Master of the Game

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Master of the Game
Image:Master Of The Game.jpg
The 1982 edition of Master Of The Game
Author Sidney Sheldon
Country United States
Language English, Portuguese,[1] Spanish,[2] Italian,[3] French,[4] Finnish,[5] German,[6] Russian.[7]
Genre(s) Thriller novel
Publisher Warner Books
Publication date 1982
Media type Print (Paperback and Hardback)
ISBN ISBN 06-8801-365-1
Preceded by Rage of Angels
Followed by If Tomorrow Comes

Master of the Game is a novel by Sidney Sheldon. It was first published in hardback format in 1982.[8] The novel has won critical acclaim, debuting at number one on the New York Times Bestseller List[9]; the fifth book by Sidney Sheldon to do so.[9]

The plot of the book spans six generations, and it is based upon the fictional lives of the Blackwell family. The book follows the life of an entrepreneur, Kate Blackwell, and explores her family, ancestry and life. It focuses on the building of her father's company, from a small business into a multinational corporation.

Contents

[edit] Publication history

Master of the Game has been translated into numerous languages, and reprinted 7 times.[10] It was originally published by William Morrow & Co. in 1982.[8] In 1983, the book was reprinted four times; in January, by HarperCollins[11] in June by Thorndike Pr.,[12] in paperback format by Warner Books in August,[10] and was later released by Pan Books, in December of the same year.[13] The novel was re-released by Warner Books in 1988.[14] In 1993, Master Of The Game was part of an omnibus edition by a publishing company named, Diamond Books, which was owned by HarperCollins Publishers.[15] The other two books in the omnibus were Bloodline (1977) and Rage of Angels (1980), both major bestsellers by Sidney Sheldon.[9] The most recent version of the book was printed in April 2005 by HarperCollins Ltd.[16]

[edit] Reception

The reception to Master of the Game by the public was mostly positive, with the book debuting at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, staying there for 11 weeks. Remaining on the list for 40 weeks, it is the 6th book by Sidney Sheldon to reach #1.[9] As a result of the positive reception, the book became the fourth bestselling novel of 1982, as recorded by the New York Times.[17] The novel was selected to be a Main Selection of The Literary Guild as a result of its success on the bestseller list.[18]

In critical reviewing, the New York Book Review stated that the book was "compulsively readable", and praised the author by saying "Any writer who can get his audience to ask breathlessly, 'What next?' needs no help from this or any other envious reviewer."[19][20] Publishers Weekly called the book an "engaging and absorbing family saga",[21] while the Los Angeles Times Review of Books commented that Sheldon was "a genius... at writing potboilers. In 'Master of the Game' he has outdone even himself".[22] The Los Angeles Times also reviewed the lack of sex in the book. "This viewer hoped for a wee spot of sex to relieve the monotony. The business of sexual union is depicted with curious, witless brevity"[22] The New York Times disagree, stating that "If your reading taste runs to rape, sodomy, homosexuality, and numerous other fleshy diversions, be assured; Mr. Sheldon has something for you."[20] In Massachusetts, the Worcester Sunday Telegram reviews that "the title of this book is an apt description of the author. In the business of creating hard-to-put-down bestsellers, Sidney Sheldon is indeed the master of the game.",[19] while USA Today praises Sheldon by saying that he is"a master storyteller at the top of the game."[19] In Europe, the London Review of Books categorizes the main protagonist of the novel, Kate Blackwell as being "presented as some kind of role model, but it is the sort of role made popular in olden times by Joan Crawford".[23]

The LA Times concludes the book review with "This book is really a number of silly little stories strung loosely together like 'schlenters' (fools diamonds) about to fall off a string of dental floss.", referring to terms used in South Africa,[22] while the London Review of Books ended with "This particular story is so schematically written that it could be used as a script for a film which has not yet been made but will undoubtedly proceed, as of right, to the wide screen."[23] A mini-series was made about the book two years later.[24]

[edit] Film, television and theatrical adaptations

A television mini series was made about Master Of The Game and aired on the 19th of February, 1984.[24] It starred Dyan Cannon as Kate Blackwell, Ian Charleson as Jamie MacGregor, and Fernando Allende as George Mellis.[24] The mini-series was produced by CBS Television and Norman Rosemont Productions.[25] It was nominated for an Emmy, in the category of "Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special".[26]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ (1982) Reverso de medalha (in Portuguese). 
  2. ^ (1990) El amo del Juego (in Spanish). 
  3. ^ (1988) Padrona del gioco (in Italian). 
  4. ^ (1983) Maitresse De Jeu (in French). 
  5. ^ (1983) Timanttidynastia (in Finnish). 
  6. ^ (1982) Diamanten Dynastie (in German). 
  7. ^ (1995) Sorvat ́masku (in Russian). 
  8. ^ a b Sheldon, Sidney (1982). Master of the Game. William Morrow and Co. 
  9. ^ a b c d Master Of The Game debuts at No. 1.. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  10. ^ a b Languages published for Master of the Game. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  11. ^ Sheldon, Sidney (January, 1983). Master of the Game. HarperCollins. 
  12. ^ Sheldon, Sidney (June, 1983). Master of the Game. Thorndike Pr. 
  13. ^ Sheldon, Sidney (December, 1983). Master of the Game. Pan Books. 
  14. ^ Sheldon, Sidney (September, 1988). Master of the Game. Warner Books. 
  15. ^ Sheldon, Sidney (1993). Bloodline, Master of the Game, Rage of Angels Omnibus. Diamond Books. 
  16. ^ Sheldon, Sidney (April, 2005). Master Of The Game. HarperCollins. 
  17. ^ Bestseller Books of the 1980s. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  18. ^ Short profile of Master of the Game.
  19. ^ a b c Quotes from Hachette Book Group. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  20. ^ a b Lekachman, Robert (29 August 1982). The Love of Money. New York Times. 
  21. ^ (23 July 1982) Master of the Game review. Publishers Weekly. 
  22. ^ a b c Welles, Patricia (5 December, 1982). Diamond dynasty in South Africa. Los Angeles Times. 
  23. ^ a b Brooker, Anita (3 February, 1983). Enthusiasts. London Review of Books. 
  24. ^ a b c Master of the Game at the Internet Movie Database
  25. ^ Production credits for Master of the Game.
  26. ^ Master Of The Game's Emmy nomination. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Rage of Angels		 Sidney Sheldon Novels
1982		 Succeeded by
If Tomorrow Comes
v • d • e
Novels by Sidney Sheldon
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Non-fiction:
Languages