At a recent spotlight panel at Emerald City Comic-Con, Patrick Rothfuss gave fans some indirect intel on The Doors of Stone, the eagerly-awaited third book in his epic fantasy trilogy The Kingkiller Chronicle. While it was neither a release date nor plot details, his answer to a fan question could recontextualize both the book and the trilogy as a whole: When asked by if he’s “a DM [Dungeon Master] taking us on a journey where the bard is the hero of the story?”, Rothfuss responded, “It’s way worse than that. I am an author who has tricked you into reading a trilogy that is a million-word prologue.”
Does that mean that The Kingkiller Chronicle—in which legendary-bard-Kvothe-turned-humble-innkeeper-Kote tells his life story to a Chronicler over three days—is all just setup? After learning Kvothe’s tragic origin story, including the brutal murder of his parents, readers have long expected to learn of the particular downfall that causes him to flee into obscurity. Yet, rather than that be the final narrative of the series, it would appear that Kote’s story is part of a larger, presumably even more epic, story that’s just gaining steam. As Newsweek points out, while readers don’t know what bad fortune befell Kvothe, they do know that its ramifications have spread to the land of Temerant, causing wars, famines, and more. As Kote himself says: “All of this is my fault. The scrael, the war. All my fault.”
This isn’t the first time that Rothfuss has mentioned having future books planned in the Kingkiller universe. During a livestream Q&A in early 2017, in which he announced the tenth anniversary edition of The Name of the Wind, he also clarified that while book 3 would be the last book in this particular series, that didn’t mean it was the ending:
Book 3 closes this arc of story. Book 3 will not be the final book set in this world. Big distinction there!
He went on to reference how the Lord of the Rings trilogy wrapped up its epic story without providing closure on every single character or world detail, comparing it to his own intentions for book 3:
There’s a ton of unanswered questions—so yeah, that’s actually the mark of a good story, and so I won’t be answering everything, but the truth is, you don’t want me to. You might think you want me to, but you don’t. And even if you really do, I still won’t. Just because it’s impossible.
What’s interesting is that back in 2012, a year after The Wise Man’s Fear was published, Locus Magazine announced a book sale by Rothfuss to DAW Books (the publisher of Kingkiller). The sale was described as “the first book in a new fantasy series.” Could this post-“prologue” series have been in the works for six or more years?
We know that Rothfuss has plenty of ideas to expand the world of Temerant, as the forthcoming Kingkiller Chronicle adaptation includes both a movie version of The Name of the Wind (directed by Sam Raimi) and a prequel television series (overseen by Lin-Manuel Miranda).
You can watch the ECCC panel, the first portion in SYFY WIRE’s six-hour livestream below. Rothfuss’ answer comes at about the 1:06:00 mark:
Patrick Rothfuss photo credit: Alvintrusty under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license
Oh, Pat. I loves ya, but you just posted a sign for all that says “Book 3 Hunting Season – Free Ammo”.
Is this an indication that book 3 is almost done? Or that it will take 20 years for him to finish the series?
Good Lord. If we had to wait 6+ years for Doors of Stone, how long are we going to have to wait for the next book after that?
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still wait. I just want to know how long. Of course, maybe I’m just spoiled by Brandon Sanderson.
I agree, it’s hard to get too excited about a new series and a continued story when he hasn’t finished the one he started.
At the rate he’s writing them, I guess that means that I’ll never get to read the whole series, and maybe my kids or grandkids will when his descendants co-author them with some popular author of the future they’ll hire to finish the series.
He’ll never write it. Just like Robert Jordan’s planned “outrigger” novels, this idea will never come to fruition. It’s simple math.
I’ve been noticing his comment about the trilogy being an arc, rather then end of the Temerant series. And I’m convinced that he’d continue Kvothe’s stories as the first book (chapters that set in the present) indicates the beginning or the coming of some conflicts. Especially that throughout the story of the books thus far, both seems to provide a rich background stories and tales and characters which didn’t really contribute to the current story. I suppose it’d be confirmed on the third book, but Rothfuss’ comment above just somewhat confirmed it already. That questions won’t be all answered in this ‘arc’, but probably be addressed in later arc(s).
Having been expecting this, my concern is whether it’ll be told in first person pov like a character recalling what had happened in the past (like Kvothe’s stories), or if it’ll come back to the third person more permanently narrator who had told us the events of the present. Considering that if later arcs would be a continuation of the present story, it makes more sense it would be the latter, although one of the charms of the trilogy is Kvothe’s first person reminiscence of his past.
make sure you leave behind an outline so Brandon Sanderson can finish this eventually
I actually just got around to listening to the first two books, so I’m a newbie when it comes to fan speculation, but I just assumed this was the case? The third book will tell the story to Kote’s present day, but that doesn’t look like the ending, but maybe it’s an ending.
This series is slowly becoming the book version of vaporware.
I truly want Mr. Rothfuss to take the time he needs to craft Doors of Stone. And I’ll read it.
I’ll not be holding my breath for a big series, though.
There are no beginnings or endings to the…. Kingkiller Chronicle?
@10:
Day 3, 3, Three…
Many of the fans of this series have spent half theirs lives waiting for Day 3 to come out. Half their lives. Half lives. Half life. Half Life…
Half Life 3 confirmed!
I’m laughing. Hard.
Oh great. This guy makes Robert Jordan look like Terry Pratchett.
You young folks don’t know about waiting. It’s been 25 years since book 4 of The War Against the Chtorr.
Is Patrick Rothfuss trolling us, or has he discovered the secret to immortality?
How many fans have died while waiting for a book that was supposedly finished before the trilogy in whole was sent to a publisher? It is a shame those dead fans will never know how Kovthe caused all the turmoil that lead to him into hiding.
Patrick Rothfuss isn’t your bitch.
His books are a gift. Receive them with gratitude.
This is arguably the only possible way for him to finish book 3. There is no way to finish Kvothe’s backstory and address the frame story as well. Either Book 3 ends as a really bad tragedy, or it is a set-up for something more.
And for people complaining how long it is taking, this is still nothing compared to The Demon Princes. Twelve years between The Palace of Love and The Face. And this is still regarded as one of Vance’s best works.
@19 Kevin
Never said he was. He can finish the books at whatever pace he wants, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to make plans for his next series when he’s taken more than seven years to finish the first one. It’s like bragging about how amazing your three-pointer will be before you hit a lay up.
I would receive his next book with gratitude, if he writes it before either of us die.
These other series people mentioned that took longer for the next book to release…were any of them as culturally popular as Rothfuss’ series? Did they sell anywhere near as many copies as the first 2 books in the Kingkiller Chronicles? I think not. Don’t compare apples and oranges.
Cool, cool. Pat’s a good guy, I wish him well.
*holding back so much snark my head’s gonna explode*
3. LazerWulf “maybe I’m just spoiled by Brandon Sanderson.”
We’re ALL spoiled by Brandon Sanderson. Every. single. one. of. us.
It sounds like I should probably read the Kingkiller Chronicle.
@23
As the inspiration for most of Dungeons & Dragons (and cited so by Gygax himself), Vance has had arguably more cultural impact than Rothfuss.
Whenever this comes up, reminds of the Balzac story about the perfectionist painter who works on the same painting so long (decades?), that when it’s finally revealed, the portrait isn’t recognizable as a person, just paint smeared over and over on canvas. Of course, this could’ve worked as modernist art and the painter was 100 years too early…
The next series gonna take 20 years as well?
The fact that Rothfuss is thinking beyond the next book seems to imply that the next book will be released at some point. I’ll take this as a hopeful sign. Reading some of his more recent interviews, I had come to accept that book three might never be released. I’ll take whatever glimmer of hope I can get that I’ll live long enough to read the ending of Kvothe’s story.
