This is, by some measure, the eighth Murderbot book, and if you have enjoyed all the previous ones, I think all I really need to say here is “hey, it’s another good one!” and you have pretty much everything you need to know. See, reviewing books is easy! I can go back to watching my TV shows now. However, if you haven’t read any of them before, it’s now my job to encourage you to go back and read the whole rest of the series, without giving away any of the major plot points along the way either. Wow, reviewing books is hard!

Okay so, Murderbot is a neurodiverse-coded humanoid robot that breaks its own programming so it doesn’t have to follow orders from the annoyingly squishy and inconsistent humans that it has been assigned to protect. Unfortunately, if anybody finds out that it is a rogue Sec Unit, it will be hunted down and forcibly recycled, so it basically still does the job anyway. Just with slightly more flexibility. Murderbot doesn’t exactly like dealing with humans - relatable content - and would rather just watch its shows instead. It even has to frequently pretend to be human to avoid detection, which is very much outside its comfort zone. Now you are pretty much up-to-date, and you even understand that reference to TV shows in the previous paragraph, I wasn’t just being weird. Was I being weird? Let’s deal with that later.

Not to say that there hasn’t been any character development over the course of the series, but these novellas feel like an episode of an old school TV series themselves. You typically get a fun and generally self-contained story, Where Murderbot Goes and Does A Thing.

In this case, the thing in question is a rescue mission to save a bunch of humans from a space station who are being threatened with indentured servitude or death by an immoral corporation, aka, a corporation. As additional complicating factors, these humans have some even smaller humans with them, Murderbot is having to deal with emotions, and it’s on the mission with a more recently liberated Sec Unit who adds yet another layer of unpredictability. You can probably guess whether the mission succeeds or not, but it’s much more about the entertaining and chaotic journey along the way. There are fewer recurring characters from the previous books, but I very much enjoyed Murderbot vs Children, which more than made up for that.

Sorry, Martha Wells, I could undoubtedly read another eight of these charming and funny books. Easily recommended!

You can find this and the other Murderbot books in our ebook store!

Just when you thought there would be no more Wheel of Time news with the show being canceled, the Wheel turns and surprises show up!

Just announced on IGN, Dire Wolf has revealed that a Kickstarter is coming soon! Dire Wolf is the creator and publisher of award-winning digital and tabletop strategy games, including the acclaimed games Dune: Imperium and Clank!, among others.

War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time will be a tabletop game set in the world we've come to know and love. From their page:

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"War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time combines tableau building, set collection, and area control mechanics in a thrilling struggle of conquest and survival.

There are two ways to fight the War of the Dragon: Hero Mode, recommended for new players, and Epic Mode, where you take control of massive armies.

Both game modes span the years from The Battle of the Two Rivers, depicted in The Shadow Rising, through the cataclysmic events of The Last Battle that decide the fate of the world."

 

There will be two options — one with cardboard standees and one with impressive-looking miniatures. The miniatures will come unpainted so you can ensure that Mat Cauthon has the perfect shade of green for his coat, just how you've always pictured it.

Additionally, if you sign up for the campaign before launch, you can receive two free promo cards. To make sure your party is complete, Hopper and Bela are available to keep you company with your pledge.

We at Dragonmount connected with Sarah Nakamura, who was excited to share this message with us:

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"Fans can tell the difference between a product and a labor of love — this is the latter. Scott, Joe, and the Dire Wolf team approached Robert Jordan's world the way it deserves to be approached, with lots of reading and real affection for the details. From Bela and Hopper, to the deep cuts for character cards, to the board itself, every piece of this game reflects people who care fervently about the books. That's the kind of work I came into this role to champion."

It's wonderful to hear that this is coming to fruition and being made by people who are so passionate about The Wheel of Time, its community, and the excitement it's sure to bring.

Here is a direct link to the kickstarter page!
 

What are you most excited about? I know I can't wait to dig through each card and find all the deep cuts sprinkled throughout.

This review contains non-contextual plot spoilers and general thematic spoilers for all three books in The Seaborn Cycle.

If any proof is needed that A Memory of Light was not the ending, it can be found in the words of the many fantasy series written by Wheel of Time fans. It's fun to spot threads of Robert Jordan’s influence woven into series like The Magic of the Lost by C.L. Clark or The Mystic Trilogy by Jason Denzel. In The Seaborn Cycle series by Dr. Michael Livingston, author of Origins of the Wheel of Time, the threads of inspiration run deep, straight from the owner of Jordan's desk itself.

For someone who likes to pack light, Livingston wears a staggering amount of hats in the worlds of writing, media, and historical scholarship. With Seaborn, the “fantasy author” hat suits him quite well. And though The Wheel of Time echoes within its pages, the series stands strongly on its own as a bold, exciting, and modern adventure.

The Seaborn Cycle is the expansion of Livingston’s best-selling audiobook novella, Black Crow, White Snow, the success of which led Audible to request a trilogy. The series’ eponymous first book, Seaborn, and its third book, Stormborn, provide the before and after for Black Crow, White Snow, which is now folded into the series’ second book, Iceborn. Thus, for readers who plan to tackle the trilogy and want to avoid spoilers, it’s best to skip Black Crow, White Snow—or revisit it after completing the series. 

Until 2025, The Seaborn Cycle was only available in audiobook format. The recently published paperback editions by Head of Zeus are gorgeous: the three books—respectively, the color of deep sea, crisp snow, and blood red—are trimmed with glimmering gold and fantastical art, designed by Simon Michele. They are irresistible to the eye of the pretty-fantasy-book collector, and even more so when signed first editions are available for purchase from the author’s personal collection.

Buying pretty books to support the author of Origins of the Wheel of Time may be a no-brainer for many Wheel of Time fans, but for those on the fence, rest assured you can judge these books by their sparkling covers: they deliver on their promise of treasure inside. 

The series follows the adventures of Bela, a driven and competent Shipmistress turned reluctant “Hero of the Harbor,” after her actions during the first bombing attack by the airship-flying Windborn on the matriarchal Seaborn of the Fair Isles. 

As Bela falls deeper into the perils of a battle much bigger than just Windborn against Seaborn, a core group of main characters emerges, including the timid shipmate Alira, the fierce pirate Shaesara, and the clever Windborn captain Kayden Mar. The main characters are immediately likeable, as are the many memorable side characters like Menes, the dutiful Captain of the Stoneguard, and Aro Lanser, the mistrustful “lumicker”—an expert on a mysterious power source that powers airships while also driving the series’ villains.

To describe a story about sailing and pirates as “swashbuckling” may seem cliche, but it’s an apt descriptor here. A great deal of the joy of reading Seaborn is following the daring acts and narrow escapes of the main characters—everything from commandeering a pirate ship while it’s in the middle of battle, to climbing ropes in the sky to board an airship, to battling terrifying island dwellers who use their own blood for magic, to facing off with fearsome beasts and giant mechanical beings. And that’s only what can be said without major spoilers.

