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Millennium #1
The Frenchman
Moving back to Seattle to escape the emotional burden of his work for the FBI's Violent Crimes section, retired FBI agent Frank Black discovers that his talent for "seeing what the killer sees" comes in handy when a serial killer begins to stalk the city. Original. TV tie-in.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
2 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Hand
186 books1,314 followersA New York Times notable and multiple award– winning author, Elizabeth Hand has written seven novels, including the cult classic Waking the Moon, and short-story collections. She is a longtime contributor to numerous publications, including the Washington Post Book World and the Village Voice Literary Supplement. She and her two children divide their time between the coast of Maine and North London.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 13, 2015
If I could give this a zero rating, I would. Probably a much more enriching experience to watch the TV pilot episode, which I will later.
April 5, 2016
One of the best series ever on television !!!
October 27, 2020
Liz Hand takes the basic material of the pilot and renders it in compelling literary form. As far as novelizations go, this is one of the most stylish I've ever read, and in this sense it becomes its own separate experience, quite distinct from the pilot.
Hand creates a very specific hard crime+nightmarish surrealism aesthetic here, one which I think plays to her strengths, and which I thoroughly enjoyed. Readers may be looking for a more plot-driven narrative focused on genre conventions etc, but this is a more impressionistic story. And because it's based on a series pilot, inevitably some story elements are set up for subsequent payoffs--so don't expect everything to be resolved.
Finally, for Millennium fans who know the pilot, it's still worth a read: some interesting minor discrepancies (I'm assuming this was based on a slightly earlier script draft) and a couple of beats that weren't in the episode itself.
Hand creates a very specific hard crime+nightmarish surrealism aesthetic here, one which I think plays to her strengths, and which I thoroughly enjoyed. Readers may be looking for a more plot-driven narrative focused on genre conventions etc, but this is a more impressionistic story. And because it's based on a series pilot, inevitably some story elements are set up for subsequent payoffs--so don't expect everything to be resolved.
Finally, for Millennium fans who know the pilot, it's still worth a read: some interesting minor discrepancies (I'm assuming this was based on a slightly earlier script draft) and a couple of beats that weren't in the episode itself.
February 9, 2023
I'm a fan of the Millennium television series, especially the first season, and THE FRENCHMAN is an entertaining novelization of the series' first episode. Written by Elizabeth Hand, who is an excellent writer, THE FRENCHMAN adeptly captures the dark tension of the series. If you're a fan of the series, you'll like this book. At least I did.
March 15, 2015
Πρόκειται για το novelization του πρώτου επεισοδίου της πρώτης σαιζόν της σειράς Millennium, της οποίας δημιουργός είναι ο Chris Carter, γνωστός επίσης για την σειρά X-Files. Δυστυχώς δεν έχει τύχει να δω κάποιο επεισόδιο της σειράς, έχω ακούσει όμως καλά λόγια και έτσι μπορεί κάποια στιγμή να την κατεβάσω και να την δω.
Από κει και πέρα το βιβλίο ήταν όπως θα περίμενε κανείς από μια απλή μεταφορά ενός σαραντάλεπτου επεισοδίου τηλεόρασης σε μυθιστόρημα, κάπως απλοϊκό, γρήγορο και χωρίς βάθος. Ο Φρανκ Μπλακ, πρώην πράκτορας του FBI και νυν μέλος της ομάδας Millennium, επιστρέφει με την οικογένειά του στο Σιάτλ και αμέσως πιάνει δουλειά, μιας και καλείται να βοηθήσει στην εξιχνίαση κάποιων αποτρόπαιων φόνων από έναν μυστηριώδη άντρα, τον Φραντσέζο. Πρόκειται για έναν σίριαλ κίλερ που ακολουθεί τις προφητείες της συντέλειας του κόσμου πετσοκόβοντας ανθρώπους.
ΟΚ, για να περάσει η ώρα δεν ήταν άσχημο, απλώς μέχρι να μπω στο κλίμα της ιστορίας, αυτή είχε τελειώσει. Υπήρχε δράση και λίγο μυστήριο, η ατμόσφαιρα ήταν κάπως σκοτεινή, αλλά δεν υπήρχε βάθος ούτε στην πλοκή ούτε στους χαρακτήρες για να ενδιαφερθώ παραπάνω. Η γραφή μου φάνηκε αρκετά καλή και ευκολοδιάβαστη, χωρίς βέβαια να έχει ιδιαίτερες λογοτεχνικές αρετές.
Από κει και πέρα το βιβλίο ήταν όπως θα περίμενε κανείς από μια απλή μεταφορά ενός σαραντάλεπτου επεισοδίου τηλεόρασης σε μυθιστόρημα, κάπως απλοϊκό, γρήγορο και χωρίς βάθος. Ο Φρανκ Μπλακ, πρώην πράκτορας του FBI και νυν μέλος της ομάδας Millennium, επιστρέφει με την οικογένειά του στο Σιάτλ και αμέσως πιάνει δουλειά, μιας και καλείται να βοηθήσει στην εξιχνίαση κάποιων αποτρόπαιων φόνων από έναν μυστηριώδη άντρα, τον Φραντσέζο. Πρόκειται για έναν σίριαλ κίλερ που ακολουθεί τις προφητείες της συντέλειας του κόσμου πετσοκόβοντας ανθρώπους.
ΟΚ, για να περάσει η ώρα δεν ήταν άσχημο, απλώς μέχρι να μπω στο κλίμα της ιστορίας, αυτή είχε τελειώσει. Υπήρχε δράση και λίγο μυστήριο, η ατμόσφαιρα ήταν κάπως σκοτεινή, αλλά δεν υπήρχε βάθος ούτε στην πλοκή ούτε στους χαρακτήρες για να ενδιαφερθώ παραπάνω. Η γραφή μου φάνηκε αρκετά καλή και ευκολοδιάβαστη, χωρίς βέβαια να έχει ιδιαίτερες λογοτεχνικές αρετές.
May 14, 2020
This is one of the most inept books I’ve ever had the misfortune of reading. It’s strangely graphic whilst also being type set in enormous font and each chapter is about two pages long. Warning, there’s also a lot of random, unchecked homophobia going on.
Summary: Frank Black is a former FBI detective who can see (?) through the eyes of killers. Some disgusting murder takes place in Seattle where he’s moved with his wife and kid and he’s drawn in by his innate (?) gift (?).
The question marks are there because none of this is sufficiently explained. Side plot: Frank is part of a group called the Millennium Group working to avert an apocalypse. This is a total nonstarter and is mentioned once in a conversation and once when some mate of his comes to drop off some paperwork.
Killer is called “the Frenchman” despite being from Seattle and apparently earned this moniker by displaying French poetry, which is interesting because there are maybe four french words in this entire book and all of the poetry is in English.
This book is also astonishingly overwritten. In spite of being barely 210 pages with enormous type, it should be, in fact, one page long in 12 pt TNR. It is RIDICULOUS. Do not read this book. It is a waste of your life.
Summary: Frank Black is a former FBI detective who can see (?) through the eyes of killers. Some disgusting murder takes place in Seattle where he’s moved with his wife and kid and he’s drawn in by his innate (?) gift (?).
The question marks are there because none of this is sufficiently explained. Side plot: Frank is part of a group called the Millennium Group working to avert an apocalypse. This is a total nonstarter and is mentioned once in a conversation and once when some mate of his comes to drop off some paperwork.
Killer is called “the Frenchman” despite being from Seattle and apparently earned this moniker by displaying French poetry, which is interesting because there are maybe four french words in this entire book and all of the poetry is in English.
This book is also astonishingly overwritten. In spite of being barely 210 pages with enormous type, it should be, in fact, one page long in 12 pt TNR. It is RIDICULOUS. Do not read this book. It is a waste of your life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2019
Elizabeth Hand is one of the more interesting genre novelists out there, and her willingness to undertake Series writing and novelizations of film and television is especially interesting. This is a novelizations of the pilot episode to “Millenium”, Chris Carter’s follow up to “The X-Files” about a former FBI profiler with almost psychic insight into the minds of criminals which starred Lance Henriksen. I was a huge fan of the show (one of the few, alas), and I was interested in how Hand would handle novelizing the pilot.
Happily, she opted to stay with the script without additional embellishments, and instead use her gifts as a writer and stylist to provide the written equivalent of the visual/aural sense of dread and despair that permeated the episode and the series. Novelizations are often considered to be a bastardized form of genre writing; in this case Hand offers a model of how to do it with taste, restraint, and skill.
Happily, she opted to stay with the script without additional embellishments, and instead use her gifts as a writer and stylist to provide the written equivalent of the visual/aural sense of dread and despair that permeated the episode and the series. Novelizations are often considered to be a bastardized form of genre writing; in this case Hand offers a model of how to do it with taste, restraint, and skill.
December 12, 2014
A good quick read, with a good plot, wish it was longer though.
September 25, 2018
Fantastic novelisation of the tv show
October 19, 2021
Stătea la mică distanţă de alee, încovoiat în ploaia îngheţată de februarie care sclipea pe trotuarul spart şi făcea ca reclama de neon a clubului să semene cu un far stacojiu.
THE RUBY TIP
CEL MAI TARE BAR DIN SEATTLE FETE PÂNĂ LA 2:00 AM
Citi cuvintele pentru a suta oară, cu gura întredeschisă, aşa încât dinţii de sus să i se înfigă în buză. Se strâmbă, ca şi cum ar fi gustat ceva rânced, apoi îşi înfundă pe cap şapca de base-ball, ca să se apere de ploaie, traversă aleea şi îşi croi drum spre uşa grea de oţel.
O muzică de duzină se revărsa pe holul întunecat. Vibra în acelaşi timp cu sângele care-i pulsa în cap. Duhoarea de dezinfectant cu aromă de brad se amesteca ameţitor cu fumul de ţigară, parfumul şi mirosul trupurilor excitate. Uşi roşii şi verzi încadrau coridorul de-o parte şi de alta. Ici şi colo, pe uşă se vedeau dâre de vopsea crăpată, mucuri de ţigară, reclame mototolite: TIFFANEE BRIGHT: SUNĂ-MĂ 24 DE ORE DIN 24!!! SUSHI CHIEF: LA DOMICILIU. Se auzi un sunet înfundat când una dintre uşi se deschise şi se închise, îşi ridică privirile şi văzu o tânără cu păr negru şi o haină mare de piele, care se îndrepta spre el, însoţită de sunetul tocurilor ei înalte pe linoleum. Se deschiseră şi alte uşi. Bărbaţii treceau în tăcere unii pe lângă alţii. Privirile lor reci ca ploaia se revărsau asupra fetei. Bruneta îşi dădu părul pe spate, strânse buzele şi evită privirile lor lacome. Pentru o clipă, bărbatul cu şapcă de base-ball rămase acolo, urmărind-o din priviri. Apoi se întoarse repede şi dispăru în spatele uneia dintre uşile verzi.
Femeia îşi văzu de drum mai departe, cu mâinile în buzunare. Când ajunse la ghişeul de bilete, îi făcu cu mâna tânărului dinăuntru ― Sammy, un băiat cumsecade, care nu agasa fetele şi se străduia să le ferească de tipii mai ciudaţi.
― Am plecat, zise ea.
Sammy băgă un teanc de monede în sertar şi îşi ridică ochii spre ea.
― Bine.
O văzu îndreptându-se spre uşă şi ţinând-o deschisă, ca să dea voie unei siluete îmbrăcate cu o haină leoarcă de ploaie şi cu nişte blugi strâmţi. Intră repede, cu capul în jos, ca să evite privirile clienţilor care mişunau pe hol.
THE RUBY TIP
CEL MAI TARE BAR DIN SEATTLE FETE PÂNĂ LA 2:00 AM
Citi cuvintele pentru a suta oară, cu gura întredeschisă, aşa încât dinţii de sus să i se înfigă în buză. Se strâmbă, ca şi cum ar fi gustat ceva rânced, apoi îşi înfundă pe cap şapca de base-ball, ca să se apere de ploaie, traversă aleea şi îşi croi drum spre uşa grea de oţel.
O muzică de duzină se revărsa pe holul întunecat. Vibra în acelaşi timp cu sângele care-i pulsa în cap. Duhoarea de dezinfectant cu aromă de brad se amesteca ameţitor cu fumul de ţigară, parfumul şi mirosul trupurilor excitate. Uşi roşii şi verzi încadrau coridorul de-o parte şi de alta. Ici şi colo, pe uşă se vedeau dâre de vopsea crăpată, mucuri de ţigară, reclame mototolite: TIFFANEE BRIGHT: SUNĂ-MĂ 24 DE ORE DIN 24!!! SUSHI CHIEF: LA DOMICILIU. Se auzi un sunet înfundat când una dintre uşi se deschise şi se închise, îşi ridică privirile şi văzu o tânără cu păr negru şi o haină mare de piele, care se îndrepta spre el, însoţită de sunetul tocurilor ei înalte pe linoleum. Se deschiseră şi alte uşi. Bărbaţii treceau în tăcere unii pe lângă alţii. Privirile lor reci ca ploaia se revărsau asupra fetei. Bruneta îşi dădu părul pe spate, strânse buzele şi evită privirile lor lacome. Pentru o clipă, bărbatul cu şapcă de base-ball rămase acolo, urmărind-o din priviri. Apoi se întoarse repede şi dispăru în spatele uneia dintre uşile verzi.
Femeia îşi văzu de drum mai departe, cu mâinile în buzunare. Când ajunse la ghişeul de bilete, îi făcu cu mâna tânărului dinăuntru ― Sammy, un băiat cumsecade, care nu agasa fetele şi se străduia să le ferească de tipii mai ciudaţi.
