The Book of Elsewhere: A novel by Keanu Reeves & China Miéville

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER - A mind-blowing epic from Keanu Reeves and China Miéville, unlike anything these two genre-bending pioneers have created before, inspired by the world of the BRZRKR comic books.

‘An exceptionally innovative collaboration from two remarkable minds.’ William Gibson, author of Neuromancer

‘What an extraordinary book! China Miéville’s brilliance as a writer combined with Keanu Reeves’s quite magnificently wild imagination make for a compulsive read. Unlike anything else. Boom!’ Stephen Fry

‘A gripping, hugely intelligent and beautifully-realised nightmare. It’s clever, brilliant and horrifying.’ Daily Mail

‘A rattlingly good read . . . has much in common with Reeves' best film roles.’ Sunday Times

‘A pulpy, adrenaline-fueled thriller, but it’s also a moody, experimental novel about mortality, the slippery nature of time and what it means to be human.’ New York Times

‘Exhilarating’ BBC Radio 4 Front Row

'Bloody fun.' Telegraph

'Reeves and Mieville’s novel turns a (literally) comic book into a meditation on what it means to be truly alive that’s both affecting and enigmatic.’ SFX

‘A sprawling blend of hi-octane action sequences and philosophical meditations on life, death and immortality that calls to mind Roger Zelazny’s Lord of Light… An absorbing combination of sci-fi, mythology and teleology.’ Irish Times

-------------------------------

She said, We needed a tool. So I asked the gods.

There have always been whispers. Legends. The warrior who cannot be killed. Who’s seen a thousand civilizations rise and fall. He has had many names: Unute, Child of Lightning, Death himself. These days, he’s known simply as “B.”

And he wants to be able to die.

In the present day, a U.S. black-ops group has promised him they can help with that. And all he needs to do is help them in return. But when an all-too-mortal soldier comes back to life, the impossible event ultimately points toward a force even more mysterious than B himself. One at least as strong. And one with a plan all its own.

In a collaboration that combines Miéville’s singular style and creativity with Reeves’s haunting and soul-stirring narrative, these two inimitable artists have created something utterly unique, sure to delight existing fans and to create scores of new ones.

‘A delight . . . let Keanu Reeves punch and shoot his way onto your summer reading list … a philosophical, violent thriller about an immortal soldier pondering the nature of existence, The Book of Elsewhere has an elegance that might surprise you for a pulp thriller.’ Polygon

‘Stylistically daring, combining sf, fantasy, parascience, history, and action. It’s violent, propulsive, and introspective, ultimately offering a philosophical exploration of identity and the meaning of mortality, chaos, and entropy. . . whatever it is, it works.’ Booklist

‘It’s clear that Reeves and Miéville are having fun with the tale and its often playful, even poetic language. . . a well-written treat for fans of modern mythologizing.’ Kirkus Reviews


Sunday Times bestseller, August 2024

Keanu Reeves (Author)
As a remarkably eclectic actor, Keanu Reeves has made an indelible mark on the world of entertainment through the diverse roles he has played. He is most known for his starring roles in The Matrix and John Wick franchises. Reeves made his comic book-writing debut in 2021 with BRZRKR, a twelve-issue and graphic novel limited series distributed through BOOM! Studios, which quickly became the highest-selling original comic book series debut in over twenty-five years. In 2023, he returned to the big screen in John Wick: Chapter 4, which became the highest-grossing film in the franchise. His other recent projects include The Matrix Resurrections, John Wick 3: Parabellum, Always Be My Maybe, Toy Story 4, and the video game Cyberpunk 2077. Raised in Toronto, Reeves performed in various local theatre productions and on television before relocating to Los Angeles.

China Miéville (Author)
China Miéville is a New York Times bestselling author of fiction and nonfiction. His novels include The City & The City, Embassytown, and Perdido Street Station. A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction, he has won the World Fantasy, the Hugo, and the Arthur C. Clarke Awards, among others. His nonfiction includes a study of international law and a history of the Russian Revolution.