Angry Robot to publish debut novel by poet Caroline Hardaker

Composite Creatures, the first novel by poet Caroline Hardaker, will be published by Angry Robot Books in 2021. 

Commissioning editor Eleanor Teasdale acquired rights (including ebook and audio) from Ed Wilson at the Johnson & Alcock agency. Angry Robot will publish on 11th May 2021. 

Hardaker has previously published a poetry collection, Bone Ovation (2017), but this is her first novel.  

Composite Creatures is a near-future story about motherhood which explores the end of the world and asks "what or who would you sacrifice to make your time on earth worth it?"

Protagonists Norah and Arthur hardly know each other but they are learning how to co-exist in a new world. Everything seems perfect with their new home and the ring on Norah's finger, but when the couple bring home a mysterious creature to seal in their loft space, they both must face a devastating truth which tests their bonds to family, memory, and each other forever.

Hardaker commented: "Composite Creatures explores nature vs nurture, the need to express ourselves, and the dark paths that society might go down one day to prolong human life. I’m hugely excited to be working with Angry Robot to bring this dark and relevant novel to bookshelves."

Teasdale added: "This acquisition is actually quite long in the making for me I first read this book as an agent and absolutely loved it! But it came in as I was about to make the move from agent to editor. Thankfully, I’ve been given a second chance to work on it! Caroline is a huge talent and I'm thrilled to be publishing her debut."