The final book.
The last Skulduggery.
I've been writing these books since 2005, so for me it's been nine years of living with these characters, in this world. I knew saying goodbye was not going to be easy...
But I haven't had to say goodbye yet. Not really. I wrote the book. I edited. I went through it again and again. I decided on covers, on approaches. I approved tour schedules and special events. I prepared. I tweeted. I blogged. I kept busy. I kept looking forward...
But now... now (most of) the preparation is done. I just have to turn up now, and talk, or sign, or talk and sign, and meet people and go places.
It's going to sink in NOW. I can feel it.
No more Skulduggery Pleasant.
I'm going to give my usual "No Spoilers" speech now. So, like, no spoilers, people. The comment section above is for spoilers, not this one.
But even outside of this blog, please be considerate of your fellow Minions. Don't go blasting spoilers on Facebook or Twitter or Tumblr. Be subtle about it, and if you can't be subtle, go LOUD with the spoiler warning.
And when I say spoiler I don't just mean" "Oh my god, I can't believe THIS CHARACTER did THAT to THAT OTHER CHARACTER!"
I also mean spoilers in a more general sense. For example, saying things like: "Derek, I can't believe you did that! I'll never forgive you! How could you?? That was my favourite character!!"
Or: "I'm so delighted! I loved it and the ending was just what I wanted!"
You have friends, Minions, who know your hopes and dreams. They know your favourite characters. They know what you're dreading. So don't confirm any of these things when you comment, even if you make sure not to get too specific. If you love the book, tell me. If you hate the book, tell me that too. But keep in mind that other people will be reading, and if you give away what kind of ending the book has, you've just cheated them out of finding out for themselves.
I love your enthusiasm. Your enthusiasm makes these books what they are. So while you're being considerate of your friends, be sure to revel in your enthusiasm, and your excitement, and your dread, and your horror, and your happiness and your despair.
I hope you like it.
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no more skulduggery!! *cries*
It's done....
oh, god. this is it. why do you do this? oh, god. it's been seven years for me. seven years of my life obssessing over this wonderful peice of art that is ending. oh, god.
The end.. God help us. Anyone know the Australian release date- or should I buy the ebook?
I'm crying, Derek. I'm truly crying. *hugs* I'm so glad I got into SP, even if I live over in the US, I really am scared/excited for TDOTL, maybe it'll come early...-Zaf
...this will soon be goodbye....no. Not goodbye. Just, till we meet again. Hopefully. Probably not. Let's be honest this will probably be goodbye. The real goodbye....
Damn you Derek.
I can't believe a year ago I was screeching because I was in LSODM, now I'm sitting here, rocking because I'm scared to think about whats to come....-Zaf
I forgot to order this book 'next day' on Amazon so I might not get a copy until September. Cries.
This cover is like the Baron Vengeous of books. Stare at it long enough and you feel like your whole body is going to rupture.
Ahaha true.-Zaf
Gosh, I'm not ready. :(
Okay I'm not ready for this, I'm truthfully not. Okay, I am seriously considering just staying in bed and dreading thus until tomorrow....wait that's what I'm doing now
I cant wait!
prynhawn da peeps ^^
er...hello?
Hi! Finally a person.-Zaf
Hello Zaf ^^
Im knackered -_-
Spent the day down the vets. standing around doing nothing is TIRING
how r u?
I'm fine, just dreading tomorrow....-Zaf
Im in two minds about it tbh
on one hand I want to find out how the ultimate ending will end
but then again...no more Skeleton detective...*cries in corner*
I have to wait until the 8th to even get it, so you know...I have a while yet. 11 days...-Zaf
ahhh...mine comes tomorrow
Lucky. :/-Zaf
In a way..but the series will end sooner for me and then ill be depressed
True....I just want the book already, its like I wait so long anyway-Zaf
it must be a pain to wait :/
I've followed this book series - and been a major fan and avid reader - since the year it was first published. That's seven whole years. Seven long years of having Skulduggery and Val be in my life, and always having something unknown in their future to look forward to.
But after tomorrow it'll all be over. No more years, no more unknown.
I don't want it to end, pure and simple. I wish it would continue forever - always having new stories and battles and adventures to sink my teeth into and hide away in the corner reading for hours on end. But then again, the things that are dragged on long past their expiration date somehow never stay as special. So, although I'll only have the nine books and the extra stories - a limited account of the story I will always want more of - I think it'll be okay.
