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Quercus has paid a "significant" sum for a four-book series by British novelist Rod Rees. Quercus editor Nick Johnston has bought world rights to The Demi-Monde series in a pre-emptive deal, via agent John Jarrold.
The Demi-Monde is the world's "first quantum computer", which was originally conceived by the US military to create a training ground for their troops in the 21st century, who face enemies who use guerrilla tactics, rather than modern technology-based armies.
The story follows young singer Ella Thomas who is sent there on a rescue mission, dealing with the "all too real" 30m inhabitants or avatars, and leaders based on "famous human monsters" such as Reinhard Heydrich, Shaka Zulu, Empress Wu, Godfrey de Bouillon, Selim the Grim and Lavrentii Beria.
Johnston said: "In The Demi-Monde, Rod Rees has created one of the most deliriously exciting worlds that I have encountered in fiction. It is an utterly believable place where anything goes and some of history's most fascinating figures and cruellest tyrants rub shoulders with an almost extravagantly lifelike cast of characters. The fact that he uses this to explore some of life's deepest dilemmas and suffuses it all with such a rich vein of humour is just the icing on the cake."
Jarrold added: "Rod's imagination and invention are quite outstanding . . . His characters leap off the page and his storylines fascinated me."
He explained he had approached "mainstream as well as SF editors" as the title had "huge crossover potential" with non-core SF readers who enjoyed films such as The Matrix and the novels of Michael Crichton.
"Nick and his colleagues obviously felt the same, because within seventy-two hours of this project being submitted to major publishers in London and New York, he rang me with a wonderful pre-emptive offer," Jarrold said. "After discussion we came to terms, and I'm delighted to do my first deal with him, and with Quercus."
The first volume will be published in 2011. The series already has a standalone website at http://www.thedemi-monde.com" target="_blank" title="www.thedemi-monde.com
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