The Wise Man's Deadline

Well, here it is: the news everyone and their mother's been waiting for. Book two of The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss, has been slated - definitively, this time - for publication in March 2011.

Here's an excerpt from the latest post on Pat's blog:

"My editor asked me if I could have the book done by September.

"I thought about it. I thought about her 27 points and my ever-changing 50-60 points. I thought about who I can still use as beta readers, and how many drafts I’ll be able go through in four months. I thought about how many times I will personally be able to read the book in four months.

"I said I was sure I could finish it by September.

"She asked me if I was sure. Really sure.

"I thought about it. Back in 2007, I was sure I’d have the book done by 2008. But I was hugely ignorant and optimistic back then. So I was dead fucking wrong. That caused a lot of grief.

"I told her I was really sure I could have it finished by September."

September, then, is the delivery date - we have it from the horse's very mouth - and given the huge importance, not to mention the sheer size of The Wise Man's Fear, it'll take approximately six months to ready the manuscript for release. So March. Next year.

And you know what? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm absolutely fine with that. I loved The Name of the Wind as much, I should think, as any other Rothfuss reader - though it did have its downsides (don't shoot me). And while I'd certainly like to be reading the next chapter sooner, simply to have in plain sight an end to the delays which have plagued The Wise Man's Fear is a huge relief.

Rothfuss, on the other hand, seems to expect an outburst of great electronic vengeance and furious internet angst at what he thinks will be percieved as another delay - and the comments being closed on his blog post is an almighty testament to that. He writes:

"Honestly, it would be way easier for me to sit on this information for a while. I could wait until the date was a little closer, thereby avoid some of the great wailing and gnashing of teeth I expect will follow this announcement. That shit brings me no joy. It damages my calm and makes it harder for me to write."

Me? I think stepping up to the plate and saying, so far in advance, that the final draft will by done in September and published in March is a ballsy move. He's certainly putting himself out there in the event he doesn't make his deadline. For that, I say the man should be applauded.

Roll on The Wise Man's Fear, eh?