Thraxas Audio Books

Audible have bought the first four Thraxas books to make audio books. The first one is available now. I’m very pleased about this. These are the first audio versions of any of my books. It’s not me reading them, which is good as I’d have been terrible at it. I like the reader they’ve chosen. I like their imagining of Thraxas and Makri too. This book, Thraxas, won the World Fantasy Award. The second one will be published in September.

Writing Thraxas

A poster from 2000 advertising the first three Thraxas books. Rather battered now, from moving house several times. After Orbit had agreed to publish the first book, they asked me to write another two to 'Establish a Presence on the Book Shelves,' I wrote these next two very quickly, much faster than I can manage now. The first Thraxas novel won the World Fantasy Award in 2000. I'm working on the thirteenth book in the series now, it will be available next year.

Thraxas Meets His Enemies

Thraxas Meets His Enemies, book 12 in the series, has been going well since publication a few months ago. Here are some good customer reviews from Amazon.

Thraxas Meets His Enemies – ebook now available

The ebook for Thraxas Meets His Enemies – Thraxas Book 12 – is now on sale, after a slight delay. Thraxas is back in his home city of Turai.

Amazon UK   Amazon US   Amazon DE

Apple Books   Kobo   Nook

'Sources at the Palace indicate that a very large sum of money in the form of gold bullion has disappeared from the Palace vaults. This was earmarked for the purchase of food and is a terrible loss to a city already on the brink of starvation. The whole affair smacks of corruption at the highest levels. Our revered War Leader Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky, is of course beyond suspicion but the sad truth is she's surrounded by a coterie of very dubious characters including assassins, degenerate sorcerers, half-Orcish ruffians and several shady figures from the lower depths of Turanian society. Our readers will be amazed to learn that among these figures is Thraxas, about whom the Chronicle has had reason to warn the city before. As the food intended for our starving population disappears to the Simnian, Samsarinan and Niojan encampments, many curious glances will be cast towards the Mistress of the Sky, wondering why her most trusted companions all seem to be characters of the very lowest repute…'

Thraxas Book 12 Ebook – Slight Delay

Some delay in the ebook of Thraxas Meets His Enemies, due to an error in the supplier's copy. They've corrected that now and it should be arriving at ebook sellers in the next few days. Meanwhile here are some notes on Thraxas.

1) I should have planned more before I started. My total thought process before writing the first Thraxas book was 'How about having a detective in some sort of Tolkien-like world?' That was my entire planning. I really should have thought about it more.

2) At first I imagined the books as more noir. I have enjoyed Raymond Chandler. That didn't last long, probably because Thraxas and Makri became quite funny together.

3) Madeline Rae Mason, photographer and model, is the model on all the covers, and went above and beyond in her efforts. The work she put in to make herself look like that and take the pics was worth more than I paid her. Thanks Madeline.

3) Thraxas is now surrounded by women, in an odd, unplanned way. Many of them giving him a hard time. Makri, savage fighter and companion, Lisutaris, most powerful sorcerer, Tanrose, valued provider of pies, Hanama, cold-hearted assassin, Tirini, fashionable sorcerer, Anumaris, eager young sorcerer, Droo, enthusiastic young Elf, and Deeziz, orcish enemy sorcerer. Even Dandelions, dolphin-friend and barmaid. He seems to have only one male friend, Gurd. I don't know why this happened.

4) Thraxas shares his impressive girth with Falstaff, and his appetites for food, drink and bragging. Importantly, however, Thraxas is brave. The underdog detective does not run away from a fight, and neither does Thraxas.

5) Orbit Publisher. They supported Thraxas for the first eight books before pulling out. Not so bad, I suppose, though they were never any good at promoting them.

Thraxas Book 12 – Thraxas Meets His Enemies

Thraxas Book 12 – Thraxas Meets His Enemies  – has now been published as a paperback. You can order it from Amazon and also from bookshops in the UK and US. The ebook will be available in about a week.  ISBN  979-8421592259

Amazon UK  ––  Amazon US 

'Sources at the Palace indicate that a very large sum of money in the form of gold bullion has disappeared from the Palace vaults. This was earmarked for the purchase of food and is a terrible loss to a city already on the brink of starvation. The whole affair smacks of corruption at the highest levels. Our revered War Leader Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky, is of course beyond suspicion but the sad truth is she's surrounded by a coterie of very dubious characters including assassins, degenerate sorcerers, half-Orcish ruffians and several shady figures from the lower depths of Turanian society. Our readers will be amazed to learn that among these figures is Thraxas, about whom the Chronicle has had reason to warn the city before. As the food intended for our starving population disappears to the Simnian, Samsarinan and Niojan encampments, many curious glances will be cast towards the Mistress of the Sky, wondering why her most trusted companions all seem to be characters of the very lowest repute…'

Thraxas Book 12

It's taken me longer than intended to write Thraxas book 12. I think the Covid crisis interfered with and delayed everything I've been doing. Still, I've finished a decent draft and am now revising it. I hope it will be published around March/April 2022.

