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Synopsis

Bloodsong by Melvin Burgess

Set in a future Britain, amidst a terrifyingly savage post-apocalyptic landscape, Bloodsong tells of the life and many deaths of 15-year-old Sigurd, young hero of this particular age. Sigurd is sent on a suicide mission to a bomb-flattened London to try to kill a seemingly invincible dragon-creature, who in reality is a much-augmented human being with impenetrable scales for skin and a peerless command of technology in its defence. Armed only with a flawed but God-tinged sword as a weapon, the young Volson’s plan is to lie in wait for the beast in a shallow grave, and to gut the monstrosity as it trundles overhead.

That Sigurd succeeds in this impossible mission is due to his courage, ingenuity and timely reincarnation after his unfortunate first death. Reborn to re-unite the kingdom, Sigurd passes first into a captivating underworld, where he finds love, then onwards towards glory and wealth.

 

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Reviews

Bloodtide: 'It will rank along with the 20th-century classics.
Sunday Telegraph Lady:
'It's original, and challenging and incredibly rude.'
Independent Junk:
'Everyone should read Junk.'
Times Doing It:
'This is Burgess on top form - punchy, provocative, on the edge and in your face.'
Tim Bowler, Carnegie Medallist

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About The Author

Melvin Burgess was brought up in Sussex and Berkshire.  As a child, his reading included The Wind in the Willows and Gerald Durrell's animal stories. He went on to enjoy The Hobbit and Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast books. A generally unconfident student, he became interested in writing when he was twelve and an English teacher praised one of his stories  - "it was about the first time I'd ever done anything that got an A. I was so pleased I never stopped."  After leaving school, Melvin moved to Bristol  where he worked on occasional jobs, mainly in the building industry, and was often unemployed.  He started writing in his twenties and wrote on and off for the next fifteen years before The Cry of the Wolf was published. He moved to London in 1983 and began a small business marbling fabrics for the fashion industry. 

Melvin Burgess is regarded as one of the best writers in contemporary children's literature. In 1997, his controversial bestseller Junk won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award and the Carnegie Medal. It was also shortlisted for the 1998 Whitbread Children's Book of the Year. Four of his novels have been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Melvin lives in Hebden Bridge with his partner.

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