Creature From The Black Lagoon 1954 Book Reissued !!

[fmofmpls]

Greetings! I just wanted to share with you guys a really cool and recent book release from DreamHaven Books and Comics here in Minneapolis. Greg Ketter, a local friend of mine, and the man behind DreamHaven Books has released a reprint of the super rare 1954 UK novelization of Creature From The Black Lagoon by Vargo Statten (John Russell Fearn). Many of you may have seen this book's cover in our Media Gallery, but few have ever had a chance to actually own a copy - that is until now anyways.

DreamHaven Books has reissued this book in its original context along with many new behind the scenes photos including a great and informative introduction by David Schow. Philip Harbottle also provides an informative retrospect of the English pulp writer responsible for the original novelization. First published in the UK more than 50 years ago, this novelization of the film was written by well-loved pulp author John Russell Fern and has been unavailable until now. Brand new and cool-looking cover art is provided by Bob Eggleton.

DreamHaven Books is publishing this edition with bonus material, and in three different editions: a $20 tradepaperback, a $50 hardcover and a $125 limited edition (only 250 copies) hardcover signed by both Julie Adams and Ricou Browning.

I've been joying my copy of the book during the past week and can guarantee you won't want to miss out on getting yourself a copy! Highly recommended to all Creature fans! An army salute goes out to Greg Ketter for putting together this wonderful book of an extremely rare and highly sought after book!

Order your copy today at - http://www.dreamhavenbooks.com/

[CreepyJeff]

Very cool!  Thanks for posting this, Terry.  Greg is a great guy and has a super cool store if you're ever in Minneapolis, you need to check it out.  I'm looking forward to getting my copy!

[Creature Features]

Thanks for the Head's Up General! Just ordered a hardcover copy...can't wait to check it out!

[seed_murda]

Greg is a great guy and has a super cool store if you're ever in Minneapolis, you need to check it out.

Good to know, I just ordered the Absolute Sandman Vol 1 from him today. Looks like the creature hard copy is only limited to 750 also. So has anyone got their book in besides fmofmpls yet? I am curious to see what others think of it.

[Scary Terry]

The DreamHaven store is only going to be open by appointment or for special events now -- as Greg focuses on mail order and doing conventions/shows....

[darkmonkeygod]

Got my copies and I love it! If I could just get my hands on a reasonably priced sc of the first edition, I'd have a copy of each state. Highly recommend this book. The text by itself is a great read, and the forward, photos and afterward added to this brand new frat even American edition compliment it perfectly. A real labour of love, and it shows. Big thanks to Greg for making a dream come true.

[typhooforme]

I've been jonesing for a copy of this for some time.  Great deal!

[king_ghidorah]

My gf apparently bought me the paperback version of this for Valentine's day...can't wait to read it .  Wish I could afford the autographed Hardcover edition but I just don't want to spend that type of money on a book....

[TypH]

that looks awesome, I wish I had a copy of that, would be great in my collection.

[king_ghidorah]

Got my copy as an early V-Day gift.  Folks, this is an AMAZING book!!!!  Some great photos in it.  Now, to read the darned thing lol

[John Pertwee]

http://dreamhavenbooks.com/product/creature-black-lagoon/

Still in stock after all these years. I recently bought a copy of the book signed by Julie and Ricou, and wanted to find out more about it. I love it.

[Rockshasa]

Is this an exact retelling of the movie or something more?

[fearliath]

Is this an exact retelling of the movie or something more?

It's a pretty darn faithful story from the movie. It is similar to what was done with the novelization of King Kong by Delos W. Lovelace in1932. Creature From the Black Lagoon was written as a novelization of the film prior to its release in Britain. Because of this John Russell Fearn (pen name for this book - Vargo Stratton) probably actually was able to see the film prior to writing the novelization. The book uses every line of dialogue from the film but for each line it adds 2 or 3 more (to have enough material for a book). It therefore has more "out takes" than the movie. Worth buying if you like the movie. I ended up buying both the hardback and leather bound editions because I didn't realize there was a leather bound edition when I bought the hardback version.

[Mike Scott]

All 3 editions are still available from the publisher.

http://dreamhavenbooks.com/product/creature-black-lagoon/

[vayapues]

Had no idea this reprint -- from 2011!! -- had ever existed. I was aware of the original 1954 paperback because, in a very early issue of Famous Monsters, Forry alluded to it &/or showed a pic of the neat cover.

If anyone's interested in the history of the original edition, here's a neat article w/video by a UK expert on genre pulp writer John Russell Fearn AKA Vargo Statten, the novelization's author: https://downthetubes.net/murky-depths-latest-1950s-british-science-fiction-videocast-reveals-the-real-history-of-creature-from-the-black-lagoon-in-print/