FUTUREWATCH: This Island Earth -from Novel to Film, with an aside to Marvel's The Avengers....

In another look at SF Cinema, the author of '100 Must Read Science Fiction Novels' compares and contrasts Raymond F. Jones' little known novel with the Classic 1950s SF movie and its precedents and influence over Marvel's Kree-Skrull War.... #sciencefictionbooks #thisislandearth #mcuavengers

[@davidcaan709]

I loved "This Island Earth". Next to "The Day the Earth Stood Still", it is still one of my favorite movies of that time.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Both crackers, both based on actual SF writing.

[@nathanhicks1781]

Kree skrull war, Bug eyed monsters and donut perfection - what more could you ask for? 🤩

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Exactly.

[@bookdork]

I loved this film when my dad sat me down to watch it on the telly. Rewatching it recently, I was impressed once more especially by the effects. The story is perhaps a little thin, but still it is beautiful. I picked up that Grafton printing when I was working at my first bookshop job in 1991ish, and am glad I still have it.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yes, it has its flaws, but I find these very easy to ignore as the film is so beautiful to look at- and the novel, well, a scarce item now!

[@petetherealtreatdurose7733]

Really enjoyed watching this Steve. I love this film from my early childhood (black and white TV) to still watching my DVD. I’m now on a major lookout for the book . I’m ordering your book from Amazon this week.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Thanks Peter! I actually think 'This Island Earth' could do with a remake, though it would never match the original!

[@luiznogueira1579]

I really wish you'd told us more about the ending of the book. I re-watched the movie a little while ago and thought the ending was rushed and frustrating. The movie starts really well, there's a nice buildup to the moment when the scientists are taken to Metaluna, but once they arrive there things pretty much fall apart and they have to rush right back to Earth. The whole thing didn't make much sense in the end. Lots of wasted potential, imo. But evidently the novel-- which I didn't even know existed-- must fill in the gaps. Anyway, the mutant looks really cool, makes for a weird action figure lurking on one of my bookshelves...

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Well, If I had, that would have upset the 'spoiler' cryers. I know it's a hard book to find, but let's just say the film does cut the book short and the end is more satisfying in the book- hope you manage to find a copy!

[@luiznogueira1579]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal Yes, I can imagine the outcry! Guess I'm too old to care much about spoilers... Now that I know It's out there, I'll certainly check out the novel If I find It. Too bad about the movie, though; It could easily have been another Forbidden Planet!