Author:Justin Richards
Ignorance is not bliss. It is the alien invader’s greatest advantage.
Tales of unearthly beings have long circulated among us, from legends of intelligent life on Earth before Homo Sapiens to conspiracy theories about what really happened at the Battle of Canary Wharf. But the truth is that alien life exists – and here, at last, is proof.
Based on exclusive access to classified government files, The Secret Lives of Monsters collects evidence that has been suppressed for centuries – notes from clandestine meetings, reports of eyewitness accounts, never-before-seen images and documents, secrets provided by a mysterious agent known only as ‘the Doctor’, and more. It reveals all we know about aliens who are already here, and provides essential information to survive future invasions.
So don’t panic. You are not weaponless. The Secret Lives of Monsters will give you the greatest weapon of all: knowledge.
Magnificent, compulsively readable
—— GuardianA gripping account of an extraordinary life
—— Daily TelegraphMagnificent, a triumph. Captures every facet of this extraordinary man
—— Mail on SundayUndoubtedly the definitive biography. Rudolf Nureyev, superstar, emerges in all his terribly flawed glory
—— Sunday TelegraphThe definitive study of a man who, in his combination of aesthetic grace and psychological grime, can truly be called a sacred monster
—— ObserverJulie Kavanagh writes with flair and abundance
—— The Sunday TimesYou have captured Alan and his life... It has been very moving to read and to relive.
—— Benedick BatesSpoto ... can turn a life into a page-turner.
—— The TimesTouching and funny ... it really is a top read.
—— SunWritten with real charm.
—— GuardianAffable, humble and unpretentious.
—— MetroLovely-jubbly.
—— ES MagazineAn engaging and entertaining read.
—— Daily ExpressI absolutely loved reading this because it was just like [he] were talking to me.
—— Lorraine KellyAn exceptional man who’s led an exceptional life…The book is wonderful ... It made me laugh a lot and then it made me quite weepy at times as well
—— Jo WhileyNow his autobiography is out in paperback and reading it is like having the man himself talk to you from the comfort of his armchair. It’s a fascinating insight into a lost world … A true gent.
—— SunIn his brimmingly insightful, stimulating study of how stories work, Yorke compellingly unpicks how a whole range of films, plays, novels and fairy tales all display the same archetypal structures . . . His book, in telling scores of stories in such a fresh, enlightening and accessible manner, is a gripping read from beginning to end
—— Sunday TimesThe best book on the subject [of storytelling] I've read, tells us everything we need to know about it. Yorke's analysis is superb
—— London Evening StandardA mightily impressive opus, both hugely informative and highly educational. I love the way it's populated with so many examples - the many combinations of both mass market and the slightly more esoteric giving a something-for-everyone feeling. A brilliant work
—— Peter James, best-selling author of NOT DEAD ENOUGH and LOOKING GOOD DEADYorke sets out to analyse the patterns behind storytelling, explaining why the fundamentals of narrative have remained the same from Aristotle to Aaron Sorkin. A great starting point for anyone wanting to create a story
—— Stuff MagazineI've just read a book about professional writing which has genuinely helped me. It's for those who are serious about avoiding bad 'How To' books and want to raise their game, and it's more intelligent than most of the others. John Yorke's Into The Woods: How Stories Work And Why We Tell Them is a genuine game-changer and has helped me put past bad habits to rest
—— Christopher Fowler, Author of Bryant and MayInto The Woods is utterly brilliant
—— Ed Cumming , Daily TelegraphLove storytelling? You need this inspiring book. John Yorke dissects the structure of stories with a joyous enthusiasm allied to precise, encyclopaedic knowledge. Guaranteed to send you back to your writing desk with newfound excitement and drive
—— Chris Chibnall, creator and writer of Broadchurch and The Great Train RobberyInto The Woods is brilliant. One of the best books on script writing out there . . . I loved the book. Inspiring
—— Dominic Mitchell, creator and writer of In The FleshThere is no end of books that instruct us on how to write the perfect screenplay, but few that delve more deeply into the art of storytelling than this erudite volume
—— Financial TimesIts strength is Yorke's acute perception of the wellsprings of universal narrative structures relevant to all artistic activities
—— The TimesTerrific . . . It's a great read, wise and cogent, and a must for all screenwriters
—— David Eldridge, writer of Festen and In BasildonIt's a great read. It makes me smile and say 'Yes!' aloud. Only this and PG Wodehouse do that
—— Lucy Gannon, writer/creator of Soldier Soldier, Peak Practice, Frankie, The Best Of MenNot How 2 Write them but how stories work. John Yorke's Into the Woods: A 5 Act Journey into Story is brilliant, illuminates & explains
—— Susan Hill, Author, The Woman In Black, I’m The King Of The CastleI'm only 70 pages into John Yorke's Into the Woods but it's already helped me crack two stories
—— Andy Diggle, former editor of 2000AD, comic book writer for Marvel, DCHighly recommended reading
—— Huffington PostYorke is aware that the world is not suffering for lack of prescriptive screenwriting manuals. Instead, with Into the Woods, he takes a scalpel to narrative structure - dissecting protagonist, antagonist, inciting incident, crisis and so on - before asking how and why this underlying shape still holds audiences spellbound like a fairytale witch. "A story is like a magnet dragged through randomness," Yorke writes, but while he elegantly untangles the deepest roots of storytelling, he also honours the human need for truth and sense with some more superficial questions: why do series tend to "jump the shark" round about season three, for example, or why is clunky exposition - particularly in medical dramas - so appallingly comical? Sit comfortably, then begin
—— GuardianI absolutely love this book. It's incredible and so well written. I keep trying to find fault but so far no joy - It's so good
—— Matt Charman, writer Bridge of Spies (dir Stephen Spielberg); Black Work (ITV)[John Yorke's] writing book is arguably possibly almost as good as mine, all right it's loads better shut up
—— David Quantick, Author of HOW TO WRITE EVERYTHINGProbably, in the hackneyed phrase, "the last book on screenwriting you'll ever need." He is very good at debunking the claims of some screenwriting gurus, all of whom are busy trying to sell you their own particular brand of snake oil. It's truly excellent
—— Tim Adler , Daily TelegraphOf all the books I've read about story construction and the art of fiction, this one is the most comprehensive and concise
—— John Collee, writer on 'Master And Commander', 'Happy Feet', 'Creation', 'Walking With Dinosaurs'