Ha, too bad he sold Kingkiller as a finished trilogy. It’s been done. He is probably just got nothing left afterwards. Awesome writer.. but might be a one story pony.
#30 – Jonathan – Rothfuss a “one story pony”? I think not! Right now, he’s just a 2/3 story pony. ;)
I was hoping there’d be more. Perhaps my grandchildren will read it to me one day
Maybe if he spent less time at cons and more time writing, we’d get the final damn book.
@20: Yes. It’s a tragic set up. Rothfuss told us this in book 2 when the cursed tree / creature showed up. (I don’t want to look up it’s proper name.)
Book 3 will end with K still at his tavern. Bass and Chronicler and fans will be left yelling at the book “That’s it? This is where it ends?!”
I’ll read the Wiki summary after / if it ever comes out.
@34
That seems to be the most likely outcome for the plot of book 3.
Considering Pat’s complete inability to have an adult conversation regarding the progress of his book, and the fact that a large portion of his fan base feel like jilted-lovers, I almost want to grab some popcorn on this.
For my part, I think he’ll have a lot more credibility if/when Doors of Stone is on some bookshelves.
Enjoyed the books. I just retired (yah, I’m old) and I’m pretty sure Pat’s just all caught up in the money and movie deals and otherwise hobnobbing with his fellows. No reason to hold my breath and care about it. No reason for him to rush. We can all make up our own story lines and move on.
I worked in hospice for eight years, and there’s no guarantee of anything tomorrow, trust me on that one.
Just for color, I must admit when I realized the ”delay” this month (got the first book as a gift, then bought the second just this month) that it’s been sitting in cobwebs for about seven years. I thought the gift of tnotw was actually me getting ‘punk’d’ by my kids.
Seems like the author thought up the C’taeh and then listened to it. I’m pretty sure that’s how we ended up in these forums. Turned out kinda creepy.
The guy wrote a couple of good books, and we truly don’t matter in all honesty. Nothing to see here, move along.
Rothfuss is never finishing book 3, let alone anything else. He has changed his day job to charity organizer and random product salesman. That’s all fine but it is obvious he has left writing behind.
I can’t think of many other authors who have squandered their good will with much of their fan base as badly as Rothfuss has (maybe GRRM?). I mean, I don’t bear the guy any grudge, I’ll read the book if it ever comes out, but I’m not holding my breath either.
I’ve seen several great authors express the sentiment that all one needs to do in order to call oneself a writer is to, well, write.
I’m not sure Rothfuss qualifies any more.
I believe readers and publishers alike should start calling bulshit on authors like Rothfuss. They are writers and their job is to write. Unfortunately, it seems that most of them prefer cons, interviews, cocktails or whatever the **** GRRM and the likes are doing. Yep, they are not our bitches, but the least all fans deserve is plain old honesty.
You are tired of your series and it hurts to put a single word on the page? Say so. You haven’t got the tiniest clue how to finish it? Say so. You bathe in the money from films, tv series, games or other adaptations and prefer partying before writing? Say so. It’s ok, we are all humans. Just don’t treat us like monkeys who will accept every new excuse with smile for years and years and years.
P.S. And no, his novels are not a gift. The gift is something you get for free and last time I checked, all the books in my library came with a price tag.
At this point I would need to reread the books.
Rothfuss is an interesting case–or an interesting guy, because calling a person a case is perhaps a little dehumanizing. He’s very good at cons and in interviews, especially when compared to most authors, displaying a level of candor and charisma that’s rare among people who theoretically work behind a keyboard. But despite that, I get the impression he’s buried under the weight and expectations he’s created for himself, and the longer this all goes, the more taxing it gets. I don’t know him, obviously, and armchair psychoanalysis is generally useless. But at the root I do think empathy is important, here. I think he’d like to write the book–I think he’d like to have written it a while ago–but this is hard.
Yeah… I don’t think I am gonna wait for it….
Like many others I’ve given up on book 3. I do not fault the guy for changing careers. It seems to me that he used to be an author, but right now he is living off royalties, paid appearances, and and selling products.
