By: Peter David Publisher: Del Rey Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Del Rey Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 320 Publication Date: April 04, 2008 Release Date: April 04, 2008
Product Description: THE ORIGINAL HEAVY METAL HERO
Millionaire industrialist Tony Stark’s genius for designing and building high-tech, ultradestructive weapons for America’s armed forces has inspired critics to dub him the modern-day Leonardo da Vinci–as well as “merchant of death,” a moniker he embraces with cool arrogance. But when he’s ambushed and kidnapped in the middle of a war zone, Stark comes face-to-face with his own mortality . . . and his true destiny. Now, thanks to him, enemy forces are about to meet their maker. And the world of warfare is about to meet its future–a weapon of mass destruction that walks and talks. When man and machine unite, it can only mean one thing: It’s time to stand ready or stand back–but don’t stand in the way, or else risk the mighty metallic fury of . . .
This is *the* Iron Man Quite a lot of Movie Tie-ins don't make good books (`The Dark Knight'/ `Indiana Jones'), so there was some skeptism in reading David's interpretation of `Iron Man'. Having never read any of David's novels, I have no real experience in the author's writing style, however I can say that as soon as I picked up `Iron Man' and started reading it, I felt immediately drawn in. The writing style stays rather monotone, leaving the reader to plug in the emotions of the characters, especially that of Anthony `Tony' Stark who is the main character.
For the fans who've watched the movie first, the book adds more to what the movie could not do, for example, the death of Yinsen and Pepper's feelings for Stark. Where in the movie, Yinsen is only used as a side-character to add to Stark's descent into the creation of Iron Man, in the book, he plays a more important role that Stark feels that he has to avenge the man as well as to change his attitude of what he now sees of the world around him. Pepper is given a bit of a boost in that her worrying for Stark when he was captured in the desert is noticed in chapters never seen in theaters.
The book is very slim--the reader is almost halfway done with the book when Stark escapes from his captivity. The action, or lack thereof, is very short and rather brisk, leaving tension and suspense scenes that make this book much of a page-turner, leaving the more persistent reader to finish this book in a day or less. While Stark and Pepper are given more development in the book, Stark's partner Stane has little to no development, something that could've given the book more of a boost in that the movie showed little of Stane's insanity.
This is an excellent Movie Tie-in novel. It's unfortunate that it's so short.
"Iron Man" by Peter David........ One thing that I like my authors to do in writing a novel based on a movie is to give us a little something extra while reading the book. I'm happy to say that Peter David has definitely did that by giving us more character developement and explaining things as to why Tony Stark becomes Iron Man. I got this novel before the movie hit theaters and it was this read that got me wanting to see the movie. I'll admit, I'm no Iron Man fan. In all my years of reading comics, he has to have been my least read comic character. You better believe, though, that now I'm a fan and I have Peter David to thank for it.
Trust me, the book doesn't disappoint its' reader. Peter David did an excellent job. I recommend it highly.
Excellent Book, Better Movie Having been based on the original script for the movie, the book is excellent. It fills in a lot of gaps and loop holes that the movie slid over, making it a must-read for fans.
It is, however, much more dark and angry than the movie, which deflated the excitement I felt from the film.
If you're a fan of the series, pick up this book. If you're a fan of the movie, skip it.
Super Reader Again Peter David has proven to be a good choice for a novelisation.
The advantage of the novel is of course you understand more about what is happening to the characters early in the story when is being held prisoner in the cave, and later, as he is developing and testing the armor.
There is also a bit more of Happy Hogan.
A couple of jokes in there too, one of Coulson's agents is named Colan.
3.5 out of 5
Peter Davis comes through again I bought this book because: a) Peter David wrote it; b) I LOVE Iron Man; c) I like to read movie books. This one was helpful and eyeopening. Fans of the film will see the stark differences between what the actors came up with during shooting and what Peter David had to work with when making a screenplay into a novel. I love David's work and have done for years. I actually have his original work, Knight Life, and still count it as one of my favorites. Why isn't THAT a movie?? Anyway, a few points in the book explained things I was puzzled about in the movie. The actors got it right, however. David did an excellent job, as usual, with the material he had at hand but the actors humanized and humorized the story. Kudos to everybody!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
