Fabulous Fiction Firsts #827, Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream? ~ “Pretty Woman” (1990)

Wed, 06/14/2023 - 1:16pm by muffy

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, * a debut novel by Tom Hanks, who needs no introduction, is about the making of a star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film and the comic books that inspire it. 

This is one title that you could do no wrong whether it's the print, eBook, or the audiobook format. 

First, the audiobook… narrated by the author and joined by an accomplished ensemble cast is simply delightful, at times laugh-out-loud funny. In the print (and eBook) formats, interspersed throughout are three comic books that are featured in the story, all created by Tom Hanks himself, including the one that becomes the official tie-in for “Knightshade: The Lathe of Firefall, a mashup of Marvel-esque superhero fare, war story, and artsy melodrama “ (Kirkus Reviews)

1947, Bob Falls, the World War II vet who served as a flamethrower in the Pacific theater, returns home to Lone Butte, California and meets his nephew Robby Andersen, then disappears for the next 23 years. 

In 1970, Robby, now an underground comic books author in Oakland, California, reconnects with his uncle and creates a comic book series titled The Legend of Firefall, inspired by his uncle's wartime experiences. 

In the present day, Bill Johnson, a successful Hollywood director acquires the Firefall property and decides to turn it into a contemporary superhero movie, and charges his small army of actors, assistants, and technicians with shooting the film in Lone Butte, to help him meet deadlines and stay on budget.  

“The writing is spot-on, bringing to the novel all the passion Hanks feels about his profession: 'Making movies is complicated, maddening, highly technical at times, ephemeral and gossamer at others, slow as molasses on a Wednesday but with a gun-to-the-head deadline on a Friday.' The whole book is like that: lovingly crafted, a wildly entertaining story beautifully told. If you love movies, you'll love this book.” (Booklist) 

* = Starred review