The most current news on Barbara Hambly's books, published and upcoming

The Windrose Chronicles

Currently at: 3 books, 4 if you count Stranger at the Wedding.

The Official Word: Barbara has said that she will return to this world, and she has bought the rights to these books back from the publishers, with the intention of writing an outline for new books (July, 2006). However...remember that she, like most authors, is constrained by what the publishers will actually buy.

The Darwath Books

Currently at: 5 books.

The Official Word/In the Future: Yes, there are plans to return to this world, but they are further in the future than most of the other series' plans, due to the fact that there were two new ones not so long ago. The original trilogy was re-released with new cover art a few years back, and should still be in print. In the December Monthly Update, Barbara writes, "For the time being, ICEFALCON'S QUEST is the latest of the Darwath books, though I know of no reason why I wouldn't write others in that universe, about those people, in the future."

Sun Wolf and Starhawk

Currently at: 3 books, and one short story.

The Official Word/In the Future: I get a lot of questions about this series. There are no current plans to return to this series, but it will probably be done eventually.

Sun-Cross

Currently at: 2 books.

The Official Word/In the Future: For some reason, this series tends to attract very hard-core fans, who insist that there must be a third book. There are plans to return to the world, only not very soon. The following was taken from the May 1st, 2000 Weekly Update:

"Yes, eventually I DO plan to write a third in the Sun Cross series, but since the story was originally planned and structured as a single volume, it will probably be awhile before I'll be able to sit down and work out implications of Rhion's return and the war of the wizards against the priests of Agon. "

Benjamin January

Currently at:8 books

The Official Word/In the Future: The January mysteries were originally conceived as a six-book series; an expansion to eight (and possibly more) books was planned after the first few had been published. The appearance of Dead Water marks book eight in the January series. The future of this series is unclear at present (March, 2005), but Barbara has mentioned that a decision about an extension of the series should come through by December of 2005 (see the March, 2005 Monthly Update).

There will be two short stories involving Benjamin January appearing soon: Libre will appear in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in their New Orleans issue (November publication date; the publisher says it will ship in September), and There Will Your Heart Be Also will be in the New Orleans Noir anthology (more details closer to publication).

James Asher/Vampire Series

Currently at: 2 books

The Official Word/In the Future: In Barbara's words, "In any case, yes, there will be another vampire novel (probably two), just not immediately." The latest news comes from July of 2006 - "...and wrote up an outline for a third in the series, which an editor said she’d be interested in looking at. I haven’t heard back on it yet."

Winterlands

Currently at: 4 books

The Official Word/In the Future:The Winterlands quatriology has finished for now, with the eagerly-awaited Dragonstar, the last one in the new trilogy.

In the May 31 Weekly Update, Barbara writes,

"My apologies - again - to everybody about KNIGHT OF THE DEMON QUEEN. It'll all be okay, I promise. I'm working as fast as I can. I lost about 4 weeks' work with the divorce, which actually isn't bad, but it was an upheaval; I'm doing what I can to catch up."

I'm sorry about the cliffhanger ending. That sometimes happens. I assure everyone that everything will be all right. (You know I wouldn't REALLY do that to John!)" is from the Feb. 1, 2000 Weekly Update.

Search the Seven Hills/The Quirinal Hill Affair

Currently at: 1 book

The Official Word/In the Future:At present, there are no plans to return to this book's storyline.

Raven Sisters

Currently at: 2 books

The Official Word/In the Future: The sequel to Sisters of the Raven (the orginal working title of Circle of the Crafty Ones has been changed to Circle of the Moon), was published September 22, 2005. The future status of this series is unknown at present, but more may be forthcoming.

Bride of the Rat-God

Currently at: 1 book

The Official Word/In the Future: As was mentioned in the July, 2001 Monthly Update, Barbara originally planned to write a sequel to this, called Curse of the Swamp Monster. An outpouring of mail followed this update, and in the August, 2001 Monthly Update, she mentions that it's possible that this book will be written before long.

Star Wars

Currently at: 2 books, 3 short stories

The Official Word/In the Future: A this time, Barbara does not have any kind of contract to write more Star Wars books, but she does have ideas for further books.

Star Trek

Currently at: 3 books

The Official Word/In the Future: These are all set in the time/character realm of the original series. Likely there will not be any more.

Beauty and the Beast

Currently at: 2 books

The Official Word/In the Future: There will probably will not be any more; as far as I know, Avon books shut down this series after three books (one by another author) were written. They are a little hard to find, but can be located.

Magic Time

Currently at: 3 books

The Official Word/In the Future: This book is based on a creation of Marc Scott Zicree's, and is unconnected with any of Hambly's previous books. Take a look at the cover art: here.

Magic Time is a trilogy, although Barbara is only connected with the first of the three. The second book (called Angelfire, authored by Zicree and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff) came out in December of 2002, and the third (Ghostlands, authored by Zicree and Robert Charles Wilson - Barbara really should have stuck a middle name in there somewhere) and appeared in December of 2004.

The Emancipator's Wife and Patriot Hearts

Currently at: 1 book

The Official Word/In the Future: Barbara will be writing a similar novel (see the July, 2004 Monthly Update for more details) concerning three (other) First Ladies, Martha, Abigail, and Dolley (and, of course, Sally Hemmings). And no, I'm not going to fill in the last names; think of it as a fun little history quiz! Patriot Hearts is the newly-unveiled title for this second book, which will appear in January of 2007.

Night's Edge

Currently at: 1 book

The Official Word/In the Future: Night's Edge is a unique project, perhaps an attempt by Barbara to be represented in all the major genres. Harlequin is publishing this book, a collection of three novellas by Barbara Hambly (Someone Else's Shadow), Maggie Shayne (Her Best Enemy), and Charlaine Harris (Dancers in the Dark). A spooky collection of romantic tales, out in time for the Halloween festivities. The cover art can be seen here.

Renfield: Slave of Dracula

Currently at: 1 books

The Official Word/In the Future: Recently published on September 5, 2006. A bit early for Halloween, perhaps, but welcome nontheless.

Short Stories

There are more short stories appearing by Barbara every now-and-again; I try to keep track of them and list them on the books page. I am not aware of any upcoming short stories at present. Barbara has said, in an interview,

"I'm not very good at short stories. I never wrote them at all before I got involved with George (George Alec Effinger) -- he's a master of the form and basically taught me how to write them. I've only written about a dozen so far. My usual length is 100,000 words."

The current short-story "upcoming" list includes two Benjamin January short stories: Libre will appear in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in their New Orleans issue (November, 2006 publication date; the publisher says it will ship in September), and There Will Your Heart Be Also will be in the New Orleans Noir anthology (more details closer to publication).