Child 44
Encyclopedia
Child 44 is a thriller novel
by British writer Tom Rob Smith
, and features disgraced MGB Agent Leo Demidov, who investigates a series of gruesome child murders in Stalin's Soviet Union
.
The novel is based on the crimes of Ukrainian
serial killer
Andrei Chikatilo
, also known as the Rostov Ripper, who was convicted of and executed for 52 murders in the Soviet Union. In addition to highlighting the problem of Soviet-era criminality in a state where "there is no crime," the novel also explores the paranoia of the age, the education system, the secret police apparatus, orphanage
s, homosexuality
in the USSR and mental hospital
s.
The book is the first part of a trilogy. The second part is called The Secret Speech
and also features the character of Leo Demidov and his wife, Raisa. The third part, called Agent 6 was published by Simon and Schuster in the UK in July 2011. It will be published in the US in early 2012.
Child 44 has been nominated for 17 International Awards and was the winner of seven. It was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize
and was the winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award in 2008. Child 44 was on the Richard and Judy Book of the Decade list and won the Waverton Good Read Award
in 2009. It was also shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize for a first novel in 2008. Tom Rob Smith was awarded the 2008 Galaxy Book Award for Best New Writer.
The New York Times called it a "tightly woven", "ingeniously plotted", "high-voltage story". The Sunday Telegraph praised it as a "memorable debut": "the atmosphere of paranoia and paralysing fear is brilliantly portrayed and unremittingly grim". Kirkus gave it a starred review, calling it "smashing"; "nerve-wracking pace and atmosphere camouflage wild coincidences". In a Guardian review, Peter Guttridge praised it as a "thrilling, intense piece of fiction". It was also called "an adequate police procedural" by another New York Times reviewer , and a review of the paperback edition in The Guardian
said that "the story is exciting, but the characters and dialogue are underdeveloped, and the prose studiously bland."
A movie based on the novel was supposed to be in the works, with Ridley Scott
as director. As of October 2010, the movie is still categorized as "in development" on IMDB. However, there is no such listing as of January 2011.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by British writer Tom Rob Smith
Tom Rob Smith
Tom Rob Smith is an English writer. The son of a Swedish mother and an English father, Smith was born and raised in London.Smith studied at St. John's College, Cambridge, following his graduation in 2001 he received the Harper Wood Studentship for English Poetry and Literature and continued his...
, and features disgraced MGB Agent Leo Demidov, who investigates a series of gruesome child murders in Stalin's Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
The novel is based on the crimes of Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
Andrei Chikatilo
Andrei Chikatilo
Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo was a Ukrainian-born Soviet serial killer, nicknamed the Butcher of Rostov, The Red Ripper or The Rostov Ripper who murdered a minimum of 52 women and children between 1978 and 1990...
, also known as the Rostov Ripper, who was convicted of and executed for 52 murders in the Soviet Union. In addition to highlighting the problem of Soviet-era criminality in a state where "there is no crime," the novel also explores the paranoia of the age, the education system, the secret police apparatus, orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s, homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
in the USSR and mental hospital
Mental Hospital
Mental hospital may refer to:*Psychiatric hospital*hospital in Nepal named Mental Hospital...
s.
The book is the first part of a trilogy. The second part is called The Secret Speech
The Secret Speech (book)
The Secret Speech is the second novel by British author Tom Rob Smith. The book features a repeat appearance of Leo Stepanovich Demidov, the protagonist of Smith's first book, Child 44. The book is a further exploration of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin created.The title refers to Soviet leader...
and also features the character of Leo Demidov and his wife, Raisa. The third part, called Agent 6 was published by Simon and Schuster in the UK in July 2011. It will be published in the US in early 2012.
Child 44 has been nominated for 17 International Awards and was the winner of seven. It was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
and was the winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award in 2008. Child 44 was on the Richard and Judy Book of the Decade list and won the Waverton Good Read Award
Waverton Good Read Award
The Waverton Good Read Award was founded in 2003 by villagers in Waverton, Cheshire, England, and is based on Le Prix de la Cadière d'Azur, a literary prize awarded by a Provençal village. Adult debut novels written by UK residents and published in the previous twelve months are eligible for...
in 2009. It was also shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize for a first novel in 2008. Tom Rob Smith was awarded the 2008 Galaxy Book Award for Best New Writer.
The New York Times called it a "tightly woven", "ingeniously plotted", "high-voltage story". The Sunday Telegraph praised it as a "memorable debut": "the atmosphere of paranoia and paralysing fear is brilliantly portrayed and unremittingly grim". Kirkus gave it a starred review, calling it "smashing"; "nerve-wracking pace and atmosphere camouflage wild coincidences". In a Guardian review, Peter Guttridge praised it as a "thrilling, intense piece of fiction". It was also called "an adequate police procedural" by another New York Times reviewer , and a review of the paperback edition in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said that "the story is exciting, but the characters and dialogue are underdeveloped, and the prose studiously bland."
A movie based on the novel was supposed to be in the works, with Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
as director. As of October 2010, the movie is still categorized as "in development" on IMDB. However, there is no such listing as of January 2011.
Reviews
- "Child 44: A Review" at The Fiction CircusThe Fiction CircusThe Fiction Circus is a Brooklyn-based online literary magazine that currently publishes short fiction and essays on the arts. The group also holds staged multimedia fiction readings accompanied by electronic music and incorporating visual art and theater as a frame narrative...
- "Review: "Child 44" by Tom Rob Smith" at The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- "Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith" at The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
- "2009 Winner of the Waverton Good Read Award" at Waverton Good Read AwardWaverton Good Read AwardThe Waverton Good Read Award was founded in 2003 by villagers in Waverton, Cheshire, England, and is based on Le Prix de la Cadière d'Azur, a literary prize awarded by a Provençal village. Adult debut novels written by UK residents and published in the previous twelve months are eligible for...
- "Child 44" (paperback edition) at The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...