Of Gifts and Stones

I just returned late last night from a terrific three-week trek through Asia and I’m exhausted. But, it liooks like a lot happened in my absence, so let’s get through some big updates.

As I believe everyone knows, on June 22, the first eight books of Chung Kuo re-launched under David Wingrove and Susan Oudot’s Fragile Books banner. Susan was kind enough to send along a quick rundown of the launch event that took place that night at Waterstones in Islington along with some photos.

On a sweltering summer’s evening the great and the good gathered at Waterstones bookshop in Islington, north London for the re-launch of CHUNG KUO. David’s new publishing company, Fragile Books, had the prosecco flowing and appropriately-themed Chinese nibbles on offer (along with the obligatory fortune cookies, of course). Among the guests were fantasy author, Michael Cobley, several writers on the world’s longest-running soap opera, Coronation Street, and tv and film star, Rupert Graves (Sherlock, amongst other things). As David’s wife Susan Oudot – Publishing Director of the new venture – said in her speech “It’s a good feeling to know that finally we have control.” Onward and upward.

Next, David Wingrove’s long awaited official page has finally launched (davidwingrove.com) and is definitely worth checking out. There’s info there about Chung Kuo, Roads to Moscow, and Myst, as well as a new blog. I do want to note that there being an official site doesn’t change the fan-based mission of this site. As always, if there’s anything anyone would like to contribute here, please drop me a line. One of these days I’ll get some forums back up and running.

Also worth noting is that Mr. Wingrove is now active on three social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and now, even Instagram.

Lastly, while the first eight books of the Chung Kuo re-release are available through the usual channels like Amazon UK, the books are also available at a discount directly from Fragile Books, including to US-based readers.

Susan sends along this note:

Fragile Books are selling directly to fans in the US. If you’re interested in ordering any of the first eight titles, or the complete set at a reduced price, contact David via his Facebook page:  David Wingrove. Or write to the publisher at info@fragilemedialtd.com  Payment is via Paypal.

A Facebook post also indicates that signed copies are available, too (thanks to Goonda for pointing this out during my absence).

 

Exciting times, indeed. I believe that’s it for now. More news to be posted as it comes in. Many thanks to David and Susan for everything they’ve done for fan outreach, through this site and their own channels.

Greetings from the past! I’ve jumped in from June 10 via Four-Oh. Tonight, Mrs. Ofgiftsandstones and I are traveling to Asia: Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo for a much needed holiday. I won’t have easy access to a computer, so I’m pre-scheduling this post to remind all loyal Chung Kuo fans that the re-re-issue is out today! Take a look at Amazon UK!

As of June 10, it looks like the first 8 books have a release date of June 22, so hopefully all those editions are up for grabs today.

Leave any thoughts in the comments below (although I’ll be a little slow to respond for a week or two).

 

Big news today.

I’ve received word that there will be an official Chung Kuo re-launch party in London on the evening of June 22, the publication day of Son of Heaven. Ironically enough, I’ll be traveling to Shanghai that day, so I won’t be able to attend. Otherwise, I would probably try to make the transatlantic trip.

The event will also mark the launch of Fragile Books, David Wingrove’s new publishing company that will be releasing the Chung Kuo series. He’s talked a bit about the new company before.

There are a limited number of spaces for this event, so, if you think you might be able to attend, send a note along to Wingrove’s Fragile Media partner, Susan Oudot, at susanoudot [at] btinternet.com to RSVP, and she’ll send along the time and place if there’s still space.

If someone can go and provide a report for this site, that would be terrific!

Also noteworthy is a new reflection by Susan Oudot on BookBruch, featuring a short publication history of Chung Kuo. Not too much new there for Chung Kuo diehards, but an excellent read nonetheless.

And, of course, it’s nice to see another confirmation of this:

Fragile Books will reissue volume 1 of the Chung Kuo series, Son of Heaven, on 22 June; volumes 2-7 will be reissued over the summer. The new novel in the series, Monsters of the Deep, will be published in September.

Mr. Wingrove just posted on his Facebook page some photos of him showing off the beautiful proofs of the re-re-release of the first eight Chung Kuo books, featuring the Jim Burns-designed dragon ouroboros. See photos below.

Dare I say that they look even better in these photos then they as the raw images? Looking forward to having these on the bookshelf. That is, if Mrs. Giftsandstones will let me make room on the bookshelf next to the all the other Chung Kuo/Myst/Roads to Moscow books.

Also… the staff here at Of Gifts and Stones also unanimously support the return of Mr. Wingrove’s beard. This is certainly a good omen for the future of the series release, since it was absent for the Corvus release (and look what happened there).

Back to finishing Master of Time. More news as it comes.

 

 

I just got my email confirmation (as have several of you who noted in the comments) that Master of Time, the conclusion to Wingrove’s Roads to Moscow trilogy, has shipped. Unfortunately,  since I live in the USA, Amazon UK is sending it via carrier pigeon or tugboat or something, so it’ll be a while before I get my hands on it. The American release date is in July, it seems, although the Kindle version is available in the states tomorrow. I might have to do that. Happy reading, to those of you who get it soon!