A pass from Penguin Press.

 

 

Dear Dan,

 

Thank you for sending ANONYMOUS to me. Congratulations on your interest. As you are moving forward, I will be brief.

 

I really enjoyed getting the insider’s view on this fascinating and influential organization. In an age where we have to ask ever more nuanced questions about who is telling truth to power and who is trying to make a buck in the name of ‘transparent democracy’, knowing more about the mores of Anonymous feels very important. I understand your passion for the project.

 

In my view, I wanted more perspective and analysis on the effectiveness and organization of this group than an insider can provide, though. Housh naturally has to make the argument for his organization’s centrality to the public conversation. I am just not sure I trust him to go further in analyzing the state of whistle blowing in the digital age, which I would want a book length treatment of these surrounding issues to do.

 

Others obviously feel differently, and I will make way for the more passionate parties and pass this time. Thanks again for the look.

 

I hope your fall is off to a good start and that we have the opportunity to connect again soon.

 

All best,

Ginny

 

 

Hey, Ginny—

 

Don’t know if you had a chance to look at that ANONYMOUS proposal I sent you last week, but there’s interest in meeting with Gregg Housh and Barrett Brown and talking about various directions the book might take.  Looks like they’ll be in town a week from now, Monday and Tuesday, Sept 19 / 20.  

 

Is it too early to know, or do you think you might be interested in sitting down with them?  (A phone chat’s always an option too, of course.)

 

Meanwhile, don’t know if you saw it, but in Vanity Fair’s annual media movers-and-shakers rankings (this month) the first listing in “The Anti-Establishment” category is, of course, Anonymous:

 

“The world’s pre-eminent hactivist affinity group has waged holy cyber-war on a laundry list of Establishment brands, including PayPal, MasterCard, and Visa—rallying to the defense of their mother ship, WikiLeaks.  And no matter how many neckbearded I.T. guys the feds round up, it seems the “Anons”—a border-less, leader-less, ever expanding army of techno-vigilantes, misanthropic pranksters, human-rights crusaders, and free-speech absolutists—are here to stay.  In mid-July, some Anons took on the ultimate Establishment target, vowing to “kill” almighty Facebook on November 5 (Guy Fawkes Day).  As their slogan warns, they are legion, they do not forgive, and they do not forget.  If you mess with the little guy, expect them.”

 

Let me know if there’s a chance you might want to meet next week, will you?  Thanks.

 

-Dan

 

Literary Agent

Writers House

(212) 696-3825