We, the Undersigned : Shadows of the Apt

We, the Undersigned

It's that time of year again (1). Blood of the Mantis, Shadows of the Apt book 3, is being let out of its cage on the 7^th of August, and, cometh the book, cometh the signings.

We're keeping with our track record (2) of adding an additional venue for each book, and some of the details are still up in the air, and will be filled in as soon as I have them, but…

Friday 7^th August — 12pm-1pm (probably) — Forbidden Planet, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

Saturday 15^th August — 3pm-5pm, Waterstones Bookshop, United Reform Church, 89a Broad Street, Reading

Saturday 22^nd August — 1pm-2pm (probably), Travelling Man, 332 Central Road, Leeds LS1 6DE

Saturday 29^th August — time to be confirmed, Garforth Bookshop, 15 Main Street, Garforth LS25 1DS

So, come one, come all, bring friends, enemies and complete strangers. I will be signing (3) anything put in front of me except legally binding documents.

(1) Strictly speaking it's that time of six months again.

(2) If you can have a track record for something you've basically done once before.

(3) And illustrating, as anyone who's had anything signed by me before will attest. I am, in fact, still trying to get down my sketch mantis, as the buggers turn out to be surprisingly fiddly and resistant to simplification. Book 4 will be worms, damn it.

Posted by Adrian Tchaikovsky on July 11th, 2009

Posted in Blog, Home

Tags: Rants

27 Comments

27 comments to “We, the Undersigned”

Grahame, July 12th, 2009 at 1:29 am:

I love worms! Bring on the Worm Kinden!
Martin, July 13th, 2009 at 9:01 am:

http://ursulav.deviantart.com/art/ACEO-7-St-Wormulard-129218197

…There is going to be a book about the Kingdom of the Slugs, right? A slug is easy to draw, just a fat worm with eyestalks. Sort of like a punctured beholder.
Zeneth, July 13th, 2009 at 1:06 pm:

*legasp* No signings in Edinburgh…aw.

BUT! Oddly enough, I decided to start drawing a little something. I don't know if I'll finish it or not, but…hopefully I shall? Still in the sketch process at the moment. He's a Mantis~ or looks to become one (Likely Tisamon >.>)

Also, worms are win. I like the sound of this.
Maria, July 24th, 2009 at 6:12 pm:

aaarg!…then I'll have to slow down on my reading (I’ve just begun on book two, and am having a haard time putting it down, sigh) why oh why do I have to wait for the seventh of august for the next book…and I can’t even come to the signings…oh well, that must wait for a time when I have the time and money for travelling to UK:p
TAS, July 26th, 2009 at 3:46 am:

Would love to read your books, they are just so hard to find in the states. Amazon doesn't have them very often and run out of stock quick. Not having much luck finding a local seller either.… I'll keep trying until something changes… 😮 )
Adrian Tchaikovsky, July 27th, 2009 at 9:02 am:

Well, the US release plan is, I believe, to get the books out at a rate of 1 a month 1^st or 2^nd quarter next year, so if you're still bookless by that point, your problems should then be over. Also, Jon Sulliivan, who is working on the UK covers, is producing unique covers for the US books. I've just seen a rough for the US release of Empire and it looks incredible.

Overseas signings are not impossible. There's currently a plan afoot to spirit me off to Poland for the Polish language release later this year, so who knows…?
Jamie, July 27th, 2009 at 10:38 pm:

You have to come to birmingham! I won't be able to make it to any of the other signings! Any plans for it?
Adrian Tchaikovsky, July 28th, 2009 at 1:07 am:

No plans for Birmingham this time round, but maybe next time. Although sufficient hyperborean readers have ragged me about Scotland as well.
Maria, July 28th, 2009 at 12:51 pm:

oh that sounds great, then there's a possibility for me to get my books signed in the (near, perhaps) future. Any plans for Germany, ever?
Tom Seaton, July 28th, 2009 at 7:36 pm:

Congratulations Adrian, greatly looking forward to book 3. Sadly can't make the signing in London — maybe see you in leeds on the 22^nd

Tom
Adrian Tchaikovsky, July 28th, 2009 at 7:39 pm:

No plans for a German signing, but such is certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility after the German language release at the end of the year.
Jamie, July 30th, 2009 at 1:15 am:

Hey,

Really glad to see you replying, didn't think that would happen. I am really gutted that there will be no UK, Birmingham tour, but I have got into your books really bad. Everything is so vivid, it just keeps me hooked.

How long is this series going to continue for?
Maria, July 30th, 2009 at 12:40 pm:

Ok, can't have everything I guess. Well then I'll keep an eye out for the time when/if you come to Europe:)
opal, July 31st, 2009 at 1:43 am:

Huh. I've got something of a mysterious tale to relate. I paid a visit to my local bookshop today, and they totally had copies of book three; I was pleasantly surprised and thought I'd merely mixed the release date up, but now I see that's not the case. I don't know if it's important, just thought I'd mention it (I live in Slovenia, if it matters).
danny bennet, July 31st, 2009 at 2:26 pm:

i cannot wait to read this third book, i live in the scottish borders so i cant come to any of the signings ut im definatly going to buy the book as soon as i can. Im sure its going to be amazing. ( i have 2 pet praying mantis's) i call the male Tisamon 🙂
Erik, August 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 pm:

It seems then that the book is released earlier in mainland Europe, cuz i am living in Copenhagen and bought it on the 31^st june. Book three is great loved it, but i was a bit disheartened when i picked it up in the store cuz it was so thin, i go through books really quick so it made me a bit sad, but still the book was great! any chance of giving us a clue when the next one is out:P
Erik, August 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 pm:

^sorry 31^st july
Ben, August 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm:

i recieved my copy of blood of the mantis on tuesday.wooo
finished the book i was readed and started on the 1/8/09 and i am enthralled loving it . halfway through and still cant see how it turns out some great twists and turns no spoilers her!
thanks Arrian you have mede a wikkid weekends reading.
Ben
Adrian Tchaikovsky, August 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 am:

I think that the official release date is a guideline rather than a rule, most places.

Book 4 should be out February 2010, I believe, so not long to wait. I can promise it's written, delivered, and I've just dealt with the copy edits. The cover looks fantastic (Jon Sullivan's work again). Book 5 is currently with my agent.
erik, August 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 am:

i love that your books have come out so quickly one after another, i am used to waiting for years for next installments. love the books, keep up the good work!!!
Maria, August 4th, 2009 at 2:19 pm:

Erik + opal, you've just made my day!! Now I just have to find out where I can buy book tree, or perhaps order it online (and here I thought I had to wait for the UK release!!) and I can finally continue and finish book 2 (I've had put the reading on hold until I had book 3:p)
Trey, August 5th, 2009 at 7:15 pm:

Dumb question for the author — how many books are you thinking for a complete series?
Adrian Tchaikovsky, August 5th, 2009 at 7:20 pm:

Not in the least a dumb question, but not a simple one. The best answer is probably "as many as they'll let me." In truth, the longest arch of the plot will play out in, I think, 10 volumes, which seems a hell of a lot, but at the same time isn't uncommon. However I'm not going down the path of having each individual volume just a homogenous segment of the whole. Each book will have its own plot, and there are small plot arcs linking volumes within the proposed larger framework.

And if we get to 10, well, I have ideas to take me past that, which admission will probably give my publishers kittens. Oh, and short story collections. Maybe an encyclopedia. And don't forget the RPG… action figures, did I mention them…?
Trey, August 5th, 2009 at 8:44 pm:

I say this with love and as someone who's reaching for his wallet: Bastard.

And here I thought it would be a simple trilogy.

BTW, Cicada kinden? And when are we going to see firefly kinden (which would be some creepy, if beautiful folks)?

Short stories — yes, that would be great. Give the stuff you have here a few passes by an editor and it would be _wonderful_.
Jamie, August 6th, 2009 at 6:54 pm:

Figures :O???? Have you been planning on figures? got any drawing plans? details, size etc…?
Catriona Brewster, August 10th, 2009 at 1:03 pm:

Just got my copy of BOTM, have to agree with Erik, it does seem somewhat thinner than the previous two.
Am going to have to read it slowly and really savour this one, if i am going to have to wait until February for the next book.
Matt, August 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm:

I'm in the states and have bought the first 2 volumes online as ebooks. I can't find BOTM as an ebook anywhere though. Is the ebook getting released soon? Can't wait to read it.

Shadows of the Apt