paperback cover design by Theresa Evangelista
suit+helmet rendered by George Baramatis
When a deadly Fly Flu sweeps the globe, it leaves a shell of the world that once was. Among the survivors are eighteen-year-old Nico and her dog, on a voyage devised by Nico's father to find a mythical portal; a young artist named Kit, raised in an old abandoned cinema; and the enigmatic Deliverer, who lives Life after Life in an attempt to put the world back together. As swarms of infected Flies roam the earth, these few survivors navigate the woods of post-apocalyptic New England, meeting others along the way, each on their own quest to find life and love in a world gone dark. The Electric Kingdom is a sweeping exploration of art, storytelling, eternal life, and above all, a testament to the notion that even in an exterminated world, one person might find beauty in another.
hardcover design by Theresa Evangelista
frontispiece artwork (and cover page for this site) by Gregory Euclide
An INDIE BESTSELLER
A FORBES Notable Book 2021, an INDIE NEXT PICK, an AMAZON Best Book of the Month, a YALSA TOP 10 Best Fiction for Young Adults, & a BOOKLIST Top 10 Sci-Fi for Youth
★ "An intricate piece of high-concept sci-fi… carried by crystalline prose, which echoes like poetry, towards a genuinely astonishing and moving conclusion. Accessible, sophisticated, and immensely satisfying." —Booklist (starred review)
Named a Best YA of 2021 by BOOKLIST, COSMOPOLITAN, BOOKS-A-MILLION, BOOKSHOP.ORG, BRIGHTLY, & the CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
★ "An absorbing read with well-realized characters and beautiful writing, this novel will appeal to readers of science fantasy such as N.K. Jemisin’s ‘Broken Earth’ trilogy." —School Library Journal (starred review)
"This is a story about storytellers, and David Arnold is among the best. The Electric Kingdom is an epic post-apocalyptic tale where humanity is louder than a swarm of Flies, and hope radiates in the bleakest of places. Fearless writing and a remarkable cast of characters will send readers on an unforgettable journey." —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End
An ALA Hal Clement Notable Book, a BOOKPAGE Reader’s Choice selection, & a YALSA Amazing Audiobook
"With luminous compassion and ceaseless invention, Arnold has built a post-apocalyptic nesting doll of a tale, full of tricky resonances and moments of grace. All the pieces of this fascinating, ambitious book work together like the chambers of some great heart.” —Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood
"Utterly unique and genre-busting, The Electric Kingdom is David Arnold at his best. I was left in awe by the stunning prose, the challenging philosophical questions, and the masterful puzzle of a plot. The moment I finished, I immediately wanted to read it again." —Jasmine Warga, Newbery Honor-winning author of Other Words for Home
★ "Particularly poignant… Arnold brings all the classic elements of a dystopia here… and twists them up with mind-bending dramatics of time travel, making room for harrowing action scenes and deep existential ponderings. Given current circumstances, this makes for a timely and chilling read." — BCCB (starred review)
"Well executed and resonant… this is not a simple post-apocalyptic novel but instead a quiet, philosophical exploration of humanity with a touch of science fiction around the edges. Defying strict genre categories, Arnold leaves readers wondering and unbalanced until the final page." —Kirkus Reviews
"A mind-blowing blend of post-apocalyptic fantasy, science fiction and time travel… The kind of novel worth re-reading." —BookPage
"With a haunting, deliberately paced tale of postapocalyptic survival, Arnold creates a devastated world held together by myth and memory." —Publishers Weekly
“A genre-smashing story of survival, hope, and love amid a ravaged earth.” — Tor.com
"Arnold wisely balances the novel’s complex narrative with contemplative, lyrical prose. The writing here is so accessible and inviting that it’s easy to get wrapped in the world he gives us — even when there’s time travel, secret portals and mysterious identities." —The Nashville Scene
"With characters and prose that you can’t get enough of, this story is a captivating yet poignant reminder that hope and beauty can be found even in the midst of ruin… Defying genre, The Electric Kingdom is at once elegantly eerie and tragically comforting." —The Southern Bookseller Review
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