In 1887 H. G. Wells invented the first literary time machine. Years later, time travel has become a popular subject in sci-fi stories.


Interstellar. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Interstellar
Greg Keyes, 2014
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Christopher Nolan, 2014

In 2067, crop blights and dust storms threaten humanity’s survival. Corn is the last viable crop. The crew includes scientists Dr. Amelia Brand (Professor Brand ‘s daughter), Dr. Romilly, Dr. Doyle, and robots TARS and CASE. After traversing the wormhole, Romilly studies the black hole while Cooper, Doyle, and Brand descend in a landing craft to investigate Miller’s planet, an ocean world.


Back to the Future. Poster of the 1985 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Back to the Future
George Gipe, 1985
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Robert Zemeckis, 1985

In 1985, Hill Valley, California, teenager Marty McFly lives with his family: his mother Lorraine is an overweight, depressed alcoholic; his cowardly father George is bullied by his supervisor, Biff Tannen; his older siblings are professional and social failures. That night, Marty meets his eccentric scientist friend Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown in the Twin Pines mall parking lot. Doc unveils a time machine built from a modified DeLorean.


Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Poster of the 1991 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Randall Frakes, 1991
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
James Cameron, 1991

In 1995, John Connor is living in Los Angeles with his foster parents. After the trio escape from the T-1000 in a police car, the Terminator informs John and Sarah about Skynet’s history. Finding him at his home, she wounds him but finds herself unable to kill him in front of his family.


Avengers: Endgame. Poster of the 2019 movie and cover of the 1963 comic book, The Avengers
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The Avengers
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, 1963
movie vs comic book
Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, 2019

Twenty-three days after Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet to disintegrate half of all life in the universe, Carol Danvers rescues Tony Stark and Nebula from deep space and returns them to Earth, where they reunite with the remaining Avengers—Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers, Thor, Natasha Romanoff, and James Rhodes—and Rocket.


The Terminator. Poster of the 1984 movie and cover of the book novelization
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The Terminator
Randall Frakes, Bill Wisher, 1985
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
James Cameron, 1984

In 1984 Los Angeles, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator arrives from 2029 and steals guns and clothes. As they hide in a parking lot, Kyle explains to Sarah that an artificial intelligence defense network, Skynet, created by Cyberdyne Systems, will become self-aware in the near future and initiate a nuclear holocaust.


X-Men: Days of Future Past. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 1963 comic book, X-Men
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X-Men
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, 1963
movie vs comic book
Bryan Singer, 2014

In a dystopian 2023, Sentinels have been programmed to identify and hunt down mutants and any humans who help them. In Moscow, a small band of X-Men survivors consisting of Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Blink, Warpath, Bishop, Iceman and Sunspot are attacked by the Sentinels, but Kitty sends Bishop’s consciousness back in time a few days to warn the others as to ensure their survival.


Edge of Tomorrow. Poster of the 2014 movie and cover of the 2004 book, All You Need Is Kill
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All You Need Is Kill
Hiroshi Sakurazaka, 2004
movie vs book
Doug Liman, 2014

In 2015, aliens called Mimics arrive in Germany via an asteroid and swiftly conquer most of continental Europe. By 2020, the United Defense Force, a global military alliance established to combat the alien threat, finally achieves a victory over the Mimics at Verdun using newly developed mech-suits. In Britain, the UDF plans a major invasion of France.


12 Monkeys. Poster of the 1995 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Twelve Monkeys
Elizabeth Hand, 1995
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Terry Gilliam, 1995

A deadly virus, released in 1996, wipes out almost all of humanity; survivors are forced to live underground. A group known as the Army of the Twelve Monkeys is believed to have released the virus. In 2035, James Cole is a prisoner living in a subterranean compound beneath the ruins of Philadelphia. Cole is selected to be trained and sent back in time to find the original virus to help scientists develop a cure.


Star Trek. Poster of the 2009 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Star Trek
Alan Dean Foster, 2009
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
J.J. Abrams, 2009

In the 23rd century, the Federation starship USS Kelvin is investigating a lightning storm in space. George Kirk, Kelvin’s first officer, orders the ship’s personnel, including his pregnant wife Winona, to abandon ship while he pilots the Kelvin on a collision course with Narada. Kirk sacrifices his life to ensure Winona’s survival as she gives birth to James T. Kirk.


Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Poster of the 2004 movie and cover of the 1999 book
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
J.K. Rowling, 1999
movie vs book
Alfonso Cuarón, 2004

Harry is back at the Dursleys’ for the summer holidays, where he sees on Muggle television that a convict named Sirius Black has escaped from prison. After being picked up by the Knight Bus, meeting Stan Shunpike, and encountering a large black dog that seems to be watching him, he travels to the Leaky Cauldron, where Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, asks Harry to stay in Diagon Alley for his own protection.


Back to the Future Part II. Poster of the 1989 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Back to the Future, Part II
Craig Shaw Gardner, 1989
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Robert Zemeckis, 1989

On October 26, 1985, Dr. Emmett Brown arrives in the DeLorean time machine and persuades Marty McFly and his girlfriend, Jennifer Parker, to travel to the future with him and help their future children, with Biff Tannen witnessing their departure.


Back to the Future Part III. Poster of the 1990 movie and cover of the book novelization
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Back to the Future, Part III
Craig Shaw Gardner, 1990
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Robert Zemeckis, 1990

On November 12, 1955, moments after witnessing his apparent death, Marty McFly learns that Dr. Emmett Brown was transported to 1885. Marty spots and photographs a tombstone with Doc’s name, dated six days after the letter, and learns Doc was killed by Biff Tannen’s great-grandfather, Buford.

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“The biggest challenge of adapting the book was trying to make the inner lives of the characters legible through their outward actions.”

SALLY ROONEY (Writer)