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Forbidden Planet
The Novelization of the Classic 1956 Sci-Fi Movie!
POWER-MAD DR. MORBIUS MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE HE ENSLAVES THE WORLD!
Commander Adams and the crew of Spaceship C-57-D land on Altair 4, the forbidden planet, where they hope to find the survivors of a previous expedition. But the only one they find is Dr. Morbius, a scientist with a deadly plan to take over the universe. Dr. Morbius warns the earthlings to leave at once.
But Commander Adams and his crew stay—despite the terrifying attacks on their spaceship. For they know that theirs is the last chance to stop a madman from becoming Master of the Universe.
POWER-MAD DR. MORBIUS MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE HE ENSLAVES THE WORLD!
Commander Adams and the crew of Spaceship C-57-D land on Altair 4, the forbidden planet, where they hope to find the survivors of a previous expedition. But the only one they find is Dr. Morbius, a scientist with a deadly plan to take over the universe. Dr. Morbius warns the earthlings to leave at once.
But Commander Adams and his crew stay—despite the terrifying attacks on their spaceship. For they know that theirs is the last chance to stop a madman from becoming Master of the Universe.
159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1956
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 8, 2023
This book is the adaptation of a screenplay Cyril Hume wrote for the movie that came out in 1956. The author was Philip MacDonald, writing under the pseudonym W.J. Stuart. The book mostly follows the movie with a few variations here and there. In the book the narrative is told in the first person by different characters - Dr. Ostrow narrates chapters 1,2 and 6; Commander J.J. Adams narrates chapters 3, 4, 7 and 8; Edward Morbius does chapter 5. There are a forward and postscript that frame the novel in historical context for later generations. The setting is on Altair-4 (the 4th planet from the star Altair). In the year 2351, the spaceship Bellerophon was launched, and which landed on Altair-4, and was never heard from again. Twenty years later Cruiser c-57-D commanded by J.J. Adams was launched for Altair-4 to discover and possibly rescue any survivors. As they approached, they received a message from Edward Morbius warning them not to land due to dangers. Of course, they do, and the story goes from there. It's a real page turner.
August 24, 2012
Arguably the best and most famous pre-Star Trek (or Wars) film, this novel is copyrighted 1956 by Loew's International. Rather than a direct novelization of the film, the novel is told in first-person sections by the doctor, the commander, and Morbius himself. There are several subtle differences between this and the filmed version, and there are some interesting little bits thrown out that didn't make it into the movie, too... For example, you learn on the last page that Anne Francis and Leslie Nielson (I can't help picturing them that way!) get married on the way back to Earth, but that the commander has to relinquish command to Bosun Zachary Todd so the ceremony will be legal. Lots of fun little extra details like that make this a worthwhile companion piece to the movie!
September 12, 2021
Una spedizione su un pianeta della stella Altair alla ricerca della nave scomparsa Bellerofonte.
Durante la lettura mi sono venuti alla mente tutti quei film di sci-fi girati la prima metà del 900, primo fra tutti viaggio sulla luna di Melies (uno dei miei preferiti). Tra le pagine traspare quel fantastico onirico che, purtroppo, è andato via via spegnendosi nel corso della seconda metà del secolo, lasciando spazio alla "fantascienza scientifica" che oramai è diventata parte integrante della maggior parte dei libri sci-fi.
Al tempo eravamo tutti un po' più sognatori, un po' più fantasiosi.. e la fantascienza veniva vista come una finestra su un mondo magico. Non avevamo bisogno di spiegoni del perché o per come.
Semplicemente era così. E noi credevamo.
Degno di nota:
- i diversi POV suddivisi per capitoli, che a me piacciono molto.
- viene citato R.U.R., che adesso devo leggere assolutamente!
Durante la lettura mi sono venuti alla mente tutti quei film di sci-fi girati la prima metà del 900, primo fra tutti viaggio sulla luna di Melies (uno dei miei preferiti). Tra le pagine traspare quel fantastico onirico che, purtroppo, è andato via via spegnendosi nel corso della seconda metà del secolo, lasciando spazio alla "fantascienza scientifica" che oramai è diventata parte integrante della maggior parte dei libri sci-fi.
Al tempo eravamo tutti un po' più sognatori, un po' più fantasiosi.. e la fantascienza veniva vista come una finestra su un mondo magico. Non avevamo bisogno di spiegoni del perché o per come.
Semplicemente era così. E noi credevamo.
Degno di nota:
- i diversi POV suddivisi per capitoli, che a me piacciono molto.
- viene citato R.U.R., che adesso devo leggere assolutamente!
July 17, 2018
Very much like the classic sci-fi movie. There is one passage in the book that really clears up the confusion I had over a scene in the movie. There are some other differences between the book and the movie; strangely enough, I think I enjoy the movie better! That's really a switch. All in all, I enjoyed the book very much.
October 17, 2020
Godibilissimo libro che narra una missione su un pianeta che ha precedenti infausti, infatti ha già risucchiato senza traccia la prima spedizione di astronauti.
Nella stessa sinossi si parla di paradiso, e il testo è una chiara metafora fantascientifica della mela e della conoscenza proibita.
Chi osa sfidare le leggi umane del sapere ne paga lo scotto, verrà cacciato o peggio sventrato come bambole di pezza dalla Forza che regna su Altair-4.
Interessante come il capitano della spedizione di ricognizione si chiami proprio Adam e fugga via con l'unica donna presente sul pianeta.
Nella stessa sinossi si parla di paradiso, e il testo è una chiara metafora fantascientifica della mela e della conoscenza proibita.
Chi osa sfidare le leggi umane del sapere ne paga lo scotto, verrà cacciato o peggio sventrato come bambole di pezza dalla Forza che regna su Altair-4.
Interessante come il capitano della spedizione di ricognizione si chiami proprio Adam e fugga via con l'unica donna presente sul pianeta.
January 26, 2023
Ho voluto leggere il romanzo dopo aver rivisto il film durante le vacanze natalizie.
In effetti, come romanzo adattato dal film, è decisamente aderente pur con qualche differenza puramente letteraria.
Il film è uno di quelli che innovano un filone, perché alcune delle tematiche alla base di Star Trek sono qui ben presenti, e Roddenberry lo ammise calorosamente. Nel complesso la storia è invecchiata bene, è ancora godibile pur con qualche perplessità se non si è più un teenager.
4 stelle.
In effetti, come romanzo adattato dal film, è decisamente aderente pur con qualche differenza puramente letteraria.
Il film è uno di quelli che innovano un filone, perché alcune delle tematiche alla base di Star Trek sono qui ben presenti, e Roddenberry lo ammise calorosamente. Nel complesso la storia è invecchiata bene, è ancora godibile pur con qualche perplessità se non si è più un teenager.
4 stelle.
April 18, 2024
There is something about this story that really appeals to me But I can't quite put my finger on just what it is. Both the movie and the book have some IMO flaws which bothered me but overall both were great works separately. I think some of the movie is explained by the book (the Tiger and its connection to Morbius) and vice versa the movie may have done a better job visualizing the book which the author wasn't quite masterful.
Overall I think many of you will find the book and movie interesting and worth your time. Please let me know if you know what I'm finding unique about this story.
Overall I think many of you will find the book and movie interesting and worth your time. Please let me know if you know what I'm finding unique about this story.
April 12, 2023
Note: I'm noting things that happen in the book that don't happen in the movie so this means spoilers.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
COMPLAIN AND YOU WILL BE BANISHED TO A PIT OF ITCHY LEAVES UNTIL THE FULL MOON RISES!
It's a little odd I think that there are so few published versions of this book. I'm kind of used to there being a bunch of different printings of a good book but in this case there's I think maybe three versions or around that.
I'm going to compare this to the movie and point out some of the differences and also just note some things that I though were interesting in and of themselves.
The book refers to the 'jungles of Venus.' Actually Venus is almost a literal hell with sulfuric acid clouds and very high surface temperatures. There's probably no life there of any kind.
Forward: This is written as excerpts from about written about 2600 AD.
There's one federation of humans; in other words, the Earth people somehow became united.
The Bellerophon was launched in 2351; the C-57 D cruiser (one of my favorite spaceships of all times) was launched twenty years later.
It took 2 years to get to Altair 5. Due to time dilation, though, twenty years passed on Earth.
The movie has no one person's view but the book has chapters which are divided into points of view of the doctor, Adams and Morbius.
There's a lot of cigarette smoking. I would think by that are in the future cigarettes would be long gone.
There is something about deceleration that requires the crew to be tied down or in some kind of deceleration chamber.
Altair has oceans, rivers and plains. In the movie all you see in basically a near lifeless desert.
Some crewman wonders what sex Robby is.
The book establishes that there are trees, shrubs, rivers and grassland plus desert on the planet.
There's references to the 'Force' which in this case refers to whatever destroys things and kills people.
Morbius' house has some kind of outside patio.
There are 8 monkeys in the book. By the end of the book there are only 7 and it's found out that they are not normal monkeys by any means.
The cigarettes have some kind of 'igniter' caps on them.
There's a scene where Adams and others leave the house of Morbius but then stop their vehicle some distance away, get out and try to spy on what is going on. This is missing entirely from the movie.
Farman gets arrested by Adams.
Adams turns out to be the monkey killer (accidentally, though.)
Adams has a nightmare that involves hearing breathing. This happens during an early attack on the ship.
The footprints found on the ground are 15 feet apart from each other. The average human has around a 2.5 foot distance between one footprint and the other which makes the monster having six times the length of a human stride.
Here's a question that came up to me, though. There are references about the monster breathing yet why would an energy creature need to breathe?
The monster appears to be about 5.5 feet tale and 10 feet wide at the widest.
Morbius is severely arrogant and full of himself.
Even before the end of the movie Morbius seems to have some health problems.
The doctor does an autopsy on the monkey Adams ran over and it turns out t he monkey may look like a monkey but it's insides are extremely strange.
The doc goes to Morbius' house alone and gives Morbius a drug to calm him down as something was definitely wrong with him.
A motive for the death of the Bellerophon people seems to be that the monster/Morbius did not want them to leave Altair 4.
The part with the doctor and Morbius involves a lot of talking and takes up a fair bit of time which was probably why this whole part was left out of the movie.
Unlike the movie Adams talks to the doctor on the phone while the doctor is using the brain boost machine. In addition, the doctor using it several times.
The monster attacks the ship and the men end up retreating into the ship. There's a problem here because it's been established that he first ship was destroyed as it was launching to return to Earth so why hasn't the crew of the cruiser realized that, if they take off to get away from the monster, their ship will also probably be destroyed.
Then the scene shifts to the monster's attack on Morbius' house which is pretty much how the movie handles it. As in the movie Morbius stops the monster, sets the planet to blow up, dies and the cruiser takes off and sees Altair 4 blow up.
Then there's another section of the report to finish the book.
I can see why parts of the book were left out because it would have made the movie too long. The story in the book is dated, of course, but it's still very well done (based on The Tempest by Shakespeare) and pretty much makes sense.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
COMPLAIN AND YOU WILL BE BANISHED TO A PIT OF ITCHY LEAVES UNTIL THE FULL MOON RISES!
It's a little odd I think that there are so few published versions of this book. I'm kind of used to there being a bunch of different printings of a good book but in this case there's I think maybe three versions or around that.
I'm going to compare this to the movie and point out some of the differences and also just note some things that I though were interesting in and of themselves.
The book refers to the 'jungles of Venus.' Actually Venus is almost a literal hell with sulfuric acid clouds and very high surface temperatures. There's probably no life there of any kind.
Forward: This is written as excerpts from about written about 2600 AD.
There's one federation of humans; in other words, the Earth people somehow became united.
The Bellerophon was launched in 2351; the C-57 D cruiser (one of my favorite spaceships of all times) was launched twenty years later.
It took 2 years to get to Altair 5. Due to time dilation, though, twenty years passed on Earth.
The movie has no one person's view but the book has chapters which are divided into points of view of the doctor, Adams and Morbius.
There's a lot of cigarette smoking. I would think by that are in the future cigarettes would be long gone.
There is something about deceleration that requires the crew to be tied down or in some kind of deceleration chamber.
Altair has oceans, rivers and plains. In the movie all you see in basically a near lifeless desert.
Some crewman wonders what sex Robby is.
The book establishes that there are trees, shrubs, rivers and grassland plus desert on the planet.
There's references to the 'Force' which in this case refers to whatever destroys things and kills people.
Morbius' house has some kind of outside patio.
There are 8 monkeys in the book. By the end of the book there are only 7 and it's found out that they are not normal monkeys by any means.
The cigarettes have some kind of 'igniter' caps on them.
There's a scene where Adams and others leave the house of Morbius but then stop their vehicle some distance away, get out and try to spy on what is going on. This is missing entirely from the movie.
Farman gets arrested by Adams.
Adams turns out to be the monkey killer (accidentally, though.)
Adams has a nightmare that involves hearing breathing. This happens during an early attack on the ship.
The footprints found on the ground are 15 feet apart from each other. The average human has around a 2.5 foot distance between one footprint and the other which makes the monster having six times the length of a human stride.
Here's a question that came up to me, though. There are references about the monster breathing yet why would an energy creature need to breathe?
The monster appears to be about 5.5 feet tale and 10 feet wide at the widest.
Morbius is severely arrogant and full of himself.
Even before the end of the movie Morbius seems to have some health problems.
The doctor does an autopsy on the monkey Adams ran over and it turns out t he monkey may look like a monkey but it's insides are extremely strange.
The doc goes to Morbius' house alone and gives Morbius a drug to calm him down as something was definitely wrong with him.
A motive for the death of the Bellerophon people seems to be that the monster/Morbius did not want them to leave Altair 4.
The part with the doctor and Morbius involves a lot of talking and takes up a fair bit of time which was probably why this whole part was left out of the movie.
Unlike the movie Adams talks to the doctor on the phone while the doctor is using the brain boost machine. In addition, the doctor using it several times.
The monster attacks the ship and the men end up retreating into the ship. There's a problem here because it's been established that he first ship was destroyed as it was launching to return to Earth so why hasn't the crew of the cruiser realized that, if they take off to get away from the monster, their ship will also probably be destroyed.
Then the scene shifts to the monster's attack on Morbius' house which is pretty much how the movie handles it. As in the movie Morbius stops the monster, sets the planet to blow up, dies and the cruiser takes off and sees Altair 4 blow up.
Then there's another section of the report to finish the book.
I can see why parts of the book were left out because it would have made the movie too long. The story in the book is dated, of course, but it's still very well done (based on The Tempest by Shakespeare) and pretty much makes sense.
December 13, 2022
Can we stop Morbius before it is too late?
In the year, 2371 a cruiser arrives at the planet Altair-4 to investigate the disappearance of an earlier mission. A mysterious voice warns them off before it is too late.
Consider this book as a novelization of the movie. However, it fits the conditions much better than the movie and a point is made that the movie overlooked or ignored.
If you are looking for this book written by Philip MacDonald, under the pseudonym W. J. Stuart, you probably have seen the (1956) movie. The book has better characterization and plot details; it tells you what each character is thinking, so you do not have to guess from facial expressions.
The bulk of the story matches the movie, with one big exception. What seems to be overlooked is the WHOLE premise of the story. The animals are contemporary, not dinosaurs or wooly mammoths. In the movie, the Krell brought the animals back from Earth over 1 million years ago (of course, that was not that long ago). In the movie, the great machine can transport material in any quantity and shape anywhere. The animals were contemporary because Morbius CREATED them from memory.
The real threat is only in the book. Morbius was not moving matter around and the Krell was not interested in moving “matter” to that end. Although that is what Morbius told the space crew, he and The Krell were creating life.
In the year, 2371 a cruiser arrives at the planet Altair-4 to investigate the disappearance of an earlier mission. A mysterious voice warns them off before it is too late.
Consider this book as a novelization of the movie. However, it fits the conditions much better than the movie and a point is made that the movie overlooked or ignored.
If you are looking for this book written by Philip MacDonald, under the pseudonym W. J. Stuart, you probably have seen the (1956) movie. The book has better characterization and plot details; it tells you what each character is thinking, so you do not have to guess from facial expressions.
The bulk of the story matches the movie, with one big exception. What seems to be overlooked is the WHOLE premise of the story. The animals are contemporary, not dinosaurs or wooly mammoths. In the movie, the Krell brought the animals back from Earth over 1 million years ago (of course, that was not that long ago). In the movie, the great machine can transport material in any quantity and shape anywhere. The animals were contemporary because Morbius CREATED them from memory.
The real threat is only in the book. Morbius was not moving matter around and the Krell was not interested in moving “matter” to that end. Although that is what Morbius told the space crew, he and The Krell were creating life.
November 30, 2022
Based on the classic SF film of the same name, this book does what novelizations are supposed to do, it expands the story and lets you enjoy it from a broader angle so you don0t feel like you're just reading the movie script.
W.J. Stuart is the pen name of Phillip MacDonald and he does a fine job of delivering an exciting tale of mystery and danger on the planet Altair 4. The story is told in first person form but with different viewpoints for each chapter. A spaceship crew is sent on a mission to Altair 4 to find out what happened to the lost vessel Bellerophon, before they land they receive a message warning them not to land because of danger on the planet. They land anyway, as per their orders and discover that there are only two living survivors, the mysterious Dr. Morbius and his beautiful daughter Altaira, as well as their servant robot Robbie who is unlike any machine the crew have ever seen as he seems to possess not only sentience but incredible strength.
The mystery deepens as Dr. Morbius is very cryptic about exactly what happened to the crew of the Bellerophon, stating only that a "Force" had killed them, leaving only him and his daughter. Not to mention how did he build the robot and the home he lives in carved out of the rock of a mountain?
The crew slowly discover that there was once an alien race called the Krell but are unsure how they fit into all of Altair 4's mysteries. The story escalates from there as they encounter "the Force" and learn of its true origin.
Even if you've seen the film, this is a really good read that stands alone as a great science fiction novel.
W.J. Stuart is the pen name of Phillip MacDonald and he does a fine job of delivering an exciting tale of mystery and danger on the planet Altair 4. The story is told in first person form but with different viewpoints for each chapter. A spaceship crew is sent on a mission to Altair 4 to find out what happened to the lost vessel Bellerophon, before they land they receive a message warning them not to land because of danger on the planet. They land anyway, as per their orders and discover that there are only two living survivors, the mysterious Dr. Morbius and his beautiful daughter Altaira, as well as their servant robot Robbie who is unlike any machine the crew have ever seen as he seems to possess not only sentience but incredible strength.
The mystery deepens as Dr. Morbius is very cryptic about exactly what happened to the crew of the Bellerophon, stating only that a "Force" had killed them, leaving only him and his daughter. Not to mention how did he build the robot and the home he lives in carved out of the rock of a mountain?
The crew slowly discover that there was once an alien race called the Krell but are unsure how they fit into all of Altair 4's mysteries. The story escalates from there as they encounter "the Force" and learn of its true origin.
Even if you've seen the film, this is a really good read that stands alone as a great science fiction novel.
September 20, 2025
Unlike most readers, I haven’t seen the movie “The Forbidden Planet.” If you’re curious about how the book stacks up against the film, plenty of good reviews on Goodreads dive into that comparison.
Picture this: an alien race teaches Edward Morbius, the last survivor of a failed mission to colonize Altair 4, how to create life with his mind. Morbius, his wife, and his daughter chose to stay on the planet, while others wanted out. A monstrous life force, somehow tapped into their thoughts, tore apart those who tried to leave.
Commander J.J. Adams and his crew aboard the spaceship C57D land on Altair 4 to uncover what happened to that earlier expedition. They find only Morbius and his daughter alive—his wife died soon after their arrival.
Morbius, hostile to the arrival of Adams and his crew, hesitantly reveals a secret that could elevate him to godlike power, a discovery he made through a machine buried deep within the planet.
Tensions flare among the crew as they compete for the attention of Morbius’s stunning daughter. But that drama fades when a nameless, faceless monster threatens to destroy the ship and everyone on board.
Robby the Robot, a Morbius creation, stood out for me. In an age where we chat with AI like it’s no big deal, I couldn’t help but wonder: when Elon Musk pairs Grok’s smarts with an Optimus robot, will we get a modern-day Robby—only way sharper and more capable?
I see why some readers gave this five stars, but I landed at three. It’s a quick, engaging read you won’t regret diving into.
Picture this: an alien race teaches Edward Morbius, the last survivor of a failed mission to colonize Altair 4, how to create life with his mind. Morbius, his wife, and his daughter chose to stay on the planet, while others wanted out. A monstrous life force, somehow tapped into their thoughts, tore apart those who tried to leave.
Commander J.J. Adams and his crew aboard the spaceship C57D land on Altair 4 to uncover what happened to that earlier expedition. They find only Morbius and his daughter alive—his wife died soon after their arrival.
Morbius, hostile to the arrival of Adams and his crew, hesitantly reveals a secret that could elevate him to godlike power, a discovery he made through a machine buried deep within the planet.
Tensions flare among the crew as they compete for the attention of Morbius’s stunning daughter. But that drama fades when a nameless, faceless monster threatens to destroy the ship and everyone on board.
Robby the Robot, a Morbius creation, stood out for me. In an age where we chat with AI like it’s no big deal, I couldn’t help but wonder: when Elon Musk pairs Grok’s smarts with an Optimus robot, will we get a modern-day Robby—only way sharper and more capable?
I see why some readers gave this five stars, but I landed at three. It’s a quick, engaging read you won’t regret diving into.
December 7, 2017
Il libro è stato tratto dalla sceneggiatura, opera di Cyril Humeed, dell'omonimo film di Fred M.Wilcox del 1956. Conduce meglio alla scoperta finale circa natura ed essenza del mostro, ma non è molto diverso dal film, c'è poco in più: qualche descrizione e qualche fatto non essenziale, manca qualche scenetta inserita nel film per alleggerire la tensione, tipo il dialogo del cuoco con Robby il robot.
December 7, 2017
Il libro è stato tratto dalla sceneggiatura, opera di Cyril Humeed, dell'omonimo film di Fred M.Wilcox del 1956. Conduce meglio alla scoperta finale circa natura ed essenza del mostro, ma non è molto diverso dal film, c'è poco in più: qualche descrizione e qualche fatto non essenziale, manca qualche scenetta inserita nel film per alleggerire la tensione, tipo il dialogo del cuoco con Robby il robot.
November 10, 2025
In the 2371 a mission is sent to the distant planet Altair 4 to search for a previous mission that went missing. When they find out about the fate of that mission and the last member of the crew and his daughter they are stalked by an invisible enemy that can come and go at will
Beware the monsters from the Id
I don't read a lot of sci-fi but this was one I had to read as I have always been a fan of the movie. Very much the same with maybe a few small changes here and there
Beware the monsters from the Id
I don't read a lot of sci-fi but this was one I had to read as I have always been a fan of the movie. Very much the same with maybe a few small changes here and there
January 3, 2018
Science fiction story regarding events that place between 2351 to 2371 regarding the mission of the space cruiser C-57-D to Altair 4 as recounted in a school textbook. The story is told via narrations by 3 central characters.
This is the story the 1956 movie Forbidden Planet is based upon. For a change, the movie follows the the novel plot line fairly closely.
This is the story the 1956 movie Forbidden Planet is based upon. For a change, the movie follows the the novel plot line fairly closely.
October 2, 2018
"Forbidden Planet" is one of those classic movies that really deserves to be called "classic" - a superb adventure story with gritty undertones. This novelization of the script does full justice to the film - adding to the script and expanding it, creating depth and believability. It's a lovely and exciting read, so go ahead and enjoy it!
April 17, 2021
Uno dei pochissimi casi in cui il film precede il romanzo. Un libro senza gloria né infamia, riprende né più né meno l'opera cinematografica senza aggiungere o togliere nulla di veramente significativo. Un po' troppo sbrigativo sul finale. Lettura facile, ideale come intermezzo di riposo tra due opere più impegnative.
April 6, 2024
Gradevolissimo adattamento di un grande classico della fantascienza cinematografica. Nulla per cui strapparsi i capelli, però è una bella lettura scorrevole per gli appassionati di un certo tipo di avventura sci-fi senza pretese di realismo e capace di dare qualche brivido. Molto interessante la spiegazione finale del mistero.
June 12, 2018
8 out of 10
December 12, 2019
un classico della fantascienza
April 30, 2021
Excellent for its time. Great read before, or after seeing the motion picture.
July 29, 2022
Classique mais efficace ! j'aurais bien mis un 3.5
July 25, 2023
Surprisingly inventive for a novelization of a film.
October 24, 2015
I remember watching this movie nearly every weekend when we first got cable back in the early eighties. Then, somewhere along the way, I discovered there was a novelization based on the movie! So after searching for a while, I finally came across a copy [in bad shape]. A few years later, I found another copy [in a little better shape]. I finally got around to reading one of my copies!
It was a fast book, which makes sense, considering it is only 160 pages [and that is being generous]. It is based on a movie taken from a screenplay adapted from a story that was adapted from Shakespeare's Tempest. I would love to read the 'original' story, as well as the screen play, if they ever became available. It has also made me want to read The Tempest at some point in the near future. It did hold my interest throughout the entire tale, and it does go a bit more indepth about some things the movie skims over. At the same time, it really skimps on some of the best scenes in the movie! [such as when Altaira tells the Lt that she's not feeling anything after being kissed by him as well as how there is no fire in his eyes like there are in the Commander's eyes]
I must admit, after having watched the movie well nigh 100 times [well, maybe not that much, but pretty darn close!], I was disappointed with the 'changes' in the novelization. The book being broken into sections as if they were taken from three separate journals was 'different' and a bit jarring [when compared with the movie]; at the same time, I felt the author did a nice job trying to tell the story from three different viewpoints. The single 'section' from Morbius' point-of-view really helped the reader [and movie viewer] understand Morbius a bit better than if one only watched the movie. At the same time, the format does remove various 'scenes' that were in the movie.
I did feel the whole 'virgin and the unicorn' thing was stupid. It was not mentioned in the movie, and did not need to be mentioned in the book. Who knows. Perhaps it was in the original story that was turned into a screenplay, and Stuart was merely including it in the novelization of the movie adaptation of somebodies' story. The book also implies that Commander Adams and Altaira go a bit further than just kissing in the woods .
The book expounds further on what happens with the doctor than what is in the movie. I found it very interesting, and thought it added an extra layer to what happened to him as well as what he revealed to Commander Adams. I thought it was 'sad' . I also liked some of the good doctor's discoveries .
I have to admit - I missed some of the scenes in the movie that were not in the book. There was some pretty clever humor in the movie; the book could have used it. Perhaps the author was trying to make it more serious than he needed to? Regardless, the book could have used some levity to it.
It also goes into more graphic descriptions than the movie in terms of the crewmen who were killed. Well, not all of them, but most of them. In the movie, the deaths either occur off-camera or are not very brutal, considering the strength, powers, and abilities of the invisible foe confronting the Human crew.
It was funny/amusing to me how much I could see of Star Trek in this movie and novelization. It truly was a strong foundation upon which Gene Roddenberry built his television series.
Overall, a good book. Definitely had some weak points in it [the crews' behavior to Altaira being one of them; the other being the whole, stupid 'virgin girl and the unicorn' thing]. Overall, though, I am glad I finally got around to reading this book.
It was a fast book, which makes sense, considering it is only 160 pages [and that is being generous]. It is based on a movie taken from a screenplay adapted from a story that was adapted from Shakespeare's Tempest. I would love to read the 'original' story, as well as the screen play, if they ever became available. It has also made me want to read The Tempest at some point in the near future. It did hold my interest throughout the entire tale, and it does go a bit more indepth about some things the movie skims over. At the same time, it really skimps on some of the best scenes in the movie! [such as when Altaira tells the Lt that she's not feeling anything after being kissed by him as well as how there is no fire in his eyes like there are in the Commander's eyes]
I must admit, after having watched the movie well nigh 100 times [well, maybe not that much, but pretty darn close!], I was disappointed with the 'changes' in the novelization. The book being broken into sections as if they were taken from three separate journals was 'different' and a bit jarring [when compared with the movie]; at the same time, I felt the author did a nice job trying to tell the story from three different viewpoints. The single 'section' from Morbius' point-of-view really helped the reader [and movie viewer] understand Morbius a bit better than if one only watched the movie. At the same time, the format does remove various 'scenes' that were in the movie.
I did feel the whole 'virgin and the unicorn' thing was stupid. It was not mentioned in the movie, and did not need to be mentioned in the book. Who knows. Perhaps it was in the original story that was turned into a screenplay, and Stuart was merely including it in the novelization of the movie adaptation of somebodies' story. The book also implies that Commander Adams and Altaira go a bit further than just kissing in the woods .
The book expounds further on what happens with the doctor than what is in the movie. I found it very interesting, and thought it added an extra layer to what happened to him as well as what he revealed to Commander Adams. I thought it was 'sad' . I also liked some of the good doctor's discoveries .
I have to admit - I missed some of the scenes in the movie that were not in the book. There was some pretty clever humor in the movie; the book could have used it. Perhaps the author was trying to make it more serious than he needed to? Regardless, the book could have used some levity to it.
It also goes into more graphic descriptions than the movie in terms of the crewmen who were killed. Well, not all of them, but most of them. In the movie, the deaths either occur off-camera or are not very brutal, considering the strength, powers, and abilities of the invisible foe confronting the Human crew.
It was funny/amusing to me how much I could see of Star Trek in this movie and novelization. It truly was a strong foundation upon which Gene Roddenberry built his television series.
Overall, a good book. Definitely had some weak points in it [the crews' behavior to Altaira being one of them; the other being the whole, stupid 'virgin girl and the unicorn' thing]. Overall, though, I am glad I finally got around to reading this book.
March 14, 2014
One of my favourite science fiction films is 'Forbidden Planet' made in 1956 starring Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis and a young Leslie Nielsen. Of course the special effects were naff and the acting a little cheesy but I remember seeing it as a child and being both thrilled and terrified by the inspired 'Monster from the Id'
Imagine my excitement when I discovered there was a book written in 1956 to be released in conjunction with the film and that there are still copies around today!
Forbidden Planet is set in the future on the distant planet of Altair IV; a desert world many light years from Earth. 20 Years previously an expedition was sent to Altair IV from Earth but was never heard from again. At the beginning of the film the space cruiser C57D arrives on Altair IV where the crew find Dr. Morbius, the sole survivor of the original expedition, who has discovered the technological remains of an ancient alien race which lived on Altair IV thousands of years earlier. All is not well on Altair IV as Morbius warns the crew to leave the planet at once before a deadly planetary force, which was responsible for killing the members of the previous expedition, returns to kill them.
To begin with the book is very dated however, unlike the film, it hasn't aged well. The book is poorly written and disjointed, a different character from the story narrates each chapter which means the book doesn't read smoothly and the reader has to re-adjust to the different character's individual style and viewpoints which can be confusing.
The content of the book is inherently sexist; when the sex starved crew of C57D discover Morbius has a young daughter the highly trained and disciplined spacemen, who are supposed to be the best of the best, turn into dribbling lecherous perverts attempting to seduce the hapless girl at every turn (which even borders on creepy since she is described as 'like a child' due to her naivety)
Sadly the wonderful spirit of science fiction adventure captured in the original film is not present in this book at all which was a terrible disappointment to me, especially as copies are rare and I had to go through some expense to get my hands on a copy.
One reason this book will stick in my mind is that it is the only book I have ever read where swear words are stared out! It happens more than once! Bizarre
Imagine my excitement when I discovered there was a book written in 1956 to be released in conjunction with the film and that there are still copies around today!
Forbidden Planet is set in the future on the distant planet of Altair IV; a desert world many light years from Earth. 20 Years previously an expedition was sent to Altair IV from Earth but was never heard from again. At the beginning of the film the space cruiser C57D arrives on Altair IV where the crew find Dr. Morbius, the sole survivor of the original expedition, who has discovered the technological remains of an ancient alien race which lived on Altair IV thousands of years earlier. All is not well on Altair IV as Morbius warns the crew to leave the planet at once before a deadly planetary force, which was responsible for killing the members of the previous expedition, returns to kill them.
To begin with the book is very dated however, unlike the film, it hasn't aged well. The book is poorly written and disjointed, a different character from the story narrates each chapter which means the book doesn't read smoothly and the reader has to re-adjust to the different character's individual style and viewpoints which can be confusing.
The content of the book is inherently sexist; when the sex starved crew of C57D discover Morbius has a young daughter the highly trained and disciplined spacemen, who are supposed to be the best of the best, turn into dribbling lecherous perverts attempting to seduce the hapless girl at every turn (which even borders on creepy since she is described as 'like a child' due to her naivety)
Sadly the wonderful spirit of science fiction adventure captured in the original film is not present in this book at all which was a terrible disappointment to me, especially as copies are rare and I had to go through some expense to get my hands on a copy.
One reason this book will stick in my mind is that it is the only book I have ever read where swear words are stared out! It happens more than once! Bizarre
August 25, 2011
This story is of course the `book of the film' of the same name. Forbidden Planet is arguably the best Sci-fi film of all time ranking closely with Star Wars, Alien and Blade Runner; for it's age, filmed in 1957, the effects, acting, style and scope of dramatic story is unquestionable (retelling of `The Tempest' by Shakespeare apparently). So how does the book compare?
The basic story, if you don't know, is that a spacecraft arrives twenty years later to planet Altair 4 to discover the fate of the investigating mission Bellerophon. They discover Morbius and his daughter, Altaira, are the only survivors and that a terrible unseen force had murdered the remaining crew. The Captain learns that the Krell, a long dead species, died on the day they had enacted their crowning planetary achievement.
The tale is told in the first person; the Doctor, the Captain and Morbius each have a go. This is an interesting device which enables the tale to be told putting the emphasise on key dramatic phases of the story. We learn otherwise untold truths (c.f. the film) about some of the characters interactions (e.g. about how close the captain actually gets to the virginal Altaira to deserve her love).
The book story is undoubtedly the same as the film yet there are several subtle differences which might interest you, mainly brushed over scenes or newly included ones. Not wanting to give too much away I'll mention one major example: the book does not include the scene with a plaster cast of the footprint instead the Doctor dissects one of Altaira's monkey friends - this leads to a different interpretation of the Krell's ultimate goal and stronger, slightly more religious, reasons for its failure. The postscript tells a little about the aftermath of the story.
The book is a good telling of the film and the variations make the read worthwhile. The author could have spent more time on description and detail (such as the equipment, spaceship) and probably could have made more of the `force' and its appearances. Enjoyable and alternative (old!) slant on a classic film.
The basic story, if you don't know, is that a spacecraft arrives twenty years later to planet Altair 4 to discover the fate of the investigating mission Bellerophon. They discover Morbius and his daughter, Altaira, are the only survivors and that a terrible unseen force had murdered the remaining crew. The Captain learns that the Krell, a long dead species, died on the day they had enacted their crowning planetary achievement.
The tale is told in the first person; the Doctor, the Captain and Morbius each have a go. This is an interesting device which enables the tale to be told putting the emphasise on key dramatic phases of the story. We learn otherwise untold truths (c.f. the film) about some of the characters interactions (e.g. about how close the captain actually gets to the virginal Altaira to deserve her love).
The book story is undoubtedly the same as the film yet there are several subtle differences which might interest you, mainly brushed over scenes or newly included ones. Not wanting to give too much away I'll mention one major example: the book does not include the scene with a plaster cast of the footprint instead the Doctor dissects one of Altaira's monkey friends - this leads to a different interpretation of the Krell's ultimate goal and stronger, slightly more religious, reasons for its failure. The postscript tells a little about the aftermath of the story.
The book is a good telling of the film and the variations make the read worthwhile. The author could have spent more time on description and detail (such as the equipment, spaceship) and probably could have made more of the `force' and its appearances. Enjoyable and alternative (old!) slant on a classic film.
January 19, 2016
This is one of my all time favorite books. I saw the movie when I was five and vaguely remembered the attack on the ship all my life., but not much more of the movie. When I was a just a teenager, I found Stuart's book in my hometown library and was fascinated with it. I checked it out at least twenty times.
What I liked about the book was its plain but imaginative descriptions and the characters. Telling the book through chapters by Adams and Ostrow (and one by Morbius) gave insight on the views of each man and what their stake in things was. Ostrow especially was compelling, an older man suffering grief, and dealing with deep space in a way Adams had coped with, but Adams was by-the-book commander dealing with an extraordinary situation. Their insights were never dull. It only heightened the tension, like an emotional tag team match. Also, the depiction of Altair Four was very good. It really was a foreign place, and set up the struggle that was psychological and, finally, moral rather than simple space monsters. Reading about the Id was really eye-opening for me.
The book (and movie) has been compared to Shakespeare's Tempest, and it's there for all to see, but the unicorn imagery (not in the movie) adds to the story, and I got to see Adams growing tension with Altaira in a way the movie didn't show.
Some readers complain the book is chauvinistic and sexist, and this is nonsense. The crew act like men in the military cooped on a ship. I was in the army, and believe me, that's how it is...booze and broads. The smaller characters were very well drawn.
I read the book every so often, and it's just as fun as it was forty years ago. It's very well-paced.
A shame they couldn't do a remake using the book as a source. The movie is one of the best sci-fi pictures ever made (the electronic score is a great plus), but in the book, everyone is better developed.
Copies are extremely hard to get. Like an idiot, I lost my many years ago. I cheated and Xeroxed a library copy, so I get to go back to Altair Four anytime I want to.
What I liked about the book was its plain but imaginative descriptions and the characters. Telling the book through chapters by Adams and Ostrow (and one by Morbius) gave insight on the views of each man and what their stake in things was. Ostrow especially was compelling, an older man suffering grief, and dealing with deep space in a way Adams had coped with, but Adams was by-the-book commander dealing with an extraordinary situation. Their insights were never dull. It only heightened the tension, like an emotional tag team match. Also, the depiction of Altair Four was very good. It really was a foreign place, and set up the struggle that was psychological and, finally, moral rather than simple space monsters. Reading about the Id was really eye-opening for me.
The book (and movie) has been compared to Shakespeare's Tempest, and it's there for all to see, but the unicorn imagery (not in the movie) adds to the story, and I got to see Adams growing tension with Altaira in a way the movie didn't show.
