Joe Abercrombie's Blog

Great news for those who missed my tour of the US a couple of months back: I’m going to be BACK in the US at the start of September! A brief trip this time, to appear at the National Book Festival in Washington, and to do an event with VE Schwab outside Philadelphia. Should you be lucky enough to live nearby one of those places, the details:

The National Book Festival is organised by the Library of Congress and will be held this year on Saturday September 6th. I believe I’ll be appearing with Shannon Chakraborty and that there’ll be a signing afterward, but I don’t have all the details quite yet – I’ll follow up when I do. However doors of the festival in general open 8.30am and it’s FREE to the public.

The event with VE Schwab will be the day after, Sunday September 7th. It’s organised by Main Point Books and you can get tickets and find all the details over here. I should point out there’s not going to be a signing line at this one – signed books will be available but pre-signed.

Look forward to seeing some of you at one of these magnificent affairs. And now you can begin the onslaught of complaints that no one never comes to rural North Dakota/I never visit Naperville even though I was there two months ago/you live right opposite Radnor Middle School but you’re doing something else that weekend etc. etc. For all these things I apologise. We do our humble best…

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So… James Cameron, he of Terminator, Aliens, Titanic, and Avatar, yes, that James Cameron, has acquired the screen rights to The Devils. Here’s the full press release:

LIGHTSTORM ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF JOE ABERCROMBIE’S THE DEVILS

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 2, 2025) – James Cameron announces that his company, Lightstorm, has purchased Joe Abercrombie’s latest book, The Devils, and that Abercrombie will co-write the script with Cameron. Abercrombie is an acclaimed novelist and screenwriter, and author of the bestselling First Law books which have been published in over thirty languages. The Devils was published May 6 and was an instant number 1 Sunday Times bestseller in the UK. It also just entered the NYT bestseller list at number 5.

Cameron says “How do I describe The Devils? A sharply witty horror adventure? An epic battle between good and evil except most of the time you can’t tell which is which? A twisted, stylish, alt-universe middle-ages romp, where your best hope of survival is the monsters themselves? This is Joe Abercrombie in absolute peak form, opening up a whole new world and an ensemble of delicious new characters. The twists and turns come at a rollercoaster pace, and with Joe’s signature acerbic wit and style. The Devils showcases Joe’s jaundiced view of human nature, in all its dark, selfish glory, as told through some decidedly un-human characters. But of course, Joe always teases with the flickers of redemption that make it all worthwhile — and ultimately quite heartwrenching.”

He goes on to say “I’ve loved Joe’s writing for years, cherishing each new read, throughout the epic cycle of the First Law books, especially Best Served Cold (LOVE IT!) and the Age of Madness trilogy. But the freshness of the world and the characters in The Devils finally got me off my butt to buy one of his books and partner with him to bring it to the screen. I’m looking forward to the writing process with him, though I’m certain this adaptation will practically write itself because Joe writes very visually, almost in scenes, and with a very cinematic structure. I can’t wait to dig into this as I wind down on Avatar: Fire and Ash. It will be a joyful new challenge for me to bring these indelible characters to life.”

Abercrombie adds “James Cameron has been thrilling audiences, including me, by putting the impossible on film for over four decades. No one can balance mind-blowing action and spectacle with gut-wrenching personal stakes and story the way he does. I can’t think of anyone better to bring this weird and wonderful monster of a book to the screen.”

As always with these things, I can’t say much more at this point. Exciting news, it hardly needs to be said. I’m gonna be writing with, erm, James Cameron. Clearly there are few bigger beasts in the industry. But it remains an industry with no guarantees. My advice, as always with adaptations, is don’t hold your breath…

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Well, well, well, my tour of the UK and US is completed, and it was quite an experience. Obviously I’ve done a lot of events in the UK before – I think I first toured with the Heroes back in the distant mists of 2011, but this was the first time since Covid I’d done a proper tour, and events had definitely taken a step forward.

Highlights were two of the church-based events (appropriately enough): London, with the audio maestro himself, Steven Pacey:

And Edinburgh, with Justin Lee Anderson, both of which had 250-300 people.

But those paled in comparison to some of the ones across the pond. I’ve done a few bookshop events in the states before, though quite a while ago, as well as a couple of conventions and comic cons, but never anything you could call a proper tour. This was 9 events over 12 days and every one a ripper. Here’s New York with Joe Hill:

Albuquerque with GRRM:

Austin with C. Robert Cargill:

Denver with Stephen Graham Jones:

Salt Lake City with Brandon Sanderson:

Gatecrashed as it happens by one Pierce Brown:

Seattle with Robin Hobb in the cavernous Third Place books which apparently had 650 people in attendance…

And the Wentz Concert Hall Naperville with Pat Rothfuss:

Truly amazing, humbling conversation partners and attendances, not forgetting Evan Leikam and MJ Kuhn in Detroit and Jenn Lyons in Atlanta, but the real treasure was the first law related tattoos we encountered along the way:

Not to mention the First Law related t-shirts:

I even signed a book for a guy called Joe Abercrombie. Another guy called Joe Abercrombie. From Idaho. I’ve got a photo of his driving licence, but I won’t post it for fear of some kind of identity theft… All of this means, of course, that the Devils is now published in the UK and the US, as well as large areas of Europe, in fact. Delighted to say it made NUMBER ONE on the Sunday Times hardcover bestseller list:

I’ve made it as high as 3 a few times in the past but this is my first number 1 – a big testament to my editor Gillian and the whole team at Gollancz. Perhaps even more impressive the book has stuck in the bestseller list at no. 5 for its second week. It also made no. 5 in the US (where I think 13 was my previous high water mark) which is a big testament to my editor Lindsey and the whole team at Tor, as well as being the no. 1 audiobook on audible. In fact it sold more on audio than in hardcover in that first week in the US, which is a big testament to the reading of the aforementioned Steven Pacey.

So well done to the whole team, and my thanks to everyone who came out to the events. I’m gonna be in Spain in July: Madrid 9th-10th, Barcelona 11th-14th, and Aviles 15th-20th. Further details on exactly what I’ll be doing when I have them…

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The Devils is published TODAY in the UK by Gollancz in Hardcover, E-Book and Audiobook read by the magisterial Steven Pacey. The export trade paperback edition should also be popping up around Europe, Australia and other territories outside the US and Canada where books are read in English.

Thanks to the efforts of Will Staehle (cover) and Joel Daniel Phillips (illustrations) as well as the designers and production people at the publisher it is a truly handsome thing. Those endpapers…

I’m going to be touring in the UK over the coming week – Bath, London, Nottingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle, before heading on to the US on the 12th. Further news in due course…

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Oh, you lucky people! To celebrate the release of The Devils, I (all right, my publisher) am giving away – giving away I say – an exclusive numbered limited edition proof, one of but 36 copies in the world. As if this were not insane enough, the package includes various exclusive items of Devils merchandise featuring art by Joel Daniel Phillips, including a poster, a set of postcards, a skull pin and, praise be, a coveted limited edition votive candle – votive candle I say, all contained within a box fashioned from exclusive limited edition cardboard. Yes. Cardboard.

“How can we prove ourselves worthy of this unparalleled bounty?” I hear you plaintively cry. The answer is simple. Submit to me in response to this post a comment laying out in but one single sentence why you and you alone are more deserving of this prize than everyone else. I shall then personally – in person I say – select the one that moves/amuses/informs me the most. That answer shall receive the prize. The rest shall be consigned to the righteous flames of judgement. If you have never felt the need to comment on this blog before there may be a brief pause while I moderate your submission before it shows up, but never fear, I will get to it in the end.

Now prepare to be outraged by the terms and conditions. This is open only to residents of the UK aged over 18. If you don’t like it blame my publisher, not me. Which is what I suggest you do if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of my books. This contest is open from now until midnight on Saturday 3rd. On Sunday a winner shall be selected, and on monday notified via electronic mail of their glorious triumph.

Good luck to you all.

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The Devils is out in the UK in but one short week and my author copies have arrived. Isn’t it beautiful?

