Could this release be executed more poorly?

Seriously; going from Nov 2011, to March of 2012 and now, November of 2012!?!?!

According to one the of the tweets, releasing early next year "wouldn't make much sense marketing wise" how about taking into consideration the loyal fans of the books that have stuck it out this long...

Wow, sorry about the rant on DM but just sick to death of the games.

I agree with above. It isn't right that, after so many years and delays (not intentional) that the book be delayed even further for "marketing reasons" (aka we want to potentially make more money). This book is going to sell well no matter when they release it - anyone who is going to purchase it is going to to so ASAP, regardless of whether it's released near Christmas, Family Day, Spring Break, or any other holiday (I graduate from University in the Spring, and if it came out the day of my graduation, I'd still go out, buy it, and be reading it during the ceremony!). If Brandon is done the first draft by November, and Harriet wants 6 months to edit/proofread/polish, then it should be out in the summer at the very latest, and late Spring at the earliest. I don't know if there's any way to voice such concerns (ie. contact him without sounding like a whiny obsessed fan) to Brandon or not (as I doubt he has much power to sway the publishing company), but someone should try.

Was Spring ever a serious release date? I've been expecting November 2012 for a long time now, not sure what the fuss is about.

I agree with Jad and khutch. Fully.

Was Spring ever a serious release date? I've been expecting November 2012 for a long time now, not sure what the fuss is about.

Don’t you really? I wouldn’t call this a fuss, but an understandable protest. Spring was a release date as serious as everything else it’s being said since last year. That is, nil. But that’s something we’ve found out lately.

November 2012 was being mooted back in April so no, I don't understand why the fuss now. I'd rather have Brandon and Harriet take their time to make sure this book is as good as it could be. Towers of Midnight was rushed as we know and there were a few storyline errors and spelling mistakes in there; I think the last book deserves the attention they're giving it.

According to Brandon's website he's 75% done on the first draft so it may be a bit unrealistic for it to be ready for the editing stage by November. I also feel it's unrealistic to expect the publishers not to want to market the final book the best they can, I certainly don't hold that against them. But really I don't care much about that. I just want this book to be the best it can and if that means another six months to wait, so be it.

Honestly, it looks to me like a no-brainer for the publisher. They already know that the already-converted WoT fans will buy this thing no matter what. That puts the fans in a hopeless bargaining position. If profits are the name of the game, then it's *obvious* that they'll push for a release date that will make a big splash.

And if they're *very* successful, there's a *possibility* that current WoT fans might benefit from it. If they actually convert a lot of people to WoT fandom, that might spill over into other WoT-related things being offered on the horizon (although an HBO series might be too much to ask for).

At any rate, I think this sort of reasoning on the part of the publisher is perfectly predictible--whether or not you like it.

It better be before Dec. 2012! Our own Tarmon Gaidon is coming!

All comments that included name calling and insulting each other were deleted. Please be mindful of Dragonmount's Code of Conduct when posting in the future.

WhiskyJack

18 October 2011 - 05:13 AM

It better be before Dec. 2012! Our own Tarmon Gaidon is coming!

2012 baby! Publish the book!

I'm glad they are taking their time, but I really hate that. I started from the first book again (it had been so long since I had read it, I had forgotten what happened!)because I knew I would have enough time to finish them all before the new book was released. Now there is going to be a gap in time there and I'll forget everything again. So much for well-made plans!

I think all the speculation is fun. I've only just received the paperback of Towers of Midnight. So I will be awhile with that. Then I have a hundred other books to keep me amused until the final book. Can't say I'm in a rust to finish something I have lived with all these years.

Nick

Brandon dropped the ball a bit by throwing out possible release dates before even having started to write the book. He knew he wasn't going to hit the hoped for release date of Nov '11, so he tried to placate fans by giving them a March-April '12 release estimate. Not that big of a deal though really.

I forgot about the Holiday season incentive. I'd think November is the likeliest release date now. A whole year to wait but imagine how amazing the book will be after nearly a year of editing and revisions!

If you believe the Mayan calendar, Nov '12 could be the last book Tor will get to publish, and they won't have time to enjoy the money. So get cracking Tor publish the book!

As I understood it, Brandon hopes/plans, writing machine that he is, to give Harriet a decent first draft on or by New Year's Day Allowing a reasonable two months for edits and fixes and two more months for final draft polish, that means something going to Tor by maybe May- June. I know the publishing etc takes a while, but I'll be getting antsy if they just sit on it til november. People who've never heard of the series aren't going to buy it straight off, are they?! There's only us and they know well they can charge us anything near reasonable and we'll pay. We might complain, but I for one will have that bloomin' book the day it's released here and no later. So many people have been loyal fans for decades it'd be distasteful of Tor to make us wait an eternity for the last one.

If they really wait until Nov. of next year for the sole purpose of exploiting the holiday season, they are doing the loyal, and long-suffering, fans a disservice. My only form of protest will be to buy the book, read it as fast as humanly possible, and then return it. I might do this several times until the book stores drop their prices and then I'll own it.

Actually aunt_pol, Brandon has mentioned that Team Jordan will probably be doing around 6 months of editing this time.

I have only been a Wot fan for less than a year. I love this journey and how teamjordan stepped up for the fans to bring the rest of the story to them. As othinel put it this series deserves the exposure. This is a wonderful story. The disappointment from fans, in regards to the release date, essentially comes from the joy this book will bring. I know I have had it easier then, as savewater put it, "long suffering fans" like khutch and jad. The books, comics and audio books are very addictive. From what I've researched there has been allot of support and understanding towards teamjorden by devoted caring fans but there is always the pressure that the story will meeting all of our expectations. But we can make this experience one of nurturing, more positive, for teamjorden. Once they all are rested and Brandon has finished his epic (that I also look forward too!!!) we may be lucky enough to blessed by more books for the WoT... who knows.

I just want to clarify (and this may get a little long): those of us that feel frustrated (at least me, but it sounds like others aswell) are frustrated not at Team Jordan, nor Brandon. I think they are doing a wonderful job, and Brandon is generally very open with fans about the writing process, which is great. If team Jordan wants 6 months, or 8 months, or a year to edit, that is not a problem either. What the problem is, is specifically that because Brandon has been so open, we have been told: 1)goal for finished first draft is Nov. 8th, 2) Harriet wants more time (about 6 months) to edit.

Now, assuming this, this brings us to around April, but, lets be even more liberal and say by June editing and polishing and what-have-you is done. They need to then print and distribute the book. This should not take long, since Bantam was able to print and distribut "A Dance With Dragons" in between April 29th and July 12th - less than 2 months really. This takes us to August, which, I think, is when it should come out - as soon as they can manage.

If the publishers decide to hold it for marketing reasons (supposed more sales due to holidays), this is, quite literally, a slap in the face to each and every fan of the series. We were told one book, then three (one per year), then the last one was going to get pushed back a few months (not a problem, Brandon needs down time), and now, we may have to wait, AGAIN, not for artistic reasons, not to make the book better, but because the publisher (who has already delayed and delayed, and has gotten three times their money's worth from the "last book") wants to market it more. This is saying that this book is for the money, not for us, the fans.

I wholeheartedly support team Jordan, and Brandon, and want them to make it an amazing book. There is no conflict in my mind about that. But, the fans deserve this book when it is ready, not when the publisher can (potentially, though see my previous post about why I think it is unlikely)release it to better sales.

I want the book to come out as much as anyone. A lot of us long-time fans have been waiting a long time for this. I agree that Brandon, Harriet, and whoever else should take as long as needed to get it right. I also think it is incumbent on the publisher to get the book out in a mostly timely manner, but you all have to remember that publishers publish books in order to make money (both for them and for the author).

Thus, the publisher has a balancing act of trying to appease the fans and get them a book they are waiting for, but also a duty to themselves and the author to make money. Quite honestly, if they could have the book ready in August, but wait till November to release it, I don't have a huge problem with that. If you were the author and it meant that you were going to sell more copies, I doubt any of you would have a problem with it either. If the publisher waits an extra year to put the book out, I would have a problem with it, but if it just pushes it out 2 or 3 months, it really isn't that big a deal to me. There are tons of books out there and I can always find something else to read if I really want.

As far as I'm concerned, it gives Brandon and the editors a little extra time to get it right and hopefully makes the book that much better. Hopefully it also also increases sales and makes the group of followers even bigger.

I too cannot wait for the book and I will probably take a day off of work to read it. However it is also depressing to think that this is the last book. I have been reading these books for nearly 20 years and the characters have brought me a significant amount of joy. So while I am dying to see how the books end, I am also very sad to see them end. Luckily, I have all of the books in paperback and will be able to read them again and again. Thank you Mr. Jordan, Harriet and Brandon for years of enjoyment. Cheers to the next 20 years!

I agree with most on this..to a point. The issue, for me, with holding the book due to marketing concerns is that WoT has a large population of people who are waiting, and waiting for this last book to come out so we can finish the series. I submit that the publisher could release this book on a Sunday morning at 3am and the line would still be around the block to purchase this book..so the concept of waiting until the holiday season holds no water for me. Take the time necessary to make sure this final book is as good as it can be..certainly, but to make us wait for more months simply because the publisher thinks it isn't the right time?..somewhat insulting.

just my two cents.

I have loved and treasured these books for four years now, I suppose one more won't kill me, all I hope is that Team Jordan put their all into it, which I know they will!! On the plus side it looks like I have time to read them all again!! R.I.P. Robert Jordan, we love and miss you!

Its a lot better then waiting on "A Dance with Dragons" by George RR Martin. I waited for that book for five years; and I didn't exactly by the first edition hard copy of the book before it so I don't really know how long a time was between the publication of the two. "Team Jordan" at least seems to have a thought out plan that they are willing to share with their readers.

"this is, quite literally, a slap in the face to each and every fan of the series."

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. Well, unless TOR has drastically changed their publishing strategy at least.

Since we don't even know when Brandon is going to finish the book and hand over a draft, I think some folks are overreacting a little. Given the likelihood of a New year's turnover (because if the book were turned over for editing we'd probably have heard by now, and the holidays probably aren't as conducive for writing as other times of the year) and a six month edit window we're talking end of June before it can even go to the printers. Dance With Dragons took another 2 and a half months, so it's already mid September. Given the timeframes, I wouldn't be surprised if we got September 16 or October 17.

Even if it does come out in November, considering Sanderson reread the whole series again to prepare and he has to close out all the plotlines, I don't think it's a big deal (not to mention it's faster than the post Path of Daggers books came out.)

I was a Freshman in college in 1990 when I read "The Eye of the World." Since then I've graduated, gotten a Master's, and served 17 years in the Air Force. I'd rather they take the time to get it right and close this epic series properly. I can wait 6-9 more months for that. It would be unfortunate to rush and not close the various threads we've all been dying to see wrapped up.

Just my $0.02.