Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Wolfman

by Jonathan Maberry (Goodreads Author)

3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 · rating details · 248 ratings · 27 reviews

The Wolfman is one of the great classics of modern horror. Now, based on the upcmoing film, is a terrifying new novelization novel written by Jonathan Maberry, based on the screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker and David Self Based on a motion picture screenplay by Curt Siodmak

Lawrence Talbot's childhood ended the night his mother died. After he left the sleepy Victorian hamle

...more

Paperback, 342 pages

Published February 2nd 2010 by Tor Books

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Werewolf Books That Are Not Found In The Romance Genre

12th out of 87 books — 72 voters

Best Shapeshifter/Werewolf books

230th out of 650 books — 815 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 617)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 22, 2012 Querus Abuttu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: would-read-this-again

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. "'That orbed maiden with white fire laden...
...Whom mortals call the Moon.'" (Sir John quotes Percy B. Shelley in The Wolfman (2010), by Johnathan Maberry)

I watched the DVD (2010 remake of the 1941 film) 6 months ago. The film starred Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Emily Blunt. I loved the film. What's not to like about Anthony Hopkins breaking out into a swarthy hairy beast? But this blog isn't about the movie, it's about Maberry's book.

First of all, I thought it was clever to write a st...more

like · see review

Nov 24, 2012 Jay Massiet rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn’t have too many hopes for reading Jonathan Maberry’s novelization of The Wolfman. I had seen the movie a while back and didn’t care for it, not to mention I have never heard of Maberry. I ended up being surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Although a little slow at times, during action scenes this was not the case and it kept me reading. The insight into the characters was intriguing and had me much more involved with the story than the film had.

As soon as I cracked the binding I re...more I didn’t have too many hopes for reading Jonathan Maberry’s novelization of The Wolfman. I had seen the movie a while back and didn’t care for it, not to mention I have never heard of Maberry. I ended up being surprised and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Although a little slow at times, during action scenes this was not the case and it kept me reading. The insight into the characters was intriguing and had me much more involved with the story than the film had.

As soon as I cracked the binding I realized the book was going to follow the exact story line of the film. I wasn’t excited about this, but the more Maberry delved into the characters, primarily Lawrence Talbot, the more I realized just how much a difference it makes when you know what the character is feeling during transformations. However much this may seem like common sense, I have read one novelization in the past and it was so horribly written that I’ve never picked up another one since. This book has given me a little more respect for novelizations and I had more fun reading it than watching the corresponding movie.

The story itself was interesting, however, extremely simple. I do feel the book was a little bloated at times, but this seems to be because every scene in the film was included in the book. After the werewolf kills Benjamin Talbot, nothing exciting occurs until page one hundred and eight. Needless to say, I wasn’t particularly fond of the book up until this point. There is a lot of material and, while most of it is needed, a lot of the bloat could have probably been cut without altering the story. There were times I felt that Maberry may have been required by Universal to stick to the script and if he had been given leeway, the work may have been more succinct. I could be completely wrong about this and it may have been Maberry’s choice to stick so closely with the movie.

After the long, slow beginning, the werewolf’s attack at the gypsy camp occurs. The language was smooth and the speed of the scene was perfectly suitable for the intensity of the action on the page. The sentences and words were short, making the action snappy and quick and allowed much faster reading. Basically, everything I’ve learned from instructors, authors, and my own research, Maberry had done and proven that it works. Regardless of how people feel about this book, and many may differ from my sentiments, there are things that can be learned from this that will only help a horror writer improve his/her work to be more effective.

In my dramatic writing class the students are always asked what we want to steal from the plays we read to use for what we are writing for the course. If I were to apply the question to The Wolfman, I would want to steal how Maberry writes the werewolf’s attack scenes and the vivid description he uses for the kills. I found these rather exciting and, as an avid horror fan, loved how the scenes read.

I do think there will be many who disagree with what I’ve had to say, but besides the extra content I felt could have been done away with, I enjoyed the latter two-thirds of the book. The entire thing was well written and has eliminated my bias against novelizations.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 25, 2011 Dylan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Doomed by destiny and a curse hanging over his family, Lawrence Talbot is a monster, a man turned into a ferocious beast after he is attacked by a werewolf on the moors near the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor. Unable to prevent the change sweeping over him, Talbot is infected by the disease and hunts on the nights of a full moon, his entire being fueled by bloodlust and a desire to feed. Yet through all the turmoil and anguish that surrounds him, Talbot has found love in the strangest plac...more Doomed by destiny and a curse hanging over his family, Lawrence Talbot is a monster, a man turned into a ferocious beast after he is attacked by a werewolf on the moors near the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Blackmoor. Unable to prevent the change sweeping over him, Talbot is infected by the disease and hunts on the nights of a full moon, his entire being fueled by bloodlust and a desire to feed. Yet through all the turmoil and anguish that surrounds him, Talbot has found love in the strangest place: the heart of his brother’s fiancée. Can his new love save Talbot’s soul, or will she become the next victim of The Wolfman?

