rima

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TWELVE years may seem a
long time to wait for a
sequel, but fans of Michael
Slade’s horrific fiction
should be happy that a fol-
low-up to Headhunter was
written at all.

Primal Seream, the sixth novel
by the writing duo of North Van's
Jay Clarke and Vancouver's John
Banks (aka Michael Slade), hits
North Shore bookstore shelves
tomorrow. And like the five previous
books penned by the nwo lawvers,
Primal Scream takes readers on a
spine-chilling roller coaster ride into
the primitive recesses of the human
psychopath’s mind.

“We never intended to do a
sequel to Headhunter, but that’s
what came about with this one,”
Clarke said earlier this week. “I was
doing a reading a few years ago for
about 40 people and just before f
started, someone from the back of
the room said ‘What about Sparky?”
*

Someone up front then picked
up the line of questioning — Sparky
was a main character in Headhunter,
and unlike other Slade characters
had not made an appearance in the
next four books, Instead of a read-
ing, Clarke recails the session turned
into a “When is the Headhunter
sequel coming” question and answer
period.

“So really, this new book is like
two different books in one since if
vou read Headhunter it’s a sequel;
and if you've never read
Headhunter, the new one stands on
its own,” Clarke contends.

For first time Slade readers —
and for those who haven't read
Headimuter — Primal Scream is a
classic whodunit with the mystery
solved only on the final pages, a for-
mula that has won Slade a loyal fol-
towing the world over. For those
who have read Headhunter, Primal
Scream brings Slade’s first book full
circle.

Little in the latest thritter will
disappoiat fans. The familiar charac-
ters from Special X Forces of the
RCMP are all here — Chief
Superintendent Robert DeClerq,
Inspecter Zine Chandler, Corporal
Nick Craven — as are the psychos
Slade fans have come to, err, love.

Like the past books, Priszal
Serecam is set primarily in the Lower
Mainland, and as such the story
takes on an ceric sense of realism for
those who know their way around

BOOKS

Scream will

the UBC Endowment Lands,
Gastown and Lower Lonsdale.

Likewise, Slide’s well-developed
penchant for realism grips the read-
er. To paraphrase a well-worn sav-
ing, look up “page turner” in the
dictionary and there’s a picture of a
Michael Slade book. And while
descriptive realism can often be the
death of a novel, Slade fans have
come to expect, and demand it.

A case in point is a letter Clarke
received from a reader taking Slade
to task over a car chase scene in
which sparks flew as the car, a
Corvette, scrapped along a concrete
wall.

“He pointed out thar since
Corvette bodies are made of fibre-
glass it would be difficult to have
sparks,” recalled Clarke.

Being a stickler for such things,
Clarke sought a second
opinion: “i talked with
a friend who's into cars,
and he said after the
initial contact the fibre-
glass would come off
and the steel frame
would be next to hit.”
Ergo, sparks.

Despite their grow-
ing success with every
novel released, the
lawyers aren’t ready to
walk away from their
practice. Banks contin-
ues to hold fort at the
pair’s law office, with
Clarke taking on a case
every now and then.
The deal between the
two authors, as it has
been since the begin-
ning of their writing
relationship, is that
Banks tooks after the
practice while Clarke
writes the first draught.
Banks then edits that
draught — “Gets rid of
the all the garbage” as

estsething

irm

Clarke says —- and then the book ts
sent to an editor.

“That wav the book's already
been edited once before we send it
out,” Clarke said,

Other Slade books include
Headinuter, Ghoul, Cutihront,
Rinper and the 1996 release Evil
Eve.

And according to Clarke, Slade
fans won't have too long a sear for
the nest thriller.

“Pin just working on the climax
(to the new book) nght now,” he
said Tuesday. The North Vancouver
Jawyer recently purchased a small
farm on Pender Island North and
says his goal now is to release a new
Stade book every vear.

Aso, it looks like Hradhuater is
finally going to be made into a
movie.

Slade sold the movie rights a
while back, and, according to
Clarke, if all gocs well shooting will
take plaice this winter in Vancouver.
“We need snow in the scenes so we
have to wait.

“One thing vou have co learn is
that once you take the money tor
the movie rights, you tose control of
it,” Clarke said. “You just have to
cross your fingers and hope they
(the movie-makers) do a good job.”

Fans of Slade are used to a good,
if not great, job. Primal Scream will
not disappoint.

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avytbear ort BEL NDLEEON FEES
ry a .

Win tickets to Cinderella ballet

You too can feel like the belle of the ball by
winning one of two pairs of tickets to
Moscow Classical Ballet's Cinderella.

Experience the grand splendour of this
classic story in the traditional Russian style,
complete with lavish sets, gorgeous costumes
and the enchanting music of Prokofiev per-
formed by the Vancouver Symphony
Orchestra.

The performance runs April 16 to 18 at the
Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The winning tickets
are good for the April 18, 8 p.m. show,

All you have to do to win is simply ell us

what material Cinderclla’s fabled shoes were
made of (hint: it’s not leather). Deadtine for
the contest is Monday, April 6, 5 p.m.

Winners will be notified by phone on the
following day.

Address your answer to North Shore News
Cinderella Contest, 1139 Lonsdale Ave.,
North Vancouver, B.C.

Or you can fax them to us at 985-2104.
Make sure to include your phone number
with the answer.

For the uniucky, call TicketMaster at 280-
3311 to purchase tickets.

CHARGED
WITH
iMPAIRED?

YOu
HAVE
THE RIGHT!

Speak to a lawyer right away... j

a
It is imperative to receive expert legal
advise as soon after the charges as possible...
while your memory of the events is still fresh.

You have the right to an experienced lawyer...
One who can advise you of your options...
Point out the potential problems...

Help you deal with the significant penalties...

This isn’t the time to go it alone...
We're here to help.

ARDAGH HUNTER
TURNER
986-4366

AFTER
HOURS 926-3181

Criminal matvers oitly.

#300-1401 LONSDALE Ave. NORTH VAN.
E-mail: hunter@cyberion.com

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS.

APRIL 6 COUNCIL COVERAGE

7 pm Monday April 6 (LIVE) — City of North Vancouver
Repeats Saturday April 11 at 2pm
10am Saturday April 11 ~ District of North Vancouver

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MJNICIPAL HOTLINE

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of view? Cail in, 990-6130. Host Roger Cayford.
Thursday April 9 at 7:00 pm

PLUGGED IN! NORTH SHORE

On this program: Dealing with Post Partum Depression,
New access regulations for heavy truck traffic in West Van,
the Lions Gate Heathcare Research Foundation supports
local projects, Women in Aviation are featured in the High
Flyers Exhibit and Barb Lunter’s Easter Home Ideas.
Sunday April 5 at 6:30 pm

R@GERS