Cover art by Will Staehle and internal illustrations by Joel Daniel Phillips including some stunning altarpiece style endpapers which I feel really class up the joint…

It’ll release on e-book and audio read by Steven Pacey in the UK on the same day, and will come to the US a week later on the 13th in all formats, then I believe in several translated editions over the following week. My UK tour starts on the 6th, then I’m heading to the US on the 12th and I’ll be there for two weeks. Most of the dates are sold out now but some have moved to larger venues so you never know, if you did want to come hear me talk nonsense and get a book signed, it’s worth checking (in the US and the UK) to see if there are still tickets.

So most of my time over the last few, and next few, weeks is going to be taken up with interviews and events and what have you (indeed you can see a recent interview with Matt of Matt’s book reviews over here), but I am still getting a bit of work done on the next book in the series – about 80% of the way through a first draft, after which the real work of editing and revision shall begin. Hoping to have a finished, edited manuscript by the end of the year. We shall see. I make no promises these days…

In other news, the fourth season of Love, Death and Robots has been announced on Netflix, I believe being released on May 15th, and as it happens I wrote the screenplays for 2 of the episodes: Spider Rose, based on a story by Bruce Sterling, and Golgotha, from a story by Dave Hutchinson. In other, other news, Curious King’s limited letterpress edition of Before They are Hanged with art by Vance Kovacs has now shipped, and we’re well underway with the art for Last Argument of Kings.

So, busy times after the lengthy hiatus following the publication of Age of Madness. This May 2025 publication date was pencilled into the contract when I thought it would never happen and now, suddenly… here we are. Hope to see some of you out there on the road…

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We’re within a month of the Devils coming out, and in fact the dark and dangerous US hardcover from Tor just dropped through my door:

Cover art by Will Staehle, with some beautiful internal illustrations by Joe Daniel Phillips classing up the joint:

An update on events because there have been a few changes since they were first announced, with some US events moving into bigger venues and more tickets becoming available. On the UK side, the London, Nottingham, and Newcastle events are all sold out. I’m told a few tickets remain for Edinburgh, Cardiff, and the lunchtime signing in Glasgow. The Bath event, and the Birmingham event in June with Broken Binding, are being shifted to bigger venues so there should be plenty of availability for both of those. You should be able to book tickets for those shows still available via this portal.

Meanwhile in the US you can book tickets via this portal: New York NY with Joe Hill and Decatur GA with Jenn Lyons have sold out. Albuquerque NM with GRRM, Seattle WA with Robin Hobb and Royal Oak MI with Evan Leikam are in the original venues and still have tickets available. Salt Lake City UT with Brandon Sanderson is in the same venue but they will be releasing more tickets, so it’s worth joining the waitlist. The remaining three: Austin TX with C. Robert Cargill, Littleton CO with Stephen Graham Jones, and Naperville IL with Patrick Rothfuss, have all been moved to larger venues, so at least at the time of writing should have tickets available – if you tried buying initially and got turned down, give it another shot. Some of the times may have changed, though, so if you are going, check with the bookstore to make sure you’ve got the right place and time.

Getting close now, people…

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To add to the onslaught of signed Special Editions of The Devils, Goldsboro Books have today announced their edition, which is this handsome limited, numbered, specially boarded and sprayed-edged beauty:

Great to see this one since my relationship with Goldsboro goes back years and in a way illustrates how this collectable and special edition market has grown and developed over the last decade or two. Think the first time I signed for them was on Last Argument of Kings, maybe, was in the basement of their shop in Cecil Court where they sell first editions, and was fifty hardcovers. With each book it stepped up, was a hundred, then two hundred, had a numbered dedication page, then a sprayed edge, it became two shops knocked together, then three. These days they offer a subscription service and this edition will be a run of a couple of thousand.

