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Why I Love Libraries...

2008-05-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

...or at least Library Journal! Here's another early review of THE LAST ORACLE, written by one of the best reviewers out there (then again I may be biased, as you'll see from reading the review below).

Jeff Ayers - Library Journal
The murder of what appears to be a homeless man propels the Sigma Force (The Judas Strain) into their most compelling and perilous adventure yet. The victim is a respected scientist, and the Sigma Force finds that his research leads to a rogue organization of scientists called the Jasons. This think tank of intellectual geniuses has developed a method to augment autistic children with special savant talents. The outcome, in the hands of several men bent on their own quest for control, threatens the entire world. Sigma Force must send their best men to India and other countries around the globe to track down the murdered scientist's research. But menace hides close to their base of operations. Rollins has outdone himself with this fabulous mix of history, science, and adventure that will easily increase his growing number of fans. For all fiction collections.

Also Harriet Klausner, one of Amazon's top reviewers writes: "The story line starts fast, goes global, and accelerates taking the audience for an entertaining ride with twists and tilts as only James Rollins could do linking Ancient Greece, modern nuclear warfare, and genetics into a superb action filled tale." (Thanks, Harriet!!)

And because I do get asked a lot about the order of the Sigma books, I thought I'd lay them out here once again. Now, of course, the books can be read in any order, but here is the official order of publication.

SANDSTORM (this is a proverbial prequel to the Sigma series, where Painter Crowe is still out in the field)
MAP OF BONES (Sigma Book #1)
BLACK ORDER (Sigma Book #2)
THE JUDAS STRAIN (Sigma Book #3)
THE LAST ORACLE (Sigma Book #4)

All the novels prior to Sandstorm are stand-alone thrillers.

Next up (which I hope to put up in the next hour or so) is to dismiss a nagging rumor with solid, irrefutable proof!

And since I haven't done this in ages:

Best Book of the last month: Napoleon's Pyramid by William Dietrich (and its sequel is sitting on my shelf)
Best Movie of the past month: "Ironman" (this movie rocked!)and an honorable mention to "Speed Racer" (I know this movie got trashed by the critics, but after some adjustment to the wild visuals, I had a great time...then again I do have a Speed Racer belt buckle from way back).

A week until Indy hits the shelves!

2008-05-14T08:42:00.000-07:00

Just to celebrate the upcoming release, I thought I'd post this picture of me in an Indy get-up. Not that I normally do this sort of thing, but my publicist thought it would be a "fun" thing to do. Here is the end result.

UPDATE: Because many people have emailed me since I posted this picture on my website, NO, the crystal skull I'm holding in the photo is not THE crystal skull from the movie. Where's it from? Oddly I found the skull in a small village on the slopes of a dormant volcano. Sort of strange to already have it in my Cabinet of Curiosities at home when I was approached to write the novelization to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. As to the hat, I bought that at Lucasfilm Studios in the Presidio of San Francisco after reading the script for the first time. I mean, c'mon, I had to wear something "Indy" while writing the book!

Early Review for THE LAST ORACLE

2008-05-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a review of from Publisher's Weekly that just posted:

The Last Oracle: A Sigma Force Novel

At the start of bestseller Rollins's rousing fifth Sigma Force novel (after The Judas Strain), the group's leader, Cmdr. Gray Pierce, encounters a homeless man as he's crossing the Mall in Washington, D.C., near Sigma Force's secret lair far beneath the Smithsonian Castle. The man, who's really an MIT neurology professor, collapses in Pierce's arms and dies after passing him a strange coin, thus kicking off a far-flung adventure whose plot threads include the Oracle of Delphi, autistic savant children with strange implants behind their ears, Gypsies, power-mad Russians bent on unleashing enough radioactivity to poison the world, rogue American spy agencies and genetically enhanced wolves and tigers. Lots of absorbing scientific information and tantalizing sentences like *deleted to avoid a major spoiler* keep the pages flying by.

*

Sorry about deleting that "tantalizing sentence," but it gave away something significant, and I didn't want to ruin the surprise.

New Judas Strain Trailer

2008-05-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

With the upcoming release of THE JUDAS STRAIN in paperback, the wonderful folks at HarperCollins have put together a video trailer for the book. It's up on YouTube, but you can view it here. I think it's way cool. A big thanks to Brady Hall's film and production studio in Seattle. It's sort of strange to see characters from the book brought to life on video. What do you think?

The book will be out May 27th.

