Re: FW: ANONYMOUS: Tales from Inside the Accidental Cyberwar

On Thu, Sep 8, 2011 at 3:31 PM, Gregg Housh <greggatghc@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the updates, it's strange that I feel the need for them. I havent felt this way since the night before the first big protests back in 08.

On Thu, Sep 8, 2011 at 4:17 PM, Daniel Conaway <dconaway@writershouse.com> wrote:

Guys,

See below-this is Jon Krakauer's editor, whose comment about Julian Assange is (actually) good news for us...

Meanwhile, the proposal is now out with the following editors/publishers-if they have it it means I spoke with them first...

Pantheon/Knopf

Dan Frank

Doubleday

Gerry Howard

Random House

Will Murphy

Ballantine Bantam Dell

Mark Tavani

Spiegel/Grau

Chris Jackson

Crown

Charlie Conrad

Penguin Press

Ginny Smith

Gotham / Avery

Megan Newman

Blue Rider Press

Sarah Hochman

Riverhead

Geoff Kloske

Touchstone

Matthew Benjamin

The Free Press

Alessandra Bastigli

Simon and Schuster

Jofie Adler-Ferrara

Atria

Peter Borland

Ecco Press

Matt Weiland

Grand Central

Ben Greenberg

Twelve

Carey Goldstein

Little, Brown & Co.

John Parsley

Farrar, Strauss & Giroux

Sean McDonald

Metropolitan Books (Holt)

Sara Bershtel

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Eamon Dolan

Public Affairs

Clive Priddle

Norton

Tom Mayer

There are a few more editors it'll go out to once they call back, but obviously this is pretty hefty list of editors... I also have sent the proposal to a film co-agent in Los Angeles (Creative Artists Agency) to see if they're interested in representing film rights. Will let you know when I hear back...

That's it for now. Try not to think about it [ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM!!!], and know that, the second there IS anything to hear, you'll hear it.

-Dan

Dan Conaway
Literary Agent
Writers House
(212) 696-3825

________________________________
From: Conrad, Charles [mailto:CConrad@randomhouse.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 2:56 PM
To: Daniel Conaway
Subject: RE: ANONYMOUS: Tales from Inside the Accidental Cyberwar

Dan,

I'll get right to this.

I just learned (you may already know this) that the plug was pulled on Julian A's book. I think this happened while I was away this summer. Apparently Julian was saying the book would put him in legal jeopardy or something.

Anyway, I'm really intrigued by this one. Thanks for sending.

Best, Charlie

From: Daniel Conaway [mailto:dconaway@WritersHouse.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 2:05 PM
To: Conrad, Charles

Subject: ANONYMOUS: Tales from Inside the Accidental Cyberwar
Importance: High

Dear Charlie,

Here, as discussed, is the proposal for an absolutely fascinating behind-the-curtain glimpse at the notorious-and apparently fearless-'hacktivist' collective known as Anonymous. The targets for Anonymous's particular brand of outlaw activism-all part of their global campaign against injustices and abuses in the realm of freedom of speech and freedom of information-have included (so far) foreign governments (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia), major corporations (Sony, Visa, MasterCard), sanctimonious 'religious' organizations (the Church of Scientology, the Westboro Baptist Church) and powerful governmental agencies (FBI, CIA, NATO). Nobody, apparently, is off-limits.

As Kevin Mitnick's current New York Times bestseller Ghost in the Wires has demonstrated, there is a real fascination out there with the culture of hacking and the internet. Gregg Housh and Barrett Brown, the authors of ANONYMOUS: Tales from Inside the Accidental Cyberwar-and the two most visible public figures known to be associated with Anonymous (both of whom have provided invaluable access & insight regarding the modus operandi of Anonymous to reporters hungry to make sense of it)-take Mitnick one step further, showing how that culture can be harnessed as an engine for social change. Even when (as is often the case for Anons) the "engine for social change" rhetoric is really just a terrific excuse to indulge in some weaponized chaos...

And therein lies the magnificent contradiction of this culture. Patriotic vigilantism? Animal House pranksterism? Both? Whatever the true alchemic mix is, it's a wild and fascinating ride, laid bare here for the first time.

Call me when you've read this, OK?

-Dan

Dan Conaway
Literary Agent
Writers House
(212) 696-3825