News for Nov. 11, 2004

Kong: King of Skull Island

11/11/04, 6:37 pm EST - Xoanon

KONG: KING OF SKULL ISLAND

From DH Press Books

After King Kong's fall from atop the Empire State Building both Kong’s captor, Carl Denham, and Kong’s body quickly vanished leaving rumor and speculation in their wake. Left behind was Carl's son, Vincent. In1957, Vincent, now a paleontologist, discovers his father’s Skull Island map and contacts Jack Driscoll, one of Kong's original captors. They forge a plan and voyage to Skull Island in search of Carl Denham, King Kong, and answers to questions spanning a quarter century. When their expedition goes awry and they are captured, their fate depends on an enigmatic native elder, the cryptic ‘Storyteller’. From her they ominously learn that Carl Denham's desperate attempt to assuage his conscience decades earlier has had some very unexpected consequences…

KONG: King of Skull Island is a lavishly illustrated, all-new novel created by acclaimed illustrator Joe DeVito, who co-writes alongside top fantasy and science fiction writer Brad Strickland with John Michlig. It acts as both prequel and sequel to the classic fantasy novel, King Kong, and is officially authorized by the estate of Merian C. Cooper. Special-effects master Ray Harryhausen (Mighty Joe Young, The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad) provides the introduction.

DeVito’s story will fascinate all readers, both young and old, as it digs deep into the lore of Kong and his island. Monsters, pirates, action, adventure and a love story on which the fate of an entire civilization rests unfold against a fantastic prehistoric backdrop. We also find that some interesting changes have occurred over the last 65 million years - the island’s dinosaurs only seem familiar.

Mysteriously, everyone is inextricably bound to the Storyteller’s ancient tale. It tells of Islanders Ishara and Kublai, and their quest to escape a terrible fate that threatens both themselves and their people. That struggle has the power to reach across time and change the destiny of all - if they survive. For at the nexus of every event is the beast-god of Skull Island: KING KONG.

Advance praise for KONG: King of Skull Island has been pouring in. Ray Bradbury says, "Anyone who loves King Kong with Carl Denham and Ann Darrow in 1933 and hated DeLaurentis' 1976 remake cannot but help love this new Kong book. Bravo!" Arnie Fenner of Spectrum Fantastic Art says "The word ‘epic’ gets tossed around pretty casually these days, but in the case of KONG: King of Skull Island it is more than appropriate. Joe DeVito has taken the classic story we're all familiar with and looked at it from a fresh and excitingly new direction... KONG: KING OF SKULL ISLAND is the first--and for my money, only--addition to the Kong myth that does the original proud."

Website: kongskullisland.com
e-mail: info@kongskullisland.com