Book review - The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still (aka Farewell to the Master) by Harry Bates

This book was short (38 pages) and bore no resemblance to the 1951 film, and even less the 2008 remake. How they got those films from this book I will never understand. Gnut (Gort in the films) lashing out in violence every time they is violence around him, Gnut being in the Smithsonian and moving around stealthily at night, Gnut trying to make another Klaatu – it’s not in the films, but is the central part of the book.

Basically, the movies are nice, but there is no woman saying "Klaatu barada nikto" to stop Gnut in the book, nor anything remotely close to it. Harry Bates would turn over in his grave to see what has become of his story.

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