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DYING EARTH ANTHOLOGY NEARS COMPLETIONAugust 15, 2008
SONGS OF THE DYING EARTH, the Jack Vance tribute anthology that I’m co-editing with Gardner Dozois, has been moving ahead rapidly, and we expect to deliver the complete manuscript to our publishers within the next six weeks.
The anthology will feature brand new stories from twenty-one of today’s leading fantasists, set against the sinking lands and swollen red sun of Vance’s Dying Earth, a universe that ranks with Tolkien’s Middle Earth and Howard’s Hyborian Age among fantasy aficionados. Jack Vance and his representatives have been so kind as to give us permission to use Jack’s characters as well, so fans can expect appearances from Chun the Unavoidable, Guyal of Sfere, T’sais, and other favorites… and yes, of course, Cugel the Clever will be on hand as well. It would hardly be the Dying Earth without him.
Eighteen stories have already delivered and accepted from our all-star lineup of writers, Jack Vance fanatics all. The current lineup includes:
There are still three more stories due, including contributions from Howard Waldrop and Neil Gaiman. We’re expecting those soon. Jack Vance himself has written a preface for the anthology, and the book will also feature an appreciation from Dean Koontz, bestselling writer and lifelong Vance fan.
Tor will be publishing the trade editions in the United States, and HarperCollins Voyager in the United Kingdom. Subterranean Press will produce three special editions for the collector’s market—a deluxe illustrated hardcover of 1500 copies, and an even-more-deluxe signed, numbered, limited, illustrated, slipcased edition of 500 copies. The numbered edition will be signed by both editors, all the participating writers, and Jack Vance himself.
The Subterranean editions will also include extensive interior illustration by the award-winning artist Tom Kidd. Here are a couple of the pieces he’s already completed, to give you a taste, along with his spectacular cover painting. Subterranean’s lettered edition is already sold out, alas, but copies of the numbered edition and their trade can be pre-ordered from Subterranean Press.
If you have never visited the Dying Earth before, you don’t know fantasy. Vance is one of the greats, and it is our hope that SONGS will prove a fitting tribute to his genius.
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