Pre-release City of Dragons (spoilers Farseer, LST, TM and RWC)

[Farseer]

Good spotting, Albertosaurus Rex, and HOORAY for Dutch friends!

I saw the pics when Robin first posted them and thought over the three different-coloured covers, but then forgot about them when I hadn't a hope of knowing what was written on each cover. What I should have done was ask you guys , or at least taken the time to place my mouse over the one that comes up with the digit '3'...that's somewhat of a giveaway!

Robin says it is the projected cover only but I'm not sure what else they could really change except the colours of the leaves or the title itself?

What I think is amazing is that the "third" book is already being translated into Dutch and Robin is still making changes in English! Even more amazing is that, up until now, we have been told that this book was never meant to be the "second", let alone "third", of anything, especially as the other two (DK and DH) are really "one". We were even told, as far as I am aware, that although the new story was to follow the events of the Kelsingra expedition post-Dragon Haven, it was still to be a single book in its own right (despite being split into the two parts), and not part of the previously-released 'Chronicles'.

It will be interesting to see what happens, though it does seem that all will be just smooshed together now, under the RWC umbrella. No doubt both books having to be split into two parts has made things a little tricky otherwise...

November 11th may not seem so far-fetched if Robin is just tweaking things now? Two books in one year is almost too much excitement for this Hobb fan...I'd best get to my re-read so I'm up-to-date for the next release!

[Albertosaurus Rex]

You know, while a dragon's eye among leaves fits with the theme of dragons that are unable to fly, I can't help but think of dinosaurs whenever I see those covers.

The fact that the Dutch edition has a title while the final title hasn't even been revelead yet in English weirds me out. I think she refrred to it as "Dragon Traders" once, but stressed that it was just a working title. So... Dragon Commander. Is that a dragon who commands or someone who commands dragons? What does the Dutch publisher knlow that we don't?

[Mervi]

Excellent catch, Albertosaurus Rex! I saw Robin had updated her site, but haven't had the time to actually go through the content yet.

You Dutch folks are so lucky! I wonder if that release date means we're getting back to the crazy years when the Dutch translations preceded the English first editions... (if I recall correctly, most of the TM trilogy was published that way).

[Albertosaurus Rex]

It won't do much for me, though - I personally prefer to read the English versions.

[Farseer]

Hmm...maybe I should forgo Spanish and begin learning Dutch then!

I can't help but think of dinosaurs whenever I see those covers.

For me also.

The fact that the Dutch edition has a title while the final title hasn't even been revelead yet in English weirds me out.

I'm with you on that as well!

So... Dragon Commander. Is that a dragon who commands or someone who commands dragons? What does the Dutch publisher knlow that we don't?

It seems unlikely to me that it would be a dragon who commands (unless it could be a simulacra dragon but even then a 'true' dragon would unlikely bow to the orders of stone?), given that dragons don't seem to be prone to giving over authority to other dragons, although Mercor-as-Dragon/Maulkin-as-Serpent does command respect and carries a certain weight among the Kelsingra group.

By the time Tintaglia and Icefyre arrive back on the scene, the other dragons will have reached full physical health, and no doubt all be flying as Heeby and Sintara have done, so they will not have any advantage over the other dragons.

The first thing that comes to mind is that it will not be so much as a human commanding dragons but someone "in command" of something that includes the dragons. I have one theory that it was *general RotE spoilers that includes Farseer and TM*

Spoiler

the dragons and the Elderlings etc who were like the 'protectors' of the realm in the days of the Old Empire. Once the defenders of the realm were done away with, a true takeover of the world could begin. It was the Elderlings/Skilled Ones as simulacra dragons etc who rid the shores of the Red Ships and also did much to prevent further Forging (though ultimately the PW and Kebal Rawbread did have to be done away with in the end). Possibly this was once the role of true dragons as well. With the true dragons gone and without these defenders of stone, or at least someone able to wake them (Changer), the world would hurtle to a state of total debasement and destruction (the stain down the shirt of the world which began with the Forged Ones).

This takeover and destructive process was going along quite nicely until Changer came into being and created far-reaching consequences, and others worked their own changes right along with him eg Wintrow etc.

Now that dragons have come back into the world, they may join forces with each other and the humans/Elderlings (and possibly even the simulacra dragons) to rid the realm of elements that work against the good of the world...something along the lines of things discussed in the war with Chalced thread. Possibly they will all converge on Chalced and this is the operation that someone will "command" or be at the head of.

This taking on Chalced would not only be based on the need to halt slavery (as happened in Bingtown) etc, but because Chalced has history and boundaries that are shared with the Rain Wilders etc. Their tapestries feature Elderlings in the same way that other tapestries throughout the realm do. There is something there, and it may be time that it is unearthed...? War may not be required as the simple presence of true dragons on the side of other humans/Elderlings may be enough to promote diplomatic bargainings from the Chalcedeans?

Of course, possibly it may even be an operation that goes further north into the icy lands north of the Mountains (that we learn of in Farseer and TM) but, being the Rain WIld Chronicles, it will most likely be concentrated more around the Rain Wild region and include Rain Wild concerns, as the previous books have been. Maybe Chalced and other things will be left for another time/book...and maybe the focus now will be on rebuilding Kelsingra (possibly via Skill-imbued hands once they discover the Skill River or well, and maybe even with Rapscal at the lead, though I have been kind of hoping it was always going to be Fitz there during rebuilding) and the unearthing of Cassarick, this time with the assistance of dragons.

EDIT: I still haven't discussed this as part of my Rooster Crown Theory but there was also, at least in history, a "Ruler of all the River Lands". Though the wizardwood for the feathers was given as a gift by a dragon, it was the Ruler alone who declared who may wear the Rooster Crown and sing with the voice of the past minstrels. Given that Fitz chose to place the crown on his own head made me wonder if Fitz were not that destined new Ruler, but then Fool gave it to Girl-on-a-Dragon so that got me thinking it may be him (or even 'her' given that the first ruler of the Mountain Kingdom region was a female judge and so possibly this Ruler was also female, if not even Sa in earthly form)....not to mention that the woman Fitz saw in the plaza was wearing a crown of vines on her head, which suggets she had a ruling title, or the ruling female who was depicted in 'Homecoming' as being carried in a basket from a dragon's mouth. Possibly we may see someone be given that title of "Ruler of all the River Lands" once more? eg Malta "Rule" and "command" seem fairly close in definition?

So many possibilities!

Whatever the outcome, I expect "command" here to mean "to lead/rule for the sake of a common purpose" rather than "to control".

[joost]

but then forgot about them when I hadn't a hope of knowing what was written on each cover. What I should have done was ask you guys , or at least taken the time to place my mouse over the one that comes up with the digit '3'...that's somewhat of a giveaway!

Text on the book:

Robin Hobb
De kronieken van de wilde regenlanden
Derde boek
Drakengebieder

Translated:
Robin Hobb
The Rain Wild chronicles
Third book
Dragon commander

[Farseer]

That's very helpful, thanks joost!

[Lady Laura]

I do hope the next "RWC" book will be out by the end of the year! I had been expecting next summer to be honest All we can do is wait and see!

[Mervi]

I think I found the titles! (Well, not sure if they're still 100% set in stone). The UK cover artist, Jackie Morris, recently mentioned here 

And I did hear from Jane Johnson that there are two new Robin Hobb books that she has manuscripts for that will be needing new covers. City of Dragons and Blood of Dragons.

[Farseer]

*Farseer feints from sheer ecstasy*