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Friday the 13th #1
Friday the 13th
It was going to be a fun summer at Camp Crystal. The young counselors were getting ready for it while they joked about the scary rumors attached to the isolated camp.
But evil was waiting in the shadows as the sun set. The laughter turned to screams...the easy living to agonized dying. For the light had gone and the wind was howling and it was--Friday the 13th.
But evil was waiting in the shadows as the sun set. The laughter turned to screams...the easy living to agonized dying. For the light had gone and the wind was howling and it was--Friday the 13th.
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1987
About the author
Simon Hawke
85 books230 followersAlso published as J.D. Masters.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
He was born Nicholas Valentin Yermakov, but began writing as Simon Hawke in 1984 and later changed his legal name to Hawke. He has also written near future adventure novels under the penname "J. D. Masters" and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 22, 2022
Having seen the film so many times I know it backwards and forwards reading this was just as good.
It expands on characters and a few scenes but all the dialogue is there and you can hear the film in in your head as your reading
Even sail away tiny sparrow gets a mention
Great
It expands on characters and a few scenes but all the dialogue is there and you can hear the film in in your head as your reading
Even sail away tiny sparrow gets a mention
Great
November 25, 2023
"suddenly, she was afraid to close her eyes-afraid of the darkness-terrified of the nightmares she knew would inevitably come. and whatever it was, it was still out there somewhere, waiting...waiting..."
Camp blood in Crystal Lake..origin of Jason Voorhees...🔪🩸😷
E-📖
Camp blood in Crystal Lake..origin of Jason Voorhees...🔪🩸😷
E-📖
February 28, 2022
I'm not sure if I have much to say on this one, but I think to the credit of this book, Simon Hawke did make it very accessible to individuals who might not have seen the movie. Perhaps that could be argued as a flaw of the book, that it follows the framework the movie left for it too closely, but one of the biggest things that the story hinges on is the mystery of the killer. And in that regard, I think Hawke did an excellent job with what he had to work with.
Additionally, he took the time in this novel to really get more into the individual characters' heads, which we don't see in the movie. The characters in Friday the 13th tend towards not being memorable, and fitting more of a bland one or two character traits that aren't even explored in-depth. Hawke takes the time to dive into everyone's inner thoughts and feelings, and while I know that this is a turn-off for a lot of people, because many of those inner thoughts turn into lengthy monologues, I appreciated him making the effort to make them more than just two-dimensional.
I haven't been able to find a print copy of this book, and indeed, it and the other Friday the 13th novels seem to be so scarce that they go for absurd amounts. I was able to read this thanks to listening to the fan-recorded audiobook on the YouTube channel The 80s Slasher Librarian! Huge kudos to them for making that possible! If someone would like to go listen to their recording before jumping into the film, I do recommend it as a decent introduction to the story!
Additionally, he took the time in this novel to really get more into the individual characters' heads, which we don't see in the movie. The characters in Friday the 13th tend towards not being memorable, and fitting more of a bland one or two character traits that aren't even explored in-depth. Hawke takes the time to dive into everyone's inner thoughts and feelings, and while I know that this is a turn-off for a lot of people, because many of those inner thoughts turn into lengthy monologues, I appreciated him making the effort to make them more than just two-dimensional.
I haven't been able to find a print copy of this book, and indeed, it and the other Friday the 13th novels seem to be so scarce that they go for absurd amounts. I was able to read this thanks to listening to the fan-recorded audiobook on the YouTube channel The 80s Slasher Librarian! Huge kudos to them for making that possible! If someone would like to go listen to their recording before jumping into the film, I do recommend it as a decent introduction to the story!
December 2, 2021
To be fair, I don't know what I expected. It's probably not easy to write a third person novelization of this kind of movie (which is a classic of course) and have to add on what's going on in every character's head. It turns out, those characters were thinking about bullshit.
October 26, 2021
I've been looking for a way to read this book for months now, and I found on the Friday the 13th wiki that at least this one and Part II have been uploaded to the Internet Archive! I used the audio feature which is like an early iOS Siri reading it, so some words got lost in robotic translation but I got pretty much everything, I'm pretty sure. I actually enjoy this novelization of Friday the 13th, more than I anticipated I would. It does what I was saying the 2018 Halloween adaptation should've done: It added more to the characters and the plot through methods the movie couldn't perform. Of course, I still have problems with this book, which I'll get into, but this was a solid, fun little read.