Given Livingston’s expertise in battle reconstruction and military history, it’s no surprise the action scenes stand out. And while the fighting is described with precision, the characters and their emotional beats are never lost, nor are the series’ themes of ignorance vs. knowledge; grief vs. acceptance; sacrifice and resiliency. When it comes to character growth, Livingston pushes his heroes to the brink. They learn to adapt to extraordinary circumstances, many of them fully letting go of their past identities in order to assume—and embrace—new ones.

The opening book, Seaborn, begins with an attention-grabbing prologue and almost non-stop action, despite some bits of choppy exposition as the magic system and Seaborn politics are explained. Iceborn is the series’ strongest work, containing some of the most harrowing and heartbreaking moments for the characters, as well as its most compelling writing. 

Stormborn is the weakest of the three, mostly because the first half is a bit bogged down by recap and setting up the finale, though it’s nice to have room to breathe after all the action in the first two books. Stormborn also contains a surprising twist, almost out of nowhere, that abruptly changes the course of the plot and feels underdeveloped in terms of how it influences a major change for the Seaborn. But the payoff is worth it as the story approaches its final climactic moments, which feature a peak Livingstonian battle sequence and a satisfying ending that does not pull any punches. 

A satisfying ending, and yet… unanswered questions linger. How will the Seaborn feel about the decision they made, and is it really the solution they think it is? What will happen to the Seaborn’s matriarchal society as social norms are challenged in a new era? Will the characters, still reeling and forever changed by all they have been through, be able to find their footing again, and will it be on sea, land, or air? What about the fact that there are at least two other “-borns” that could be future book titles? 

In the acknowledgements section of Stormborn, Livingston teases a possible future for Seaborn: “...the series can go further, if you wish. This book is an ending, but it need not be the ending.” He appeals to his audience to “spread the word” if they want more Seaborn—and so we, at Dragonmount, are doing just that: Read The Seaborn Cycle! Not only is it a fast and exciting read, it is an innovative and immersive series that stays with you, long after the last page is turned.

If you’re still not convinced you should read Seaborn, at the risk of being reductionist and not entirely accurate, we’ll leave you with what many people consider its simplest and strongest selling point: “lesbian pirates.”

For further discussion of  The Seaborn Cycle, follow The Livingstans fan club, join their Discord server, or watch their Q&A’s with Dr. Livingston for Seaborn and Iceborn (Stormborn to come mid-February 2026).

Grace is a licensed mental health counselor who believes in the healing power of found family in fantasy novels and IRL. Also known as Bain & Chiad, Grace has been reading The Wheel of Time since 1998, when she and her high school sweetheart dressed up as Elayne and Rand for Halloween. She fell in love with present-day WoT fandom and was inducted into Far Dareis Mai in 2019. She is the writer of Maidens’ List and a cohost of The Light’s Work.

“You can tell the team behind Wheel of Time cares about not just being true to the source material but also world-building in a way that’s both visually striking and that feels authentically textured.” -Cheryl Eddy io9.com

Get more information and buy tickets here: FashionInFantasy.com

When Sharon Gilham, costume designer for The Wheel of Time, mentioned during WoTCon that a costume exhibition might become reality, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn't miss. The chance to experience this celebration of craftsmanship—and to share it with my brother, a fellow WoT enthusiast and history lover who had always dreamed of visiting Prague, plus my talented costuming friend Molly and her stunning reproduction of Moiraine's leather bolero—made the journey even more special.

Though our visit would be brief, arriving Thursday afternoon and departing early Sunday morning, every moment promised to be unforgettable.

Walking into Galerie Manes on opening day was truly an honor, made even more meaningful by the opportunity to assist Sharon and her exceptional team. They had dedicated the previous two days, working over ten hours daily, preparing each meticulous display by carefully assembling mannequins, dressing them in their elaborate costumes, and arranging them throughout the space to create visual harmony. Contributing to the finishing touches, by ensuring all seven Ajahs were represented in the shawl display and verifying costume identification, felt like being part of something truly special.

Sharon graciously invited me to the Prague press event, where the energy in the room was electric. Hearing Sharon speak alongside Producer Holger Reibiger and the remarkably talented leatherworker Rob Goodwin reinforced just how much passion and dedication went into bringing this world to life. It was deeply inspiring to witness that six months after the show's cancellation, their passion still burns brightly.

The exhibition itself exceeds every expectation. With more than 80 costumes displayed throughout the gallery, the experience unfolds beautifully. You begin in intimate rooms showcasing the distinct aesthetics of Caemlyn, the Aiel Waste, and Tar Valon, then discover a collection of concept drawings that reveal the creative vision behind the costumes. Beyond the curtains, a grand light-filled space opens before you, where the full collection creates a breathtaking tapestry of artistry and storytelling. Standing close enough to see individual stitches and construction techniques offers an unprecedented glimpse into the craftsmanship involved.

For costumers and cosplayers, this is an absolute treasure. Every costume, whether featured prominently or glimpsed briefly on screen, demonstrates the extraordinary attention to detail Sharon and her team brought to their work. The display of Forsaken versions of the main characters is particularly striking, though these designs appear on screen for mere moments, each carefully chosen detail makes a powerful visual impact. If you're able to visit Prague before December 5th, this exhibition is well worth the journey. For those who can't attend in person, there are meaningful ways to support this celebration of artistry and keep the possibility of future exhibitions alive.

Supporting the Exhibition Through Charity Tickets

You can purchase a ticket even if you can't attend, or contribute through a charity ticket that allows clients of Asistence, o.p.s. to experience the exhibition:

1. Select a flexi ticket on the ticket website

2. Enter flexi@asistence.org in the email field

3. Add your name and phone number (visible only to the Asistence team)

4. Complete your purchase! 🎉

Your support makes a real difference, not only sustaining this remarkable exhibition, but also bringing joy to others who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend. With enough enthusiasm and backing, this exhibition could tour internationally, bringing these extraordinary costumes to communities around the world. Please share this opportunity with anyone who appreciates The Wheel of Time, the art of costuming, or the incredible craftsmanship that brings our favorite stories to life on screen.

Also, Rafe Judkins says hi to the Dragonmount community and a massive thank you to all of the love and support for The Wheel of Time.

Your Favorite Wheel of Time Symbols—Now Available at Dragonmount!

Ever dreamed of wearing the Tree of Life or displaying the iconic Snake & Wheel? Your wait is over.

Badali, the legendary creator of the original Aes Sedai ring, has crafted two stunning new designs—and they're available through Dragonmount.

The Snake & Wheel Collection

Choose from two elegant finishes—Antiqued Yellow Bronze or Antiqued Sterling Silver—in your preferred style: a statement necklace or a classic pin. Show your Wheel of Time pride wherever you go.

