Finally, a date for Patrick Rothfuss’ The Wise Man’s Fear

One of the best fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time is Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind. Rather than recycle the same old Tolkien-isms and riffs on Dungeons & Dragons like so many other folks working in the genre, Rothfuss created an original and intriguing world populated by fascinating concepts, characters, and places.

Intriguing mythology? Unique villain with more than a stock, clichéd backstory? Intriguing magic system? Complex hero with a past? Check, check, check, and check. And he did it all with a writing style that is breezy without ever being shallow, and full of great twists that keep you turning the page.

Suffice to say, I’ve been eagerly awaiting any news regarding his next book, The Wise Man’s Fear. And Rothfuss has recently announced the book’s publication date: March 1, 2011. Which, admittedly, is almost a year from now. But at least we have a date.

Now, if only we could get a date from George R. R. Martin…