Where Should You Start Reading Anthony McCarten?
Because Anthony McCarten is a true polymath working across fiction, non-fiction, playwriting, and filmmaking, the best starting point depends entirely on what kind of reader you are. However, for most newcomers, we recommend beginning with one of two distinct entry points:
- For Fiction Lovers: Start with Going Zero (2023). This high-concept, fast-paced surveillance thriller is his most commercially successful novel. It is incredibly accessible, highly cinematic, and acts as a perfect introduction to his modern storytelling style.
- For Fans of Drama and Biography: Start with The Two Popes (2019). Originally conceived as a play and later turned into a critically acclaimed non-fiction book and film, it showcases McCarten’s unique ability to find the relatable, human core inside world-famous, larger-than-life icons.
The Standalone Novels
While McCarten is famous for his screenplays, he is an accomplished novelist. His standalone fiction ranges from historical dramas to quirky comedies and modern thrillers:
- Spinners (1999): McCarten's debut novel. Set in a small New Zealand town, it tells the story of a teenager who claims to have been impregnated by an alien, sending the community into a frenzy. It is a brilliant mix of dark humor and local flavor.
- The English Harem (2001): A cross-cultural love story set in London that explores the relationship between a working-class English woman and a Persian restaurant owner who practices polygamy. It was later adapted into a television drama.
- Brilliance (2003): A fictionalized historical account of the famous "War of the Currents." It dramatizes the fierce rivalry between Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and financier J.P. Morgan.
- Show of Hands / Endurance (2007): This novel has been published under two different titles depending on the market. It follows a group of desperate individuals competing in a grueling endurance contest where they must keep their hands on a car to win it. McCarten wrote and directed a feature film adaptation of this story in 2008.
- Going Zero (2023): A high-stakes tech thriller about ten everyday citizens challenged to go completely off the grid for thirty days to test a new, all-seeing surveillance state index. A young librarian manages to evade the high-tech manhunt, leading to a cat-and-mouse chase.
The Superhero Dilogy (Fiction Series)
While McCarten mostly writes standalone projects, he has written one narrative sequel. If you want a connected series, you should read these two novels in order:
- Death of a Superhero (2005): This poignant novel follows Donald Delpe, a terminally ill 15-year-old who uses his artistic talents to draw a comic book superhero named Miracleman to cope with his impending mortality. It is a beautiful blend of comedy, grief, and comic book culture that was adapted into a 2011 film.
- In the Absence of Heroes (2012): The direct sequel to Death of a Superhero. It follows the Delpe family after they relocate from New Zealand to North London. The story focuses on the fallout of grief, family collapse, and the ways modern internet addiction affects personal relationships.
Non-Fiction and "The Worship Trilogy"
McCarten's non-fiction works are closely linked to his dramatic screenplays. In particular, he has grouped three of his biographical projects into what he calls "The Worship Trilogy"—pieces that analyze our modern obsession with different kinds of power:
- The Darkest Hour (2017): A companion non-fiction book to his Oscar-winning screenplay, focusing on Winston Churchill's critical early days of leadership during World War II when Britain stood on the brink of surrender.
- The Two Popes (2019): The first part of the "Worship Trilogy" (exploring the worship of religion). It examines the historic relationship and ideological conflict between Pope Benedict XVI and the future Pope Francis.
- The Collaboration (2022 stage play / upcoming media): The second part of the trilogy (exploring the worship of art). It follows the creative partnership between pop artist Andy Warhol and young prodigy Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1980s New York.
- Warren and Bill (2024 book): The final installment of the trilogy (exploring the worship of money). This non-fiction book details the 30-year friendship and philanthropic collaboration between Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
Stage Plays and Screenplays
For readers who enjoy reading scripts or want to explore McCarten's theatrical history, his published plays offer rich experiences:
- Ladies' Night (originally co-written in 1987, published 2017): A massive global comedy success about a group of unemployed blue-collar men who decide to put on a male strip show. It won France's prestigious Molière Prize.
- The Theory of Everything (2014): Listed in bibliographies as a published script, this is McCarten's acclaimed biographical screenplay about the life of physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane.
- The Collaboration (2022): McCarten's stage play detailing the high-ego clash and artistic collaboration of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
What to Know Before You Start
Because McCarten works across multiple mediums, many of his books share names with his movies or plays. For example, The Two Popes, Darkest Hour, and Death of a Superhero exist as both books and feature films. Additionally, note that Show of Hands and Endurance are the exact same book; you do not need to purchase both. Lastly, you should read Death of a Superhero before In the Absence of Heroes to fully appreciate the family's emotional arc.