|
A master at combining historical and scientific intrigue with cutting-edge adventure, the New York Times bestselling author of Map of Bones and Black Order, James Rollins, returns with his most relentless, high-octane thriller to date--a terrifying story of an ancient menace reborn to plague the modern world... and of an impossible hope that lies hidden in the most shocking place imaginable: within the language of angels. |
 |
 |
 |
|
Latest News
Wednesday, May 30, 2007 It's official... BLACK ORDER is out in paperback! It comes with a brand-new cover:  Click here to read more about it. By the way, the paperback also contains a sneak peek at THE JUDAS STRAIN at the end. That's it! Jim  Friday, May 25, 2007 Whales, Pirates, and other Sea-worthy Matters A couple blog entries ago, I had linked an article about a rise of toxic algae along the California coast that was threatening sea life. And now it seems two very large denizens are out to prove that point, traveling to within a couple miles of where I live. For those who don't know, I live in Sacramento... which lies about a hundred miles inland from the coast. And as I'm sure many people DO know (considering the media coverage), we have a couple visitors in Sacramento this past week: two humpback whales, a mother and a calf. And while it is all strange and exotic and amusing (except to the whales, I'm sure), I think the event does deserve a counterpoint. As the article linked previously describes and is also related in this summer's book, our oceans are rapidly "devolving" into primordial seas (of toxic algae, poisonous slimes, and stinging jellyfish). As we continue to screw up the oceans, is it any wonder that we're seeing a rapidly escalating number of beachings of whales and dolphins around the world? Case in point here in Sacramento, as the seas sicken, migratory patterns and navigation are becoming compromised in these largest of sea-faring mammals. And while it might all seem a novelty to have these visiting whales, it's also once again an alarm bell for the health of our seas. And let's hope we can hear that alarm bell through the blitz and glitz of media attention. Okay, enough sturm und drang, and onto more frivolous matters. I spent last weekend down in Los Angeles attending the World Premiere of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. I joined a friend of mine, Carolyn McCray, for the festivities. Having never done this before, it was strange to walk down the red carpet. The carpet extended down Main Street and circled in front of Cinderella's castle. To either side, it was PACKED with people at the ropes and in stadium seating. Reporters from all around the world flashed and hollered questions. Massive cameras swung overhead on dolleys. And then there was Carolyn and I strolling down the carpet, dodging celebrities, while people called out to see if we were anybody important (which we were not...still that didn't stop me from demanding that the paparazzi stop taking my picture). And speaking of pictures, there does exist a picture of me wearing Mickey Pirate hat (may it never see the light of day...ahem, Carolyn). But more than anything, it was also cool to have the park to ourselves. The rides were all empty. We rode the Indiana Jones ride three times in a row without getting off (and had the car all to ourselves). All the concession snacks (churros, sodas, cotton candy, ice cream) were free. There's something both strangely liberating and illicit to step up to a Disney ice cream trolley, open the freezer door yourself, grab an ice cream cone, and stroll away. As to the movie itself, it was projected onto a giant outdoor screen over Tom Sawyer's landing. It came with a whole pre-show, including an orchestra and a parade of the the cast and production people. But the most spectacular event was the fireworks in the sky as the credits rolled. Now THAT was magical. As to the movie itself: flawed but a great deal of fun! So that pretty much was my week: whales and pirates. Also just a reminder, BLACK ORDER comes out in paperback this Tuesday (May 29th)!~ all the best, Jim Sunday, May 13, 2007 Excerpt from THE JUDAS STRAIN It came to my attention this week that the excerpt for this summer's new book, THE JUDAS STRAIN, did not get uploaded. It is now. But before you switch over, I've included below the introductory "Notes from the Historical Record." It leads into the prologue, so I thought I'd include it here. It basically highlights a true mystery surrounding Marco Polo. Note from the Historical Record Herein lies a mystery: And to read the first half of the prologue, click here. *** Now, I also just returned from a book tour in the Netherlands, where I was treated very well. It was an enjoyable journey, where I visited Anne Frank's house, the Rijksmuseum with its famous Rembrandts, and the Van Gogh Museum. But not all of my adventures were of such high...um...culture. One evening involved a long dinner at the D'Vijff Vlieghen, which translates as "The Five Flies," and where I tried jenever, Dutch gin made from juniper berries. The typical way to consume jenever is known as kopstott (head butt, a fitting name) where a glass of jenever is followed by a beer chaser. Very potent combination. I think I've just about recovered. But the main reason for the trip was also to meet my Dutch publishers at Luitingh-Sijthoff. Many thanks to Jacques Post, Hanca Leppink, and Gemma Groen for their hospitality and generous attention! I also did a few interviews and attended a few speaking engagements. Here are some links to those interviews (for those that speak Dutch): Crimezone Ezzulia  One of the speaking events was at the Elf Fantasy Fair, which was an experience well worth repeating. The best description: "Renaissance Faire on steroids." The event was held at the castle (pictured to the right) with 25,000 attendees. Its grounds were covered in lakes, canals, gardens, and forests. And I must say that the countryside beyond Amsterdam's city limits were magical: grass-thatched homes, acres of tulips, grazing sheep, lands crisscrossed with canals (some even occupied by wild swans). Lastly, Amsterdam itself was an eye-opening experience. I had never been to the city before, and despite the tales of its loose drug laws and even more infamous red-light district, the city was absolutely stunning, from its canal-side rowhouses to its many museums. But one of the most startling aspects of the city was the overwhelming number of bicycles. I think the picture below highlights it best. It's not the cars that you have to fear when crossing streets...it's the bikes. All in all, it was a fantastic experience. *** Okay, I keep getting notes about something that I've been lax about continuing: that is, listing my favorite movies and books. So here goes. Favorite movie of the past month: DISTURBIA...a reinvention of Hitchcock's rear window with some outstanding performances, especially by the lead actor, Shia LeBeouf. And despite the mixed reviews, I still enjoyed Spiderman 3 (I may be in the minority here...but I still contend that the short comic performance by Bruce Campbell alone is worth the price of admission). Favorite book of the past month: Okay, it's not a book, so much as a comic book (though perhaps I should say "graphic novel"). It is titled Y: The Last Man written by Brian K. Vaughan. It imagines a world where every creature with a Y chromosome (ie., every male) dies in a horrible plague in one day. Except for one man and his monkey. To quote Stan Lee, "Nuff said." I'm out of here... all the best, Jim R. |
