TemeraireWiki:Spoilers
According to Naomi Novik's journal entry dated February 8, 2007, the fourth book in the series is titled Empire of Ivory. (Previous working title was A Brazen Armament.)
Contents
Excerpt[edit]
An excerpt from book four appears in the U.S. mass market paperback edition of Black Powder War. The excerpt picks up as the party fleeing fleeing Danzig is attacked by French patrol near Edinburgh. There is a skirmsh in the air which is ended when they come close enough to land that canons can hit the dragons. Laurence is granted an audience with Admiral Lenton, who explains why the 20 dragons promised the Prussians never appeared. The dragon sickness (first mentioned in Throne of Jade when Temeraire catches it from Volly) has infected all the dragons and they have not gotten better.
Lenton himself is sickly looking, and Laurence discovers this is because his dragon, Obversaria has died from the sickness. Inlacrimas and Minacitus are also mentioned as casualties. (Lenton notes that it is the middle-aged dragons that are dying, not the young or very old.)
Temeraire and the feral dragons must be kept away from all the British dragons or risk infection. But Laurance is shown Victoriatus, who is laid up with the illness.
The fact that Temeraire got over the illness when none of the British dragons have has led to speculation that his diet (which is more varied) had an impact. However the reason for this was never stated outright in the excerpt.
On July, 28, Naomi Novik put a newer version of the excerpt up on her website. The website version contains considerably more detail than the version in the Black Powder War.
The Reading[edit]
On December 5, 2006, Naomi Novik read a sample of Empire of Ivory at South Street Seaport. Unlike the excerpt in Black Powder War, this one is played for comedy.
This excerpt featured Laurence and Temeraire (presumably still quarantined from the other dragons) mingling in British society. Laurence lends his support to William Wilberforce at a party thrown for the abolitionist movement. Lord Allendale makes an appearance. Temeraire and all his crew are invited as well.
Emily Roland plays a significant part in the excerpt, when Lord Allendale mistakenly believes she is Laurence's daughter. She is also the only female aviator present, which Laurence must keep secret from the other people at the party. When the party-goers are frightened to approach Temeaire, Wilberforce (believing she is just a regular girl) shames people into coming over by declaring that the small girl is not scared of him.
Temeraire is asked to do math by some of the gentleman to prove his intelligence. He thinks it's a game and begins quizzing them back with questions they cannot answer.
Deleted Scene[edit]
Naomi Novik posted a "deleted scene" from book four on January 15, 2007. The scene will not appear in book four but may offer insight. It can be found here.
Book Five[edit]
The fifth book, Victory of Eagles, is scheduled for a June 2008 release.