Of course, I'll do the typical fangirl thing of mourning for the unattainable more, but once that passes I'll just be happy, I think. Because yes, the books are finished. But that doesn't have to be a sad thing. I can reread them whenever I want, and there will always be something in there which I’ll have forgotten and so will feel new to me - like, a small anecdote or a passing comment. The finale doesn't have to be sad because it means that it happened. And I would much rather that all of this happened and is now over, than I never found the stories that I will love for all my life.
So yes, there will be tears, but there will be smiles too - the old cliché.
I will miss the wait game between books and the conspiracy theories that decorated my internet feeds. But I'm looking to the future, whilst keeping the past fondly in mind.
So, finally, thank you Derek Landy.
Thank you for being hilarious and sarcastic.
Thank you for being someone who pays attention to his fans and cares for them and their wellbeing.
Thank you for creating a community that, although has its rough periods, is caring and loving and completely accepting.
But most of all, thank you for creating this series. These books changed my life when I didn't expect them to, when I simply picked up a book with a skeleton detective on the front and orange edged pages and expected nothing more than another story.
I will forever remain a dear fan.
Yours,
Flora
Nerves. Buzzing. Worry. I swear I won't read the last page before the first. I won't read out of order. Can't wait. Gonna cry. ARGHHHHHHHHHGGAEJENENWLSOSJS!
Hey Sil *sniffles*
(Hello.)
It's ending. I..it still hasn't dawned on me that its ending. My brain refuses to accept it. It hasn't hit me yet. I'm not sure whether to be glad or angry that I can't comprehend the words 'the end' because I don't know how I'll feel when it happens....
hey Dragon
Hey guys. How are you all?
it hasn't actually hit much ...yet
im listening to mika to prolong my happiness
Hey Rhyd! Tired...very tired
im a mess :P, u?
("There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story." - Frank Herbert.)
Hey Ink! I'm a mess too :P tired and can't believe SP has met its end. Atm I'm in bed listening to music to drown out my sorrows
Awesome quote Dragona...inspirational!
im doing that tooo
actually im listening to mika to lift my spirits
(*nods* I like that quote. I will listen to that quote. I think its hitting me now. Oh god. It's ending...it can't end...not skulduggery...not the book....no...I don't want it to end...oh god...)
I haven't left my room in hours....maybe I should let my parents know that I'm still alive.
*nods* id advise that
ive been in the vets all day
*hugs sil tightly*
(... Am I the only one who isn't like emotional? :P)
(.....what will I look forwards to now?!?!?!)
Probably Drags :P
Jesus Christ/god help me, if I'm like this now I'm doomed when i get the book
Derek's next piece of work?
@ Dragon
I try to be emotional at things but im just apathetic...this will hit me tho eventually
I don't cry in films...I didn't cry in the fault in our stars
(I don't get emotional at like... anything. :P)
its going to be okay Rhyd *puts hand on his shoulder* we are all here to support eachother
For the past year I've been joining as many fandoms as possible so after this one I will have something to fall back on....yeah, it's not gonna work, I'll fall and die
Brb tea's ready.
byii byii Rhyd
(If the ending isn't amazing I will cry...granted if it IS amazing I'll probably cry also but if it isn't I will cry THEN be angry...and depending what happens I might be angry anyway....)
Oh Sil :/
I'm in tears....
I remember last year we were all anticipating what would happen to us, you know...which Minion is going to die...
Then we got LSODM and pretty much we died, Ravel did his thing and I can't believe it. Em was broken, she actually was broken, NJ....oh NJ....Giggler of the North read that bit with China and I freaked out.
God, its been such a great journey. So many amazing things happened to me, I can still hardly believe it happened. All I did was ask to borrow my friend's copy of the first book because she kept pestering me to read it.
Now look where I am. Good god....SP is over, Zaffy is crying...I think I need to plan my funeral arrangments.
Guys, I don't think it will sink in until I open the mail after school and see the package with TDOTL inside...
-Zaf
(It seems some of the best films/books etc have bad endings. *shrugs*
I like endings which get you thinking. :P
Like you could just take the ending as what it is, or you could analyse it and get into it and then it seems better.)
*hugs Zaf* it has been a jorney
Ive only been into SP since the 6th book. It was the first book series I took interest in
Australia?
Same. I jumped in right after Death Bringer...*laughs* God...it feels like it was only yesterday....
*cries* What will become of Derek? Can we all trust him to write something? He kills feels, will any of us actually have feels left?
-Zaf
(I presume Rose has threatened to kill herself again?)
Derek must write something new...he has to
20 to 3am over there...she's an Aussie.
-Zaf
(I actually didn't like Death Bringer.)
Dragona, whats your email? It is best I email it...-Zaf
how are you about this El?
is it alright if I have peoples emails?
Im thinking of actually EMAILING people now that my emails are on my phone
(Zafira - I could read back through the comments if it's there.)
Death Bringer wasn't my favorite, actually KOTW was mine...-Zaf
I mean...are you sad? desperate to get your hands on it or...?
It isn't, I haven't....fuck it.-Zaf
my fav was dark days
(Ahem. First one was my favourite.)
This is what Rose sent me, I have forwarded to most of you guys....At...8:16am my time...
know you'll eventually find this.
Of course you will. You'll look for the place I spend most of my time. Blogland. Of course it would be Blogland.
I've tried living your way. I've tried being the daughter you wanted me to be. I've tried being part of the family, but it doesn't work. I don't belong with you. I don't belong.
Then I tried my way. And this is how it turns out.
3am. That's when I left. That's when I left with a pair of shoelaces to tie around my neck and hang myself. I'm in the swamp somewhere. Really far in. You won't find me for a while. I'll make sure I really die this time. I'll overdose just before so that if it doesn't work, or the shoelaces snap, I still have that to rely on.
One way, or another, I die this very night.
I'd say that I love you, mum, dad, Jac, Matt, Keet, Roh. But I'd be lying. And lying is bad. You don't trust me anyway.
You think I'm doing this for attention.
Well you guys can all fuck yourselves. I've tried to reach out but no, I'm just doing it for attention. It's just an act.
I guess my death tonight is an act. To he honest, I'm too lazy to leave so I'm laying in bed like every other day. Just being a lazy, attention-seeking bastard.
Because that's all I am to you.
awww, I found this cute pic that says 'eyeless jack loves kidney sandwiches!
It....usually is bad when I'm crying at the thought of TDOTL...-Zaf
(Zafira - Ah.)
Plot twist: Derek's taken name is Ereskine Ravel.
-Zaf
(Even bigger plot twist: Derek's taken name is Mevolent.)
Back!
WB Rhyd ^^
Hey Inky! :)
Help me........
Wow. I cant believe its over. I've been following the series since book three. Noooooo!!!!!! Derek!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!! No more Skulduggery. This is a sad, sad day.
(Which ball? The one on here, or...?)
Not going to the Req Ball in London, but hopefully I'll go to the one in Glasgow later this year. Dad says HE won't take me so I'm now looking at all possibilities
Hey Dugg and Callie
I'm...I'm....I'm....
21 DAYS?!?!?!? WHY?!
Im not going to the London ball...but depending when the Glasgow one is...I may be able to persuade my parents
(sorry for the poof, food came up.)
(Yey Rhydian! Someone else plans to go to Glasgow with no idea how they'll get there! Yey! *high fives*)
(@Dug that is a lot of days...)
(Glasgow is a fan organised event El. Chi, Luci, Blake, Cassidy and two other boys are organising it.
@Flick December 6th)
COME ON PEOPLE! IT IS POSSIBLE TO SHIP A BOOK FROM THE UK TO THE USA (west coast) IN 5 DAYS RIGHT?! OR 10?! WHY?!?
Why.......
*falls to her knees in despair*
*cries**is almost crying in real life*
(Aren't we having a Requiem Ball on here, too?)
(@El I'm on my phone, sorry :c)
I'm gonna try and see if Corvo's parents can take us both. They're more flexible than mine so i think that's how I'm getting there but I dunno. No matter what I'm going, eben if that means I walk it :P
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OTHER CREATURES LURKING!!
Saturday, August 30th at exactly midnight Irish time (7pm Friday night EST) Is the one and only BLOGLAND REQUIM BALL!!
Bring your insanity, Blogland Balls win...
-Zaf
(thnx...in the evening? cos ill probs have to travel part way on the Friday night and then the rest on the day)
(Blogland requiem ball is..ugh dates...midnight GMT on...a day....Zaf knows...)
Live streaming? Streaming what?
Two minutes...
Zaf, you posted it a little early...
<3
(*points at what Zaf said* there you go Draggie.
Not sure on that respect yet Flick. Imma have to coach it myself...and possibly rent a room somewhere....hmmmm.....
..Rhydian...where do you and corvo live?)
Tomorrow we can live stream the Requim Ball in London...good god will Derek actually be dressed up?-Zaf
(I think it should be changed from midnight. Most people are on at about 8 GMT.)
DEATHY JESUS CHRIST YOU TERRIFIED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, its called I posted it before you do something you'll regret.-Zaf
Hey Death...worried me there, you did
How can I regret it when I'm dead? I'll be dead.
Me and Corv live in Lancashire. That's all I'm saying for Internet safety reasons sil
You'll regret it because you'll be alive, because guess what, Rose? There's an angel watching you, and obviously it isn't your time, so you may as well get comfy on Earth.-Zaf
*hugs Death*
What happened to twelve hours warning?!
Hey Rose!
Getting comfy in Themis hellhole isn't going to bloody work. This place is shit. I'm not going to lie. But ugh!
The twelve hours warning can get screwed. I wasn't going to run away at 10am. I'd be at school.
Rhy.
Rose, for god's sake, what do you think is so horrible that dying is worth it? Dying is not the answer, it never is. Someone who has a terminal illness would be so grateful to have the chance to live, which you do. Take that chance and let it blossom.
-Zaf
Twelve hours! It doesn't matter if I'm HERE! Twelve hour warning.
Why not El?
Ahhh...oh poor you...
Also as a reply to what you said earlier...
I RESENT NEEDING SLEEP!
(I don't think I can participate in the Requiem Ball that will be on this blog. Due to the fact that it will be at midnight. I will try but yeah.)
Gtg now. Bye!
:( But I usually don't sleep anyway.....fine. Just the weekend I suppose. Unless its a happy accident that We're both on. That's fair. *nods*
Byii Rhyd
It lasts all day, it just STARTS at midnight, Dragona. Its basically all day Saturday.
Usualy we generaly di all rp is paused, so say Ari wanted to take Niccolò, she can go with Nic and all rp is paused.
It also means you can go as yourself, or any character of yours. Usually we put our profile pics up of what we wear but if you have multiple people just post them on a blog or link.
-Zaf
(Personally I plan to bring ALL my characters. Well...not Evil Sil. Normal Sil, Ashlea, James, Erica and Manuel.)
Hmmm... I'll probably go with myself.
I'm back...
I've calmed down. Kinda.
(if I am on...ill bring my creepypasta friends/the characters as well as inky and chris
im going for a nice warm bath now
b back later)
All my Asgardians will be going, and my SP characters.-Zaf
And El, about the book, well I have to read it first! And then my other friend but she'll definitely finish it in one day, I'll probably be two or three.... cause I'll have school...
And if you steal it!!! Well you don't know where I live but if you steal my special shadow edition...
I. Will. Kill. You. No. Joke. On. Tuesday. By. Decapitating. You.
(Oh and...no one attack Erica and James at the ball please? They aren't going to be fighting...just chatting....)
My mom just bought me fifty dollars worth of SP books. O_O :D D': 8D :O :-) :-) :-) D'''""": :D
I'll just bring myself. I'll go with myself. I'll talk to myself. Well maybe not talk to myself.... I'll talk to you all but it sounded good.
REALLY FABI?! THAT'S SOOOOOOOOOOOO COOL!!!!!!!! YOU'RE SOOOOOOOOOOOO LUCKY!!!!! ENJOY!!!!!
(Well, I've already designed some concepts for what Leri could look like at the ball (which basically involves just changing her hood from purple and white to black, changing her suit fastenings to black rather than gold and then giving her like a skirt...
Sophia will probably just come in wearing her uniform...
The Assassin will be invisible most of the time.)
Idk what I'd where.... definitely me mask.
(@Draggie I hope you realise Sil still wants to make Sophia wear a dress....
I just realised Manuel has no one to go with....awww...
Sil will be wearing a long silver dress and probably have her hair up in a side bun.. or something...
I'm thinking blue dress for Ashlea...not sure bout her hair get cause she might be changing it.
Erica a red dress hair loose with slight waves
Manuel in a black suit
James in a navy suit maybe...or white.)
(Sophia refuses to wear a dress. :P)
YES.
I HAD BEEN WAITING TO ORDER AOH AND TDOTL BECAUSE I HAVE NO MONEY, BUT MOM DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO GET ME THEM AND TEOTW (which I've been unable to get) AS A PRESENT AND EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Dun't worry Sil! Plenty o people don't have someone to go with!
(@Fabi LUCKY!!!)
(Sil: Sophia SHALL wear a dress! Mwahahaha!)
