The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (novel)

''The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'' is a 2003 steampunk/adventure novel by Kevin J. Anderson. It is a novelization of the script of the movie of the same name, written by James Dale Robinson, which itself was based on the comic by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill.

Background

In late 2002, Anderson had just finished working on his novel '' Captain Nemo: The Fantastic History of a Dark Genius'', set in a world where Jules Verne had drawn inspiration for his works from (fictional) real-life events, individuals, and technological developments. Anderson was just beginning to work on the book that would become '' The Martian War'', a similar premise but with H.G. Wells. Anderson had done media tie-in work before (for franchises such as '' Star Wars'', ''The X-Files'', and '' StarCraft'') and was a long-time fan of Alan Moore's work, including the original ''League'' comic. It was on the basis of that experience that Pocket Books approached him to write the novelization.

Writing process

Anderson has called the original movie script "very airy" and noted that "some characters have been added or deleted, some character traits have been changed (unfortunately, in my opinion, because of political correctness)", while still praising the work of Robinson. Anderson turned the 120-page script into the final 288-page book by expanding scenes deleted from the final movie, expanding characterization and background information, and "wherever possible and appropriate oingback to Moore's original graphic novel for that material and singwhat I can".

Differences from the sources

Although differing somewhat from the movie script, and drawing on the original comic, Anderson still noted that "and of course another drawback is that I have to stick to the script exactly as it is, even if I might have different ideas"; as such, the end result is much closer to the film than the comic or a third, independent story.

Differences from the movie

* A scene featuring the Fantom's attack on the German Zeppelin works, including the capture of Karl Draper, a character cut from the movie.
* The subplot revolving around Draper and his daughter, Eva, is included in the novel.
* When the Fantom's men attack Quartermain/Quatermain's club, the bartender has several lines of dialogue, a couple of them taken from an elderly hunter who fights alongside Allen and survives the shootout in the club (although his fate after the bombing is unclear) in the film but is shot dead by an assassin in the book.
* There is an actual meeting of European leaders in Venice, as opposed to the 'meeting' being a ruse in the film, thus closing one of the plot holes from the film script.
* M's true identity is revealed earlier than in the movie.
* The book ends with the League assembled outside of the Fantom's Mongolian fortress, not at Quatermain's funeral in Africa.

Additions to the movie

* Several characters, including Sawyer and a British constable in the opening chapter, explicitly connect the Fantom with the Phantom from ''The Phantom of the Opera''. After the Fantom's real identity is revealed, the Phantom is explained as being his model.
* The Fantom's aide is identified as Lieutenant Dante.
* In Nairobi, Nigel (in guise as Quatermain) remarks on how "the press" always misspells the name as ''Quartermain'' (a common mistake in the reviews and press for the movie), and also mentions Quatermain's discovery of King Solomon's Mines and encounter with Ayesha. Quatermain later compares Mina to Ayesha, and also mentions the Lost City of Gold and Umslopogaas.
* When he is first introduced, Quatermain is reading an H. G. Wells