Alex Shvartsman's Speculative Fiction

I’m super late in posting this update, since I announced on social media last week, but it was either finish the book the publisher has so kindly bought, or post blog updates. I opted for the former!

I do have actual breaking news to report however: as of a few minutes ago, I delivered the manuscript to Arc Manor/Caezik. The book stands at 85,000 words, and I sincerely hope it will live up to reader expectations, given the incredibly enthusiastic response to The Middling Affliction.

The announcement does not list the book title, since it’s possible that the publisher may want to change it. As it stands right now, it’s Kakistocracy. This is a fancy term for the system of government where the worst and least qualified people are in charge. Those of you who read book 1 may remember a certain individual running for mayor of NYC at the very end of the book? Yeah, so that goes about as well as you might expect. But it’s not even the biggest problem Conrad Brent has to deal with this time.

There are fae serial killers, sidhe vendettas, factions of On High and Down Below quarreling over an unassuming house in Gravesend, and, of course, industrial quantities of snark. During the course of this book you will learn the true nature and purpose of Abaddon, Inc., the fate of Mose after his disappearance will be revealed, the coolest villain from book 1 will get a redemption arc, and Conrad will be forced to make very difficult choices–again.

This book is still about a year away, but I will keep everyone updates when there’s more news!