From the acclaimed critic and award-winning author of Anno Dracula comes a bitingly satirical story of superheroism, soap opera and alternative reality -- for readers of Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible and George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards.
When Chrissie Chambers (model actress whatever) discovers her soap opera character is about to be killed off, she finally stops dieting and discovers hitherto untapped supernatural abilities. Meanwhile, Chrissie's aunt - former national heroine Lady Shade - goes missing. Afraid for Jasmine's safety and itching to costume-up, Chrissie and her ghost-possessed best friend Loulee break into Devil's Dyke, the asylum where Jasmine works as a therapist with the most dangerous cutthroats (supervillains) in Britain… only to find the inmates have taken over… Chrissie debuts successfully as a cloak (superheroine), but who will become the arch-nemesis of Lady Shade II?
In Chrissie's timeline, the Beatles didn't split up and recorded a hallucinodelic album in 1972 – Never Mind (strictly, Never Mind the Beatles) – which literally changed the world. Set in an alternative 2020s London, this hugely entertaining, darkly humorous superhero tale is packed with Newman's trademark wit, and comes with wickedly sharp edges. Praise for Kim Newman:
"A terrific read!"
William Friedkin
"Immersive, claustrophobic and utterly wonderful"
M.R. Carey
"Thoroughly enjoyable, master storytelling"
Lauren Beukes
"The perfect book… If more mysteries were written like this, I'd read more mysteries"
Grady Hendrix
"An author who continues to push the limits of every genre he works in"
Stephen Jones
"Intelligent, atmospheric, written with passion and wit. A pure joy to read"
Rio Youers
"Kim Newman is slowly making his way into the canon of English literary greats… He describes perfectly the way fiction has invaded our real lives, and he got there first"
Paul Cornell Kim Newman is an award-winning writer, critic, journalist and broadcaster who lives in London. He is a contributing editor to the UK film magazine Empire, and writes its popular monthly segment, 'The Cult of Kim Newman'. He also writes for assorted publications including Sight & Sound, The Dark Side and The Guardian. He makes frequent appearances on radio and TV, and is the chief writer of the BBC TV series Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema.
He has won many awards, including the Bram Stoker, International Horror Guild, Prix Ozone, British Fantasy and British Science Fiction Awards, and been nominated for the Hugo, World Fantasy, and James Herbert Awards. Kim also writes non-fiction books focused on popular culture, film, and television, including a comprehensive overview of the horror film industry, Nightmare Movies (Bloomsbury).
You can keep up to date with Kim's events and writing via his website johnnyalucard.com. Find him on Twitter @annodracula.
