The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway

[weirdside]

Did anyone read this book by the son of John LeCarre? It caught my eye at B&N because of it's neon pink and green, felt-covered hardcover. It is a really good, very dense, absurdist fantasy thriller. But be prepared to have your mind freaked six ways to sunday. This guy uses language better than anyone since Douglas Adams (in my opinion).
What's amazing is that he purposely chose the pen name to be distanced from his father because he wanted to make it on his own. This was his first novel and his agent got multiple houses to bid on the book, bagging him seven hundred grand! For a first novel!
What did you think of it?

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

What's amazing is that he purposely chose the pen name to be distanced from his father because he wanted to make it on his own. This was his first novel and his agent got multiple houses to bid on the book, bagging him seven hundred grand! For a first novel!
What did you think of it?

I think that since they let out the relationship to John LeCarre to Publisher's Weekly immediately on (or just prior to) publication, whatever he may have intended, his publishers had made up their minds from the very beginning to exploit the connection -- which would partly explain the huge advance.

I haven't read the book, so it may really be that good. But pretending to keep something a secret while not keeping it a secret at all sounds like a publicity stunt.

 

[weirdside]

I would highly recommend it if you want a challenging, entertaining, unique read.

 

[Ian Whates]

Nick had a couple of stories published under his real name (Nick Cornwall) in Interzone many years back, taking his wife's maiden name for his novel writing to avoid the connection with his father.

I think, as with Joe Hill and Stephen King, these things are bound to come out at some stage, and I have no idea of the politics involved in the revelation of the link with LeCarre. All I do know is that Nick's a really nice guy, very enthusiastic about SF and fantasy as a genre (which from a mainstream writer is always welcome) and was delighted when his novel was shortlisted for the BSFA Award this year.

I had the good fortune to meet him for the first time at this year's Eastercon in Bradford. Anyone who's interested in doing likewise is welcome to come along to the BSFA's AGM in London on June 27th, when Nick will be our guest. He will be speaking about his work and, needless to say, socialising. The BSFA > Home