Monster Complex ™

View Original

Coming to print: The alien zombie attack Plan 9 From Outer Space: The Novelization

Chris Well

Are the alien invaders here to SAVE US—or to CONQUER US?!

The 1957 sci-fi horror movie called the “worst film ever made” has a new book version coming for director Ed Wood’s 100th birthday 

Remember when Encyclopocalypse Publications brought out the surprise book adapting Attack of the Killer Tomatoes? Now they’re doing it again with Plan 9 From Outer Space!

Encyclopocalypse has announced that it will issue the brand-new book adaptation Plan 9 From Outer Space: The Novelization. The book hits shelves October 10, 2024–which would have been the 100th birthday of Edward D. Wood Jr., the man who wrote, directed, produced, and even edited the movie.

In 1957, Wood gathered a cast made up of the once-famous, the once-living, and the altogether unknown. Dime-store flying saucers invaded a surreal patchwork of small sets, found props, and stock footage. The remarkable results did not see a general release until two years later, when Plan Nine from Outer Space finally made it into theaters.

From the aliens pontificating in their carhop uniforms to the cemetery sporting ankle-high, balsa wood headstones, Wood's masterwork continues to capture the attention of film creators and fans on every continent.

Now, in 2024, Encyclopocalypse Publications maintains their commitment to preserving cinematic genre history through novelizations with their release of Plan Nine from Outer Space: The Novelization by Bret Nelson, based on the original screenplay by Edward D. Wood Jr. Pre-order the book now from Amazon. Author Nelson (Manborg and The Part Mart) has penned the startling adaptation. Facts... shocking facts include:

  • A real life scientific explanation of Solaronite!

  • All Plan 9 plot holes patched with meticulously crafted connective tissue.

  • Finally revealed: THE OTHER PLANS! (Spoiler alert: there were actually 10 plans! How is that possible, you ask? You'll have to read to find out!)

 Nelson told Rue Morgue:

“PLAN 9 is often called the worst movie ever made. I don’t agree. You’ve got visitors from another world, graveyards riddled with rising corpses, shootouts with the cops, flying saucers fighting the Army, alien abductions, and a government conspiracy to cover the whole thing up. That sounds like a great movie to me!” (SOURCE)

About the original movie Plan 9 From Outer Space

The original 1957 movie Plan 9 from Outer Space is an indie sci-fi/horror movie made by Ed Wood (1924-1978). The director is famous for making a number of sloppy, low-budget sci-fi, crime and horror movies that (eventually) became cult classics. He also wrote dozens of pulp crime and sex novels.

Plan 9 From Outer Space revolves around an alien invasion that are back yet again—after, well, eight previous attempts. This time, they’re raising up the dead to stop humanity from creating a weapon that could destroy the universe. The living dead are played by a cape-wearing Bela Lugosi (well, kind of—long story), Vampira, and Tor Johnson.

The movie languished in obscurity for years—until 1980, when Plan 9 from Outer Space was named “worst film ever made” by authors Harry Medved and Michael Medved in the book The Golden Turkey Awards. In the years since—especially now with home video and streaming—the movie has become more viewed than ever.

About the author of the book

The author of Plan 9 from Outer Space: The Novelization, Bret Nelson, is an Emmy Award-winning creator. His books also include Manborg: The Novelization and the children’s book (well, “children’s book”?) The Part Mart.

When he’s not writing stories, he makes TV shows and games. Over the years, he's worked with Kermit the Frog, Buzz Lightyear, and Conan the Cimmerian. Right now, he’s busy with projects he’s not allowed to talk about. (That’s what the contracts say).

Related article: Q&A: Jeff Strand on novelizing Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: “The movie is absolutely ridiculous, and thus the book is absolutely ridiculous.”

See this gallery in the original post

More from Monster Complex