Matthew Reilly: Scarecrow

Matthew. The French. They were the bad guys in Ice Station. And now Scarecrow. What have you got against the French?

Ha! Er, yes, the French do cop a bit of a pasting in Scarecrow. You have to understand, though, that I don't dislike France. Not at all!

What it boils down to is this: I write fiction. And I'm always looking for new dastardly villains. Back in the days of the Cold War, authors could just make the Soviet Union the evil bad guy. But that doesn't apply anymore. The world has changed. The way I see it— and as I suggested in Ice Station —international alliances are more fickle than we imagine. And France, more than any other major

Western nation, has been a vocal and active opponent of United States hegemony. Since Shane Schofield is American, France is often at cross-purposes with him.

Add to that France's chequered geopolitical history—the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, her nuclear testing in the Pacific Ocean, and her outspoken opposition to the US invasion of Iraq—and you have a nation that could, in the world of fiction, have nefarious anti-US plans.

But I stress: it's fiction!

So what else have you been doing?

Since finishing Scarecrow, I have completed two screenplays. I enjoy writing scripts in between my books—a novel takes me a year to write, whereas a screenplay takes me about two months. I adapted my own short story, Altitude Rush, into a full-length screenplay, and have finished the first part of an epic science fiction trilogy that I think will rock the world one day!

Any more books on the way?

Yes indeed. Earlier this year I signed a new two-book deal with my publishers, Pan Macmillan, so there will be at least two more books from me. I have now moved to producing one book every two years—I would love to be able to produce a book every year, but I fear the quality would suffer and I just don't want to end up churning out books simply to keep to a timetable.

Not sure what they'll be about at this stage. One will probably be a Schofield book, although maybe Aloysius Knight could get a novel of his own. And I keep getting asked at book signings if I will be writing a sequel to Templel

Any final words?

As always, I just hope you enjoyed the book. Keep reading and take care.

Matthew Reilly Sydney, Australia November 2003

Matthew Reilly Contest

The New York State Library. A brooding labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles and spiralling staircases. For Doctor Stephen Swain and his daughter, Holly, it is the site of a nightmare. For one night this historic building is to be the venue for a contest. A contest in which Swain is to compete - whether he likes it or not.

The rules are simple. Seven contestants will enter. Only one will leave. With his daughter in his arms, Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight for survival. He can choose to run, hide or to fight - but if he wants to live, he has to win. For in this contest, unless you leave as the victor, you do not leave at all.

'Matt Reilly, genius ... the arrival of a rare talent' John Birmingham, the Sydney morning herald

'An electrifying . . . novel for the X-Files generation' Jessica Adams, cleo

'Matthew Reilly is our Michael Crichton'

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Matthew Reilly Ice Station

At a remote ice station in Antarctica, a team of US scientists has made an amazing discovery. They have found something buried deep within a 100-million-year-old layer of ice. Something made of METAL.

Led by the enigmatic Lieutenant Shane Schofield, a team of crack United States Marines is sent to the station to secure this discovery for their country. They are a tight unit, tough and fearless. They would follow their leader into hell. They just did ...

'The pace is frantic, the writing snappy, the research thorough. Unputdownable . . .'

WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN

'It never slows down ... it is unlike any other new Australian novel'

DAILY TELEGRAPH

'There is enough technological wizardry, military know-how, plot convolution and sheer non-stop mayhem to place it in the premier league of international bestsellers'

THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

'His publisher compares him to Grisham and Crichton, but I reckon the 23-year-old is a cut above'

RALPH

'This is Indiana Jones goes to Antarctica .. . backed by good research about weaponry, science and international jealousies'

NW

Matthew Reilly Temple

Deep in the jungles of Peru, the hunt for a legendary Incan idol is underway - an idol that in the present day could be used as the basis for a terrifying new weapon.

Guiding a US Army team is Professor William Race, a young linguist who must translate an ancient manuscript which contains the location of the idol.

What they find is an ominous stone temple, sealed tight. They open it -and soon discover that some doors are meant to remain unopened . . .

There is no denying it. Matthew Reilly has really arrived'

DAILY TELEGRAPH

'Like Ice Station, Temple is well researched and technically adept. Diehard action buffs will enjoy'

WHO WEEKLY

'Probably the most breathless read in the history of airport fiction'

AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER

Matthew Reilly Area 7

It is America's most secret base, hidden deep in the Utah desert, an Air Force installation known only as Area 7.

And today it has a visitor: the President of the United States. He has come to inspect Area 7, to examine its secrets for himself. But he's going to get more than he bargained for on this trip. Because hostile forces are waiting inside ...

Among the President's helicopter crew, however, is a young Marine. He is quiet, enigmatic, and he hides his eyes behind a pair of silver sunglasses.

His name is Schofield. Call-sign: Scarecrow.

Rumour has it he's a good man in a storm.

Judging by what the President has just walked into, he'd better be...

THE AUTHOR OF ICE STATION IS BACK AND THRILLERS JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT FASTER.

'Buckle up, put the seat back, adjust the headrest and hang on'

THE SUNDAY AGE

'Australia's new master of action'

DAILY TELEGRAPH