The publication date is set for May 1, 2012. No word on the number of copies to be printed.
Product description states:
In this exhilarating companion to Printz Award winner and National Book Award finalist Ship Breaker, Paolo Bacigalupi brilliantly captures a dark future America that has devolved into unending civil wars, driven by demagogues who recruit children to become soulless killing machines. Two refugees of these wars, Mahlia and Mouse, are known as "war maggots": survivors who have barely managed to escape the unspeakable violence plaguing the war-torn lands of the Drowned Cities. But their fragile safety is threatened when they discover a wounded half-man--a bioengineered war beast named Tool, who is hunted by a vengeful band of soldiers. When tragedy strikes, Mahlia is faced with an impossible decision: risk everything to save the boy who once saved her, or flee to her own safety.In addition, Subterranean will be publishing two signed, limited editions of this title sometime this summer. The first, a limited edition of 300 (to match the limited edition of Ship Breaker), is listing for $125 from SubPress. The second, a smaller edition of 26, hand-bound and signed copies, is listing for $250 each. You can also get a signed, matched set of Ship Breaker and The Drowned Cities for $250, although I doubt there are very many copies of Ship Breaker left. Pre-order now before they sell out. (there's no artwork yet on this one).
Drawing upon the brutal truths of current events, The Drowned Cities is a powerful story of loyalty, survival, and heart-pounding adventure.
And... if you're looking for signed copies regardless of the edition or printing, head over to Bacigalupi's Web site, where he offers up signed copies of The Windup Girl (in both paperback and hard cover), and Pump Six (in paperback) for $25 & $30 (plus shipping). A pretty great price, considering what you're buying. (a signed copy of an award winning book).