Many fans of the Parasol Protectorate (which I definitely count myself as) are bitter-sweet about the fast-approaching release date of the fifth and final book in the series, Timeless, planned for March 2012.
Fear not! The author approached her publisher, Orbit, with plans for a break-off series starring Prudence, the daughter of protagonist Alexia Terabotti. The first book (aptly titled Prudence) is set to release in the fall of 2013.
From Publisher’s Weekly:
Carriger thought that wrapping up the Parasol Protectorate in five books was right, rather than dragging it out. “I’m one for a tidy ending and a clean series arc,” she told PW. “Which isn’t to say I won’t take up the Parasol Protectorate gauntlet again, but it will probably be a different parasol and a different protectorate.”
While Orbit wouldn’t have objected to a longer series (books two through four were New York Times bestsellers, but Soulless, the first book in the series, remains the top-seller, and the series has sold 250,000 copies to date), Carriger approached her publishers, including Devi Pillai, senior editor at Orbit, with the next best thing: “When Gail came to us suggesting a series with Alexia’s daughter, Prudence, how could we resist?” said Pillai, who acquired Prudence and a second title, Imprudence, in a six-figure deal.
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Almost just as exciting, new Mangas are in the works based off of the books in the Parasol Protectorate! Soulless, the first, will release in March of 2012.
The author also has a new contract with Little, Brown for Young Readers on a brand new series,the first set to release in Spring 2013 and titled Finishing School. This won’t be the last we see of Gail Carriger, thank goodness!