Most of my characters don't have anyone to go with.
Rook and Effie have each other, though.
If I drop in, I might do so as them... Or Aevil, if I'm in an Aevil mood... We'll have to see, though. I probably won't be able to come.
(Sophia: I'm more likely to wear a heavy mech to the ball.)
Yeah, I had to buy AGOH by myself but my parents bought TDOTL for me. But Idk if they know....
(Sil: Oh don't worry. I haz a plan.
Also when does evil Sil wake up? She wasn't very happy about being drugged.)
Yeah... I'm coming as Dugglyn. Cause she's basically me.
El, are you (as a character) coming with anyone?
(Yeah. The assassin put her under yesterday.)
(The Assassin drugged her, saving her life in the process.
Sophia: You will not get me into a dress.)
Like the real ball? In London? With Derek Landy?
(Sil: Just wait...*winks*)
(Sophia: I will rip you apart if you try.)
No, it's from 6 or 6:30 p.m. UK time to 8 or 8:30 p.m. that's 10a.m. to 12:30p.m. about.
(Sil: you don't even know my plan yet!)
(So...suit and tie for me?)
(Our time.)
(Sophia: I don't have to. If it involves me in a dress, then I will rip you apart.)
im back
whats everyone talking about?
(Chloe - well, Sophia is currently arguing with Silente because Sophia refuses to wear a dress. :P
I think it's just Requiem Ball stuff.)
(Sil: VIVVY! *tacklehugs* hello. @Sophia ..what if you don't KNOW your in a dress?)
(which one...on here?)
(*hugs* hi)
Vivanus!
I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but if you have a moment, could you look at the tie-breaker post on Guess the Bloglandian? Or at least be aware of its existence, and look at it sometime in the reasonably near future? It'd be appreciated.
(Yes, the one on here.
Sophia: I will rip you apart.
For the record, Sophia will wear this:
http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6ropqphNm1qjkqryo1_400.jpg
And that's pretty much all but her armour she'd accept to wear...)
Hey Viv
The real Requiem Ball is in London. The one that Derek Landy is going to. That you had to win tickets to. It is in London from 6 to 8:30pm (might be 6:30 to 8..) pm UK time. This blog time. That is 10am to 12:30p.m. (same goes for this, it could be 10:30 to 12).
that's a cool outfit ^^
Hey Viv!
Hello everyone!
It does look formal.
oh my god! im going thru my facebook pics looking for my prom dress that inky will wear when I came across a pic of me in my topgun overalls!
Awww, I can go/watch... I do start school till the second or third.
(Ah Top Gun. Have it on DVD. Impressive flight images. Quite a good soundtrack.)
Until the end...
(Sil: @Viv hmmm...maybe a suit and tie...it'd be a change from the armour... @Soph you wouldn't KNOW though...)
(Sophia: I would find out. And then I would rip you apart. All that's would be left of Silente Tempest would be a mist of glowing particles.)
(Sil:...that's a bit harsh...what if it was only for like a minute?)
(Inky: *gets between sil and soph* enough of this.)
(Sophia: I am not wearing a dress.)
*spins Sil around and dances*
(Got to go)
(Bye Vivanus!)
byii Viv
*sigh* im trying to think up ideas for my story that im writing
(bye Viv!!!)
(Sil: *wonders what colour dress would best suit Sophia*)
(Brb.)
Bye Viv. I'm gonna go. Maybe read more Skulduggery Pleasant..
the weather...sympathetic landscape
(Sil actually has an idea for seeing Sophia in a dress..
Sil: *navy blue..with gold...gold belt...and some gold on the shoulders..definitely a dress with shoulders...*)
I can't.
Reading is too painful. Maybe cause I chose LSODM...
Why would I do that...?
Ya Know..... because the last book nearing Derek Landy should come on Blogland and talk to us minions!!!
YES!!!! COME DEREK LANDY!!!!! COME TALK TO YOUR MINIONS!!!
Is anyone here?
I'm here
(Back.)
Ok..
I'll role play.
Hi Inky.
Hi Draggie
Hi Dugg😋
What's happening in the world of rp?
Derek please? Even for 5 minutes? It would be awesome and would make my day!!!
I'm not sure. El and I were going to do something...
You can join if you want.
Thank youuu😋
(I think a red dress would suit Sophia the best, somehow.
Ha. I just managed to get her down to, "If I wear a dress, it will be half armour and half fabric.")
DEREK!COME!
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