Courtesy of stlmag.com
Every year, the approach of April 15 is a cause for consternation among millions of tax paying Americans, but this year there is at least one reason to look forward to this most dreaded of days. This year Tax Day will also mark the publication of The Pale King, the last novel David Foster Wallace was working on before his suicide in 2008. The Pale King is being released unfinished, as it was left by Wallace, with only minor editorial arrangements in preparation for publication.
The decision to publish on April 15 is no accident or coincidence. The Tax Day release is a reference to the setting of the book, which is an IRS office in Peoria, Illinois. Though it was never finished, Hachette Book Group’s website maintains it displays some Wallace’s finest work, “[The Pale King] is a deeply compelling and satisfying novel, hilarious and fearless and as original as anything Wallace ever undertook.” Fans are abuzz about the release. His last novel, Infinite Jest, came out in 1996 to critical acclaim and a great follow up was naturally anticipated. Wallace reportedly began work on the novel as early as 1997 and was dedicated to it through much of the past decade. Fifteen years later, readers will finally get a look at this work and early reports say they will not be disappointed.
The release of The Pale King has hit a nerve in the book industry. For while the publish date is advertised as April 15, 2011, those who have waited anxiously for the big release will find themselves behind the curve. The book has been available from large retailers, such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, since March 22. Speaking to the New York Times, a spokeswoman maintained, “This happens all the time. There’s nothing unusual about it.” This provides little comfort to small independent bookstores who are trying to compete with online retailers and e-books. Hotly anticipated titles such as The Pale King can be a boon to sales, but few customers will wait three weeks for their local bookseller to put it on shelves if it is available immediately.
