The Quorum

by Kim Newman

Book Overview

In 1961, Derek Leech emerges fully formed from the polluted River Thames, destined to found a global media empire. In 1978, three ambitious young men strike a deal with Leech. They are offered wealth,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786701323
• ISBN13: 9780786701322
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Three young men make a deal with the Devil

Mark, Mickey and Michael, who jokingly refer to themselves as "The Quorum," look on media mogul Derek Leech as their benefactor. Private investigator Sally Rhodes perceives him as the living embodiment of a mysterious comic book character. Leech's ex-wife says he was "the blues walking like a man." Depending on what day you ask, the British government alternatively wants to knight or indict him. Kim Newman's readers know what he really is--the devil, risen from the polluted waters of the Thames River. The Quorum is a Faustian story of three young men who betray their friend, one Neil Martin, to obtain wealth and power. Derek Leech offers Mark, Mickey and Michael a deal--they can have success beyond their wildest dreams as long as Neil lives in misery. The trio accepts his terms, and spends the next fifteen years making Neil's life a living hell--the rest of the novel charts the trio's meteoric rise to the top of the entertainment and media industries while Neil plumbs the depths of despair. Their success is threatened, however, when Neil and P.I. Sally Rhodes learn the true cause of Neil's seemingly endless bad luck. An allegory of the me-decade of the eighties, The Quorum is quintessential Newman, meaning it's witty, insightful and scary. Once you've sampled this book, or any of his other novels for that matter, you'll see why Newman is recognized as one of the top talents in the horror genre today.

What a tale!

How's this for a recipe? Take a all the decadent 80's glitz and glamor of "American Psycho" and "Wall Street" and mix it with a good helping of the Faust legend and the book of Revelation and you get . . . . The Quorum. In Mr. Newman's brilliant alternative late 20th century all power is wielded from behind the scenes by Derek Leech--the incarnate Devil who presides over the death of civilization in his ultramodern office complex that resembles a shiny black pyramid. The currency of the cosmos is pain and to get ahead you must suffer to show yourself worthy--or CAUSE suffering. Leech doesn't care. Three young college students strike up a bargain with Leech. The price of their sucess will the torment and degradation of their "friend," Neil. As long as he is in agony, their careers (writing, television, art, etc.) will soar. They will rule the 1980s; have everything their greedy hearts desire while Neil is framed for crimes, pusued by terrorists and loses every lover, job, home and bit of money that comes his way. But now its the 90s and its time for the three lucky fellows to pay the bill. Just like in Dr. Faustus, the fun can't last forever. A deal with the Devil never quite turns out the way you'd planned.

A Fabulous Work

Newman does a spectacular job in this book. His pace is frenetic, but his writing style is definitely worth it. I could not put the book down, and in fact I would recommend reading it many times, because each time more of the writing, allusions and turns of phrase come into focus.The setting is a haunting premise. Would you betray and undermine your best friend, enjoying success commensurate with his/her setbacks? And if so, what are the exact parameters of the deal?The novel paces briskly through the idealism and innocence of youth, the counter-culture of the 70's, the excess of the 80's, and the responsibilities of the 90's.Finally, the writing itself is crisp, lucid, and quickly permeates your own thought process; I found myself thinking in Cockney slang after I had finished the book.Definitely time and money well spent.