Vonnegut the Alsatian, named after Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007)
American writer who fought in World War II and was captured by the Germans. He survived the Allied bombing of Dresden by taking refuge in a meat locker in the slaughterhouse where he was imprisoned. His sixth book, Slaughterhouse-Five, expressed his powerful anti-war opinions. Published in 1969 during the Vietnam War, it became a huge bestseller and was even made into a film.
Woolf the husky, named after Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)
Influential author who pioneered the use of stream of consciousness, a way of telling a story that attempts to reflect the way multiple thoughts, feelings and memories can pass through our minds, all at the same time. Her book Mrs Dalloway focuses on one day in a woman’s life but travels forwards and backwards in time and in and out of different characters’ minds to tell a much bigger story.
Winterson the kestrel, named after Jeanette Winterson (born 1959)
Award-winning English author, who shot to fame on publication of her first book, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. This semi-autobiographical novel tells the story of a teenage girl rebelling against conventional values. Winterson is also a broadcaster and a professor of creative writing.
I’d like to thank the following people for their support and general greatness.
Wanda, my ever-patient wife and sounding board, for her endless love and faith, and for being beside me for all the dips and bumps.
Oskar and Charlie for the laughs and wonder.
Mum and Dad for the books, motorway heroics and everything else.
My kick-ass agent, Laura Susijn, for toasties and tenacity.
My super-savvy editors, Stephanie King and Sarah Stewart, and all at Usborne HQ for adopting Landfill and giving him such a wonderful home.
Tom Clohosy Cole for the awesome art, and for bearing with me.
Kirsty Fox and James Alexander for critiques and cake.
Tilda Johnson for her eagle eye.
Dan Layton, Phil Formby and Bees Make Honey for the Red Stripe, blood, sweat and tears.
Chris Baldwin for frites and positivity.
Christophe Dejous, Richard Dytch, Matt Eris, Jason Holt, Neil Johnson, Graham Langley, Neil Marsden, Gavin McFarlane, Kieran O’Riordan and Mark Spivey for the music.
Diana Pasek-Atkinson for all the reading on the move.
Matt Turpin and all at Nottingham City of Literature for their enthusiasm and great work.
Christina Lee and the University of Nottingham’s English Department for teaching me to read between and beyond the lines.
Neil Fulwood, Sophie-Louise Hyde, Chris Killen, Mhairi McFarlane, John McGregor, George Saunders, David Sillitoe, Kim Slater, Jonathan Taylor and Alex Wheatle for their time, kindness and advice.
Samuel J. Halpin, A. M. Howell and Serena Patel for their camaraderie (go Class of ’18!).
The Five Leaves Bookshop for shelf after shelf of goodness.
And all of my family and friends for the big little things.
Thank you.
Darren Simpson lives in Nottingham with his wife and two mischievous boys. After not quite making it as a drummer in a rock band, Darren turned to writing and discovered that it’s a fun way not only to escape reality, but also to explore and confront it in unusual ways. He can usually be found lost in his headphones or eating cake mix with a spoon.
Scavengers was inspired by the sight of a pack of cats fighting over a ham sandwich at the local recycling centre. Honest.
@DarrenSimpson44
First published in the UK in 2019 by Usborne Publishing Ltd., Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England. www.usborne.com
Text copyright © Darren Simpson, 2019
The right of Darren Simpson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Cover and inside artwork by Tom Clohosy Cole © Usborne Publishing Ltd, 2019
The name Usborne and the devices are Trade Marks of Usborne Publishing Ltd.
All rights reserved. This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
EPUB: 9781474965620
05163/02
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