Thraxas of Turai - Book 11 in Series

Thraxas of Turai, book eleven in the series, has now been published. It's available as a paperback and as an ebook.

Paperback  - amazon.com  - amazon.co.uk

ebook  - amazon.com  - amazon.co.uk

 

Thraxas of Turai is the eleventh book in the series. Thraxas, perhaps the doughtiest warrior ever born within that city's walls, (as he describes himself) is almost home. The army led by Lisutaris reaches Turai, ready to retake their city. Thraxas begins the book in some trouble, having been flung in the stockade following a disreputable brawl, but will soon be back in action, investigating a politically awkward murder while making ready for battle. At his side is Makri, whose mathematical skills are called upon for some complicated sorcerous calculations designed to bring down the walls. There are dragons in the sky, hostile forces ahead, and, worst of all as far as Thraxas is concerned, a general beer shortage. When this is all over, Thraxas intends to spend the rest of his days sitting comfortably in his favourite tavern. But first, he has a city to retake.
ISBN 978-1792849992

Whole Thraxas Series Now In Paperback

Thraxas books seven and eight are now available in paperback, as a single volume. This volume, containing Thraxas at War, and Thraxas under Siege, is now on sale at Amazon. This means that whole Thraxas series is now available in paperback and as ebooks. I'm pleased with the way this has gone, it's good to have all these books back in print. Thraxas's adventures will now continue.

amazon.com  -  amazon.co.uk

Thraxas and the Sorcerers - Thraxas and the Dance of Death

Thraxas and the Sorcerers, and Thraxas and the Dance of Death have now been published in paperback, in one volume. These are books five and six in the series.

This means that books 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 & 10 are now available. That only leaves books 7 & 8, which will follow along soon, in one volume. (The whole series is still available, and will remain available, as ebooks.)

Amazon UK  -  Amazon US

Thraxas and the Oracle

Thraxas and the Oracle, book ten in the series, is now available as a printed book. Previously it was only available as an ebook. Books one, two, three, four, nine and ten are now on sale as paperbacks. All the Thraxas books will soon be available again in print editions. (Meanwhile, the whole series is available as ebooks.) Producing the entire series as paperbacks has been a difficult operation, but I'm making good progress.

Amazon UK  -  Amazon US

Thraxas book eleven is coming along slowly. In fact, I'm struggling with it. I'm not sure why. It will be finished eventually.

Printed Editions of Thraxas

Here's the next volume, containing books three and four: Thraxas at the Races, and Thraxas and the Elvish Isles. That means books one, two, three, four, and nine are now available in printed editions. Next to come will be book ten, Thraxas and the Oracle, which has previously only been available as an ebook. All the Thraxas books will soon be available again in print editions. (Meanwhile, the whole series is available as ebooks.)

Amazon UK  -  Amazon US

New Thraxas Paperback - Book 9

Thraxas and the Ice Dragon, book nine in the series, is now available as a paperback. This is the first print edition; previously it had only been available as an ebook.

'Thraxas and Makri drift ashore in the distant land of Samsarina, in the company of Lisutaris, Head of the Sorcerers Guild. After a miserable voyage on a leaky fishing boat, Thraxas just wants to drink beer, but there are other matters to attend to. Turai has fallen to the enemy and the armies of the West are gathering. Before war breaks out there's the great sword-fighting tournament, which gives Thraxas the chance of almost unlimited gambling, if only he can persuade Makri to enter. Makri is surprised to find herself looking after a baby dragon, and even more surprised to discover that Thraxas has a romantic past, one which leads them into a murder investigation in an unfamiliar land, where hostile forces oppose them at every turn.'

Amazon (UK)   Amazon (US)

Thraxas Back in Print

My Thraxas books back are coming back into print. These are all available as ebooks at the moment, but I've started producing paperback versions as well. The first of these, books 1 & 2, is now at Amazon.

http://amzn.to/2kBZlTW (UK) - and  - http://amzn.to/2kC7Wpw  (US)

Books 9 & 10, which have so far only been published as ebooks, will appear in print next, and then the rest of the series. (Meanwhile, Thraxas book eleven is still on the way.)

Thraxas Book Eleven

I haven't been able to devote as much time as I'd have liked to Thraxas this year, as I've been busy with other things. However, I'm now now applying myself to the next book in the series, which will be number eleven. I hope it will be ready for publication early next year. It's time for Thraxas and Makri to get back to Turai, which they will, although it's uncertain what they'll find there.

Thraxas has been doing well since I continued the series and released them all as ebooks, I'm pleased with how it's gone.

Thraxas at Amazon

Thraxas and the Oracle

Thraxas and the Oracle has now been released. This ebook is the tenth in the Thraxas series. I've managed this one rather quicker than the last. It should be available at all ebook-sellers. (As with all the Thraxas novels now, this is an ebook only.)