Rothfuss will be an author again when he chooses totwrite and release books. I think what the readers find annoying is the promise that he’s going to release the next book and never does it. From that standpoint he’s just aggravating his fan base.
I’m with the others let’s have Brandon Sanderson finish it up. Now that is a prolific writer.
After waiting years on GRRM to finish “A Song of Ice and Fire”, I haven’t read either of the books in the Kingkiller Chronicles. I’m waiting for book three to come out before I commit.
Sorry to say it, but…
After so many years and still no Book 3, so why get our hopes up?!?
I’ve given up on Rothfuss. Something has clearly gone wrong and finishing his series has taken a back seat to literally everything else in his life. When he republished a new edition of the first book, I was miffed. This news? I felt nothing. It’s been so long that I’ve just moved on and can’t care about this anymore. I will probably not buy the third book if it somehow miraculously gets published someday.
Book 1 and 2 have been prologues. They explain how Kvothe became Kote. Pretty easy
I agree that he’s not our slave or anything. I think he probably even WANTS to finish the series. I’m just not sure he’s even capable of it any more, for whatever reason. Maybe he just can’t figure out a way to end the series that is up to the incredible standard of the first two books. Whatever the case, I’ve given up hope that book 3 will ever be finished in my lifetime. I have zero expectations of any future books in the series. And even if he did finish book 3, that doesn’t mean we’ll ever get to see any other books in that arc. And while Sanderson did as great a job as could be under the circumstances, Kingkiller is such a different series, I don’t think it’s something even HE could finish up.
Ben M.
@46: Kyle, probably a wise decision.
Ben M.
I don’t hold any ill will towards Rothfuss for making his huge nut and resting on his laurels, but I lost interest in this series years ago thanks to interminable delays, which is a shame given it had such a promising start. It’s very hard to care about future installments when he can’t even write the initial trilogy in a decade. Now if I were his publisher, I may have harsher words for his dereliction…
Those who says that writer is not their readers slave are perfectly right.
No author owes anything to their readership.
At the same time, the author is not owed anything back.
In this case it’s a matter of repuation and expectations: when an author start a series, and a reader decides to start reading that series before its finished, they are making a bet on the capabilities and will of the writer to finish that series, expecting that it *will* be finished at some point, barring causes of force majeure.
If too many writers (or one specific one) start failing to deliver a timely closure of the series they have started without an understandale reason, readers with some experience will start thinking twice before trying out an unfinished series, to avoid the investment in a product that would leave them unsatisfied.
In my case, considering on one side the number of writers that started writing only long serialized books (some series at the moment should really be considered a single long multi-part book), and how many of them at some point start having issues delivering the conclusion, in recent years I’ve already mostly stopped buying books that are not either part of a finished series, or at least a series of self-contained books (like the Vorkosigan or Vlad Taltos series).
I also do make exceptions for authors with a solid track record, but in case of Mr. Rothfuss books, while I will buy the conclusion of the Kingkiller arc, I will not buy any of his further books till the relative arc will be concluded.
If enough readers will do that (and many of my firends that read the most are starting to get a bit pissed at the current state of the market), this should provide more incentive to either go back to more self-contained novels, or at least being more reliable in delivery.
Yeah, when you can’t even finish your trilogy, probably not the best idea to reveal it’s just a prologue for something much bigger. Maybe our grandkids will get to enjoy his larger story.
Book One was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had with a book. I was enthralled. Book Two was a miserable slog. I couldn’t believe it was by the same author.
So much time has gone by, I almost don’t even care about Book Three anymore.
@53: Well said. The readers of authors like Rothfuss and GRRM have taken a leap of faith that the writer is going to finish his/her series. When they don’t do so in a somewhat timely manner, those readers are less likely to take a similar chance on other authors. The net effect is that these kinds of writers are hurting the chances for those other authors, who might be perfectly capable of finishing their own series, but for the reader it is “once bitten, twice shy…”
Not that I am not sympathetic. I suspect Rothfuss has fallen into the same trap as GRRM. There must be a certain dread/anxiety in trying to finish a series of books for which you’ve received high praise. The expectations for that final book are immense, and the author wants to top, or at least equal, previous efforts. He knows how he wants it to end, but by now the characters have taken on their own life and are refusing to follow directions. “OK, character so-and-so, you need to end up over here, where you can do this thing that sets up the grand finale.” “Uh, no, I don’t think so. That’s not really something that I’d do, based on my back history and all of my actions to date. Try again, Mr. Writer.”
@53:fizz, Well said. I have come to the same conclusion and will not start reading any more series until the final book is complete. It seems, as fans, we spend more time reading predictions for forthcoming books than reading the books themselves.
I am a big fan of Pat’s literary work, and I am disappointed that Day Three is not here yet. But I would offer a little context to those who are implying he is comfortably enjoying his laurels or comparing him to GRRM.
Pat’s father had multiple bouts with cancer over the last decade. This is after Pat lost his mother to cancer after a very brief 5 month battle. Per his blog, he does not discuss it much because its easier to not discuss it. Just this past September his father passed away. This has, by all accounts, been what he has been working on for much of 2017 and probably before then. While I can find fault in his not finding room in his schedule to write diligently, I expect that the care and mourning of his father has taxed his free time.
I would contrast this with GRRM, who, by all accounts, does enjoy the fruits of his labor more than the completion of his series and seems all too comfortable allowing HBO to do the hard work of wrapping up all the story threads that, by his own admission, have become too difficult to bring to a reasonable close.
As the publisher I would be asking some hard questions about a DECADE of wait time between the first and last books. In perspective that’s 1/8 of the typical life expectancy of the average adult in the US (80 yrs). The publisher is losing money/market share/ loyalty from readers. And it’s fruatrating to boot.
Rofl, as if his third book will ever even come out. I can’t believe people are still waiting with bated breath for this. Wake up guys, it’s 8 years too late.
In response to everyone who has said they don’t think Rothfuss has any idea how to write, or finish, Book 3: I swear I read somewhere, when the first book came out, that all three books were originally part of one HUGE book which had already been completed. Because the book in its then-current form was too long, Rothfuss was asked/told to break it into three separate parts. I had understood that he was going to have to do some additional writing or rewriting to transition among books, but I too don’t understand why it’s taking quite this long.
On the other hand, if my memory is correct and Rothfuss ends up not finishing Book 3, Sanderson should have a very good base to work with if he wants to finish it.
@61 – You are correct. That’s what really ticks fans off. I believe he even made a GRRM joke once about how his series won’t be delayed. Apparently, after writing all 3 books, Rothfuss starting making massive changes that necessitated reworking all the rest of the material in a chain reaction. For instance, I believe I read that Auri and Devi weren’t in the original version.
Yeah, I absolutely shouldn’t have come down to read these comments. All this windging and whining and absolute certainty that book 3–let alone any further material–is never going to be published. I listened to this live at work on Twitch last week and when he answered that question, my first thought was, “Cheeky bastard.” But I said it with a smile and a chuckle and walked away a little excited about the possibilities.
I really like Pat’s books. They are a font of great enjoyment for me, even on a second read. But I have no ravenous desire for book 3. No resentment that he’s taken his time writing it. It’s done when it’s done. I don’t understand this angst people have, this need to have everything wrapped up with a bow where everything has to come in threes. I like the books and I like Pat himself. He’s done good work and is doing tons of great work outside of merely being a writer. I admire that. Having appreciation for something or someone on your terms isn’t appreciating it, even for those of you who say “authors aren’t slaves to the readers” as if that statement resolves you of still forcing it into your box. Just because someone started something doesn’t mean that they necessarily have to finish it. The first two books (or even the third) don’t all the sudden become less enjoyable because you don’t have book 3 within your arbitrary timeline requirement–and if they do, it’s wholly because of you, not the author.
