Imitation Game - Zeno Agency Ltd.

THE IMITATION GAME Sweeps Five Golden Globes Nominees

Posted on Tuesday, December 16th, 2014

THE IMITATION GAME, the movie inspired by Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, has garnered a whole host of Golden Globe nominations. Coming in the wake of near-unanimous acclaim for the movie, this is fantastic news. The book is published by Vintage Books (UK) and Princeton University Press (US), and is out now.

The movie has been nominated for Best Film Drama, Best Actor in a Drama (Benedict Cumberbatch), Best Supporting Actress in a Drama (Keira Knightley), Best Screenplay, and Best Score. The Golden Globe Awards will be give on January 11th, 2015. Here’s the movie trailer, again:

Here’s the book’s synopsis…

The official book behind the film, THE IMITATION GAME. This is a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing, Britain’s most extraordinary unsung heroes, and the world’s greatest innovators.

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications.

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.

Andrew Hodges Event This Sunday at CalTech

Posted on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014

At 2pm this Sunday, December 7th, Caltech University is hosting Andrew Hodges for a lecture about his critically-acclaimed book ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA. The lecture will take place in the Baxter Lecture Hall. Seating is limited, so admittance will be purely on a first come first served basis. Tickets are $10 for Skeptics Society members and the JPL/Caltech community, $15 for nonmembers.

The lecture will be followed by a book signing, and the organisers of the event will have copies of the book available for purchase.

Andrew’s book has been much in the news recently (here and also mainstream media) because it is the inspiration behind the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring movie THE IMITATION GAME, which opened in US cinemas last week. Movie tie-in editions of the book were published last week by Vintage Books (UK), Princeton University Press (North America) and Michel Lafon (France/Quebec).

THE IMITATION GAME Opens today in UK Cinemas!

Posted on Friday, November 14th, 2014

THE IMITATION GAME, the movie inspired by Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA – the definitive biography of the genius mathematician who helped crack the Enigma Code during the war – opens today in UK cinemas!

The book, released this week in tie-in editions, is published by Vintage Books in the UK and Princeton University Press in the US. Here’s just a small selection of praise that the book has enjoyed…

‘Andrew Hodges, in this fine biography… brings Turing the thinker and Turing the man alive for the reader and thus allows us all to share in the privilege of knowing him.’ — Financial Times

‘Life and work are both made enthralling by Hodges, himself a scientist.’ — Sunday Times

‘Andrew Hodge’s book is of exemplary scholarship and sympathy. Intimate, perceptive and insightful, it’s also the most readable biography I’ve picked up in some time.’ — Time Out

‘Save your money for the forthcoming new edition of Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, regarded by many as one of the greatest biographies of anyone, let alone Turing.’ — BBC Focus Magazine

‘This is not a book to be argued about. It is a book to be read.’ — New Scientist

Publication Day: Andrew Hodges’s THE ENIGMA in French!

Posted on Tuesday, November 11th, 2014

We reported yesterday on the release of the new, THE IMITATION GAME US tie-in edition of Andrew Hodges‘s superb biography, ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA. Today, the book is also released in French. ALAN TURING, L’ÉNIGME is published by Michel Lafon, and is available in France and Quebec (the Canadian English language release is December 2nd).

Here’s the French-language synopsis…

Génie de l’informatique et héros de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Alan Turing est célèbre pour avoir décrypté les communications codées de l’armée allemande en venant à bout d’Enigma, la machine de chiffrement utilisée par les nazis, réputée inviolable.

Il faut dire que lorsqu’il « casse » le code secret allemand, à moins de 30 ans, le mathématicien n’en est pas à son premier coup d’éclat. Déjà, en 1936, il a dessiné les contours d’une première machine programmable, ou « machine de Turing », capable d’effectuer n’importe quel calcul mathématique : c’est l’ancêtre de l’ordinateur.

Après la guerre, Alan Turing poursuit ses recherches et se consacre en pionnier aux possibilités offertes par l’intelligence artificielle. Mais l’ex-héros national est persécuté à cause de son homosexualité et condamné en 1952 à la castration chimique. Deux années plus tard, à l’âge de 41 ans, Alan Turing met fin à ses jours en croquant une pomme empoisonnée au cyanure.

Cette biographie, qui mêle histoire des sciences, politique et philosophie, nous dévoile la vie hors norme de l’inventeur, longtemps méconnu, qui a révolutionné nos vies.

And don’t forget, as we also mentioned yesterday, the film opens in British cinemas this Friday!

Publication Week: Andrew Hodges’s THE ENIGMA/THE IMITATION GAME

Posted on Monday, November 10th, 2014

Today marks the US publication of THE IMITATION GAME tie-in edition of Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, and what turns out to be quite the Alan Turing week!

The US edition of the book is published by Princeton University Press. The UK edition, published by Vintage Books, follows this Thursday – the same day as the movie opens in British cinemas (it opens in the US on 28th November). Here’s the synopsis…

The official book behind the film, THE IMITATION GAME. This is a dramatic portrayal of the life and work of Alan Turing, Britain’s most extraordinary unsung heroes, and the world’s greatest innovators.

Alan Turing was the mathematician whose cipher-cracking transformed the Second World War. Taken on by British Intelligence in 1938, as a shy young Cambridge don, he combined brilliant logic with a flair for engineering. In 1940 his machines were breaking the Enigma-enciphered messages of Nazi Germany’s air force. He then headed the penetration of the super-secure U-boat communications.

But his vision went far beyond this achievement. Before the war he had invented the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

Turing’s far-sighted plans for the digital era forged ahead into a vision for Artificial Intelligence. However, in 1952 his homosexuality rendered him a criminal and he was subjected to humiliating treatment. In 1954, aged 41, Alan Turing took his own life.

You can find out more about the movie by following its UK and US Twitter accounts. Check back tomorrow for more on Andrew Hodges’s book that inspired THE IMITATION GAME…

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA Free with Tomorrow’s Telegraph!

Posted on Saturday, November 8th, 2014

To celebrate the highly-anticipated release next week of THE IMITATION GAME, the Sunday Telegraph has teamed up with Studio Canal to offer readers a free, abridged version of the book (above) that inspired the film: Andrew Hodges‘s masterful ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, published by Vintage in the UK and Princeton University Press in the US. The newspaper will include a voucher and information for collecting the book from 1,200 bookshops nationwide.

Here are the covers for the three tie-in editions (UK, US, and French)…

THE IMITATION GAME opens in cinemas in the UK on November 14th, 2014.

Here are just a handful of the great reviews ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA has received…

‘This rather shadowy figure has now finally been lifted into the light of day… it has to be said that Andrew Hodges has put together an extraordinary story.’ — Sunday Telegraph

‘Hodges’s biography is sensitive, sympathetic and uncompromisingly intellectual. The maths is extremely hard work – but helps the lay reader to appreciate the scale of Turing’s achievements.’ — Independent on Sunday

‘Life and work are both made enthralling by Hodges, himself a scientist.’ — Sunday Times

‘Andrew Hodges, in this fine biography… brings Turing the thinker and Turing the man alive for the reader and thus allows us all to share in the privilege of knowing him.’ — Financial Times

‘This is not a book to be argued about. It is a book to be read.’ — New Scientist

‘One of the finest scientific biographies ever written.’ — New Yorker

Cover Reveal: French Language IMITATION GAME Tie-In

Posted on Friday, October 17th, 2014

THE IMITATION GAME, the movie inspired by Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, has been gathering a lot of positive attention, recently. Not only did the movie open to rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival (not to mention other film festivals), but we also unveiled the English-language tie-in editions for Hodges’s book. Above is the French-language edition, which is due to be published in France and Canada by Michel Lafon in December 2014. Here’s the synopsis…

Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, this is the official film tie-in for THE IMITATION GAME, a the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

This film tie-in tells the true story behind the nail-biting race against time following Alan Turing (pioneer of modern-day computing and credited with cracking the German Enigma code) and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British establishment, but his work and legacy live on.1954, aged 41, Alan Turing committed suicide and one of Britain’s greatest scientific minds was lost.

Here are just a handful of reviews the biography has received…

‘One of the finest scientific biographies ever written.’ — New Yorker

‘Andrew Hodges, in this fine biography… brings Turing the thinker and Turing the man alive for the reader and thus allows us all to share in the privilege of knowing him.’ — Financial Times

‘This rather shadowy figure has now finally been lifted into the light of day… it has to be said that Andrew Hodges has put together an extraordinary story.’ — Sunday Telegraph

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press. The English-language tie-in editions (below) will be published in November 2014.

Cover Reveal: Andrew Hodges’s THE IMITATION GAME Tie-In Editions

Posted on Friday, October 10th, 2014

We’ve already shared with you the trailer and early responses to Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, but now we can finally unveil the tie-in edition covers! Andrew’s book inspired the upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch-starring THE IMITATION GAME. Vintage Books (left) publishes the book in the UK and Princeton University Press publishes in the US. The tie-in editions are due to hit shelves in mid-November, around the time of the movie’s release in cinemas.

Here’s the synopsis…

Based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing, this is the official film tie-in for The Imitation Game, a the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II.

