Farrar, Straus and Giroux has secured publishing rights to a new four-book series by Jeff VanderMeer, the bestselling author of the Southern Reach trilogy. The acquisition was completed as a seven-figure deal. The first book in the series, titled “How to Be Free,” is scheduled for release in the winter of 2029.
The new series, collectively titled “The Strange Architect,” centers on the character Arthur Bream, whose aspirations to establish a utopian community are derailed following his daughter’s disappearance. Unable to overcome this tragedy, Bream becomes convinced that his daughter exists as a spirit in another realm. He dedicates the remainder of his life to constructing residences marked with a particular symbol on their staircases, believing these structures will ultimately facilitate his daughter’s return to the physical world.
VanderMeer’s previous work includes the Southern Reach trilogy, which achieved substantial commercial success with 1.5 million copies sold in the United States. The trilogy’s opening novel, “Annihilation,” received the Nebula Award and was adapted into a film directed by Alex Garland and starring Oscar Isaac and Natalie Portman. Jenna Johnson, editor-in-chief at FSG, will oversee the editing of the new series.
The author’s representation in the transaction was handled by Joe Veltre, senior partner and co-head of the Gersh Agency’s New York office, and attorney Alex Kohner at Yorn Levine. Beyond this series deal, VanderMeer has additional projects in development, including a television adaptation of his novel “Borne” with AMC and a film adaptation of his short story “Constellations” with Natalie Portman and MountainA production company attached.
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