So if signed editions are your thing, in the UK we now have the Waterstones edition, the Broken Binding edition, and this Goldsboro one. In the US, meanwhile, Lit Escalates are offering copies of the US edition alongside some exclusive merchandise, signed by means of a special Book of Hours style bookplate that’s going to look a little something like this:

Defaced by my scrawl, obviously…

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I’ve done a few conventions in the US, a couple of comic cons, even a smattering of bookshop appearances, but I’ve never before done anything approaching an actual proper book tour, so I’m delighted to announce that Tor US are bringing me across the pond in May for a full two weeks for the release of The Devils.

I’m going to be visiting NYC, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Detroit and Chicago. What is more I’m going to be in conversation with some very good friends of mine, and some very good writers: Joe Hill, GRRM, Jenn Lyons, C. Robert Cargill, Stephen Graham Jones, Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb, and Evan Leikam. Bona fide giants of this goddamn genre, people! You can find Tor’s announcement here, and you can book tickets direct over here, with further details of the individual events below.

You may very reasonably complain that I’m not coming to you, for which I can only apologise. The publicity guys at the publisher make these calls, not I. You may also point out that there’s nothing in California – that’s because I’m told they may well bring me to San Diego Comic Con for one of the other books, and I’d likely do some California based events on that trip.

The rules for these events do vary a bit depending on the bookstore and the size of the crowd. Normally I will try and sign any books of mine you care to bring and that’s often possible, but I can’t absolutely promise to sign anything you don’t buy on the day, cause there’s always the chance we’ll run out of time, and sometimes you might have to go to the back of the queue after getting say three signed to make sure everyone gets a go. Other rules may be imposed by the store, and I’m not sure what the arrangements will be for other authors who may be there with me – if you’re in any doubt, best to check with the store.

I am champing at the bit to get out there, and look forward to seeing some of you on the road. Oh, and if you happen to be in the UK you can find dates for THAT tour over here. Few of them are sold out now, I believe, but you never know your luck…

Tuesday, May 13 — New York, NY
In conversation with Joe Hill
Barnes & Noble Union Square @ 6pm
33 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003
Event details

Thursday, May 15 — Albuquerque, NM
In conversation with George R. R. Martin
Kimo Theater @ 6pm
423 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Books sold by Bookworks
Event details

Friday, May 16 — Decatur, GA
In conversation with Jenn Lyons
Eagle Eye Book Shop @ 7pm
2076 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033
Event details

Saturday, May 17 — Austin, TX
In conversation with C. Robert Cargill
Book People @ 7pm
603 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703
Event details

Monday, May 19 — Littleton, CO
In conversation with Stephen Graham Jones
Tattered Cover Book Store @ 5:30pm
7301 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120

Tuesday, May 20 — Salt Lake City, UT
In conversation with Brandon Sanderson
First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City @ 6pm
777 S 1300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Books sold by The King’s English Bookshop
Event details

Wednesday, May 21 — Lake Forest Park, WA
In conversation with Robin Hobb
Third Place Books @ 7pm
17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
Event details

Thursday, May 22 — Royal Oak, MI
In conversation with Evan Leikam
North End Taproom @ 6:30pm
111 S Main Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Books sold by Sidetrack Books
Event details

Saturday, May 24 — Naperville, IL
Book event & signing
Anderson’s Bookshop @ 7pm
123 W Jefferson Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
Event details

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Safe to say the UK is well served with signed and limited and special content for The Devils, but I would HATE for my valued brethren across the pond in the USA to feel left out, so in devilish collaboration with Joel Daniel Phillips and his colleagues at Lit Escalates, we’re going to be offering some packages including signed copies of Tor’s US hardcover along with limited and unlimited entirely genuine relics based on Joel’s awesome icon-based internal art for the book.

Just to recap – even the supposedly standard (and who would dare use such a word) hardcover will include four of these spiritually enlivening illuminations on coloured endpapers, opening like a renaissance altarpiece, and four as black and white internal illustrations, along with a map (yes, I said it), AND I think some pretty glorious foil stamped boards beneath the dust jacket.

The packages available for preorder on the Lit Escalates site (who also do art and merchandising for Pierce Brown and VE Schwab) include the US hardcover (some unsigned, some signed by means of an exclusive book plate) along with posters, bookmarks, pins and other delights, while stocks last…

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