首部“自毁小说”问世

 　　The world's first self-destructing novel is being offered by James Patterson.

　　世界上第一部“自毁小说”问世，作者是美国作家詹姆斯·帕特森（James Patterson）。

　　For ?200,000 one fan will get 24 hours to read his latest book before it explodes. Although the precise detail of the destruction are unclear, a SWAT team will be on hand to deal with any issues.

　　这本新书售价20万英镑，书迷有24小时来阅读，随后它将自我销毁。尽管“自毁”的具体细节尚不清楚，但有一支特种武器和战术部队将会处理任何突发状况。

　　Patterson, author of Unlucky 13 and Cross My Heart, says that as book shops are increasingly closing publishers need to be as imaginative as film companies in creating a hype around a new novel.

　　帕特森的作品包括《不幸的13》（Unlucky 13）和《真心话》（Cross My Heart）等。他表示，随着愈来愈多书店结束营业，书籍更难赢得注意，所以出版商必须和电影公司一样有想象力，以掀起新一波小说阅读的热潮。

　　自毁小说

　　Unlike the film industry's red-carpet premieres, Hollywood luminaries¹ and huge advertising² budgets, book launches with signings and readings are a more staid affair.

　　与电影行业的红地毯首映、好莱坞影星助阵以及巨大的广告预算不同，书籍的签售和阅读显得一成不变。

　　"The publishing business needs to compete," he said. "It needs to compete with movies and the Internet."

　　“出版业需要竞争，”他说，“需要与电影和互联网相较量。”

　　For ?194,000 one avid³ reader will be flown to an undisclosed location for a meal with Patterson and will be given a copy of Private Vegas ahead of its launch at the end of the month.

　　而花费19.4万英镑，热心读者将飞往一个私密的地点与帕特森共餐，同时还能提前得到帕特森月底发行的新作《私家侦探：拉斯维加斯》（Private Vegas）。

　　A special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team will also be on hand to handle the explosive thriller⁴.

　　届时，同样会有一支特种武器和战术部队会处理突发事件。

　　Also as part of the promotion⁵, 1,000 fans will be able to download free copies of the book from the website selfdestructingbook.com. Each book will have a 24-hour digital timer that cannot be paused or cancelled.

　　作为新书推广的一部分，一千名书迷将从“自我销毁网站”（selfdestructingbook.com）下载到免费电子书。每本电子书都设有24小时数字定时器，无法暂停或撤销。

　　"Twenty four hours after you start it, the book will no longer be there," said Patterson, 67. "I hope this spurs more ways to get attention."

　　现年67岁的帕特森表示：“超过24个小时，这本书就不复存在了。我希望这一做法能激发出更多吸引眼球的方式。”

　　He added: "This seemed like a terrific way to draw attention to a book in a way that has never been done before," he explained. "In the history of publishing there hasn't been anything like this."

　　他还称：“用先前从未有过的方式来宣传一本书，似乎非常棒。在出版行业的历史上，还从未有过这样的事。”

　　Private Vegas is the latest in Patterson's 'Private' series featuring Jack⁶ Morgan, who discovers a murder ring in the gambling⁷ mecca.

　　据悉，《私家侦探：拉斯维加斯》是詹姆斯·帕特森“私人系列”的最新作品，描述杰克·摩根（Jack Morgan）揭发赌城谋杀集团的故事。

　　"Hopefully this also opens up different opportunities just in terms of how we can push the boundaries in publishing in general," said copy writer Jose Funegra.

　　“希望这还能为我们如何推进出版的无边界化带来不同的机遇。”广告文案约瑟（Jose Funegra）说道。

　　Patterson, a fixture⁸ on the bestsellers list, has sold more than 300 million books worldwide, with fictional⁹ psychologist Alex Cross among his best known characters.

　　詹姆斯·帕特森是美国畅销书榜单作家常客，他的作品在全球销售超过三亿多册。心理学家亚历克斯·克罗斯（Alex Cross）是他作品中最著名的形象。

　　In addition to his more than 100 novels, Patterson has written books for young readers, including the Middle School age group.

　　帕特森创作了100多部小说。此外，他还为年轻读者写书，包括中学生群体。

　　Vocabulary

　　destruction: 毁灭

　　hype: 大肆宣传

　　luminary: 杰出人物

　　tactic: 策略

　　boundary: 边界

　　gambling: 赌博

　　bestseller: 畅销书

1 luminaries   

n.杰出人物，名人（luminary的复数形式）

参考例句：

• In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. 亚14:6那日、必没有光．三光必退缩。 来自互联网
• Includes household filament light bulbs & luminaries. 包括家用的白炙灯泡和光源。 来自互联网

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 avid   

adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的

参考例句：

• He is rich,but he is still avid of more money.他很富有,但他还想贪图更多的钱。
• She was avid for praise from her coach.那女孩渴望得到教练的称赞。

4 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。

5 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

6 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

7 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

8 fixture   

n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款

参考例句：

• Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
• The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。

9 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。