X

X Trilogy #1

by Tim Waggoner

Based on the film written and directed by Ti West

When screams of X-tasy turn into cries for help!

In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas. But when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives…

Written by four-time Bram Stoker Award-winning writer Tim Waggoner, this thrilling novelization is printed in throwback pocket-sized paperback format, bringing beloved scream queens Pearl and Maxine to a new medium. Relive the tragedy that befell Lorraine, Bobby-Lynne, Jackson, Wayne, RJ, and Howard with grisly new details drawn from West’s original screenplay.

As Sherrif Dentler would say: it’s one goddamn fucked up horror story.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Adult

168 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2024

About the author

Tim Waggoner's first novel came out in 2001, and since then, he's published over sixty novels and eight collections of short stories. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. He's written tie-in fiction based on Supernatural, The X-Files, Alien, Doctor Who, Conan the Barbarian, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Grimm, and Transformers, among others, and he's written novelizations for films such as Ti West’s X-Trilogy, Halloween Kills, Terrifier 2 and 3, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. He’s also the author of the award-winning guide to horror Writing in the Dark. He’s a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, a one-time winner of the Scribe Award, and he’s been a two-time finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and a one-time finalist for the Splatterpunk Award. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of young people is shooting a porn movie. The location is remote Powder Keg farm, rural Texas. Howard and Pearl, the old landlords seem a bit strange. Is it only old age or something more behind it? Soon the first of the young people dies... what a fine novel. Set in 1979 you feel the raw power of Texas Chainsaw Massacre mixed with the fire and brimstone preacher coming out the speakers of an old TV set, cocaine, lewd action until the final fuck. It is about youth here and the way you change your looks over the years. The author managed to bring in all the proper ingredients you'd expect and even more. End of 70s horror at its very best. Highly recommended!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is structured almost exactly like its film counterpart and is a quick, fun read for fans of the movie. The writing itself is definitely a bit dry (which is to be expected from an adaptation of a screenplay published by a film distribution company rather than a literary publisher), but it was still cool to get additional details and insights about the story and characters. I’m excited to read the “Pearl” and “MaXXXine” novelizations when they come out in the next few months.

[Megan Giacone · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good as far as novelizations go! definitely faithful to the movie script. i was kinda hoping we would get even more detail and an expansion on inner monologues/motivations but regardless ill be sat for Pearl

[Charlie Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost exactly like watching the movie

[Adela · Rating 3 out of 5]

WTF?!?!?

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I’ve have not watched the movie. I haven’t really had any desire to watch it. I picked this book up for two reasons, I’m obsessed with novelizations and Tim Waggoner is the author. With Terrifier 2 Novelization in my queue, I was eager to get a feel for Tim’s writing style. He did not disappoint, I absolutely loved this book. Many reviews have stated they wished the author expanded more on the story, unfortunately Tim was not permitted to expand on Ti West’s screenplay. I may watch the film in the future, but I’m more excited for the next two books.
I’m a couple chapters into Terrifier and I must say, Tim, I’ll definitely be reading much more of your work.

[Jordan Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4 stars :)

I have never read and enjoyed a movie novelization. By the time I turn the final page, I typically find them mundane and pointless, feeling as if I've just read a screenplay itself. Despite being a massive fan of the A24 X film franchise, I admittedly didn't have high hopes for the novel adaptation. It is based on a screenplay, after all. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the blunt yet descriptive narration, formatting, and insights into the characters' motives and thoughts. Any fan of Ti West's film trilogy should consider picking up the X novelization to become even further engrossed in the series.

[Evans Light · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done. Even though I've seen the movie a couple of times, Tim Waggoner has crafted an impressively efficient page-turner that hooked me from the start. This book can be read in about the same amount of time as it takes to watch the film, doesn't expand the basic story but does add additional detail and character insight. Beautiful pocket paperback production and art design as well. Recommended.

[Joshua Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly this was a great adaptation. Tim did an awesome job taking the story from the screen to print. He didn’t go over the top on the details of the sex or kills which I feel would have cheapened the story. Tim did a great job making the characters likable and enjoyable and wrote a story that flowed just as well as the movie. This definitely gave me a new appreciation for X. I can’t wait for Pearl!

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mia Goth FOREVER!!! I just love a sleazy 70s porno chic horror novelisation. Can’t wait to read Pearl.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, I know it is a novelization, but fuck it, 5 stars.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good adaptation of the film, really captures the inner workings of Pearl in a pretty terrifying way. If you like the movie, you'll like this.