This is the plot for The Wolfman, a novelization by multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author Jonathan Maberry, and while the concept promises a great thrill-ride of a story the novel itself fails to deliver the tension and horror that such a plot demands. A lot of this unfortunately has to do with the way the book is written: the characters with their stunted personalities, the lack of foreboding that should be apparent with the book’s dark settings, and a glut of repetitive words that don’t litter the novel but do happen to jump out at you when you least expect it.

With that said, it is a survivable read. Maberry has taken this new script of a timeless classic and produced a story that is fast-paced and keeps the reader interested just enough to explore the book from cover to cover. This is achieved not by the writing but by the plot itself and the wretched, cursed existence of Lawrence Talbot which concentrates the reader’s morbid interest onto Talbot’s personal demons and his attitude of doom and gloom. Although quite how Gwen Conliffe, Talbot’s love interest in the book (and film), could possibly be attracted to this man sometimes beggars belief. Maberry has painted Talbot to be a moody, dark, and sinister character and this is even before the werewolf has taken a chunk out of his flesh on the moors.

There are certain horror film novelizations – and Glen Cox’s Underworld books spring immediately to mind – that breathe new life into the movie and fill them out to give those who have both read and watched the project have a greater feel of the world within the film. The Wolfman by Jonathan Maberry falls short of achieving this, regrettably. The ending comes too quick, with the final battle and forest chase being covered in the fleeting span of 40 pages, when everything that led to that point demanded a more grandiose finale. While the book does stick close to the script and also includes sections of the original movie that were cut from the cinema release, it does not give the reader an in-depth glimpse into the lives, thoughts, and desires of Talbot, Gwen Conliffe, or Sir John Talbot, the film’s three main characters. However, as with the film, the character of Inspector Aberline is perhaps the most rounded and intriguing of them all.

If the reader has yet to watch the motion picture release by Universal Studios in 2010, then they might find the novelization a better read than is described here. For those who have already watched the film and enjoyed the experience, it might be better to just leave it at that.(less)

like · see review

May 06, 2010 Nezzo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

„Лорънс се загледа в дървената плоскост и въздъхна.149237z

- Вие, сър – каза той на сянката си, - сте невероятен дръвник.”

Първото, с което успя да ме грабне тази книга, бе не историята й, а начина, по който е написана. Изключително увлекателна на първо място, главите са по страничка или две и те карат да си казваш само още една и после още една.

Но описанията на всичко в нея са изумителни. Привидно кратки, но толкова добре изразени, че те пренасят директно в ситуацията. Представяш си всичко, с...more „Лорънс се загледа в дървената плоскост и въздъхна.149237z

- Вие, сър – каза той на сянката си, - сте невероятен дръвник.”

Първото, с което успя да ме грабне тази книга, бе не историята й, а начина, по който е написана. Изключително увлекателна на първо място, главите са по страничка или две и те карат да си казваш само още една и после още една.

Но описанията на всичко в нея са изумителни. Привидно кратки, но толкова добре изразени, че те пренасят директно в ситуацията. Представяш си всичко, сякаш е пред теб. Носи се една заразна нежност от страниците, всички тези красиви описания и ненапразно пропилени думи те заразяват и не можеш да спреш да четеш. А историята започва със смърт. Бруталната смърт на единият от двамата братя Толбът.

Красотата и спокойствието, които срещнах, уви, бяха само временни. Ужасът започва прекалено рано, прекалено нечестно, прекалено кърваво. И пълното описание на звяра и жертвите му могат да доведат изумителни картини в главата ти. Такива, с каквито дори и филм не може да се похвали.

Едно мога да кажа със сигурност, книгата е изумителна. Думите са просто излишни. Всичко останало оставям във вашите ръце.

