Photo © Pop Culture Nerd
Last week, author Robert Crais unveiled excerpts from his hotly anticipated novel, The First Rule, at the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore in San Diego, California. The pub date is vaguely scheduled for January or February 2010. (UPDATE: At Crais’s site, it now says January 12, 2010.) But wait! Stop banging your head against your desk, please! Crais let me tape his reading to share with those who couldn’t attend.
Since this is a Joe Pike novel, I’ll be Pike-like and keep the setup brief. Somebody murdered a friend and former colleague of Pike’s. HUGE mistake. With Elvis Cole’s help, Pike goes hunting, ready to unleash some serious hurt on the perpetrators. Yay!
Crais read three different passages, one in each video. Afterwards, check out the teaser Q & A I did with him about The First Rule. (UPDATE: Win an ARC and read my longer interview here.)
Watch, read, then let me know your thoughts!
PCN: My mother taught me the first rule is to always wear clean underwear in case I get in an accident. What does the first rule in your title refer to?
Robert Crais: The meaning is in the eye of the beholder, so take your pick: The East European organized crime gang sets operate under eighteen written rules called the Vorovskoy Zakon—which means the thieves’ code—the first rule of which says they’re not supposed to have a family. But the title, The First Rule, might also be interpreted from Joe Pike’s point of view, which suggests his first rule is that you take care of the people you love, and everything that implies. And if that’s the case, then the first rule for the rest of us is pretty simple: Don’t piss off Joe Pike.
PCN: In the excerpt, you mentioned how Pike’s walls are empty. Why isn’t Elvis on there?
RC: Elvis is in Joe’s heart.
PCN: What’s on your walls?
RC: I have more people in my life than Joe has. My walls are filled with pictures of my family, my friends, cool things that have happened along the way. Art. A couple of human heads. The usual.
PCN: You seem to take pop culture cues for your author photos. For The Two Minute Rule, it was the Brokeback look, and you’ve got an Agent Smith, Matrix thing going on with the last two books. What do you have in mind for the next one? Lederhosen a la Brüno?
RC: I was going for the lederhosen look until Brüno swiped it. Fashion is such a bitch, I’ve decided to pass on clothes. We’re going with a nude shot.
Look who's nerdy--me & Crais, WITH clothes
33 Comments
le0pard13
July 19, 2009 at 11:36 pmThis is fantastic!!! The video of RC reading the excepts came out great, PCN. Each of the snippets really whets the appetite for more of the Pike novel. How long is it we’re going to wait for this to come out, again? That was also a good bit of stagecraft to have bookstore T-shirt and motto in the background. EAT. SLEEP. READ. Cool picture of the both of you, too. Thanks for this, PCN.
Pop Culture Nerd
July 20, 2009 at 7:44 amThanks, le0pard13! The T-shirt with motto in the background wasn’t planned but I’m happy it’s in there because that’s pretty much my motto, too. (Mine might also include a few other verbs.) When TFR finally comes out, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing.
I’m also happy I got to meet you at the reading.
le0pard13
July 20, 2009 at 7:21 pmIt was my pleasure to meet you and your friends. You all are class acts 🙂
Shelley P
July 20, 2009 at 12:06 amWhat a smorgasbord! The videos are a fantastic inclusion and I love your photo together. Of course I want to read The First Rule when it eventually comes out, even without RC in lederhosen inside the jacket. Thanks, PCN!
Pop Culture Nerd
July 20, 2009 at 8:07 amI’m glad you like the buffet, Shelley P! Coincidentally, that’s what I ate right before I attended this reading so it must’ve influenced my throw-everything-on-the-table style here.
Naomi Johnson
July 20, 2009 at 7:05 amSoooooooo good. I am fairly dancing in anticipation of this book. Those excerpts really set the heart beating. Sometimes it must be so hard being Joe Pike. So alone and so hurt. Aw, man…
And Crais himself? If I could bottle that man’s charm and charisma I could make a fortune.
Pop Culture Nerd
July 20, 2009 at 8:15 amThey are good excerpts, aren’t they? Even better when they’re read by Crais. The way he voices the drunk Jon Stone cracks me up.
Have you ever tried approaching him with an empty bottle and just asking if you could squeeze a drop of his charisma into it? You’d make a mint on eBay.
BIZMAN5
July 20, 2009 at 8:31 amWooooooooo……Haven’t seen you combine this many mediums in a post before. And it’s nice to see your face as part of the post. I’ve seen your picture before, but I’d forgotten what a cutie you were. You made me sit up and straighten my tie! LOL!!
What do mean the book is “vaguely scheduled for January or February 2010”? Have you seen galleys?
Corey Wilde
July 20, 2009 at 9:25 amThe wait for this book is Killing me. These are great clips, thanks for sharing them.
Corey Wilde
July 20, 2009 at 9:26 amBTW, what’s up with that bookstore, planting all those Lee Child titles behind Crais???
Debbie
July 20, 2009 at 10:33 amNice job, PCN! RC was in rare form and you captured the heart of the event perfectly. The excerpt he read about the blank walls really got me. He’s so masterful at tugging at our emotions in just a few short words. I think this book is going to be really, really, good! That shirt he’s wearing–Nerdy. Ugly. Mean.–are those the qualifications to be in the WGA?
Pop Culture Nerd
July 30, 2009 at 10:03 amThe tee slogan is the WGA’s response to a rude comment former NBC co-chair Ben Silverman made about writers when the Golden Globes ceremony was shut down due to the writers’ strike. He said “the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school are trying to cancel the prom.”
Ugh. So glad that guy is outta there.
MelodyGirl
July 20, 2009 at 1:24 pmBeing nowhere near San Diego, I was really, really disappointed I couldn’t go to this. Thank you for making it possible for the rest of us to experience it. It almost makes the wait WORSE now that I’ve heard the excerpts but I’m glad to have the sneak peek.
John Millington
July 20, 2009 at 1:53 pmJust like to thank you for bringing the information from the reading.
I do not even live on your continent to get to one.
Live near Manchester England and once RC came to Harrogate.
I was not a reader then so hope he bring this book’s tour to England.
Got the first taste of RC from The Last Detective bought for just approx $1.64. in the sale section of Asda last November.
Have read and enjoyed every one of them since then.
Had not been an avid reader before so did not know which other authors to try but after the previous reading Robert held in San Diego, Pop Culture Nerd wrote the cross talk with three other authors-one being Jefferson Parker-so I thought I would sample.
I read The Fallen and Silent Joe and have become hooked again.
Ploughing through all his works,so it is good to have links with people like yourself.
Looking forward to the release.
Regards to all
John
DonnaB
July 20, 2009 at 3:01 pmElyse, THANK YOU for allowing us to have this chance to hear and see RC this way! Am so psyched about FIRST RULE! You did an incredible job – AS ALWAYS – with the interview and photos. Your humor and depth is terrific! This is definitely BOOKMARKED on my PC. You and RC left me smiling, girl!
Debbie
July 20, 2009 at 4:08 pmPCN– I hit submit before I mentioned how much I loved your questions to RC. In fact, that’s what I love best about your blog==the fun and playfulness. You bring such a refreshing and offbeat (and I mean that in the best possible way) flavor to your interviews and we get to see the playful side of your subjects in their answers. Blog on!
Pop Culture Nerd
July 20, 2009 at 9:02 pmBIZMAN5, didn’t you think not long ago that I was a man? 🙂 As for galleys, once they become available, I’ll bribe, beg and steal to get my hands on one. UPDATE: At Crais’s site, cover art and release date have been posted. It’s coming out January 12, 2010.
Corey, I wanted to blur out those Lee Child books and superimpose some Crais books in their place but I don’t own the fancy software. Nuts.
MelodyGirl, I’m glad you got to see the reading anyway without having to spend gas (plane?) money. Perhaps you can start a support group with Corey for those suffering from the wait?
John, wow, thank you. I’m thrilled you’ve discovered the joy of reading through those authors and hope you’ll keep going. Reading can be a lifesaver.
Debbie and DonnaB, may I state for the record I didn’t promise you new Chevys to say those things? Thank you. Most people I interview have websites that cover the FAQs so I’d rather have some fun.
Reader#9
July 21, 2009 at 12:48 pmCan’t believe I missed this. I was actually in the area! URGGGHHH!!!
Thanks for capturing the moment. I look forward to when the book comes out. Wish it were here now. It might help me weather the heat by keeping my mind off it.
Ybnorml
July 21, 2009 at 7:25 pmWow PCN, I was there and yet I still got excited after hearing the clips again. Have to agree with Deb, the Q’s are my favorite part. So do we get to vote…lederhosen or nude? Hmm, I know what my vote is!
And thx again for the buffet. Gotta love dinner and RC for dessert. Wait, that didn’t come out right.
Pop Culture Nerd
July 22, 2009 at 8:17 amHaha! Funny username. It’s like something Bart Simpson would trick Moe into yelling out at his bar.
I think you knew exactly how that sentence would come out and liked it.
Ybnorml
July 22, 2009 at 10:42 amLOL, you’re probably right. ;-D
Jersey Jack
July 27, 2009 at 2:18 pmWhat a treat! Thanks for letting us hear so much.
I love what he chose to read — the perfect setup to have us all chomping at the bits. “There’s a shitstorm coming their way…”
Hugh ODonnell
August 2, 2009 at 12:26 amHey PCN, Thanks for the heads up on Robert Crais’s new novel. He’s in my top five favorite thriller authors. (I like literate thrillers.)
I’ve bookmarked his site, and yours too.
Teri W
August 2, 2009 at 7:36 amThanks so much for posting this! A new Joe Pike will be just the thing to liven up a cold winter.
Seeing Crais “live”, instead of just his picture,and for the first time hearing his voice, reminds me he was People Mag’s sexiest author alive a few years back. Still is!
Teri in Paradise, CA
Pop Culture Nerd
August 4, 2009 at 11:20 amJersey Jack, my bits are so chomped, I have to buy new bits.
Hugh, thanks so much for the bookmarking! Who else is in your top 5?
Teri, have you been to the media section on Crais’s site? You can hear his voice there in video and audio clips about his books.
Wolfie
August 31, 2009 at 6:59 pmThank you..
Can’t wait for the new book.. =D
Pop Culture Nerd
August 31, 2009 at 7:13 pmMe, neither. Welcome, Wolfie!
MI reader
September 12, 2009 at 9:54 amI read for the vicarious justice. Thank you for sharing the excerpts. I look forward to January. I love the Pike and Cole characters. They have heroic hearts.
Pop Culture Nerd
September 12, 2009 at 7:42 pmHi MI, and welcome. I love vicarious justice and Elvis & Joe are among the best to mete it out.
HELEN ROWLEY
October 3, 2009 at 5:23 amI can’t even listen to Robert Crais read because once I get the book I know I won’t want it to finish cause I have been waiting since the last one came out and I read that in a day!!! PS. Whoever even thinks that Lee Childs has a character even close to Elvis or Joe is soooo wrong, NO ONE COMES CLOSE!
Pop Culture Nerd
October 3, 2009 at 9:38 amHi Helen,
I know what you mean. In a photo someone took at the event, I can be seen standing behind Crais plugging my ears because I didn’t want to hear too much, knowing I’d just be frustrated. Luckily, I’ve had the chance to read it since then and it’s worth the wait. I think you’ll be pulling another all-nighter with this one!
James
December 10, 2010 at 9:08 amLove Crais! Joe Pike! And Elvis, too! (sung to the tune of ‘Free Falling’ by Tom Petty)
How cool is it that in the first picture of Crais leaning on the counter in the bookstore that Lee Child novels are all over behind him!? I love Child too! And Jack Reacher!
Honestly, my two current favorite authors (and James Lee Burke) together (in spirit?) in the same photo.
James
Pop Culture Nerd
December 10, 2010 at 10:58 amHi James,
Yes, Crais and Child pseudo-together in one photo is pretty cool. And I love Tom Petty!