- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Pocket Books (5 April 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0671033085
- ISBN-13: 978-0671033088
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.2 x 1.3 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,351,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This is a novelisation of David Cronenberg's movie; John Luther Novak is actually a pseudonym of established British SF writer Christopher Priest. The story involves much confusion between levels of reality, as done so well in novels by Philip K. Dick and Priest himself. "eXistenZ" is an all-senses computer game that seems more real than the real world and allows unwary players to enter further, nested games within games, with the possibility of getting lost in the virtual maze. (Was exiting the game just part of the game? Did I only dream I woke up?) Violence at the first "eXistenZ" demonstration sends its beautiful designer and a security guard fleeing into multi-levelled nightmare. Cronenberg's theme of disturbing biotechnologies crops up repeatedly. The game "hardware" is all too like a living organ that links to a new, artificial body orifice; there are recurring appearances of a repugnant handgun built from small animals' bones and sinews, whose bullets are human teeth. After briefly threatening to lose its way in surrealism and horror, the story develops an interesting bite and ends with clever revelations. Aficionados will have guessed before then what's really going on, but for movie SF eXistenZ is cheeringly sophisticated. Not for the squeamish, though. --David Langford
Product Description
A science fiction novel based on the David Cronenberg film, featuring a shocking and violent tale of virtual reality that shatters the line between reality and imagination in a sophisticated, futuristic hi-tech game.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.co.uk.
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Inexcuseably amatuerish
17 Aug 2005
Format:Paperback
eXistenZ was a very good movie, but the book version...!
Of course, novellisations of movies tend to be bad, but this one was way in at the deep end of bad. There was no tension, no suspense, and the writer managed to give away every surprise plot-point before its time. The characters are flat and lifeless, the dialogue is corny and unrealistic... I refuse to believe this guy ever won awards for his writing, which is what the back of the book claims. Maybe he was paying attention when he wrote the award-winning stuff.
Of course, novellisations of movies tend to be bad, but this one was way in at the deep end of bad. There was no tension, no suspense, and the writer managed to give away every surprise plot-point before its time. The characters are flat and lifeless, the dialogue is corny and unrealistic... I refuse to believe this guy ever won awards for his writing, which is what the back of the book claims. Maybe he was paying attention when he wrote the award-winning stuff.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Excellent book
20 July 2000
Format:Paperback
I'd been trying to rent "eXistenZ" for some time, but couldn't find it anywere. Finding the illustrated novel based on the movie, I snatched it up and consumed it. The watercolor panels provided enough clarity to make out what was happening, leaving your imagination to fill in the details of each scene. An excellent substitute/companion to the movie.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
One Crazy Novel
11 Feb 2005
Format:Paperback
Existenz was more like amovie than a video game. The whole origin of the game was to kill the creator of it. The movie centered around video game creator Allegra Gellar. During this time the game creators were worhiped like gods and players can actually enter the game. Things turn sour when certain people try to kill Gellar. She must then go into hiding with her guard Ted Pikal. Soon Gellar must go inside the game because she feels the game is sick. She insists that Pikal come iwth her and he agrees. This movie was wierd but I like the idea of people actually being a part of the game. Thas was very intriguing. The ending has a twist to it.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