П.П. Ако мога да си позволя да използвам системата на Блажев за оценяване бих й дала 12/13.(less)

like · see review

Apr 05, 2013 Lachelle Redd rated it 3 of 5 stars

I remember the old black and white and the tortured Mr. Talbot. His fight against the evil that gripped his soul and tore his humanity from him was painful to see. The new movie, eh. I loved Sir Anthony Hopkins of course, the rest just left me flat.

like · see review

Mar 16, 2012 Nicole Galloway-Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mfa-jan-2012

This book was amazing. The prose was beautiful, rich and fell of meaning. I highly recommend this novel.

For the full review, click the link below.

http://nrgalloway24.wordpress.com/201...

like · see review

Mar 20, 2010 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Classic wolfman - I grew up watching the olb BW movies with Lon Cheney and love them! If you like the old movies or classic horror this book is for you.

like · see review

Sep 27, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book really left me hanging. I know it was adapted from a screen play, and I haven't seen the movie, but it just seemed a bit...lacking.

like · see review

Dec 19, 2011 Marisol rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Feb 20, 2010 Alycia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the film, but after reading the book I wish the movie had kept in time with the book.

like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 Jord¥n marked it as to-read

Shelves: werewolf, movie-media-tie-in

I love the movie so much. This book is also pretty epic, gotta read it again to refresh my memory

like · see review

Mar 17, 2011 Alexa Grave rated it 3 of 5 stars

My comments can be found here: http://alexagrave.blogspot.com/2010/1...

like · see review

Jul 18, 2011 Jonathan Davison rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am currently reading The Wolfman by Jonathan Maberry. I am enjoying reading the story.

like · see review

Feb 10, 2013 Keith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

A good re-working of the classic. It is an enjoyable read but very violent.

like · see review

May 14, 2010 Peggy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, action, fantasy-scifi, novels

This would definately be rated "r" for violence.

like · see review

Apr 16, 2013 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars

great story

like · see review

Sep 17, 2012 Igor rated it 2 of 5 stars

pretty bad

like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Robert rated it 2 of 5 stars

it is what it is

like · see review

Jun 22, 2010 Scott Zimmerman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed the book...now I want to see the movie.

like · see review

May 07, 2010 Billjr13 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nice job re-working of a Universal movie classic. Very readable and fun.

like · see review

Nov 18, 2011 Josiah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow. Simply wow!

like · see review

Jul 09, 2010 William rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-authors, horror, have-paperback, were-wolf, read-in-2010

I always enjoy Mr. Maberry's work. This is no exception though it doesn't quite live up to his other stuff. I have yet to see the film version of this piece but from what I can tell by the previews it matches well. Scary, colorful, dramatic...it will keep you reading well into the night.

like · see review

Apr 20, 2010 Henrygc rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

Certainly not a thought provoking novel, but none the less, it is an enjoyable read. The book brings back a lot of memories of when I was young and would stay up late at night watching the classic Univeral Studios' horror films.

like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Ivanka Tosheva rated it 2 of 5 stars

I made a big mistake watching the movie first and then reading the book...Every scene was completely identical both in the movie and in the book...Kind of disappointing...Also, it was predictable at times...

like · see review

Jul 10, 2011 Debra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror-supernatural

I didn't see the movie, so can't compare the book to it. But now I WANT to see the movie, too. Another well-written tale by this author.

like · see review

Feb 19, 2011 Nonomer rated it 5 of 5 stars

The movie seems almost comical after reading the book. I wish the book had a sequel just to tie off the knots in Qwen's life.

like · see review

May 19, 2010 Mary added it

Really goo d, like it better than the movie ,but as we all know the bookis always ways better ,,lol

like · see review

May 20, 2013 Keeley Sheehan marked it as to-read

May 19, 2013 Shay marked it as to-read

Shelves: tbr

May 19, 2013 Rizwan Khalil marked it as to-read

Shelves: horror-thrillers

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 20 21 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Supernatural Fict...: THE WOLFMAN by Jonathan Maberry	3	16	Feb 03, 2010 09:52am

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Horror

24 users

Shapeshifters > Werewolves

8 users

Fantasy

5 users

Fantasy > Paranormal

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Cuentos Por Telefono
by Gianni Rodari
The Mammoth Book of Wolf Men
by Stephen Jones
Ravenous
by Ray Garton
The Kult
by Shaun Jeffrey
The Celts: A History
by Peter Berresford Ellis

About Jonathan Maberry

JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning horror and thriller author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. His books have been sold to more than a dozen countries.

His novels include the Pine Deep Trilogy: GHOST ROAD BLUES (Pinnacle books; winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2006), DEAD...more JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning horror and thriller author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. His books have been sold to more than a dozen countries.

