Dragon Keeper Synopsis (and other promotion)

[chriSchaeffer]

I didn't see this on the front page, so I thought I would post it here.

Dragon Keeper Synopsis

Return to the world of the Liveships Traders and journey along the Rain Wild River in this standalone adventure from the author of the internationally acclaimed Farseer trilogy. Tintaglia the blue dragon has lost interest in the stunted dragons that emerged from the cocoons of Maulkin's Serpent Tangle. Dragons are fiercely practical about survival of the fittest, and now that she has produced her own batch of healthy hatching serpents Tintaglia no longer provides for the weak creatures abandoned near Trehaug, the main city of the Rain Wilds. The Rain Wild Council is as ruthless as Tintaglia: Deciding that the pack must be relocated they begin to recruit their least useful citizens to tend the beasts and escort them upriver to better hunting grounds. Because of their proximity to the acid waters and vapours of the Rain Wild River, Rain Wilders are born with deformities that shorten their life expectancy and must wed young and reproduce early if their family lines are to survive. Thymara is long past marriageable age. Having been born with too many abnormalities she should have been exposed as an infant, but her father chose to keep and raise her, against his wife's wishes. When Thymara's mother hears that the council is seeking tenders she grasps the chance to be rid of her wild, ugly daughter. But Thymara shows just as much enthusiasm at the prospect of adventure and grabs the opportunity to travel with the dragons. But the youngsters that will herd the dragons are as ignorant as the beasts themselves - both completely unaware that they are being sent into an exile rather than to a sanctuary.

via Pat's Fantasy Hotlist

So excited!

[Mervi]

Thanks Chris! I've been meaning to post it along other information, but have been too busy. I'll try to do it later tonight.

[Mervi]

It looks like the book is finished: http://webnews.sff.net/read?cmd=read&artid=%3C4993c306.0@news.sff.net%3E

I'm a bit worried about the editing process. If they decide to split the book because of its size AND publish the second part later, the wait will be terrible!

[chriSchaeffer]

Awesome! Thanks for the link Mervi.

On a side note, I live in Texas and I think I would freak out if I happened to just see her walking around. HA!

[Thear]

Awesome! Thanks for the link Mervi.

On a side note, I live in Texas and I think I would freak out if I happened to just see her walking around. HA!

Hi.
I didnt know that there was a forum solemny for Robin Hobb. I much appreciate that. I discovered today that there will be a new book (Dragon Keeper) and then this forum, where there was a quote from it. Lovely, and thanks alot.
But now i have to wait for it to come out thats the bad part. I realy do love her books, when she writes as Robin Hobb, have not read the others as Megan Lindholm.
Bah im rambling on in excitement, anyway thanks for the quote and the forum.

Thear

[Mervi]

Welcome Thear, and thank you. This site has been around for a few years now, but the forum is a new addition, so things are pretty quiet still. Feel free to jump into discussions or start your own!

The latest news is a confirmation that Jackie Morris, who did the cover art for the newest UK editions of Robin's books will also be making the cover art for Dragon Keeper. She already received a copy of the manuscript, or at least a part of it. She has a wonderful journal at her site, http://jackiemorris.co.uk/ with beatiful photos from the part of Wales she lives in as well as "progress report" photos about her work.

[Cecilyk]

So do we have a date? (Sorry, I'm new here and just sniffing around). I can't find anything on Amazon and I'm wondering where the info is coming from. *excited*

EDIT: Sorry. I see the post above now. So we have a manuscript in. That's great news.

[chriSchaeffer]

It's not on the amazon.com site, but you can find it on the uk site: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007273746

I'll be ordering a UK book. No need in waiting around for silly American publishers!

[Cecilyk]

Thanks!!

[Mervi]

The HarperCollings page has been updated with a new title for the "series", looks like the first book is going to be titled "The Rain Wild Chronicles- Dragon Keeper". The publication date is the June 25th, and since the page has just been updated, I think it's safe to assume that information is correct as it hasn't been changed.

Also: here's the new synopsis:

Guided by the great blue dragon Tintaglia, they came from the sea: a Tangle of serpents fighting their way up the Rain Wilds River, the first to make the perilous journey to the cocooning grounds in generations. Many have died along the way. With its acid waters and impenetrable forest, it is a hard place for any to survive.People are changed by the Rain Wilds, subtly or otherwise. One such is Thymara. Born with black claws and other aberrations, she should have been exposed at birth. But her father saved her and her mother has never forgiven him. Like everyone else, Thymara is fascinated by the return of dragons: it is as if they symbolise the return of hope to their war-torn world. Leftrin, captain of the liveship Tarman, also has an interest in the hatching; as does Bingtown newlywed, Alise Finbok, who has made it her life's work to study all there is to know of dragons.But the creatures which emerge from the cocoons are a travesty of the powerful, shining dragons of old. Stunted and deformed, they cannot fly; some seem witless and bestial. Soon, they become a danger and a burden to the Rain Wilders: something must be done. The dragons claim an ancestral memory of a fabled Elderling city far upriver: perhaps there the dragons will find their true home. But Kelsingra appears on no maps and they cannot get there on their own: a band of dragon keepers, hunters and chroniclers must attend them.To be a dragon keeper is a dangerous job: their charges are vicious and unpredictable, and there are many unknown perils on the journey to a city which may not even exist...