[bay · Rating 4 out of 5]

"she was a fucking star, and stars didn't shit in the woods."

definitely a fun read for fans of ti west's horror trilogy! although this does mirror the film very closely, we do get a little bit of backstory for each character along with their inner thoughts. some typos took me out of it occasionally, but overall i enjoyed getting to relive "X" ❣️

[A.J. Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, it brought a lot more to the story for me than the film did, since you get the point of view of Pearl and Howard and their inner monologue, which for sure added to the creep factor. Definitely recommend for anyone who loves the trilogy of X/Pearl/Maxxxine.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting more monolog from Pearl and Howard definitely makes this creepier than the movie. I loved it and hope Tim Waggoner does Maxxxine movie novelization to complete the set

[Sophie Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t seen X in a while, so I remembered the plot but not a lot of the fine details. It was better than I remembered it being!! I thought it was interesting seeing what the author added as interior monologue since it gave more personality to the characters. It was also cool to read this after knowing what happens in Pearl (I’m so excited for that book, too).

[Nev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a fun idea for A24 to produce novelizations of the X film trilogy. The throwback pulp designs of the books are really cool. The structure and content of the book is basically just what happens in the film. I was hoping that this would be the type of novelization that expands more on the film and adds extra stuff between the scenes, but sadly that didn’t happen.

It was interesting to get the internal monologues from the characters, especially Pearl. Getting her thoughts in scenes like the one where she’s looking in the mirror added a lot to her characterization. I also appreciated getting Lorraine’s thoughts as she was helping to film the porn and what pushed her to want to be on camera herself.

Overall this was a nice read. I’m interested to keep going and read the books for Pearl and MaXXXine as well, but I’m going to keep my expectations kinda low.

[Haley Newlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy F! This was soooooo good! As a huge fan of Ti West’s X trilogy, I expected to enjoy the X novelization, but I ADORED it. Waggoner achieves greater insight to each of the characters from Lorraine and RJ to Howard and Pearl. It was interesting to learn more about Howard’s POV and the role he has played in Pearl’s darkness over the years. Each of the deaths were still incredibly shocking despite me having seen them on screen multiple times. Also, the novelization helped me pick up on some of the relics and tidbits shared between X and Pearl that I missed or didn’t fully appreciate in the films. 🎥 🍿 🎞️

If you’re a fan of the X trilogy, Ti West, Mia Goth, slashers, or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, you have to read this!

Pearl is my favorite of 3 films so I can’t wait to read its novelization next 😍 🪓 🐖

[Nate Dawg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Waggoner nails it with this novelization of the movie X. I enjoyed his novelization of Halloween Kills and thought he did a good job with a script that was lacking in much of a story. Well he does excellent work in developing X from screen to book. The story is pretty much exactly what you see in the film with some added backstory and inner dialogue of the characters. The book is fast paced and a quick read. I’m interested in checking out Pearl and Maxine soon.

[Mikepottz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The intense summer heat in Texas with a decrepit farmhouse owned by an elderly couple. Six people hire the place to make a fuck film. Maxine wants to be a STAR. I hope there are no chainsaws hanging around. The farmhouse would be cinematic heaven for their porno. Hope there is running water to scrub off all the bodily fliuds. A knife to the throat, chuk. The knife penetrating the neck over and over nearly decapitating the head. A pitchfork through the eyes, in the soft meat of the brain, the eyes plopped on the floor. This is a murderous dead place. Wanting youth and being ever horny can make a person KILL. Read this after seeing the movie when it came out. Liked the book better.

[piper monarchsandmyths · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestly pretty solid but it feels like the best parts of the film fall flat. i like getting more details and the thoughts of some of the other characters in some scenes, but it doesn’t have the oomph and tension of x. still very interested to read the rest of the novelizations!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

i liked this! it stayed true to the movie plot all the way through. x is my least favorite movie in the trilogy, but after reading this i might revisit it again. excited to read the rest of this little series!

[billie! · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟. very faithful to the film which has its limits. would’ve loved a bit more outside of what was in the film but loved pearls inner monologue!

[kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

high 3.5
just a good novelization, which i love because i love this movie !!!
lovely extra tidbits of character info ugh i care them

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the movie, you will love this book! I definitely wish it had more extra scenes and stuff that wasn’t in the film, but overall a fun read!

[Celeste Jamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, I was kinda skeptical when I started this. I thought it was a little weird to novelize movies, but oh boy, I loved this. Can’t wait to start reading Pearl and Maxxxine.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seen Pearls perception was interesting and horrifying. This was a great companion to a phenomenal series. It was disturbing and really felt like it was underneath your skin Clawing away.

[Kylie Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

exactly like the movie in the best way possible

[William Brundrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a better experience as a book rather than a film. Having the characters inner monologues, thoughts, motivations and desires fleshed out fully makes this story hit so much harder.

[Tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pearl’s POV was so unsettling and this was just overall a great novelisation, I need to see the movie now ASAP!!