Rushdie's comeback...

His books have been the source of religious controversy, uprisings, and even death threats, yet Salman Rushdie's latest novel is inspired by seemingly innocuous video games. Comparing the written and computer generated formats, Rushdie said, 'video games are often based on a classical quest format. That fits well with a fable. The book is about the value of life, and in video games you can have a thousand lives. So I contrasted those two things'. However, although he enjoyed writing children's books, Rushdie is clear that it is something he does not want to pursue full time. 'Luka and the Fire of Life', a present for his 13-year-old son, was published last week. Here is an interview about the new release.

Rushdie reveals all...

Salman Rushdie, is planning to write a book about the decade he spent in hiding. 2008 marked the 20th anniversary of the publication of 'The Satanic Verses', a novel which provoked street protests and book burnings across much of the Arab world. For many believed the book to have insulted Islam, and indeed Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran, issued a fatwa against Rushdie, calling for his execution.

Such was the threat to Rushdie's safety, that, under police protection, he spent the next 10 years in hiding. 'It's my story, and at some point, it does need to be told. That point is getting closer, I think', said Rushdie. Indeed, as comments John Howells of Waterstones, 'The ironic thing is that this may be his most commercial book in years...this is one of the most fascinating chapters in recent literary history, and cannot but have affected Rushdie as a writer and as a man'.

Motion heads Man Booker...

It has been announced that Andrew Motion is to be the chair of judges for next year's Man Booker Prize. The former Poet Laureate, who was involved in accusations of plagiarism earlier this month, said it was an 'exciting challenge' and that he was looking forward 'to a year of reading voraciously'. Following on from Hilary Mantel's victory ealier this year, the longlist of her potential successors will be announced in July; the shortlist of six is published in September, and the winner will be named in October. Previous recipients of the £50,000 award include William Golding, Salman Rushdie, and Ian McEwan.