Comments on: Leaving Comments here

By: Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:18:42 +0000

For almost all US English to any other language, the translator is chosen and paid by the publishing house. The translator usually also gains a copyright to the translation.

Because English and Latin are my only two languages, I have to play a great deal of faith in the publisher. The publisher, of course, has a vested interest in getting the best possible translation. And of course the translator has to make choices about words that don’t translate easily, and names, and what to do about puns and other forms of word play in the book.

For all those reasons, I’ve chosen to respect my translators and allow them, who are knowledgeable in their native tongues, the freedom to make those needed choices.

You may disagree with a translator’s choices but I promise you one thing is true: If it tried to interfere, I would end up making a terrible mess of things!!!

Thanks for your comments and for being a reader. Translations and translators fascinate me and I always welcome a chance to talk about what they do.

Robin

By: gian portello

gian portello — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:34:43 +0000

i applaude the ethusiasm of the girl translating for the italian publishing house but do you not worry about the corruption entailed in the (rather subjective and for me not necessary) renaming of the characters?
It didn`t do it for me (italian who adores you (r writing)and first read you in english)

By: Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:53:23 +0000

Hi Stesha and thanks for your query.

I agonized about returning to Fitz and the Fool quite a bit a few months ago. Then I decided, ‘not yet’ and went to work on the present book. I’m enjoying writing it and watching the story line unfold. It demands all my attention and thought at this point.

So I guess I’m still waiting for that ‘compelling story line’ to dawn for me. The characters and their continuing story is still close to my heart. But I don’t want to write anything that would be less than my best effort with them.

Best wishes,

Robin

By: Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:45:39 +0000

I say something that’s a bit in-between the two, so that one could mistake it for ‘Shade’ but it still has a bit of that ‘tsh’ at the beginning.
You may pronounce it however you wish! I decided a long time ago that readers should be able to ‘name’ my characters as they saw the word on the page. I’m just happy to have you reading the books!
Robin

By: Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:39:21 +0000

Right now, audio books of Soldier Son are not available in the UK or Australia. I’m very sorry, and hope that soon that situation changes.

Robin

By: col

col — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:52:39 +0000

ive been tring to download soldier son trilogy audio books, from amazon. however when i enter the payment details, it tells me that they cant sell to my region. im in australia. where can i purchase these audio books from.

By: Eric Francis

Eric Francis — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:01:54 +0000

Where’s the house map??? What have you done with the crazy woman in the attic??? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Um, and yes, pictures of the kitties would be nice.

XOXO

By: Stesha

Stesha — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:01:12 +0000

I came across something on the internet a while ago, here: http://www.bloodmemories.it/biblioteca/the-realm-of-the-elderlings/l-uomo-ambrato/after-fools-fate.html

I was wondering if that was still your state of mind? If you’d moved on or were still considering? Thank you for your time, I know you’re very busy.

- Stesha

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:13:22 +0000

Hi again Robin !

Okay, I’ll understand if you neither publish nor respond to my question, but here it is anyway : (I’m saying this because I’m well aware that you’d have no time to write if you had to respond to all the questions your fans have concerning your books !)

question => Do you prononce “Chade” in a typical English fashion, I mean like Charles, charity, chore (-> “tshade”), or do you pronounce it like shade ?

Thanks ! (and sorry :p )

By: Natalie

Natalie — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:40:27 +0000

Dearest Robin, Thankyou so much for replying and being willing to help! (You are one of my all time favourite authors!!!) From memory, I am pretty sure it was written by a famous American author…. can’t remember the quote but I remembered it really applied to an artistic friend…. I think it was about writers and love and the difficulty of loving a writer but thankfully love doesn’t work that way…. or something to that effect…. I remember I was going to send it to my single friend with the statement that he isn’t a writer but it surely would apply to him. (he is a musician). I really appreciate your help and can’t wait for the new book as I have just reread two of your trilogies!
Regards,
Natalie.