Max Brooks News

JUST GLAD I COULD HELP

Max Brooks — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:29:20 +0000

Normally, I think posting fan letters is pretty arrogant. If anything, I might post a couple hate letters now and then. However, this email was forwarded to me from my publisher and I thought it was pretty cool. It reminds me of when I was 16 and reading “The Hunt for Red October”. It was the first book I’d ever bought and read voluntarily and it’s nice to know I can pass that feeling along to someone else. (Even, if he finishes World War Z and thinks it royally sucks.)

Hi. I know this is a long shot, but I was wondering if you could possibly give Mr. Brooks a message for me. Tell him I said Thank You. My son is 16 years old and hasn’t read a book (without being forced into it by school work) in about 2 years. I took him to the bookstore with me and he wandered around and came back with a copy of World War Z and said “I’ve heard this one was pretty good… Can we get it?” I was a little shocked to say the least. I woke up at 2 this morning and noticed his light was on so I went to check on him. He was still reading the book (He made it to page189 within about 2 hours). I had to thank the man who actually made my son want to read.
Thanks again,
[The nice mother who sent me the email]

CNN.com Interview

Max Brooks — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:09:08 +0000

“Why we love those rotting, hungry, putrid zombies”

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/10/02/zombie.love/index.html

IBRAIM ROBERSON: The Artist of Recorded Attacks

Max Brooks — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:36:11 +0000

So I just received the sample copies of RA, and, to my horror, IBRAIM ROBERSON, the artist, is nowhere to be found on the cover! In fact, he’s not even on the title page! This is, obviously, a class-A, solid gold screw up, and no matter who’s screw up it is, the damage is done. Fortunately, Random House got on the ball and made sure his name will be right there in the second printing. (I like to consider myself a considerate, civilized man, but sometimes you gotta get on the horn and scream WHAT THE FUCK!?!). Unfortunately, this first printing will only have my name on the book’s cover, and although this wasn’t my mistake, it’s still my responsibility. So let me apologize to the readers, the gods of Art, and, most especially to IBRAIM ROBERSON! This man’s artwork is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Anyone who buys a copy of “Recorded Attacks” will know what I’m talking about. IBRAIM ROBERSON rocks, and the world should know his name. End of story.

Oh yea, did I mention his name is IBRAIM ROBERSON?

Max on Countdown with Keith Olbermann – HERE’S THE VIDEO

Max Brooks — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:56:49 +0000

UPDATE – 8/25/09 – Max appeared on Countdown this evening:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Here’s a link to the video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/32559769#32559769

UPDATE: Max’s appearance on Countdown has been postponed. If it is rescheduled, we’ll update the News section of this site with the new date and time.

Max will appear on MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann TONIGHT at 8 PM ET to discuss a new study entitled “Infectious Disease Modelling Research Progress” which provides, among other things, a mathematical model of a zombie outbreak (See http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/zombies)

Comic-Con ‘09

Max Brooks — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:06:43 +0000

Always fun, always exhausting. As great as it is to meet my fans, it’s equally fun to change roles and become one myself. Last year I made a point of meeting David Petersen, the creator of the comic book series “Mouse Guard”. I was blown away by the level of detail Petersen puts into his work. It reminds me of the “Gnome” books I read as a kid. Any man who creates an entire world gets my respect and “Mouse Guard” is at the top of my list. It was humbling, to say the least, when I finally met the man and he had no idea who I was. Oh well. This year I figured it’d be different, maybe he Googled me or something. Nope. This year he didn’t even remember me from last year. Maybe it’s what I need after hours of signing books and soaking up praise. Did I mention that he asked if I actually paid for the book he was autographing to me? David Petersen: decongestant for a swelled head.

