Close Encounters of the Third Kind: A Novel [Hardcover]

Steven Spielberg (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Pr (December 1, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440013739
• ISBN-13: 978-0440013730
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,039,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 and 1/2 Stars, October 19, 2001

By 

Bill R. Moore (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Paperback)

This is Spielberg's novel version of his more famous movie. It's not a bad book but, being Spielberg, it reads more like a movie screenplay than an actual novel. It's not that the writing is dry or boring (it's actually quite well-written and captivating in spots), but it doesn't go into extreme detail on some of the more mysterious and awe-inspiring scenes, as good science fiction invariably does. Of course, this was reconciled in the movie where you could actually SEE what is merely being described in this book. Still, this is a fun book, and I reccommend it to you for a rainy day or something of the kind. It's nice, quick read that you'll enjoy.

3.0 out of 5 stars A Mixed Bag, October 28, 2005

By 

David Kidwell (Northampton, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Mass Market Paperback)

Steven Spielberg's novelization of his groundbreaking movie is a bit uneven. It's impossible to know whether the book was entirely written by Spielberg himself, or whether it was partially or totally ghost-written. The writing is very good in spots, such as the depiction of Roy Neary's obsession and its effect on his family. In other places it reads more like a movie script, or even a treatment. There are a few instances where there is a little extra background informantion that is not in the movie. Unfortunately, the grandeur and scope of the climactic final scene does not come off anywhere near as powerfully as it does in the movie.

3 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's a good book. I would recammend it to all people., May 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Paperback)

I would recommend this book to people who like to read novels, comics, picture books, and who like to read about aliens. The part that I didn't like was that I knew what was coming up because I already saw the movie twice.