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Scanners
Novelization of the Cronenberg Film
204 pages, paperback
First published January 1, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 28, 2021
David Cronenberg's Scanners
by Leon Whiteson, David Cronenberg
I have been on a re-reading fest for a bit and really enjoying it. I read this so long long ago I had forgotten what it was about! Lol!
It has people that can use their minds as a weapon. But mostly, without training, it makes them a bit crazy or they feel insane. Those that have this ability are called Scanners. Those that know what they are, that get help, can train together to keep the other thoughts from people at bay.
This follows two men. One is considered very crazy and dangerous. He is powerful and kills anyone that gets in his way. The other is found by a doctor and he is helping him control the thoughts. There is a drug that helps control the Scanners.
There is plenty of action. Great characters and plot. There were twists I didn't expect. I enjoyed it. I know there is a movie that is said to be a B rated, but I get in the mood for hokie books and movies sometimes! Maybe I can find it.
by Leon Whiteson, David Cronenberg
I have been on a re-reading fest for a bit and really enjoying it. I read this so long long ago I had forgotten what it was about! Lol!
It has people that can use their minds as a weapon. But mostly, without training, it makes them a bit crazy or they feel insane. Those that have this ability are called Scanners. Those that know what they are, that get help, can train together to keep the other thoughts from people at bay.
This follows two men. One is considered very crazy and dangerous. He is powerful and kills anyone that gets in his way. The other is found by a doctor and he is helping him control the thoughts. There is a drug that helps control the Scanners.
There is plenty of action. Great characters and plot. There were twists I didn't expect. I enjoyed it. I know there is a movie that is said to be a B rated, but I get in the mood for hokie books and movies sometimes! Maybe I can find it.
September 12, 2018
Now what can I say about this book, being such an infamous film I am almost tempted to waver my no spoilers rule but not quite.
Anyway this book was a fun little distraction - yes definitely of the "film tie-in" era where it seemed a novelisation of any major film was almost immediately published after a film was released (I cannot begin to tell you how many I picked up and read through the years) this book caught my eye as I was travelling through one of my favourite charity shops.
The book itself is rather thin (its less than 160 pages) and reading it certainly felt that way, lets say some scenes were very quickly passed over while others went in to excessive detail almost in some sort of childish glee (am sure you can guess what I am referring to).
However there was a clever storyline hiding here - after all remember the age of this book (and the film). I think sometimes its too easy to scoff at a storyline because we have seen it so often. However at some point it was new and innovative and that is the case with this story.
All I can say for a book that could be so quickly and easily dismissed as trash its actually a fun read, just wish it was a little better fleshed out. Maybe time for a re-write?
Anyway this book was a fun little distraction - yes definitely of the "film tie-in" era where it seemed a novelisation of any major film was almost immediately published after a film was released (I cannot begin to tell you how many I picked up and read through the years) this book caught my eye as I was travelling through one of my favourite charity shops.
The book itself is rather thin (its less than 160 pages) and reading it certainly felt that way, lets say some scenes were very quickly passed over while others went in to excessive detail almost in some sort of childish glee (am sure you can guess what I am referring to).
However there was a clever storyline hiding here - after all remember the age of this book (and the film). I think sometimes its too easy to scoff at a storyline because we have seen it so often. However at some point it was new and innovative and that is the case with this story.
All I can say for a book that could be so quickly and easily dismissed as trash its actually a fun read, just wish it was a little better fleshed out. Maybe time for a re-write?
April 21, 2018
The only thing I missed in this book was a cooler and more detailed description of the scanning progress but I'd still recommend it!
May 29, 2007
According to the front cover of the paperback, this book is "A novel written by Leon Whiteson based on the original screenplay by David Cronenberg."
You know how film adaptations of books are never as good as reading the books themselves? It works both ways.
You know how film adaptations of books are never as good as reading the books themselves? It works both ways.
December 26, 2017
A by the book book, What's in the movie is almost word for word in the book. And a lot of the dialog is pretty low caliber, Just like the movie and just like the movie it has that great material laying in the hands of someone who just hasn't matured into one who can wield the power of Greyskull just yet.
Shame Cronenberg couldn't have done this movie 5 year's later when he was a Master.
It's still a fast and kinda fun read.
2.9 head explosions outta 5
Shame Cronenberg couldn't have done this movie 5 year's later when he was a Master.
It's still a fast and kinda fun read.
2.9 head explosions outta 5
September 10, 2024
Dr Paul Ruth finds Cameron Vale, a powerful (but innocent and unknowing) scanner, and uses him to stop Darryl Revok, another powerful scanner who wants to form an alliance with others of his kind and dominate the world.
I should state, from the off, that I love the Cronenberg film. I think it might have been the first of his I ever saw and I loved it then and still love it now (I re-watched it last night), with the great Michael Ironside performance and the gruesomely spectacular special effects. Sadly, this novelisation doesn’t do it justice and I have to assume Mr Whiteson was on a very tight deadline. Everything’s there (with just a handful of changes), but the characterisation is virtually non-existent, Vale is written almost as a child and it doesn’t have any of the chilly tone the film does. Worth a read, if you’re a completist, but not as good as I’d hoped it would be.
I should state, from the off, that I love the Cronenberg film. I think it might have been the first of his I ever saw and I loved it then and still love it now (I re-watched it last night), with the great Michael Ironside performance and the gruesomely spectacular special effects. Sadly, this novelisation doesn’t do it justice and I have to assume Mr Whiteson was on a very tight deadline. Everything’s there (with just a handful of changes), but the characterisation is virtually non-existent, Vale is written almost as a child and it doesn’t have any of the chilly tone the film does. Worth a read, if you’re a completist, but not as good as I’d hoped it would be.
December 7, 2024
suffered from trying to adapt a movie that was about the visuals and the vibe more than the story. The writing was fine, though there were some moments of poor description that put me out of it. I am a little bummed because I thought I would have loved this book.
October 20, 2013
Scanners is about a string of incidents that occur when Consec, a corporation that develops cutting edge weaponry for national defense, invest their interests in a drug called ephemerol. Ephemerol, when given to a pregnant woman, would give birth to a (scanner) baby with a type of psychic ability.
Consec investigates whether scanners can be a threat to national security, while a mole is leaking their secrets. The book is enjoyable and easy to read. There are some great characters and a well-developed story that has an intense climax. I had first viewed the 1980 David Cronenburg movie it's based upon and it left quite an impression on me.
Consec investigates whether scanners can be a threat to national security, while a mole is leaking their secrets. The book is enjoyable and easy to read. There are some great characters and a well-developed story that has an intense climax. I had first viewed the 1980 David Cronenburg movie it's based upon and it left quite an impression on me.
February 14, 2015
The premise was intriguing. People gifted with the ability to join with the nervous system of another person. This may not be the best that David cronenburg can do but it is still a neat story. The gore was what sold me.
July 25, 2021
Heads exploding like dynamited watermelons, geyser of blood gushing from the neck. People born with extra sensory perception that can control peoples mind. When you start to get nosebleeds, earaches and nausea you are being scanned and your information is being sucked from your brain.
February 16, 2008
Total crap. I only read this because I was trapped in a beach town and this book was twenty five cents in a used book store.
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August 23, 2008isbn,original
December 23, 2015
I've never seen the film, so I can't make a comparison, but the book did not impress.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews