Neil Gaiman, Rebecca F. Kuang and others back out of their book contracts with the Russian Federation

Foreign writers refuse to sign any translation and publishing deals with Russia due to Ukrainian readers appeals. They announce that on Twitter.

The first one to cancel his contracts was the Canadian writer of detective novels Linwood Barclay, whose 12 books have already been published in Russia. He mentioned that «this is not a great sacrifice, and will have no more effect than a fart in a windstorm, but I am not renewing my Russian book contracts».

I acknowledge this is not a great sacrifice, and will have no more effect than a fart in a windstorm, but I am not renewing my Russian book contracts.

— Linwood Barclay (@linwood_barclay) March 5, 2022

Later, with a reference to Barclay’s statement American writer, the king of horror, Stephen King also backed out of his Russian contracts. His move sparked off the wave of appeals from Ukrainian Twitter users to famous writers to follow Barclay and King’s examples.

In particular, Neil Gaiman, English fantasy writer, who has more than 20 books translated into Russian, informed that he was trying to find out what Russian contracts he controls and where they were in the publishing cycle. «I would not want to renew them while Putin and this administration was in power, that is for certain», – he pointed.

Mr @neilhimself maybe you’ll consider doing this too? Please, show your support to ukrainian people and condemn all those horrifying war crimes that russians are currently doing on our land and to our children.

— істота з п’ятого поверху (@JuliWithAnA) March 5, 2022

He explained his refusal by Russians’ unwillingness «to make their government realize» that it cannot uphold decisions for the people. Moreover, Neil Gaiman answered Russians’ tweets about their inability to influence Putin due to the menace of civil war and questions whether the writer wants it for them – «I want the people in Ukraine not to be bombed ad killed».

You are one of the kindest person of the world . I hope you can be objective and understandable. We are near the civil war here. We fight every day. But we have no democraty. Just understand it please. We are note our government.

— Anders (@mage_justice) March 5, 2022

We don’t want civil war and blood. We prostest, they arresting us, but we go out day by day. We send letters to our government. But 120 millions can do nothing with a man who is hiding in nowhere. No one knows where he is. We can’t do anything. Or you want civil war to us?

— Anders (@mage_justice) March 5, 2022

Joe Abercrombie, English fantasy author, also joined the cancel movement. 10 of his books have now been published in Russia, but the writer said he wouldn’t be signing any more deals in Russia for the foreseeable future.

«I’m so sorry. This is horrific. I won’t be signing any deals in Russia for the foreseeable future. I’m talking to my publisher about what else can be done», – he wrote.

dear @LordGrimdark, as Ukrainian girl I absolutely love your books, but all my library was destroyed by Russians who bombed my home. they kill us here, it’s much worse than I have ever read in any books. could we wait from you same action as from mr King?

— ворона кричить (@chas_haos) March 5, 2022

Rebecca F. Kuang, the author of the bestseller The Poppy War (read more here) is at one with Abercrombie. She tweeted, «Same as Joe. Won’t be signing any new contracts, will have a chat with my team to see what control we have over the books already in print».

@kuangrf , while reading your “Poppy War” I never imagined the to see the Muganese horrors in 2022, yet here I see them in my country. Your Ukrainian publisher Zhorzh is still being shelled in Kharkiv. Please consider supporting Ukraine and breaking off your Russian contracts.

— Daria Piskozub (@Daria_Naki) March 5, 2022

Ukrainians also appealed to William Gibson, Joanne Rowling, Terry Pratchett’s daughter, Holly Black, George Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Guy Gavriel Kay and others.

It will be recalled that as for now Margaret Atwood, Olga Tokarczuk, Frédéric Beigbeder, Joanne Rowling, Yuval Noah Harari, Bernardine Evaristo, Alison Killing, Witold Szabłowski, Elif Shafak, Rupi Kaur and others have already expressed their support to Ukraine.