The Book of Elsewhere - by Keanu Reeves & China Miéville

Book Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - An "action-packed [and] profoundly stylish" (Los Angeles Times) 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

"[The Book of Elsewhere is] 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."--The New York Times

"An exceptionally innovative collaboration from two remarkable minds."--William Gibson, author of Neuromancer

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.

Review Quotes

"A philosophical, violent thriller about an immortal soldier pondering the nature of his existence, The Book of Elsewhere has an elegance that might surprise you for a pulp thriller. . . . [Miéville's] presence as Reeves' narrative collaborator . . . immediately makes it more interesting, even for those who aren't already fans of the comic."--Polygon

"Action-packed, ultraviolent and morally ambiguous . . . a profoundly stylish and beautiful approach to the trials and tribulations of the ancient warrior who cannot die . . . an enjoyable action-mystery cut through with moments of existential melancholy . . . [the] brimful imagination and impeccable style make it a deeply pleasurable read."--LA Times

"A surprisingly, even rattlingly good read . . . A blood-spattered, era-spanning action thriller, The Book of Elsewhere manages to lift and twist its unbelievably sanguinary source material into a meditation on the cyclical nature of violence."--The Sunday Times

"There is a palpable cinematic quality to The Book of Elsewhere. . . . At the same time, the irreal, fragmented structure of the novel and the strength of its picturesque prose (at once accessible and lyrical) make it seem more like a venture into indie or small-press publishing--the last bastion, in my view, of genuinely innovative and experimental literature. I don't know if the co-authors intended to straddle this divide, but they have pulled it off in spades, producing what few have done before them: a work of high literary pulp science fiction and fantasy."--Los Angeles Review of Books

"An exceptionally innovative collaboration from two remarkable minds."--William Gibson, author of Neuromancer

"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

"It's 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

About the 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 best 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: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, Always Be My Maybe, Toy Story 4, and the video game Cyberpunk 2077. Raised in Toronto, Reeves performed in various local theater productions and on television before relocating to Los Angeles.

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.