by Christopher Priest (Author)
THE SEPARATION is the story of twin brothers. Rowers in the 1936 Olympics, they meet Rudolf Hess, Hitler's deputy; one joins the RAF, and captains a Wellington; he is shot down after a bombing raid on Hamburg and become's Churchill's aide-de-camp; his twin brother, a pacifist, works with the Red Cross, rescuing bombing victims in London. But this is not a straightforward story of the Second World War: this is an alternate history: the two brothers - both called J.L. Sawyer - live their lives in alternate versions of reality. In one, the Second World War ends as we imagine it did; in the other, thanks to efforts of an eminent team of negotiators headed by Hess, the war ends in 1941. THE SEPARATION is an emotionally riveting story of how ordinary people can make a difference; it's a savage critique of Winston Churchill, the man credited as the saviour of Britain and the Western World, and it's a story of how one perceives and shapes the past. THE SEPARATION was originally published by Simon & Schuster as a trade paperback, with a very small print run; it went out of print almost immediately and was never reprinted. Gollancz will publish initially as a price-promoted hardcover, as a platform for reviews and national newspaper coverage, prior to lead title paperback publication in 2004.
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Edition: New edition
Publisher: Gollancz
Published: 20 Nov 2003
ISBN 10: 0575070021
ISBN 13: 9780575070028
Book Overview: THE SEPARATION achieved the rare double honour of winning both the Arthur C. Clarke and the British Science Fiction Awards THE PRESTIGE also won a very rare double honour: it was awarded both a major literary prize - The James Tait Black Prize - and the World Fantasy Award for best novel Christopher Priest is unique: an acclaimed novelist of both contemporary and science fiction/fantasy literature Several of Priest's novels have been optioned by movie-makers; THE PRESTIGE is in pre-production for James Nolan (MEMENTO; INSOMNIA) Priest was selected for the original Best of Young British Novelists promotion.
Prizes: Winner of Arthur C Clarke Award 2003 and British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Novel 2003 and Arthur C. Clarke Award 2003 and British Science Fiction Association Award 2003.