Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsCataclysm novel slated for August, 2010
by Zach Yonzon 
Nov 6th 2009 at 2:30PM
If you're reading into this as much as I am (generally not a good idea), that could mean that the Cataclysm expansion will ship after August 31. After all, you'd think that Blizzard's marketing team would want a book that reveals what happens before the Cataclysm to actually launch before the expansion hits, right?
Well, not really. The Arthas book, which focuses on the Lich King, was released long after Wrath broke out. In short, the novels follow a completely different schedule from the game even though they all share the same lore. So I made you fret over absolutely nothing! You didn't fall for it? Ok, so I made myself fret over absolutely nothing. The book is available for pre-order at $26 on Amazon and should be chock-full of lore and hopefully explain a lot of what will change during the expansion.
Considering how a lot of people (well, okay, at least Alex and Daniel) geeked out over Golden's Arthas novel, this book promises to be a good read. At any rate, we can probably expect it to be free of super-powerful, hackneyed, Mary Sue-ish, self-projected characters like time-traveling dudes who shack up with the hottest girl or multi-racial scions who can wield all kinds of magic. I mean, it's a freaking black dragon, man. It's kind of hard to mess up something innately awesome as that.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Lore, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Admiral Snackbar Nov 6th 2009 2:40PM
Very nice dig at Knaak, Zach. Hahaha. Thank God this isn't one of his. The Mary Sue-ing that happens in the Knaak novels are no where to be found in Golden's. I still don't understand why he's kept around, his stuff muddies up lore more than it helps.
Naze Nov 6th 2009 2:44PM
Can't wait. Golden did a great job with the Arthas novel, so here's to hoping the new one is just as good.
raingod Nov 6th 2009 2:49PM
It's also important to keep in mind, in regard to any books release, it's all up to the publisher and less to Blizz. Much like Gamestop release dates, any release date for a novel is subject to change without notice.
I had a poem included in an anthology that was due out in January of this year and didn't get released until October (despite having a release date on Amazon for August!).
Asswipe Johnson Nov 6th 2009 2:53PM
The real question is, will this be the first Warcraft novel that isn't total excrement from a literary standpoint? Probably not, since it has the same author who wrote "Arthas." Seriously, read the sample pages of that book at Amazon.com and try hard not to vomit. The Warcraft novels thus far make Dan Brown look like Faulkner.
Kirklees Nov 6th 2009 3:10PM
Yes, with a name like Asswipe I'm totally going to take your opinion more seriously.
Kylenne Nov 6th 2009 3:12PM
If you're looking for quality fantasy, RPG-based books are probably not for you. A Song of Ice and Fire, they're not.
I still haven't gotten around to Arthas, but I did enjoy Golden's other WC work, most notably Lord of the Clans. They were actually pretty solid, from a trashy popcorn novel standpoint, which is really the only way these things can be judged. I thought she did an admirable job.
Note that Hack's work even fails by those ridiculously low expectations.
jfofla Nov 6th 2009 2:54PM
I see Cataclysm much earlier. Spring of next year.
Tori Nov 6th 2009 3:01PM
This is the time period that I'm leaning towards as well. Or perhaps it's only my inner hopes, who can say. :P Either way I hope there isn't practically an entire year to wait for it.
As much as I understand not rushing it; ever since the news regarding Cataclysm was released I've been looking forward to it so much that I can't get in the mood to level any of my alts. I want to level them in the 'new' world, and I can't help but feel that levelling right now is pointless and dull compared to what's in store. I also want my troll druid. =O
Ringo Flinthammer Nov 6th 2009 5:16PM
It'll be in alpha early in 2010 and beta in late spring. It won't be hitting the streets before summer, though.
Blizzard's pattern is lots of in-house planning and testing, start the F&F alpha while building more content (which is unlocked to the alpha almost as soon as it's done), and then once it's all done and had a Q&A pass, it goes into beta.
Given how little we saw at Blizzcon other than the first part of the two new newbie zones -- otherwise, it was almost all concept paintings -- I think we've got a few more weeks before the F&F alpha starts. My guess is it'll start in January.
Jenn Nov 6th 2009 2:58PM
Reading Arthas on the train on my way to work made me less embarrassed about reading my romance novels in public. I got far more snarky looks from the WoW book than I do from the Man-Boob covers of romance novels.
Thanks WoW!
Darthregis Nov 6th 2009 3:33PM
What were you doing looking at other people? You were supposed to be reading! :)
Wil Nov 6th 2009 3:35PM
Christie Golden sure is good at quickly churning out crappy books.
Jed Nov 6th 2009 3:40PM
I dont think they could wait till august to put out cataclysm.. Icecrown is going to come out in the next month probably.. I do not believe they are going to let that be the only thing going on for 8-9 months! people will be bored well before that time is reached. I think the new expansion must come out early summer or late spring..
Peacebone Nov 6th 2009 3:45PM
@Kylenne
can I be your best friend ever?
also, what's his hang-up with dragons?
AND, why didn't the Sunwell Trilogy make ANY SENSE at all?
AND-!! why was Krasus in it?
I'm starting to think Metzen's got some pretty bad taste, between Walt Simonson and Richard Knaak.
but I enjoyed Arthas. all of the stuff before Warcraft III was pretty new to me, and I thought Christie Golden did a good job adding new depth to the scenes we already knew from Warcraft III. but then again, after Lord of the Clans and Rise of the Horde, I'll follow that woman to the ends of the earth. YOU HEAR ME?! TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!!
Ringo Flinthammer Nov 6th 2009 6:17PM
Ease up on Simonson. He wrote and illustrated what's widely considered the best run on Marvel Comics' Thor of all time. He's a natural choice for the Warcraft universe. The problems his Warcraft comic suffers are either the art (which was mostly just posed poster-style shots at first) and way too much editorial oversight. ("Make sure you explain EACH AND EVERY TERM THAT YOU MENTION. God forbid anyone just pick it up as they go along, read a glossary in the back of the book or visit WoWWiki.com.")
JoeHelfrich Nov 6th 2009 3:44PM
You should also keep in mind that if a book has been announced but no shipment date is known, and Amazon would like to take pre-orders for it, Amazon will make up a date, just like Game Stop and Best Buy arbitrarily assign a date to a software release.
With the holiday's coming, I suspect we'll see those going up soon too.
Ringo Flinthammer Nov 6th 2009 6:19PM
Amazon's dates tend to be a lot less fictional than EBGames, which is the big offender in the arena. Quite often, they'll just put up a quarter or even just say "no publication date is known at this time."
If they're putting up a date, it's usually because either the publisher or distributor told them that date.
EBGames, on the other hand, is happy to make up dates out of whole cloth.
Ves Nov 6th 2009 3:47PM
On the PTR, the Children's Week quest to get Cairne's autograph has been changed to get Garrosh's autograph, which suggests Blizzard must be aiming to get Cataclysm, or at least 4.0 out in or before May.
ben Nov 6th 2009 4:17PM
wow. that orphans parents must be dying 1000 plus 1 deaths in the twisting nether.
Merrena Nov 6th 2009 4:06PM
Must have this book!!! Her Arthas book was amazing I had to read it 2 times within the same week, mainly because, I don't know why, the part where it described Arthas and Jaina's love life was the best part imo most likely because it was the part that hasn't been covered by any game so it was all new. Can't wait.
I'm a Warcraft book nerd...