Thursday, September 08, 2011

What is Brian Falkner reading?

The current featured contributor at Writers Read: Brian Falkner, author of The Project.

The entry begins:
Right at this moment I am reading two old Alistair MacLean novels simultaneously: Ice Station Zebra and Night Without End.

This is mainly for research as I am soon going to start the second novel in my Bzadian series, Ice War, which is set in an unforgiving artic environment. Alistair MacLean was a master of describing that kind of world: the blizzard conditions and cold below what any person is able to endure.

But there is more to it than just the descriptive passages. MacLean was also a master of suspense, and was my favourite author as a young reader. The series I am working on is partly an homage to his early thrillers, with traitorous villains; sudden, violent action; and heroes pushed to the limits of their mental and physical endurance.

MacLean not only influenced my style of writing, he influenced my decision to...[read on]
Among the praise for The Project:
"Falkner delivers a thriller that melds humor, danger, and history.... [A]n entertaining mystery with plenty of enjoyable twists and turns."
--Publishers Weekly

"It reads like an action movie, with plenty of chases, explosions, and by-a-hair escapes. A good choice for reluctant readers, particularly boys."
--School Library Journal

"New Zealand author Falkner delivers another solid thriller..."
--Kirkus

"Has all the finer attributes of a Dan Brown page-turner..."
--NZ Herald
Learn more about the book and author at Brian Falkner's website, blog, and Facebook page.

My Book, The Movie: Brian Falkner's Brain Jack.

Writers Read: Brian Falkner.

--Marshal Zeringue