tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post8126689656006159863..comments2024-03-14T05:11:55.141-04:00Comments on Existential Ennui: An Interview with Anthony Price, Author of the David Audley Spy Novels, Part 2: Plotting, Characterization, Locations, Chessgame, and Writers and WritingNick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-71899164395918212742023-09-08T11:05:35.499-04:002023-09-08T11:05:35.499-04:00I first encountered Anthony price's books when...I first encountered Anthony price's books when the Orion crime masterworks included three of his books in the early 2000s (I was in my mid 20s and it appears not the sort of reader Price expected of his novels at that time!) and I then built up a full set of the novels from charity and second hand shops over the years. I remain staggered that his work is not properly back in print. the series maintains a high quality throughout. It was such a pleasure to read the interview you carried out. Thank you for doing this and for keeping the flame alive. Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09453779234850645049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-54652297624764830022018-11-08T13:53:31.688-05:002018-11-08T13:53:31.688-05:00As a reader who enjoyed all Anthony Price's no...As a reader who enjoyed all Anthony Price's novels when they first came out (& bought them all in paperback - all I could afford then), introduced to them by my late father, we were both sorry when the series stopped at 19. Now, thanks to this interview, I know why...and more importantly know a lot more about their author and how he wrote them. I look forward to reading the whole series again (but not watching the DVD of 'Chessgame' which has just been reissued!)Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09121979454359866527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-61110757207070404872015-01-21T09:10:21.673-05:002015-01-21T09:10:21.673-05:00hark hark!
you're so right!hark hark!<br />you're so right!gerold wallnerhttp://www.gerold-wallner.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-45784241705656448312015-01-21T08:17:44.772-05:002015-01-21T08:17:44.772-05:00i'm now rebuying the electronic editions in en...i'm now rebuying the electronic editions in english after having read the novels in german (in the nineteen eighties. the last novel not being published in german, it was the first one i bought in english and i loved it as much as the first labyrinth makers) and i hope to contribute to mr price's royalties und wine cellar.gerold wallnerhttp://www.gerold-wallner.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-18678226157461419792015-01-21T08:09:20.043-05:002015-01-21T08:09:20.043-05:00thx for the interview. i highly recommend mr price...thx for the interview. i highly recommend mr price's audley novels to a younger audience (http://members.chello.at/~geroldwallner/legi/augustus.htm#_ftn3). the homepage (and article) is - me being viennese - in german.gerold wallnerhttp://www.gerold-wallner.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-29127380934713768622015-01-14T11:54:20.622-05:002015-01-14T11:54:20.622-05:00Thanks for the comment, Anonymous. I'm always ...Thanks for the comment, Anonymous. I'm always delighted when a fellow AP fan finds this interview. Glad you enjoyed it!Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-37202367236967176932015-01-12T18:13:36.897-05:002015-01-12T18:13:36.897-05:00I just found this wonderful interview, for which t...I just found this wonderful interview, for which thank you so much! I have first editions of all the books, and I was sooooo sad after Mr Price just -stopped- writing. I still want even today to know more about the characters, and for a long time was living in hope that one day another book would appear. Only very slowly did I come to accept that I would never read a new story about them again, so that the fact that he still has stories about them which we'll never know is somehow great and somehow even sadder!<br />My personal favourite is Tomorrow's ghost, which I can read again and again and somehow it stays eternally mysterious at its heart.<br />As for Chessgame: it's weird, my favourite books and actually adapted by one of my favourite TV writers, Murray Smith. How did it turn out to be so remarkably bad? But it did. Quite apart from the many errors in detail, the format made the stories incredibly rushed, thus missing out almost everything that makes the books enjoyable - and then, to top it off, they made the very strange decision to merge the three books into a botched-up overarching plot. The result: an utter dog's dinner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-84710143485064133482014-11-07T09:40:14.430-05:002014-11-07T09:40:14.430-05:00Glad you enjoyed the interview, Stark!Glad you enjoyed the interview, Stark!Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-77632566915717115052014-11-06T09:44:28.741-05:002014-11-06T09:44:28.741-05:00What a splendid interview! I first found A New Kin...What a splendid interview! I first found A New Kind Of War years ago at a charity shop or jumble sale using my rigorous quality assessment criteria (has a bullet on the front cover - check), loved it, and kept an eye out for his work after that, assembling a motley assortment of most of the rest of the series. As in your original piece I'd never found much online about him, but in the process of extolling his virtues to someone else I had a bit of a dig around and found the link on Wikipedia. I now feel a tad guilty about jumble sale rummaging depriving him of royalties, maybe I'll buy a few electronic editions to try and make it up!Starknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-6362914812425318682014-01-02T11:40:55.018-05:002014-01-02T11:40:55.018-05:00No, I've not encountered that, Tehanu. Thank y...No, I've not encountered that, Tehanu. Thank you for the tip!Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-76941940633713772112013-12-28T03:26:29.190-05:002013-12-28T03:26:29.190-05:00Linked to here from the Wikipedia article about Pr...Linked to here from the Wikipedia article about Price, who has always been my favorite thriller writer. Really a terrific interview. Do you know about Charles Stross's tribute to him, the third book of his "Laundry" series, <i>The Fuller Memorandum</i>? I was reading that and almost had a stroke when Hugh Roskill showed up! The whole book is a pastiche of Price and well worth a read.Tehanunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-40054604977239614382012-10-27T15:12:28.332-04:002012-10-27T15:12:28.332-04:00The collapse of Communism did play a part in the s...The collapse of Communism did play a part in the series ceasing at nineteen books, Margaret, but as mentioned in the interview, AP did have other reasons for calling a halt, the main one of which perhaps he'll be comfortable sharing some day. But thank you for sharing your memories of the novels. If you ever feel so inclined, I'm sure AP would welcome a letter; you can always email me on existentialennui@gmail.com if you're not sure how to contact him.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-27421375199721038102012-10-26T14:38:30.776-04:002012-10-26T14:38:30.776-04:00Your interviews with AP took place sometime ago - ...Your interviews with AP took place sometime ago - but better late than never. I followed Mr Price faithfully from The Labyrinth Makers onwards; I loved the thriller/spy aspect combined with the literary/historical aspects. I looked for the new novel every year. At the time of his last novel I was taken ill and when I recovered I looked in vain for the 20th novel; at the time I attributed the lack of the 20th novel to the fact that with the collapse of the Communists the series had reached a natural end. I continued to ask my local book shop if any more novels had appeared. In the end I accepted there would be no more Joint Research and returned to rereading the series on a regular basis. Like Anthony Price I was horrified by the TV adaptation, but the books themselves have been my delight for more years than I care to remember. Mr Price has my thanks for more pleasure than I can express. His 19 books are the ones I recommend BUT NEVER LEND best regards Margaret Donnelly m.donnelly770@btinternet.com Margaret Donnellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-70657793144704562842012-09-11T04:08:27.057-04:002012-09-11T04:08:27.057-04:00Thank you, Martyn. Nice to hear the interview shed...Thank you, Martyn. Nice to hear the interview shed a little light on the series. I've reviews of the first five novels dotted about EE – look for them using the search box, or by clicking on AP's tag; I'd welcome your thoughts on the books as you make your way through the series again, so do please, if you're inclined, leave comments on the relevant posts.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-71768040509624777002012-09-10T22:47:11.075-04:002012-09-10T22:47:11.075-04:00Hi Nick,
Thoroughly enjoyed your your interview w...Hi Nick,<br /><br />Thoroughly enjoyed your your interview with Anthony Price which I discovered on the web. I'm a Brit who has lived in the State for the last nearly 40 years and of course is regularly going back and for to the UK. I started reading AP's work about 25 years ago, at that point collected all of his Audley works and was captivated. Moved house and took my books with me but very busy and forgot about them. Decided one day recently to get all the books in the house into some semblance of order (new marriage) and rediscovered my Anthony Price collection with five missing. No doubt lent to friends after alcoholic dinner parties but thanks to Abebooks have been able to fill in the gaps at minimal costs and can't wait to re-read the the series again.<br /><br />Your interview has given me a tremendous insight into the series and the author and I can't wait till the Labyrinth Makers gets into my post box. I will keep a glass of red wine or scotch handy to help me on the way and drink a toast to the author.Martyn Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-18219887149057789592012-03-25T05:32:15.419-04:002012-03-25T05:32:15.419-04:00My pleasure, Sexton. Hope you enjoyed the intervie...My pleasure, Sexton. Hope you enjoyed the interview. And I'll be posting a review of Other Paths to Glory sometime over the next few months...Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-68211800228516233412012-03-24T19:37:05.694-04:002012-03-24T19:37:05.694-04:00I've just finished reading OTHER PATHS TO GLOR...I've just finished reading OTHER PATHS TO GLORY. What a splendid book!Thanks for pointing me towards Price. It's great when you find a really terrific author that you hadn't previously known about.Sextonblakenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-49446235805235311152011-11-01T05:29:04.806-04:002011-11-01T05:29:04.806-04:00You're very welcome, Scott. Glad you enjoyed t...You're very welcome, Scott. Glad you enjoyed them!Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-14997292446292448382011-10-31T13:28:19.554-04:002011-10-31T13:28:19.554-04:00What fabulous features on ANtony Price.