This film tie-in tells the true story behind the nail-biting race against time following Alan Turing (pioneer of modern-day computing and credited with cracking the German Enigma code) and his brilliant team at Britain’s top-secret code-breaking centre, Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. Turing, whose contributions and genius significantly shortened the war, saving thousands of lives, was the eventual victim of an unenlightened British establishment, but his work and legacy live on.1954, aged 41, Alan Turing committed suicide and one of Britain’s greatest scientific minds was lost.

Below is the full cover wrap…

And, finally, the latest trailer for the movie…

Early Oscar Buzz for THE IMITATION GAME

Posted on Monday, September 1st, 2014

We’re delighted to report that THE IMITATION GAME, a movie inspired by Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA biography of Alan Turing, has been receiving some well-deserved early Oscar buzz! The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, as well as Keira Knightley, Mark Strong and many other great British actors. The buzz has grown, as have the number of great responses, since the film’s screening at the Telluride Film Festival.

Variety reported that the movie is ‘clearly an awards contender: Complex, impeccably executed and unique. The film’s offbeat approach to an oddball character will be its greatest strength…’

Meanwhile, the Hollywood Reporter wrote that that movie ‘is already being called a cross between A Beautiful Mind (2001) and The King’s Speech (2010), two films that won the best picture Oscar.’ The HR continues, ‘Cumberbatch is perfect… [and] is surrounded in the film by an excellent supporting ensemble… the overall product is interesting, enjoyable and, my gut tells me, the stuff happy Oscar seasons are made of.’ In a separate review, the Hollywood Reporter called the movie ‘Engrossing, nicely textured and sadly tragic… dominating it all is Cumberbatch, whose charisma, tellingly modulated and naturalistic array of eccentricities, Sherlockian talent at indicating a mind never at rest and knack for simultaneously portraying physical oddness and attractiveness combine to create an entirely credible portrait of genius at work.’

Deadline Hollywood‘s review, likewise, declared that THE IMITATION GAME ‘just has Academy Award nominations written all over it’, and in particular singled out the ‘stunning lead actor performance of new Emmy winner Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing.’

Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage and in the US by Princeton University Press. It has also been published in translation in select other markets (please inquire for details of available rights).

THE IMITATION GAME News and Teaser Trailer!

Posted on Friday, July 25th, 2014

ImitationGame-Still1 — Weinstein/StudioCanal

Here at Zeno Towers, we’re very excited about the upcoming THE IMITATION GAME, the movie adaptation of Andrew Hodges‘s critically-acclaimed ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA. Today, we have a number of great pieces of news to share with you.

First up, the BBC has reported that the movie will open the London Film Festival on October 8th at the Odeon Leicester Square. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, with Keira Knightley, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, Mark Strong, Matthew Goode and Rory Kinnear also starring.

The film’s distributor, Studio Canal, has announced that THE IMITATION GAME will receive a wider release in cinemas in the UK on November 14th, 2014.

Most exciting of all, however, is the new teaser trailer, released through Studio Canal’s YouTube channel. You can also watch it below…

There have also been some excellent very early – not to mention unofficial – responses reported, following a secretive test screening in New York. London Film Festival Director Clare Stewart told the BBC that the film featured ‘extraordinary performances’ and that the film ‘does cinematic justice to Alan Turing’s vision, determination and personal story as well as his enduring impact on British history and contemporary life.’ Empire Magazine were able to get their hands on a couple of new stills from the film, one of which includes Charles Dance – perhaps best known to SFF fans as Tywin Lannister in the HBO adapatation of Game of Thrones.

Andrew Hodges‘s biography, ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, is published in the UK by Vintage and in the US by Princeton University Press. It has been translated multiple times for other foreign markets. You can keep up to date on news about the film via its official Twitter account and, of course, here.

Alan Turing Movie Adaptation Update and Long-Overdue, Posthumous Pardon!

Posted on Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

Above is the first official photograph from the set of The Imitation Game has been released, via the movie’s official Twitter account. The Imitation Game is an adaptation of Zeno client Andrew Hodges‘s critically-acclaimed biography of Alan Turing: ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA.

In related, long-overdue news: Just before Christmas, Queen Elizabeth II issued a posthumous, full pardon to Alan Turing nearly sixty years after the mathematician’s death. Turing, who helped crack the German Enigma code and change the course of the Second World War, is also considered one of the fathers of modern day computing. He was subject to humiliating treatment and punishment before his death because of his sexuality. On March 31st, 1952, Turing pleaded guilty and was convicted of ‘divers [sic] counts of Gross Indecency’. There has been a decades-long campaign to attain a pardon for Turing, and we’re delighted that the Crown and government have finally done so.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published by Vintage in the UK and Princeton University Press in the US. It has also been translated in a number of other languages.