Last Oracle Q&A

2008-05-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

The following is a question-and-answer concerning this summer's new Sigma novel:

You very gently tread into an area that borders on the taboo: scientific experimentation with children. Are you afraid that you will awaken a firestorm in reaction?

I don’t know about a firestorm, but I think it’s a topic well worth discussing openly. One of the best ways of evaluating a society is to judge how well they care for the weakest among us. Human experimentation has often been cloaked in the “greater good,” where the “ends justify the means.” All nations, including the United States, have participated in human experimentation, including involuntary experimentation. Are experiments going on today with children? In some corners of the world, I don’t doubt that they are. Especially with those children disenfranchised, like the poor, the mentally ill, or the disabled. Do other nations perhaps turn a blind eye to such experiments? I don’t doubt that, too, especially in today’s climate where the mantra seems to be growing that “the ends justify ANY means.”

Tell us more about what sparked your fascination with autism, and the manipulation of savant talents?

As you may know, I started my career as a veterinarian, and over the recent few years, I’ve been reading books by another veterinarian, named Dr. Temple Grandin. She also happens to be autistic. Her most famous book, titled Animals in Translation, deals with how she used her autism to better understand animal behavior. It was a fascinating treatise, which sent me delving into the topic of “autistic savants,” those rare individuals with extraordinary talent along a narrow focus. The generation of such Rainman-like talent still baffles scientists and has challenged our conception of human mental abilities. But what really set me on the course to write this book is one quote by Temple Grandin: “If by some magic, autism had been eradicated from the face of the earth, then men would still be socializing in front of a wood fire at the entrance to a cave.” It is her contention (one advocated by many historians and anthropologists) that pivotal advancements in human history have come about because of those rare individuals born with savant talents, whose unique way of looking at life have altered the course of mankind. So it made me wonder, what if someone gained control of that power?

In THE LAST ORACLE, scientists around the globe are working to engineer the "next" Buddha, Jesus or Mohammed. Can a great prophet, a person whose touch and thought changes the world, be created by mere man?

I believe we are not far off from this possibility (if we’re not already there). The new frontier of neurology is the exploration of the brain with more and more sophisticated electrodes, some so small that they can be inserted into individual neurons. Already neurologists have inserted silicon chips into the brains of quadriplegic patients that allow them to manipulate computers—to move a cursor, to surf the Internet—by their thoughts alone. So how long will it be until we learn to harness the brain’s full potential—and scarier, how long until we learn to control that in another person?

Many of your concepts are pulled from the news, or from scientific journals -- what was the based-upon-fact genesis of THE LAST ORACLE?

I spend the last few pages of every book separating fact from fiction in my novels. I talked about autism earlier, but here are a few of the interesting and factual tidbits that were incorporated into this novel:
(1) Newest studies prove that men and women have the general ability to see three seconds into the future. How? We don’t know, but they’ve proven that we do!
(2) Humans are “natural-born cyborgs.”
(3) Einstein met an Indian woman who could solve a mathematical equation…even before he could finish asking the question.
(4) There is a lake in Russia that is so radioactive that if you stand on the shore for an hour, you’ll be dead a week later.
(5) And the prophecies of the Greek Oracle of Delphi did indeed change the course of human history.

In your author's notes, you reference that the "Jasons," a global think tank of scientists, truly exist. How were you able to delve into the shuttered world of this secret organization?

The Jasons formed during the Cold War to offer advice and counsel to the Department of Defense. They were initially a band that consisted of physicists, but today, their membership has expanded to almost every scientific discipline and into most branches of the military. Few Jasons would ever speak of their affiliation, and most of their projects to this day are shrouded behind the stamp of “top secret.” But slowly information has been leaking out. One journalist did an in-depth study and interviewed many members of the Jasons and wrote a book titled, The Jasons, the Secret History of Science’s Postwar Elite.

This novel traces the Romani -- known as "Gypsies" from Delphi, into the Indian Continent and across the world. Do the members of this nomadic tribe truly hold the key to long-buried secrets?

Considering the origin of the Romani people has only recently been determined by linguistics, I wager there are many secrets buried among a tribe of people who have been wandering across vast stretches of the world for so many centuries. A full descriptive history of these nomadic people has yet to be done. How many stories must be buried in the memories of those who have traveled continents and centuries? That knowledge alone is a vast treasure waiting to be tapped.

Indiana Jones Interview

2008-04-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to pass on a heads-up that coming in the next few weeks there will be a revamped version of the website. It will debut some new features, including an online game and an exciting new trailer for THE JUDAS STRAIN.