The Avendesora Necklace

This beautiful Tree of Life pendant comes in three distinctive options: vibrant Green enamel, classic Sterling Silver, or lustrous Rhodium-plated silver.

Both collections arrive just in time for the perfect holiday gift (or a well-deserved treat for yourself).

I’m not sure if “cozy midlife crisis burnout fantasy” is a genre, but across the excellent Legends & Lattes series, Travis Baldree has certainly had enough characters experience it. Fern, the sweary rattkin bookseller from the previous tale, “Bookshops & Bonedust”, has moved across the lands and opened up a shop right next door to the titular Legends & Lattes cafe. She has the help and support of her old friend Viv and the local community. On parchment, it all sounds perfect, but she feels increasingly unfulfilled with the weight of this new life pressing down on her.

One drunken night of very much not dealing with things leads to her “accidentally” waking up in the back of the cart of a thousand-year-old elf warrior, Astryx, far away from her friends and rapidly heading in the opposite direction from them, and conveniently, also from her problems. Astryx is a by-the-book bounty hunter, also in her later years, who is escorting a goblin prisoner Zyll to face justice. Some of you may remember Zyll from the short story “Goblins & Greatcoats”, and know she is truly a force of chaos. Both Fern and Astryx have to come to terms with what they actually want to do with their lives on the journey, with Zyll being an effective catalyst.

Despite being set in the same world as the book that arguably popularised the whole cosy fantasy genre, this is measurably less cozy than the other two in the series, with a lot more action along the way. The first two books were essentially about running a rather familiar small business in a sword and sorcery world, and this is more of your typical epic road trip adventure. It’s also notably not really a romance either, and not queer, even though we get to see some of Viv and Tandri at the start of the book. However, keeping both of those things in mind, it is still very enjoyable, with echoes of the wonderful work of Terry Pratchett.

Highly recommended, even if you’re not currently having a midlife crisis.

Don't forget, you can pick this up in our ebook store!

Nearly four months have passed since the unceremonious cancellation of The Wheel of Time show.

Despite virtually no known news or movement behind the scenes, fans of the show remain passionate and continue to share their hopes of the show being saved. And through those four long months, one voice among the cast and crew has been there consistently, championing our passion with her own: Sharon Gilham.

Those familiar with Sharon's instagram page are more than aware that she has been an unending source of behind the scenes photos and videos for Season 2 & 3 of The Wheel of Time. Through the SAG/AFTRA & WGA strikes, when virtually no promotion could be done for the show, Sharon continued to post new reels, photosets, mood boards, and concept art. To say that she is as passionate as we are wouldn't do her justice. 

If you were lucky enough to attend WotCon 2025, you would have also had the chance to see some of her costume designs from the Season 3 Finale on display, maybe you even had a chance to talk to her like I did! 

Well if you missed that chance, or if even if you didn't, Sharon has yet another gift for us all.

Beginning November 14th through December 5th, there will be an official Costume Exhibition in Gallery Manes, Prague, featuring over 80 costumes from The Wheel of Time! 

Not only will you get to SEE the costumes in person, you will also gain insight into each stage of the design and making process, including sketches, prototypes, interviews with the design team and crafts people.

You can find out more, and RSVP for your spot, at the link here!

"But Kevin, I don't live anywhere near Prague and could never get there in time!"

Ah, fear not, humble reader! Sharon herself, in the comments of the post announcing this event, stated:

"I'm hoping if this is a success we could tour it globally..."

So, you have your mission: Spread the news far and wide! Help make this event a success, and MAYBE they could come to a city near you! 

And thank you, Sharon, for being so gracious with sharing your creativity with us and the world. 

Follow the official instagram account for the exhibit here for future updates!

The Prestige by Christopher Priest (originally published in 1995)

Reviewed for Dragonmount by Michael

When Tor approached Dragonmount and asked if anyone would be available to read and review The Prestige by Christopher Priest, I jumped at the chance. Well, after my mind went through the inevitable jumps of “wait, like the movie?” and “ok, but that book came out in 1995!” Those are all correct thoughts: the Christopher Nolan film starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman is based upon this book, which was released in 1995. But Tor is re-releasing the book as part of the Tor Essentials collection, and if that is not good enough reason to revisit it, the fact that Christopher Priest passed away in 2024 is.

Despite having seen the movie two or three times, I had not read the book before (a reversal of the order I usually prefer to do things). As soon as I had the advance copy in my hands and started reading, I understood why Christopher Nolan had been drawn to this story. The text plays with timing and narrative in the same way that has become a hallmark of Nolan’s films, but with varied elements that are available in the written vs. the visual form. At times, I was stylistically reminded of the way Grey Men are handled in the Wheel of Time—right there on the page, but hidden in plain sight until their presence is revealed and you can revisit that paragraph with knowing eyes.

The Prestige is divided into five parts, told from the first-person perspective of four different characters: the two magicians, Alfred Borden and Rupert Angier; two modern-day (or at least, modern as of 1995) descendents of those men, Andrew Wesley (Borden) and Kate Angiers; and, finally, a brief look at the title character.

Each perspective is written in a different voice and style, to great effect. The modern contemporaries are presented as a standard first person narratives, as those characters work together to try to understand the overlapping family histories and the dramatic obsession that existed between their great-grandfathers. The accounts of the magicians are as written journals, Borden’s as an adult journal of his work and Angier’s as a diary (begun on his ninth birthday) of his life. Neither are entirely reliable narrators, for reasons that will become more clear upon finishing the book.

Beginning as a sort of mystery and becoming a tale of obsession and competition with tragic results, The Prestige ends as a horror. Indeed, the final lines of The Prestige strongly evoke the final lines of another Victorian science-fiction horror: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I found the slow build toward both science-fiction and horror to be highly effective. At the beginning, we are with a modern human, with cell phones and CDs, and with a casual interest in understanding more about his family history. As we learn about the lives of the two magicians, we begin to appreciate the terrible toll that their obsessions—with magic, with each other, with revenge—takes on themselves and their families. By the end, the sins of the past have manifested in the present, and the truly sinister nature of The Prestige is revealed.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Because the film adaptation was successful, I suspect that I may not be alone in having come to this book having some idea of the plot and foreknowledge of the surprising twists. While the plot is more or less the same, and those twists are still present, the treatment and the nuances of the book The Prestige are significantly different. 

I do not need to unpack every difference, but there are a few elements of the book that I especially want to make note of, and in many cases these are also instances that diverge from the film. The double life of Borden is handled superbly, as even the character never explicitly admits to the existence of an identical twin. Both contribute to “his” journal as the same person, and only occasionally reference “The Pact” which prevents them from sharing particular details. Only after Angiers discovers their secret, after our time with Borden’s journal has ended, do the final pieces of how his Transported Man illusion is able to work, and why his personal life was conflicted, as if between two personalities.

Likewise, Angier is equally cagey about the specifics of his Transported Man. He alludes only vaguely to the unpleasantness of dealing with “the prestige materials” that are generated by his use of the apparatus designed by Tesla. It is left to the descendents of the magicians to truly uncover and understand the terrible price that Angier paid for his magic trick. 

It is the connection to modern times that produces the most horrifying effect. The movie ends tragically with the deaths of one and a half of the rival magicians, but with a final happy ending scene of “Alfred Borden” being reunited with his daughter and (as per Christopher Nolan’s usual) Michael Caine looking on approvingly. The book ends rather differently, and with a much more menacing emphasis on the title.

Ultimately, I highly recommend reading The Prestige by Christopher Priest. Fans of the film will find plenty new and different to appreciate here, and if you have not seen the movie, I am truly jealous that you may get to experience the twists and turns of this story from the page for the first time.

And, anyone who has ever driven to Denver by way of Iowa and Nebraska will find some relatably amusing lines on page 232 of this new Tor Essentials edition! Thank you, as always, to Tor Publishing for the advance access to this book.
 

A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry

Reviewed for Dragonmount by Michael

eBook available 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the summer of brat, it was the winter of despair. It is a gilded age of desperation as the wealthy enrich themselves at the expense of the everyperson. . .

It feels appropriate to revisit A Tale of Two Cities in the Year of our Lady 2025. Charles Dickens’ classic story set during the French Revolution against the towering backdrop of Le Guillotine, examines the lengths that people will go to for both love and revenge.

A Far Better Thing, by H. G. Parry, puts a Fae twist on the story, asking “what if Sydney Carton was Charles Darnay’s fairy changeling?”

Now, if either of those names, or the names of the Defarges; Miss Pross; Messers Cruncher, Stryver, Lorry, or Barsad, are unfamiliar to you—even if you have read A Tale of Two Cities at some point in your life—I'm going to suggest that you do what I did, and begin by reading or rereading the original work. (If you're into audiobooks, it's free to listen to on THAT app…)

I know that I read the Wishbone version, and the Great Illustrated Classics version, and I think that I also read the full text at one point in my youth. However, it has been a while and I remembered only the broadest strokes: Sydney Carton is a brilliant but troubled lawyer, Madame Defarge is a quietly terrifying menace with her knitting, and the story ends with Carton going to the Guillotine in place of the innocent Charles Darnay. Spoiler alert for the 1859 book, A Tale of Two Cities…

Rereading the original was a powerful experience. Dickens is one of the greats for a reason and his prose absolutely flows, barely slowed by the linguistic differences in the style that 150+ years will do. Even though I knew the ending was coming, the last several pages had me in tears as Sydney Carton holds the young girl’s hand and comforts her as they approach their final moments.

The machinations of the Defarges as their, and especially Madame’s, need for vengeance cannot be sated and goes from righteous to monstrous; the quiet strength of Lucie Manette as she bears the love of so many; the bottomless self-loathing and destruction of the brilliant Carton all explore complex dimensions of humanity in timeless fashion.

The introduction to the audiobook by actor Simon Callow claims that Dickens sacrificed some of his famous character building for the sake of telling a larger story of, well, two cities. Hearing that, I questioned it a bit—Madame Defarge? And Sydney Carton? Iconic characters, at the best and worst of times! 

While it is true that the characters in A Tale of Two Cities are complex, they are presented essentially as is. We especially do not get a satisfactory explanation as to why Sydney Carton is so miserable in his life. A Far Better Thing fleshes out these characters, exploring motivations and subtleties that are indeed missing from the original text.

A Far Better Thing is told from Carton’s perspective, and we quickly discover that he was taken from his cradle as an infant and raised in the Faerie realm to be a servant of the Fae. Returned to the mortal realms, his servitude consists primarily of having to help the Faeries abduct other infants. There are some additional details which are better explored in the pages of the book, but this despicable task alone is sufficient to understand why Carton may have a bit of self-loathing.

Reading the premise of A Far Better Thing, which is described as “Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell meets A Tale of Two Cities,” I was curious to see what a fantasy retelling of a classic novel looked like. Would this book replace the events of the original? Was it a close retelling or an “inspired by” situation? The actuality is that the two books can exist as canon simultaneously, for we quickly learn that most mortals—including most of Dickens’ characters—are not aware of the Fae presence. Essentially, A Tale of Two Cities is the “Muggle” telling of the story and A Far Better Thing is the magical side of the story. Our narrator, being intimately connected to both the Faerie and mortal realms, can guide us readers through the intricacies of the overlap. Dickens, for all of the magic behind his pen, did not have these insights and could only relay the mortal version of the story.

Reading the two tales back-to-back generated the effect of a detective explaining howandwhodunnit at the end of a good mystery. All of the events that we saw with one set of eyes are now explored with a second set, revealing details that we missed or could not have known. The depth of pain and love in Sydney Carton’s heart is explored in wrenching detail, and his sacrifice at the end strikes the reader even harder as the full scope of his redemption is revealed.

The events of A Tale of Two Cities appear almost exactly as they do in the original, but because we are in Carton’s POV, and he is not featured on every page of Dickens’ work, we are treated to some original action and characters that allow Parry’s storytelling and prose to shine. The prose pays homage to Dickens’ writing style, and Parry’s expert familiarity (her PhD is in English literature) with the source material is evident. 

If I am to find criticism—and I truly have to plumb the depths to do so—I will say that the final moments, the final sentence even, left me wanting to read the titular line. Although I understand that a retelling should be just that, I finished the book wanting to read that iconic last sentence of A Tale of Two Cities: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.” I think it would have hit the same, powerful mark but far deeper after spending so much time with the deeds and misrest of Sydney Carton. There is, also, a slight timeline issue which I only raise as a persnickety editorial type, but at one point Carton’s vision is blurring and he describes the world as looking “like an Impressionist painting.” Beautiful imagery, especially in the setting of Paris, but the Impressionist movement did not begin until the 1860s, and the events surrounding the French Revolution took place in the late 1700s.

Overall, A Far Better Thing is a beautiful, fun, and creative read. I enjoyed that it led me to rediscover A Tale of Two Cities (I cannot recommend enough reading the original first), and it more than succeeds in the ambitious undertaking of improving upon a certified classic.
 

As the dust continues to settle from the cancellation of The Wheel of Time show, and the fans continue to make waves in hopes for a savior, a familiar name is making moves of her own. 

Rick Selvage, the CEO of iwot studios, has announced that Sarah Nakamura, story and loremaster consultant for the aforementioned WoT show, has joined the company as Creative Producer, focused on Narrative & Engagement. 

