Locus Online are now postulating a June 2008 release date for A Dance with Dragons (Book 5 of A Song of Ice and Fire) by George RR Martin. Locus only release dates, even tenuous ones, when they get information from the publisher, in this case probably Bantam US (remember that the UK publishers, HarperCollins Voyager, usually publish the books a month or so earlier). This is in line with other information, particularly that gleaned from Pat's Fantasy Hotlist when he spoke to GRRM's editor (that the manuscript was expected in autumn/winter for release a few months later).

 

As usual, take nothing for granted until official announcements are made, but this news is nevertheless encouraging.

 

The Locus release schedule does not appear to have taken into account other recent changes however:

 

The Great Ordeal (Book 1 of The Aspect-Emperor) by R. Scott Bakker is still shown as a March 2008 UK release, when, according to Amazon, Orbit recently pushed it back until August 2008 to match the American release date.

 

Toll the Hounds (Book 8 of The Malazan Book of the Fallen) by Steven Erikson is still shown as a June 2008 UK release, when again it seems to have been pushed back until August (presumably due to delays following a recent and regrattable death in the author's family). This is another Amazon date, though, and other sources are still saying June.

 

The Wise Man's Fear (Book 2 of The Kingkiller Chronicle) by Patrick Rothfuss is still listed as an April 2008 US release date when Rothfuss recently suggested it would miss that date, although hopefully not by too far.

 

The Born Queen (Book 4 of The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone) by J. Gregory Keyes seems to have been pushed back from March to April 2008.

it doesnt say anything about a june release on GRRM's website.....

Indeed. I'm trying to find who gave the info to Locus now. Apparently they get the info straight from the publishers, but Bantam doesn't appear to have said anything to them, so it may have been Voyager giving out a random date.

 

GRRM won't make any announcement until the book is finished, but it's not quite there yet.

 

Based on other information, I wouldn't be too surprised to see the book appear in the May-August 2008 period though.

yep, thats what we thought as well. at least its very certain that its going to be released next year.. so I'm happy  ;D