But until then, here's a copy of an interview that will appear on the International Thriller Writer's website concerning the novelization of the upcoming INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. I thought I'd share it here too. Coming up in the next week, I'll also be posting a longer interview about THE LAST ORACLE.

• So how were you chosen to write the novelization to Indy 4?

Well, over the years, my books have been critically compared to Indiana Jones. I think mostly due to the historical or archaeological nature of the novels. In fact, one reviewer of my book, Map of Bones, described it as a cross between Indiana Jones and the The Da Vinci Code. To this day, I’m still not sure if that reviewer was insulting me or complimenting me. But I personally take any comparison to Indy as a compliment. And such reviews did eventually draw the attention of Random House who obtained the adaptation rights to the upcoming film. After that, my name got submitted, and I got the thumb’s up.

• What does "Indiana Jones" mean to you?

For me, Indiana Jones is the “every man” hero. He doesn’t have any super powers, nor does he have any cool gadgets like James Bond. He perseveres through both dogged willpower and the strength of his intelligence. He is scarred, weathered, and tempered by his experiences…not unlike the bullwhip he carries with him. Plus he doesn’t take himself too seriously, poking fun at himself with his wry humor as often as he does the world. Who wouldn’t want to be Indiana Jones…if only in their own imagination?

• What was it like working on the book?

It was an absolute blast! I first read the script back in the late spring of 2007. At that time, security was as tight as a bank vault, and to even read the script, it required a drive over to Lucasfilm studios in the Presidio of San Francisco. But over time, I was allowed access to the script at home and granted a key to a site where still shots from the movie were uploaded. So between reading the script, talking with the screenplay writer (the amazing David Koepp), and viewing the shots from the production department, I was able to begin working on the novel.

• Did you have the right to change the story at all?

The studio gave me a fairly free hand to adjust, re-frame, and even add several scenes. Also as screenplays mostly communicate via visual action and dialog, I was able to explore the “inner” Indiana Jones--his internal monologue, thoughts, and fears--which was a thrill. And by the time I was done the book, I had created about a dozen entirely new scenes that aren’t in the script or movie.

• Are you authorized to say something about the story?

Not at all. There’s an embargo on all story details until the movie’s release. For any questions about the plot, all I can say is “no comment.”

• Last question, how do you feel about snakes?

With a little ketchup, they aren’t bad.

Touring Schedule in May

2008-04-17T18:50:00.001-07:00

Well, it's coming down to the wire on this summer's books. The novelization to Indiana Jones is slated for release May 20th. And the mass paperback release of The Judas Strain is set for May 27th.

I'll be doing a short tour at the end of May to support these books, and I hope to see as many of you there as possible!

**Tuesday, May 27 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Barnes & Noble
3225 W 69th Street
Edina, MN 55435
Time: 7:30pm
Reading, Talk & Signing

**Wednesday, May 28 – ATLANTA, GA

Wordsmiths Books
545 N McDonough
Decatur, GA 30030
Time: 7:00pm
Reading, Talk & Signing

**Thursday, May 29 – PITTSBURGH, PA

The Oaks Theater
310 Allegheny River Blvd
Oakmont, PA 15130
Time: 6:30-7:00pm
Movie introduction
Books sold by:
Mystery Lovers Bookshop

Award Nomination and a Sneak Peek

2008-02-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Just a fast update. I learned today that THE JUDAS STRAIN has been nominated by the Audio Publishers Association for their annual "Audie" award in the category of best Thriller/Suspense. So hats off to Peter Jay Fernandez for his voice skills and talent and to the entire HarperAudio crew involved in the production of the unabridged audio version of the book. Here's a list of my fellow nominees in this category:

Thriller/Suspense
• Daddy's Girl, by Lisa Scottoline, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, published by HarperAudio
• Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill, narrated by Stephen Lang, published by HarperAudio
• The Judas Strain, by James Rollins, narrated by Peter Jay Fernandez, published by HarperAudio
• No Time for Goodbye, by Linwood Barclay, narrated by Christopher Lane, published by Brilliance Audio
• The Secret Servant, by Daniel Silva, narrated by Phil Gigante, published by Brilliance Audio
• What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman, narrated by Linda Emond, published by HarperAudio

And for the first time, I saw the cover to the new Indiana Jones book. I think it looks great. So I wanted to share it with you all, too.

Until next time...all the best,
Jim R.

New Day, Two New Books

2008-01-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

As promised in the previous post, it's high time I told you what books you'll be seeing from me this year...and yes, that was plural: books.

First up, the rumor is true that I was indeed selected to write the novelization to the new Indiana Jones movie, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. It was an honor to be selected, as I've been a huge Indy fan (which you all might have suspected from my books...especially a certain character named Omaha Dunn). The novel was a blast to write, and I was even allowed to add several scenes that weren't in the movie, so that was pretty cool. The book is due to hit stands on May 20th. And trust me, I'll be first in line to see the movie!

And in an odd bit of serendipity, here is a picture of a certain object that's been a shelved in the "Cabinet of Curiosities" at my house for the past few years (and no, it does not appear in the film). Is it just a strange coincidence...or something else?!?

And of course, as many of you may already know, there is a SECOND book coming out this summer, the next Sigma thriller. It's titled THE LAST ORACLE, and it's slated for release on June 24th. I'm very excited about this new novel...it was a challenge to bring together a novel of this scope and breadth. I'll reveal more details and hints about this novel over the coming months, but below is a brief description as noted in the publisher's catalog for the novel:

What if you could bio-engineer the next great world prophet, to scientifically produce the next Buddha, the next Mohammed, or the next Jesus? Would it mark the Second Coming or initiate a chain reaction leading to the end of mankind? A thinktank of world scientists formed during the Cold War has discovered a way to manipulate and enhance autistic children who show savant talents - mathematical geniuses, statistical masterminds, brilliant conceptual artists - but a strange side-effect begins to arise. Before it can be analyzed fully, a rogue group of scientists begin their own secret experimentation with a cadre of the best children. They seek to create a world prophet for the new millennium, one to be manipulated to create a new era of global peace...a peace on their own terms. But such manipulation has grim consequences as a biological meltdown among the children begins to occur - turning the innocent into something frightening. Can Commander Gray Pierce and his elite SIGMA Force stop the experiments before they engineer the extinction of mankind? It will be a race against time to solve a mystery that dates back to the first famous oracle of history - the Oracle of Delphi...

And while some of you might have read this description before, or heard the title, or perhaps even pre-ordered the book, no one has seen a picture of the cover...until now!

I hope you enjoy the story! Much more to come in the months ahead!

all the best,
Jim

Hello from a Stranger...

2008-01-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it takes a good cause to draw one out of hiding. More on that to follow, but first let me apologize for not posting anything new since mid-August. After this summer's six-week book tour, I had to put my proverbial nose to the grindstone in order to complete the year's two projects, and that left little time for anything but writing, eating, and sleeping.

So first let me elaborate about that "good cause" that has drawn me out of seclusion. Today, over three hundred fellow authors are rallying around one of our own. As a board member of the International Thriller Writers, I was lucky enough to meet a whole slew of debut novelists in New York City during last summer's ThrillerFest. I've always been supportive of new writers (as I was equally supported early in my own career by the generous contributions by Charles Pellegrino, John Saul, Douglas Preston, and Lincoln Child). So I'm always happy to do the same when situations arise.

Last month, it came to my attention that one of the debut novelists from the conference was diagnosed with cancer during the past year. And while she is in remission, the course of her treatment had left her unable to promote her debut novel, which is being re-released in paperback TODAY. In an attempt to help in some small way, a great cabal of authors from across the country and across the seas are blogging simultaneously about the situation, to use our own sites to promote her novel: THE LIAR'S DIARY by Patry Francis.

Here is a little about the novel and author:

When new music teacher Ali Mather enters Jeanne Cross’s quiet suburban life, she brings a jolt of energy that Jeanne never expected. Ali has a magnetic personality and looks to match, drawing attention from all quarters. Nonetheless, Jeanne and Ali develop a friendship based on their mutual vulnerabilities THE LIAR’S DIARY (Plume / February 2008 / ISBN 978-0-452-28915-4 / $14.00) is the story of Ali and Jeanne’s friendship, and the secrets they both keep.

Jeanne’s secrets are kept to herself; like her son’s poor report card and husband’s lack of interest in their marriage. Ali’s secrets are kept in her diary, which holds the key to something dark: her fear that someone has been entering her house when she is not at home. While their secrets bring Jeanne and Ali together, it is this secret that will drive them apart. Jeanne finds herself torn between her family and her dear friend in order to protect the people she loves.

