Jack McDevitt's "Thunderbird"

Jack McDevitt is a former English teacher, naval officer, Philadelphia taxi driver, customs officer, and motivational trainer.

In his new novel Thunderbird, a stargate more than ten thousand years old has been discovered on a Sioux reservation in North Dakota. The race to explore and claim the stargate quickly escalates, dividing those involved into opposing camps who view the teleportation technology either as an unprecedented opportunity for scientific research or a disastrous threat to security. In the middle of the maelstrom stands Sioux chairman James Walker.

Here McDevitt shares some ideas about the above-the-line talent for an adaptation of Thunderbird:

Johnny Depp as Brad Hollister.

Angela Bassett as April Cannon.

Chaske Spencer as James Walker.

Directed by Steven Spielberg.

To be honest, I never thought of an actor while I was doing the writing. All three characters are based on real people whom I have known. (Or are fusions of several.)

Learn more about the book and author at Jack McDevitt's website.

The Page 69 Test: Firebird.

The Page 69 Test: Thunderbird.

Writers Read: Jack McDevitt.

--Marshal Zeringue