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Great Science Fiction Film Stories
This has 4 great stories in 1 volume. E.T., Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Star Trek Wrath of Khan.
648 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
17 people want to read
About the author
William Kotzwinkle
82 books257 followersWilliam Kotzwinkle is a two-time recipient of the National Magazine Award for Fiction, a winner of the World Fantasy Award, the Prix Litteraire des Bouquinistes des Quais de Paris, the PETA Award for Children's Books, and a Book Critics Circle award nominee. His work has been translated into dozens of languages.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 15, 2020
This has been a blast of nostalgia I can tell you - a real trip back to my childhood, the good the bad and the strange.
The book as the blurb says contains the novelisations of 4 great Sci-Fi films, Star Wars, ET, Close Encounters and Star Trek 2. Now I will say to start with I am not sure how these versions of the stories came about as I know that Star Wars for example has had several versions written over the years and rather like the original films has been "tinkered with" through the years.
So reading these versions (as I cannot be sure they are the definitive originals) I have had mixed journey (hence the 3 stars). From the rather vague but generally recognisable to the totally different version of ET (the story was told from the perspective of ET) to the more expansive version of Close encounters (not surprising considering the film now exists as the longer "editors cut") to the instantly recognisable Star Trek 2.
Now I will be the first one to declare that books from a film (or vice-a-versa) are different and I will say for the record that is something I LOVE but there is something some ingrained about these films that when they are told in a different form they can have surprising effects.
So yes I did enjoy this book and yes I enjoyed some of the stories more than others but in this one instance I think the films are still the best if nothing more for what they represent to me. I am sure there are others who will disagree but thats fine.
The book as the blurb says contains the novelisations of 4 great Sci-Fi films, Star Wars, ET, Close Encounters and Star Trek 2. Now I will say to start with I am not sure how these versions of the stories came about as I know that Star Wars for example has had several versions written over the years and rather like the original films has been "tinkered with" through the years.
So reading these versions (as I cannot be sure they are the definitive originals) I have had mixed journey (hence the 3 stars). From the rather vague but generally recognisable to the totally different version of ET (the story was told from the perspective of ET) to the more expansive version of Close encounters (not surprising considering the film now exists as the longer "editors cut") to the instantly recognisable Star Trek 2.
Now I will be the first one to declare that books from a film (or vice-a-versa) are different and I will say for the record that is something I LOVE but there is something some ingrained about these films that when they are told in a different form they can have surprising effects.
So yes I did enjoy this book and yes I enjoyed some of the stories more than others but in this one instance I think the films are still the best if nothing more for what they represent to me. I am sure there are others who will disagree but thats fine.
June 26, 2021
(Four film novelizations are contained in this collection)
Star Wars 4/5 - all hail Alan Dean Foster, though second half felt rushed.
ET 2/5 - terrible. ET has a crush on the mom? And emits mist from his toes?!? Even his drunken escapade felt bad
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 2/5 - makes a good story boring, and Roy sexually assaults his wife. Yuck.
Star Trek II 4/5 - Great read, thrilling pace, and chokes you up at the key moments.
Star Wars 4/5 - all hail Alan Dean Foster, though second half felt rushed.
ET 2/5 - terrible. ET has a crush on the mom? And emits mist from his toes?!? Even his drunken escapade felt bad
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 2/5 - makes a good story boring, and Roy sexually assaults his wife. Yuck.
Star Trek II 4/5 - Great read, thrilling pace, and chokes you up at the key moments.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews