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Patrick Ness makes a return to the Chaos Walking world with a new trilogy
Walker Books has acquired The New World trilogy, a new series by Patrick Ness. Set on the same world as the Chaos Walking series (Walker Books), the new series will explore "themes of war and loyalty".
Publishing director Denise Johnstone-Burt and Susan van Metre from Walker US acquired world English-language and Chinese rights from Michelle Kass at Michelle Kass Associates. The first book in the new trilogy, Piper at the Gates of Dusk, is set to publish in hardback in the UK and the US in spring 2026, 15 years after the last Chaos Walking novel was published.
The book’s synopsis states: "’I dream of Noise,’ says our young narrator. But that should be impossible. The Noise was ’cured’ years ago, though some would argue ’cure’ is entirely the wrong word for the cost it extracted. But our narrator isn’t the only one hearing it in his sleep; so are all of his friends and maybe every young person on New World.
"Something is coming. From an inconceivable interstellar distance away, something is coming that is about to commit an unspeakable crime. Who can stop them? What chance does our narrator and his friends have against an enemy so vast?
"Fortunately, his family knows something about saving the world against impossible odds. His parents are named Todd and Viola."
Ness said: “I never planned on returning to Chaos Walking, genuinely. I thought the story was finished. And it was. Until a pesky idea kept surfacing. I could see it, and I could see where it should be set, and I could see who it should be about. I actually tried to resist it, because I always want to be absolutely sure I’m never repeating myself. But it wouldn’t go away. And this trilogy is about the world now, just as Chaos Walking was about the world in 2008.
"As a writer, I’ve always said I must go where the ideas lead or I have no chance at all of writing anything good. This idea made demands. And then it grew. I didn’t expect to be back here, but wow, it feels thrilling.”
Johnstone-Burt added: “When I acquired the Chaos Walking trilogy, 18 years ago, I knew I was in the hands of a brilliant writer, and I have not been proved wrong in the years since. Patrick’s Chaos Walking trilogy stands as a touchstone in YA fiction and the prospect of a further trilogy set in the same world, is beyond exciting. I can’t wait to share it with Patrick’s fans.”
Metre added: “It is an honour of my editing life to join Patrick and Denise in publishing this new trilogy. Patrick is one of the greats and has long been a personal favourite writer of mine and so many readers around the world. This new trilogy is a timely gift.”
