You’ve probably all already seen this, but in case you haven’t I thought the blurb for the Codex was pretty cool, too.
The Clave is pleased to announce the newest edition of the Nephilim’s oldest and most famous training manual: the Shadowhunter’s Codex. Since the thirteenth century, the Codex has been the young Shadowhunter’s best friend. When you’re being swarmed by demons it can be easy to forget the finer points of obscure demon languages or the fastest way to stop an attack of Raum demons. With the Codex by your side, you never have to worry.
Now in its twenty-seventh edition, the Codex covers it all: the history and the laws of our world; how to identify, interact with, and if necessary, kill that world’s many colorful denizens; which end of the stele is the end you write with. No more will your attempt to fight off rogue vampires and warlocks be slowed by the need to answer endless questions from your new recruits: What is a Pyxis? Why don’t we use guns? If I can’t see a warlock’s mark, is there a polite way to ask him where it is? Where do we get all our holy water? Geography, History, Magic, and Zoology textbook all rolled into one, the Codex is here to help new Shadowhunters navigate the beautiful, often brutal world that we inhabit.
Do not let it be said that the Clave is outdated or, as the younger Shadowhunters say, “uncool”: this new edition of the Codex will be available not only in the usual magically-sealed demonskin binding, but also in a smart, modern edition using all of today’s most exciting printing techniques, including such new features as a sturdy clothbound cover, a protective dust jacket, and information about title, author, publisher, and so on conveniently available right on the cover. You’ll be pleased to know that it fits neatly into most satchels, and unlike previous editions, it rarely sets off alarm wards.
The old woodcuts and engravings have been replaced as well: instead, you’ll find lavish modern illustrations by some of the brightest luminaries of the fantastic. Creatures, weapons, people, and places have been carefully and accurately rendered by the likes of Rebecca Guay, Charles Vess, Jim Nelson, Theo Black, Elisabeth Alba, and Cassandra Jean. Chapters are beautifully introduced by the drawings of Michael Kaluta, and along with our condensation of the classic 2,450-page tome, A History of the Nephilim, you will find a selection of the best of the lovely illustrations of that volume by John Dollar.
This edition of the Codex will be available in Institute libraries and what mundanes sometimes call “book stores” in [SEPTEMBER], 2013.
The Shadowhunter’s Codex
hedgehogjem asked you:
About the Codex, is it going to be based on the Codex that Tessa read or a more modern one with the new inventions and all? Or something completely different?
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Attention Institute Directors! Does increased demonic activity in your region mean you’re spending all your time making new Shadowhunters and training them? Don’t you wish you had some sort of teaching tool to bring them up to speed more quickly, so they can get on to the job of helping you turn back the denizens of Hell? Well, such a teaching tool already exists: the Shadowhunter’s Codex.
Now in its two hundred and seventy-ninth edition, the Shadowhunter’s Codex has been teaching new Shadowhunters since the late 12th century: the history and the law of their new world; how to identify, interact with, and if necessary destroy that world’s many colorful denizens; and which end of the stele is the end you write with (the thinner end). What the heck is a Pyxis? Why can’t we use guns to fight demons? Why have I just gotten in trouble with the Council for some obscure infraction dating back to before the Renaissance? If I can’t see a warlock’s mark, is there a polite way to ask him where it is? (There is not.) Why do I have to memorize the names of dozens if not hundreds of angels that we only ever use to name seraph blades and nothing else? Where do we get all that holy water? These and/or many other important questions are covered by what generations upon generations of Shadowhunters have known as “the Codex.” Geography, History, Magic, Zoology textbook all rolled into it, the Codex is here to help new Shadowhunters navigate the often beautiful, often brutal world into which they have just nobly thrown themselves.
Tired of carrying around weighty tomes bound in obscure leathers and closed with bronze buckles? Tired of borrowing editions from your Institute library whose bindings are worth more than your yearly salary from the Clave? Wondering where the money for that salary comes from? Good news! The Codex will soon be available in a smart, modern edition using all of today’s most exciting printing techniques: a sturdy clothbound cover! a protective dust jacket! information about title, author, publisher, and so on easily available right on the cover! Attaches neatly to your weapons belt! Won’t set off metal detectors!
{Psst. Um, Clary here. Hi. Look, the Codex is full of useful information — Simon says it’s like a game manual for being a Shadowhunter — and that’s great, but first off, it’s a little stuffy, and second, it’s way, way out of date. No mention of the Mortal War or Sebastian, much less the more recent drama we’ve all been going through. So this version of the Codex is my edition and I’ve tried to fix it up a little. I’ve added in notes, updates, comments, and I’ve put in some of my art as well—my images of the Shadowhunter world and also, just because, some drawings of my friends.}
The Codex is lavishly illustrated and features the world of such luminaries of the fantastic as Rebecca Guay, Charles Vess, Jim Nelson, Theo Black, Michael Kaluta, John Dollar, Elisabeth Alba, and our own Cassandra Jean. And it will be available sometime in the late fall of 2013.
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If this explanation is a little too crazy meta for you, a more normal description of what the Codex is can be found on the Novels page of my website here. And if you’re worried it’s going to slow down the production of Clockwork Princess or Heavenly Fire, it’s not. The Codex is based on the thousands of pages of notes about Shadowhunter history and characters and backstories that I’ve been writing and collecting as reference since 2004. The notes are all being collated and put into sensible order and fleshed out by Josh, my husband, who hopefully you have come to know and tolerate from my many posts about him. So basically this is stuff I have all already written, filled in where it’s sketchy by Josh, who is an award-winning short story writer in his own right and quite capable. And some snarky notes and additions by Clary, written by me. There will also be artwork of the world and all the characters — can’t say I’m not looking forward to Charles Vess’ illustration of the cast of Infernal Devices but it’s all going to be lovely: (below, Elizabeth Alba’s sketch of Alicante, the City of Glass:
