Titanic 2012 [Hardcover]

Bill Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1998

Best-selling mystery novelist Trevor Hughes has no idea that attending his twentieth reunion at Harvard will forever change his life.

Persuaded to go by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Dr. Julia Magnusson, he meets up with three old friends: Solly Rubens, a self-made Wall Street millionaire; Ken Faust, a successful software entrepreneur; and Harlan Astor, New York real estate tycoon and the glue that holds their circle together.

That afternoon, over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops his bombshell: He is doing what James Cameron did not -- he is rebuilding the Titanic, and sailing the ship on the hundredth anniversary to honor those who died, including his great-grandfather, John Jacob Astor IV. Only Trevor is intrigued by Harlan's audacity. Touched by his friend's interest and concern, Harlan invites him on the maiden voyage to serve as the official chronicler.

On April 10, 2012, Trevor journeys to Southampton and, along with the hundreds of handpicked passengers, boards the Titanic. He is awed by the immensity of the ship and the feelings that well up in him. His friend has made his grand dream a reality.

During the journey, armed with his DVD recorder, Harlan interviews both passengers and crew, eager to learn the reasons why they chose to sail on the reborn ship.

Nearly every one of them claims to have been profoundly affected by Cameron's film, wanting to recapture the magic for themselves. And some of them are dying -- their last wish to be on the maiden voyage of the new Titanic.

Trevor is touched that his friend has allowed these people to come aboard, and is unprepared when he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful, free-spirited woman who resists his entreaties to be interviewed, intriguing Trevor all the more. Slowly, and inexorably, Maddy draws him out of his shell, allowing him to love deeply and completely, for the very first time in his life.

But Trevor soon discovers a darker purpose for the voyage, a purpose that threatens to destroy him and the woman he loves.

In a race against time that pits friend against friend, Trevor must stop the unstoppable or risk a horrific replay of history...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nothing dates like a fad, and this entertaining but gushy valentine to James Cameron's film Titanic already reads like yesterday's news. Set in the centenary of the "Night to Remember," Walker's first novel (after the collection Dystopia) recapitulates the basic premise of Cameron's tale of star-crossed lovers on a doomed voyage. Novelist Trevor Hughes is on the rebound from a derailed romance when he takes up the offer of Harlan Astor?great-grandson of Titanic victim John Jacob Astor?to sail on the maiden voyage of a scrupulously rebuilt replica of the legendary ocean liner. Trev's plans to turn the voyage into book fodder bring him into contact with spunky Maddy Regehr and a well-drawn cast of crew and passengers, all eager to relate their life stories. Like Trev, all were inspired to make the voyage by their love of Cameron's film, "the greatest movie of all time." Unlike him, as Trev discovers through private interviews, all are facing medical death sentences. There's a bit of Katherine Anne Porter's Ship of Fools, and quite a bit of Charles Beaumont's Twilight Zone classic "Requiem for a Lady," in the climax. One would have to have an iceberg for a heart not to be touched by Trev and Maddy's romance and the tragic plight Walker plots for them. But his fidelity to history and to the Titanic mythos robs this thriller of any mystery and reminds readers that they have made this trip before.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

Best selling mystery novelist Trevor Hughes has no idea that attending his twentieth reunion at Harvard will forever change his life.

Persuaded to go by his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Dr. Julia Magnusson, he meets up with three old friends: Solly Rubens, a self-made Wall Street millionaire; Ken Faust, a successful software entrepreneur; and Harlan Astor, New York real estate tycoon and the glue that holds their circle together.

That afternoon, over drinks at the Harvard Club, Harlan drops his bombshell: He is doing what James Cameron did not he is rebuilding the Titanic, and sailing the ship on the hundredth anniversary to honor those who died, including his great-grandfather, John Jacob Astor IV. Only Trevor is intrigued by Harlan's audacity. Touched by his friend's interest and concern, Harlan invites him on the maiden voyage to serve as the official chronicler.

On April 10, 2012, Trevor journeys to Southampton and, along with the hundreds of handpicked passengers, boards the Titanic. He is overawed by the immensity of the ship and the feelings that well up in him. His friend has made his grand dream a reality.

During the journey, armed with his DVD recorder, Harlan interviews both passengers and crew, eager to learn the reasons why they chose to sail on the reborn ship.

Nearly every one of them claims to have been profoundly affected by Cameron's film, wanting to recapture the magic for themselves. And some of them are dying their last wish to be on the maiden voyage of the new Titanic.

Trevor is touched that his friend has allowed these people to come aboard, and is unprepared when he meets Madeleine Regehr, a beautiful, free-spirited woman who resists his entreaties to be interviewed, intriguing Trevor all the more. Slowly, and inexorably, Maddy draws him out of his shell, allowing him to love deeply and completely, for the very first time in his life.

But Trevor soon discovers a darker purpose for the voyage, a purpose that threatens to destroy him and the woman he loves.

In a race against time that pits friend against friend, Trevor must stop the unstoppable or risk a horrific replay of history....

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications; 1st edition (November 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881475492
• ISBN-13: 978-1881475491
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, September 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Titanic 2012 (Hardcover)

I agree with Mr. Weske..."When is the movie coming out?" This book was recommended to me by a good friend, and I am eternally grateful! Like Mr. Walker, I was fascinated by James Cameron's wonderful movie production, and this book poses the question "What if?" to the reader. I find few books difficult to put down, but "Titanic 2012" was nearly impossible for me to stop reading! I can't wait to obtain my own copy so I can read it again and again! I have recommended this book to several of my friends, and I hope they listen to me! I can't wait to read another book from such a talented author!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Cashing in on Cameron's Titanic, December 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Titanic 2012 (Hardcover)

This is another fast book cashing in on the response to Cameron's Titanic, although who can blame the author, particularly as he's so honest about his homage... A good 'holiday read', if you don't mind a silly plot, shallow characterisation and a story that plays fast and loose with history. If so, you'll probably think this book ok for a momentary diversion. And that's about it. If you want to read excellent Titanic fiction, try Beryl Bainbridge's 'Every Man For Himself'. For an introduction to the real Titanic, read Walter Lord's seminal work 'A Night To Remember'.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 100 Years Later, August 17, 2005

By 

J. Redding (Biloxi, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Titanic 2012 (Hardcover)

For starters I'm a huge fan of Titanic, not really the film, but the ship itself. I'm moved by the stories of courage and cowerdice that get told over and over again. Once I read a book where Titanic was described as an end of an era, and a new beginning for the entire world. I tend to agree with this statement. The world was forever changed by one shipwreak. You don't hear people speak about the Andrea Doria, do you? I feel that this book had a lot of that element in it. The romantic allure that the Titanic actually had and still has.

My biggest problem with the book at all was the constant referencing to the movie. It was a great film, but I didn't feel that it needed to be mentioned as much as it did. I felt like the author thought we were going to forget about it, which would never happen.

As was said before, the portraits in the state rooms was a perfect, yet vaugely chilling touch. Having everything on the Titanic down to every last detail was also wonderful. I loved that fact that the ship still had a marconi room. Just attention to detail in this book was wonderful and there were points where I actually felt like I was there (or wished that I was). I have to say, the 'what if' made me get to thinking, what if they do re-make the Titanic?

Overall I was very pleased with this book and I will be recommending it to my friends.