Solaris to publish queer sci-fi Hamlet retelling by debut author Em X. Liu
20th December 2021
Solaris is thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu, a queer, locked-room sci-fi mystery inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, for publication in September 2023.
Hayden Lichfield’s breakthrough in his pursuit of immortality should be cause for celebration. Then he finds his father murdered, and everyone thinks he did it. As he flees with their research, his uncle puts Elsinore Labs on lockdown, and Hayden’s only ally is the laboratory’s AI, Horatio…
World All Languages Rights were acquired by David Moore from Penelope Burns at the Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency.
Author Em X. Liu on the acquisition:
“The Death I Gave Him is an alchemic mixture in its own right—born out of the copious liner notes in my copy of Hamlet, biochemistry equations from my senior’s thesis, a healthy dose of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the night I watched Ex Machina three times in a row, and my enduring love of manic, overambitious blond protagonists as instilled in me by encountering Death Note at a formative age. I’m absolutely galvanized that it’s found a home at Rebellion, pointy bits and all.”
Acquiring Editor David Moore:
“I’m a sucker for: Shakespeare adaptations, really good AI characters and rich, beautiful prose. The Death I Gave Him is smart, engrossing and gorgeously written; it’s gonna knock some socks off.”
For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR and Marketing Manager – Fiction and Non Fiction: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk