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

 

What does Cain, the world's first villain,

and Superman, the world's first superhero

have in common?

 

THE BOOK OF LIES by BRAD MELTZER

 

Book available September 2, 2008

Companion CD available August 26, 2008

 

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:
www.ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com.  A graduate of Columbia Law
School, he lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

www.BradMeltzer.com