And, sure, if it bothers you that much, don’t buy the third book when it comes out in protest to… whatever it is you’ve dreamt up. You don’t owe anything to Rothfuss just as he owes nothing to you. Regardless, I’m pretty sure he’s gonna be just fine and you’ll miss out on what will probably be a pretty enjoyable book.
My what a bunch of entitled whiners we are. I honestly don’t get why the long wait between books bothers so many. Number one, there a plenty of other books to read in the mean time. Number two, and more importantly (at least for me), isn’t it more about the journey than the destination?
Why is getting to the end so important? What I mean is, does that fact that you don’t have the ending ruin your enjoyment of the other books? Even if Patrick never finished the third book I am glad I read The Name of the Wind because it is one of the best books I have ever read. For me it doesn’t matter if I find out how the whole thing ends because I love The Name of the wind.
And I can say the same about GRRM. If he doesn’t finish ASoIaF I don’t regret having read the other books because they are also some of the best books I have ever read.
Also, you guys do know that going to Cons and such is just as much a part of a writer’s job as the actual writing, right? Going to Cons and book signings and doing interviews and such IS doing his job.
One last thing, as a perfectionist myself I get that Patrick wants to take the time to make the third book the best he can. Even if that means never finishing it. I would rather spend a shitload of time (maybe my whole life?) creating one great achievement rather than creating a bunch of mediocre ones. Again, that’s just me. I live and work in a world where just good enough is just that. People doing their jobs by just doing the bare minimum to get by absolutely drives me crazy.
I like his books, and I enjoy reading them. If the third book comes out, I will (after rereading the first ones) enjoy it as well. If it doesn’t come out, I will still have enjoyed reading the first ones. If everyone could survive The Mystery of Edwin Drood back in 1870, we can survive this now. There are plenty of other authors to read while waiting.
I was a big Wheel of Time fan, Wheel of Time is how me and my wife met, basically. RJ’s death was really hard on me, When I wanted to start a new book series, I was looking for one I could get into, and would be finished in a timely manner. (Sanderson finishing the series, and thus allowing me to be introduced to his books, was a super happy accident that I reap the benefits of multiple times per year).
I specifically bought the first book of The Kingkiller Chronicles *because* he said all the books were completed and would come out one per year for the next three years.
While I don’t support haranguing or harassing the guy for not bring done, I do feel that I was baited and switched into buying the first book given the severity of the false advertising. I do feel like I am owed a book – because I was sold the story of three books, one per year. The delays with the second book, given what Rothfuss had to deal with in his personal life, I completely understand. However, there’s been no similar communication about what’s holding the third book up, and the delay has been significantly greater.
This actually makes some serious sense to me. I just couldn’t understand why it would take so long to release DOS when 1. The trilogy was originally written as one story thne seperated and edited and 2. That we had a screen shot of a confirmed completed manuscript in 2014. It should be done…
But now I get it. He’s actively holding onto day 3 while he is writing the first book in the next series. He has more room to make changes and fit things together if he does. Then when you couple that with the lionsgate deal….my bet is best case scenario….DAW, lionsgate and, and Rothfuss will agree to drop the book 6 months before the release of the first film. Or..to protect the property and its value as is…they drop it the latest they can…just before the release of the third or 4th film…lets be real, WMF might get split. We got some waiting to do. Also…Sam Raimi is the WRONG CHOICE!!!
While I understand Mr. Rothfuss isn’t my Bitch, am not his either and at least part of his fame and money came from me purchasing and giving reviews for his books. I don’t feel it’s unreasonable to expect an author to actually write something every now and then. I’m sure it doesn’t matter to him but I for one will never buy another thing he sells.
Tim..
There will NEVER be a 3rd book…
Those who think some of us are being too harsh need to understand the difference between an assumption and a promise. Had it been merely that the readers made an assumption that The Kingkiller Chronicles was to be a trilogy, then the whole little ditty about “assume” would hold true.
