Godzilla by Greg Keyes

This audiobook is actually called Godzilla: King of the Monsters – The Official Movie Novelization. Ergo, a movie converted to the novel format. A codicil to this review, I’ve not seen this movie, but have seen several others.

Plot. In this book, Godzilla exists, as do other big bad creatures, but they’ve been dormant. A married couple develops a prototype they call ORCA, a machine emitting sounds that are hypnotic siren songs to animals, specifically large killers, etc.. The two decide that the ability to manipulate these creatures isn’t such a good idea, and destroy their machine. Divorce, ten years later. Begin a story about the sudden appearance and deliberate release of The Titans, several monsters. Mothra, Godzilla, Moth, Monster Zero, etc., ten or twelve. They fight and kill each other and knock around cities, people, kill millions. The wife is in on this skullduggery thinking that mankind should live with these creatures peacefully, she has rebuilt ORCA. Hubby is the good guy trying to stop the world-wide carnage and rescue his daughter.

Liked. No sex scenes, no objectionable language inappropriate to the character or scene. The narration is fine.

Not so hot. Listening to this audiobook will not likely be a motivation to see the movie. You’ll go see the movie if you like Godzilla movies. Godzilla, since the very beginning in the 1950s when the big guy demolished Tokyo with Raymond Burr skittering for his life, is a visual/special effects movie, always. This book just doesn’t do it.

If you’re into the Godzilla-type genre, see the movie. The old adage of “ya just gotta see it” stands firm; the book cannot give you those thrilling visuals. Description is lacking in the book, probably because the author decided to let you visualize for yourself, i.e., “see the movie”.

Narrated by Michael Braun, about nine hours of listening in unabridged audiobook, released in May 2019 by Blackstone Audio.