Mike Carey talks the Devil You Know

Going through the advance publication lists and learning which authors publishers are lining up for release is one of my more enjoyable duties. I’m always keen to check Orbit’s schedule – one of the UK’s top SF&F publishers they always delight me (and other readers) with a mix of new talent and some of the SF world’s heaviest hitters (they are home to Iain Banks, Ken MacLeod, Juliet E McKenna and Charlie Stross among many others, to give you a taste of their stable).

There are some excellent new novels coming out in the next few months, which we will bring to you in our Book Picks in the FPI magazine and online. However, one name especially drew my attention: Mike Carey. Now, I know the vast majority of our FPI regulars are big comics fans and will know Mike’s name. He has carved out an impressive reputation in the comics world in the last few years with a diverse range of titles, from Thirteen, My Faith in Frankie and Vertigo mainstay Hellblazer.

He’s been adapting Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere novel for DC (and as a fan of Neil’s work I have to say I’m impressed) and he is, of course, celebrated for Lucifer, which followed the Morningstar after he quit Hell in the Sandman Season of Mists arc. Taking on one of the most important characters in Judeo-Christian lore must be a little daunting, but Mike made it work wonderfully. Top SF Author Richard Morgan picked not one but two of this series for his personal top ten graphic novels in our Recommended section, which is damned impressive praise in anyone’s book.

Well, Mike now has his debut prose novel coming out from Orbit in the UK in April 2006, The Devil You Know, detailing the life and times of Felix Castor, exorcist. I’m eager to get my hands on this and I’m sure many of you are too. Well, we may have to wait a little while yet, but at least we can get a little taste of what to expect, so we spoke exclusively to our chums at Orbit and managed to winkle a little bit about the story from them and a glance at the rather tasty cover (Orbit have been seriously putting effort into stylish covers with good results I think). So what is it all about? Let Mike tell us in his own words:

"Felix Castor is the kind of exorcist that Raymond Chandler might have written: down at heel, a little weather-beaten and cynical, not a fanatic or a saint but a working stiff who just gets the job done and takes his pay plus expenses. And he lives in a world where there's plenty of work for a man who can do what he does: bind demons and dispel ghosts. This is a world where the dead are rising in increasing numbers, both in the flesh and in the spirit, and as the series goes on that's going to be the big question that hangs over Castor's head whatever case he happens to be working on. Why is this happening, and why is it happening now? And is it just the first symptom of something even bigger and nastier?"

Doesn’t that sound like a damned (bad pun, sorry) interesting book? I’m picking up the impression that fans of the Harry Dresden novels (also Orbit), Hellblazer or the excellent Criminal Macabre are going to seriously enjoy Mike’s novel. Darren Nash, one of the UK’s top SF editors and a keen fan of fine fiction himself (the best editors always are and it shows) also kindly shared his thoughts on his work with Mike on the novel:

"Mike's a great bloke, and a terrific writer with a dark and fertile imagination. Felix Castor's a flawed character, with questionable ethics and a dangerous, disturbing lifestyle. All-in-all, I'm glad I get to go to the pub with Mike and read about Castor and not the other way round..."

Now folks, if that doesn’t whet your reading appetite then you must be clinically dead and probably in need of Felix Castor to recommend a good resurrection agent to you. The Devil You Know is due to be published in the UK in April of 2006 from Orbit – naturally we will endeavour to bring you more on this exciting project as the months go by. Big thanks to Mike, Darren and the Orbit crew and to George at Orbit for kindly arranging for them to speak exclusively to FPI. Do not be alarmed if the blog starts to smell faintly of sulphur.