The Book of Skulls
Four students seek immortality through a deadly monastic ritual.
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The story follows four college roommates who seek the immortality promised in an ancient manuscript.[1] Robert Silverberg, an American author, wrote the science fiction novel "The Book of Skulls", which initially came out in 1972.[2] The Nebula Award nomination for this work occurred in 1972, while the Hugo and Locus Awards nominations both happened in 1973.[2]
Making and release
The novel was first published in 1972.[2] Silverberg wrote the book during 1970, when science fiction was being reshaped by the "new wave" movement.[1] The narrative uses alternating first-person perspectives from each of the four protagonists.[1] In 2003, Paramount Pictures optioned the film rights, with William Friedkin to direct and Jeff Davis adapting.[3]
Plans for production failed to materialize.[4]
What the cited sources add
A reader review on a book-tracking site describes the novel as a psychological thriller that is more horror than science fiction.[1] The same review notes the book includes topics of drugs, sex, religion, and homosexuality.[1] Another reader comment states the novel may have influenced the makers of the 2008 film "10,000 BC"[1] The story involves Eli convincing his three roommates to search for the House of Skulls in Arizona.[1]
A reviewer observes that Silverberg gave each of the four narrators their own distinct voice.[1]
References
- "The Book of Skulls by Robert Silverberg". facts only, no text reused. goodreads.com
- Wikipedia, "The Book of Skulls" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "1972 Award Winners & Nominees", Worlds Without End; "1973 Award Winners & Nominees", Worlds Without End (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "The Book of Skulls" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Kit, "Par Pics to crack 'Skulls' for Friedken", The Hollywood Reporter, August 4, 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "The Book of Skulls" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "The Book of Skulls by Robert Silverberg" (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article The Book of Skulls (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: The Book of Skulls (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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