Liu’s queer adaptation of Hamlet signed by Solaris

A queer sci-fi retelling of Shakespeare’s "Hamlet", The Death I Gave Him by Em X Liu, has been signed by Solaris.

Commissioning editor David Moore acquired world all language rights from Penelope Burns at the Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency, with publication of the book due in September 2023.

This 21st_Century "Hamlet" takes place in Elsinore Labs, as protagonist Hayden Lichfield attempts to flee the scene of his murdered father with their research and his only ally, the AI Horatio.

“I’m a sucker for Shakespeare adaptations, really good AI and rich, beautiful prose,” said Moore. “The Death I Gave Him is smart, engrossing and gorgeously written; it’s gonna knock some socks off.”

Liu is a writer and biochemistry graduate, with The Death I Gave Him encompassing her fascination for both artificial intelligence and Shakespeare.

“The Death I Gave Him is an alchemic mixture in its own right,” said Liu. “Born out of the copious liner notes in my copy of Hamlet, biochemistry equations from my senior’s thesis, a healthy dose of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the night I watched 'Ex Machina' three times in a row and my enduring love of manic, overambitious blond protagonists as instilled in me by encountering 'Death Note' at a formative age. I’m absolutely galvanised that it’s found a home at Rebellion, pointy bits and all.”