Novelization goes on sale in May, 2001

[Michael Martinez]

So it would seem, based on the report in Diamond Previews.

www.xenite.org/faqs/lotr_...0/375.html (http://www.xenite.org/faqs/lotr_movie/news_0000/375.html)

I've ordered a copy. Hope it's not just another reissue of the classic novel (of which I presently have several copies).

[bmilder]

Oh come on, why can't people just read the real book?

[Michael Martinez]

Because New Line Cinema would make less money that way.

Besides, a novelization can be used to explain some things which may be only briefly explained in the movies.

But there are some people who question whether this really is a novelization of the movies. I'm waiting for a little more confirmation, but I think it really is what it appears to be.

[Film Hobbit]

Yuck. And let me say again YUCK. There are about a million reasons not to spend money on this. The chief of which is that if you are going to do ANY LOTR reading, don't you think you ought to read the ORIGINAL book??

Secondly, why would you want to read the movie before you see it and potentially destroy the entire film before you see it? Its bad enough watching it already knowing the ending, but how can you possibly look at it the same way when you know EVERY detail of what will happen?

Shame shame shame on anyone who wastes cash on it.

[Michael Martinez]

Reading the novelization would in no way destroy my enjoyment of the movie. Spoilers rarely bother me. In fact, I usually hate it when I ask someone how something ends and they won't tell me. More often than not, I won't watch the ending or read the rest of the book if someone pulls that on me.

I have heard privately that Houghton Mifflin is saying that the book is a "movie tie-in", but they haven't elaborated, yet. If it IS the novelization, I want to be familiar with it as I'm sure people will confuse it with the original book as time goes by. I can't just attribute every non-canonical description of Middle-earth to David Day. :)

And I really don't expect the book to describe everything in the movie. Too much time has passed, and too many changes could have been made.

[IronParrot]

I just abhor the concept of publishing a novelization of the movie at all...

I would probably buy a copy of the screenplay if it were available though.

[Film Hobbit]

Screenplay.. YES DEFINENTLY. I'd buy that, but only AFTER I saw the film. But a novelization is insulting to the original author.

[Inoldonil]

"I can't just attribute every non-canonical description of Middle-earth to David Day."

LOL! :D

[Michael Martinez]

David Mullich of Tolkien Online is really pursuing this subject with a vengeance. His latest communication from Houghton Mifflin indicates the book may be nothing more than a reprint with some pictures and character information. However, for reasons I won't go into here, there are still some questions I feel have been unanswered.

[Leonides]

Guys, cool it!

They don't have the rights to rewrite the friggin book!

This is just good ol' Lord of the Rings with some pics from the movie, no doubt! It'll say, "A new Epic Motion Picture from New Line Cinema coming in December 2001!"

That's all! Don't spaz!

[IronParrot]

Oh, good, good. Stand down red alert.

[Michael Martinez]

Actually, they do have the rights to produce a novelization if they want one. That's not something anyone should doubt.

I have no opinion on what the book is at this time. The problem with the Houghton Mifflin explanation is that some of the information they provided was inaccurate (basically, a reference to a Web site that was supposed to have info and didn't).

[anduin]

Dangit, what exactly is their explanation?

[Michael Martinez]

Oh, don't panic all over again. Basically they said, "Yes, it's a movie tie-in." When pressed for more info they said, "It's just a reprint with pictures from the films and some information about the characters. For more information, go to this Web site...."

NOTE: I'm summarizing from memory as my email overfloweth at the moment.

Anyway, we went to look at the Web site and there was nothing there.

So, I concluded that this must be a case of one hand not knowing what the other is doing.

And the publication date given to David Mullich is June 1, not May as Diamond Previews, Amazon, BooksaMillion, and BarnesandNoble claim. Actually, I think BooksaMillion is offering the book in April.

So, there are three publication dates (April, May, June) and two authors (J.R.R. Tolkien and the Network Learning Center Staff) and no official announcement for this book which is "just a movie tie-in with some pictures and information on the characters".

So, that is why I am still curious about what the thing actually is.

[Film Hobbit]

Well, I for one hope this newest info is correct and that there will be no novelization. But sounds fishy to me.

[anduin]

Oh, I'm not panicking.....just trying to piece together all that you know. You made it sound like you had some sort of inside info or something, which I suppose could be possible for you. ;)

If it turns out to be a cool book, I will probably buy it just to add to my Tolkien collection. Whatever comes out will be a part of the history of LOTR, regardless if we approve of it or not. I would eventually like to see a nice coffee table sized book, perhaps with extensive movie info and pics. :)