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Turning up a little belatedly, but with good news. It's published on Amazon for paperbacks and Ebooks. The first two are on Kindle Unlimited, and the publisher is currently working on more platforms. Maybe even libraries...
www.reddit.com/r/hughcook/c...
www.reddit.com/r/hughcook/c...
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February 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Turning up a little belatedly, but with good news. It's published on Amazon for paperbacks and Ebooks. The first two are on Kindle Unlimited, and the publisher is currently working on more platforms. Maybe even libraries...
www.reddit.com/r/hughcook/c...
www.reddit.com/r/hughcook/c...
...being published as the first third of the Walrus and the Warwolf sectioned into three by its new publisher. There's a certain amount lore on this collected at the Hugh Cook subreddit (r/hughcook) - this includes why the cover of the Oracle was so weird, and exonerates Don Maitz of any wrongdoing.
February 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM
...being published as the first third of the Walrus and the Warwolf sectioned into three by its new publisher. There's a certain amount lore on this collected at the Hugh Cook subreddit (r/hughcook) - this includes why the cover of the Oracle was so weird, and exonerates Don Maitz of any wrongdoing.
What really killed the series in the UK was WHSmith (and libraries) dropping the books. In the US the partition of book 2 which was only written because the UK publisher could see how discombobulating book three would be to its readers, and then the publisher dropping it and the Lords of the sword..
February 9, 2026 at 2:21 PM
What really killed the series in the UK was WHSmith (and libraries) dropping the books. In the US the partition of book 2 which was only written because the UK publisher could see how discombobulating book three would be to its readers, and then the publisher dropping it and the Lords of the sword..
...disappointing isn't surprising, as Hugh's work tended to appeal to either people who could see how clever it was, or kids who didn't know any better that fantasy should have good goodies, and bad baddies. Off the bat we had Prince Comedo, and there's no way a prince could be dissolute like that!
February 9, 2026 at 2:17 PM
...disappointing isn't surprising, as Hugh's work tended to appeal to either people who could see how clever it was, or kids who didn't know any better that fantasy should have good goodies, and bad baddies. Off the bat we had Prince Comedo, and there's no way a prince could be dissolute like that!
They won the battle there but lost the war as Hugh's audience were young men and boys, and this was deep in the Eighties. Of particular note is that there were very negative reviews in Vector and Paperback Inferno that didn't represent the books well, someone didn't like them. Which while...
February 9, 2026 at 2:14 PM
They won the battle there but lost the war as Hugh's audience were young men and boys, and this was deep in the Eighties. Of particular note is that there were very negative reviews in Vector and Paperback Inferno that didn't represent the books well, someone didn't like them. Which while...
It was more the book than the character, but there is some truth in the magnificent Yen Olass having had a negative effect on sales. If book three had been book five it might have turned out differently. Certainly the British publishers supported and ensured The Oracle hit US shelves sans redaction.
February 9, 2026 at 2:10 PM
It was more the book than the character, but there is some truth in the magnificent Yen Olass having had a negative effect on sales. If book three had been book five it might have turned out differently. Certainly the British publishers supported and ensured The Oracle hit US shelves sans redaction.