A Manhattan federal judge today ruled to ban the American publication of 60 Years Later: Coming Through the Rye — an unofficial sequel to Catcher in the Rye, featuring Holden Caulfield as a 76-year-old man, by John David California (real name: Fredrik Colting) — on the grounds that it infringes on J.D. Salinger's copyright. Last month, judge Deborah Batts granted a temporary block, and today's decision will indefinitely bar the book from being released in the U.S. pending the resolution of a possible trial (which could take years). Though the name "Holden Caufield" doesn't actually appear in 60 Years Later (the protagonist goes simply by "Mr. C"), Salinger is a litigious old coot who clearly will not stand for parody. The book has already been published in Britain, though, so if you really want to read it (it doesn't even sound that great to us), there's a copy for sale on eBay.

Judge Rules for Salinger in Copyright Suit [City Room/NYT]
Earlier: Legal Challenge Imperils Reboot of Catcher in the Rye Franchise