Some readers complain the book is chauvinistic and sexist, and this is nonsense. The crew act like men in the military cooped on a ship. I was in the army, and believe me, that's how it is...booze and broads. The smaller characters were very well drawn.
I read the book every so often, and it's just as fun as it was forty years ago. It's very well-paced.
A shame they couldn't do a remake using the book as a source. The movie is one of the best sci-fi pictures ever made (the electronic score is a great plus), but in the book, everyone is better developed.
Copies are extremely hard to get. Like an idiot, I lost my many years ago. I cheated and Xeroxed a library copy, so I get to go back to Altair Four anytime I want to.
November 8, 2012
Okay, I admit it, I'm old enough to remember watching this movie on TV. Not old enough to see it at the movies, but young enough to have been scared silly. It's also one of my favorites. This was the movie that took Science Fiction from the B category into the A category. A plot based on Shakespeare's "The Tempest", an A-list cast (especially Robby the Robot), great writing, and state of the art (at the time, this movie was made in 1956, but they still hold up well) special effects.
So when I found out quite by accident that there was a novelization of the movie, that's right the book was done after the movie was a BIG hit, I had to read it.
Just to let you know, if you've seen the movie you're not are going to be surprised by the book. Remember this is a novelization. If you haven't seen it, here's the plot in brief. Expedition goes to alien planet. Another expedition is sent to see what's happened to them. Sole survivor and daughter who are not clear as to what happened to everybody else. Manly Commander falls for daughter, and visa versa, much to her father's displeasure. Deadly things begin to happen. Who or what is responsible and will they escape The Forbidden Planet?
Still, the book doesn't disappoint as it goes more into depth of the characters and story by using the plot device of log entries of the Doctor, the Commander and Dr. Morbius to tell the tale. So you do get more details than what is in the movie, especially of the extinct, but essential to the plot, Krell and their motivations.
It's not a perfect book, though, as they take the Lord's name in vain way too much, and it is very clear, although not graphic, that the Commander and Morbius' daughter get way closer than in then movie. Both of which were totally unnecessary, and distracting, in my opinion.
Still, it is good read, but take my advice and see the movie.
So when I found out quite by accident that there was a novelization of the movie, that's right the book was done after the movie was a BIG hit, I had to read it.
Just to let you know, if you've seen the movie you're not are going to be surprised by the book. Remember this is a novelization. If you haven't seen it, here's the plot in brief. Expedition goes to alien planet. Another expedition is sent to see what's happened to them. Sole survivor and daughter who are not clear as to what happened to everybody else. Manly Commander falls for daughter, and visa versa, much to her father's displeasure. Deadly things begin to happen. Who or what is responsible and will they escape The Forbidden Planet?
Still, the book doesn't disappoint as it goes more into depth of the characters and story by using the plot device of log entries of the Doctor, the Commander and Dr. Morbius to tell the tale. So you do get more details than what is in the movie, especially of the extinct, but essential to the plot, Krell and their motivations.
It's not a perfect book, though, as they take the Lord's name in vain way too much, and it is very clear, although not graphic, that the Commander and Morbius' daughter get way closer than in then movie. Both of which were totally unnecessary, and distracting, in my opinion.
Still, it is good read, but take my advice and see the movie.
August 12, 2014
'Forbidden Planet' is one of my favourite all time Sci-fi films, so I had to check out this book, which is based on the film.
The story is that Commander Adams, played by a young Leslie Nielsen in the film, arrives at the planet Altair-4 to investigate the Bellerophon which disappeared there twenty years previously. They find that the only survivors are a Dr Morbius and his daughter Altaira.
The book is told in first person from three viewpoints, that of Doc Ostrow, Commander Adams and Dr Morbius. And through those viewpoints, it does expand on some of the themes from the film, as well as little details that you don't get in the film, plus there are slight deviations from the film too.
Although it's definitely a product of the 1950s, especially in the way Commander Adams interacts with Dr Morbius' daughter Altaira at first, and some of the Sci-Fi tech babble with the crew, I'd say this book is good companion novelisation of the film and is a good read. If you love the film, then this is well worth picking up.
The story is that Commander Adams, played by a young Leslie Nielsen in the film, arrives at the planet Altair-4 to investigate the Bellerophon which disappeared there twenty years previously. They find that the only survivors are a Dr Morbius and his daughter Altaira.
The book is told in first person from three viewpoints, that of Doc Ostrow, Commander Adams and Dr Morbius. And through those viewpoints, it does expand on some of the themes from the film, as well as little details that you don't get in the film, plus there are slight deviations from the film too.
Although it's definitely a product of the 1950s, especially in the way Commander Adams interacts with Dr Morbius' daughter Altaira at first, and some of the Sci-Fi tech babble with the crew, I'd say this book is good companion novelisation of the film and is a good read. If you love the film, then this is well worth picking up.
April 23, 2013
Okay, this is pretty much what I expected for the novelization of a classic 1950s science fiction movie. Silly, clunkily written 2-D space opera. The main plot was fine; pretty similar to the film. It was a quick easy read that moved and, for the most part, made sense. I was rolling my eyes a lot at the "romance," though. Brig-bait and unicorns; that's all you need to know, really. So stupid. Very much of its time and genre. Heaven forbid women actually be real in movies and books aimed at teenage boys. The fragile youth, they can't handle that.
But Robby the Robot is still cool, and the monster and its origin are interesting. The book is more violent than the movie; the reader actually gets to see what the monster does, instead of having the action cut away to appalled facial expressions.
But Robby the Robot is still cool, and the monster and its origin are interesting. The book is more violent than the movie; the reader actually gets to see what the monster does, instead of having the action cut away to appalled facial expressions.
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