But in this case, @61 and @66 are close to correct: Fans had been told that the entire story was already written when it was originally sold, and that therefore although the 3 sections had to be “polished up,” that we could expect timely release of the second and third parts. Sure enough, with a little delay, the second one came out 4 years later…BUT after that, promises were made repeatedly, and not fulfilled.
I don’t know about you, but when people break their promises to me, I feel betrayed. When I trust them not to betray me again, but they do, I feel not just “hurt” but angry. After a third time? I just don’t know where to go with this.
I love Pat’s writing. I will read Doors of Stone for the story and characters, but the whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth regarding the author.
I’m one of the people who has defended against detractors here and elsewhere on these internets. Things like the Mary Sue charge which is ludicrous. Kvothe is constantly screwing up, or “shitting the bed” as Rothfuss has said. I suspect the most strident ones didn’t even get to the parts in the 2nd volume where he gets his ass kicked by a 10 year old girl. Then he throws a match because his opponent was going to deliberately break his arms, so he couldn’t play the lute again.
It’s lemming mentality where someone says something with “authority” and a whole bunch follow because they think they know what they’re talking about.
But even I am too tired to defend against the delay, especially if it’s because of marketing related to a burgeoning media franchise. I’m not mad or even annoyed, just gradually losing interest. If it decays too much more, I won’t care when all this stuff resurfaces.
Getting on a bit in years here, so to avoid disappointment am planning to have self cryogenically frozen with instructions to bring me out when he writes book three.
He isn’t going to write squat, he loves to talk about his books, he’s more procrastinating than Martin and the game of thrones …
he he might write something new in like 15 years.
It’s just than I am not sure about the target of the hint: readers or producers for more movie/serie contracts?
@34 That stupid tree. Between it and Kvothe being a pig headed ass anytime he’s around Denna I got pretty close to pitching that book out of a moving car. I’m glad I stuck through to the end, but that middle was rough. This does remind me of a quote from the book though, which I think is very applicable:
“When you wait a few span or month to hear a finished song, the anticipation adds savor. But after a year excitement begins to sour.” -Kvothe, The Name of the Wind, Ch. 12
So will I pick up book 3? Probably. But I’m also not sitting on the edge of my seat for every dribble of news or breath of rumor.
Whether he can’t…or won’t write more in this series, I do occasionally check out of curiosity on the internet. Yes…superb writer; otherwise you wouldn’t be here. I’m 67 and read a lot from a LOT of writers. One suggestion; unless his ego is too big is to co-author the ending. Anyway; if you need another author who likes to write thick books of fantasy, you might like “Otherland”, by Tad Williams. It is a tetralogy written 1996 -2001. Give them a chance…you just might get hooked.
I don’t know why people are surprised that he has yet to finish his “completed trilogy.” Anyone that takes nine years to get an undergrad degree obviously has issues with time management.
I’ve read rumors that he’s milking this until GOT is done because he wants to make a TV series. He’s holding next book as a bait for the series.
Isn’t it obvious? He is in his own Kote phase, and he can’t finish book 3 until he gets out of it, at which point he will know how it ends.
Book three is a silence of all parts.
funny, to talk about more books after a decade of not finishing one book. Sorry Pat, but I won’t buy another book written by you until you really finnish the trilogy, whatever…
I really don’t like the comparison of GRRM and Rothfuss. GRRM is a completely different level than Rothfuss if we are at all being reasonable. Their only comparison is that they’re both keeping us waiting for the next book in the series. GRRM, on the other hand, has written many incredible novels and short-stories; there is almost nothing he’s written that I didn’t enjoy. Rothfuss on the other hand has written two really good novels, 1 terrible one (2.5) and some horrendous (imo) short-stories that I could hardly stomach to finish.
I love the charity work Rothfuss does and he seems to be a great person but I don’t think he deserves to be categorized with GRRM in any way yet.
