Favorite Book from the Logan's Run Series

I've always loved the original "Logan's Run" the best, but I'm just curious to see if anyone else prefers the sequels more.

"Logan's World" comes in at a VERY close second for me. IMO, "World" is just as great as "Run" ever was!

I think that the novel "Logan's World" did something that, at first, must've been very difficult for William F. Nolan to pull off. It gave the original "Logan's Run" book closure without missing a beat - AND STILL made it blend in somewhat easily with the movie version for those who may have only seen the film (for example, the way Francis 'disappears').

As many of you know, the "Logan's Run" book and movie are very different. I think you can read "Logan's World" without having READ "Logan's Run" (just knowing the story from the movie) and still pretty much understand what's happening and be fully engrossed with all of Nolan's new situations and characters. To me, that's the sign of a very taqlented writer - one who can meld two dramatically different versions of a story and continue it to flow easiley for those who may only be familiar with one.

I pretty much enjoy the novels in the order they were written. "Logan's Search," which I'm rereading now for the first time since it appeared, has not held my attention as much as the rereading of the first two did, but it is nice to see a different alternate universe take on the first novel.

For me, LOGAN'S RUN is still by far the best. I love the "count-down" chapter structure, the "set-piece" structure, the originality that only the first work in a series can possess. I love Nolan's and Johnson's crisp prose style. Short sentences, then a final word. Usually they did this when itro-ing a new character. Something like: "Tall and lean, unsmiling. Black costume. Cold face. Deadly. Francis!" or something like that.

I've not read "Logan's Return," as it appeared online and disappeared before I was on the net, plus I only use a webtv unit, not an actual computer. I'm hoping it will appear in a mass-printing. I've read the first chapter online, but that is all. How many words was it, anyway, anybody?

Actually, though I have my reservations about guys continuing others' work, or shared-world books, I would love for Nolan to open up the Logan universe to other writers. Hell, like many fans, I write (and have a drawer full of rejection slips from "The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction" as well as having pitched to "Star Trek: Deep Space 9"), and have a couple nifty little notions that would make good (or so I think) Logan short stories. Some "fill in the gap" ideas.

Sir Rhosis

Chalk up another one for "Logan's Run".

My favorite sequel would then have to be "Logan's World" followed by "Return". Although I did enjoy "Search", it was hard for me to get past the parallel universe concept. It was neat to see Logan once again back in his DS suit, but the story was more or less a rehash of the original novel.

"Logan's Return" was about 40-50 pages long and was originally released online as an ebook by a company called 'ebooks2go' back in the summer of 2000. I think it has about 15-20,000 words to it. It reads more like an hour long television episode than a full blown multi-layered story.

I'll probably post a short synopsis of the story here one of these days. I can't believe I didn't post one before on my website.

There were many people who had problems with the ebooks2go service and couldn't download it successfully, so William F Nolan agreed to make it available for purchase in printed format as a manuscript.

I did confirm over the weekend that the "Logan's Return" printed manuscript is still available for ordering directly from Paul Kennedy (one of WFN's long-time established booksellers).

Paul's email address is pkennedybookseller@earthlink.net, if anyone's interested.


Sir Rhosis...

If you ever do get working on a Logan's Run original story, I'ld very much like to read it. I'm not much of a writer myself, but would greatly enjoy reading some original Logan fan fiction.

Although I've read all three books in the original Logan trilogy(which was during the 10 year Anniversary of the original film), I'm really more of a fan of the original MGM film than I am the books and the television series. The books were okay. I guess I was just expecting more of the movie than something completely different. I wasn't all that impressed with the television series. I don't think that the producers and head personnel at MGM did their homework, regarding something like a television series that was more of a futuristic version of The Fugitive than what was presented in the original movie. I felt the same way that William F. Nolan did, concerning the content and direction of the CBS Series. The production designs and some of the special effects were...well, let's just say not that special and below quality standards. I think it would have been in MGM's best interests if they had filmed a sequel movie instead. It would have been better for them to have gone that route instead. As I recall, there were plans for a sequel to be filmed in Europe with Michael York, Jenny Agutter, and Peter Ustinov. I read that in an old issue of FUTURE Magazine, which was publsihed by the same publisher as Starlog Magazine.

Logan's Run is probably my favorite. I do have a question about the novella "Logan's Return". Did anyone else have a problem with the alien scenario? Also, did anyone else notice that Jonah(s?) was resurrected in this novel. I thought that was strange since he died in "Logan's World".

Lastly, how many Logan's fans have written their own version of either the original story or just expanded on the Logan universe? I have to admit that I have written about 50 pages of my own version of a "Logan's Run" sequel. It's just for fun.

I didn't care much for the alien portion of Logan's Search, either. The way I look at it, there should be no alien or space influences in the Logan's Run universe, period. The entire Logan's Run saga is post-apocalyptic science fiction from what I can tell and should stay that way. Those extraterrestrial and space influences are for something entirely different.

I couldn't agree more, Francis! It's great that William F Nolan has stated in his most recent interview here that he plans on writing prequels to Logan's Run, which would mean that his Logan's Return would still remain the final chapter - hence no more Aliens. Hurray!

I haven't written any myself, but enjoy reading original fan fiction. Any chance you can share what you've written MaryMary5?

Also, regarding Jonah - I seem to recall that a few of us fans brought that to Mr. Nolan's attention a few years back and he did acknowledge his error. I like to think of that new character as Jonah's secret clone.

Thanks for the interest Steve. Maybe when I've gotten back into my writing mode I'll be glad to share some of my story. I will say this much about it. It takes place many years after the fall of the CIty and I have mixed elements of the Movie and the second novel. I don't pretend to be a great author, but I do enjoy writing.

RUN is my favorite, with WORLD close behind. (That seems to be the norm.)

I think it was brave of Nolan to...

Spoiler Alert


kill off L & J's firstborn child in WORLD --


End of Spoiler

I didn't see that coming, and it took the story to another level, emotionally, for the two principals.

Hi !
In France, we have just two books of Mr. Nolan who was translated : Logan's run and Logan's World, and we are desesperate to see one day the others books and novels on Logan translate in our country.
Actually I read Logan's Return in English, it's very difficult for me (I don't have a high level in English Language !).
But my favorite book is Logan's Run, because it's really exciting, refreshing and Francis is really a very very great Character !!!
I was never understood why in the movie (and after in tv serie) they was made of the Character of Francis a simple foil (I don't know the word exactly : stooge ?) to Logan !!!
It's very damage...
Brief, it's a really very best book and with a good writing...
Do we know what is the exactly the influence and writing of George Clayton Johson on the first book ?

Chere Alexis,

Comme je le comprend, c'etait Nolan qui avait l'idee pour LOGAN'S RUN. Puis, il l'a decrit a son ami, Johnson, qui s'y interessait aussi. Nolan et Johnson l'ont ecrit ensemble, dans la meme chambre. . .et apres ils ont fini le livre, Nolan l'a revise. Alors, le roman est 2/3 Nolan et 1/3 Johnson, je crois.

Mes apologies pour mon francais faible!

Cher Paul,
merci pour votre réponse et votre français très bon ! L'anglais est pour moi aussi difficile que le français pour vous et moi aussi mon anglais est faible !
A big thanks for your answer in french language !!!
Alexis.

And how about a nice translation for the rest of us uncultured swines!!