STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 ¢ (415) 321-1200

 

 

STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Genetics

JUN ¢ 1969

Mr. W. A. Koshland
President

A.A. Knopf, publishers
501 Madison Avenue

New York, N.Y. 10022

Dear Mr. Koshland

It has just reached my attention that one of the characters
in "The Andromeda Strain" has certain biographic resemblances to
me, and might plausibly be believed to refer to me. At the same
time, the novel exhibits some personal history that bears no such
correspondance to facts, and casts the character in an uncomplimentary
light. ,

I am writing to ask your cooperation in minimizing the personal
injury that might follow from this publication, for example in the
style of your advertising which stresses the "documentary versimilitude
eee in authentic detail" of the book. I do not wish, at this time,
to call further attention to the matter by any specific statements
about it.

The further mutations that the script might undergo in being
produced £sx as a movie are a matter of even deeper concern to me.
I have written to Mr. Wise; but I would also ask you to use your
ven good offices to help assure that this is handled in a respon-
sible fashion. .

The book is an interesting one, and deserves to have a wide
sale. But I do not think it would detract from its appeal if it
were properly fictionalized. I assume that you will reassure me
that the possibility of a personal identification (through such
details as the academic position of the character!) had simply es-
caped your notice.

Yours sincere.

 
 
  

oshua Lederberg

professor of Genetics and Biology
Nobel Laureate (for work in
bacterial genetics)

LT. J. P. KENNEDY, JR. LABORATORIES FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE, DEDICATED TO RESEARCH IN MENTAL RETARDATION
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY HEREDITY NEUROBIOLOGY DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE