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The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
The golden age of live television comes to vivid life with the memorable and entertaining tale of Jonny Dirby, who unintentionally captivates the imagination of America with his creation of the hit show Justice Girl. This fun, engrossing work of historical fiction transports listeners back to a time when television shows were chaotic tightrope acts balancing the agendas of actors, studio executives, advertisers, and politicians—and all of it broadcast live to fifty million viewers without the security of a safety net.
Set in 1955 in New York City, Julian David Stone’s impressive novel follows Jonny from the writers’ room of a steady network gig to a crisis of conscience when he decides to abandon his regular paycheck to claim the moral high ground against the spreading plague of McCarthyism. In a final act of defiance, Jonny alters the script of a Superman-inspired lampoon moments before it is broadcast live. What nobody can anticipate is that Jonny’s accidental creation, Justice Girl, and her infectious catchphrase of “Justice is served!” are about to sweep the nation and win the hearts and minds of America. Add to the mix a highly driven actress trying to get Jonny blacklisted, along with a desperate network president willing to do anything he can to get compete control of the show, and the history of television will never be the same.
The Strange Birth, Short Life, and Sudden Death of Justice Girl moves beyond the gags and gaffes of television’s golden age to plumb the depths of the media’s broader influence. Anyone interested in this time when television was a new phenomenon, with different factions fighting to use it to promote their varied agendas, will enjoy this riveting novel. Stone is an award-winning writer and director whose twenty years in the entertainment business informs his work with an insider’s perspective.
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“[A] lurid depiction of mass media’s power in shaping our fantasies, values, ideals, and fears. The author ably captures the tension and excitement of live television, focusing on how quickly this medium made and destroyed both careers and lives. This modern fable of fame and failure emphasizes the political and economic agendas that molded the entertainment industry and a generation. This fast-paced and emotionally vibrant satire is a treat for television buffs and general readers alike.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“[A] fast-moving yarn…Lively reading…A great take on what it must have been like to be in the business during those formative years, when anything was possible.”
— New York Times -
“Memorable characters and [a] deftly woven story line. A solidly entertaining read from beginning to end]…Very highly recommended.”
— Midwest Book Review
Awards
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Winner of the 2014 Next Generation Indies Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction
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About Julian David Stone
Julian David Stone is an award-winning director and writer. He grew up in the San Francisco Bay area before relocating to Los Angeles after spending his college years at the California Institute of the Arts. For the next few years, he wrote screenplays for Disney and Paramount as well as several other studios and producers. His work includes the play The Elvis Test and direction of the short-form documentary Frank Sinatra—Body and Soul. His notable screenplays include the comedy Duke Snider Eats Here Free and the music industry satire I Want Kandee.
About Stefan Rudnicki
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.