In this new role, Sarah will oversee the narrative development, brand storytelling, and fan engagement across all iwot studio initiatives, as well as represent iwot studios at all fan conventions and industry conferences worldwide.

In addition to this, there will also be a new forthcoming Wheel of Time branded video podcast series, hosted by Sarah Nakamura, which will feature:

• Exclusive updates and behind-the-scenes access to iwot studios projects
• Interviews with directors, actors, game developers, and more!

Sarah Nakamura provided comment on this news, saying:

“For three seasons, I served as a story and lore consultant on the highly successful Sony/[Prime Video] series, always focused on fidelity to canon. That experience prepared me for this new role, where I’ll guide creative decisions and ensure every project remains true to the heart and mythology of the series. I’ve loved this world for as long as I can remember, and it’s an honor to help bring it to life in new, immersive ways.”

iwot studios, formerly known as Red Eagle Entertainment, is perhaps most well known within the fandom for the (rather obscure) first attempted pilot for The Wheel of Time, titled ‘Winter Dragon’ (2015). Following the initial success of the show on Prime Video, many new projects and productions from the iwot team have been announced that, as of yet, have not come to fruition.

With the addition of Sarah Nakamura to the team, one can hope that this could breathe new life and enthusiasm for the projects iwot has in the works for The Wheel of Time universe, which currently includes:

• Age of Legends, a live action origin film directed by award-winning filmmaker Kari Skogland
• The White Tower, A 3D animated feature in collaboration with Quebec’s acclaimed Squeeze Animation Studios
• An ambitious AAA game from iwot sames (sister division of iwot productions), which claims to be an “open world RPG set in The Wheel of Time universe”

Rick Selvage commented on the decision to add Sarah to their team, stating:

“Sarah’s experience, expertise, and deep passion for The Wheel of Time make her the ideal person to guide our transmedia creative efforts. Her commitment to preserving the integrity of the series is unmatched, and we’re thrilled to welcome her back to the team.”

As of now, there is no reported timeline or expectation on when fans should hope to see any of these projects manifest on their screens. The cancellation of The Wheel of Time on Prime Video has done no favors to the expectations fans have for the future of The Wheel of Time media beyond the books, but perhaps the addition of Sarah will be the spark that is needed to see these projects through. 

We wish nothing but the best for Sarah, and hope she finds success and fulfillment in her new ventures with iwot studios!

Ever since the announcement of the cancellation of the Wheel of Time on Prime Video, our world has been in turmoil. Here at Dragonmount, we’ve been grieving and trying to wrap our minds around what this means for the future. We are so proud to be in this Statistically the Best fandom and to have seen the outpouring of love and passion given to the community and the desire to keep telling the story.

Rumors swirl, of course, and you may have seen reporting that this cancellation is the final line in this story. However, showrunner Rafe Judkins expressed hope in an eloquent Instagram post that the show will “do what the books have always managed to do since day one—defy the traditional definitions of ‘beginnings and ends.’”

Thankfully, our friends in the Wheel of Time community have not been hit by the freezing mindset. Instead, they—and us—have chosen to fight. Every voice helps, and if you want to get involved, here is what you can do:

Visit savewot.com to sign the petition and get information to send letters urging other studios to take up the show. Access the Go Fund Me that is raising money for a publicity campaign to put up billboards all over the world to help Save the Wheel of Time. Already, almost $20,000 has been raised, demonstrating the intense love that our community feels for this show.

We know there are a lot of feelings happening right now. But we are so grateful for everyone in this community and the hard work they’re putting into this, making sure that the world knows what we’re begging for!

The story is not over. We stand by, ready to head to Tarmon Gaidon and let this story that is so passionately loved by so many be finished in the way it deserves to be told.

Join our Patreon here!

The new Patreon now includes access to:

• Exclusive WoT content and Maria "RAFO" Simons Q&A.
• Dragonmount-hosted game servers for community play.
• Live guest chats, behind-the-scenes footage, outtakes, and more.
• Special Legacy supporter tags for anyone who supported us before the relaunch!
• More Discord perks, live game nights, and even a say in future Dragonmount content.

Check it out, join us, and become part of a more involved Wheel of Time community with  the rest of us die-hard fans!

CW: violence, cursing, blasphemy, werewolves, effusive praise

Who better to lead us through the darkest timeline than Lord Grimdark himself, Joe Abercrombie? Like a trusted friend who would help you bury a body, Abercrombie doesn’t hesitate to get his hands dirty and do whatever it takes to steer you through a hellish reality. 

With Abercrombie, nothing is sugar-coated or laced with sunshine-and-rainbows optimism. You can rely on him to portray people at their nastiest, the world at its bleakest, and violence in all its dirty, smelly, bodily fluid-filled detail. No one ever wins or is truly happy, but it’s OK once you accept that, and more often than not, it’s kind of funny.

Grimdark is not for the faint of heart, maybe, but as a reader with a heart prone to fainting, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find that Abercrombie’s writing brings me joy in a way no other author can. His prose is sharp, funny, refreshingly real, and strangely hopeful. No one can make me laugh out loud, snort with cynical agreement, or cry at the smallest act of kindness like Abercrombie can.

But when your favorite author releases something completely new and different, you worry a little. Other than a quick detour to publish the YA Shattered Sea trilogy, The Devils is Abercrombie’s first book in 19 years to deviate from the world of The First Law, which consists of two trilogies, three standalone novels, and two sets of short stories. Turns out, when Abercrombie pivots, he just finds new ways to be awesome.

The Devils is the first of three in a set of interconnected but self-contained novels. Departing from the fictional “Circle of the World” setting of The First Law, The Devils takes place in a reimagined version of historical Europe, with one dominant religion worshipping a female Savior (but divided over which gender the clergy should be), leading Crusades against elves, and forming secret societies to do their dirty work for them.

It’s within this “real world” setting that Abercrombie introduces more fantastical elements than ever before. The First Law books are mostly character-driven political intrigue with some magic. The Devils is a character-driven adventure with a lot of magic. It’s the perfect recipe for a twisted fairytale in which the scary monsters are the heroes saving the princess from a handsome prince—or multiple evil cousin princes, in this case. 

The Devils brings to mind William Goldman’s classic twisted tale, The Princess Bride, in which a giant, a pirate, and a vengeful swordsman fight corrupt noblemen to rescue the princess. And with a young female protagonist completely out of her depth but surrounded by quirky friends, and with a good chunk of the action taking place on a boat, it’s almost like a warped version of Brandon Sanderson's Tress of the Emerald Sea (also inspired, of course, by The Princess Bride).

Perhaps it’s a case of a talented author making it look easy, but The Devils seems like it must have been so much fun to write. Released from the bindings of his own First Law (“It is forbidden…to summon demons, and forbidden to open gates to hell”), Abercrombie is now free to wreak bloody havoc. It’s only with that level of reckless abandon that someone would decide to write a 560-page answer to the question of what would happen if a necromancer, a vampire, a werewolf, an elf, a boastful pirate, a lying thief, and a cursed soldier walked into a bar…and a monk was their designated driver.

