SorceSimon & Schuster has paid two "good" six-figure sums for UK and Commonwealth rights in two new series by science fiction authors Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson.
The first series is a new trilogy in the long-running science fiction series Dune. The first volume in the series, Jessica of Dune, is scheduled for an autumn 2009 release in trade paperback. The other books in the series are Irulan of Dune and Leto of Dune for releases in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
The authors are also working on the first three volumes of another series, Hellhole. The first book in the series will be published in autumn 2010 and the next volumes in the series will be published on alternate years.
The rights were sold by Claire Roberts at Trident Media Group on behalf of John Silbersack and Robert Gottlieb to Simon & Schuster senior fiction editor Kate Lyall-Grant. The books will be published by Tor Books in the US. S&S publishes Anderson's Saga of the Seven Suns series.
"We are absolutely delighted to be continuing to publish Kevin J. Anderson, a master storyteller who is considered one of the best in his field," said Lyall-Grant. "We are also thrilled to be welcoming Brian Herbert to S&S in this exciting new joint venture." Brian Herbert is the eldest son of Dune author Frank Herbert.
I figure that "good six-figure" probably means up to $750K, and keep in mind that is only for the Commonwealth Nations. So assume $1.2 to $1.5 M for the seven books that are the subject of this article, and probably double that for the US rights. Doesnt it just make you want to cry? Or, are you more likely to cry when you read that the Smellhole books are only the "first three" of that series?