All the Wrong Questions
| Company type | Book series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Lemony Snicket (pseudonym of Daniel Handler) |
| Products | Children's novels |
| Parent | Little, Brown and Company (US), Egmont Publishing (UK) |
All the Wrong Questions comprises a quartet of children's novels serving as a prelude to A Series of Unfortunate Events, authored by Lemony Snicket—the pseudonym of American writer Daniel Handler. This series explores Snicket's early years as an apprentice within the clandestine organization V.F.D., thereby broadening the narrative world first introduced in The Bad Beginning, the initial volume of the original thirteen-book saga.
In August 2009, Handler secured a publishing agreement with Egmont Publishing in the United Kingdom, followed by a contract with Little, Brown and Company in the United States in November 2009 to create this new series. Although he transitioned from his previous publisher, HarperCollins, to Little, Brown, Handler maintained his working relationship with longtime editor Susan Rich.
The debut installment, Who Could That Be at This Hour?, was released on October 23, 2012. It was succeeded by When Did You See Her Last? on October 15, 2013; Shouldn't You Be in School?, which appeared on September 30, 2014; and finally Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights?, published on September 29, 2015. Additionally, a companion book titled File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents came out on April 1, 2014.
Premise
Set across four volumes, the narrative centers on thirteen-year-old Lemony Snicket who relocates to Stain'd-by-the-Sea—a deserted town left empty after the shutdown of Ink Inc., a prominent ink manufacturing plant, and the subsequent draining of the surrounding sea. Throughout the series, Snicket recounts four distinct adventures, each revolving around a mistaken inquiry he made. Accompanied by his guardian S. Theodora Markson, he delves into various mysteries involving criminal activity while encountering both allies and foes, most notably the antagonist Hangfire.
Running concurrently is the storyline of Lemony’s sister Kit, who embarks on her own V.F.D. mission. Lemony’s chief goal is to safeguard a statue known as the Bombinating Beast from those intent on acquiring it, including Hangfire himself.
Characters
- Lemony Snicket: narrator and central figure; a thirteen-year-old apprentice affiliated with V.F.D. residing in Stain'd-by-the-Sea.
- S. Theodora Markson: Snicket’s chaperone; an ineffectual member of V.F.D. distinguished by her untamed hair.
- Moxie Mallahan: an aspiring reporter abandoned by her mother and living in Stain'd-by-the-Sea.
- Ellington Feint: enigmatic young woman seeking to exchange the Bombinating Beast with Hangfire to save her father.
- Dashiell Qwerty: town’s "sub-librarian," recognizable by his wild hair and leather jacket.
- Pip and Squeak Bellerophon: siblings temporarily operating a taxi service due to their father’s illness.
- Jake Hix: chef employed at Hungry's restaurant under his aunt’s supervision; romantically involved with Cleo Knight.
- Cleo Knight: chemist working on invisible ink development; girlfriend of Jake Hix.
- Hangfire: principal villain; criminal mastermind pursuing the Bombinating Beast through abduction and other illicit acts; founder of the Inhumane Society with abilities to mimic voices.
- Stew Mitchum: son of police officers Harvey and Mimi; secretly hostile toward Snicket and an admirer of Hangfire.
- Harvey and Mimi Mitchum: quarrelsome police officers who are also devoted parents within the community.
- Prosper Lost: inquisitive proprietor of the Lost Arms hotel where Snicket and Theodora reside.
- Kellar Haines: swift typist and friend of Lemony’s determined to rescue his sister Lizzie from Hangfire’s grasp.
- Sharon Haines: collaborator with Hangfire who impersonates an official figure to protect her daughter Lizzie.
- Dame Sally Murphy: renowned theatrical figure allied with Hangfire.
- Ornette Lost: Prosper’s daughter skilled in origami and firefighting techniques.
- Doctor Flammarion and Nurse Dander: associates working for Hangfire at Colophon Clinic serving the Knight family.
- Kit Snicket: Lemony’s sister and dedicated V.F.D. operative engaged in a museum break-in mission; captured alongside Ellington.
- Lizzie Haines: daughter of Sharon and sister to Kellar.
- Gifford and Ghede: active members within V.F.D.
- Walleye, Pocket, and Eratosthenes: librarians encountered by Lemony during train travel.
- Polly Partial: owner of a grocery establishment in Stain'd-by-the-Sea.
- Zada and Zora: twin maids serving the Knight household.
Background
In August 2009, the publishing company Egmont acquired the rights to a new series authored by Snicket. By November of the same year, Little, Brown and Company obtained the rights for distribution in North America. Although this series shares some elements with A Series of Unfortunate Events, it notably does not feature the Baudelaire siblings. Daniel Handler, writing under the pseudonym Snicket, described the work as "largely a completely new narrative" that contains subtle links for loyal readers, emphasizing that it is not a direct sequel.
By January 2010, Handler characterized the series as "an idea still in its infancy" and indicated intentions to begin writing during that year. He was in the process of crafting plot details and selecting a title, suggesting that the storyline would "explore that question mark from an alternative perspective." Later, in October 2010, Snicket disclosed that this series is aimed at an older youth audience and is inspired by aspects of his own experiences. The setting predates the events involving the Baudelaire children.
Promotion
The title of the series, All the Wrong Questions, along with its first installment, Who Could That Be at This Hour?, was officially announced on February 8, 2012. The narrative delves into Lemony Snicket’s early years within a covert organization. The initial print run for the first book was one million copies, with its release date on October 23, 2012. Prior to this announcement, the title had been subtly referenced as "The First Question." The follow-up volume is named When Did You See Her Last?.
Chapter One of Who Could That Be at This Hour? was initially published on June 1, 2012, on the website of Entertainment Weekly, followed three days later by a release on The Guardian’s platform featuring accompanying illustrations. Further chapters and artwork were shared with fans through the 667 Dark Avenue website as a gesture of appreciation toward Daniel Handler. The first two chapters were also distributed in promotional briefcases during BookExpo America and subsequently made accessible on the series’ official online portal. Chapters three and four were included alongside the initial chapters as a preview e-book available on Amazon and Google Play.
See also
External links
- (US)