Merian C. Cooper's King Kong

King Kong of Skull Island (Books) #1

by Joe DeVito, Brad Strickland

For years, American filmmaker and showman Carl Denham has been recognized for his movies of untamed nature, shot in exotic locations around the globe.

Now, in late 1932, he’s about to embark on his most dangerous gamble – to film the movie that could make or ruin his reputation. Along with first mate, Jack Driscoll, a camera crew, and actress Ann Darrow, guided only by an arcane map, Denham sets sail for the lost world of Skull Island.What they encounter there exceeds even their wildest nightmares.

The island’s peninsula is shielded by a giant Wall, built by a long-vanished civilization, which protects the inhabitants from something on the other side - something monstrous, all-powerful…and terribly alive. Danger becomes deadly when Denham, Driscoll, and the beautiful Ann Darrow come face-to-face with the beast-god of Skull Island, King Kong.

Since its release in 1933, Merian, C. Cooper’s film King Kong has shocked and delighted generations of movie fans, setting the standard against which all special effects movies have been judged ever since.

Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong, fully authorized by Cooper’s estate, is a full, expanded rewrite of the 1932 novel, bringing his original vision back to today’s fans.

 

 

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Dinosaurs, Pulp, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fiction

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 22, 2005

About the author

Joe DeVito is an award-winning artist, sculptor, and author whose work spans pop culture, imaginative world-building, and the fine arts. His acclaimed illustrated novels - KONG: King of Skull Island, Merian C. Cooper’s King Kong, and King Kong of Skull Island: Exodus and The Wall - form the definitive expansion of the Kong mythology and have inspired comics, games, and upcoming screen adaptations with partners such as Disney+, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Raw Thrills and The Sandbox.

To learn more about Joe's work visit:

Instagram: @kingkongofskullisland; @joedevitoart

X: @KingKongofSI

Reviews

[George K.]

Ουσιαστικά έχουμε να κάνουμε με το novelization τόσο της ομότιτλης ταινίας του 1933 σε σκηνοθεσία Merian C. Cooper και Ernest B. Schoedsack, όσο και αυτής του 2005 σε σκηνοθεσία Peter Jackson. Με λίγα λόγια ήξερα τι να περιμένω πάνω-κάτω από άποψη πλοκής, αφού έχω δει την δεύτερη ταινία. ΟΚ, μπορεί να ήμουν κάπως μικρός όταν την είδα για πρώτη και μοναδική φορά μέχρι στιγμής, θυμόμουν όμως αρκετές λεπτομέρειες. Τώρα που το σκέφτομαι, λέω να την ξαναδώ. Λοιπόν, το βιβλίο είναι αρκετά ικανοποιητικό για όσους θέλουν να δουν και σε γραπτή μορφή την συγκεκριμένη ιστορία. Μην περιμένετε βάθος σε χαρακτήρες και άλλα τέτοια πράγματα, όμως η ατμόσφαιρα είναι σούπερ, η δράση μπόλικη και οι περιγραφές ωραίες, οπότε σίγουρα η ώρα θα περάσει ευχάριστα. Τέτοιου είδους ιστορίες -περιπέτειες σε εξωτικά μέρη, κάμποσες δεκαετίες πίσω- πάντα μου άρεσαν και θα συνεχίσουν να μου αρέσουν, έτσι δεν υπήρχε περίπτωση να μην περάσω καλά διαβάζοντας το βιβλίο αυτό. Τώρα θα (ξανά) δω την ταινία του 2005 και λέω να ψάξω και αυτήν του 1933.

[Karlton]

Of the adaptations of a novelization of an original screenplay that I've read, this is the best.

[Michael Fierce]

A great adaptation of the original King Kong story! This one was re-written by Brad Strickland with a few illustrations by Joe Devito, to gear up the King Kong fans before they released their sequel / prequel, "Kong: King Of Skull Island" and awaken interest in our favorite giant ape right before the release of Peter Jackson's King Kong would hit the theaters. It's a good version and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There wasn't much new here or added, but the few expanded ideas and extended creature incidents helped make it more interesting as a whole. The illustrations by Joe Devito are incredible and it would've been great if the movie had've been more of a succes, because, who knows what might've happened? Like this one and thier more illustrative follow-up, they were both commissioned by the Cooper Estate, and they may very well have been asked to continue the Legend further. I hope we'll see more Kong by this duo someday, somehow!

[Maggie]

A really interesting look into a cool piece of history if a bit overdramatic at times.

[Bevan Boychuk]

This audio book was fantastic! Lots of action sequences and good characters

[Gülay Akbal]

Efsane olmuş bir kitap ve beraberinde efsane olmuş filmler. Kong aslında kötü değil. İnsan gözünden bakılınca olaylar bu şekilde anlaşılıyor. Peki Kong tarafından baksak olaya. Sanırım olayları çok farklı göreceğiz. Ama ne olursa olsun asla eskimeyecek bir kitap.

[CJ]

Vivid adventure of love and awe

[Justin Hosten]

The voice acting cast did a great job of bringing the story to life. The story was enjoyable throughout and contained many exciting scenes with a good pace.

[Mark Stratton]

An already overwrought bit of prose did not need the melodrama added by scene and chapter endings. Also, the voice actors were all guilty of over-acting their parts.