Ric,
Just a thought, but maybe with all that has gone of late - a major expedition, lots of public review of what is attractive or not in footage, etc., then a lawsuit, and now some generous soul covering what remains of that for us (thank you whomever it was!) and realizing Niku VIII won't be happening in this year (apparently, as I write) - it seems like there might be a lot of story to tell by now.
Maybe not the story we hoped for at this point, but maybe something fresh about all the ground that has been covered since Lit Guild II was announced?
There must be a rich story in your mind about all that has been done - Niku VII and the twists and turns of the ongoing search seem to have become part of the story too. And of course there's some vibe about 2-2-V-1, wherever that ultimately takes us (which could be another book, perhaps, I suppose time will tell).
I don't suggest this as a dead end, but as a cleansing breath by which we might all (public in mind) absorb the many things that have happened over the past few years and take a sharp look at what can be next.
Just a thought. Curious as to yours on this.