" It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life. "
— Henry Ward Beecher
The Satan Bug: ABPC reader's report, unfavourably assessing the book's potential for film adaptation, together with a First Edition book.
N.p. [London: Elstree Studios/ABPC], [book published by Collins], 1962. [Literary and cinematic critique] Typed reports, 4pp. in all, rectos only, reader's delivery stamp to first page dated 5th March 1962. Perforations down left edge from office binding. Very well preserved. Book: moderate wear, some spotting, very good in like pr/c dust jacket with a few chips and tears. A rather scarce title, being the second thriller written by Maclean under his pseudonym Ian Stuart. Both these espionage novels were described as being crafted "in the Ian Fleming tradition" of secret service thrillers (with mention of Fleming within jacket blurb). Received in typescript by Groves on 20th February, submitted by literary agent Curtis Brown (book has a neat rubber stamp 'Cyril R. Brown'). His reader's report for Elstree provides a summary of the story, list of principal characters, synopsis and reader's comments. His verdict was far from enthusiastic: 'A highly complicated overlong thriller... there is no movie of any quality in this garbled, confused, garrulous story. Not recommended'. Having been passed over by Elstree, the rights were secured by United Artists and successfully filmed in 1965 as a crime suspense. Produced and directed by John Sturges, with a screenplay from James Clavell, the movie featured the first use of a stabilised camera mount, invented by Nelson Tyler, placed on a helicopter. Item #76169
Price: £875.00
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