I'll start with my gripes. My biggest one, and the one that honestly keeps this book from being four stars, is the final act. Now granted, the final act is also pretty weak in the movie, and it seems like Simon Hawke was analyzing the screenplay and thinking "oh, I can add this for this character, and this can happen in this moment that references this." But when it came to the ending, where everything was revealed and the chase happens, there was virtually no room for any real character stuff. Everything you learn about the Alice Hardy and the camp and a few other things are just thrown out the window. It doesn't make it feel like a waste of time, but it does feel odd that pretty much everything is suddenly done away with for the sake of a chase scene. I do appreciate that the ending was essentially abridged from the screenplay, because it goes on for WAY too long in the movie (though there are some highlights). But that leads to my next, much more forgivable point, which is...
This is basically a novelette. It is so short! I hardly have anything to talk about with this review. It took me just two sessions on two separate days to finish it. But while I wish it was longer, I'd be lying if I said the movie had a ton of depth and potential to mine. (Just for the record, I love Friday the 13th despite its flaws, but it's hard not to criticize it when I'm talking about it in this context.) So trying to really dig deeper into the screenplay to extend the book would have been a bad idea, I think. Yet somehow, this book turned out so short still. Hawke knew when to get in and get out, but I can't help but feel the experience wasn't quite enough length-wise.
So my favorite part about Friday the 13th is what Hawke did with the characters. At multiple points, the characters of the book get these internal monologues that really dig into what they're thinking about, their histories, and their anxieties. I found all of it quite interesting, because none of these characters get any kind of real motivation in the movie. They're just bodies waiting to become bodies. But here, every single main character gets a little something that adds a bit more depth to them. It makes them feel a bit more real. It doesn't make their deaths any more sadder, but I will say that it makes Mrs. Voorhees a better villain. Neddy wants to go to film school? He made honor roll? Nope! Get stabbed. Jack wants real intimacy with Marcie, and is concerned about the longevity of their relationship? Get stabbed. Steve has a lot to prove with opening up the camp again? He wants to redeem his family's legacy and prove that Camp Crystal Lake isn't cursed? Get stabbed! I found it funny that all the characters have some humanity to them, but it's stripped away so quickly in their deaths. There's no consideration or mercy towards them, because none of that matters to Mrs. Voorhees. It was so good.
Overall, I think Friday the 13th does the "movie into book" transition correctly and adheres to what I want from novelizations. The characters were given things they didn't have in the movie that made them feel a bit more real, and had a few interesting things to think about. But I think it does suffer a bit from a lack of creativity regarding the ending, along with struggling to feel like a fully fleshed out book. I think Simon Hawke did a very solid job though, and I think this is worth checking out if you enjoy the original movie.
I'll start with my gripes. My biggest one, and the one that honestly keeps this book from being four stars, is the final act. Now granted, the final act is also pretty weak in the movie, and it seems like Simon Hawke was analyzing the screenplay and thinking "oh, I can add this for this character, and this can happen in this moment that references this." But when it came to the ending, where everything was revealed and the chase happens, there was virtually no room for any real character stuff. Everything you learn about the Alice Hardy and the camp and a few other things are just thrown out the window. It doesn't make it feel like a waste of time, but it does feel odd that pretty much everything is suddenly done away with for the sake of a chase scene. I do appreciate that the ending was essentially abridged from the screenplay, because it goes on for WAY too long in the movie (though there are some highlights). But that leads to my next, much more forgivable point, which is...
This is basically a novelette. It is so short! I hardly have anything to talk about with this review. It took me just two sessions on two separate days to finish it. But while I wish it was longer, I'd be lying if I said the movie had a ton of depth and potential to mine. (Just for the record, I love Friday the 13th despite its flaws, but it's hard not to criticize it when I'm talking about it in this context.) So trying to really dig deeper into the screenplay to extend the book would have been a bad idea, I think. Yet somehow, this book turned out so short still. Hawke knew when to get in and get out, but I can't help but feel the experience wasn't quite enough length-wise.
So my favorite part about Friday the 13th is what Hawke did with the characters. At multiple points, the characters of the book get these internal monologues that really dig into what they're thinking about, their histories, and their anxieties. I found all of it quite interesting, because none of these characters get any kind of real motivation in the movie. They're just bodies waiting to become bodies. But here, every single main character gets a little something that adds a bit more depth to them. It makes them feel a bit more real. It doesn't make their deaths any more sadder, but I will say that it makes Mrs. Voorhees a better villain. Neddy wants to go to film school? He made honor roll? Nope! Get stabbed. Jack wants real intimacy with Marcie, and is concerned about the longevity of their relationship? Get stabbed. Steve has a lot to prove with opening up the camp again? He wants to redeem his family's legacy and prove that Camp Crystal Lake isn't cursed? Get stabbed! I found it funny that all the characters have some humanity to them, but it's stripped away so quickly in their deaths. There's no consideration or mercy towards them, because none of that matters to Mrs. Voorhees. It was so good.
Overall, I think Friday the 13th does the "movie into book" transition correctly and adheres to what I want from novelizations. The characters were given things they didn't have in the movie that made them feel a bit more real, and had a few interesting things to think about. But I think it does suffer a bit from a lack of creativity regarding the ending, along with struggling to feel like a fully fleshed out book. I think Simon Hawke did a very solid job though, and I think this is worth checking out if you enjoy the original movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
One of the biggest knocks against the Friday the 13th franchise is that there is no development for its characters for their just there to get whacked. The novelization actually gives us some deph to our victims even Mrs. Voorhees. Sean Cunningham's story in book form comes of like an Agatha Christie Who done it which it was intended in the movie.
November 4, 2021
Friday the 13th wasn't really my favorite movie growing up. It was Halloween. And since Friday the 13th was essentially a rip-off (as the film's screenwriter said) of the 1978 classic, I always viewed it as a lesser movie. But there's no denying the impact both movies have had on the horror genre.
I've recently started getting into horror books, specifically novelizations. I just finished the novelization of 2018's Halloween and I'm currently getting into the novelization of Halloween Kills, but I thought I'd take a little breather from the franchise and read a shorter novelization. And what better movie to read a novelization of than Friday the 13th ?
My biggest problem with novelizations of slasher movies is that they often feel like the same thing being written over and over again, and that is abundant in Simon Hawke's Friday the 13th . Every death scene has some variation of "white-hot, searing pain" written in there, and it just feels quite repetitive and boring after a while.
But overall, I did quite enjoy this one. It's a quick read, and an easy one if you're a fan of the movie (like I am). I'm very excited to check out the novelizations of II, III (which has two novelizations for some reason?), VI, X, and Freddy vs. Jason, as well as the other novels that use the Jason X title. I've heard that a few of them expand on the lore of the Jason Voorhees character, and I'm excited to see what they do with that.
I've recently started getting into horror books, specifically novelizations. I just finished the novelization of 2018's Halloween and I'm currently getting into the novelization of Halloween Kills, but I thought I'd take a little breather from the franchise and read a shorter novelization. And what better movie to read a novelization of than Friday the 13th ?
My biggest problem with novelizations of slasher movies is that they often feel like the same thing being written over and over again, and that is abundant in Simon Hawke's Friday the 13th . Every death scene has some variation of "white-hot, searing pain" written in there, and it just feels quite repetitive and boring after a while.
But overall, I did quite enjoy this one. It's a quick read, and an easy one if you're a fan of the movie (like I am). I'm very excited to check out the novelizations of II, III (which has two novelizations for some reason?), VI, X, and Freddy vs. Jason, as well as the other novels that use the Jason X title. I've heard that a few of them expand on the lore of the Jason Voorhees character, and I'm excited to see what they do with that.
April 3, 2022
***1/2
The "Friday the 13th" novelization didn't come out until 1987, seven years after the film hit theaters. Which is unusual, and means that Simon Hawke's book follows the movie closely, as opposed to most novelizations, which are based on a shooting script, or earlier script, and often have fun little differences for the reader to pick up on.
"Friday the 13th" does offer some dialogue and inner monologues not featured in the film, but these serve to point out elements that work in a slasher movie but not necessarily a book. A couple of characters give us their history through third person narration, only to be killed in the same scene. Slasher movies get criticism for introducing characters only to have them murdered shortly after; I'm not sure this book's method of introducing them, and giving a couple pages of background info, before their deaths, works better.
Still, "Friday the 13th" is a good story, and maybe it works a lot better as a movie than a book, but for fans there is still enjoyment to be gotten from this book. Hopefully you're reading an actual copy; since they go for over five hundred bucks, I read a copy someone transcribed and posted online. I appreciate the service they've done thrifty "Friday the 13th" fans, but the number of typos, grammatical errors, and incorrect word substitutions, made the book a little annoying to get through. That doesn't mean I won't be reading the second one, of course.
The "Friday the 13th" novelization didn't come out until 1987, seven years after the film hit theaters. Which is unusual, and means that Simon Hawke's book follows the movie closely, as opposed to most novelizations, which are based on a shooting script, or earlier script, and often have fun little differences for the reader to pick up on.
"Friday the 13th" does offer some dialogue and inner monologues not featured in the film, but these serve to point out elements that work in a slasher movie but not necessarily a book. A couple of characters give us their history through third person narration, only to be killed in the same scene. Slasher movies get criticism for introducing characters only to have them murdered shortly after; I'm not sure this book's method of introducing them, and giving a couple pages of background info, before their deaths, works better.
Still, "Friday the 13th" is a good story, and maybe it works a lot better as a movie than a book, but for fans there is still enjoyment to be gotten from this book. Hopefully you're reading an actual copy; since they go for over five hundred bucks, I read a copy someone transcribed and posted online. I appreciate the service they've done thrifty "Friday the 13th" fans, but the number of typos, grammatical errors, and incorrect word substitutions, made the book a little annoying to get through. That doesn't mean I won't be reading the second one, of course.
May 31, 2023
This is pretty much a 1:1 adaptation of the movie without much added to it. Hawke's pretty good at capturing the same "summer in New England" atmosphere in the same way the movie is, but the book suffers from all the classic pitfalls of a formulaic slasher. I don't have much to say about it beyond that, especially because of how it's essentially a copy of the movie script formatted to be prose.
There is a part in this book where two characters have unprotected sex and the guy starts smoking pot while his girlfriend goes to the bathroom. A hysterically long time is spent on the guy's inner monologue as he admonishes himself for taking such a risk, contemplates whether or not it was sexist to assume she was on the pill instead of taking initiative to wear a condom, thinks back to a basketball buddy, then thinks to himself about how we as a society are afraid to talk about sex in a frank and honest way with others. He resolves to become a more sex-positive person and talk to his girlfriend about getting more serious, and how he's even willing to marry her/support her choice to get an abortion if she turns out to be pregnant. He is then murdered on the spot. The story then cuts to the girlfriend, and we get *another* hilariously long aside about the girlfriend's thoughts on sex and how she was never a "wait till marriage" girl but she never really liked sex until her boyfriend now, etc. etc. etc... she's then murdered on the spot. That was easily the best part of this book.
There is a part in this book where two characters have unprotected sex and the guy starts smoking pot while his girlfriend goes to the bathroom. A hysterically long time is spent on the guy's inner monologue as he admonishes himself for taking such a risk, contemplates whether or not it was sexist to assume she was on the pill instead of taking initiative to wear a condom, thinks back to a basketball buddy, then thinks to himself about how we as a society are afraid to talk about sex in a frank and honest way with others. He resolves to become a more sex-positive person and talk to his girlfriend about getting more serious, and how he's even willing to marry her/support her choice to get an abortion if she turns out to be pregnant. He is then murdered on the spot. The story then cuts to the girlfriend, and we get *another* hilariously long aside about the girlfriend's thoughts on sex and how she was never a "wait till marriage" girl but she never really liked sex until her boyfriend now, etc. etc. etc... she's then murdered on the spot. That was easily the best part of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2023
This is one of 80s slasher movies that never dies. In the book you'll transported right back to Camp Crystal Lake, hear about Camp Blood with the mysterious and violent death of the Christy family. The character Jason Voorhees and his mother Pamela are also introduced. Then you'll soon learn why the youth at the location are all doomed. But what about Alice? Why was the boy's body never found? What is Pamela Voorhees' revenge? Will anybody survive? Absolutely chilling and uncanny classic of the slasher genre. First part of a very long series that ends with Freddy vs Jason... must read for every fan of horror (like the movies). Highly recommended!
January 4, 2023
Great read for fans of the movies and it adds a bit more details that weren't included in the movie. The only issue I had and I think a previous review mentioned it but the inner monologue for some of the characters was a bit excessive. For example (spoiler free), a character had an extensive monologue about waiting for the right time and another one about why people feel the need to get attention, I myself skipping through most of them but still a good read.
The sequels are good as well, part 2 and 3 were my favorite.
The sequels are good as well, part 2 and 3 were my favorite.
July 7, 2023
Buenísimo, me encantó todo. Supongo que influye mucho el hecho de que yo sea una fanática, pero profundizar en esta historia me hizo apreciar mucho más la peli original. La narración es excelente, los personajes son simples pero efectivos, me hizo sentirlos más memorables que cuando vi la peli, más como personas talvez, a pesar de ser simples adolescentes.
El acto final y las partes que te cuentan la historia del campamento, Alice y Steve están perfectas, por no mencionar las partes de Pamela. Fascinante libro.
4.5 / 5 ⭐️
El acto final y las partes que te cuentan la historia del campamento, Alice y Steve están perfectas, por no mencionar las partes de Pamela. Fascinante libro.
4.5 / 5 ⭐️
September 1, 2022
2.5⭐️
i liked it, but the biggest problem is it could be shortened down to like 70 pages, so much of it is just babbling on about what the forgettable counselor wants to do after the summer or who they wanna go out with. i understand it’s building upon the characters but each one of them has like a single personality trait each.
surprisingly though the descriptions and writing style was very good. i’m probably gonna read part 2 eventually and that is one of my favorites in the (movie) series so maybe i’ll enjoy that more.
i liked it, but the biggest problem is it could be shortened down to like 70 pages, so much of it is just babbling on about what the forgettable counselor wants to do after the summer or who they wanna go out with. i understand it’s building upon the characters but each one of them has like a single personality trait each.
surprisingly though the descriptions and writing style was very good. i’m probably gonna read part 2 eventually and that is one of my favorites in the (movie) series so maybe i’ll enjoy that more.
June 11, 2023
As other reviews say: this book is a very convincing adaption of the film into book format. Reading it is almost like watching the film, but as a book it has additional merits that make it stand out. The most notable difference is the reader getting more depth to put to the characters who are pretty much just there to be killed in the movie. This novel makes the characters seem more real. As a result, the story seems to become more tragic, but more authentic for being so.
January 14, 2024
Almost 50 years ago, in May 1980, I was 14 years old when the original Friday the 13th movie was released. My mother, wanted to have some quiet time with my dad, so she gave me enough money for me to take my younger brother to the movies. This is the first time she had ever done that. I was not sure if Friday the 13th was playing, but I was hoping.
It's a night of firsts: my first rated R movie; first time in a theatre without an adult; first time I saw female nudity; first time I saw graphic kills, blood, gore; and the first time I heard movie expletives. When I had an opportunity to read the movie novelization, I, of course, took it. This movie has resonant significance to my love of horror movies and books. It's one of the reasons I consider myself hardcore horror. I know I'm not the only one, and don't expect me to be objective about it. I was 14, and I got a chance to see boobs without my parents' supervision.
Listening to the audiobook performed by the 80s Slasher Librarian and his crew was an added bonus. The voice of each character was not perfect, but still pretty damn entertaining. Hawke's version gives a little bit of background exposition, but nowhere near enough. Otherwise, the narrative is straightforward with very little frills.
Still, I find that the novel is faithful to what we watched on screen in the movie theatre. Horrifying, engrossing, and thoroughly captivating. I loved it, then; still love it, now. And Jason is barely in this one.
It's a night of firsts: my first rated R movie; first time in a theatre without an adult; first time I saw female nudity; first time I saw graphic kills, blood, gore; and the first time I heard movie expletives. When I had an opportunity to read the movie novelization, I, of course, took it. This movie has resonant significance to my love of horror movies and books. It's one of the reasons I consider myself hardcore horror. I know I'm not the only one, and don't expect me to be objective about it. I was 14, and I got a chance to see boobs without my parents' supervision.
Listening to the audiobook performed by the 80s Slasher Librarian and his crew was an added bonus. The voice of each character was not perfect, but still pretty damn entertaining. Hawke's version gives a little bit of background exposition, but nowhere near enough. Otherwise, the narrative is straightforward with very little frills.
Still, I find that the novel is faithful to what we watched on screen in the movie theatre. Horrifying, engrossing, and thoroughly captivating. I loved it, then; still love it, now. And Jason is barely in this one.
January 4, 2022
I'm giving this book 4 stars. I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was going to be a boring book but I actually loved it. Unlike the movie, you get into the minds of each person and you get to learn more about them. I like the fact that the dialog was exactly the same as the movie. If you're a big fan of the Friday The 13th saga, I'd recommend you read this book.
July 20, 2022
I wanted this to be better because I love the movies so much. While we do get more in this novel than the movie… the problem is that it’s mostly inner monologue from the characters & it’s way too much of that. It grinds the pace to a halt every time. That aside, I did it & recommend it, especially to F13 fans.
August 7, 2017
Camp crystal should have been just a great place for a summer camping trip, but something evil is waiting in this suspense, horror thriller.
July 24, 2019
Great memories from a movie I've watched countless times. Written off the screenplay, and it feels like it, often. Still, cool to read. Thankful to Simon Hawke for putting this together.
October 25, 2021
4.5 Stars
Friday the 13th by Simon Hawke.....
One of my reads for scary month- Halloween 2021.
RTC
Friday the 13th by Simon Hawke.....
One of my reads for scary month- Halloween 2021.
RTC
June 17, 2022
I liked it. It was faithful to the movie. Not as good as Halloween by Curtis Richards, though.
March 23, 2024
Youtube
July 18, 2019
Very well written and, for the most part, follows the film faithfully. Inner dialogues got to be a bit on the long side, i.e., Steve contemplating why he is re-opening the camp, but the added back stories provided more depth to the film and tied up some loose ends for me (Ned and Brenda). If you've seen the movie, it will play in your head as you read. If you haven't, 1) this book is a good stand-alone read, and 2) WHY HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THIS CLASSIC SLASHER MOVIE???
July 25, 2022
Pretty much what you would expect - a straightforward novelization of the movie. He beefs it up a bit by adding some internal monologuing which is silly at times - a couple pages of the counselor brooding and reflecting on life right before they die the brutal death you’re expecting. The prose is also not exactly Pulitzer-worthy but you’re reading a F13th novelization so what are you expecting?
September 8, 2008
Simon Hawke's novelization of Friday the 13th, published more than seven years after the film was originally released, hits all the right notes and mostly avoids hitting the wrong ones. It's been awhile since I've seen Friday the 13th, but from what I remember, the plot of Hawke's novel seems to follow it pretty closely. The characters are all fleshed out more, with backstories and motivations that weren't necessarily implicit in the film, but for the most part the emphasis is on suspense, which is where Hawke really excels. The pacing of this novel is really great, and it's easy to read in one sitting. The prose is pedestrian but competent, which is about all you can ask from a novelization of an '80s slasher film.
April 10, 2012
This book pretty much follows the movie word for word, scene by scene with some small details to each character that was not in the movies.
For an official review please visit: Shivers of Horror
For a great Friday The 13th site (with photos, video clips, forum, chat room and more) visit: Camp Blood
For an official review please visit: Shivers of Horror
For a great Friday The 13th site (with photos, video clips, forum, chat room and more) visit: Camp Blood
April 14, 2011
This is an excellent novel! This is an exhilarating fun novel.it follows the movie word-for-word, but excludes all the boring parts. It's a well-paced novel with a killer-ending!!! 5
March 24, 2024
I love Simon Hawke's writing style.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews