The Locked Tomb is a series of science fantasy novels by New Zealand author Tamsyn Muir. It is published by Tor Books.

Publishing history

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Novels

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# Title Pages US release
1 Gideon the Ninth 448 September 10, 2019
2 Harrow the Ninth 512 August 4, 2020
3 Nona the Ninth 480 September 13, 2022
4 Alecto the Ninth TBC

Short fiction

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Muir has published several works of short fiction that fill in the gaps between the novels. The first of these short stories, "The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex" (2020), is set a few years prior to Gideon the Ninth and focuses on Palamedes and Camilla.[1] "As Yet Unsent" (2022), an epistolary story from the point of view of Captain Deuteros, takes place between the events of Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth.[2] Both were published on Tor.com.[3][4] Both "As Yet Unsent" and the short story "Blood of Eden Memorandum for Record" were also included with paperback and e-book editions of Harrow the Ninth.[5] "The Unwanted Guest" was included in the paperback version of Nona the Ninth, and takes place during the events of Nona the Ninth, and is told in the form of a one-act play.[6]

Reception

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Critical response

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The series has been well received by critics,[7][8] with praise for its handling of fantasy, horror, gothic,[9] and science fiction genres, prose,[10] and characterization.[11] The series' handling of lesbian themes has also been praised.[10]

Nona the Ninth received mixed reviews. Constance Grady of Vox praised its plot and additions to the lore of the series,[12] while Linda Codega of Gizmodo felt that the novel was slow-moving and lacked a "payoff".[13]

References

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  1. ^ Michael (2020-06-28). "QUICK REVIEW: The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex – Tamsyn Muir". Track of Words. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  2. ^ Michael (2022-06-19). "QUICK REVIEW: As Yet Unsent – Tamsyn Muir". Track of Words. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  3. ^ Muir, Tamsyn (2020-07-29). "The Mysterious Study of Doctor Sex". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  4. ^ Muir, Tamsyn (2022-06-08). "As Yet Unsent". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  5. ^ "The Locked Tomb Read: As Yet Unsent & Blood of Eden Memorandum". Daily Kos. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  6. ^ Muir, Tamsyn (September 12, 2023). Nona the Ninth. Tor.com. ISBN 978-1250899132.
  7. ^ "The Locked Tomb Trilogy: A Review". Santa Clarita Public Library. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  8. ^ "Staff Picks #1: Staff Pick: The Locked Tomb Trilogy - RPGnet". www.rpg.net. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  9. ^ "Liz Bourke and Carolyn Cushman Review Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir". Locus Online. 2019-12-19. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  10. ^ a b Fry, Kate Wallace (2022-08-30). "The Unapologetic Dyke Camp Style of Tamsyn Muir's Locked Tomb Series". Tor.com. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  11. ^ Grady, Constance (2020-08-04). "In the dazzling Harrow the Ninth, the lesbian necromancers are back in space". Vox. Archived from the original on 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  12. ^ Grady, Constance (2022-09-13). "Nona the Ninth features dogs, lesbians, necromantic battles, increasing levels of Catholicism". Vox. Archived from the original on 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  13. ^ "Nona the Ninth Is Too Much and Too Little". Gizmodo. 2022-09-12. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-27.