PW: 'Science of the X-Files' is Out There In 1999

Judy Quinn |

Feb 09, 1998

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'Science of the X-Files' is Out There In 1999
Judy Quinn -- 2/9/98
Frankly, we thought a lot of things that go on in the hit TV show The X-Files can't be explained, but that didn't deter seven publishers from participating in the final bidding for a proposal entitled The Science of the X-Files. The attraction? The book is written by Anne Simon, an internationally known expert on viruses who serves as an informal adviser to the show. A recent New York Times profile of Simon mentioned her book proposal and sparked a publishing frenzy. Some 17 publishers contacted Simon and her agent, Esmond Harmsworth of the Boston-based Zachary Schuster Agency; S&S executive editor Bill Rosen emerged the winner, with a rumored high-six-figure bid. In the mode of the bestselling The Physics of Star Trek (which already has spun off The Metaphysics of Star Trek and two books about biology from the Star Trek perspective to come), Simon will discuss cloning, viruses, cancer, cyrogenics, hybrid animals and genetic engineering as inspired by the show. And although HarperCollins won the bid (reportedly for $500,000) to tie-in to the much hush-hush X-Files movie coming this summer, Harmsworth hinted to PW that Simon has seen that script and may include elements of it in her book. Rosen plans a 1999 publication.

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A version of this article appeared in the 02/09/1998 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: