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Sneak Peek: Rob Davis’s “Book of Forks” out in October, concludes “Motherless Oven” trilogy

By John Freeman on June 4, 2019

This October, just in time for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, SelfMadeHero will publish The Book of Forks – the final book in Rob Davis‘s stunning abstract adventure trilogy that began with the brilliant The Motherless Oven back in 2014.

This trilogy has been, for me, an absolutely incredible work, and I’m really lookiing forward to reading the conclusion.

The first volume of Rob Davis‘s abstract adventure trilogy, The Motherless Oven, deservedly won the Best Book prize at the British Comic Awards in 2014. Its sequel, The Can Opener’s Daughter, was praised by The Guardian as “a dark, disorientating twist on the classic tale of kids against the world”.

The Motherless Oven and The Can Opener’s Daughter may have raised more questions than they answered, but we’re assured The Book of Forks explains everything.

In the new story, Castro Smith finds himself imprisoned within the mysterious Power Station, writing his Book of Forks while navigating baffling daily meetings with Poly, a troubled young woman who may be his teacher, his doctor, his prison guard… or something else entirely.

Meanwhile, back home, Vera and Scarper’s search for their missing friend takes them through the chaotic war zone of the Bear Park and into new and terrifying worlds.

With The Book of Forks, Rob Davis completes his fiercely original trilogy by stepping inside Castro’s disintegrating mind, to reveal the truth about the history of the world, the meaning of existence and the purpose of kitchen scales.

The Book of Forks will launch at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October (11th – 13th), just one of a number of new books that will debut at the weekend-long event in Kendal.

Rob Davis began self-publishing his own comic, the highly experimental SLANG, in 1989. From there, Rob made the leap from experimental into traditional when he was employed by Fleetway to reinvent British comics icon Roy of the Rovers.

After a time drawing Judge Dredd, he began working as an illustrator and cartoonist for newspapers (including The Guardian) and children’s book publishers (including Scholastic). In the last few years, Rob has returned to comics, writing and drawing Doctor Who for Panini. His books for SelfMadeHero include The Motherless Oven, The Can Opener’s Daughter and The Complete Don Quixote.

• The Book of Forks is available to pre-order from book shops now (Amazon Affiliate link, using this helps support downthetubes, thank you)

• Get ready for The Book of Forks – more information here on the SelfMadeHero web site

• Follow Rob Davis on Twitter @Robgog

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• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is back in Kendal in the Lake District 11th – 13th October 2019, tickets from: www.comicartfestival.com

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.