I cannot wait to get my hands on Ken Follett’s latest (what I am sure will be) blockbuster, the first in a planned trilogy, Fall of Giants.

From the author’s website:

In Fall of Giants, I follow the destinies of five interrelated families–one American, one Russian, one German, one English, and one Welsh–through the earth-shaking events of the First World War and the Russian Revolution.

The second book in the ‘Century’ series, due to be published in 2012, will feature the children of the characters in Fall of Giants as they live through the Depression and the Second World War. The third book, due out in 2014, will be about the next generation during the Cold War.

I adore trilogies. My favorite so far has been Sharon Kay Penman’s Welsh Princes series, beginning with Here Be Dragons.  I have found nothing that parallels the originality, superior writing, and historical research of this trilogy thus far. I have high hopes that the Century Series will come close, though.

The book is due to be released on Sept. 28, but I have found a way to get my grubby little book-greedy hands on it a few days early (and for book lovers, a “few days early” is like having an extra, unexpected year to live!). It was too popular among the historical fiction reviewer crowd for me to have the privilege to review it, and I don’t quite have publishers breaking my door down offering me the latest and greatest to review, but what I DO have is the National Book Festival in Washington, DC this Saturday. Ken Follett will be signing the book between 11-12 and presenting on it at 12:45. I will just hop the Metro to the National Mall, get myself a signed copy, go right home and curl up with the cat : ) And when I’m done, I will post a review here. So stay tuned!

Anchee Min will also be there, signing books and giving a presentation, and I may just have to stay around for that And of course, book browsing and enjoying some pleasant weather among other book lovers in the city is on the agenda as well.  Pictures will be forthcoming.