(no subject)

Oh dear. I like the fiction of Stephen Gould, including his first book, Jumper. But the themes that it deals with aren't exactly common themes for Hollywood movies. I mean, the protagonist of the book learns to teleport as a method of escaping the attentions of a child molester encountered whilst running away from an abusive father. He searches for his equally-abused mother, and it is her sudden death that drives his need for vengeance against the terrorists that caused it (the book was written well before 9/11; the setting is more reminiscent of the 70's and Red Army Faction and PLO atrocities). And then there is the reaction from the US authorities that discover his secret. It was built on a good premise, and every change from the real world builds on that premise (that a kid discovers the ability to teleport). So I wasn't exactly expecting a faithful reproduction. Without this overriding plot the storyline loses it's cohesion, and I'm not disappointed apparently. I'll be going to watch it, but from the shorts I saw recently it really has little to do with the book. And yes, I realise the book was recently rewritten as a screen adaption (Jumper: Griffin's Story). Personally my favourite Stephen Gould book would have to be Wildside (although it is more a YA adventure book) or Helm (possibly because of it's basis in aikido).