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Ken Follett has revealed his new novel Never is a thriller set in the modern day, featuring a female US President and a global crisis that threatens to lead to World War Three.
During a press conference on 15th April, Follett, famed for his bestselling historical epics, described the new tale as “the best book I've ever written”. It will be published in the UK by Pan Macmillan and in the US by Viking on 9th November, and simultaneously or soon afterwards in most other countries.
Explaining the genesis of the novel, he said: “When I was doing the research for Fall of Giants, I was shocked to realise that the First World War was a war that nobody wanted. No European leader on either side intended it to happen. But the emperors and prime ministers, one by one, made decisions—logical, moderate decisions—each of which took us a small step closer to the most terrible conflict the world had ever known. I came to believe that it was all a tragic accident and I wondered, could that happen again?”
The author said he had deeply researched his book, speaking to people who had made decisions at the highest level of global politics about the flashpoints of today, including former British national security advisor Kim Darroch. Among other things, the novel deals with connection between terrorism and organised crime, including a scene where a stolen American drone is used to bomb an African city.
Follett said the resulting crisis is seen through the eyes of a female US President, with other characters including a young American woman working for the CIA, a Chinese spymaster and a handsome French secret agent. The reader does not find out if war breaks out until the book's final page.
The author said he hoped the novel might even start a public debate about the unintended way another world war could start. “This book is different from anything else I've ever written,” he said. “It's set in the present, it's about a global crisis. It's topical.”
He admitted he was “a little anxious” about how fans of historical fiction would feel about the subject matter, but was sure they would come on board. Follett said: “I think it flows with a single storyline in a very direct way. I'm very pleased with the build up of tension and suspense in the story.”
The writer said he wrote much of the book during lockdown because “there was nothing else to do”. After completing it in November, his US and British publishers were keen for a 2021 release and he did rewrites at “warp speed”, working seven days a week for long hours.
He said: “I normally take a year to rewrite and they said, 'Can't you do it faster?'. Well, when your publishers are that enthusiastic you don't really want to say no to them.”