A book I’d never heard of…

Recently I bought a mug as a gift. Said mug featured a bookshelf of classic fantasy titles. Nineteen titles in all, many favorites of mine and all of them books I have read and enjoyed.

All except one. One title I had never even heard of, much less read, and it’s there included with 18 that I know well. Obviously, I had to read it.

It was: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

I placed a hold and very soon had the book in my hand. Nice looking book, good cover art and on back cover:

“My name is Kvothe.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.”

Well, I hadn’t heard of him, but I really wanted to! So, I dove in.

And, dear reader, I loved it! Rothfuss gives you a superbly crafted world with well-drawn characters – it’s the kind of book you can just sink into and not want to come out of.

On finishing the first book, I immediately checked out and read the next book in the trilogy, also wonderful! By this point I am really invested in the story and anxious to jump right in to the final volume!

However, this is classic fantasy – the mug said so - therefore it should come as no surprise to anyone that the third volume has not been published yet. The first book came out in 2007, the second in 2011, this is 2024 – by any calculation this book is overdue!!

I started scouring the internet; okay, he’s still with us – my first fear is calmed.

Oh look, he’s influenced by George R. R. Martin… isn’t that um… wonderful. Influenced by one of the great unfinished, that does not bode well.

He’s published a few novellas and short stories – so he hasn’t forgotten how to write (they were also good by the way).

But absolutely nothing on when we will get The Doors of Stone (does it make it better or worse that it has a title?) Some promises made and broken, but nothing recent. Sigh.

Maybe in 2025 we will get lucky!

Patrick Rothfuss titles: