Royal Assassin

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The original US paperback cover of Royal Assassin by Michael Whelan.
The original UK cover of Royal Assassin by John Howe (hardcover and paperback).
Current UK paperback cover for Royal Assassin by Jackie Morris.
Current US paperback cover for Royal Assassin by Alejandro Colucci.

Royal Assassin is the second book in the Farseer trilogy and was first published in 1996. Chronologcally it follows Assassin's Apprentice and precedes Assassin's Quest.

Dedication

For Ryan

The UK first edition hardcover, as well as some of the first UK paperbacks (John Howe cover) erroneously repeat the dedication from Assassin's Apprentice:

For Giles
And for Raphael and Freddy,
the Princes of Assassins.

Editions

A note for collectors: as was with Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin was originally not released in hardback in the US, and all subsequent US reprints were paperbacks until a limited edition hardcover set of the whole trilogy was published in December 2016 by Subterranean Press (see below).

  • A UK hardcover edition from Voyager/HarperCollins in March 1996 with ISBN 0002246074, covers illustrated by John Howe. Original price £15.99
  • A US trade paperback edition from Bantam Spectra in May 1996 with ISBN 0553375636. The covers were illustrated by Michael Whelan.
    • The Advance Reading Copy uses the same art but it is in a frame on purple background.
  • A UK trade paperback edition from HarperCollins in March 1996 with ISBN 0002246481 with same John Howe cover art as the hardcover.
  • A US paperback edition was issued in February 1997 with ISBN 0553573411 with the Michael Whelan covers, reprints until 2014.
  • A UK paperback edition was issued in 1997 (some sources say already in 1996) with ISBN 0006480101 with the cover illustrations of John Howe. Reprints from 2008 onwards use the running wolf design by Jackie Morris but the same ISBN.
  • A US hardcover edition by Subterranean Press in December 2016, with new cover art by John Howe. This is part of a reprint of the whole first trilogy and is available in three formats:
    • Limited Edition Set of the whole trilogy, 500 signed numbered sets, bound in cloth, $180.00
    • Lettered Edition Set, 26 signed leatherbound sets, housed in a custom tray case
    • each volume of the trilogy sold individually, $60.00 each
  • A UK slipcased hardcover edition by Harper Voyager the 23rd of March 2017 with ISBN 9780008223274, to match the AA 20th anniversary edition.
  • An Illustrated Edition from DelRey books in the US, published on the 16th of June 2020 with ISBN 9780593157923. This is a hardcover edition featuring several full-colour illustrations by Magali Villeneuve. Also published in the UK by HarperVoyager on the 25th of June 2020 with ISBN 9780008412777. The US and UK editions have the same artwork, but the covers are slightly different: on the US cover the image is wholly red whereas on the UK cover some of the details are in white. The UK version has a ribbon bookmark, the US does not. Some booksellers included promotional art cards as a bonus, these feature four different illustrations by Magali Villeneuve (Nighteyes in the cage, Fitz and Molly sitting on the rocks and two others).
  • A 3 volume hardcover set of the Farseer trilogy by Folio Society the 3rd of September 2020. New introduction by the author, 5 full-page colour illustrations in each volume by David Palumbo and a redrawn double-page map by Neil Gower. Printed in black and red and the set comes with a slipcase. The bindings have been blocked with gold (AA), silver (RA) and pewter (AQ) foils.
    • A set of 240 copies of the trilogy were made available with a bookplate signed by the author as well as the illustrator; these sold out in a matter of hours. Signed copies (author only) have also been available through the Signed Page.
  • An ebook edition by HarperVoyager the 1st of September 2011 with ASIN: B005JE1KHE.
  • An unabridged audiobook edition by Tantor Media, 24th of May 2010 with ASIN: B0085RZLOK, length 30 hours, read by Paul Boehmer.
  • An unabridged audiobook edition by HarperCollins Publishers Limited, 30th of August 2012, length 29 hours 21 minutes with ASIN: B0093URQVE. Read by Paul Boehmer.

Translations

For the covers of these translations, see Royal Assassin cover gallery.