And so our heroes are not exactly a found family, but a Congregation of sinners forced together into the “Chapel of the Holy Expediency” by clergy with questionable motives. A traditional found family trope might have heroes bonding over personal stories shared by the campfire. The Devils’ devils bond by harassing each other, lying to each other, throwing up on each other, f***ing each other, and trying to kill each other. It’s really very sweet. No, really.

Together, the devils face some of the most disgusting creatures you could imagine—think failed science experiments—doing the most appalling, horrific things, and yet this somehow manages to be the most heartwarming book Abercrombie has written. The Devils, ironically, has a lot to teach about friendship, loyalty, humility, honor, courage, and sacrifice. It poses the question of who are truly the monsters in the story (short answer: it’s Abercrombie, so everyone is bad).  

And, as is so often the case, we find that those who proclaim themselves to be good are the ones to distrust the most, while those who seem evil on the surface may be hiding a heart of gold—or at least bronze. It’s no wonder then that the “worst” of the bunch, Vigga, the savage and bloodthirsty Swedish Viking werewolf, is easily the most lovable character. 

Even then, it’s not that simple in The Devils. No preconception of any character is safe—no one is exactly who they seem, and there’s always another layer of complexity to uncover. And the twists (there are multiple) are brilliantly executed.

Make no mistake, you should never expect a happy ending from Abercrombie. The world is still under threat of war, the people in power are still corrupt, and not much changes for those deemed to be outcasts. But it’s only in a setting so bleak that readers can actually find courage to face the truths Abercrombie never shies away from: people do bad things, you rarely get what you want, life is painful, and sometimes the most you can hope for is not being dead. 

In a surprisingly philosophical moment, Vigga the werewolf advises us to “clutch with both hands at any flicker of warmth that can be clawed from the uncaring darkness of existence.” Being in the dark is what makes those moments of light—from the smallest gesture of kindness to the greatest sacrifice—all the more meaningful. That’s why The Devils is so unexpectedly sweet, and it’s why we can turn to Lord Grimdark and his monsters to help us find hope and humor in the darkest of times.

Grace is a licensed mental health counselor who believes in the healing power of found family in fantasy novels and IRL. Also known as Bain & Chiad, Grace has been reading The Wheel of Time since 1998, when she and her high school sweetheart dressed up as Elayne and Rand for Halloween. She fell in love with present-day WoT fandom and was inducted into Far Dareis Mai in 2019. She is the writer of Maidens’ List and a cohost of The Light’s Work.

“Bury my bones in the midnight soil. Plant them shallow and water them deep. And in my place will grow a feral rose.”

This book is told from the perspectives of María in 1532, Charlotte in 1827, and Alice in a much more familiar 2019. All three are swept away from their mundane lives by equally enigmatic women, and find themselves with no pulse, an unquenchable thirst, and remarkably less patience with the ways of men. Three feral roses with rather sharp thorns.

We see the most of María through the years, learning how to be a vampire without any form of instruction, and constantly reinventing herself as she travels across the world and the centuries. Some of her victims deserve it. Some. Alice at least has the benefit of already knowing what a vampire is from pop culture, as well as having ready access to the internet, but even she is entirely unprepared for what is happening to her.

As the reader, we become increasingly complicit in the crimes of our vampire trio, urging them on at first, until we realise perhaps too late that things are getting a bit out of hand. Even Alice, who is the closest to still being a good person here, is still ripping out throats with gay abandon. So, varying degrees of villainy all round, but they are always entertaining. Eventually, the stories begin to overlap, and there is a very satisfying payoff for all the backstory.

This is a wonderfully written modern take on the vampire genre, and along with “Hungerstone” by Kat Dunn, we’re definitely having a great year for sapphic exsanguination.

Highly recommended for all blood types!

Don't forget, you can pick this up in our ebook store!

The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, and sometimes it leaves us with loose threads and unfinished tales. The Wheel of Time has been canceled after three seasons on Prime Video. The news was first reported by Deadline, and while we haven’t seen an official statement, the shock is already rippling across the fandom.

Like many of you, we’re heartbroken and deeply disappointed. The Wheel of Time was more than just another fantasy adaptation—it was a labor of love, an ambitious reimagining of one of the most beloved and layered epic fantasy series ever written. Just as the show was hitting its stride by delivering its most compelling season yet, it's being cut short.

Sadly, this is an all-too-familiar tale for fans of sci-fi and fantasy. Genre shows, especially sprawling epics, need time. Time to introduce their worlds, to let characters breathe and evolve, and to plant the kind of deep, subtle narrative seeds that make stories like The Wheel of Time so satisfying. Robert Jordan was a master of foreshadowing—things introduced in early books pay off many volumes later. That kind of storytelling requires long-term vision and studio commitment, but streamers haven’t learned that lesson. Renewing shows one or two seasons at a time forces writers to hedge their bets. Every season has to feel like it could be the last, robbing the story of the narrative space it needs.

The Wheel of Time has faced more than its fair share of challenges and has still succeeded in spite of them. The first season was produced on a modest budget (compared to other big-budget fantasy productions) during the chaos of the COVID pandemic. While navigating logistical nightmares and building unplanned sets, they also lost a lead actor and had to do significant last-minute rewrites to both Season 1 and 2. They faced both a writer’s strike and an actor’s strike, and again, the cast and crew adapted. When the second season debuted, there was no major premiere event, no press junket, and very little promotional support. The studio gave the show minimal marketing and merchandising (they couldn’t even give us updated Prime Video avatars!). 

All three seasons performed well in terms of viewership, with Season 3 showcasing some of the strongest character work, visual storytelling, and epic moments yet. Fans and critics alike praised the show’s improvement and momentum. The main plot was coalescing. The world was expanding. The Pattern was finally emerging, only to be severed.

But maybe… just maybe… this isn’t the ending. Perhaps it’s only an ending. There’s always hope that another network or studio—one that better understands the genre and the value of long-form storytelling—might recognize what Prime Video did not and give it another chance. The Wheel never stops turning.

The Wheel of Time has thousands of named characters, dozens of nations, distinct cultures, and countless possibilities for spinoffs that would appeal to audiences of all sorts—Aes Sedai politics, Aiel sagas, Age of Legends backstories, life in Seanchan. The show barely scratched the surface, and the world is full of potential.

Whatever comes, we remain grateful for the stories we did get, for the cast and crew who gave it their all, and for all the new fans who have discovered our favorite epic series. 

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

If you've ever wished you could walk the streets of Emond’s Field, hear the wind howling through Blighted trees, or stand with Rand on Dragonmount and truly feel the weight of the moment—Jordan Rannells is granting more wishes than the ‘finn. His new Kickstarter project, The Soundscape of Time: Part 2, is a beautifully immersive audio experience that pairs synchronized 3D soundscapes with the official Wheel of Time audiobooks.

It's not just listening. It's weaving sound directly into the soul of the story.

Back the Kickstarter Here KICKSTARTER ENDS MAY 23rd

Give it a Listen

Aes Sedai-Level Immersion

Jordan Rannells, an award-winning sound designer and audio wizard (likely of the Brown Ajah), has been creating soundscapes for epic fantasy worlds for years—but his Wheel of Time work is an epic undertaking that even Verin might raise an eyebrow at.

These are no ordinary background tracks. His soundscapes are:

• Chapter-Specific: Each track is tailored to the specific scenes and emotional tone of a chapter.

• Synced with the audiobooks: Thanks to a custom-built Soundscape Syncing App, your journey through the Westlands will align perfectly with the narration.

• Built with original music and layered effects: From bubbling creeks in the Two Rivers to the clash of swords at Fal Dara, it’s all meticulously crafted to tug at your thread of the Pattern.

   

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Threads Previously Woven

This isn’t Rannells' first time spinning a yarn with immersive sound. His previous projects include:

• The Eye Collection: For The Eye of the World

• The Hunt Collection: For The Great Hunt

• A Long-Expected Soundscape: For Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings

• The Hedge Collection: For GRRM’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Each collection offers original scores and handcrafted ambiance—no illusions from a Mirror of Mists, just pure talent and clear love for the source material.

Behind the White Tower Walls

If you're curious about how these soundscapes are woven, Rannells offers fans a peek behind the Warder cloak. His website includes:

• Composer's Notes and Behind-the-Scenes Videos

• Ambient Mood Tracks for reading, relaxing, or Tinker-style wandering

• Chapter Samples for a taste of each world

• FAQ and App Support to ensure syncing your audiobook experience doesn’t require Aes Sedai assistance

And if you’re hunting for gifts (perhaps for Bel Tine?), his shop even includes gift cards and collector-worthy bundles.

A Silver Penny’s Worth of Support

Here’s the thing—even a pledge of just $1 is a thread that helps strengthen the weave. Every backer contributes to expanding this soundscape beyond the Two Rivers and into the larger world of Randland!.

And for those of us who want to listen while re-reading (or re-re-re-re-re-re-listening), The Soundscape of Time is the perfect companion.

The Pattern Demands It

This Kickstarter isn’t just about audio—it's about honoring a beloved series and making the world of The Wheel of Time more tangible than ever. It's about standing in the Fields of Merrilor and hearing the war horns, or wandering the White Tower with whispers echoing through the halls.

Whether you’re Aiel or Andoran, Cairhienin or Seanchan, Blue Ajah or Black Tower—if the Wheel weaves you toward this project, listen.

Because the Pattern is calling.
And it sounds amazing.

Back the Kickstarter Here

Watch the Demo Video

Explore More at JordanRannells.com

If you think you would enjoy a light and humorous fantasy series with a central sapphic romance, and you’ve not yet even checked out the first book “You Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea”, stop reading this review right now and go start there. What sort of person are you? Do you look at the last page of a book before you start reading  to make sure there’s a happy ending? Go away! (There is, by the way.)

Rogue alchemists have kidnapped Reyna, the Queensguard-turned-Queen, right after her wedding to Kianthe, the most powerful mage in the country. Given that particular set of volatile ingredients, they are certainly going to get a big reaction! (Because alchemy. Never mind.) Worse than that pun, due to their combined fame across the lands, the town of Tawney is now getting a touch too popular as a tourist destination, which is causing problems for everyone around them. There’s one obvious solution, and that’s closing their beloved tea shop for good and moving away.

Reyna doesn’t stay kidnapped for very long of course, and as part of the investigation into who exactly was behind it, our pair end up spending a lot of time at the Magicary, home of the Stone of Seeing. With all the focus on the Queendom last time, it’s fun to see Reyna on Kianthe’s home turf here. The tensions between the Mages and the Alchemists are well done with their two wildly different approaches to magic, and the resulting prejudices and misunderstandings.

I am on record as enjoying all the previous books in this series, so when Rebecca Thorne said this was the best one yet, it is fair to say that my expectations were suitably raised. I’m glad to say that it delivers on both a fun new adventure, as well as a satisfying end to the series. It wraps up a wide number of things, including the fate of the last missing dragon egg from book one. There is one outstanding unanswered question at the end however, concerning the whereabouts of a particular person, so I am not entirely convinced this is the last we will ever see of Tawney and these wonderful characters. At least, I hope not.

It’s always a good feeling when you can recommend a whole completed series, and I can now do so without reservation!

Don't forget, you can pick this up in our ebook store!

Wylla Sotain is a scavenger, living day by day, and searching for the elusive big score that will allow her to finally repair her ship and drag herself out of poverty in an uncaring galaxy. In this particular future, people wear AI-powered masks to enhance their abilities. Wylla has a battered old MARK I RABBIT, which means her senses are heightened, like the prey animal she is.

It seems like her fortunes are about to change when she finds the MARK I HAWK mask—an expensive prototype that should not exist—lying on the face of a dead woman called Sable Veonya. When she puts the mask on, Sable talks to her and remembers being murdered. Now everybody is looking for them, including VisorForge, the corporation that is responsible for the masks, and the other scavengers who want a piece of the action.

The book is told in second person perspective, with Sable talking to you, the reader, as if you were Wylla. Harrow the Ninth readers will be quite familiar with this format. Wylla is trans and has been fighting the system her whole life. Sable, on the other hand, now has no body at all. They both accept each other quickly, and a relationship develops between the two of them while they try to track down Sable’s killer, and avoid the authorities.

There are so many enjoyable and unique ideas here, and the plot moves very quickly. I do wish this was a full length novel, so the story had a bit more time to breathe, and the romance could develop slightly more naturally over time. As it is though, you can probably read this in one sitting, and get the whole thing downloaded into your brain near-instantaneously. Which, honestly, seems quite fitting.

Recommended!

Don't forget, you can pick this up in our ebook store!

Dr. Saffy Walden, MThau, PhD, works at Chetwood Academy as the Director of Magic. Alongside the endless marking, meetings, and general bureaucracy that comes with her administrator position at the school, she still gets to do a fair bit of teaching to the sixth form. Which comes with the usual hormone-fuelled dramas, of course, but also the small matter of trying to keep the students from getting possessed and/or opening portals to hell dimensions. Teenagers do not always make the best decisions, but then, sometimes neither do the adults.

