From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Goodbye California (Goodbye California) is a 1977 crime novel written by Alistair MacLean[1][2].
The book became a best seller in 1978[3].
Set in California, an Islamic terrorist kidnaps 4 nuclear scientists, Sergeant Ryder’s wife, and steals radioactive material from a nuclear power plant. Faced with resistance within his police department, Ryder and his son Jeff (also a cop) quit their jobs and begin their own investigation outside the law. Together with some other trusted friends they try to prevent the terrorist group from detonating home-made atomic bombs along the Californian fault lines, explosions capable of triggering massive earthquakes destroying the major cities of California.
While searching for his wife, Ryder will encounter a situation of rampant corruption.
The inspiration for the plot appears to have been acknowledged by Maclean himself in his preface to the 1977 edition of the book in which he describes his first experience of an earthquake while in California on 9 February 1971[4].
Maclean said in a 1975 interview that he was working on a book in which half of California fell into the ocean. “Jupiter effect is required for 1982 when all planets are in alignment,” he said. “There are people who believe it. The more I stay in it, the more I believe it myself.[5].
Director Don Sharp and producer Peter Snell, who had collaborated on the film “The Island of Fear,” based on another MacLean novel, attempted to make a film version of “Goodbye California,” starring Charles Heston, per Time Life. Shortly before filming was due to begin, however Time Life sold its film division and the film did not go ahead[6].
- Alistair MacLean, Goodbye California, translation by Silvia Accardi, Milan, 1979 [1977]pp. 345.
- ^ The Englishwoman playing away
The Guardian 27 Oct 1977: 11 - ^ Terrorists Take On California
Irwin, Ben. Los Angeles Times 19 May 1978: h8. - ^ Best Sellers: FICTION NONFICTION FOOTNOTES New York Times 7 May 1978: BR12.
- ^ October 27, 2024are meteoweb.eu.
- ^ CRITIC AT LARGE: The Scot’s Got Lots of Plots
Champlin, Charles. Los Angeles Times 27 Feb 1975: g1. - ^ Template:Cite interview
