New York Times bestseller David Arnold’s most ambitious novel to date; Station Eleven meets The 5th Wave in a genre-smashing story of survival, hope, and love amid a ravaged earth.
THE ELECTRIC KINGDOM
by David Arnold
Viking, February 2021
Cities are dust, histories lost, and time stands still.
Here, in the ancient gasp of the world, the young are left to their own devices…
When a deadly Fly Flu sweeps the globe, it leaves a shell of the world that once was. Among the survivors are eighteen-year-old Nico and her dog, on a voyage devised by Nico’s father to find a mythical portal; a young artist named Kit, raised in an old abandoned cinema; and the enigmatic Deliverer, who lives Life after Life in an attempt to put the world back together. As swarms of infected Flies roam the earth, these few survivors navigate the woods of post-apocalyptic New England, meeting others along the way, each on their own quest to find life and love in a world gone dark. The Electric Kingdom is a sweeping exploration of art, storytelling, eternal life, and above all, a testament to the notion that even in an exterminated world, one person might find beauty in another.
David Arnold lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with his (lovely) wife and (boisterous) son. He is the critically-acclaimed author of Mosquitoland, which has been translated into over a dozen languages. Previous jobs include freelance musician/producer, stay-at-home dad, and preschool teacher. He is a fierce believer in the power of kindness and community. And pesto. He believes fiercely in pesto.
With a touch, Lexi can sense how and when someone will die. Some say it’s a gift. But to Lexi it’s a curse—one that keeps her friendless and alone. All that changes when Lexi foresees the violent death of a young woman, Jane, outside a club. Jane doesn’t go to the afterlife quietly. Her ghost remains behind, determined to hunt down her murderer, and she needs Lexi’s help. In life, Jane was everything Lexi is not—outgoing, happy, popular. But in death, all Jane wants is revenge. Lexi will do anything to help Jane, to make up for the fact that she didn’t—couldn’t—save Jane’s life, and to keep this beautiful ghost of a girl by her side for as long as possible.
In a desert outpost of the turbulent Shi Empire, Ahn lives as a dishwasher and thief. When her magic finally manifests, she becomes the most powerful weapon in the empire, but also a target of the ruthless priests loyal to the Dragon Throne. Instead of being burnt at the stake, Ahn is saved by a mysterious priest and taken to the Imperial Palace where everyone seeks to use her powers for themselves. Meanwhile, his own family murdered and his birthright hijacked, Altan must find this new powerful girl who will be the tool for his vengeance. Altan and Ahn begin an uneasy alliance but soon, the truth and depth of Ahn’s dark powers make them both question whether they’ll be able to survive the journey, let alone restore the empire.
In darkness, a song can lead the way. Beware which one you listen to. On the day of the spirits festival, the old woman who lives in the forest appears in Abeni’s village with a terrible message: “You ignored my warnings. It’s too late to run. They are coming.”
Une adaptation du roman de Camille DeAngelis sera réalisée prochainement pour le cinéma par l’Italien Luca Guadagnino, réalisateur de Call Me by Your Name sorti en 2017, dans lequel Timothée Chalamet incarnait un des personnages principaux. Le jeune acteur franco-américain sera de nouveau à l’affiche de Bones & All, sans doute aux côtés de Taylor Russell, pressentie pour le rôle principal féminin. Aucune date n’a été annoncée pour l’instant. (Lire l’