Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: A Tale of High Adventure

Indiana Jones: Film Storybooks

by Les Martin

Illustrated with More Than 60 Color Photographs

Genres: Adventure, Childrens

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Les Martin has written dozens of books for young readers, including the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK and INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM movie storybooks, and many Young Indiana Jones middle-grade novels. He has also adapted many classic works of fiction for young readers, including THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, EDGAR ALLAN POE'S TALES OF TERROR, and THE VAMPIRE. Mr. Martin is a resident of New York City.

Reviews

[Brad · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am mostly delusional but not completely delusional. I knew this book was going to be crap when I picked it up at that shack-like used book shop a couple of years ago, but my boy and I love Indy, and I thought it would be a fun book for him to read as his reading skills increased. I stand by that even after reading it; it's a decent movie-tie-in for a seven year old boy.

There're lots of sun and time faded photos from the Temple of Doom (and who doesn't love movie stills?), and hackosaurus Les Martin doesn't offer anything fancy. It's all sort of "this happened, then this happened, and now this is happening but that just happened, and then this happened and now it's over." Perfect for a seven year old boy.

And there is even a cool scene that I've never heard any reference to in any other version of Temple of Doom, wherein Indy is already under the Black Sleep of Kali, and he comes back to Pankot Palace to put Willie to sleep, reassure Captain Blumbart (of Her Majesty's Cavalry) that everything is fine, and spend a little play time with Chatter Lal and the Maharajah. It was probably a scene that Spielberg trimmed from the screenplay (a wise decision), but it was a lot of fun to read here, and it actually tightened things up a little plotwise.

Regardless, this book is pretty sucky. Martin removes all references to "Fortune and Glory" as an Indy motivator -- which is one of my favourite parts of Temple of Doom -- and then he removes the "nocturnal activities" seduction sequence between Willie and Indy. Okay ... fair enough ... this book is for children, so if you have to take out the double entendres, be my guest, but couldn't you also remove, say, the whole Mola Ram ripping a heart out of a guy's chest thing? God forbid a child hears that Willie and Indy might want to sleep together, but by all means let that same child bask in the horror of beating hearts being held aloft. The fucking hypocrisy is what gets me.

Oh well, this was fun for me regardless. A nice thing to do while my computer boots up every morning. It's Milos' book now, and if he misses the full fun of Willie and Indy flirting, he can watch it as soon as he's finished reading.

Cause, after all, who doesn't love watching Kate Capshaw booby snatching the pillar statue?

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just "meh". Although it has really cool photos from the film, it proves to be very difficult to read aloud (at least for me reading to my son which I usually don't have a problem with). The sentence structure is definitely not the greatest. The book is mostly written from Short Round's point of view which is different and interesting. But I honestly think this will become just a picture book for my son to look at in the future.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exciting and action-packed (sort of), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: A Tale of High Adventure is a nicely adapted movie tie-in for children. While it generally follows the plot of the movie (Indiana Jones going to Pankot Place and discovering a secret cult that worships Kili the goddess of evil) much of the dialog and parts of the story have been changed or condensed. In fact, several key action scenes are glossed over (though the photos help to give the reader a sense of these scenes). Yet strangely the violence and darkness of the material doesn’t seem to have been curtailed; as the horrific imagery of blood and skulls is quite vivid. Still, overall Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: A Tale of High Adventure is entertaining and fun (though slightly askew).

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like the film much, but this book made it seem far more exciting and novel than it really was. At least it did to 9 year-old me.