Launch of The Girl in the Spider's Web resembles plot of a Stieg Larsson novel
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Version 0 of 1. The launch featured all the intrigue, secrecy, paranoia and family infighting readers have come to expect from a Stieg Larsson novel – before a single page has even been turned. The Girl in the Spider’s Web, the latest novel featuring punk hacker Lisbeth Salander, is being released just after midnight on Thursday, more than a decade after the man who created the outcast heroine died. Publishers have promised a dramatic new adventure for Salander, who will take on an updated enemy in the form of America’s spy agency, the National Security Agency, as well as familiar adversaries from the dark underbelly of Swedish society. Not everyone is happy to see Salander resurrected so long after a heart attack brought her creator’s own story to a tragic close. Larsson’s partner of more than three decades said the release smacks of greed, two close childhood friends called it “a grave robbery”, and journalists are fuming that they haven’t been given a chance to review the book. Although the characters are Larsson’s, everything else in the book comes from the mind of another author, recruited to continue a story that has sold more than 80m books. “The reader will feel at home in Stieg Larsson’s universe, but I also give something of myself,” said ghostwritter David Lagercrantz. “I have been in awe from beginning to end. I have known that Lisbeth Salander will come after me if I do not do her justice.” Publishers Norstedts are so convinced of its appeal that they are rolling out a first edition of 2.7m closely-guarded copies to 25 countries simultaneously. The book was veiled in strict security to protect it from the prying eyes of fans, rivals or saboteurs. Lagercrantz said he wrote on a computer that wasn’t connected to the internet, used code words to discuss the project, and delivered his manuscripts on USB sticks. “We had to keep it a secret because the book comes out in so many markets simultaneously,” said Eva Gedin, publishing manager at Norstedts. “Obviously, there were economic reasons too.” Lagercrantz, previously known for his autobiography of Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, batted away accusations that he had taken on the project for cash reasons, and said it would preserve Larson’s legacy. “I am so happy that this book, no matter what you think about it, makes you pay attention to Stieg and what he fought for. We see a rise in intolerance today, and even the emergence of a new fascism.” Larsson did not live to see the success of his books, which were published posthumously. He left no will and never married his partner of 32 years, Eva Gabrielsson, so his unexpected fortune went to his father and brother. Gabrielsson did hang on to around 200 pages of a fourth book, but has said it will not be published. “I wouldn’t have continued Stieg’s work. It was his language, his unique narrative,” she told AFP news agency earlier this year. “The worst thing is how saddened Stieg would have been. He never let anyone work on his literary texts. He would have been furious. Who knows, maybe he’ll send a lightning bolt at the book launch.” Larsson’s father and brother say the new book will support his legacy and his wider work because they will donate some of the profits to the anti-fascist Expo foundation and magazine that he co-founded. “Lisbeth Salander is a Swedish icon, just like Abba and Volvo and Ikea,” said Joakim Larsson, Steig’s father. “We thought above all that he encourages people who don’t read books to read books. And he has previously written about odd, bizarre people. He was perfect for this.” The head of Expo welcomed the donation but said he did not know how much they would get. Previous donations had helped them cover administrative costs and move to a bigger office but were “far from all the money that has come from the books” “I am glad Lagercrantz seems to understand the context of the rise in racism and intolerance,” said Expo head, Daniel Poohl. “Expo has never been more necessary than now, and has a chance to play a vital role in Sweden and Europe. So if part of the royalties come to Expo the timing couldn’t be better.” |