Back to the Future, Part 3

Back to the Future #3

by Craig Shaw Gardner

Marty McFly is stuck in 1955 without a time machine, but he must find a way to the year 1855, where Doc Brown is trapped and being hunted by desperados

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Westerns, Fantasy, Adventure, Media Tie In

248 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Craig Shaw Gardner was born in Rochester, New York and lived there until 1967, when he moved to Boston, MA to attend Boston University. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Broadcasting and Film. He has continued to reside in Boston since that time.

He published his first story in 1977 while he held a number of jobs: shipper/receiver for a men's suit manufacturer, working in hospital public relations, running a stat camera, and also managed of a couple of bookstores: The Million Year Picnic and Science Fantasy Bookstore.

As of 1987 he became a full time writer, and since then he has published more than 30 novels and more than 50 short stories.

He also published under these pseudonyms:

Peter Garrison

Reviews

[Pappy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was no doubt a 5 ⭐️ read for me. This has always been my favorite movie of the trilogy and the book did not disappoint at all. I absolutely loved every minute of it! If anyone else is a fan of this I definitely recommend reading in its entirety. What a great and nostalgic experience for me.

[Jason Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to three. Or maybe a real three. I don't know, and it doesn't matter. Gardner has improved... I guess. The writing was much less obnoxious than in part II, though it still had its annoyances. For example, he started almost every section from Doc's point of view with "Great Scott!" I know he says it a lot in the films, but Jesus, dude, give it a rest.

I think this novelization was closest to the movie out of all three, but there were a couple of changes, one of them quite surprising. Buford Tannen murders Marshall Strickland by shooting him in the back. I guess this was changed so the movie didn't have to go to a PG-13 rating, but that's just me thinking out loud. You know, instead of guessing, I could research it. Stand by...

...Okay. That scene was filmed but deemed too dark for a family film, and it was cut. This explains why the deputies arrest Tannen instead of Strickland. It also explains why the camera cuts away from the deputy talking when he says Tannen's under arrest for "robbing the Pine City Stage," because he actually said "the murder of Marshal James Strickland," and it was dubbed over. I had never noticed that before. Also, Marty meets a seven or eight-year-old D.W. Griffith. It's just one quick scene, not even a page, but it begs the question "why?" It was pointless. Sure, Marty mentions the word "movie" in front of the kid, but it adds nothing to the book. I wonder if that part was also in the original screenplay.

This movie might be my favorite in the trilogy (it depends on the day). That doesn't mean it's the best, just the one I like and enjoy watching the most. I confess that I have a soft spot for some westerns, so that should be taken into account. I remember my dad taking me to see this in the theater when I was 11. I was getting hip to how movies were done at that age, and I kept making predictions about what would happen next, such as "I bet there will be real Indians there when he goes back in time." Daddy finally asked if I had seen it before. I said no, and might've even shut up about the rest of it. Let's face it though; these things are pretty formulaic and like to echo each other, so it's not hard to see what's coming.

However, this book was not my favorite in the trilogy. While the annoyances were dampened compared to part II, they still distracted me from simply enjoying the book. As sad as it is to say, part I was the best book even though Gipe messed up the characters if you've seen the movie. At least I wasn't rolling my eyes and groaning over the quality of his prose. Gardner can't make that claim.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember reading this as a kid back in 1990 around the time the movie came out. Good memories!

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to the movie, but no exciting insights.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally read this back in the 90s. Decided to reread again in 2021.

Another excellent adaptation. Not quite as much new in this one compared to Part I, or even Part II.

However, I enjoyed reading it and I liked the little tidbits it did add.

[Vinnie Civitillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess the author had the last book to warm up because, while this is ultimately more of the same, the writing was slightly better this time around. For those who made it through the other two novelizations, there's no reason not to embrace the Sunk Cost Fallacy and finish the trilogy, but this was the closest to the original film (adding only a filmed, but deleted, scene involving Marshall Strickland and a scene where Marty struggles to go to the bathroom in an 1885 outhouse... because that was necessary?...) so those looking for "more" than what was on screen will be disappointed. One thing that did strike me as odd was that the movie assumes you've seen Part II, while the book does not, so all of the things that were setup for later in Part II (like the bulletproof vest he sees in A Fistful of Dollars) are setup again here, which I found mildly annoying since it felt like they were hitting you over the head with foreshadowing that was slightly more subtle when it was left in the previous film. For the die-hards only.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUTHOR: Craig Shaw Gardner
TITLE: Back to the Future III
DATE READ: 11/29/20
TIME/PLACE: 10:15 pm, my bed in the Master Bedroom
RATING: 8/10
FIRST SENTENCE: This was really déjà vu.
GENRE: Science Fiction (time traveling)
PUB DATE/PUBLISHER: 6/1/1990, Berkley Books
TYPE: Paperback
# OF PAGES: 248
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: series, #3 Back to the Future
CHALLENGE: none
LIST READ: Book/Movie combo
CHARACTERS: Marty McFly, Doc Emmett L. Brown, Buford Tannen, Clara Clayton, Seamus, Maggie & William McFly, Horses Galileo, Archimedes, Newton
LOCATION: Hill Valley (fictional), CA - Wild West
TIME: 1885/1955/1985
COMMENTS: I liked this one more than the second in the series. The touch of romance was quite touching in advance years. The suspense of when Clara faces death twice was quite exciting. The train engine chugging gets your heart beating.

[Zheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, that's right I enjoyed Back to the Future, Part 3. It was a quick fun little read. I mean come on I already knew the ending and I still enjoyed it. Having that been said, I'd still rather watch the movie over reading the book!

[Eric Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the only book in the trilogy that follows the movie as closely as possible. There are a few minor changes and includes the deleted scene of Marshal Strickland's death. Other than that, this was an entertaining read and, thankfully, there's only one edition. (Part II had two novels released, a blue copy that's unedited and a white copy that edited out all the swearing.)

[Dawn Filler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and could vividly remember the movie as I read every page. I like the writing style that made action scenes seem real. Love the characters and story. Definitely worth reading if you are a fan of Back to the Future series.

[Joseph Fleming IV · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now finished reading all of the back to the future movie Novels they were a joy to read so much fun and definitely expanded story the books had the same amount of magic that the movies had and it was a joy to read all of these books

[Alice May · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could rate this 6/5 I would. One of the best books I've read! Made me cry tears of joy and nostalgia while reading it. I especially love the additional aspects this book brings to the movie/ pre existing plot

[Jo Glasgow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this installment more every time I read/watch it.
The Book has a lot more dream sequences that I enjoy as it adds to their panic a lot more.
The whole trilogy will always be amazing in my eyes.
5☆s all round

[Angie S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good novelization. Only one big difference from book to big screen. But learning a little more about what they were thinking puts a new spin on a couple of points in the movie. Definitely one of the better movie novelizations that I've read.

[Jason Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Roger Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

So the hoverboard is made out of wood? Great Scott!

[Ole Andreasen · Rating 4 out of 5]

And then the last of the three... Excellent book, excellent story. Now Ill rush to see the movie version of them all. Ye-haaaa

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying conclusion

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and romantic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gr1972 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5

[Kendal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun finale to the trilogy. A touching scene about Marshall Strickland is shot, and his dying words.

Please, no BTTF IV, and no reboots.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Came across this book recently and enjoyed it just as well as the movie.

[Maria Vittoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molto meglio del 2

[Sid · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd and last part of back to the future trilogy...
Wow! i can't believe this time the previous Doc Emmit fell inlove with the beautiful town folk girl. a lot of twisting memories for this part, Marty able to engage the fastest gun man the first generation of Biff Tennan. Tennan sucks and megalomaniac for his hilarious image. The Mcfly meets their own longest and future grand son marty, i can't believe the 1885 era is not that kind of boring, it's awesome like clint eastwood movie: unforgiven. the time is running marty and doc! go back to the present and destroy the watch tower! hehehe(weird)

[Hui Yi · Rating 5 out of 5]

BTTF3 some scenes on books are not shown in the film. it's a great movie, I wonder if it takes the whole book in the movie, how would it look like too. this movie version is great. michael J Fox looks like beatles Paul McCartney in that pink cowboy costume, then I become MJF fans. perfect. yes very perfect.

Doc Brown who never talks about love. has a woman Clara Clayton (Clara) .... I wonder where did the movie boss find a lady for Doc Brown. he is a dog lover. dog person himself. like marty maybe.

I wonder one thing very strange, dont blame me guys. how can the white dog Copernicus read what the graveyard writes?

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 62. Back To The Future Part 3 by Craig Shaw Gardner

Page Count : 214

Out of the 3 books in this series, this book is the closest to the film story that it is based on.

There were not as many differences as in the other two books, but that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book at all.

I absolutely love this book and could almost hear Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd narrating it in my head along with other actors from the film.

I will never get bored reading this book and definitely recommend them to fans of the films.


5*
*****

[Eric]

In Back to the Future part 3, the final book of the trilogy, Marty is yet again sent to the past, but this time he is sent to the times of the great pioneers. he goes back because the profesor is in trouble once again. i liked how Gardner is able to project a real cowboy like world into the reader's mind. it is also interesting how Marty is a hero even in the past, but is not from their time. this book is a great end to the series and the plot of the story is great, as expected.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Dad used his ultra-deluxe black and white scanner to make me a cover sheet for the book report I did on this wonderful novelization back in Elementary School. True, it may have been a quick way to do an exceptionally thorough report, but when the school library coughs up a gem like this Haley doesn't ask questions. Later purchased my own copy on eBay.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome! It was definitely the best book I've ever read. It had a great story and was very easy to understand. I really enjoyed reading this book. It really made me excited to read more!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like the Back to the Future movies, this is your chance to get into Marty and Doc's heads. With one slight (and morbid) change, plus a few changes in 1-liners, and the movie appears before you as it's read. Of course, the book is a must for the ones obsessed with this sci-fi series.