Keanu Reeves and British writer China Miéville will co-author a novel, The Book of Elsewhere, with Random House imprint Del Rey set to publish in July, the imprint announced today.
The novel – Reeves’ first – is set in the world the BRZRKR comic series Reeves created with writer Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney. The novel will follow an immortal warrior on a millennia-long quest to discover the key to his immortality (and perhaps, a way to free himself from it).
Reeves is attached to star in an upcoming live-action Netflix BRZRKR film, with an anime spinoff series also in development at Netflix.
The novel will drop on July 23; North American rights were acquired on behalf of Del Rey by Ben Greenberg, VP, Editor-in-Chief, Random House, from Laura Bonner and Erin Malone at WME. Greenberg will also edit the novel. An audio edition will be released simultaneously by Penguin Random House Audio.
The BRZRKR comic series, first published by BOOM! studios in 2021, was the #1 bestselling debut of a new comic property in over 25 years, and the #1 bestselling comic of the decade.
In a statement, Reeves said, “It was extraordinary to have the opportunity to collaborate on The Book of Elsewhere with one of my favorite authors, China Miéville. China did exactly what I was hoping for – he came in with a clear architecture for the story and how he wanted to play with the world of BRZRKR, a world that I love so much. I was thrilled with his vision and feel honored to be a part of this collaborative process.”
“Sometimes the greatest games are those you play with other people’s toys,” said Miéville. “It was an honour, a shock and a delight when Keanu invited me to play. But I could never have predicted how generous he’d be with toys he’s spent so long creating, how glad to experiment together, how open to true collaboration. I hope readers get to experience even a fraction of the pleasure reading The Book of Elsewhere that I experienced in the writing – in the serious business of play.”
Filip Sablik, President, Publishing & Sales, BOOM! Studios, describing BRZRKR as “unlike any other modern comic book franchise,” expressed gratitude to “Ben Greenberg and the rest of the amazing team at Del Rey for making The Book of Elsewhere a true publishing event.”
Miéville’s novels include The City & The City, Embassytown, and Perdido Street Station. His work has won the World Fantasy, Hugo, and the Arthur C. Clarke Awards, among others. His non-fiction work includes a study of international law and a history of the Russian Revolution.
