The Adventures of Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones: Film Novelizations #1-3

by Campbell Black, James Kahn, Rob MacGregor

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A SINGLE VOLUME—THREE THRILLING NOVELS INSPIRED BY THE BLOCKBUSTER FILMS

This volume includes the following novels:
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
With bullwhip in hand, Indiana Jones has unearthed a wealth of ancient treasures. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the fearless archeologist journeys from Nepal to Cairo to the Mediterranean, dodging poisons, traps, and snakes, battling rivals old and new–all in pursuit of an ancient artifact that holds the key to dazzling, invincible power. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom finds our intrepid hero in a remote village in India, where a mysterious old shaman tells him that his arrival has been foreseen–and that he must retrieve a stolen mystical stone. And finally, Indy must face the most challenging and personal endeavor of his life: rescue his estranged father, the eminent professor Dr. Henry Jones, from a Nazi’s lair, and recover the legendary Holy Grail. Yet Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade doesn’t mean the adventure is over. . . .

The Adventures of Indiana Jones is one of Barnes & Noble’s Collectible Editions classics. Each volume features authoritative texts by the world’s greatest authors in an exquisitely designed bonded-leather binding, with distinctive gilt edging and a ribbon bookmark. Decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old and are an indispensable cornerstone for every home library.

Genres: Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Action, Historical

608 pages, Leather Bound

First published February 26, 1991

About the author

Pseudonym for Campbell Armstrong

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love how they collected all the original adventures of Indy into this one single volume. The third is my personal favorite one. I really do like the first one also, and the second one, though not as exciting, is still passable. I have also seen all three films a zillion times and have them memorized, line by line, scene by scene. I also love how the directors are saying that they made these films just for everyone's own enjoyment of seeing 'em. What I appreciate the best about Indy is that he actually crosses multiple genres easily enough. This is well worth reading if all 3 Indy's are your faves.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first and third book are great, the second book isn't so good, so bad I nearly quit the book, but overall and okay read, just don't bother with book 2!

[Sarah O'Hara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting points that weren't all translated into the films. I enjoyed it and I wish to read anything else with Indiana Jones.

[Fefs Messina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Guardatevi i film, che è meglio.

[Victoria Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Adventures of Indiana Jones is a bind-up of the novelisations of the original film trilogy. Novelisations are not for everyone, but I quite enjoy them and after watching the films earlier this year I decided to pick this up. Sometimes these books can really add to the film experience, and I find myself returning to certain parts again and again. Overall these novelisations are pretty basic and you can tell that the authors have not been given much artistic licence. However, if you enjoy the films it's almost impossible not to get a kick out of these books. One thing that I absolutely hated was the way Indy's inner monologue was written in relation to Marian, the romantic interest in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. He has fixation with how young she was when they first met, and that emphasis on her young age made for some uncomfortable reading. If these parts could have been deleated the romance was very sweet in the way that he would melt in her presence. Unfortunately, I ended up reading that romance with a bad taste in my mouth. Since I've spoken about my least favourite part, I would also like to mention my favourite part which was the mind-control section in Temple of Doom. Written by James Khan these section from Indy's point-of-view were had layers to them that were interesting to peel back. Overall these books do what you expect them to do and are fun but they're not quite as elevated as they could have been.

[William Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious rollercoaster of quality and niggles alike. Both Raiders & Temple in particular had some wonderful descriptive passages, but the dialogue between characters lacked any personality except for a few odd glimpses. Raiders suffered the worst for this aspect, but whilst Temple had a little more personality in the likes of Short Round’s dialogue, his inner monologue almost read like an entirely different person!
Last Crusade however came out as the strongest book, finally able to read like Indiana Jones. Although it had a nasty habit of over explaining a joke, sometimes even before delivering the punchline!

None of them were particularly bad reads, and all held their own unique charms, but these 3 books all deliver pretty much what you expect when you think of a film novelisation. Perfectly fine for summer reads, but certainly not essential.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the way back in 2014, I read the Barnes & Noble leather bound omnibus edition of the novelizations of the Original Star Wars trilogy. (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, by Alan Dean Foster; Star Wars Episode: V: The Empire Strikes Back, by Donald F. Glut and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, by James Kahn.) Now, nearly a decade later, there's a version for Harrison Ford's *OTHER* most famous role, Indiana Jones. The novelizations included in this book are Raiders of the Lost Ark, by Campbell Black; Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, by James Kahn and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, by Rob MacGregor. (BTW, the third one is my favorite Indy movie.) This was a very interesting book.

[Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pacing of this is kinda sloppy honestly, maybe because it was translated poorly into polish, but overall if You saw the movies playing in the corner of your eye you will recall most of the scenes. It doesnt add much to the overall telling of the story, but it was a good enough read.

[Bookbear · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started with high hopes but stopped reading after dragging myself to Indy arriving in Egypt and digging around in the sand.
The story just didn't connect. I guess it's the writing style, since I love the movies (who doesn't?).

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖

3 Different authors and all three wrote these stories very well. Mine is Barnes and Noble edition, the cover is amazing not like what goodreads is showing. Which is also why I didn't know this was a big book of movie novelizations. Well done either way

[Kendal · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories were written from earlier drafts of the script, so you get deleted scenes and alternate takes--which is fun!

[Joshua Derden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for more then this book gave it followed the movies but did not have much more than that

[Dawn Filler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved having three books in one to read! I could picture the movies as I read! I’m in Covid ward of hospital so this book kept me entertained. I definitely recommend it!

[Dash Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Needed to end the year on a high note and this didn’t disappoint. Just a faithful retelling of the movies (the only 3 movies that count.)

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novels for Raiders and Temple of Doom were amazing. Last Crusade's was a little generic but still fun. It'd be cool if we got an updated one for KotCS and DoD.

[Kris Layman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book basically collects the first three Indiana Jones movie adaptions. I'd read these before as a young teenager, sometime after the Last Crusade movie was about to be released. Back then movie adaptions used to be a fun preview about a month in advance of a film release. It was neat to reread them again, and here's my thoughts on each.

1. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK - This adaption by Campbell Black really added all of the "cut scenes" of the film back into the story. For instance, we get to see a bit more of the rivalry between Indy and Belloq, or at least their thoughts about the rivalry. We get to find out how Marion survived her father's, (Abner's), death in Tibet and Nepal, (*Hint: it wasn't a pretty thing she had to do.) and how she came to own the Raven's Nest bar. You'll also see how it came to be that Belloq was hired by the Nazis. Some of the action scenes are shortened, like the truck chase, yet still feel fast paced and interesting. We also get surprises, like the fact that Toht doesn't live to see the Ark opened like in the movie, he's one of the guys that gets killed when their car goes over the cliff during the truck chase. We also get to see how it was that Indy survived the submarine ride to the Nazi island base. (Which is something this novel and the Marvel Comics adaption explained, but that otherwise we were left guessing at!)

2. INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM - A lot of people think of this movie as the weakest of the original trilogy. If you're one of those, reading the novel probably won't persuade you to think more highly of it. I enjoyed the fast pace of the movie and still like it today. However, the book really doesn't add a whole lot to the reading experience like "Raiders" did. We don't know much more about Short Round other than we do get to see how he kills a little bit of time before meeting up with Indy at the Club Obi Wan. Something that got annoying to me was that Shorty constantly mentions Chinese deities in his thoughts, sometimes the same one more than once. It doesn't add much to his character or purpose. It's enough for me to know he's an oriental street kid who's a part time thief hanging around Indy now. It's almost like the author, James Kahn, researched Chinese lore and then tried too hard to fit in certain things he learned. Once or twice would've made the point. Also, one of the things I've never understood was how a small kid could "karate kick" and knock out some Thuggee guard who was pretty oblivious to pain due to being under the influence of the "blood of Kali". The book doesn't help this any either. Other irks: No background is given on Wu-han, Indy's friend who bites the dust early. Willie Scott is supposed to be a knockout to look at, however all you'll see is Kate Capshaw in your head. Willie's just as annoying in the book as she is in the movie as well, so you tend to not sympathize with her character. The way the author writes and describes Indy when he under the influence of the "blood of Kali" is kind of strange and could've been done differently I thought. Some good things: We get to see how Short Round came to find out that fire would "wake up" Indy. We also get to see how it came to be that Willie got captured and made the next sacrifice. Mola Ram is even more disgusting to look at than in the movie, so he's amped up a little as a bad guy. Other than that, the book overall stuck pretty close to what you see in the film. If anything, it felt slower paced.

3. INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE - This one sticks very closely to the original screenplay and what we see on film. Not much pro or con either way for me. The book plays up a little bit more of Indy's background and relationship with his dad, which plays up better in print than the limited time on screen, so that was nice. The way Rob MacGregor writes Indy, (as well as some of those who have written Indy for the Dark Horse comic series for that matter), is a mixed bag. He seems to understand what makes a good Indy story, the pacing, etc., but his Indy tends to cuss a little too much for my taste, as well as come off kind of arrogant sometimes. With any hero, you want to be on his side through whatever he/she goes through. This Indy's not necessarily "fun" to hang out with, yet interesting enough to want to see what he gets into. Not much as far as "deleted scenes" or added material go. A good story though.

Bottom line, if you want to read each of the novelizations, you may be able to find them individually for less in a used bookstore or something. I wouldn't pay more than 2 or 3 bucks apiece for them, being movie adaptions. If you want to collect them, then I'd get them all in one nice volume like this one here.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Can't believe I succeeded in reading every single page of this collection of stories.

Basically George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created an epic adventure series that continues to this day to warm the hearts of those of an adventurous spirit.

Campbell Black starts with his adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I have to say there is a very descriptive style, but any adventure fan knows that it doesn't come close without watching it. The writer doesn't deliver much and this is due to Spielberg's great storytelling, John Williams fantastic score as well as the great acting from the cast.

I do like things here and there, but I really would have loved reading about the details as to why Indy and Belloq were at each others throats. I did get slightly more detailed look into Marion and Indy's relationship. Knowing that Indy did what he did to her at an unknown age is not the most treasured thing of Indy knowing that he took advantage of a teen-aged girl.

The rest of the details skim fast. Since this was probably the shooting script without the quirks that made the movie great. Indy's encounter with a swordsman is brief and I don't mean as brief as a gunshot, I'm saying the gunshot never happened for the shooting script intended for Indy and the swordsman to fight, only because of a bad case of desert diarrhea, it didn't.

Other things are interesting, the encounter with Marion and Belloq is more steamy in that hatred and attraction brings them together, well almost anyway. The final conclusion to the story is changed up a litte as we only understand Belloq's agony at opening the Ark. Still a modestly told story.

James Khan after having succeeded in telling Return of the Jedi adaptation has a go with The Temple of Doom. I must say I'm not much of a fan of this movie, but as a book it works so much better. I like some of the detail and feelings of the characters of Willie and Shorty. Willie is selfish but a girl with a stubborn streak, Shorty is young and naive but very street smart. The premise of the story is preserved from the movie with anything much to add on.

But I do like how near the end they mention the blood of Kali which is actually done really good in the book. So well written and kind of scary as it reminded me of another scary movie set in India. A very decent adaptation.

Rob McGregor finishes the trilogy's end with The Last Crusade remarkably well. Once again there isn't too much that's different from the final product but if anything this is much better told. Practically word for word with some minor changes in the end. But of course without the great cast to flesh it out. Nice bit in the symbolism of certain animals that Henry Jones addressed in his Grail Diary. Nice detail on the Knight of the First Crusade. I even like a scene which Indy and Henry see a female director attempting to film the Nazi hierarchy, an obvious reference to Leni Riefenstahl.

Plenty of good things here and there and without a doubt makes one feel sad that it all comes to an end. But then again this is no longer a triology, but that is another story for another time.

Raiders of the Lost Ark: B-
Temple of Doom: B+
Last Crusade: A-

Collection: B+

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Adventures of Indiana Jones collects the original novelizations of the first three Indiana Jones films; Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The novelizations of Raiders and Crusade are pretty good and stay close to the films. Temple of Doom however, is full of all kinds of superfluous garbage that hurts the characters (especially Short Round) and weakens the story. If fact, none of the additional material in any of the novelizations improves the stories or enriches the characters. Each of the authors has a different writing style, which can be a little jarring, but is also kind of interesting in how they each interpret the material. While it’s not as good as the films (how could it be?), The Adventures of Indiana Jones is a fun read that’d entertaining and full of thrills.

[I love books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ne I predatori dell’Arca Perduta l’esercito statunitense richiede l’aiuto di Indiana Jones, professore universitario di archeologia, per arrivare prima dei nazisti a quella che potrebbe essere la scoperta archeologica più importante della sua vita: l’Arca dell’Alleanza. Con l’aiuto della figlia del suo mentore, massimo conoscitore dell’Arca, Indiana attraverserà mezzo mondo fino ad arrivare agli scavi di Tanis; ma l’esercito nazista, guidato dal nemico di sempre di Indiana, l’archeologo Belloq, non ha intenzione di arrendersi tanto facilmente..
Ne Il tempio maledetto Indiana Jones, in fuga da un malvivente di Shangai, si ritrova insieme alla cantante Willie e al piccolo amico Shorty ad attraversare la giungla indiana per tornare alla civiltà; lungo il tragitto arrivano in un villaggio che sta lentamente morendo. Gli abitanti sono disperati, attribuiscono le loro disgrazie al furto di una pietra magica e chiedono l’aiuto di Indiana; l’archeologo, dopo qualche esitazione, decide di far luce su quanto stia accadendo e si reca con i suoi compagni di viaggio al palazzo di un potente maharajah, dove scopriranno una verità terribile..
Ne L’ultima crociata Indiana Jones, su richiesta di un importante finanziatore del museo dell’amico Brody, si reca a Venezia alla ricerca del padre scomparso; Henry Jones, grande esperto del Graal, era sulle tracce dell’antica reliquia ma di lui non si hanno più notizie da diverso tempo. Deciso a ritrovare il padre, Indiana con l’aiuto dell’affascinante studiosa austriaca Elsa si metterà sulle tracce della preziosa coppa, ma anche altri la stanno cercando; i nazisti riescono sempre ad entrare in possesso delle informazioni di Indy, ma nessuno sa come superare le prove per accedere alla stanza dove è custodito il Graal. Nessuno, tranne Indiana Jones..

Da grande amante di questa saga non ho potuto fare a meno di leggere i libri tratti dai film, ed è stata una lettura fantastica. Pur sapendo esattamente come si sarebbero conclusi i racconti, le penne dei tre autori mi hanno fatto rivivere le emozioni dei film e forse anche qualcosa in più; si sa, leggere rende tutto migliore :)
Sono storie avvincenti, entusiasmanti, ti prendono e ti incollano alle pagine; le battute e il sarcasmo di Indy, la sua abilità e il suo spirito ribelle lo rendono un personaggio fantastico.

Assolutamente consigliato!!!!!! :)

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like having all three of the original Indiana Jones film novelizations in one volume. That way I don't have to buy them separately, even though I totally am. This includes Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade. Out of the three of them Temple of Doom is my favorite film novelization even though Raiders of the Lost Ark is my favorite Indy film. Collectors and Indy fans alike will enjoy having this book in their collection.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of the movies you'll love these stories, as they are written based on the shooting script and so include scenes that were never filmed, but hinted at in the movie. Raiders is the biggest revelation as large parts of the ending are radically different from the ending of the movie. Not worse, just different.

[Chaotician · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Each story is based off of the screenplay of its respective movie, so the story isn;t exactly the same as the movie. For Raiders, it's nearly unbearably different. For Temple and Crusade, it's absolutely perfect.

[katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books have made me love the Indiana Jones series even more! Temple of Doom remains my favorite but i like the other ones too. =)they are well written and i can see the movie scene while i am reading! very cool. Short Round is great! lol.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the novels of the first three films; they captured the films completely. There were a few extra scenes as there always is in adaptions which added a lot more depth and insight into the characters.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who didn't enjoy Indiana Jones here we follow him on an adventure to India.

[Emmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covered the first three movies. Great writing, and as always... the books were better than the movies!

[Saskia · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,5