I didn't think to speak about the topic, since it isn't exactly one that can be discussed in depth. However, I was encouraged to write it, as a kind of reflection and review at the same time. Specifically, I am talking about junior novelizations
.
You see, personally speaking, the junior novelizations are... disappointing, on balance. Technically, they are works for children, which seems quite good to me. But for the adult audience, we've had no literary material that is, for example, the "expanded" novelizations of the Star Wars movies, or other sagas that I'm surely missing. In adult audiences we lack novelizations of films, since Michael Crichton's novels are of another level, and they don't resemble films as such.
Either way, we have The Evolution of Claire, a pretty good novel, despite its flaws. In some ways, it seems to be focused on a teenage audience, but it doesn't become childish (I repeat, this isn't a bad thing).
Happy or not, and leaving this reflection aside, the time has come to give my recommendations/reviews of the junior novelizations.
1.- Jurassic World: The Junior Novelization: It is one of my favorites. You see, despite its limitations, offers a good adaptation of the film into a literary format, and this work is aimed, mainly, at a children's audience. The paragraphs and dialogues offer small but delightful details that expand the film. Of course, there are small differences that contradict the film, but that doesn't take away much value. Written by David Lewman, I recommend them for being a good adaptation.
2.- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: The Junior Novelization: The same author of the Jurassic World novelization returns, and this time, it brings with it interesting things. From Ian Malcolm's quotes used in the trial at the beginning of the pages (reminds me of the interactions and dragon curves in Crichton's novels), to some curious facts that might be of interest (I won't say spoilers), it really offers, like the previous novelization, a solid literary format. Of course, errors and differences with the film do not escape (two of them are unacceptable), and precisely, because of these differences, it is inferior to the previous novelization. Here they are more evident, but for the other details that the novelization has, I recommend it.
3.- Jurassic Park III: The Junior Novelization: Yes, the most "infinitesimal" movie in the franchise is by far the one with a good novelization. Altogether, we could overlook it, but it has a detail that almost completely obviated the film. Here, Dr. Alan Grant manages to develop in what many consider his involution. That is, Grant evolves (again) from his involution. It clarifies many things about the character in the film, without being explicit. The implicity involved during novelization is adequate. In addition to some dinosaurs not seen on screen, a much better development for Grant's character, and Scott Ciencin as writer, I would recommend this novelization for these three points above. Other than that, I can't find much to rescue.
4.- Jurassic Park: The Junior Novelization: Finally, we come to the first of the novelizations, and despite what many might tell me, it isn't a very good job, personally. Gail Herman is one of my favorite children's writers, especially for her work on the Scooby-Doo franchise, but sadly, she seems not to know how to develop her ideas in Jurassic Park. It is obviously a novelization of the first movie, but unlike previous novelizations, the scenes with dinosaurs... doesn't seem so real. That is, they are there, but in the background. Gail Herman tries hard to implement the wonder of the first film, but it seemed that the work was too big (I suppose because it is a novelization for a children's audience). Despite this problem, the novelization is special for being that of the first film, it sums it up quite well! Lower than the previous three novelizations due to a lack of credibility to the universe (and some memorable quotes are modified!), I would recommend reading it if you are a fan of the franchise. If you are a casual audience, it can be disappointing (but not boring).
5.- The Lost World: Jurassic Park - Site B: The Junior Novelization: In last place, we have the novelization of one of my favorite movies... but here it isn't fascinating. Gail Herman returns once more to write the sequel, and if she couldn't get the wonder of the first movie on her own, much less was she able to capture the suspense and action of the second. It's disappointing. The most memorable scenes (the third act in particular) are too short, to the point that it seems like a wikia article, but with a very childish tone. Also, it's not that it has had a great impact, why do we have digital versions of the other novelizations (Jurassic Park III is just coming out of the cave), but this one doesn't? It's very sad that it doesn't have the full essence of the film, but speaking on the positive side, deleted scenes included! I don't know to what extent to recommend it, but I can suggest that it is exclusively for lovers of The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Both a fan and a casual person could easily find it boring and/or disappointing.
So I finish with the reviews of the novelizations, reminding you that it is my personal opinion. Now, I want to know what the novelizations seemed to you, as well as knowing, from your words, if there should be "expanded" novelizations for an adult audience.