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Coming Soon: Killer Tomatoes—The Novel!

Chris Well

A novelization of the 1978 cult classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is on the way from Bram Stoker Award-winner Jeff Strand.

Over the weekend, I was working on an article to profile horror comedy writer Jeff Strand—who won a Bram Stoker Award for his novella Twentieth Anniversary Screening. And in the course of working on that article, I looked up what Mr. Strand’s next book will be—and discovered that it is a novelization of the 1978 horror comedy disaster indie movie cult classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.

Wait. What?

Here’s the thing: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is one of my favorite movies. Ever.

It’s one of those movies that, over the years, I’ve bought copies of in multiple formats. During my college years, I’d drag friends over to my apartment and say, “You’ve got to see this movie.” In the years that have since passed, I don’t remember to what extent they loved the movie or were horrified—it was certainly cheaply made—but it’s a movie that captured my heart.

And now it is going to be a novel.

By a guy who won the Bram Stoker Award.

Here’s some info from Daily Dead:

Encyclopocalypse to Release ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES Novelization by Jeff Strand

A novelization of the 1978 cult classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is on the way from Encyclopocalypse Publications! Written by Jeff Strand, the book will be released everywhere on April 14.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes follows the tribulations of Mason Dixon, frontman for a motley crew of do-gooders tasked by the President to discover why the once-peaceful produce has unleashed hell upon humankind. Slathering contemporary film and hot-button issues of the period—war, commercialism, government conspiracies—underneath a saucy red coating of murder and mayhem, Tomatoes’ story is as outlandish as it is original. The film has ingrained itself into the lexicon of B-movie buffs and has endured across generations of fandom through sequels, video games, and even a Saturday morning cartoon series.

“This book was an absolute blast to write,” says Strand. “The movie is shamelessly silly, which gave me license to go completely bonkers with the novelization. No previous tomato experience is required, but readers will have the most fun if they watch the movie before they dive in, whether for the first time or the forty-seventh time.”

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Novelization
Jeff Strand
Encyclopocalypse Publications
Category: TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction

Find Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Novelization on Amazon

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Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Novelization will be wherever books are sold April 14, 2023. Check you local bookseller or find Attack of the Killer Tomatoes on Amazon.

There is also an audiobook version on the way. More info on that coming, too.

Over the next couple of weeks, Monster Complex will be talking more about Strand (including info on some of his other books)—and sharing an interview with him about this book!

UPDATE—here’s the interview: Q&A: Jeff Strand on novelizing Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: “The movie is absolutely ridiculous, and thus the book is absolutely ridiculous.”

I’m also working on an article listing some of my favorite things about the movie.

While we’re all waiting for the book, here’s a look back at the trailer for Attack of the Killer Tomatoes…

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes movie trailer

The 1978 parody Attack of the Killer Tomatoes involves tomatoes becoming sentient and, well, threatening humanity. Spoofing B movies, it was made on a budget of less than $100,000. While reviewers have not been kind to Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, it’s developed a following. (I love it.) The film has actually led to sequels and even a cartoon series.

Watch Attack of the Killer Tomatoes FREE

You can watch the original movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes FREE on Amazon’s freevee TV channel HERE: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Related links: More Horror Comedy Articles on Monster Complex