  • A Bulgarian translation Кралска поръчка from Бард in 2001 with ISBN 9545852519. Translated by Крум Бъчваров, with Michael Whelan's cover art.
  • A Chinese translation was first published by 奇幻基地, translation by 姜愛玲 in two parts: 皇家刺客(上) in June 2003 and 皇家刺客(下) in July 2003. Reprinted by 汕头大学出版社 in October 2004 with ISBN 9787810369183 and different cover art, again in two volumes. A third Chinese translation was published the 1st of June 2016 by 上海社会科学院出版社 with ISBN 9787552011401. Again in two volumes and with new cover art.
  • A Danish translation Kongelig Snigmorder in the 7th of September 2017 by Cicero in hardcover with ISBN 9788763848886. Translated by Marianne Linneberg Rasmussen, cover art by Jackie Morris.
  • A Danish audio book edition of the above published at the same time with ISBN 9788763853934, read by Lars Thiesgaard.
  • A Dutch translation Moordenaar des Konings, a hardcover published the 6th of August 1998 by Meulenhoff with ISBN 9029057017 (the dustcover incorrectly has the ISBN of the previous book). Cover art by John Howe, translation Peter Cuijpers. Reprinted in 1999 in paperback with ISBN 9029059672 and again the 25th of October 2000 with ISBN 9029068337 (Mpact). A new edition translated by Erica Feberwee with new cover art in February 2011 by De Boekerij with ISBN 9789022545140.
  • A Dutch boxset paperback edition of the Farseer trilogy, De Boeken van de Zieners - deel 1, 2 en 3, from Luitingh-Sijthoff in November 2017 with the Alejandro Colucci cover art and ISBN 9789024579693.
  • An Estonian translation Kuninglik salamõrtsukas in hardcover by Varrak and translated by Kaaren Kaer split into two parts: first part published in 2007 with ISBN 9789985314746, second part published in 2009 with ISBN 9789985317068. John Howe covers.
  • A Finnish translation Kuninkaan salamurhaaja was published by Otava in 1997 with ISBN 9511146157 (hardcover), and in 2000 with ISBN 9511166638 (paperback). Translator Sauli Santikko, Michael Whelan cover art. Paperback reprint in 2018 with ISBN 9789511329220 and with Jackie Morris cover art.
  • A French translation in two parts:
    • L'Assassin du roi, first published in trade paperback the in February 1999 by Pygmalion with ISBN 2857045670, cover art by Michael Whelan, translated by Arnaud Mousnier-Lompré. Reprinted by France Loisirs in May 2000 with ISBN 2744136247 and Michael Whelan art in the cover, and by J'ai lu in September 2001 with ISBN 2290313238 and new cover art by Sofiane Tilikete. Reprinted again by J'ai lu in October 2009 with ISBN 9782290313237 and new cover art by Vincent Madras. A new edition from J'ai lu/Baam! in 2008 with ISBN 9782290009802 and cover art by Jean-Sébastien Rossbach.
    • La Nef du crépuscule, first published in trade paperback the 16th of September 1999 by Pygmalion with ISBN 2857045913, translated by Arnaud Mousnier-Lompré and cover art by Kopik. Reprinted by France Loisirs in September 2000 with ISBN 274413824X with the same cover art, and by J'ai lu in January 2002 with ISBN 2290316296 and new cover art by Sofiane Tilikete. Reprinted again by J'ai lu in July 2007 with ISBN 9782290316290 and new cover art by Vincent Madras and again with the same art but different typography in September 2009 (all three editions use the same ISBN). A new edition from J'ai lu/Baam! in 2008 with ISBN 9782290009819 and cover art by Jean-Sébastien Rossbach.
  • A French omnibus edition of Assassin's Apprentice and Royal Assassin, La Citadelle des ombre's 1: L'Apprenti assassin, L'Assassin du roi, La Nef du crépuscule in March 2000 from Pygmalion with ISBN 2857046278. Cover art by Michael Whelan. Reprinted again in 2012 with ISBN 9782756407685 and cover art by Stéphane Desbenoit.
  • An unabridged French audio book in two parts:
    • L'assassin du roi (L'assassin royal 2) the 24th of November 2016 from Audible Studios, length 14 hours and 4 minutes, narrated by Sylvain Agaësse. Cover art by Vincent Madras. ASIN: B01MRL8NKA
    • La nef du crépuscule (L'assassin royal 3) the 29th of December 2016 from Audible Studios, length 15 hours and 27 minutes, narrated by Sylvain Agaësse. Cover art by Vincent Madras. ASIN: B01N6IWLIW
  • A German translation Des Königs Meuchelmörder was published by Bastei Lübbe in 1999 with ISBN 3404282353, translated by Eva Bauche-Eppers, Whelan cover art. Reprinted in 1999 with ISBN 3404203607 ?. Reprinted again in hardcover in 2004 by Weltbild Verlag with cover art by Max Bertolini.
  • A second German translation Der Schattenbote from Heyne in 2009 with ISBN 9783453525207 (also available for kindle). Also released as an audio book the 15 of March 2016 by Ronin - Hörverlag with ASIN B01CSZY0AK. Narrated by Matthias Lühn, length 31 hours and 31 minutes. Cover art for all three editions by Paolo Barbieri.
