Sad news for fans of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch’s latest Gentleman Bastards book, The Thorn of Emberlain, has been set back a bit. It’s disappointing news as a reader, but sadder news as a fan of Scott Lynch. The guy is such a role model, such a friendly guy, such a funny person, someone who puts a smile on so many faces and yet life is so incredibly cruel to him. I don’t know much about depression, I’ve had the odd issue with anxiety in my life – as I’m sure many introverts have – but my brain really struggles to comprehend how a person who should feel so good about themselves and be so happy suffers with depression. Thanks to Scott I’m coming to see depression not as a state of mind that needs a hug or positive chat to resolve, but a disease that requires the sufferer to constantly battle against. Set-backs are a certainty, for recovery is a brutal path to tread.
I will post Scott’s statement below, but do visit his blog and bookmark it as he has promised to update it regularly, firstly though I’d just like to wish him well and – if he happens to read this – let him know that no one sees this as his fault. It is the fault of an awful condition and I believe I speak for the entirety of genre fans that we aren’t going to offer anything but support and warm feelings during this time. The gifts he has given us in the form of unforgettable characters and adventures will forever remain some of my favourite memories as a reader.
If giving you time and space to recover and perfect the next set of memories you’re gifting me and the community is the only repayment you ask for then you’ve got the equivalent of about 3000 years to get book four out, sir!
Dear readers and fans of the Gentlemen Bastards,
I’ll lay it out as plainly as I can.
With the utmost regret, we have been compelled to move The Thorn of Emberlain from its expected autumn 2015 release date to a 2016 date. I requested an opportunity to write this note so I could emphasize how little this is the fault of anyone but myself. My publishers around the world have, in fact, held the door open for a length of time that is somewhere between heroic and insane. The fault is mine; the severity of my ongoing anxiety attacks has simply made it impossible to turn the manuscript in and commit to the accelerated production process our original release date would have required.
While this is not the outcome we’d hoped for, we have every expectation that this will ultimately do more good than harm. I will continue to try to keep you more closely informed of Thorn’s progress, and I don’t think it will be long before we’ll be able to announce that the manuscript is secure and the production process has begun. We’re very close.
Although I withdrew from several public appearances in early July on account of those same anxiety issues, I am now fairly confident that I’ll be able to maintain the rest of my planned public appearances for 2015, including WorldCon, World Fantasy, and a few others yet to be announced.
Cheers, and many thanks for your continued patience and support.
SL
Geoff Matthews
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
Thanks for sharing this news. I hope Scott makes it over to read this post. Best wishes to him and I’ll still wait patiently for Thorn.
I have been reading Scott’s blog for some time as well as following his tumblr and the man is nothing short of amazing (and extremely funny). I really appreciate his openness about the struggles that he is going through. I wish him the best and can certainly patiently wait for more in the GB series!
Good for Scott for speaking out, being open about his challenges, and allowing the genre world to not only sympathize but understand his situation. I know Melanie Rawn went through similar challenges, but she wasn’t as open or vocal about it, and I think that caused a backlash that I’ve really yet to see with Scott.
Selfishly, that does gives me time to catch up on the series, but I’m more inclined than ever to do so, knowing what he’s going through and how he’s approached it.
Well said, Marc! And I’ll still be JUST as excited for it in 2016 or 2020 or pick a year.
“I’m coming to see depression not as a ‘state of mind’ that needs a hug or positive chat to resolve, but a disease that requires the sufferer to constantly battle against. ”
Thanks for saying this Marc, it’s something I’m trying so hard to make people realise! Some of the comments I get can be unintentionally hurtful…
(see forum 😉 )
<3
Oh, not sure if I’m misunderstanding but I mentioned the forum because I explained my situation there – the people over there have been my rock, a complete tower of strength.
The comments came from outside, hehe
I want to read more about Sabetha and Jean (less so Locke) but not at the expense of the man’s health. I hope he takes as long as he needs to get himself well.
“[…]but my brain really struggles to comprehend how a person who should feel so good about themselves and be so happy suffers with depression. Thanks to Scott I’m coming to see depression not as a state of mind that needs a hug or positive chat to resolve, but a disease that requires the sufferer to constantly battle against.”
Depression and anxiety effing blow. And there are so many people out there who don’t understand that it’s something more serious than just having a couple of off days now and again. So kudos to you for being open to another interpretation, and to Scott for being so open about his experiences.
Wishing Scott Lynch the best. Depression is a disease, one that’s made more horrible by the fact that it’s so widely misunderstood. Every time I see one of those posts on facebook with quotes from Lao Tzu about depression and anxiety meaning you aren’t living in the present, or about half full and half empty glasses, or about mind over matter, I want to scream. I know they’re meant to be inspirational, but they’re a punch in the nose to all those people who struggle with depression and anxiety disorders.