The Quorum [Paperback]

Kim Newman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 22, 1995

In 1961, Derek Leech emerges fully formed from the polluted Thames, destined to found a global media empire. In 1978, three ambitious young men strike a deal with Leech. They are offered wealth, glamour, and success, but a price must be paid. In 1994, Leech's purpose moves to its conclusion, and as the men struggle, they realize to truth of the ultimate price.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of "Deal with the Devil" stories ought to be delighted with this fifth novel from British horror writer Newman (Anno-Dracula), which brings a new twist or two to the genre. Be advised, though, that supernatural elements play second fiddle to social satire in this fast-paced tale: it's no accident that the "Devil" here is a media mogul or that those caught in his web are involved in film, books, TV and, especially, comic books. The victims are four young men with high aspirations who become inseparable friends in school. In 1978, as they are approaching adulthood, three of them-Mike, Mark and Mickey-are offered a deal by Derek Leech, head of a vast media empire. Their future success will be ensured, but they must offer Leech pain in return-not their own pain, but that of their absent friend, Neil. Accepting the terms, the three prosper over the next 15 years, all the while working together to bring travail into the failed life of their former comrade. But, when a private investigator hired by the trio to keep track of their victim becomes suspicious, things begin to fall apart. In deals with the Devil, as we all know, whatever goes around comes around: moral enough for this fine and funny romp.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In this Faustian fantasy, three school chums make a pact with one Derek Leech, a humanoid creature born fully formed from the muck of the river Thames. He seemingly offers them lives filled with success in exchange for a sacrifice of lifelong pain. That pain need not be theirs, he assures them, but our chums neglect to read the fine print. This well-told tale is peopled with a fascinating array of characters and offers much witty and sage commentary on our materialistic society. American readers may find the modern, colloquial British English a bit daunting, particularly since Newman's previous novel, the popular Anno-Dracula (LJ 8/93), was set in Victorian England and did not suffer from this handicap. For large fiction collections and wherever the author has a following.
Patricia Altner, Dept. of Defense Lib., Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 311 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (October 22, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786702834
• ISBN-13: 978-0786702831
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a tale!, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Quorum (Paperback)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous Work, March 15, 2000

By 

Sridhar Prasad (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Quorum (Paperback)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Three young men make a deal with the Devil, April 14, 2007

By 

Henry W. Wagner (Rockaway, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Quorum (Paperback)

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.