Thraxas and Makri are heading back to Turai. Thraxas finds himself in the unusual position of having some responsibility, being made a captain in the army. He doesn't mind the responsibility, though it does interfere with his continual desire for beer, which is frustrating for him. Makri is keen to go into battle, but she suffers the misfortune of meeting her old Elvish lover, something she finds quite unsettling.

You can buy it here -

Amazon Kindle (US) : Kindle (UK) : Kindle (Ca) : iBooks : Kobo

Current Literary Activity

My new novel is called The Goddess of Buttercups and Daisies. It will be published in April 2015 in Britain (probably at the same time in Australia/New Zealand) and May in the USA/Canada.

The book is set in Ancient Athens in 421 BC, and features the adventures of Luxos the Poet, aspiring young artist, as he strives to make the Athenians recognise the greatness of his poetic talent. It also features Aristophanes, who in 421 BC was about to present his comedy 'Peace' at the Dionysia. Peace was on many Athenians mind at that time, as they had been fighting the Spartans for most of the past decade. I'll write some more about this book before it's published, but meanwhile here is the British cover.

(Also on the horizon is another Thraxas ebook, Thraxas and the Oracle, but I don't quite know when that will be ready.)

Thraxas Final Triumph

With the publication of Thraxas Under Siege, I have now completed my Thraxas project. All nine Thraxas books are now available from ebook stores. I strongly recommend you buy some Thraxas.

This turned out to be a bigger project than I'd anticipated. I'm fatigued. I am now lying on the couch, staring into space in celebration. For the next few days - weeks - months, possibly - I intend to do nothing except play on my Playstation, starting with Mass Effect 2, which, fortunately enough, just arrived in the mail.

Thraxas.com

Thraxas at - Amazon Kindle (UK), Amazon Kindle (US), Nook, Kobo, iTunes, Sony

Thraxas at War. Buffy Comic Problem.

Thraxas at War, seventh book in the series, now available as an ebook. As Thraxas book nine has already being published, it means there are now eight of the nine available, and just one more to go before the ebooks are up to date. Thraxas rumbles unstoppably on, which he does have the bulk to do. As he has been known to say, when criminals see him coming, they know they've got a problem. 

Amazon Kindle (US), Kindle (UK), iTunes, Kobo, Sony

I'm still receiving Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics regularly, thanks to the efficient subscription department at Reed Comics. As the comics are an official, Joss Whedon sponsored continuation of the series, I sort of feel obliged to buy them. But I'm not enjoying them that much. I've never particularly liked the artwork, and nor was I ever that keen on there being thousands of slayers. (Not sure if there still are thousands of slayers, I've got a lot of unread comics.)

However I'm unable to let go. I seem to be trapped into regularly buying comics I don't really enjoy. I lack the willpower to do anything about it. I don't know what the solution is. Just buy them for the rest of my life, I suppose.

I wish the Buffy bot had made another appearance. In the TV series the Buffy bot always did its best. It had a friendly personality too. I liked the Buffy bot, and regretted its tragic demise. It deserved another outing.

Seven of Nine, Thraxas Noir

The re-issuing of Thraxas and the Dance of Death as an ebook means that there are now seven of nine available. Aha. I loved Seven of Nine. I think she's the only character that has ever made me watch I show I didn't really like. I never thought Star Trek Voyager was all that great, but when Seven of Nine was introduced, I liked it a lot more.

But apart from that, Thraxas and the Dance of Death, which is book six in the series, is now in electronic bookshops everywhere. With book nine already being published, that only leaves seven and eight to come - Thraxas at War, and Thraxas Under Siege. They will be available soon.

Here is part of the introduction to Thraxas and the Dance of Death - 

'When I began writing Thraxas, I planned for it to be rather darker. More noirish. Sort of Dashiell Hammett meets sword and Sorcery. Thraxas does share some elements often associated with the hardboiled school of American detective fiction. He's a solo investigator who's tough, and ready to defend himself. He drinks a lot and he's poor. He exists in a corrupt urban environment where he comes up against organised crime. He distrusts the police and tends to be hostile towards authority. He's loyal to his clients, and prepared to go a long way to defend them.

Despite these elements, Thraxas didn't turn out very noirish at all. Partly because Thraxas's huge appetites for food and drink can drag him out any prolonged burst of soul searching. Thraxas can be affected by the poverty and corruption which surrounds him, but a good bowl of stew, and five or six beers, will usually make him view the world in a more optimistic light.

And also, I think, because Thraxas and Makri turned out to be something of a comedy double-act. At times their relationship seems to consist mainly of bickering and mutual insults, but really, Thraxas is rescued from a potentially bleak world by the presence of the young female warrior. Makri is too spirited and intelligent to be intimidated by Thraxas's blustering. She gives as good as she gets, and consequently they become friends, quite quickly. Thraxas is still walking down unfriendly streets, but he's no longer on his own.'

Thraxas and the Dance of Death now available at:

Amazon(US) Amazon(UK) Amazon(CA) iTunes Kobo Copia