Customer Reviews

Predator: A Novel (Movie Tie-In)

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The Predator novel is, at this point, probably better suited for fans of the series. The difference between the film and the book is very little as far as overall story, but the characters are portrayed a little differently and some of the action is unlike the film in execution and results. The elite military force led by Major "Dutch" Schaeffer (Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film) is much more blood thirsty in the novel. These characters have a love for their work of taking out lazy guerillas and turning them into "hamburger" as depicted in the novel. The most interesting aspect is more of a point of view by the Predator. Those who know the movie well get the idea that the Predator follows the military force around before making his first strike. In the novel, the author spends a little more time with the Predator and tries to explain to the reader how the Predator views the decisions and actions made by the military force. For those fans wanting to check it out, you can find it used either on Amazon or, if you're lucky, at a used bookstore as this item is very out-of-print.

A much more engrossing and captivating story than that contained in the movie of the same name, Predator tells the story of an elite military rescue unit sent into the jungles of South America to rescue American hostages.

After a thrilling and bloody firefight at the enemy base, the men begin their long trip to the helicopter rendevous point. Along the way, they are hunted and killed, one by one, by an unseen creature that uses the jungle to hide. Finally, only one man remains, left to hunt the hunter and free the earth from it's carnage.

The book maintains a nearly impossible breakneck speed from start to finish. Not only is this a finely crafted science fiction story, but it is also a glorious Rambo-style novel full of big guns and even bigger battles. A great and wholly satisfying read.

If you're getting this novel because you liked the movie be warned that this novel is obviously based on one of the early drafts of the script and the actual Predator is very different compared to its movie counterpart. The Predator in this is not a honorable hunter, it is a shape-shifting creature that kills humans because it wants to learn about them; like a scientist, not a hunter.

This is an enjoyable read by itself, but definitely not for someone who wants something going into detail about the actual Predator alien and the movie. The novelization of the second Predator film is much better if you're looking for something that is more true to the final movie-product.

Predator was an excellent movie. Taking what could have been an any day average action sci-fi movie and turning it into an A rate. Unfortunately, the novel does not keep up it's end of the deal. Novelizations are generally supposed to expand on the movie. Going into what the movie cannot explain and answering questions that the movie cannot show. The predator in the book and the predator in the movie are very different. The predator in the book can change shape, control animals, and see from the eyes of any creature it chooses. The book also has much more profanity than the movie, takes all of the humorous one liners from the movie and changes them into weak, boring one liners, and changes the main character Dutch from a cool, hard core guy into a mean, uncaring, almost evil hard core guy that no one really likes. I think it could have been done much better. If you like the movie, you can read the book just to see the differences from the movie, but it's not going to add much new to the experience.

The Predator novel is more of a mythic story than the movie. In the novel, the alien changes its form to appear as different animals, and this ability seems to be found in the myths of different cultures of the distant past, while in the movie, the alien only uses its invisible technology. Also in the novel, the alien uses a spear, a symbol of primitive power, to kill the soldiers, while in the movie, the alien uses a directional plasma blaster. The novel also features scenes of greater emotional effect such as when Anna is watching in horrified fascination the alien closing the distance to the unaware Hawkins and when the soldiers find the alien's tracks and fearfully realize its presence. Overall, the novel is a good survival story.