Customer Reviews

Nothing Lasts Forever

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First of all, I should probably say that Die Hard is one of my favorite movies of all time. For me, reading the book it was based on was a no brainer, but I even recommend it to people who aren't fans of the movie. While retaining the same basic "terrorists seize building" plot of the film, the novel is actually very different. It involves a much older hero (Joe Leland) who is desperately trying to save his daughter and two grandchildren, rather than his wife. The whole thing is a little more realistic and plausible than the movie. For instance, Leland's daughter, Stephanie, is not your average, ethically flawless, damsel in distress. She is obviously not a perfect person. More than once, Joe finds himself thinking about all the mistakes she has made in her life. The book contains variations on all of the familiar stunts and supporting characters (minus the two arrogant FBI agents) that really helped to make the movie great. The action sequences are quite suspenseful, especially for a book. What really enhances the suspense is Leland's vulnerability. He doesn't kill without emotion, and he's definitely not physically invincible. In a few parts it really seems like he's done for. Nothing Lasts Forever is an overall great book that is extremely entertaining and hard to put down. My only major complaint is that since the entire story follows Leland's point of view, you only come into contact with the head antagonist (Gruber) when Joe does. As a result, the character of Gruber is not nearly as memorable as Alan Rickman's portrayal in Die Hard. To wrap up, if you liked Die Hard it would be a mistake not to pick up this book, and even if you weren't crazy about the film, Nothing Lasts Forever is different enough to warrant a strong recommendation.

A grim, more bleak version of what you might have been initially exposed to in the first "Die Hard" film, Roderick Thorp's "Nothing Lasts Forever" was a pleasure to read.

There are enough differences to keep movie-viewers off balance, and the writing is tough and terse, befitting it's hero, Joe Leland (not John McClane).

The plot similarities are as such: it opens on a plane from NYC to LAX. He's visiting an estranged family member in L.A., who works in a high rise and they're having a Christmas party when the building gets taken over by terrorists. There's a cop on the outside, there's the cop's "superior" who's not the most competent, the big bad guy is Anton (not Hans) Gruber...but...

...the tone is really quite different. It's a bit more introspective, withe Leland feeling himself consumed by hatred toward his enemies. When he takes out a terrorist, you get an impression of how it affects him. They're not casual. And as he "gets better" at it, it starts to change his thinking. It's pretty interesting stuff.

The media presence is handled much more seriously, not as a comic plot device/aside in the film. I thought it was much more realistic...the way media can manipulate the real story, and also how those people actually involved in the news story can manipulate the media right back. There's a few clever sequences that wouldn't have fit in the film, but are nevertheless pretty cool.

I'm withholding the numerous plot differences between the two, as I hope you'll discover them for yourselves, but as a teaser, the hero is going to visit his daughter, not his wife...

The film's screenplay, I think, is a masterpiece of action film writing. Good dialogue, nice exposition, decent plot twists. But the book is not that story; it's waaaay different. It has a different bent, and works equally well.

Thorp writes action well, so many scenes play out vividly in your imagination, without the help of the movie's imagery.

There are enough differences that I wasn't sure how the book was going to end, and you won't be sure either. Prepare for an unexpectedly pleasurable reading experience...

Die Hard (The Movie) fans may be intrested in reading this book, but beware, there are some major differences. One disappointing difference is the absence of Hans Gruber. The colorful mastermind from the movie is no where to be seen in this book. In fact there is no snappy banter to be found because the terrorists don't speak English. The realism factor is higher in this book too, not that Die Hard wasn't believable, but when you puke after realizing you've killed someone, you're talking real life. Other differences are abound in this book. You should read it to see them all. It's entertaining, and Thorpe is a talented writer, but this book is not quite as entertaining as the movie. Still, don't let that discourage you, I throughly believe that books hold more depth, detail and darkness than Hollywood.

The time is the late 70's. Our hero is making a cross-country flight to visit his daughter. Little does he know what action, danger, and notoriety are in his future. Yes the plot is similiar to what fans loved about the movie.

John McTiernan captured the essence of Thorp's novel with the addition of querky characters like the FBI agents, Johnson and Johnson. I liked reading the book to get the "back story" on our hero who's name is not John McClane but Joe Leland; who is older and more experienced than his cinema alter ego.

The terrorists are politically motivated here and give strong argument to the greedy motivations of corporations and governments. The violence was so graphic in the book, especially the killing of female terrorists by Leland, that the movie altered those elements to more "socially acceptable" killings. Overall, I enjoyed the Nothing Lasts Forever and look forward to reading the first book in Thorpe's series.

I actually read this book after seeing the movie a couple of times. The book, believe me, is better. It really highlights the internal requirements of both the hero and villain very well. Actually it is a treat to read the book and see the movie again. You see it in a new light.

Loved the movie when I saw it. Read the book and loved the book even more. A lot more interesting shades of grey to all the characters. Even more suspense and action. Couldn't put it down. I had to read it straight through.

the book is quite a bit better and I enjoyed the movie--
you get a more realistic hero-coming to LA to say goodbye to his daughter, his last tattered connection to this world and then end it
BUT trapped in a "situation" he's uniquely prepared for and very willing and even eager to die--but to Die Hard (the movie completely goes by this critical point)
beware the man with nothing to lose (which ironically is probably a pretty good encapsulation of the terrorist's credo)
Bruce Willis is ALL wrong for the book's lead character--there's no light macho comedy in this guy

I gave the book "Nothing Lasts Forever" by Roderick Thorp five stars without a question. "Die Hard" was based off this amazing novel, it takes you through a story of how a retired New York cop outwits 12 foreign thugs in an L.A. high rise. This book is filled with twists that'll keep you on your toes, characters that come alive, and tips you can use in everyday life. I encourage young and mature adults and action lovers to read this amazing book. It'll be a good challenge and an awesome reading experience!

I'm a great fan of Die Hard movies, and I have tried to find the novel that based the first movie for years. After reading it, I have to say that Thorp made a great book. The main character Joe Leland (John McClane at the screen) is now more closer to a human. He doubts and suffer as anyone of us. And the book adds something very interesting for the reader. We see all the action since the perspective of Leland, so we can see how he feels about all the stuff. Obviously, a movie can do that. The script by Steven E. De Souza has selected some of the more important parts of the book, and be careful, not all the things on the screen are in this pages. Do a favour to yourself, buy this book. If you liked Die Hard, you'll enjoy this book a lot. If you don't like action movies it's a wonderful way to spenda few hours reading something different.

The book "Nothing Lasts Forever" by Roderick Thorp is a must read for "Die Hard" fans. This book is about a cop named Joe Leland (in "Die Hard", John McLane)who goes to Los Angeles to visit his daughter Stephanie (in "Die Hard", his wife Holly) at the Klaxon Oil Building(in "Die Hard" the Nakatomi building)where Stephanie works. At the building, terrorists take over and Joe must go around the building killing the terrorists. This was the inspiration for the Bruce Willis movie "Die Hard"(1988). I'm a huge fan of the "Die Hard" movies, and if you are, too, buy this book.