Pat Tillman Book Pulled

Posted on June 27, 2008

The much-anticipated book by Jon Krakauer, The Hero, is being withdrawn from Doubleday's fall list at the request of the author. The book's centerpiece is Pat Tillman, whose controversial death in Afghanistan from friendly fire is still being debated.

Those anticipating Jon Krakauer's meditation on the nature of heroism, examined through the story of Pat Tillman, the former football star killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire, may have to wait quite a bit longer than they planned. According to Doubleday, which had The Hero scheduled for October (and planned go to press with a hefty 500,000-first-printing), Krakauer has withdrawn the title.
Krakauer is apparently unhappy with the manuscript and is holding onto it indefinitely. David Drake at Doubleday confirmed that the decision was entirely the author's and that, while the imprint is "disappointed," it supports its author. Speaking to the book's future, Drake said the situation is "a little bit wait and see" and that if the book does get rescheduled it likely wouldn't come out until at least 2009.

This is most peculiar. We can't imagine why Krakauer would be unhappy with his manuscript. Could the Tillman family have objected? Or perhaps he got a call from the military? We'll be keeping an eye on this one.