Scott Lynch to release 3 new Gentleman Bastards novellas and a short story: “Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent”

Scott Lynch to release 3 new Gentleman Bastards novellas and a short story: "Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent"

As a seasoned gamer with over a decade of following Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastards series, I can hardly contain my excitement! The announcement of three new novellas, “The Road to Emberlain,” is like finding a rare artifact in an old-school RPG – priceless and hard to come by. The fact that these stories are set before the long-awaited fourth novel, “The Thorn of Emberlain,” feels like a bonus quest that I didn’t even know I needed!


Look forward to the return of the cunning Gentleman Bastards as they embark on fresh escapades! At this year’s Glasgow Worldcon, author Scott Lynch unveiled plans for a trilogy of novellas in his adored Gentleman Bastards series. Known as “The Road to Emberlain,” the trilogy will allow readers to reconnect with characters like Locke Lamora and Jean Tannin through new tales that take place before the eagerly anticipated fourth book in the series, The Thorn of Emberlain.

In his website post, Lynch describes the “Road to Emberlain” as a series of three interconnected novellas that fill in the gap between “The Republic of Thieves” and “The Thorn of Emberlain”. These stories depict a year spent by Locke and Jean as they travel across the continent, hatching a plan to reach Emberlain during its time of war. Each novella is approximately 40,000 words long and offers a chance for readers to delve deeper into the world of Locke, with elements of plot twists, intense action, and character development. Alongside the usual intrigue, swindles, and violence characteristic of the Gentlemen Bastards series, these novellas also feature heartfelt dialogues, glimpses of everyday life in Locke’s world, philosophical and religious discussions, star-gazing moments, enigmatic mysteries, and chilling ghost stories shared around campfires in desolate landscapes.

Scott Lynch to release 3 new Gentleman Bastards novellas and a short story: "Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent"

In addition to revealing some plot details about the novellas, Lynch also shared their names:

I — More Than Fools Fill Graves
II — The Mad Baron’s Mechanical Attic
III — The Choir of Knives

“Subterranean Press is working on a new project, and they’ll release it in their signature lettered and limited editions, complete with original artwork, some of which will be signed by me. Known for their high-quality collectible SF/F books for many years, Subterranean Press will provide all the details and timelines; expect an announcement from them soon. I’ll share any new information I receive across all my platforms as soon as it becomes available.”

Lynch made it clear that “These novellas contain nothing necessary for readers of The Thorn of Emberlain; no crucial plot details are held back. As a key aspect of this project, I want everything in these books to be optional for grasping the events of The Thorn of Emberlain. But if you’re keen on spending a little extra time immersing yourself further in Locke and Jean’s captivating, mysterious, bloody world, here you are.”

Essentially, you won’t have to read these three new novellas before enjoying Scott Lynch’s upcoming book “The Thorn of Emberlain” as a prerequisite. However, if you’re one of those eager readers who can’t wait to rejoin Locke and Jean, why miss out on the opportunity? The last Gentlemen Bastards novel, “The Republic of Thieves”, was published in 2013, but there’s still no release date for “The Thorn of Emberlain” yet. These three fresh Road to Emberlain novellas seem like a great way to gear up. I’m hopeful that we’ll be hearing more updates about the return of Locke Lamora in the near future.

Scott Lynch to release 3 new Gentleman Bastards novellas and a short story: "Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent"

A two-part Gentlemen Bastards short story is coming in Grimdark Magazine

Apart from the “Road to Emberlain” novellas, Lynch also shared that he will be releasing a new “Gentlemen Bastards” short story titled “Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent“. This piece will take place during the younger days of con artist Locke Lamora, preceding most of the events in the first novel of the series, “The Lies of Locke Lamora”.

“Grimdark Magazine is marking its tenth year with tales of dark fantasy, and I’ve been asked to join in the celebration for their anniversary issue coming up in October. After some brainstorming, we thought it would be great to create something exceptional, so…” Lynch stated. “I’m thrilled to share that ‘Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent’ will be a two-part feature, spanning across the October 2024 and January 2025 issues of GDM.”

Here’s the official description of the short story:

During his adolescence, our protagonist, who was filled with nervousness, hormonal surges, and romantic confusion, spent several months serving as a bar-tender in one of the toughest taverns belonging to the Right People in Camorr. This was part of Father Chains’ endless line of training and personal development plans; predictably, it was fraught with trouble, and as per routine, Locke was left to figure things out on his own. At this point, his main source of support was Mazoc Saba, an old mercenary who had a penchant for gambling dangerously with poisoned wine.

With Locke’s predicaments escalating, Mazoc Saba’s financial woes also intensify. When you openly disregard your commitments towards Capa Barsavi, Barsavi makes it a point to bring these obligations back into the spotlight.

In October, you can find the initial segment of “Locke Lamora and the Bottled Serpent” published in Grimdark Magazine. For the latest news regarding the The Road to Emberlain novellas, be sure to check Subterranean Press regularly.

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2024-08-23 19:41

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