A Soundtrack to a Book? ... The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer

August 22, 2008, 02:48 PM

For every author there is the one book they believe they were meant to write. For bestselling author BRAD MELTZER (The Tenth Justice, The Book of Fate), that book is THE BOOK OF LIES (Grand Central Publishing; September 2, 2008; $25.99).

In this riveting thriller, Meltzer’s expertise in comics, and in particular Superman, his interest in Cain, the world’s first murderer, his belief in myths and legends, and the influence of his father and mother fuse into a heart-pounding and heart-breaking story that is among his best. Set largely in Florida, where Meltzer lives, THE BOOK OF LIES challenges our assumptions about Cain killing Abel and about the creation of Superman, the world’s first superhero. Despite the many centuries between these two events, in THE BOOK OF LIES Meltzer deftly weaves them together into a suspenseful, code-breaking drama.

THE BOOK OF LIES follows Cal Harper, a disgraced government agent, who comes across his long-lost father, Lloyd, lying for dead in a park. Together they end up in a dangerous race to find the world’s first murder weapon – that which was used by Cain to kill Abel – and which ended up in the hands of Mitchell Siegel, the father of Jerry Siegel, who created Superman. Their quest takes Cal and Lloyd – and the evil Ellis – to Cleveland to the house where Jerry Siegel lived and created the first Superman comics (this house is still standing today). Here they hope to solve both the mystery of Cain’s murder weapon and who killed Jerry’s father. After all, explains Meltzer, it was the murder of his father in a store robbery that led the young Jerry to create a bullet-proof man called Superman.

Based on intensive research into both the Bible story and the lives of Mitchell and Jerry Siegel (Meltzer interviewed Jerry Siegel’s wife and daughter), THE BOOK OF LIES rings with the truth of what happened and of what could have happened. It is a thought-provoking and crackling story that sheds new light on the Siegel family, the creation of Superman and our assumptions about myths, legends, heroes and villains.

THE BOOK OF LIES has a companion soundtrack which will be released by Victor Records (Sony BMG). The soundtrack, which features a mix of classical and contemporary hits as well as a newly recorded song titled "The Book of Lies," will be available for sale on iTunes and Amazon.com on August 26, 2008.

On why it was so important to have a soundtrack accompany this book Meltzer says, "Music is manipulative, it helps evoke an emotion. Every time I write a book I write in complete silence but there is always as soundtrack in my head as I write....What you hear [in the soundtrack] is as close as I can give you to what I'm feeling as I'm writing.”

Brad Meltzer will be touring the country in support of the Book of Lies and its companion soundtrack throughout September.

Track Listing:

1. "The Book of Lies" Robert Ellis Orrall (new recording created for book)
2. "Superman" REM
3. "A Little Respect" Wheatus
4. "Superman"(It's Not Easy)" Five for Fighting
5. "Holding Out for a Hero" Bonnie Tyler
6. "Greatest American Hero" Joey Scarbury
7. Symphony No. 7 "Lied der Nacht" - II. Nachtmusik I. Allegro moderato
8. Parsifal - Vorspiel (Prelude)
9. Night Ride and Sunrise, Op. 55
10. Symphony No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 55 - III. Il tempo largo
11. L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 - III. Adagietto. Adagio
12. The Planets - V. "Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
13. The Planets - IV. "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity"
14. The Planets - I - "Mars, the Bringer of War"
15. Wagner: Die Walkure - Magic Fire Music
16. Wagner: Gotterdammerung - Siegfried's Funeral March
17. Symphony No. 3 - VI. Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden
18. Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma" - Variation IX ("Nimrod"). Adagio


About Brad Meltzer: Brad Meltzer is the New York Times bestselling author of such novels as The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, and most recently, The Book of Fate. He is also the author of the top-grossing graphic novel, Identity Crisis, and was co-creator of the critically acclaimed television series “Jack & Bobby.” His new comic, Last Will and Testament, will be published by DC Universe in August 2008. He is currently the driving force behind the effort to save Superman’s house – the house in Cleveland where Jerry Siegel grew up – and has created a website for that purpose: Home - Ordinary People Change the World. A graduate of Columbia Law School, he lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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