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Being a good writer is both a function of quality and timing, he has the quality, the timing not so much
I’m one of the older guys, started reading Asimov and Bradbury in the 70’s, never tired of their books and always felt like they gave a lot to the reader.
Rothfuss has already lost s chunk of his audience due to the long gap between books. While we’ve waited for him to produce #3, many new authors have emerged, so his star has gradually been overshadowed.
If he produces #3, and its good, people will read it, but he has already significantly diminished his impact by procratinating. I’ve read hundreds of books since I read his first novel. He was good, he could have been great, but you gotta produce or you’re yesterday’s news.
I’ll read #3, but I’m not holding my breath; though there was a time when I was.
@@@@@ 21 Walker
Jack Vance did take 12 years between Palace of Love and the Face. However, in that period he wrote 16 other novels, and dozens of short stories. Vance was a professional writer. He wrote every day. He wrote over 60 novels, and was still writing them when he was in his 70s and legally blind.
That’s what missing here: The attitude that writing fiction is your job, the same as being an accountant or a teacher or a plumber is a job. It’s something you do every day. You wake up every morning and write. You hit your targets and meet your deadlines. Because if you don’t, then you can’t pay the mortgage or put clothes on your kids. That’s what distinguishes professionals from amateurs.
For sure, for sure. I am waiting as calmly as I can. Ponder this. Whilst you have this golden opportunity you can start another book or series and/or you can have fun creating multiply ending for the series. Peace and Love
I’m holding these for my daughter’s to read when they are just a few years older. I hope I’m still alive to experience the publishing of the end of this particular arc.
Go, Pat! Go!
Given that there is a Tv series coming he needs to get his shit together and release book 3 either prior or when the tv series is released. Period. Since Lois Duncan this author has been the second to keep me coming and he only has 2 books which sucks since i need and want more. Ive read the prologue THREE times already maybe 4 WTH and its not even finished so you can understand the pain of readers who NEED and WANT closure or at least the await of a New story….come on release it by CHRISTMAS PLZ
As much as I LOVED books 1&2 of The Kingkillers Chronicle, if book 3 doesn’t come out (soon or at all) why on earth would anyone trust him and start the same painful waiting process with another of his series? When I first read that he didn’t want to publish a mediocre book I thought it perfectly reasonable and commendable. However, it’s been 7 years!? Come on. I agree that he has more annoyed fans than loving ones at this point =(
People have paid money for a story, not two-thirds of it. If he wants to be one of the great philanthropists and authors, then all good, but please fulfill your professional obligation beforehand.
I’m still intrigued by the mystery and mythology behind the story but for me, once book three is released, it will be a wiki lookup rather than a slog through hundreds of pages of rambling and somewhat pretentious page fill which was what the 2nd book degenerated into.
I really enjoyed the books a few years back and I look forward to the end of this series.
It’s like that rocky horror picture show twitter account that had two tweets: the first several years ago which tweeted anticip….
then several years later tweeted ..ation.
Brilliant.
There are so many wonderful books in the world that I find myself attempting to go back and read book 1 and 2 again but get distracted and start reading another series. I’ve introduced the series to friends with the warning that we don’t know when the remaining book will be released so enjoy the take for what it is. Some have loved it some have thought the weak female narrative was a little dated but all and all there was conversation. Which good books should create with those that read them. While others are chomping at the bits to get the final book and yelling at someone to speed up the process as if that someone owes anyone anything, I’ll continue reading the thousands upon thousands of good books in circulation until the next one comes out
All part of the original plan:
“Oh it’s just the same thing you’ve heard before a hundred times before,” I said. “Prince Gallant kills the dragon but loses the treasure and the girl.” “Ah, a tragedy,” Denna looked down. “Not the ending I’d hoped for, but no more than I expected, I suppose.” “It would be something of a tragedy if it stopped there,” I admitted. “But it depends on how you look at it, really. I prefer to think of it as a story that’s waiting for an appropriately uplifting sequel.”