A chilling tour of troubled minds, THE LIAR’S DIARY questions just how far you’ll go for your family and what dark truths you’d be willing to admit—even to yourself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patry Francis is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize whose work has appeared in the Tampa Review, Colorado Review, Ontario Review, and the American Poetry Review. She is also the author of the popular blogs, simplywait.blogspot.com and waitresspoems.blogspot.com. This is her first novel. Please visit her website at www.patryfrancis.com.

You can also view a short trailer for the book here.

I hope everyone checks out her book! I've already ordered mine today!

And while I don't want to dilute this effort by mentioning my own books, I have received many emails inquiring about what those "two books" that kept me locked in a small room for these past many months. Suffice it to say, I will reveal details on BOTH of these books tomorrow! So order Patry's book today and come stop by here tomorrow for an early peek at the cover to this summer's new thriller.

all the best,
Jim

One more announcement for Monday, Aug 13th

2007-08-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

I thought I should mention here that I'll be featured tonight on All Things Considered on National Public Radio. I'll be speaking about one my favorite novels of all time during their segment "You Must Read This." It is a book that I still contend is one of the best thrillers ever written. If you want to know what that might be and hear me extol its virtues, tune in tonight. Starting tomorrow, you'll be able to read the essay on line. Here is a link:

YOU MUST READ THIS

To give you a hint of what that book might be, the essay's title is

IN HONOR OF PULP AND POD PEOPLE

(and no, it has nothing to do with iPods)

Jim

A "different" author event...

2007-08-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

I mentioned earlier that I would relate some of my on-the-road experiences during this summer's book tour. The tour took be across the country, but also off into the multiverse that is the Internet. So I thought I'd start there. In a previous postings, I related how I was invited to do an author event in the digital world of Second Life. It was definitely a different and enjoyable (if not a bit disconcerting) event. If you missed it live, I've attached a link below where you can see me in my digitized form:

SECOND LIFE APPEARANCE

Thanks, Peggy, and everyone at Authors In Your Pocket on Second Life!

Jim

Quick Note Part 2

2007-08-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

For those interested, there is an ongoing "book club" on Barnes&Noble.com, discussing the books. Hop on in when you have a chance! Here's a link:

JAMES ROLLINS BOOK CLUB

all the best,
Jim

Back from the Road

2007-08-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

I've finally hit home turf again after venturing across the country. It was great meeting so many of you out there (and thanks for another batch of cookies, Jennie!). I'll have a more thorough recount of events with a few pictures as soon as I get unpacked and attempt to plow through the pile of mail on my desk.

But I wanted to alert everyone to an appearance coming up on Sunday (August 5th) at 2pm Pacific Time. I'll be appearing on Second Life. It's part podcast, part shared-world experience. I'll be airing as an avatar on the website (www.secondlife.com). It's free to join the site. So if you're a member or want to check it out, I hope to "see" some of you there in all your avatar glory. I'll be doing a Q&A with the host and also answering questions from the audience.

That's it for now! Much, much more to come as soon as I get myself situated back home....

til then...all the best,
Jim

Quick Update from the Road

2007-07-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

I'm about a week into the big book tour, and I wanted to first thank everyone who made it to the events so far. I had a great time visiting Poisoned Pen in Phoenix, where the temperature climbed to 117, but the heat was tempered by some home-made cookies (thanks, Jennie!). At the signing, I was also joined by Jeff Mariotte (author of Missing White Girl) who was very, very funny.

I then spent a few days in the San Francisco where a signing at Book Passage in Corte Madera was attended by none other than Susan Tunis, who plays a key role in The Judas Strain. I needled her to no end, but made up for it with a nice dinner afterward. I also visited M is for Mystery Bookstore in San Mateo and Bay Books in Half Moon Bay. I had a great time meeting old friends and new.

Then it was on to San Diego, where I did a signing at Borders that put up a fantastic display of the books, which I took a picture of and can be seen here at the top of the post. I also did a signing at one of my favorite bookstores in the world: Mysterious Galaxy. I took a picture of those in attendance with my new iPhone (yes, I'm THAT much of a geek).

Next up on the tour: ThrillerFest in New York City! Photos to follow!
(I'll also be doing a signing at Borders Books on Park Avenue on Thursday July 12th between 6:00pm and 7:00pm)

Lastly, I was emailed the following link to an article from Smithsonian Magazine (thanks again, Jennie!). What a strange bit of serendipity that this month's magazine should cover one of the very places detailed in The Judas Strain.

SMITHSONIAN ARTICLE

So I'll leave you with that until the next time I drop a note from the road!

all the best,
Jim R.

