Thursday, February 23, 2012

The End Of The World Is Nigh

Just got word- The End Of The World has officially been released.

I thought it wouldn't be available until the 1st of March, World Book Day, but apparently they release their books a week or two early so that people will have them in their hands for the day in question. I think the vouchers can be used in participating shops from tomorrow onwards, but if you don't have a voucher the books themselves are real cheap, so it shouldn't break the bank.

TEOTW isn't the only World Book Day book, of course, so look around, see if anything else takes your fancy.

The A/NZ version of TEOTW will be released tomorrow, I'm told. The only difference between the two versions are the extras at the back. In the A/NZ, there's the short story using characters created by Minions -with-funny-accents right here in this Blog (and don't worry, this story will be collected along with all of the others and released to the world sometime between now and Book Nine).

In the UK and Ireland version of TEOTW, instead of a story, we have some deleted scenes from my first draft of the first Skulduggery book. I figured it might be interesting to give you a peek into what Val's home life would have been like if I hadn't come up with the idea of the reflection. Here's a hint: it'd be completely different. No warmth, or humour, or Melissa rolling her eyes while Desmond does something odd. Have a read, and then see which one you prefer.

Oh, and to all you competition winners who have been sent the signed books, I still have to send you a signed copy of Death Bringer. I've signed them and everything, I just haven't, er, sent them yet.  Ahem. The upside is that now I'll be able to send you signed copies of TEOTW as well- so yay me!

Oh, and as usual, even though TEOTW is only a novelette, keep spoilers to an absolute minimum in the comments section. You may continue to babble now.

4,763 comments:

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Stephanie Edgley said...

Hello wings.

Zathract Mist said...

You should put this on your blog, Eve.

http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff372/NeoZathier/Derek.png

xD

Nixion Strange said...

it happens to me sometimes

Eve the ROCK said...

Oh my god WHAT????

Stephanie Edgley said...

It used to happen to me ALL the time. Every comment i made would disappear. You wouldn't BELEIVE how irritating it was.

Zathract Mist said...

...

Stephanie Edgley said...

What what, eve?

Zathract Mist said...

I think she's talking about my image...

Eve the ROCK said...

Give me the link to that page!!!

Eve the ROCK said...

NOW!!!

Zathract Mist said...

...Eve, I made it...I edited the text onto the image.

Zathract Mist said...

That was why I made that comment.

Zathract Mist said...

...Eve...?

Eve the ROCK said...

Huh? So...Derek didn't say hello to me?

Zathract Mist said...

Um.

Zathract Mist said...

Perhaps I shouldn't have made it...

Zathract Mist said...

*quickly drowns in quilt*

Zathract Mist said...

*GUILT

Eve the ROCK said...

No, no, I'm not mad. Crushed, maybe, but not mad.

Bastard.

Nixion Strange said...

*tries to hide laugh*

Zathract Mist said...

*hangs head and retreats into tree-house* *barricades self in room*

Eve the ROCK said...

......I might just go hang myself now.

Nixion Strange said...

well, happiness al round!

Eve the ROCK said...

*facepalm* I am such an idiot.

Zathract Mist said...

SOMEONE STOP HER! I CAN'T! I LOCKED MYSELF IN THIS DAMNED ROOM!

Zathract Mist said...

Urgh, forget it.

*sits on bed and starts crying for several reasons*

Nixion Strange said...

eve, at least you'll actually see him in a few months

Nixion Strange said...

Mist, i've told you, sitting at your computer isn't going to help

Eve the ROCK said...

And there was, checking every page of Derek's blog.....You sure know how to make a girl happy, Mist.

Eve the ROCK said...

I'm kidding, Mist! Don't cry. Please. I actually found that hilarious.

Nixion Strange said...

Go and lie down

Eve the ROCK said...

*starts clawing through barricade*

Eve the ROCK said...

Mist, I'm sorry!

Eve the ROCK said...

I was joking! I really need to work on my winking...

Zathract Mist said...

*reloads page and reads comments*

...Oh.

*lets Eve in*

Eve the ROCK said...

Nix, help me! I didn't mean to make him feel bad!

Gabriel said...

....

Nixion Strange said...

Hey Gab...

Eve the ROCK said...

*sighs with relief* *hugs Mist* Terribly sorry. No one gets my jokes.

Gabriel said...

What is happening?

Stephanie Edgley said...

Sorry, i am here, i was just reading lynxia's blog.

Eve the ROCK said...

Um, nothing.

I am so posting that on my blog.

Gabriel said...

What is happening?

Nixion Strange said...

http://mistandnixseries.blogspot.com.au/

http://insidesparkybraginskishead.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/i-have-bad-news.html

read these

Zathract Mist said...

I'll be here, but probably won't comment.

I'm quite stung at the moment.

(Not at what you said, Eve)

Stephanie Edgley said...

Hi gab!

I have no idea what's happening.

Nixion Strange said...

http://mistandnixseries.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/my-deepest-condolences.html

Nixion Strange said...

Mist, please, turn off your computer and lie down, try to sleep.

Eve the ROCK said...

Okay. *hugs Mist*

Gabriel said...

Oh right ...

Nixion Strange said...

sorry, one of the links was wrong...

Nixion Strange said...

brb

Stephanie Edgley said...

Sparky also put something on her blog about zathract.

Nixion Strange said...

Im back...

Nixion Strange said...

that's why i put her link there

Stephanie Edgley said...

I mean . . . About the cancer . . . And all.

Nixion Strange said...

yes, that's why i put the link there

Zathract Mist said...

1st

Stephanie Edgley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gabriel said...

Great story, mate.

Zathract Mist said...

Dedicate the page to whoever and whatever you want. Im going back to crying now.

Gabriel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stephanie Edgley said...

The nix and mist one? Yeah, it is.

Eve the ROCK said...

....I can never think of something to say with things like that. :(

Gabriel said...

Things like what?

Stephanie Edgley said...

Since zathract gave the page to us to dedicate, i'm dedicating this page to zathract's grandfather.

Gabriel said...

The Modt and Nix story is so cool, so well written well described my is like not even up to that standards... I can think of ideas but not actually write a good story..

Eve the ROCK said...

And his grandfather.

Gabriel said...

I meant Mist.

Eve the ROCK said...

My comment disappeared again...

To Mist and his grandfather.

Gabriel said...

I dedicate this to mist's grandfather too.

Nixion Strange said...

To Mist, his family and his grandfather
May they have the support they need through these troubling times.

Eve the ROCK said...

*exhales*

Eve the ROCK said...

Mist, if you're still on, I posted all your pictures for me on my blog. Come and see them, everyone!

Nixion Strange said...

and thank you for the comment about Nix and Mist

Eve the ROCK said...

http://evetherockblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/awesome-pictures.html

Zathract Mist said...

I'm back, thanks Eve.

And I'm better now.

...Hopefully.

Stephanie Edgley said...

G2g. Bye.

Zathract Mist said...

I didn't mean to make you disappointed, Eve. Sorry.

Gabriel said...

Bye star.

Zathract Mist said...

Bye, Star.

Nixion Strange said...

Bye Star

Nixion Strange said...

brb

Gabriel said...

Anyone read the end of the world?
I haven't tell me if there's something about china.

Nixion Strange said...

haven't read it

Eve the ROCK said...

No, Mist, it was absolutely hilarious.

There's nothing about China, I'm afraid. :(

Gabriel said...

Oh Rey still don't have it here...
I think ...
I'll check when I can .

Eve the ROCK said...

There's stuff about Caelan, though. Valkyrie now hates vampires.

Zathract Mist said...

@Eve, I still feel bad though.


Yeah, that made me laugh.

"WE DON'T TALK ABOUT VAMPIRES!"
"It's OK. Valkyrie used to date a vampire."

xD

Nixion Strange said...

http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/skulduggery-pleasant-book-7/30135114/

read the description

Anonymous said...

Hey everyone!
I cant wait for my copy of the Death Bringer!!!!

Nixion Strange said...

...
where in the world are you?

Eve the ROCK said...

Ah, don't feel bad, Mist. It's like if I go to sit down on a chair, and you pull it away. FUNNY.

Gabriel said...

Gtg bye people

Nixion Strange said...

bye Gab
my head hurts...

Eve the ROCK said...

The Darquesse trilogy!

Zathract Mist said...

Bye, Gab.

Well...OK then. *hugs Eve*

Nixion Strange said...

YES!

Eve the ROCK said...

That is AWESOME.

Nixion Strange said...

I KNOW RIGHT!

Anonymous said...

