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Swedish Edition of ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA out now!

Posted on Friday, September 9th, 2016

Andrew Hodges‘s critically-acclaimed, bestselling ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, is available in Swedish! Published by Fri Tanke as ALAN TURING: DATAGENI, KODKNÄCKARE OCH GAYIKON, here’s the synopsis…

Den brittiska matematikern Alan Turing räddade de allierade från nazisterna, uppfann datorn, grundade forskningsfältet artificiell intelligens och förekom gayrörelsen med flera decennier – och allt detta innan fyrtioett års ålder då han tog sitt eget liv.

Andrew Hodges mångfacetterade och hyllande biografi över datavetenskapens grundare är ett djupgående porträtt av ett extraordinärt liv och intellekt. I en rörande berättelse om matematik, datorer, kryptografi och homofobi fångar Hodges både den inre och den yttre dramatiken i Turings liv.

Hodges beskriver hur Turings revolutionerande idé om en universell maskin redan 1936 lade grunden för den moderna datorn och hur Turing med sin elektroniska design förverkligande samma idé 1945.

Boken beskriver också hur detta arbete direkt relaterade till Turings nyckelroll i arbetet med att knäcka tyska kryptokoder under andra världskriget, en vetenskaplig bedrift som var väsentlig för att möjliggöra de allierades seger.

Men det är också en tragisk berättelse om en man som trots sitt stora bidrag till världsfreden och vetenskapen blev arresterad, och tvingades genomgå en förödmjukande behandling, bara för att han ville leva ett ärligt liv i ett samhälle som betraktade homosexualitet som ett brott.

Boken blev film 2015, med Benedict Cumberbatch och Keira Knightley i huvudrollerna.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage, in the US by Princeton University Press, and has been published in translation many times. See Andrew’s author page for details, and please do get in touch for more information about rights available. Here’s the English-language synopsis…

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.

The Oscar-winning The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley was based on ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA out this month in Dutch

Posted on Monday, October 19th, 2015

This month, Andrew Hodges‘s critically-acclaimed ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA will be available in Dutch! Published by Hollands Diep as ALAN TURING, HET ENIGMA, here’s the Dutch synopsis…

Er is niet veel overdreven aan de stelling dat de Britse wiskundige Alan Turing de geallieerden heeft gered in hun strijd tegen de Nazi’s, dat hij de uitvinder was van de computer, de bedenker van kunstmatige intelligentie en een voorloper in de strijd om vrijheid voor homoseksuelen – en dat alles voordat hij, 41 jaar oud, zelfmoord pleegde.

Deze schitterende biografie vertelt het definitieve verhaal van een uitzonderlijk genie en een even uitzonderlijk leven.

Alan Turings grote kracht was zijn briljante analytische geest gecombineerd met zijn gave voor het ontwerpen van ‘intelligente’ machines. In 1940 wist hij met zijn vindingen de Duitse Enigma-code te kraken – de code waarmee de Duitse lucht- en zeemacht alle communicatie beveiligde. Hij bracht er het Duitse oorlogscommando een slag mee toe die de oorlog bekortte en vele mensenlevens redde.

Het was niet Turings enige wapenfeit. Al voor de oorlog werkte de briljante wiskundige aan het concept van een universele machine, een idee dat hij in 1945 uitwerkte tot de allereerste digitale computer. In 1952 kwam een abrupt einde aan de glansrijke carrière van Alan Turing, toen hij door de autoriteiten werd opgepakt wegens homoseksualiteit, een strafbaar feit dat in die tijd nog actief werd vervolgd

In het land dat hij zes jaar lang in het belang van de vrijheid had gediend, volgde een veroordeling en een mensonterende behandeling. In 1954 pleegde Alan Turing, 41 jaar oud, zelfmoord.

Alan Turing, het Enigma verscheen voor het eerst in 1983 en kreeg een glorieuze ontvangst. Enkele jaren geleden volgde een herziene editie, ingeleid door Douglas Hofstadter.

