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I found out only this afternoon that the omnibus edition of THE DEED OF PAKSENARRION is out of stock, and being retired (after 25 very successful years in print!!) so that the debut of the 30th anniversary of edition of Sheepfarmer’s Daughter (to be followed at intervals by Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold) can step onto the stage without the venerable edition sniping any sales. It’s unfortunate (in my eyes) that the stock ran out right before the holidays, when (as all authors hope) Christmas stockings are filled with our books (OK, my books are what I’m hoping people get as gifts…<G>) There are still a few copies at Amazon, and may be a few at some stores. If you hurry. But it’s not going to be reprinted. At least, not until the 30th anniversary books have had their run. I may have a box or two in the storage unit, and will look, but it’s not going to be hundreds of books. Right now, with Thanksgiving coming on, I don’t have time to look for them.
So what will be coming in the 30th Anniversary editions? Well, for one thing I wrote an essay for each book, which you’ll have to read to find out what it says. Trade paperback size, new covers, all that. And the omnibus is still available as an e-book, just not as an in-the-hand monster. Guess I should get busy and see if I can finish the BIG map and get it ready to print out as a poster. Someone might want to buy one, maybe? (The irony would be if, after I finished that map, painted it, and printed it up all prettified…I found the long-lost original map and they didn’t look anything at all alike. But as in real life, what one map-maker maketh, another map-maker re-maketh, only…differently.
Comment by Tim K. — November 18, 2017 @ 12:47 am
I’d love to have a big map of Pak’s World. The one in my head from descriptions is very different than your own, heh.
I gave away my print copies as separate books for the omnibus but would be happy to pick up a new three-book set. I love the series, I’ve reread it almost every year since a friend shared it with me in high school. (I’m 45 now.)
I’ve tried to share it with a lot of others, some love it, some didn’t.
Thank you, as a fan, for all your work over the years with books. I’m still surprised it’s not gotten a TV deal or movie deal with all the other fantasy (of lesser quality) getting attention in those other media.
I’m not sure I care for the changes to the world in later books, or rather the differences in how some things are described, by I honestly enjoy those, although I’m quite sad of those works at different points. I won’t spoil them for anyone.
Comment by Anne — November 18, 2017 @ 9:35 am
I have bought several of the Paksworld books (and your other books) two or three times over, so I’ll probably buy at least one anniversary version as well. And when the map comes out I’ll ask for it for my birthday! I often have spirited conversations with my eldest over casting a Netflix series based on the Paks books; given recent interest in female lead characters who step outside of the mold, isn’t it time?
Comment by Richard SImpkin — November 18, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
Is Orbit’s UK omnibus edition unaffected?
Tim, the minor discrepancies between the Deed and the Legacy serve only to give me a sense of connection to a live story teller. The big loss, to my mind, is the rich embroidery of the earlier work not carrying forward to the later. I guess that’s due to a lot of story having to be told in a limited quota of words, itself due to changing readership fashion (as publishers see it, rightly or wrongly).
I’ve just returned home from the funeral service for the Paks in my own life: – Pam, a remarkable lady, favourite aunt and so much more. “I wish all children could have a Pam”, as my sister put it; every church too, and every school staffroom.
Comment by Adam Baker — November 18, 2017 @ 8:48 pm
Great news on the anniversary editions, I will definitely have to look for them when they come out. I’ve read the covers off all 3 original books at least twice, and typically read them at least once a year, if not twice, so they are very well read, and about ready for replacement, again.
Comment by Mike C — November 18, 2017 @ 9:11 pm
I’m *very* interested in this map you’ve mentioned. Would love to have it as a poster (or file with permission to print) as a companion for when I next re-read the books.
Comment by Wickersham's Conscience — November 18, 2017 @ 11:05 pm
Sure, I’d buy a large map. I’ll probably spring for the 30th anniversary editions, too. My omnibus edition is pretty beat up.
But I want to renew my request for a “Paksworld Companion,” with maps, all of the background information on the website, a glossary of people and place names and terms, and summaries of the legendary characters, as you’ve done for Falk.
