Jane Austen Vs. Sea Monsters
Last April I mentioned that I read a book titled Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which is a mash-up book of the Jane Austen classic and new text written and inserted by author Seth Grahame-Smith. Today we learn that Quirk Books, the publisher of Pride/Zombies, is publishing another Austen mash-up book titled Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and author Ben H. Winters. Entertainment Weekly magazine was able to interview Winters … here is the book cover:
At midnight, the folks at Quirk — who brought you the best-selling Jane Austen mashup Pride and Prejudice and Zombies — announced that they’re back with the next book in the series, Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, which goes on sale Sept. 15 (complete with 15 illustrations — we’ve brought you two of them — and a readers’ discussion guide). Quirk editor Jason Rekulak, the creator of the series (”I just thought it would be really funny to desecrate a classic work of literature”) recently said that he didn’t want to go out there “with the one-millionth vampire novel that’s going to be published this year.” P&P&Z’s Seth Grahame Smith did not write this sequel, since he recently left the franchise and signed a hefty contract with Grand Central for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I talked to the series’ new author, Ben H. Winters, last week.
After the jump, check out EW’s short interview with Quirk’s newest author and check out some of the illustrations that are featured in Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters …
I know Quirk came up with the title and the concept for the novel … what did you think when you first heard “sea monsters”?
I loved the idea of sea monsters. I’d hate to say our culture is oversaturated with vampires and zombies, but it was fun to do something different. I got to research shark attacks, sea serpents, pirates, octopi. I went back and read a lot of period peril-at-sea novels — I got really into H.P. Lovecraft. I was also heavily influenced by Jaws and even the first season of Lost (much of the action in the book is set on a desolate island).
Did Quirk give you free rein?
They did. They gave me the title, a copy of Sense and Sensibility, and told me to go to town.
The Jane Austen aficionados, who can be a tough bunch, seemed to like ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’.
I feel like people who really love Austen get it. Her novels are so strong, so cleverly constructed, so smart and dry, they really lend themselves to over-the-top violence.
Okay, what kind of creatures can we look forward to in the book?
A giant rampaging mutant lobster. Octopi with glittering tentacles. And pirates — I couldn’t resist pirates. I studied pirate lore, from R.L. Stevenson to Pirates of the Caribbean.
Compare to the last book, if you would.
Well, our monster-to-Austen ratio is higher than in the last book, about 60-40 (that’s 60 Austen, 40 me). That’s proportionally more monsters, swordfights, and submarines.
OK … my knee jerk reaction is that, while I can appreciate that the publisher is trying to strike while the iron is hot, I hope they don’t kill a great idea with an influx of these sorts of books. I loved Zombies and I am very much looking forward to reading Sea Monsters … I also understand that Seth Grahame-Smith (who wrote Zombies) is writing a new book about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer which also sounds cool. BUT … too many of these kinds of books will get old and, IMHO, the quality will suffer. In the end, tho, if these books get folks who hate reading Jane Austen books to read Jane Austen books then it can only be a good thing. If you are interested, you can click HERE to order Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and can click HERE to order Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. I can absolutely vouch for Zombies, it’s a very fun read!
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Tags: 'Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters', Ben H. Winters, Jane Austen
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July 17th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Loved P&P&Z! Keep up your book suggestions, I loved “The Strain” as well, thanks!
July 17th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I desperately need to start reading again! The last book I read was Catch and it was pretty good and I bought The Perks of Being a Wallflower but haven’t started it yet. I was reading Jerk, California but I stopped before midway… I get that Jane Austen is a very good writer and her literature is great but it’s also pretty damn boring! Of course it was spectacular back in the day, I’m sure.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I loved the discussion questions at the end of P&P&Z. You must read the book to realize how hysterical they are, so no cheating.
July 17th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
B – Totally! Question #7 had me rolling on the floor.
July 18th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Cannot wait for these to reach my country. :D