The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl - Softcover

Stone, Julian David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0989831507 ISBN 13: 9780989831505

Publisher: For The Duration Press, 2013

Synopsis

The golden age of live television comes to vivid life with the memorable and entertaining tale of Jonny Dirby, who unintentionally captivates the imagination of America with his creation of the hit show Justice Girl. This fun, engrossing work of historical fiction transports readers back to a time when television shows were chaotic tightrope acts balancing the agendas of actors, studio executives, advertisers, and politicians, and all of it broadcast live to fifty million viewers without the security of a safety net. Set in 1955 in New York City, Julian David Stone’s impressive novel follows Jonny from the writers’ room of a steady network gig to a crisis of conscience when he decides to abandon his regular paycheck to claim the moral high ground against the spreading plague of McCarthyism. In a final act of defiance, Jonny alters the script of a Superman-inspired lampoon moments before it is broadcast live. What nobody can anticipate is that Jonny’s accidental creation Justice Girl and her infectious catchphrase of “Justice is served!” are about to sweep the nation and win the hearts and minds of America. Add to the mix a highly driven actress trying to get Jonny blacklisted, along with a desperate network president willing to do anything he can to get compete control of the show, and the history of television will never be the same. The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl moves beyond the gags and gaffes of television’s golden age to plumb the depths of the media’s broader influence. Anyone interested in this time when television was a new phenomenon, with different factions fighting to use it to promote their varied agendas, will enjoy this riveting novel. Stone is an award-winning writer and director whose twenty years in the entertainment business informs his work with an insider’s perspective.

About this title

About the Author

Julian David Stone grew-up in the San Francisco bay area before relocating to Los Angeles after spending his college years at the California Institute of the Arts. For the next few years he wrote screenplays for Disney and Paramount, as well as several other studios and producers around town. His recent work includes the full-length play, The Elvis Test and direction of the short-form documentary, Frank Sinatra – Body and Soul . His notable screenplays include the Brooklyn Dodgers-focused comedy, Duke Snider Eats Here Free, and the music industry satire, I Want Kandee. He is also the writer and director of Follow the Bitch, a cult film comedy that has played to packed houses all around the country and received numerous awards. www.juliandavidstone.com

Review

"Fast-moving Yarn" "Lively Reading" "A great take on what it must have been like to be in the business during those formative years, when anything was possible." New York Times

"It is standard advice for novice authors to "write what you know". In "The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl", award winning author Julian David Stone has done just that by drawing upon his twenty years in the entertainment business to deftly craft his memorable characters and his deftly woven storyline. A solidly entertaining read from beginning to end, "The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections." Midwest Book Review

Best Historical Fiction - 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Best Historical Fiction - 2014 IndieReader Discovery Awards

"The golden age of television comes to life in this scathingly critical and immensely entertaining novel from Stone. The author ably captures the tension and excitement of live television, focusing on how quickly this medium made and destroyed both careers and lives. This modern fable of fame and failure emphasizes the political and economic agendas that molded the entertainment industry and a generation. This fast-paced and emotionally vibrant satire is a treat for television buffs and general readers alike." Publisher's Weekly Starred Review

About this edition

• Publisher: For The Duration Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0989831507
• ISBN 13: 9780989831505
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 408