Comment by David S. Temple — November 19, 2017 @ 12:47 am
I still have at least two copies of the omnibus (I tend to give them away to friends.) I may need to buy a “pristine” copy just for backup purposes. I also have the “e” versions and am looking forward to the new anniversary singletons (when/where can we pre-order them?)
Also – I’d love to get a poster size copy of the map
Comment by Linda — November 19, 2017 @ 4:48 pm
Great, I came late to Paks World, so all I have is an omnibus and I have read it to pieces, to the extent that it is held together with rubber bands. I prefer to have both e-books and hard copy (hardbacks if possible) of the books I know I will read annually, or binge read if the heat and humidity are so high that nothing else is really possible.
Reading all of the Legacy books one after another was a great experience to make up for my vacation in a seaside cottage being marked with a period of “monsoon” rains.
I too long for the map! I have a fantasy of a personal library where I can change the wall paper as I read to show the relevant maps. Sadly I prefer traditional comfy furnishings, and projected computer images just don’t fit my idea of the perfect reading nook.
In any case this is very good news.
Comment by Daniel Glover — November 19, 2017 @ 6:20 pm
Yes, I’d be interested in the map.
OK, have to go see if I can find an odd copy of the omni. Definitely interested in the 30th. Though the only one that hasn’t held up well in 30 years of rereads is Luaps–which I haven’t read nearly as much as the others.
Comment by Daniel Glover — November 19, 2017 @ 6:57 pm
Amazon has a few left but say “more on the way”–doubtful from what you’ve posted. Also, the resellers have raised the prices on the “new” hardcovers.
Comment by Mike G. — November 20, 2017 @ 12:13 pm
I’d be very interested in an e-map – I don’t have wall space (or storage space) for a poster, but I’m willing to pay for a decent resolution electronic version.
Comment by Leo — November 28, 2017 @ 4:15 pm
I would love to get a copy of that map as well. (Both a LARGE hard copy, and an e-copy that we can download for the computer)
For the separate printings of the original books, is Divided Allegiance going to have the original opening, or skip it to the omnibus version?
Is it only the original trilogy going to be reprinted in new fashion – or are they going to go and do the 2 prequels and the 5 book series as well?
Comment by Sharidann — November 30, 2017 @ 5:03 am
Silly question:
will there be a Hardcover of the 3 volumes of the deed or only paperbacks?
Map, would be awesome (perhaps within a HC and folded in 4 or something).
@LEO: prequel, you mean Surrender None and Liar’s Oath?
Comment by David S. Temple — December 1, 2017 @ 3:00 pm
Just a (personal) update – I ordered an omnibus edition of Deed from Amazon UK and it arrived less than a week later. Currently it’s sitting next to my UK version of the omnibus Lord of the Rings (Alan & Unwin pub) which has variations and errors according to Tolkien himself – more & different than I’d noticed in my other copies of LOTR).
(I may end up doing a comparison of the Brit & American versions of Deed, but it will need to wait for a while.)
Comment by Fred — December 2, 2017 @ 7:27 pm
Day-dreaming…
EMoon has gotten map-making lessons from gnomes…
And a publisher can actually print a gnome-style map…
EMoon has gotten a visit from a Kuakgan, with the refreshment of a spring-forest breath…
EMoon has gotten a contract for more Paks books…
Comment by Richard SImpkin — December 3, 2017 @ 5:26 am
“a contract for more Paks books” …
… with no word-count quotas or limits, and no deadlines.
Comment by Sharidann — December 14, 2017 @ 7:51 am
Great would be a leatherbound edition.
Baen already die quite a few of those already.
Comment by Shannara — January 4, 2018 @ 4:52 pm
I was first introduced to you through your contribution to Elfquest (I believe the Blood of Ten Chiefs novel series). I looked up all of the author names and started following their books.
My first book if yours was the omnibus. I still have it to this day. Good ol monster book. Now I need to find a signed copy… and see if a hardback signed copy exists..