I bought ...What fabulous features on ANtony Price.<br /><br />I bought The Labyrinth Makers reprint when it appeared in the Orion crime classics series about a decade ago, and slowly built up a collection of Price novels through second hand shops. reading (and rereading) his novels remains a pleasure.<br /><br />I trust that some enterprising soul decides to reprint the others in the series. As with Sjowall and Wahloo's Martin Beck novels I suspect a proper series of reprints would find a new readership.<br /><br />Thank you so much for the interviews and reviewsScotthttp://loveandgarbage.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-4461247799714800322011-08-23T06:09:45.669-04:002011-08-23T06:09:45.669-04:00Tim, thanks for the kind words, and your thoughts ...Tim, thanks for the kind words, and your thoughts on the Audley series.<br /><br />Mike, thank you for your reminiscences regarding Mr. Price. I've been meaning to delve into your Angel novels for a while now, so don't be surprised if you find yourself the subject of a post in the future!Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-68075281119378241382011-08-22T10:34:54.456-04:002011-08-22T10:34:54.456-04:00A wonderful interview with a great writer. When fl...A wonderful interview with a great writer. When flying to the US for the first time in 1978 I found myself at Heathrow without a book for the plane. In the bookshop there, I bought THE ALAMUT AMBUSH simply on the basis of the cover, never having heard of the author. I finished it as the plane landed in Chicago and on returning to the UK, bought all Price titles in print and every subsequent new book.<br />In 1988, when my first crime novel was published,my debut appearance as an author in a bookshop was at a crime and thriller night at Hatchard's in Kensington. Top of the bill that night was Anthony Price and I could not have asked for a more generous and supportive mentor. He even signed a copy of his latest novel A PROSPECT OF VENGEANCE to prove we were "Comrades in Hatchards".<br />I still partly blame Anthony's books for my later mid-life crisis when I became an archaeologist!Mike Ripleyhttp://www.shotsmag.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-5709437629258760482011-08-18T10:56:53.663-04:002011-08-18T10:56:53.663-04:00Dear Nick
Thank you once again for your interview...Dear Nick<br /><br />Thank you once again for your interview with Anthony Price. I have been re-reading the entire series (for the nth time) and it is fascinating how the characters change over the 20 years of series. My own favourites as characters are Butler (who could not like the honourable Colonel Jack?) Hugh Roskill and even Oliver St John Latimer, as well as the under-achieving, average outwitted turncoat, but in-the-end honourable Captain Roche. I particularly loved Roche as he was so average! Paul Mitchell I find becomes fairly insufferable as the books go on - especially his homophobic rants which jarred even when The Old Vengeful came out in the early 80s. Still a great book though, and Mitchell is very uzeful as a historian - and killing people - as Latimer says! <br />It is a shame there was no 20th novel, but RSI, alcohol and Mr Price's personal reasons easily outweigh the desires of his public. Sigh.<br />I'd still like a short story from him - perhaps with Cathy Audley looking back at an aspect of her (late?) father's career. One can dream.<br />And Audley? He is hard to like, but easy to respect. For a man who occupies such a central role, he is one of hardest to really know - as each novel presents us with a slightly different facet of his character. But then, that is probably just like life. As 19 people to describe somebody, and you'll likely end up with 19 different descriptions. <br />Once again, many thanks to you, and to Anthony Price himself - he's a prince among thriller writers.<br />Best wishes, TimTim Bowlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14905332360786054565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-32658977024099779772011-08-18T06:28:06.270-04:002011-08-18T06:28:06.270-04:00You're very welcome. I think Mr. Price would d...You're very welcome. I think Mr. Price would disagree with you there, but you may well have a point.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-77861565908275763792011-08-17T01:06:12.767-04:002011-08-17T01:06:12.767-04:00Many thanks for the interview. The best ever write...Many thanks for the interview. The best ever writer of spy fiction. That old liberal whiner John Le Carré is not fit to hold a candle to Anthony Price.polecathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293284921429573528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-52384500048575783962011-08-05T12:12:32.912-04:002011-08-05T12:12:32.912-04:00Ha. I did wonder if that line might chime with you...Ha. I did wonder if that line might chime with you! Thanks, Olman.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.com