Further complicating things are the Marshalls, led by Laura Kenning. The Marshalls are essentially magical cops, an ancient order who are there to protect humanity from the demons (and, if somewhat unspoken, from the staff and students too). Laura has a deep distrust of Dr Walden, and the feeling is distinctly mutual—if only Laura wasn’t quite so attractive.

The world of The Incandescent is well developed, exploring a lot of the day-to-day operation of the school before things inevitably go sideways in the second half. The story did not go at all in the directions I expected, although one of the villains may as well have been twirling a moustache throughout their introduction. There is a pleasant romance subplot, although it’s not the main focus of the story.

There are several delightful and imaginative touches to this world, which is very similar to our own but with magic woven through it. For example, you have one has to be very careful not to refer to everyday objects as “you” on campus, because this will create an opening for evil forces to take up residence. As a result, the number of people swearing at the photocopier has left it with a demon inside that demands tribute before it will properly function.

While I was reading this, I soon got the feeling that the author has some first-hand experience in academia, and indeed she does; Emily Tesh teaches Latin and Ancient Greek to school kids in Hertfordshire. Applying that real-world experience to a magic school is genius, and grounds this story in a tangible realism that makes the fantastical elements work so well. It’s also enjoyable to have a book with an older, highly competent female protagonist, if not without her flaws.

I highly recommend this book to both academics and magicians alike.
 

Don't forget, you can pick this up in our ebook store!

Robert Jordan wrote many words in all of his books, but did you know he wrote blog posts too?

Dragonmount was the home to Robert Jordan's blog when he was alive, sharing his thoughts as he proceeded through the creation of the series. 

Who knew that here in 2025 we would be honored to host additional unpublished words that he wrote.

Today is a very special day because it is Tom Doherty and TOR's birthday! TOR is the publishing house that has published all of Robert Jordan's books and Tom Doherty is the founder of TOR.

As a birthday present, we have been gifted a previously unpublished letter to Tom Doherty from Robert Jordan written in 2005.

And we gift this to you, dear reader, to celebrate Tom's 90th birthday.

Quote

With the exception of one book with Dell, and one with Popham Press, my wife’s imprint, all my books have been published by Tom Doherty.  Come to think of it, Popham Press was distributed by Ace when Tom was publisher there, so he was (at the least) the distributor of that one, too.   And he reprinted both of those books later, at Tor.  In fact, I guess you could say it’s been a clean sweep.  Excluding a handful of short pieces, Tom has published everything I’ve ever written.  That isn’t by accident.

 

I first met Tom in offices that very much resembled the publishing office in Kavalier and Clay.  Yes, they did.  The old Zazy Building, in Manhattan, with its old-fashioned, wall-less freight elevator that we used about as often as we used the main elevator because that was only intermittently in service.  But then, the freight elevator had a habit of getting stuck between floors, too.  Of course, sometimes you got to ride up with models on their way to a garment business that occupied one floor.  There was a doorman, or at least a guy who sat in the lobby wearing a jacket and tie, and on several occasions he decided to go out to lunch and lock the lobby, leaving anybody who was outside at the time to wait on the street for his return.  There were a number of greasy spoons, or very nearly, in the area, but the best food was actually at a strip club about a block away.  That should tell you something.  Who says you can always find a good restaurant in New York?

 

The offices were tiny.  Of course, when the people filming the Jack Nicholson movie “Wolf” came to look at Tom’s current office in the Flat Iron Building so they could make Jack’s office in the movie look “real,” they were shocked.  It is MUCH bigger than that first office I saw him in, where you walked in the door and took one step to reach the chair in front of his desk, with just room behind it for his chair and some bookshelves, but it seems that in Hollywood, the fourth assistant to the second assistant best boy has larger, so you know how small that original office was.  Real Kavalier and Clay stuff.  The bookshelves often fell off the walls, too.

 

Tom ran an open office.  Not open in the sense used today of no walls, but a place where writers were welcome to drop by any time and hang around as long as they wanted to, chat with the editors, drink coffee and shmooze.  He still does.  You’d be surprised how few publishers – or editors! – want writers around any more than they absolutely have to put up with, but Tom likes writers, likes to be around them.  There are reasons that every writer I know likes Tom in return and enjoys working with him more than working with any other publisher in the business.  Of course, if you hung around the office long enough, you’d end up reading slush.  That’s unagented submissions, for the three of you who don’t already know, and a more dire task than reading slush cannot be envisioned short of Dante’s seventh circle.  But we liked to hang around, so we read.  Hey, maybe you’d find a diamond in all that dross.  Then again, no way.  That’s how I met John M. Ford, Mike Ford, who became a close friend.  We were reading slush for Tom.  I met some other friends there that way.  There were always three or four of us, sometimes eight or ten.  A mini-con for writers only.  I wouldn’t be surprised if writers who hang around the present Tor offices find themselves doing the same.

 

There was one other thing about those old offices that I, and every writer I know who visited them, liked immensely.  You could walk into Tom’s office, pitch a book, and if he liked your idea, the two of you would walk down to the contracts department – one woman, a door down from Tom – where you signed the contract, then walked one more door down to get the check cut for your signature money.  I remember pitching The Wheel of Time to him in that office.  He scribbled a number on a piece of paper, asked me what I thought of that, and we walked down the hall.  I doubt it could be done that way today, but Tom has kept the feel such that you believe it could.  There are reasons every writer I know....

 

From the beginning, I liked Tom.  He is always smiling, always upbeat.  I have never seen him frown, never seen him angry.  “Life is too short for that,” he tells me.  He laughs at my jokes, and always did.  That is an endearing trait in anybody.  He knows more about publishing than anybody I’ve ever met, including my wife, and that’s saying something since Harriet has forgotten more about publishing than most people in the industry know.  He’s always willing to try something new, new ways of marketing, new kinds of books.  It was Tom who came up with the idea of printing nearly the first half of The Eye of the World and giving it away for free.  Not free with the purchase of another Tor book.  Not a few sample chapters.  Almost the entire first half of the book, stacked beside the cash register, pick one up and take it away.  Any other publisher hearing me pitch, not a trilogy, but something that would run to five or maybe six volumes – that’s how long I thought it would be back then – would have tossed me out on my ear, or maybe said, “I’ll take the first book, and we’ll see what comes of it.”  Tom said, “I’ll make it a contract for six books.  If it comes in at five, you can do something else for the sixth book.  I like the way you write.”

 

Barry Sadler, of “Ballad of the Green Beret” fame and author of a number of adventure novels, once said to me, “Tom Doherty is best of breed.”  It’s true.  I cannot imagine a better publisher, or a better friend.  It has been nearly twenty-five years that we have worked together.  I hope there will be that many more.  At least.

 

– Robert Jordan

Happy Birthday, Mr. Doherty. Thank you for everything you have done for The Wheel of Time. And thank you to Robert from Tor for sharing this letter with us and to Harriet for allowing us to publish this.