Rob Grant and Andrew Marshall pen The Quanderhorn Xperimentations

Red Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant and 2point4children creator Andrew Marshall have written a period sci-fi comedy novel.

The Quanderhorn Xperimentations is based on a six-part  Radio 4 series of the same name that is due to air soon, and will be released a the same time.

Its action is set in 1952 England, with Churchill as Prime Minister… but it has been 1952 for the past 65 years.

The titlular Professor Quanderhorn is a maverick scientific genius who has absolutely no moral compass, and who is assisted by a motley crew of outcasts – a recovering amnesiac, a brilliant scientist with a half-clockwork brain, a captured Martian prisoner adapting a little too well to English life, the professor’s part-insect ‘son’ (reputedly ‘a major breakthrough in Artificial Stupidity’), and a rather sinister janitor.

The writers describe he book as ‘if aliens had horrifically grafted John Wyndham onto P.G. Wodehouse and made the monstrous outcome write a book.’

Worldwide rights to the book were acquired by publisher Gollancz.

Commissioning editor Marcus Gipps  said: ‘I’ve long been a fan of Andrew and Rob’s work, and Gollancz was the proud publisher of two of Rob’s earlier, brilliant novels, so it’s great to welcome them home. 

‘QX is witty, silly, clever and fun, and having spent a day at the recording I know it’s going to be a hit both on radio and in print.’

The Quanderhorn Xperimentations will be published in hardback, ebook and audio reading in June and is available for advance order from Foyles.

Published: 28 Mar 2018