Some say the Atom War of 1962 caused the dead to be reborn, while others claim it's God's work. Throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East and Soviet Russia hundreds of thousands of "retreads" have returned from the grave.
In Britain, three-quarters of the population died during the Atom War and its aftermath, but the dead are being re-born to take their place. Dozens of small wars led to a final struggle between the rabid fundamentalist Nationalists and the democratic Coalition of all creeds. The Coalition's army was led by a reborn Lawrence of Arabia, while the Nationalists wanted to put the Duke of Monmouth on the throne.
Now, in 2008, the Coalition's victory is threatened by new plots against the government and the king - Richard of Gloucester, Shakespeare's hunchback murderer, who is writing his memoirs for his retirement nest egg.
Inspector Scipio Africanus, war-hero and former slave, Detective Constable Jenny Pearson, whose usual line is catching pickpockets, and apprentice detective Guy Boswell, who was a Battle of Britain fighter pilot until ten days ago, find themselves dealing with murderous conspirators who plan to seize power and create a totalitarian Britain where being different will mean certain death.
Eugene Byrne has created a bustling, noisy, alternate world full of colourful language, strange beliefs and outlandish characters.