Preparing for the Big Tour

2007-06-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

It's just a few days away, and I'll be shuffling around the country. I hope to see as many of you as possible along the way!

Click HERE for a full list of my appearances. Keep checking back for future updates!

And if I miss you, please feel free to email. I'd love to hear what you think of this summer's book, The Judas Strain. I did learn that PEOPLE MAGAZINE selected the book as one of this summer's "Great Reads" in their July 2nd issue. So that was pretty cool. And one of the PEOPLE book reviewers, Bob Meadows, was kind enough to forward his full review (a four-star review!) and to allow us to share it (Thanks, Bob!). Here it is:

***********************
The Judas Strain
James Rollins

If Steven Spielberg is still hammering out the fine points of his next Indiana Jones sequel, he should give Rollins a ring. Here’s just a few of the terrors Rollins weaves into his ninth novel: cannibals, man-eating squids, three femme fatale killers, a mystery involving Marco Polo, a bacteria that could wipe out mankind and ancient writings that just might reveal the face of God. His chief protagonist, Sigma Force agent Gray Pierce (the star of several other Rollins’ novels), is no whip-wielding archeologist, but in Judas, he hops from one danger to the next, following arcane clues around the world to find a cure for the deadly bacteria. He’s aided by two characters who will be familiar to Rollins’ fans, the monsignor, Vigor, and, improbably, Gray’s arch-nemesis, the deadly assassin Seichan. The action never stops in this high-octane spectacle the popcorn-munching crowd will love. Steven, are you listening?
*****************************

I've yet to stop blushing after reading that review!

In the meantime, what else has been going on?

Well, I've also spent today in my local public radio station, taping a segment for "All Things Considered" on National Public Radio. They are running an ongoing segment on "Must Read" books, where authors extol upon one book that they believe should be read more broadly. Of course, while others were choosing the works of Cheever or esoteric Russian poets, I chose Jack Finney's INVASION OF THE BODYSNATCHERS. I'm not sure when the segment will air, but I'll post times and a link to the article when I learn more details.

Lastly, as I'm about to head out on tour, I took a little R&R (if you can call it that) in Yosemite National Park. Some friends, along with my sister and brother-in-law, decided to attempt climbing to the summit of Half Dome in the park. It's a beautiful and grueling twenty mile hike that took us about 12 hours to complete, gaining 4800 feet of elevation up...and then back down. And here is the sight that greets you once you near the summit.

Yes, those ants climbing that cliff are people. And one of them is me. Here are two views from the top. The ape-like creature perched on the rock is yours truly.

After this weekend trip, I can almost walk upright. Just in time for the tour...so if you see me limping a bit, you'll know why!

til then....all the best,
Jim

Hello, From Canada...with Book Trailer in hand

2007-06-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

I'm up here in Toronto, Canada, where I'm attending Book Expo Canada. The folks here at HarperCollins Canada are taking very good care of me (thanks to everyone! Leo, Eric, Brian, Debbie, Charidy, and everyone else!). While here, I was shown for the first time a cool video trailer for THE JUDAS STRAIN. It was orchestrated by HarperCollins Canada's marketing director, Shelley Tangney, and their media guru Steve. What I didn't know is that it's already up on You Tube. My friend Julia alerted me to this fact this morning. So I've linked it here:

THE JUDAS STRAIN TRAILER

Also word has trickled in from various reporting sources. BLACK ORDER has been hitting several bestseller lists across the country...and in Canada! Including the #10 spot on the New York Times list and #17 on the USA Today list. You all rock! Thanks for the all the support!

all the best from Toronto,
Jim

It's official...

2007-05-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

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

Whales, Pirates, and other Sea-worthy Matters

2007-05-25T17:19:00.000-07:00

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

Excerpt from THE JUDAS STRAIN

2007-05-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

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:

In the year 1271, a young seventeen-year-old Venetian, named Marco Polo, left with his father and uncle on a voyage to the palaces of Kublai Khan in China. It was a journey that would last twenty-four years and bring forth stories of the exotic lands
that lay to the east of the known world: wondrous tales of endless deserts and jade-rich rivers, of teeming cities and vast sailing fleets, of black stones that burned and money made of paper, of impossible beasts and bizarre plants, of cannibals and mystic shamans.

After serving seventeen years in the courts of Kublai Khan, Marco returned to Venice in 1295, where his story was recorded by a French romanticist named Rustichello, in a book titled in Old French, Le Divisament dou Monde (or The Description of the World). The text swept Europe. Even Christopher Columbus carried a copy of Marco’s book on his journey to the New World.

