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The Todd Dossier
First Published: 1969 Publisher: Delacorte Format: Hardcover |
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Summary: Ultra-wealthy Hollis Todd’s debilitated body is in desperate need of a new heart. His prayers are bittersweetly answered when Ex-Olympian Tony Polanski is critically injured in an automobile accident and the athlete’s heart subsequently transplanted into Todd. One of the operating surgeons becomes suspicious regarding Todd’s fortuitous “gift,” but his pursuit of the truth puts him in increasing danger. Perhaps the old adage “Money cannot buy good health” depends on…the amount of money?
Bloch: “My New York literary agent, Harry Altshuler, called with an offer to novelize a screenplay. Having done that once before, with The Couch, I had no particular desire to repeat the experience, but Harry assured me the circumstances were different. What I was to adapt was more a lengthy, in-depth story treatment by mainstream novelists Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. Husband and wife, they were collaborating on a film to be produced by Collier Young. It was he who had approached publishers offering to supply them with a novel version for paperback release.”
Background: Often considered a Bloch pseudonym, there actually was a Collier Young, as related above. The agreement as relayed to Bloch through his agent Altshuler was that payment was to be for a paperback-only release. The novelization complete and submitted to the publisher, one day Bloch received a call from Young himself, who (dubiously) claimed that the publisher had insisted on crediting authorship of the book to him. Young also stated that he had protested the decision to no avail.
When Bloch reviewed his contract, he discovered that nowhere did it stipulate that his name must be credited as author of the book. He additionally learned that the book would also be appearing in a hardcover version—another break from the initial agreement and for which Bloch would receive no royalties. With no legal recourse, both hardcover and paperback editions of The Todd Dossier continue to credit Young as the author.
Bloch: “My New York literary agent, Harry Altshuler, called with an offer to novelize a screenplay. Having done that once before, with The Couch, I had no particular desire to repeat the experience, but Harry assured me the circumstances were different. What I was to adapt was more a lengthy, in-depth story treatment by mainstream novelists Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. Husband and wife, they were collaborating on a film to be produced by Collier Young. It was he who had approached publishers offering to supply them with a novel version for paperback release.”
Background: Often considered a Bloch pseudonym, there actually was a Collier Young, as related above. The agreement as relayed to Bloch through his agent Altshuler was that payment was to be for a paperback-only release. The novelization complete and submitted to the publisher, one day Bloch received a call from Young himself, who (dubiously) claimed that the publisher had insisted on crediting authorship of the book to him. Young also stated that he had protested the decision to no avail.
When Bloch reviewed his contract, he discovered that nowhere did it stipulate that his name must be credited as author of the book. He additionally learned that the book would also be appearing in a hardcover version—another break from the initial agreement and for which Bloch would receive no royalties. With no legal recourse, both hardcover and paperback editions of The Todd Dossier continue to credit Young as the author.
Bibliography
US: Delacorte Press; hc 1969
UK: Macmillan; hc 1969
US: Dell; pb 1970
France: Ex Libris, Lausanne ("L'Etrange Affaire Todd"); hc 1971
France: Albin Michel ("L'Etrange Affaire Todd"); pb 1971
UK: Panther; pb 1972
France: NEO ("L'Etrange Affaire Todd"); pb 1985
UK: Macmillan; hc 1969
US: Dell; pb 1970
France: Ex Libris, Lausanne ("L'Etrange Affaire Todd"); hc 1971
France: Albin Michel ("L'Etrange Affaire Todd"); pb 1971
UK: Panther; pb 1972
France: NEO ("L'Etrange Affaire Todd"); pb 1985