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Loose Chippings
While driving through the English countryside, an American professor finds himself in a village which doesn't appear on the map and seems strangely old-fashioned.
- GenresFantasy
192 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1969
68 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Wheeler
37 books168 followersThomas "Tom" Wheeler is an American screenwriter and producer. He sold his first screenplay at age twenty-two, to Twentieth Century Fox. He has continued to work on major Hollywood features for the last several years. He served as the executive producer and show runner for the NBC superhero series The Cape.
Wheeler began his television career writing and executive producing the ABC mini-series Empire in 2005. He then wrote two television pilots, The World According to Barnes and Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas, neither of which were taken to series. His series The Cape, about a police officer framed for a crime he did not commit who takes on the guise of his son's favorite comic book hero in order to clear his name, premiered on NBC on January 9, 2011.
Film work
Wheeler co-wrote the screenplay for Puss in Boots (2011), a spin-off from the Shrek franchise about the eponymous character.
He is currently writing the screenplay for the 2015 DreamWorks Animation's animated film B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations. But that film was quietly canceled. He was also co-writing another DWA's animated film Trollhunters together with film's co-director Guillermo del Toro, but the movie was then converted into a television series instead. Wheeler also wrote the 2017 live-action/animated film, The Lego Ninjago Movie.
Other writing
As of 2018, Wheeler is working with Frank Miller on a project called Cursed, which is an illustrated YA book reimagining the King Arthur legend from the point of view of the Lady of the Lake. Wheeler will write the prose, while Miller will provide original full-color and black-and-white illustrations. Miller and Wheeler will also simultaneously adapt the book into a TV series, which has already received a 10-episode order from Netflix. They will also both be executive producers on the project.
Wheeler lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Christina, and his son, Luca. The Arcanum is his first novel.
Wheeler began his television career writing and executive producing the ABC mini-series Empire in 2005. He then wrote two television pilots, The World According to Barnes and Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas, neither of which were taken to series. His series The Cape, about a police officer framed for a crime he did not commit who takes on the guise of his son's favorite comic book hero in order to clear his name, premiered on NBC on January 9, 2011.
Film work
Wheeler co-wrote the screenplay for Puss in Boots (2011), a spin-off from the Shrek franchise about the eponymous character.
He is currently writing the screenplay for the 2015 DreamWorks Animation's animated film B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations. But that film was quietly canceled. He was also co-writing another DWA's animated film Trollhunters together with film's co-director Guillermo del Toro, but the movie was then converted into a television series instead. Wheeler also wrote the 2017 live-action/animated film, The Lego Ninjago Movie.
Other writing
As of 2018, Wheeler is working with Frank Miller on a project called Cursed, which is an illustrated YA book reimagining the King Arthur legend from the point of view of the Lady of the Lake. Wheeler will write the prose, while Miller will provide original full-color and black-and-white illustrations. Miller and Wheeler will also simultaneously adapt the book into a TV series, which has already received a 10-episode order from Netflix. They will also both be executive producers on the project.
Wheeler lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Christina, and his son, Luca. The Arcanum is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 30, 2014
I don't know what made me pick up this book in the first place years ago. I think it was the title. Anyway, it has become a very big favorite of mine.
For those who would like to escape the tedium of their everyday world, this is it. Robert Vickery an American scholar travels to England and stumbles upon this idyllic little village in a valley. Everything is magical and, despite his misgivings, he eventually thinks of staying.
Before he can become a resident of this little town, he has a few obstacles to overcome such as charges by English legal authorities and a visit to the area psychiatrist.
For those who would like to escape the tedium of their everyday world, this is it. Robert Vickery an American scholar travels to England and stumbles upon this idyllic little village in a valley. Everything is magical and, despite his misgivings, he eventually thinks of staying.
Before he can become a resident of this little town, he has a few obstacles to overcome such as charges by English legal authorities and a visit to the area psychiatrist.
May 19, 2015
Out of the hundreds of books I read as a boy, this is one whose title, at least, has always stuck with me. I remember it as being charming, whimsical, and even a bit magical, which is to be expected I suppose, since IIRC the theme of the story is somewhat akin to "Brigadoon."
December 21, 2014
This book has stuck with me. It is a magical and enduring story that I hope gets republished at some point.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews