Out of the Drowning Deep

In the distant future, when mortals mingle with the gods in deep space, an out-of-date automaton, a recovering addict, and an angel race to solve the Pope's murder in an abandoned corner of the galaxy.

Dreamy, beautifully written science-fantasy novella, for fans of Martha Wells and This is How You Lose the Time War.

Scribe IV is an obsolete automaton, peacefully whiling away his years on the Bastion, a secluded monastery in an abandoned corner of the galaxy. But when the visiting Pope is found murdered, Scribe IV knows he has very little time before the terrifying Sisters of the Drowned Deep rise up to punish the Bastion's residents for their crime.

Quin, a recovering drug addict turned private investigator, picks up a scrambled signal from the Bastion and agrees to take the case. Traumatized by a bizarre experience in his childhood, Quin repeatedly feeds his memories to his lover, the angel Murmuration. But fragmented glimpses of an otherworldly horror he calls the crawling dark continue to haunt his dreams.

Meanwhile in Heaven, an angel named Angel hears Scribe IV's prayer. Intrigued by the idea of solving a crime with mortals, xe descends to offer xer divine assistance (whether those mortals want it or not). With the Drowned Sisters closing in around the Bastion, Scribe IV, Quin, and Angel race to find out who really murdered the Pope, and why. Quin's missing memories may hold the key to the case but is remembering worth the price?

Haunting, dreamy and beautifully written, Out of the Drowning Deep is perfect for fans of Martha Wells and This Is How You Lose the Time War.

"Hooked is an absolutely breathtaking accomplishment, and further proof that A.C. Wise is one of the most vital voices in fiction today. Her lush, beautiful prose draws you in and never lets you go... Be sure to put Hooked at the top of your reading list."Gwendolyn Kiste, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rust Maidens and Reluctant Immortals"Hooked will effortlessly pull readers back into Wise's dark, seductive, and mesmerizing version of Neverland - and into the equally compelling inner world of her characters. A beautifully written and psychologically astute sequel."Leah Cypess, author of Thornwood and Glass Slippers"Fans of creepy updated fairy tales... should snap this up."Publishers Weekly"Haunting and poetic imagery captures an emotional, original, and breathtaking perspective of Captain Hook with lush visuals that will resonate long after finishing the book."Seattle Book Review, 5 StarsPraise for Wendy, Darling"Feminist twists and creeping dread abound in this intriguing retelling of Peter Pan"Library Journal"Intelligent and deftly executed"TOR.com"This book hooked me immediately with Wendy's voice and rage and longing... what Wise does with the Peter Pan mythos here is nothing short of astonishing"Sam J. Miller, Nebula Award-winning author of Blackfish City"Wendy, Darling is a daring, gothic re-envisioning of everything we think we know - and an important, vivid adventure"Fran Wilde, two-time Nebula award-winning, World Fantasy finalist author of Updraft"Richly imagined, surprisingly dark, and heartbreakingly beautiful"Marian Womack, author of The Swimmers"A dark and delightful retelling of Peter Pan. Wendy, Darling is a gorgeous achievement, and one you don't want to miss."Gwendolyn Kiste, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rust Maidens and Boneset & Feathers"Neverland is more nightmare than dream... This rich tale of memory and magic is sure to resonate with fans of reimagined children's stories."Publishers Weekly"It's the horror-tinged feminist Peter Pan retelling I never knew I needed... a brilliant re-imagining of a classic boy's club story."Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam, author of 'Mantles' and 'Entanglement'"A gorgeously imagined journey into the unfathomable depths of childhood myth."Kelly Robson, author of Gods, Monsters and the Lucky PeachA well crafted retelling that gently explores a variety of themes including trauma, toxic masculinity, feminism, and sexuality. Fans of the original story will want to get to know the grown-up Wendy.BooklistMagnificent... eloquently written and full of indelible characters, Wendy, Darling is a darkly beautiful story that proves to be as memorable as - and more meaningful than - its inspiration.LocusPraise for Catfish Lullaby"This luscious, unsettling Louisiana horror novella from Wise boasts a contemporary, living-folklore aesthetic... visceral language conveys an experience of eerie magic that simultaneously lures and repels."Publishers Weekly, starred review"With a potent atmosphere, a formidable antagonist, and well-drawn, unforgettable characters, this book has definitely got it all.An absolute must-read."Gwendolyn Kiste, author of The Rust Maidens"Catfish Lullaby seamlessly combines Southern folklore with cosmic horror. There's an elegiac undertone to this lullaby that's as deep and mysterious as the bayou where it takes place."Craig Laurance Gidney, author of A Spectral Hue

A. C. Wise is the author of the novels Wendy, Darling, and Hooked, along with the recent short story collection, The Ghost Sequences. Her work has won the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, and has been a finalist for the Nebula Awards, Stoker, World Fantasy, Locus, British Fantasy, Aurora, Lambda, and Ignyte Awards. In addition to her fiction, she contributes a review column to Apex Magazine.

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