Divergent, the books and the movie

[John F]

I'm finishing up the first book, Divergent, in anticipation of the movies upcoming release. Does the movie only cover the first book, or does it go further?

Thanks?

[missimpossible]

I'm pretty certain the movie is only going to cover the first book, from everything I've read about it. I can't find anything detailed about it though, so there's no guaranteeing it won't have a Lord of the Rings-type situation where parts are transposed. I can't see it though.

[Gazella]

Only the first book since there's also going to be film adaptations for the other two books in the trilogy.

Film release dates

Divergent - March 21, 2014

Insurgent - March 20, 2015

Allegiant - March 18, 2016

[John F]

Thank you.

[Gazella]

No problem.

[PKFFW]

My missus was interested in reading the book. Do you recommend it? Any good?

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by PKFFW

My missus was interested in reading the book. Do you recommend it? Any good?

I didn't really like it. The book had a predictable story, poor world building, flat forgettable characters, and nothing really happens until the last few chapters. I haven't read the rest of the trilogy and will never do. I feel this book/trilogy appeals to teens and tweens; I'm not that old, I'm 21 y/o but I guess it's not for everyone. It has been compared to the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games, but I utterly disagree.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Gazella

It has been compared to the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games, but I utterly disagree.

I've learned not to pay much attention to comparisons to other popular books--when they are made by the publisher. They're usually pure marketing and not based on any real connection or similarities. The fanbases of either of those two successful series ALONE can make or break a debut if they can get enough of them to bite... so they dangle that bait wherever they can.

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I've learned not to pay much attention to comparisons to other popular books--when they are made by the publisher. They're usually pure marketing and not based on any real connection or similarities.

Yes. I agree. I hate it when they do that.

[missimpossible]

Originally Posted by PKFFW

My missus was interested in reading the book. Do you recommend it? Any good?

I quite liked it. It's got a pretty ridiculous premise, but if you can look past the obvious unlikelihood of everything that's going on, it's a pretty enjoyable story. It's definitely not very challenging, but I found it engaging and fun. I actually enjoyed it more than the Hunger Games. I definitely agree that it has nothing on Harry Potter, but it's the very definition of escapism.

[Yapyap]

I enjoyed Divergent and Insurgent quite a lot - not in any cerebral way but they were fun - but found Allegiant a sore disappointment, both due to the writing itself and also because I'd been reading Divergent and Insurgent with the assumption that we'd get answers to various questions raised in the first two books and all the problems I had regarding world-building. There were answers, yes, but not the kind I found either satisfying or logical.

I'll probably still go and see the film(s) though, even if the final book kind of soured me on the trilogy.

[Gazella]

Seems like quite a lot of people were disappointed with the final book.

[ManosHandsOfFate]

Originally Posted by Gazella

It has been compared to the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games, but I utterly disagree.

Comparing it to The Hunger Games isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for me. I thought those books were weak. I've actually enjoyed the movies more than the books.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by missimpossible

I quite liked it. It's got a pretty ridiculous premise, but if you can look past the obvious unlikelihood of everything that's going on, it's a pretty enjoyable story. It's definitely not very challenging, but I found it engaging and fun. I actually enjoyed it more than the Hunger Games. I definitely agree that it has nothing on Harry Potter, but it's the very definition of escapism.

The real question of course is whether the movie is good. I have to admit that the movie Hunger Games had some good things but was mostly a bust in my mind. I skipped the read.

Example: the movie ET was great. The book was worthless. I bought it but never finished and just gave it to Good Will.

As for the "pretty ridiculous premise," Gordon R Dickson did something like that in the Childe Series and produced one of my favorite books:
Soldier Ask Not.

Gordon R Dickson
The Childe Cycle series
Soldier Ask Not
It is part of Dickson's Childe Cycle series, in which mankind has reached the stars and divided into specialized splinter groups. It takes place at roughly the same time as Dorsai! and a few characters appear in both books. Themes from the rest of the cycle are echoed here, particularly the actions of a key person, like Paul Formain, Cletus Grahame and Donal Graeme in the other novels, who can drastically affect history due to his ability to analyze and influence the behavior of others. Unlike the other protagonists, however, Tam Olyn is no hero.

When I was in the service from time to time I would quote Soldier Ask Not.

Hymn of the Friendlies by Gordon R. Dickson, within book of the same title (1923–2001), published 1965

"Soldier, ask not - now, or ever,
Where to war your banners go.
Anarch's legions all surround us.
Strike - and do not count the blow!"

For the remainder of the hymn see:

Hymn of the Friendlies

(My eyes tear up when I read it.)

And while I am on this tear, I will give another great quote but from the great movie Man of Steel.

Faora: "A good death is its own reward."