Comic-Con – Signing schedule

Max Brooks — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:54:02 +0000

Wednesday July 22

6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Thursday July 23

11:00 am to 1:00 pm
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Saturday July 25

1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Sunday July 26

11:00 am to 3:00 pm

World War Z: The Movie – UPDATE

Max Brooks — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:48:08 +0000

At every book signing, someone always asks what’s going on with the movie version of “World War Z.” Who’s directing it, who’s going to star, and, most importantly, when is it coming out? I don’t mind answering these questions, but I feel bad that I don’t have much to tell. I’m not involved in the making of “World War Z: the movie.” My participation ended when Paramount Pictures optioned the rights to the book. That’s usually how it works in Hollywood, and it’s not the worst way to operate. Writing a book is very different than writing a movie; especially because the latter is extremely collaborative. Sometimes an author can do both. I can’t. I don’t play well with others. As a friend, husband, father and citizen, I firmly believe in the ideals of democracy. But when it comes to art, get the fuck out of my way. So they didn’t offer me the job, and I wouldn’t have taken it, and I think everybody will be happier in the end.

Here’s what I can tell you about the progress of the WWZ movie adaptation:

-Brad Pitt’s movie company, “Plan B,” bought the movie rights (through their deal with Paramount) after a bidding war with Leonardo DiCaprio’s company, Appian Way. That was almost 4 years ago.

-J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Changeling, Jeremiah, and whole lot of other AWESOME STUFF), was the first screenwriter on the project. He wrote the first two drafts of the script, although I think there might be a third draft somewhere out there. I’ve only read the first draft, and I can say that, as the protective, uncompromising author of the book, it was a genuine masterpiece.

-The new screenwriter is Matt Carnahan (The Kingdom, State of Play). Anyone in Hollywood will tell you that most movies go through half a dozen screenwriters before a movie ever gets made. For everyone that’s credited, there might be two or three more that are brought in to do discreet ‘polishes.’ (Any wonder why I didn’t want the job?) I don’t know Matt’s work very well, although. I can say that he’s one of the hottest, highest paid screenwriters in Hollywood, and bringing him onboard speaks volumes in studio confidence.

-Marc Forster (Kite Runner, Monster’s Ball, Quantum of Solace), has signed on as the movie’s director. He has a ‘development deal’ which means that he now oversees the progress of the script. He came on after JMS had already written several drafts. In his words, the story is “still far from realization.” Right now he’s working with Carnahan on a new draft. I’m not sure when that will be completed.

And this is all I know.

Will this movie get made? Who knows. The odds are against it, but the odds are against any movie getting made. What helps is the continued enthusiasm for the project. Paramount has already renewed the option for another two years (one year left now), and hiring such a high profile writer as Carnahan is always a good sign. What also helps is the fact that Paramount has gone through more regime changes than a Banana Republic, and the World War Z is still in the mix. What hurts is the sheer size of the movie. World War Z is just that, a WORLD WAR! You can’t make this kind of movie on the cheap. It’s gotta be massive, epic, with the kind of budget that scares the hell out of anyone holding the studio purse strings. Only a few of these movies are made a year, and if one of them bombs, it can kill the careers of anyone involved. You can understand why those at the helm are being cautious. Sometimes a movie can spend 20 years in development (”I Am Legend” anyone?). Who knows what will happen.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

I’m always happy to answer your questions, but truthfully, you’ll get better answers if you ask those directly involved. Marc Forster, Matt Carnahan, the folks at Plan B and Paramount all have phone numbers and email addresses. They can all answer your questions better than I.

The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks – UPDATE

Max Brooks — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:30:08 +0000

I finally looked at the last polish on the last of the artwork (although saying this, I’m probably inviting more trouble). It’s been a long, long haul but I think we’re actually go to press! Still not sure if we’ll have any galley copies ready by Comic-Con. Even uncorrected proofs would be better than nothing. News on that should be coming soon.

Wizard World proposal

Max Brooks — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:24:37 +0000

I got to my first signing at 10AM and found there was already a line. The guy waiting in front asked me to inscribe a copy of WWZ to his girlfriend then ask if she would marry him. He then turned to the woman behind him in line, got down on one knee and presented her with the book and a ring. Thank God she said yes. That could have been really awkward for the people behind him in line.