the OCD in me is panicking!). I love the House of Suns "universe" so will look forward to reading that particular story.
ReplyDeleteJust hardback and kindle for now. It's not the only such book to have only had a hardback issue, though, so your OCD must have tripped before!
DeleteHello! Belladonna Nights Kindle still not available, not for me at least (in Poland). Can't wait!
DeleteDoes "submitted to the marketplace" mean that the feelers are out for someone to publish the novelette or something else?
ReplyDeleteLast time you mentioned Eversion, you said:
"It's a standalone, unrelated to anything else I've done. It's basically a novel about first contact with a "big dumb (or not so dumb) object" but it's a fair bit weirder than that summary might make you think, with (I hope) an unusual approach to both theme and narrative viewpoint. "
Care to spill any more details - when it's set for example?
Hi Orin, it's just the standard thing of sending a story out into the world via the usual channels. As for Eversion, the less I say about it the better, but all of the above still holds true.
DeleteHi Al,
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled that you're working on the next Dreyfus novel! The Prefect was my introduction to the Revelation Space universe. Big fan of your by the book investigator and his colleagues. Really excited for this and all your work.
Hello Alastair! Just wanted to know if belladonna nights will be available on audiobook anytime soon? Huge fan from little Minnesota! Keep up the good work! Thanks
ReplyDeleteHello. There are no plans for an audiobook a present.
DeleteI very much enjoyed visiting Minnesota back in 2007-2008 ish. I took the Empire Builder from Chicago to the Twin Cities.
I am reading "Inhibitor Phase" and I love it. Not sure if I will ever eat Pork again though. Loving Scorp and his friends.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteso excited that there will be another dreyfus novel, i literally read them in massive chunks enthralled at the narrative and your writing. fantastic news.
ReplyDeleteI've read pretty much everything by you I could get my hands on.Certainly all the novels and novellas. I'm so inspired by your writing and storytelling. One day perhaps my own will be finished! You , Iain Banks, and Harry Harrison make up the bulk of my permanent hard copy library...Whilst waiting for the new Dreyfuss I'm re-reading Terminal World. It's a shame you've no plans to revisit that storyline/world as it is so intriguing and sooo many questions are left unanswered. I get the feeling you did hat very deliberately.....I once met Harry Harrison and was surprised to learn that the film adaptation of "Make Room Make Room" so incensed him the he refused any future film rights to his novels. Would you ever consider allowing your stories to go on in Silver screen?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your writing. As for screen adaptations, one first has to have interest from the relevant parties before one has the luxury of allowing or disallowing an adaptation. Even when there is some interest, most of these things fizzle out before any real discussions happen.
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