Hodder snaps up Dylan’s ‘compulsive’ near-future SF novel

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired Mindwalker, a "compulsively page-turning" science fiction novel from Kate Dylan. 

Molly Powell, senior commissioning editor, acquired world rights from Alessandra Birch on behalf of Andrea Morrison at Writers House. Publication is scheduled for autumn 2022. 

Pitched as Blade Runner (Philip K Dick) meets Aurora Rising (Alastair Reynolds), the synopsis reads: "In 12 months, the supercomputer in Sil’s brain will kill her—unless Syntex Corp kills her first. As their top-ranked Mindwalker, she helps them steal technology by commandeering agents’ minds from afar. But when a mission goes south, Sil is horrified to learn the company is illegally mindjacking civilians. With a price on her head and her tech failing, she must find a way to stop the mindjackings in order to save her friends, her reputation—and maybe even herself."

Powell said: "Sil is a character I won’t soon forget; sharp and sarcastic on the outside, and perfectly flawed and vulnerable within, her voice captured me from the first word and wouldn’t let me go. Kate is a brilliant writer, with a brilliant eye for pace and plot. Mindwalker is taut, dangerous, and utterly compelling."

Dylan, who works as a video editor in London, commented: "Mindwalker is my love letter to all the sci-fi I watched growing up. It’s a Marvel movie re-imagined as a YA novel, with a fast-talking heroine, and a future filled with questionable ethics but wickedly cool tech. Molly's enthusiasm for this story blew me away, and I can't wait to work with the Hodder team to bring it to readers."