― Am plecat, zise ea.
Sammy băgă un teanc de monede în sertar şi îşi ridică ochii spre ea.
― Bine.
O văzu îndreptându-se spre uşă şi ţinând-o deschisă, ca să dea voie unei siluete îmbrăcate cu o haină leoarcă de ploaie şi cu nişte blugi strâmţi. Intră repede, cu capul în jos, ca să evite privirile clienţilor care mişunau pe hol.
September 6, 2023
“The Frenchman” is the novelization of the very first episode of “Millennium,” a gone-too-soon television series that ran in the late ‘90s, and one of my favorite shows. The novel itself does a grand job diving further into the inner monologue of the series’ main characters, shedding light on Frank Black’s thought process that we wouldn’t otherwise see (or, read?) on screen. While Elizabeth Hand does a great job at novelizing the “Millennium” premier, I probably rated this one an extra star higher because of my love of the show, and all things Frank Black. Nevertheless, this deadly crime thriller is infused with some graphic content that highlights the depravity of mankind, albeit with misguided eschatological undertones. Chris Carter (who also created “The X-Files”) certainly knew how to start a series, and “The Frenchman” serves as a stellar introduction to the word of “Millennium.” I know there are three other novelizations out there, and I’ll likely be reading them at some point too.
November 13, 2024
This book very much gave the vibe of an 80's or 90's mystery thriller show, and from the cover it appears there really was a TV version of this?
It's a simple little story, so if you're hoping for loads of action, sex or a desperate romantic adventure, then this book isn't for you.
But I liked it. Just not enough to go hunting for the rest of the series.
It's a simple little story, so if you're hoping for loads of action, sex or a desperate romantic adventure, then this book isn't for you.
But I liked it. Just not enough to go hunting for the rest of the series.
December 30, 2022
Este genială !
April 24, 2016
Nach den X-Files produzierte Chris Carter die Mystery-Serie MILLENIUM, und weil das Marketing niemals schläft, gab es natürlich auch hier das Buch zum Film.
Elizabeth Hand, die großartige eigene Stories und Romane geschrieben hat, übernahm die vielleicht nicht ganz dankbare Aufgabe, den ersten Roman zur Serie zu schreiben. Wenn man schaut, für welch unterschiedliche Serien und Filme sie die Romanfassungen geschrieben hat, wundert es nicht, wie routiniert sie das kann und auch in diesem Fall mit THE FRENCHMAN umgesetzt hat. Das dünne Bändchen liest sich flott weg und ist unterhaltsam. Im Vergleich zu ihren eigenständigen Arbeiten war ich trotzdem enttäuscht vom Franzosen. Es ist Elizabeth Hand gelungen, eine sehr mysteriöse und geheimnisvolle Atmosphäre zu schaffen, und dass sie das kann, daran bestand kein Zweifel. Leider gibt dieser erste Band zur Serie inhaltlich leider nicht viel her, und daran konnte die Autorin nichts ändern.
Vorgestellt wird Frank Black, Ex-Ermittler des FBI, der die unheimliche Fähigkeit hat, durch die Augen der Verbrecher zu sehen, die er zur Strecke bringen soll. Nachdem Franks Familie in der Vergangenheit bedroht worden war, hat er seine Arbeit für das FBI beendet und ist mit seiner Familie nach Seattle gezogen. Dort treibt gerade ein irrer Serienkiller sein Unwesen, und Frank entschließt sich, die örtliche Polizeibehörde bei der Jagd auf den Killer zu unterstützen.
Die Visionen, die Frank hat, zeigen, dass er es mit einem durchgeknallten Endzeitkiller zu tun hat, der unter religiösen Wahnvorstellungen leidet.
Klingt soweit ganz solide, und trotzdem stimmt mit diesem Roman einiges nicht (was, wie gesagt, der Skript-Vorlage und nicht der Autorin vorzuwerfen ist). Auch wenn die Grundstimmung sehr intensiv ist, hängt die Handlung doch ziemlich in den Seilen. Es kommt auf der "Jagd" nach dem Killer einfach keine rechte Spannung auf, eine einzige Verfolgungsjagd und das Auffinden eines weiteren Opfers des Verrückten sind die Eckpfeiler, auf denen die Story ruht. Das mag für eine 45-minütige Folge im Fernsehen reichen, im Buch wünscht man sich mehr. Und auch über Frank Black erfährt man noch nicht allzu viel, er wird in die Serie gerade erst neu eingeführt und so beschränkt sich das, was der Leser erfährt, auf das, was ich oben schon schrieb, plus ein weiteres, wichtiges Detail: Frank gehört zur Millenium-Gruppe. Was es mit der Gruppierung auf sich hat, erfährt man in THE FRENCHMAN noch nicht.
Fazit: Routiniert und gut geschrieben, im Rahmen der Möglichkeiten, die die Vorlage der Autorin gestattete, aber die dünne Handlung läßt keine richtige Freude aufkommen. 2,5 Sterne.
Elizabeth Hand, die großartige eigene Stories und Romane geschrieben hat, übernahm die vielleicht nicht ganz dankbare Aufgabe, den ersten Roman zur Serie zu schreiben. Wenn man schaut, für welch unterschiedliche Serien und Filme sie die Romanfassungen geschrieben hat, wundert es nicht, wie routiniert sie das kann und auch in diesem Fall mit THE FRENCHMAN umgesetzt hat. Das dünne Bändchen liest sich flott weg und ist unterhaltsam. Im Vergleich zu ihren eigenständigen Arbeiten war ich trotzdem enttäuscht vom Franzosen. Es ist Elizabeth Hand gelungen, eine sehr mysteriöse und geheimnisvolle Atmosphäre zu schaffen, und dass sie das kann, daran bestand kein Zweifel. Leider gibt dieser erste Band zur Serie inhaltlich leider nicht viel her, und daran konnte die Autorin nichts ändern.
Vorgestellt wird Frank Black, Ex-Ermittler des FBI, der die unheimliche Fähigkeit hat, durch die Augen der Verbrecher zu sehen, die er zur Strecke bringen soll. Nachdem Franks Familie in der Vergangenheit bedroht worden war, hat er seine Arbeit für das FBI beendet und ist mit seiner Familie nach Seattle gezogen. Dort treibt gerade ein irrer Serienkiller sein Unwesen, und Frank entschließt sich, die örtliche Polizeibehörde bei der Jagd auf den Killer zu unterstützen.
Die Visionen, die Frank hat, zeigen, dass er es mit einem durchgeknallten Endzeitkiller zu tun hat, der unter religiösen Wahnvorstellungen leidet.
Klingt soweit ganz solide, und trotzdem stimmt mit diesem Roman einiges nicht (was, wie gesagt, der Skript-Vorlage und nicht der Autorin vorzuwerfen ist). Auch wenn die Grundstimmung sehr intensiv ist, hängt die Handlung doch ziemlich in den Seilen. Es kommt auf der "Jagd" nach dem Killer einfach keine rechte Spannung auf, eine einzige Verfolgungsjagd und das Auffinden eines weiteren Opfers des Verrückten sind die Eckpfeiler, auf denen die Story ruht. Das mag für eine 45-minütige Folge im Fernsehen reichen, im Buch wünscht man sich mehr. Und auch über Frank Black erfährt man noch nicht allzu viel, er wird in die Serie gerade erst neu eingeführt und so beschränkt sich das, was der Leser erfährt, auf das, was ich oben schon schrieb, plus ein weiteres, wichtiges Detail: Frank gehört zur Millenium-Gruppe. Was es mit der Gruppierung auf sich hat, erfährt man in THE FRENCHMAN noch nicht.
Fazit: Routiniert und gut geschrieben, im Rahmen der Möglichkeiten, die die Vorlage der Autorin gestattete, aber die dünne Handlung läßt keine richtige Freude aufkommen. 2,5 Sterne.
January 14, 2015
De lo más decepcionante que he leído, no me atrapó para nada y durante casi todo el libro me la pasé preguntándome ¿Qué demonios vuelve especial a Frank Black? Además que el argumento del gran misterio que sume a la ciudad en un baño de sangre, bueno me pareció muy simple y una vez resuelto fue tonto.
Es corto y aún así, siento que hay páginas innecesarias.
Es corto y aún así, siento que hay páginas innecesarias.
November 19, 2024
Four stars due to the writing prowess of Ms. Hand. Also, I am a huge fan of Millennium and re-watch it religiously every year or so. This is an episode novelization and while it stays extremely close to the script it does sprinkle thoughts, motivations, and reflective purpose to some of Frank's morose meanderings.
Worth the read if you are a Millennium fan.
Worth the read if you are a Millennium fan.
February 22, 2009
You'd think that when somebody else writes a script and it is put into visual reality that if somebody were to come along and make it more literary for the purposes of a short story/novella, it could be done and, just maybe, in a way that makes it better than the tv show. Not so in this case
August 6, 2007
Millennium could've been a really great series, if only they'd stuck with it.
May 10, 2011
507th - 2011
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