Novels based on movies.

[SlitheryDee]

We all know that there have been many great movies based on novels. Has it ever worked the other way around? I'm not talking about the ongoing series type books like the huge collection that is set in the Star Wars universe.

I'm talking about one movie which spawned one book. The movie has to have clearly come first and the book second. It doesn't have to be a great movie, but it has to have inspired a great book.

Any suggestions?

 

[BigJ]

Books based on the Star Wars universe.

 

[DrPizza]

I think it could be argued that Bram Stoker's Dracula and the movies it spawned inspired a great deal of novels. Even though the tales were out there first, it was the horror movie which inspired more writers.

 

[DangerAardvark]

2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.

Now we're getting somewhere. This is a book that I would have read long ago had I know that it existed.

Thanks!

 

[Spydermag68]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.</end quote></div>

Now we're getting somewhere. This is a book that I would have read long ago had I know that it existed.

Thanks!

The movie was based on the short story, "The Sentinel"

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Spydermag68
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.</end quote></div>

Now we're getting somewhere. This is a book that I would have read long ago had I know that it existed.

Thanks!</end quote></div>

The movie was based on the short story, "The Sentinel"

Well that technically makes the movie outside the scope of this thread, but it at least gives me another good story to read.

Thanks! More suggestions please?

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Do you mean books other than just a novelization of the movie itself?

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Do you mean books other than just a novelization of the movie itself?

Aronofsky wrote a graphic novel for The Fountain, which was basically the original story he had in mind. The movie was a slightly changed story, same end meaning though.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Do you mean books other than just a novelization of the movie itself?

I would prefer something that is based directly on a movie. I intend to watch the movie and read the book if I haven't already done one or the other already. I want a solid basis for comparison.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.

<sigh>

2001 Space Odyssey is the first example that springs to my mind of a movie that was far superior to the book. Like the original short story, the movie knows when to stop explaining things and let the reader/viewer exercise thier imaginations. Unfortunately, the book ruins the story by trying to explain everything. And this only got worse with the subsequent books in the "series" (just as it did with the Rama series).

 

[spherrod]

Weren't Blade Runner and Total Recall based on novels/short stories? Can't think of anything the other way around.

Dune also springs to mind.

ah - wasn't sure about Dune's history at all.

 

[illusion88]

yeah but dune was based off the book

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.

Not really. Clarke and and Kubrick developed them SIMULTANEOUSLY, working back and worth, making changes here and there, resulting in the final product of both.

 

[Linflas]

The few times that I have mistakenly picked up a book that was written based on a movie I have inevitably been disappointed.

BTW OP RAH's 100th birthday is coming up soon.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Do you mean books other than just a novelization of the movie itself?</end quote></div>

I would prefer something that is based directly on a movie. I intend to watch the movie and read the book if I haven't already done one or the other already. I want a solid basis for comparison.

Try the novelization of Hellboy then. There are Hellboy novels inspired by the comics, but those are different than the book that is the novelization of the movie.

 

[Savij]

I read GhostBusters 2 and it was AWESOME

 

[opticalmace]

Originally posted by: PowerEngineer
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.</end quote></div>

<sigh>

2001 Space Odyssey is the first example that springs to my mind of a movie that was far superior to the book. Like the original short story, the movie knows when to stop explaining things and let the reader/viewer exercise thier imaginations. Unfortunately, the book ruins the story by trying to explain everything. And this only got worse with the subsequent books in the "series" (just as it did with the Rama series).

Rendezvous with Rama was a kick in the pants.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: opticalmace
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: PowerEngineer
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DangerAardvark
2001: Space Odyssey. The screenplay was written first and the novel is miles more interesting.</end quote></div>

<sigh>

2001 Space Odyssey is the first example that springs to my mind of a movie that was far superior to the book. Like the original short story, the movie knows when to stop explaining things and let the reader/viewer exercise thier imaginations. Unfortunately, the book ruins the story by trying to explain everything. And this only got worse with the subsequent books in the "series" (just as it did with the Rama series).

</end quote></div>

Rendezvous with Rama was a kick in the pants.

Yeah it was. I think he's referring to the sequels though.