From Andrew Caldecott, the author of the ROTHERWEIRD trilogy, comes a dark, enigmatic, compelling new adventure: think Alice in Wonderland meets Station Eleven, played out in places where paintings come to life.
The world is on the brink of utter destruction. Despite the climate activists' best efforts, the atmosphere has turned toxic, destroying plant life, animals, and most of humanity too.
The few survivors live in domes protected from the lethal smog, serving Tempestas and Genrich, the world's last two great companies. They both have plans for mankind's future, but their visions are very different - and an uneasy collaboration between them is about to end, with desperate consequences.
But not everyone is bound to the companies: far from these centers of power stands the Museum Dome, where persons unknown have assembled mankind's finest paintings and artifacts. Fogg, the curator, thinks he must be the last man left alive, for in the three years he's been there, he's not had a single visitor, and his only company is AIPT, his automated physical trainer, who's very good when it comes to hamstrings and push-ups, but rubbish at actual conversation.
Then a single mysterious pill - a momenticon - appears in the Museum, proving he's not alone after all. Before Fogg knows what's hit him, he is embroiled in a desperate fight against time and the rival forces which threaten to overwhelm all that remains.
Industry Reviews
A
history-tragic-comedy all rolled into one,
Rotherweird is
intricate and crisp,
witty and
solemn: a book not unlike other books, but with
special and dangerous properties. Line by line, silent and adroit, it
opens a series of
trap-doors in the reader's
imagination - Hilary Mantel, two-time Man Booker prize winner, on Rotherweird
Baroque, Byzantine and
beautiful - not to mention
bold. An
enthralling puzzle picture of a book - M.R. CAREY, author of the bestselling The Girl With All The Gifts, on ROTHERWEIRD
Compelling - THE GUARDIAN on ROTHERWEIRD
Magnificent - MIDNIGHT BLUE on WYNTERTYDE
Darkly hypnotic - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH on WYNTERTYDE
A
triumphant final volume to what has been a
constantly surprising piece of
modern British fantasy. Part
Gormenghast, part Monty Python, part mythology, part Terry Pratchett, a little bit steampunk . . . this series, its setting and its tone is
totally unique and
thoroughly enjoyable and should be celebrated as such - PILE BY THE BED on LOST ACRE