It Came from Outer Space (Monsters Series) [Hardcover]

Thorne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1982

The inhabitants of a disabled spaceship take steps to prevent the panic-stricken citizens of Sand Rock from thwarting efforts to repair their craft.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 47 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall & IBD (February 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896862135
• ISBN-13: 978-0896862135
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,580,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essentially a photo-novel for the classic 1950's sci fi film, October 17, 2002

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It Came from Outer Space (Monster) (Paperback)

One night astronomer John Putnam is watching the night skies when he sees a flash in the desert night sky. Dragging the pretty Ellen Fields with him, he goes off to investigate the meteor. But what he discovers is not a giant meteor but a space ship. Of course, back in town nobody will believe him, not even the Sheriff (who also likes Ellen). But then people start wondering around town in zombie-like trances and the love triangle takes a back seat to the imminent alien invasion.

"It Came From Outer Space" was one of the classic Fifties black & white science fiction films which has been novelized as part of the Monsters series edited by Dr. Howard Schroeder, Professor in Reading and Language Arts, Dept. of Elementary Education at Mankato State University; in other words, a blatant attempt to trick young kids into reading by novelizing old Monster movies in books with lots of pictures. There are two-dozen black & white photographs from the film showing Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush running around trying to save the world. The original story is by Ray Bradbury, and if young readers go from this to check out any of his short stories, that would be a good thing.

This adaptation by Ian Thorne of the Harry Essex screenplay (from the Bradbury story) is decent enough, but I swear they tried to camp this story up on purpose with the chapter headings ("The Shape-Changers," "The Old Mine") and the photo captions ("Frank invites John to listen to strange noises"). So do not let the incredibly bad cover art (a giant hand coming out of a giant blob with a big eye grabbing a running female figure) make you think this is some tacky movie ... because it is pretty much in the same spirit as the original film.

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost as much fun as the movie, February 17, 2002

By 

bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: It Came from Outer Space (Monster) (Paperback)

This is part of a series of books called "Monster series." The script is easy to read and aimed for a young reader however the story is all there and many of the pictures from the movie. A few scenes were sketched in and lack the spookiness of the movie. This may have been on purpose but it distracted. As with many books things that were implied in the movie are made clear in the book.

The basic story is a spaceship has to make a pit stop on Earth. While making repairs the ugly aliens have to deal with vigilante ugly earthlings. I just love the evil look from Barbara Rush.

This book is by Ian Thorne, adapted from a screenplay by Harry Essex, from a story by Ray Bradbury.

It Came From Outer Space

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars from outer space by jose chung, December 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: It Came from Outer Space (Monsters Series) (Hardcover)

it was the best book i ever read i love jose chung,i read it at a library and would like to buy it. can you please order it, sincerily,marco stacey