I’m a big fan of Guy Gavriel Kay. He’s one of those authors whose novels, much like the works of Neil Gaiman, I save for a rainy day, when I’m feeling jaded on Fantasy and need a good kick in the ass. His novels are inspiring.
He’s also frustratingly quiet about his upcoming projects until they are nearly done. Because of this, it’s always exciting news when he finally announces the first details of whatever he’s working on.
From his official forums:
The new novel is called UNDER HEAVEN. It is a long, single-volume historical fantasy inspired by the extraordinary Tang Dynasty, essentially 8th century China.
It will appear in the English-language markets in April and May of 2010.
Kay’s known for creating fictional worlds that echo pieces of our history. I’m a sucker for Asian history and mythology, so to see him stepping away from the European-inspired settings that he’s best known for and tackling a world based on 8th-century China is getting me all hot and bothered. On top of it all, his ability to craft fully-realized characters and plots in a single volume is nearly unsurpassed in the genre.
To say I’ll be awaiting this one with bated breath would be a severe understatement.
