begin energetically trying to eliminate the other". Saunders initially wanted it to be a children's book before it "became about genocide". He worked on the story for about six years, from 1999 to 2005, "on and off" as a side project, with the book reaching about 300 pages at one point. Saunders reduced the length of the story by removing several scenes which he said "had to go, because they, in the context of the book, slowed things down, made a story that I hoped would feel catastrophic and a little scary, feel leisurely." References External links 2005 American novels American satirical novels American political novels American novellas Riverhead Books books