But there is one story of this journey that Marco refused to ever tell, referring only obliquely to it in his text. When Marco Polo had left China, Kublai Khan had granted the Venetian fourteen immense ships and six hundred men. But when Marco finally reached port after two years at sea, there remained but two ships and only eighteen men.

The fate of the other ships and men remain a mystery to this day. Was it shipwreck, storms, piracy? He never told. In fact, on his deathbed, when asked to elaborate or recant his story, Marco answered cryptically:

“I have not told half of what I saw.”

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.

Disturbing Coincidence

2007-04-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life does indeed imitate art. In this case, tragically. I came across this associated press article today that was disturbingly similar to the opening to this summer's book, THE JUDAS STRAIN. If you want a peek into what the new novel might be confronting, I encourage you to check out the article:

Killer Algae haunts California Shores

One of the themes raised in the upcoming book concerns the "devolution" of our oceans into primordial seas of toxic slimes and poisonous algae blooms. As one character in the book comments: "If we keep pushing Nature, sometimes Nature pushes back."

And to quote one other line:

"Remember, we still don't know for sure what killed the dinosaurs."

Let's just hope the REST of the novel does not prove so prophetic.

On a less serious note, I've just returned from a book tour in the Netherlands. I'll post a blog with pictures in the next couple days.

Til then...all the best,
Jim

First Review...!!!

2007-02-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

First of all, I was surprised to see a major reviewer appear with a review of THE JUDAS STRAIN. I've posted it here. And yes, it DOES hint at some of the mysteries and strangeness in this summer's book....but no spoilers, so read with no worries!

From Booklist
The crack, ultrasecret Sigma Force team returns in another adventure that, as usual, unfolds at breakneck speed. Sigma Force, made up of former Special Forces officers trained as experts in various scientific fields ("killer scientists," one of their number calls them), scours the world for technologies that could help or threaten the U.S. This time the group's mission involves a devastating bacteriological plague, a mysterious cryptogram that may predate humanity, and the deadly truth about what happened after Marco Polo's expedition to China. After a handful of Sigma Force novels, Rollins has fine-tuned the formula to precision: characters rendered in broad strokes, punchy dialogue, short paragraphs that propel us headlong through the story. The novels are like prose versions of comic books, or lightly fleshed out movie treatments. But this is not a criticism, at least not completely. The books' style perfectly matches their subject matter, and it's impossible not to be swept up by their energy and excitement. Action/adventure fans unfamiliar with Rollins' work should be emphatically urged to read this series. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

And on a minor note, I thought I'd do a little organizational housecleaning. I've fielded questions over the years about which books come in audio and in what format. Actually all of the books since AMAZONIA have been published in audio (in some format--either abridged or unabridged). So I compiled today a list of the books and who produced the audio version. I have also included ISBN ordering numbers if you wanted to inquire with your local bookstore or library.

AMAZONIA
• Publisher: HarperAudio; Abridged edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060085614
• ISBN-13: 978-0060085612

ICE HUNT
• Publisher: Sound Library; Unabridged edition (August 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792729706
• ISBN-13: 978-0792729709

SANDSTORM
• Publisher: HarperAudio; Abridged edition (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060874694
• ISBN-13: 978-0060874698

MAP OF BONES
• Publisher: Recorded Books (unabridged) (December 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419362968
• ISBN-13: 978-1419362965

BLACK ORDER
• Publisher: HarperAudio; Unabridged edition (June 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061120723
• ISBN-13: 978-0061120725

And yes, THE JUDAS STRAIN will also be released in audio this summer!

That's about it for the moment! More to come SOON~

all the best,
Jim

Chatting with friends...

2007-01-29T14:53:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to hop in here and post a link to an interview with bestselling authors Andrea Kane, Lisa Gardner, and myself. It's currently on Andrea's website. Andrea has a wonderful new book coming out in April, titled DARK ROOM, and Lisa Gardner's latest book comes out tomorrow , titled HIDE (which has garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist).

Here is a link to the website:

http://www.andreakane.com/thrillerwritersqanda.htm

all the best,
Jim

Where the heck have I been?!?

2007-01-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

The short answer: Basically up to no good.

The long answer:

I've spent the past eight weeks mostly on the road. After completing THE JUDAS STRAIN, I took a week off in December and spent it in Yosemite to recharge the batteries with my good friend, Carolyn McCray. I went mostly to hike and relax, but I ended up also in minor turf war with the mice in my cabin. We finally settled on a truce: in a trade for my Hostess Cherry pie, they pretty much left everything else alone.

Then it was back to work. Just before Christmas, I hightailed it to the Yucatan to do some research (okay and some diving). The picture here is at some unnamed ruins near the Belize border.

Next up was a New Year's trip to Disney World (no research, just pleasure). The picture of the handsome couple on the merry-go-round is a fellow author and friend, Steve Berry, and his fiance, Elizabeth. Steve's new book THE ALEXANDRIA LINK, hits stores this week. It deals with a mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Library of Alexandria (which you may recall was also touched upon in my own book, MAP OF BONES). So go check it out!

I also just read an advanced copy of DEEP STORM from Lincoln Child (also out this coming week). A thrilling story about a deep-sea rig that may or may not have discovered Atlantis.

After New Year's it was back to work. I headed off to Chicago for the mother of all booksignings. I was graciously invited by the Levy book distributors to sign copies of the new releases of my earlier paperbacks, all with new coordinated covers (very cool!). I ended up signing 6,290 books over the course of about nine hours (for those with calculators, that meant signing a book every five seconds for nine hours). I spent the evening in a hot tub (soaking wrist and elbow) with another good friend and wonderful writer J.A. Konrath, author of Jack Daniels mysteries (WHISKEY SOUR, etc.).

In mid-January, I headed off to Italy, where I was invited by my Italian book publisher (Nord) to participate in a book tour from Milan to Rome. It was nonstop interviews--print, radio, television--where I met the wonderful folk from my publishing house and local booksellers. Afterward, I needed to double-check some local research details (that's me in the distant background of the Palantine hill, seated, jotting notes).

I also re-visited the Catacombs outside of Rome--the Catacombs of St. Calixtus are featured prominenty in MAP OF BONES (see below).

Now I'm finally settled back home...and about to delve into the next adventure!

Next up: a teaser from THE JUDAS STRAIN (the book hits stands June 26th)

til then....all the best,
Jim

Back with a New Book

2006-11-09T10:21:00.000-08:00

After burying myself for the past three months to finish the next Sigma book, I've finally come out of self-imposed exile to update the news here.

First, YES, the book is completed. Its official title is THE JUDAS STRAIN. And here is a first rendition of the cover (though details may change). I will be posting the prologue to this book just after the holidays! I noticed yesterday that Amazon.com is already accepting pre-orders, though the book will not be hitting shelves until June 26th. But before that date, there will be contests and many tantalizing bits of news on this book and other projects.

As to the paperback release of BLACK ORDER, it will be hitting shelves on May 29th.

Onto a few housekeeping matters, I've received a few requests to post the list of the books in the order of their publication and to delineate which are Sigma books. So here they are:

SUBTERRANEAN (1999)
EXCAVATION (2000)
DEEP FATHOM (2001)
AMAZONIA (2002)
ICE HUNT (2003)
SANDSTORM (2004): and while this is not "officially" a Sigma book, it does introduce Painter Crowe for the first time.
MAP OF BONES (2005): Sigma Book #1
BLACK ORDER (2006): Sigma Book #2
THE JUDAS STRAIN (2007): Sigma Book #3

All the earlier books are stand-alone thrillers and can be read in any order. The Sigma Books can also be read in any order as each book has a self-contained story, but for a full nuance of the characters, reading the books in order might be best, but certainly not essential.

Another question I often get asked is: Can you still get hardback editions to the first three books (Subterranean, Excavation, Deep Fathom)? Unfortunately the answer is NO. Those first three books were mass market paperback originals, so except for foreign editions, there are no hardbacks of these novels.

And speaking of paperbacks, you'll soon be seeing that all the paperbacks, from Subterranean through Sandstorn, have NEW covers. Harpercollins is re-releasing the set with wonderful coordinated artwork.

Moving onto a more personal note, I wanted to again thank everyone who has emailed me with their generous notes and commentaries. Keep them coming! Due to the writing schedule of late (along with a short trip for research), I apologize if my responses to your emails have been a bit slow of late.

Lastly, I wanted to revive a common feature of these postings:

My favorite movie of the past month: THE PRESTIGE...and almost a companion movie, THE ILLUSIONIST (Both films are about turn-of-the century magicians.) Great acting, great stories.

My favorite book of the past month: WORLD WAR Z....a brilliant apocalyptic tale....with zombies (and that's never wrong).

Until next time...stay tuned here at the website for a flood of new features and excitement over the next months.

All the best, Jim