His novels include the Pine Deep Trilogy: GHOST ROAD BLUES (Pinnacle books; winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2006), DEAD MAN’S SONG (2007) and BAD MOON RISING (2008); the Joe Ledger series of action thrillers from St. Martin’s Griffin: PATIENT ZERO (2009, winner of the Black Quill and a Bram Stoker Award finalist for Best Novel), THE DRAGON FACTORY (2010; now available), THE KING OF PLAGUES (March 2011), ASSASSIN’S CODE (March 2012), EXTINCTION MACHINE (2013); THE WOLFMAN (NY Times bestseller from Tor, based on the Universal Pictures film starring Benecio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Sir Anthony Hopkins; winner of the Scribe Award for Best Adaptation); the forthcoming standalone zombie thriller DEAD OF NIGHT (Oct 25 2011); and the Benny Imura series of Young Adult dystopian zombie thrillers from Simon & Schuster: ROT & RUIN (2011; named in Booklist’s Ten Best Horror Novels for Young Adults, a Bram Stoker and Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award finalist; winner of the Cybils Award, the Eva Perry Mock Printz medal, Dead Letter Best Novel Award, and four Melinda Awards), DUST & DECAY (Aug 30 2011), FLESH & BONE (2012) and FIRE & ASH (21013).

Jonathan was an expert on the History Channel documentary on zombies scheduled to air October 26.

His nonfiction works include: VAMPIRE UNIVERSE (Citadel Press, 2006), THE CRYPTOPEDIA (Citadel, 2007 –winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction; co-authored by David F. Kramer), ZOMBIE CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead (Winner of the Hinzman and Black Quill Awards and nominated for a Stoker Award; 2008), THEY BITE! (2009 co-authored by David F. Kramer), WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE (2010; Bram Stoker nominee; co-authored by Janice Gable Bashman), and THE VAMPIRE SLAYERS FIELD GUIDE TO THE UNDEAD (2001, written under the pen name of Shane MacDougall).

He writes a variety of projects for Marvel Comics involving CAPTAIN AMERICA, BLACK PANTHER, DOOMWAR, WOLVERINE, DEADPOOL, THE X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, the NY Times bestselling MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN, MARVEL UNIVERSE vs THE PUNISHER and MARVEL UNIVERSE vs WOLVERINE. All of Jonathan’s comic book collections are released as Graphic Novel collections within a month or two of individual comic publication.

Recent short stories include “Pegleg and Paddy Save the World” (HISTORY IS DEAD, Permuted Press 2007), “Doctor Nine” (KILLERS, Swimming Kangaroo Press, 2008; and reprinted in THE STORIES (in) BETWEEN Edited by Greg Schauer, Jeanne B. Benzel, and W.H. Horner. Fantasist Enterprises, 2009), “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Greenbrier Ghost” (LEGENDS OF THE MOUNTAIN STATE 2, Bloodletting Books, 2008), “Clean Sweeps” (AND SO IT BEGINS, Dark Quest Books, 2008), “Family Business” (THE NEW DEAD, St. Martin’s Press, 2010), “Like Part of the Family” (NEW BLOOD edited by Patrick Thomas and Diane Raetz, Padwolf Press, 2010), “Zero Tolerance” (THE LIVING DEAD 2, Night Shade Books), “Flint and Steel” (GI JOE: COBRA WARS, 2011), “Saint John”(THE MONSTER’S CORNER, 2011, St. Martin’s), “The Death Song of Dwar Guntha” (Under the Moons of Mars: New Adventures on Barsoom, 2012, Simon & Schuster), and “The Wind Through the Fence” (an original e-story available for all e-readers). His essay, “Take Me To Your Leader” will be included in the nonfiction book, TRIUMPH OF THE LIVING DEAD: Robert Kirkman's Zombie Epic on Page and Screen edited by James Lowder (BenBella Books/Smart Pop, 2011).

All of Jonathan’s novels are available on audio, including the audio-only collection, JOE LEDGER: THE MISSING FILES (Blackstone), which includes the short stories “Countdown”, “Ze(less)

More about Jonathan Maberry...

Books by Jonathan Maberry

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Wolfman

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: The Wolfman
avg rating	preview: The Wolfman Goodreads rating: 3.58 (248 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6695665-the-wolfman?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312042867l/6695665.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6695665-the-wolfman?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Wolfman by Jonathan Maberry[/url]

The Wolfman

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website