So what are you all talking about?

Nixion Strange said...

have you read Death Bringer yet?

Anonymous said...

yeah:)

Nixion Strange said...

http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/skulduggery-pleasant-book-7/30135114

then check out the description here

Anonymous said...

Kk

Stephanie Edgley said...

Hello again . . . I seem to keep going away then coming back again today. Hi, eve, sapphire, nix, zathract, gab.

Sapphire, i just LOVE the name sapphire. Always have

Nixion Strange said...

never got what that meant
kk?

Anonymous said...

Where can I find the descpition here?
and ??? Since when was the last three the Darquesse trioligy?
thats a bit of a spoiler

Eve the ROCK said...

I'm reading chapter three of Nix and Mist. So much blood....*drools*

Nixion Strange said...

Well, did you think it'd be a warlock trilogy? Of course it's Darquesse

Anonymous said...

re: Nixon Strange
kk is just like ok, only different
and
re:Star Midnight, the Disappearing Invisible Girl who is the Enemy of the Llamas thank you:))

Nixion Strange said...

*begins to tap dance*

Zathract Mist said...

*grins*

Eve, reload the page, I changed the background. And I also made it.

Nix, you may want to take a look too.

Anonymous said...

I wasn't really thinkin it would be a Darquesse trioligy...I was thinkin a Lord Vile vs Darquesse...or I dunno, I wasn't really thinkin ahead

Nixion Strange said...

...
it's purple

Stephanie Edgley said...

Wow, you wrote out my whole name . . . Must have taken you a while.

Freakfan has a really long name.

Zathract Mist said...

Purple is awesome.

Nixion Strange said...

maybe she just copied it

Anonymous said...

*Smiles sheepishly*
Not really...I copied and pasted
*Blush*

Stephanie Edgley said...

I wasn't really thinking ahead either . . . But yeah, i suppose it will be a darquesse trilogy.

Eve the ROCK said...

I loooove the background.

Eve the ROCK said...

Purple IS awesome.

Anonymous said...

I just wanna say
I hope the 9th book ends happily!

Stephanie Edgley said...

Purple is a nice colour, but i prefer lue. Sky blue. Ip dip sky blue.

Nixion Strange said...

it won't
it end with saddness and death, but a glimer of hope left, leaving you to wonder, will they save the world?

Anonymous said...

*gasps*
*puts hands over ears*
Derek aint that cruel
..........
............
if he does, he might lose a munchkin

Eve the ROCK said...

I just hope China doesn't die.

Nixion Strange said...

He once wrote a scrit where everyone dies in the end
He tortures Tanith every book execpt fot DB, and makes the main character the one who is destined to destory the world

Zathract Mist said...

Quote: Eve
I just hope China doesn't die.

Stephanie Edgley said...

It probably won't end happily. Do you tgink derek'll want it to have a happy ending?

Personally, i don't think he does.

Anonymous said...

You make Derek seem so morbid for a Golden God...
I had a feeling that at the end, everythings over, Skulduggery says something annoying and then
THE END

Nixion Strange said...

No, he wants an ending where it is final, no room for a comeback.

Nixion Strange said...

i have a feeling, at the end, Valkyie's will die, and the last sentence will have her final thought

Stephanie Edgley said...

I bet skulduggery/valkyrie dies.

G2g, lunch. Bye.

Zathract Mist said...

Not her final thought, but it would be a symbolic ending if she died.

Nixion Strange said...

No, it'll be somehting liek

As Valkyrie layed there, her life slipping away, her last thought was why did she have to pick up that damn hat?

(you know, from the first book)

Anonymous said...

....You guys are makin me sad!
aah the old days, in book 1 when skulduggery was sane and
*SPOLIER*
and val didn't cheat on her boyfriends...

Eve the ROCK said...

Why did you quote me, Mist?

Nixion Strange said...

Pfft
Val didn't have any boyfriends

Anonymous said...

but the hat thing is funny

Zathract Mist said...

I quoted you because basically I want to say that, but I won't so I just quote him.

Anonymous said...

aargh you know what i meant

Eve the ROCK said...

I think having your two main characters evil and psychotic adds to the brilliance of it all. and to think, this is once-cute-and-innocent Valkyrie and used-to-have-a-family Skulduggery we're talking about. Oh, how they've changed.

Eve the ROCK said...

Oh, right. China forever!

