The first book of an exciting new fantasy series by Exeter College alumnus Richard Sparks (1970, English) will be published on 12 December by the specialist US imprint CAEZIK SF & Fantasy. Richard is an accomplished comedy writer, lyricist, librettist, author and director. He has been commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera and written for Rowan Atkinson. Though he has previously published three non-fiction books, New Rock New Role is Richard Sparks’ fantasy debut.
New Rock New Role follows a retired teacher and hardcore gamer as he and his two team-mates battle for the World Championship of sword-and-sorcery, watched live online by millions. When they win, he is zapped off to a world he has never seen before. He is alone, in a wilderness, armed with only a beginner-level sword and buckler. He is stunned to realise that he has now become his own avatar, Daxx — and that he is being hunted by wolves.
Emmy award-winning writer and producer Steve Reich wrote about the upcoming series, “The New Rock series is a multi-dimensional romp across time and space, with magical characters charmingly unique, delightfully chatty, and marvelously likeable. Even the bad guys. Welcome to odd new worlds, each with their own set of rules and challenges guaranteed to entertain and enchant. An action-packed page turner loaded with wit and whimsy. The New Rock series is a wild ride through realms and realities that are not only fun to explore but also to savour, with a profound wisdom that all adds up to a journey you’ll never forget.”
Richard summarises the books as “high adventure spiced with low comedy.”
You can learn more about the book, including downloading a sample chapter to read or listen to as an audio book, at Richard’s website. Richard has written four books in the series, which will be published in due course, and is working on a fifth.