The biography, which was the inspiration for the Oscar-winning movie THE IMITATION GAME starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kiera Knightley, is published in the UK by Vintage and in the US by Princeton University Press. It has also been published widely in translation (with more editions to come). Here’s the English-language synopsis…

The full story behind the persecuted genius of wartime codebreaking and the computer revolution.

A new edition to celebrate Alan Turing’s centenary, includes a new foreword by the author and a preface by Douglas Hofstadter.

Alan Turing was the extraordinary Cambridge mathematician who masterminded the cracking of the German Enigma ciphers and transformed the Second World War. But his vision went far beyond this crucial achievement. Before the war he had formulated the concept of the universal machine, and in 1945 he turned this into the first design for a digital computer.

New French Cover for THE IMITATION GAME Tie-In

Posted on Monday, February 16th, 2015

Here is a new French cover for the tie-in edition of Andrew Hodges‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA. The book is published in France and Quebec by Michel Lafon.

Here’s the book’s French 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 the English-language synopsis and covers (below)…

It is only a slight exaggeration to say that the British mathematician Alan Turing (1912-1954) saved the Allies from the Nazis, invented the computer and artificial intelligence, and anticipated gay liberation by decades — all before his suicide at age forty-one. This acclaimed biography of the founder of computer science, with a new preface by the author that addresses Turing’s royal pardon in 2013, is the definitive account of an extraordinary mind and life.

Capturing both the inner and outer drama of Turing’s life, Andrew Hodges tells how Turing’s revolutionary idea of 1936 — the concept of a universal machine — laid the foundation for the modern computer and how Turing brought the idea to practical realisation in 1945 with his electronic design. The book also tells how this work was directly related to Turing’s leading role in breaking the German Enigma ciphers during World War II, a scientific triumph that was critical to Allied victory in the Atlantic. At the same time, this is the tragic account of a man who, despite his wartime service, was eventually arrested, stripped of his security clearance, and forced to undergo a humiliating treatment program — all for trying to live honestly in a society that defined homosexuality as a crime.

Andrew Hodges’s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage Books and in the US by Princeton University Press.

In related news, THE IMITATION GAME won the prestigious Writers Guild Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie also won the USC Libraries Scripter Award back in January. So, you know, you should really go see it. And then read the book.

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

‘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.

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.

Andrew Hodges, Alan Turing & The Pet Shop Boys…

Posted on Thursday, June 5th, 2014

Credits: Vintage Books (Cover), Philadelphia Enquirer (Pet Shop Boys)

On 23 July 2014, the Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe) are set to premiere their latest musical work, A MAN FROM THE FUTURE. The piece was written for orchestra, choir, and electronics and will have a narrator using material based on Andrew Hodge‘s ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA, the critically-acclaimed biography of the wartime code-breaker. Andrew collaborated with Tennant and Lowe on the piece, and the performance incorporates texts and excerpts from Andrew’s book, which will be read by an as-yet-unannounced narrator.

The show will open the season of Late Night Proms in the Albert Hall, London. This particular event has already sold out, but it will of course be broadcast by the BBC. Further details can be found on the Pet Shop Boys’ website.

Speaking about the concert to NME, the Pet Shop Boys said: ‘It is an honour for us to be invited to present some new music at The Proms and to celebrate Alan Turing 60 years after his death.’

A portion of A MAN FROM THE FUTURE has already been performed live: the song ‘He Dreamed of Machines’. Below is a YouTube clip, which includes an introduction about Alan Turing…

More Turing-related music news and information can be found on The Turing Centenary (+ Bicentennial) website. As the site states, ‘Turing has inspired rather a lot of music recently’, and there you can find a number of interesting links.

ALAN TURING: THE ENIGMA is published in the UK by Vintage Books, and in the US by Princeton University Press, and has been translated into multiple languages for publication around the world.

As we have reported before, the biography has also been adapted into a movie, starring Benedict Cumberbatch (below) and Keira Knightley. Production began last year, and we will share more news about both of these projects as it comes in.

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.