  • A third German translation Der Bruder des Wolfs from Penhaligon Verlag the 16th of October 2017 (paperback & ebook) with ISBN 9783764531843. Translated by Eva Bauche-Eppers, cover art and design by Isabelle Hirtz.
  • A Greek translation Στην υπηρεσία του βασιλιά from Anubis in 2002 with ISBN 9789603063551, translated by Ειρήνη Παϊδούση, Michael Whelan cover art.
  • A Hebrew translation רוצח מלכותי in 1998 by Astrolog, trade paperback. Translation by הוצאת אסטרולוג. Reprint with an altered cover (sitting wolf instead of standing).
  • A Hungarian translation in two parts:
    • A király orgyilkosa by FutureGates in 1997 with ISBN 9630480557. Translated by Norbert Horváth and Cseperke Papp (poems), cover art by Csaba Zsilvölgyi ("Max").
    • A nép orgyilkosa by Camarilla in 1998 with ISBN 9630490781. Translated by Norbert Horváth and Cseperke Papp (poems), cover art by Csaba Zsilvölgyi ("Max").
  • A Hungarian translation A Király Orgyilkosa from Delta Vision in 2008 in hardcover with ISBN 9789639679764.
  • A Japanese translation in July 2005 in paperback, translated by 鍛治靖子, in two parts: 帝王の陰謀〈上〉 with ISBN 9784488562038 and 帝王の陰謀〈下〉 with ISBN 9784488562045.
  • A Polish translation Królewski skrytobójca from Prószyński i S-ka the 18th of August 1997 in paperback with ISBN 8371806981, translator Agnieszka Cieplowska. Reprinted by MAG the 27th of May 2005 in paperback with ISBN 8371806981 and the Stephen Youll cover art for US Fool's Errand. Reprinted in 2014 with cover art by Dagmara Matuszak.
  • A Portuegese translation from Saida de Emergência in 2009 split into two parts with Howe cover art:
  • A Portuguese translation O Assassino do Rei in March 2014 by LeYa Brasil with ISBN 9788580448726, translated by Orlando Moreira and with cover art by Marc Simonetti.
  • A Russian translation in 1997 by Азбука - Терра in hardcover, translated by М.А. Юнгер, in two parts:
    • Королевский убийца with ISBN 576840337X, cover art of Michael Whelan
    • Тайна убийцы with ISBN 5768403604, cover art by Michael Whelan (depicting a ship in a storm, maybe originally for some other book?)
  • A Russian hardcover edition Королевский убийца in 2003 with ISBN 5699012753 with cover art by Stephen Youll (the image is originally from the cover of GRR Martin's A Clash of Kings). Reprinted in hardcover with Whelan's original cover art with ISBN 5699149872 in 2006 and again in 2007 with corrections as ISBN 9785699249978 (Whelan's art framed on a light pink background as the cover.) Most recent reprint in hardcover is ISBN 9785699537136 in 2011 (Whelan's original artwork, different typography from previous ones).
  • A Russian omnibus of the whole Farseer trilogy titled Трилогия о королевском убийце in hardcover with ISBN 9785699405671, 1296 pages, published in 2010, featuring the original Royal Assassin cover art by Michael Whelan.
  • A Russian omnibus edition Королевский убийца containing Assassin's Apprentice and Royal Assassin from Азбука in 2017. Hardcover, ISBN 9785389113947 with the new Jackie Morris cover art. There is a matching edition of Assassin's Quest.
  • A Serbian translation Kraljev ubica by Laguna in 2008 with ISBN 9788674368039 and John Howe's cover art.
  • A Spanish translation published in two parts by La Factoria de Ideas, translated by Manuel de los Reyes:
  • A Spanish translation Asesino real in 2007 by Círculo de Lectores in hardcover with ISBN 9788467227260. A paperback reprint in 2011 by Factoría de las Ideas with ISBN 9788498007046 and the Jackie Morris wolf design. Reprinted again in 2014 by DeBolsillo with ISBN 9788490623121 and cover art by Marc Simonetti. Also published by Plaza & Janés in 2014 with ISBN 9786073123815 (also as an ebook with ISBN 9786073124072) with cover art by Marc Simonetti.
  • A Swedish translation Berättelsen om Fjärrskådarna: Vargbroder was published by Natur och Kultur in 1997 with ISBN 9127065413 in hardcover, in 1998 with ISBN 9127072274 in paperback and again in 2000 with ISBN 9127081230 in paperback. Translation by Ylva Spångberg. Whelan cover art.
  • A Turkish translation Kraliyet Suikastçısı from İthaki Yayınları in 2005 with ISBN 9789752731431. Whelan cover art.
Realmof stone.jpg

The Realm of the Elderlings

The Farseer trilogy : Assassin's Apprentice | Royal Assassin | Assassin's Quest

The Liveship Traders: Ship of Magic | The Mad Ship | Ship of Destiny

The Tawny Man: Fool's Errand | The Golden Fool | Fool's Fate

Rain Wild Chronicles: Dragon Keeper | Dragon Haven | City of Dragons | Blood of Dragons

Fitz and the Fool: Fool's AssassinFool's QuestAssassin's Fate

Novels: The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince

Short stories: Homecoming | The Inheritance | Cat's Meat | Words Like Coins | Blue Boots | Her Father's Sword