Nixion Strange said...

or maybe it'll be

Valkyrie was back. Only for a shoprt while, but she was back. She looked at the canrage around her, that she herself had caused, and cried.

She heard something move behind her. She turned and there was Skulduggery, his suit torn and rugged, and he was holding a gun.
And it was pointing at her
(insert talking here)
Skulduggery shoots her

Eve the ROCK said...

I always imagined the last scene would be the world in ruins...and China survives...

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Derek is looking at these thinking
whether we are right, or wrong...
he might make it a happy ending for his younger readers

Nixion Strange said...

i started writing but got bored

Nixion Strange said...

i started writing but got bored

Eve the ROCK said...

Pfft. Happy Schmappy. If this was made into a movie, it would either be M or MA. Bring on the blood!

Anonymous said...

... i thought it would be....


valkryie looked up, all her around her, there was ruins. she slowly climbed to her feet, and looked around.
owowowowowwowoow! she heard. she turned around and saw fletcher renn, stumbling towards her, holding up ghastly, and skulduggery behind him, with china trailing behind..
we made it, said valkyrie, managing to smile.
indeed we did, replied skulduggery







idk SOMETHIN like that

Eve the ROCK said...

Well, at least China survives.

Anonymous said...

lol, i thought at least it would be a 12...
it would be SO awesome if it was a movie!

Anonymous said...

...tho, its good that Derek is the author...what if they changed it?

John Pickle said...

I wonder what happened to the White Cleaver..................Please don't be gone..............

Anonymous said...

conor, have u read the death bringer?

Nixion Strange said...

white cleaver deaded!

Anonymous said...

i think it got killed by lord vile...

Anonymous said...

or meloncholia...

Eve the ROCK said...

Vile.

Nixion Strange said...

Vile

Anonymous said...

vile then
*SPOILER* just in case anyones lookin and HASN'T read the death bringer
sorta weird to think that vile is skulduggery's alter ego, and darquesse is valkyries...

Eve the ROCK said...

*scowls at self* I'm wearing a dress. Why am I wearing a dress?

Eve the ROCK said...

Alter ego. That's a good word for it. *writes on notepad*

Anonymous said...

okay that leads me onto something else
is darquesse pronounced

dar-kess
or
dar-quess? like ( quest wihout the )
or
dar-kuss...

Nixion Strange said...

i've spent the better part of twelve hours here
And my head is really hurting
So im going
Bye!

Eve the ROCK said...

Dar-kess

Eve the ROCK said...

Bye Nixion!

Anonymous said...

yup
alter ego

Eve the ROCK said...

I better go too. Bye!

Zathract Mist said...

"Darquesse," he gasped. Valkyrie froze at the sight of him. "I can't let you continue this."
"No..." Valkyrie gasped, fear and sadness gripping her. "...No, Skulduggery, it's me. I'm back." but Skulduggery shook his head, gun not wavering from her chest.
"I'm sorry, Darquesse, but that's not going to work. Not again." he said.
Valkyrie did not know what he was talking about having not remembering what Darquesse had done while she was in charge, but she could assume that she had attempted to trick Skulduggery.
"Skulduggery," she tried, tears rolling down her face. "Please. It's really me."
Skulduggery sighed and she could see that he was hurting. Not hurting in physical pain, not because of all the gashes in his suit that would have caused scars had he had flesh, not because his skull was half blown apart. He was hurting because of what he was going to do, and knew he had to do it.
"Please..." he cried. "Skulduggery."
"Darquesse," Skulduggery cut across her. "I'm not going to ask why you haven't killed me yet. I can only assume that Valkyrie is preventing you from the inside, somehow. Could you tell her, from me, that I'm sorry?"
"No!" she gasped, tears now streaming down her face. "Skulduggery, I'm Valkyrie, I'm back."
"How I wish that was true..." he sighed. "Goodbye, Darquesse." he said and his voice cracked.

