Fail Safe. Poster of the 1964 movie and cover of the 1962 book, Fail-Safe
VS3
Fail-Safe
Eugene Burdick, Harvey Wheeler, 1962
movie vs book
Sidney Lumet, 1964

During a VIP visit to the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command, at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, the Air Force’s early warning radar indicates that an unidentified aircraft has intruded into American airspace. Shortly after, the “intruder” is identified as an off-course civilian airliner and the alert is cancelled, but a computer error causes one American bomber group to receive apparently valid orders for a nuclear attack on Moscow.


RoboCop. Poster of the 1987 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
RoboCop
Ed Naha, 1987
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Paul Verhoeven, 1987

In a dystopian future, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. Investigating their hideout, an abandoned steel mill, Murphy kills one of the gang members, but is ambushed by the leader, Clarence Boddicker.


Macbeth. Poster of the 1948 movie and cover of the 1606 book
VS3
Macbeth
William Shakespeare, 1606
movie vs book
Orson Welles, 1948

Teenage witches predict that Macbeth, a devoted goon for his crime master Duncan, would one day hold tremendous power. He conspires with his wife to assassinate Duncan because of their prophecy, and he assumes control of the gang. The more murders and other acts of violence he commits, the more his remaining foes will come together to overthrow him.


The Last Starfighter. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
The Last Starfighter
Alan Dean Foster, 1984
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Nick Castle, 1984

Alex Rogan is a teenager living in a trailer park with his mother and younger brother, Louis. Centauri is actually an alien and his car a spacecraft; Alex is essentially abducted, and a doppelganger android referred to as Beta is used to cover Alex’s absence.


The Carey Treatment. Poster of the 1972 movie and cover of the 1968 book, A Case of Need
VS3
A Case of Need
Michael Crichton, 1968
movie vs book
Blake Edwards, 1972

Dr. Peter Carey is a pathologist who moves to Boston, where he starts working in a hospital. He soon meets Georgia Hightower, with whom he falls in love. Karen Randall, daughter of the hospital’s Chief Doctor, becomes pregnant and is brought to the emergency department after an illegal abortion. She dies there, and Dr. David Tao, a brilliant surgeon and friend of Carey, is arrested and accused of being responsible for the illegal abortion.


RoboCop 2. Poster of the 1990 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
Robocop 2
Ed Naha, 1990
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Irvin Kershner, 1990

In a near dystopian future, Detroit is on the verge of bankruptcy after failing to pay off its debts to conglomerate Omni Consumer Products. The OCP chairman intends to have the city default on its debt, then foreclose on all public property, effectively taking over its government and allowing for a radical urban redevelopment plan.