The Thomas the Tank Engine Man Discussion

Here we can discuss The Thomas the Tank Engine Man, the Rev. W. Awdry's biography!

Dan5589 wrote:NEWS: The first look on the updated edition of Brian Sibley's The Thomas the Tank Engine Man can be found here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thomas-Tank-Engine-Man-Reverend/dp/0745970273/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426785483&sr=1-1&keywords=awdry …

I think this new cover looks amazing! I'll certainly be buying the book when it comes out this summer!

The cover:

I love that the title font makes it look like it's an engine nameplate. It's great this is available again. I remember I wanted this book a good 6 years ago but it was nearly 100 bucks

Toby7 wrote:I love that the title font makes it look like it's an engine nameplate. It's great this is available again. I remember I wanted this book a good 6 years ago but it was nearly 100 bucks

It's amazing! I love that little detail. It looks way better than the old cover:


Granted, they both look nice, I just prefer the new one.

I also wonder if the book will be updated in any way, since the Reverend has died since the original was published.

I believe on SiF that was part of the original news, that there were supposed to be some revisions in it.

Maybe they spelled George Carlin's name correctly this time!

I might buy this. I've never had a desire for it, but if it goes out of print again, I'll be disappointed. It also might persuade the publisher to bring out The Island Of Sodor and Reading Between the Lines if it sells well.

That's my hope as well! I need to get my hands on a copy of TIOS, but I'm not willing to put down $500 for it! Same goes for the biography, they're essential to my collection.

I think it could be possible. This book was originally published by Heinemen, like TIOS was. But now it is being published by Lion Books, so they could bring out the other two.

My fingers are crossed, that's for sure!

I will DEFINITELY be buying this!! I wanna now more about the Reverend and his life and how the TV series affected his life and so forth. I LOVE the new cover!! The other one seems so bland and dull; this one feels not only more fresh but colourful and appealing to younger fans as well as older fans.

It is a shame that it isn't an autobiography as I would have liked to have heard it from the words of the Reverend himself. But I understand that Brian Sibley knew the Reverend well and so you could call this an official biography so I'll let that pass.

Does anyone know why it's now being published by Lion Books? Why isn't Heinemann publishing it or Egmont (since they own the publications to the Railway Series)? Can anyone explain please?

The Fat Aristocrat wrote:Does anyone know why it's now being published by Lion Books? Why isn't Heinemann publishing it or Egmont (since they own the publications to the Railway Series)? Can anyone explain please?

A different company probably just bought the rights.

SkarloeyRailway wrote:

The Fat Aristocrat wrote:Does anyone know why it's now being published by Lion Books? Why isn't Heinemann publishing it or Egmont (since they own the publications to the Railway Series)? Can anyone explain please?

A different company probably just bought the rights.

It is all explained here, as answered by Brian Sibley for an exclusive interview I had with him to promote the updated edition of the book.
http://coffeyman1991.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/coffey-man-interviews-brian-sibley.html
http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Thomas_the_Tank_Engine_Wikia:Exclusives/Brian_Sibley_Interview


"The stories built up by question and answer. 'Why is the engine sad, Daddy?' 'Because he's not been out for a long time.' 'What's his name?' 'Edward'--because that was the first name that came into my head," Awdry said in a 1995 interview with Church Times. (Los Angeles Times, 1997)
A few days before the special celebration yesterday, I had something in my mind to make a unique sizzle video of my very own to celebrate the publication of 'The Three Railway Engines' on May 12th, 1945.

Plus nearing the end of the editing progress of a unique fan-made sizzle video I had done to celebrate the special occasion yesterday, I even added in a little promotion in the end of the video itself for starters.

This books sounds fascinating; I think I may pick up a copy one day!

I am definitely going to get this book once it comes out for the U.S. This September! It looks great!

So, has anyone gotten it yet? Is it just revisions or was it redone?