She saw his gloved finger pull the trigger and heard the bullet shot ring out. But then Valkyrie was gone and Darquesse gripped at her soul again.
She blurred, the bullet missing her completely. An elbow smashed into Skulduggery's spine and he staggered forwards, gun falling to the ground.
"She wasn't lying." Darquesse smiled broadly. "Valkyrie was back there, for a while. And you were going to shoot her."
Skulduggery spun and snapped his palm at the air but all that happened was her hair was swept away from her face and Darquesse laughed. He snapped his fingers and hurled a flaming ball of fire at Darquesse but it spread across her body and evaporated on impact.
She laughed and lashed out. Her kick hit Skulduggery's leg and it gave in, cracked and he fell to the ground yelling in pain. Quickly he jumped up and bought a fist flying up for her chin but Darquesse grabbed it, squeezed and Skulduggery's fist shattered. He hopped back screaming in pain. She snapped her palm and Skulduggery soared backwards through the air and landed painfully on the dirt ground.

Slowly he picked himself up and faced Darquesse; this was it. She knew it was. Skulduggery raised his gun slowly directed at Darquesse's heart and she raised a finger feeling her Necromancy power surging through her.
"You killed Ghastly!" Skulduggery panted. "You killed Tanith, you killed China...Daruqesse, you killed Valkyrie's parents and her sister!"
"All for good reason." she grinned darkly.
"I can't let you live." he gasped and he knew he was crying. And then she grinned.

A shard of darkness shot from her open palm as a bullet shot from Skulduggery's gun. The shard of darkness sliced through Skulduggery's rib, through his spinal cord and shattered behind him. The bullet flew towards Darquesse and she retreated quickly forcing Valkyrie forwards. And then the bullet passed through her heart and shock and pain shot through her.

Valkyrie fell forwards, blood leaking from her chest and caught sight of Skulduggery's bones scattering on the ground, his conscious leaving him and finally resting in peace. She managed a shaky laugh as Valkyrie cast her memories back to many years ago, to before Darquesse had emerged, when Gordon had been murdered...and wondered where she would be now had she not spent the night in Gordon's house all those years ago...

Zathract Mist said...

No, everyone read my fanfic ending!

Anonymous said...

bye!
and...
how Do u pronounce darquesse?

Anonymous said...

aww thats so sad!
but its good:)))
..]
HOW DO U PRONOUNCE DARQUESSE?

Anonymous said...

hello?
is anyone here???????????????

Zathract Mist said...

Darkness with the "n".

Lynxia Lost said...

Hello??

Lynxia Lost said...

Is anyone still here?

Zathract Mist said...

Shadow! I have to go now, but read my latest post!!

http://myuselessshortstories.blogspot.com.au/

Please comment!

Lynxia Lost said...

OK.

Lynxia Lost said...

Am drawing now so if you turn up I'm still here...

Stephanie Edgley said...

Hello everybody.

Zathract, if you're still here, that ending you wrote above was really good.

Well, the way it was written was good, but it was a pretty sad ending.

Stephanie Edgley said...

Hi lynxia, hi sapphire.

Lynxia Lost said...

I'm the only one left. BTW - Check out my latest post and look at the first pic.

Stephanie Edgley said...

Nobody here? *sigh* Okay, guarantee time.

Stephanie Edgley said...

Oh hi lynxia. Will do.

Lynxia Lost said...

Star? You still here?

Lynxia Lost said...

I guess I'm alone then...

Stephanie Edgley said...

That took a bit linger than i expected since my phone shut down, but . . .

SHADOW! YOU DREW ME! I FEEL SO HONOURED! THANK YOU!

Stephanie Edgley said...

Are you still here?

Lynxia Lost said...

It's OK. I'm gonna do all my friends eventually. I've done you and Robin so far. Sparky next. Then Eve probably...

Stephanie Edgley said...

Cool . . . I am rubbish at drawing people. I can draw most THINGS okay but people are really difficult.

Lynxia Lost said...

I can't do normal faces, like, not cartoon unless I spend ages on it and I can't draw animals.

Stephanie Edgley said...

I can't do cartoon. I can do animals if i have something to copy off though.

Lynxia Lost said...

I can't. It only took me 5 mins to do that one of you.

Stephanie Edgley said...

Cool . . . I used to like drawing houses by forests.

You know my old profile pic? The unicorn one? I drew that once, with coloured pencils. I've lost it now though, which is really annoying.

Tanith Low The Awesome! said...

Hi everyone! *hands cookies*

Lynxia Lost said...

Hi Tanith. Can't have the cookie - gave them up for Lent.

Yeah, you said about that pic Star.

Tanith Low The Awesome! said...

You can't eat cookies? :O

Lynxia Lost said...

I gave them up for a month along with Sims 2.

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