The Novelization Realization Project

So much has been written and said of the act of adaptation, but what of its black sheep cousin, the novelization? This podcast looks to explore the best and worst of books inspired by movies.

Episode 15 - Hackers

Rich Stroffolino is joined by esteemed social critic Phil Szabados to discuss the occasionally prescient novelization for Hackers. They discuss how the depictions of hacking have aged, if their only crime was in fact curiosity, and if Zero Cool is a better handle than Crash Override. Download Hackers

06-15
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Episode 14 - The Fifth Element

Rich is joined by Ben Weinberg to talk about Terry Bisson’s novelization of The Fifth Element. Is the been a thoughtful expansion of the movie’s unique setting, or a mandatory restructuring of the script into a novel on the most cynical level? Also discussed: self-loathing aliens, deleted scenes, and Hershey head syrup.Download The Fifth Element

05-15
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Episode 13 - Star Trek: The Motion Picture: A Novel

Rich and guest Tim Cornett join forces to talk about Star Trek: The Motion Picture: A Novel. Written by Gene Roddenberry, it’s a window into his idealized version of the movie, complete with mind control, Enterprise sex rooms, and a resolution Kirk/Spock slash fiction. Tim and Rich try to see if there’s any redemption in the story for a movie that plays out like a screensaver, or if Roddenberry’s coke fueled haze clouds out everything else. Download Star Trek: The Motion Picture: A Novel

04-23
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Episode 12.5 - Boldly Going Live

Rich boldly goes where the mini-episode has never gone before by doing it solo this week. We’ve got announcements galore, so be sure to listen.Download Boldly Going Live

04-01
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Episode 12 - Cabin in the Woods

Rich is joined by Jennie Josephson to talk about Tim Lebbon’s novelization of Cabin in the Woods. What happens when you take a masterfully self-aware script and let someone expand on it? Is it standing on the shoulders of giants to reach new heights, or simply gilding the lily? Does the novelization need to defend its very existence in the 21st century? Most importantly, what exactly is a vagina-toothed woman? Jennie and Rich discuss.Make sure to check out Jennie’s podcast, Tell It Anyway!Download Cabin in the Woods

03-15
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Episode 11.5 - Godzilla vs Godzilla

Rich is joined by Eric Owens to mull over the question of our age, is there any way that 1998 Godzilla is superior to the 2014 iteration? The answer may be surprising. All that and nothing more on this interstitial episode! Make sure to be on the lookout for our March episode, we’ll be joined by Jennie Josephson of Tell It Anyway to talk about the novelization for Cabin in the Woods! Download Godzilla vs Godzilla

03-01
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Episode 11 - Godzilla (2014)

Rich is joined by Eric Owens to discuss the novelization of the 2014 version of Godzilla, by Greg Cox. They discuss the pioneering literary perspective of 3rd person convenient, the movie’s scenery chewing budget, and the ecology of MUTOs. Download Godzilla (2014)

02-15
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Episode 10.5 - Fistful of Gojira

Rich gives a quick recap of last week’s episode, then teases February’s novelization: Godzilla (2014) by Greg Cox. Plus, we’ve thrown in a bonus (read: reposted) full episode discussing the novelization for Godzilla (1998)! Download Fistful of Gojira

01-31
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Episode 10 - Howard the Duck (for real)

Welcome back to another long awaited episode of the Novelization Realization Project. This time around, we’re talking about the novelization of Howard the Duck by Ellis Weiner. Rich is joined by Pete Matuszewski for this dubious undertaking, and they discuss the existential question of duck boobs, if Daffrica is a racist duck pun, and how much can a novelization elevate wretched material. Download Howard the Duck

01-18
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9.1 Howard the Duck

Trying something new here on a podcast, we’re going to be posting smaller, easily digestible bits for each novelization. Today we’re starting to tackle the 1986 debacle Howard the Duck. Hope you really, really, really like duck puns! Download 9.1 Howard the Duck

12-17
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8 Iron Man with Brandt Fundak

I sit down with college radio pioneer Brandt Fundak and talk about the 2008 novelization of Iron Man by Peter David. We discuss the history of Marvel’s rebirth as a movie studio, Gwyneth Paltrow’s neck strength and go deep discussing Peter David’s literary legacy. All that plus a Rewrite Delight segment! Download Iron Man with Brandt Fundak

12-04
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Status Update

Where is this weeks episode? Details inside (spoiler: bronchitis) Download Status Update

11-19
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7.5 Rewrite Delight Freestyle with Tom Merritt

Tom Merritt joins me for another week to do a quick rewrite delight freestyle session. We think of some of our favorite authors and rhapsodize on what movie novelizations they should write. Also make sure you check out Tom’s awesome podcast on sci-fi and fantasy novels (co-hosted by Veronica Belmont), Sword and Laser! Download 7.5 Rewrite Delight Freestyle with Tom Merritt

11-12
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7 Star Wars With Tom Merritt

Podcaster, author and drive-in enthusiast Tom Merritt joins me as we discuss Star Wars by George “Alan Dean Foster” Lucas. We discuss how we were first introduced to the franchise, then move on to discuss Jawa rights, if its unfair to describe Peter Cushing as “hatchet faced” and the idea of writing movie novelizations like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Download 7 Star Wars With Tom Merritt

11-05
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6.5 Reading Constantine

I’m joined once again by Dylan Baldanza and we take a closer look at the literary qualify of Constantine. We read through a few passages, discuss their dubious merit, and most importantly, laugh. Download 6.5 Reading Constantine

10-29
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6 Constantine

I bro down with my good friend Dylan and talk about the 2005 “film” Constantine. Dylan brings a solid background knowledge of the comics that inspired the movie, so we can pinpoint how much of the baby was thrown out with the bathwater. We talk about Not-Cate-Blanchett, if 30 cigarettes a day is excessive, and discover the surprising hero of the movie. Download Constantine

10-22
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5.5 Rewrite Delight Freestyle

Jennie Josephson rejoins me to do a rewrite delight freestyle, contemplating the best novelizations that will never be written, and why we’d want to see them. Download Rewrite Delight Freestyle, featuring Jennie Josephson

10-15
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5 Back to the Future

Jennie Josephson and I discuss George Gipe’s intriguing novelization of Back to the Future. We get into all the pertinent topics, we talk about screenwriting, basing the climax of a movie on sexual assault, and crusty old man neck. Follow Jennie on Twitter @jenniej23, and check out the podcast she produces every weekday, the Daily Tech News Show. Download Back to the Future

10-08
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4.5 An Interview with Alan Dean Foster

I sat down with famed Novelizer (and author of note) Alan Dean Foster. We talk about how novelizations get done, what his creative process is like, his worst experience writing a novelization and what the future of literature holds in store. Download An Interview with Alan Dean Foster

10-01
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