S&S has passed, but two other imprints (Touchstone and Free Press) seem gung-ho, and only one of those can bid anyway—so it’s all good.

 

 

Dan,

 

Thanks again for sending this. I’ve read it and it’s good. I’d heard a lot about this collective in the news, but I can’t say I ever really had a handle on it until now.

 

I worry, however, that the authors are so close to this and so personally invested. At the end of the day I just wasn’t able to convince myself that it would be perceived by general readers as the definitive story—or that the treatment on offer would have the context and perspective that I would want as a reader who is not in the core, core audience. Do you remember that semirecent New Yorker piece in which a young journalist embedded himself with the Wikileaks people at the moment they were most embattled? After reading both that and this, it’s made me realize that, for whatever reason, the treatment I crave is the journalistic one. Also pushing me to the bad side of the fence is the fact that at least two of my colleagues in the building seem very keen to pursue this, and Karp is all about deferring in such situations, unless we feel a crazy passion.

 

I’m psyched that the proposal is sparking strong interest, and I know you’ll sell this to a great editor, so I think you will forgive me for stepping aside. I hope you will be able to try me again soon. We need to finally find a book to work on together and I have a good feeling that we are going to make it happen this fall. Thanks again and good luck with the closing on this one.

 

All best,

 

JFA

 

--

 

Jofie Ferrari-Adler

Senior Editor

Simon & Schuster

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Tel: (212) 698-7068

Fax: (212) 698-7453

 

 

 

 

Dear Jofie,

 

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

 

 

Literary Agent

Writers House

(212) 696-3825