The Slow Regard of Silent Things

Auri lives alone in the tunnels and forgotten rooms of the Underthing, beneath the University. Over seven days she gets ready for a visit from Kvothe, whom she only calls "him." She spends the days putting each object in its proper place, because to her things have wills of their own and deserve respect. She makes soap, mends things, moves pieces between rooms, forages for food and walks halls only she knows. Her biggest problem is finding the right gift for him. There is no villain and no battle: the book stays inside Auri's head, full of rules, fears and small joys. By the end of the seventh day, with everything in place and the gift chosen, she is ready to meet him.

1. Behind the scenesYou might not want to buy this

   The book opens with a note from the author that begins: you might not want to buy this book. It's an unusual story, told entirely through Auri's eyes.

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2. Behind the scenesMeant for another anthology

   Rothfuss planned an Auri story for George R. R. Martin's Rogues anthology. It grew too long and went off-theme, so he wrote a Bast story instead, and Auri got her own book.

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3. Behind the scenesBased on someone real

   Auri was partly inspired by Tunnel Bob, a man who lived in the tunnels of Madison, Wisconsin.

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4. SetupThe hidden title

   The working title was The Weight of Her Desire. The phrase shows up in the first and last chapters. Watch for it at the end.

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5. ReferenceAn exact fit

   The book's seven days fall between chapters 7 and 11 of The Wise Man's Fear. Nate Taylor did the art, and at Rothfuss's request he never drew Auri outright.

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