The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel, by L. Neil Smith and Scott Bieser - Big Head Press, publishing Thoughtful Stories since 2002

Broach Team
  L Neil Smith
  Scott Bieser
  -3-

RSS

Presenting: The Compleat On-line Serialization of
The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel

Forward
THE MANY LIVES OF THE PROBABILITY BROACH

Do you believe in reincarnation?

I do, as far as my literary 'firstborn' is concerned.

Originally. I conceived The Probability Broach in the mid-70s as a summary of all I'd ever learned about libertarianism, and, more importantly, the promise it offers of a better, more peaceful, more prosperous world than our authority-battered species has known for the last 10,000 years.

I know, it sounded boring, even then, like a political tract. So I determined to make it a political tract as full of sex, violence, and general silliness as I could cram in between the serious bits. And it worked. Although I'd never sold anything before except a handful of gun magazine articles, the novel was picked up by the first publisher that read it, and the rest, as they say, is history...

Well, not exactly.

My little book -- the edition with the caped gorilla on the cover -- was a hit with libertarians, and judging from mail and phone calls (there was no Internet back then) fulfilled my hope of bringing lots of new individuals into the movement. It also persuaded an even bigger number of folks to go out and buy their first firearm, something I'm just as proud of, and delight in reporting to liberals and neocons who'd rather see a woman raped in an alley and strangled with her own pantyhose than see her with a gun in her hand.

But for reason still subject to debate, it took ten years to sell 40,000 copies, and was never reprinted by its original publisher.

Tired of seeing decade-old copies at signing parties for my other novels, and believing the world still needed win Bear and friends, I had to mount what was, for me, a huge campaign to get TPB back into print. Dozens of distringuished friends - mine and the book's -- helped with letters I mailed all at once to my new publisher, who had another book they wanted me to write. I said I would if TPB was part of the deal.

The result was the mass paperback with Deejay and Ooloorie on the cover, followed by an edition with a gorgeous airship flying (I don't know why, but, okay) over Monument Valley.

Then the great Scott Bieser came into my life, followed by his equally great brother Frank. Before I knew it, TPB was a graphic novel.

and now it's the webcomic that you're about to start. Literarily speaking, although (oddly enough) there's never been a hardcover edition, TPB is an 'old soul', and who can say what's next...

Anybody know a good movie producer?

L. Neil Smith
September, 2006
Fort Collins, Colorado

Page 0 - Click on page above to goto the next page.

A preview of: The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel.


Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

Story Contents © 2004 L. Neil Smith and Scott Bieser
Framing Graphics © 2003 - 2009 Big Head Press