The Abyss

Most of this book disappointed me, as it seemed to be "telling" more than it "showed," over-explaining character motivations and interior thought. I did appreciate the insight into Underwater E.T. Eventually this is explained (along with the "I" of the narrator) in a way that is mostly satisfying. I'm glad I read it, but it's not better than the movie, as some have implied.

a book based on the movie screenplay and dailies much like 2001.

Card writes exposition rather than demonstration here. but the characters are fleshed out quite well, both human and alien. at the beginning, it’s a little like reading through an expanded character list of a play complete with character bios. at certain points, Mr. Card seemed compelled to insert detail from the movie visual-verbatim to make sure that iconic shot or gesture or whatever made it into the scene playing out in your head. i was reminded of a small child telling a story: “and then THIS and then THIS and then THIS and and and then THIS…”

some reviewers have said this was a masterpiece? i cannot imagine saying that even if i had not watched the movie first. show more i think Mr. Card’s Ender’s Game is a masterpiece. this is a glorified screenplay, all set direction embellished and expounded into full sentences and complete concepts.

i do wish Mr. Card would have left the intentions of the aliens ambiguous until the end as they did in the movie. even so, i was very happy to learn more about them and how they engineered elements of the plot that are not evident in the movie. for instance, why was Catfish able to complete the swim to the moonpool? why did Jammer wake up just at the right moment to free his companions and how the hell did he overpower a SEAL armed with an automatic gun?

the book feels a bit stilted and wooden but also offers some points of brilliance. i recommend it as a read-along to the movie- that is, watch the movie FIRST and then read the book. usually, i recommend doing the opposite but, in this case, i think the movie occupies center stage. show less

Both Card and Cameron make the point in their afterwards that this is not a novelization (screenplay before production with narrated stage directions), but a novel: faithful to the movie as screened, with back-story, motivation, internal musings, and considerable amounts of setting and background that evoke the film and display the research.
If the movie had never been made, the book would be a winner on its own. I read it in one late-night sitting through till dawn: that's called a page-turner!
Based on the reviews for Cameron's "Avatar" (I haven't seen either film), some of the director's anti-American and anti-military bias is tempered by Card's pro-leanings, and I suspect the characters motivations morphed from the original as show more well.
Access for younger readers is hindered by foul language and sexual innuendo (probably from the movie, but not unknown in Card's other works), but an older teen will learn lessons of love, honor, duty, loyalty, and even scientific method. show less

This novelisation of the movie "The Abyss" misses the movie's amazing (for the times) special effects but does have a much greater depth (ho ho), to the characters, which helps flesh them out and explain why they are acting the way they are.

I really enjoyed this book in the end. It was a slow start for me, however, and it really didn't pick up for me until about halfway through the book. The first few chapters develop characters, and that's all they do...something that I have never really liked in a novel. However, I have always loved Orson Scott Card novels, so I pushed through those, and got to the story, and am glad I stayed with it.

The characterization, as is usually true for Card, is great..a great number of the characters are well developed, and therefore the novel has a quality of reality to it. The complexities of being human are displayed well, especially with the character of Lindsey.

The story mirrors the movie, but with more depth.

Definitely worth reading.

Orson Scott Card is a master fiction writer, and he again doesn't disappoint with The Abyss! The characters are well developed, and draw you into their lives and story. The plot is thrilling and has a few unexpected twists and turns. The story is written in such a way that you will not see the major plot twist coming. If all you know about The Abyss is the movie, do yourself a favor and read the book... it's soo much better!

This is wh I prefer books to movies. I don't remember crying durring the movie and yet I'll admit I did while reading. I think movies do their best to make it seem real while books make us want it to be real. James Cameron wrote "seeing is believing." Sorry I think we only beleive what we chose to. It's reading that allows me to turn off reality and live in the book. I like watching the movie, but it was a lifetime ago. Now I want to rewatch the movie,but there is no doubt that the master Card has actually added to the movie.