The deal, concluded by Angry Robot Editor Lee Harris and Brie Burkeman of Burkeman & Clarke Literary Agency, is for two novels that complete a brand new post-apocalyptic duology. The first instalment, Black Feathers, will be published in April 2013, with the second part, The Book of the Crowman, to follow in 2014.

D’Lacey is best known for his shocking eco-horror novel Meat. The book has been widely translated and prompted Stephen King to say “Joseph D’Lacey rocks!”. His other published works to-date include Garbage Man, Snake Eyes and The Kill Crew.

About Black Feathers and The Book of the Crowman:

Black Feathers is a modern fantasy set in two epochs: the Black Dawn, a time of environmental apocalypse, and generations into the future in its aftermath, the Bright Day.

In each era, a child undertakes a perilous journey to find a dark messiah known as The Crowman. In their hands lies the fate of the planet as they attempt to discover whether The Crowman is our saviour… or the final incarnation of evil.

Angry Robot’s Editor Lee Harris says: “I’ve known Joseph’s work for years, and I’m absolutely thrilled to have him join the Angry Robot family. The Black Feathers duology is one of the most exciting series I’ve read in years, and I know our readers will agree.”

Joseph D’Lacey says: “Over the last three years, I’ve watched the stellar rise of ‘The Robot’ with great interest and plenty of wishful thinking. I’m ecstatic that they’ll be the ones to unleash Black Feathers upon the world. Working with Angry Robot is the opportunity of a lifetime for me and I’m grabbing it with both hands.”