Happy June, readers!

This won’t be a long update, but I have some serious gratitude I need to express.

Before I get to that, however, I wanted to get personal for just a moment.

To say that the world is currently going through a dark time is an understatement. People are angry, scared, and rightfully focused on more important things than monster movies. Social media has, almost overnight, transformed into ground zero for a massive movement that is changing the way the people of this country make their voices heard.

So when, in the middle of all this, the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT’s Facebook page hit 500 followers and its Twitter account crossed a remarkable 2,000 followers, I wasn’t quite sure how to react. Despite how unbelievably grateful I felt and desperately wanting to share that feeling with all of you, celebrating this milestone suddenly felt rather trivial. There were much more important things going on than some Godzilla nerd getting all gushy about hitting a certain number of social media followers. It suddenly felt too self-congratulatory, and therefore unimportant in the present circumstances.

But in the end, the truth is that making a public “thank you” isn’t about me at all. It’s not about patting myself on the back in any way, and it never has been. At the risk of sounding cheesier than a Godzilla tail-slide, it’s about every one of those 2,000 Twitter and 500 Facebook followers, and their support – your support – being an incredible bright light for me during these uncertain times. It’s about the impact you all have had on my life, and the positivity you’ve inspired in me.

And that is most definitely not trivial.

And so, from the bottom of my heart, I send my deepest thanks to every one of you reading these words. 2,000 and 500, no matter the overlap between the two, are HUGE numbers, and more than I ever could’ve dreamed of when I launched this project. The fact that each of those numbers is a person simply blows my mind, and it’s something I’ll never take for granted. Your continued support, patience, and belief in me continues to leave me amazed and humbled, and it means more to me than I could ever effectively articulate.

Things may seem dark right now, but if I may be permitted some cheesy optimism, it’s always darkest before the dawn. To that end, I wish all of you health, safety, and happiness.

There, was that gushy enough for ya?

Thank you all again, and I’ll see you in the next update!

(Incidentally, if you haven’t followed the GNP’s Twitter and Facebook pages and are inclined to do so, I’d love to see you there! Both are great places to find updates, random silliness, funny pictures, and good conversation. Check out Twitter here, and Facebook here!)

Happy almost-summer, readers!

Spring 2020 has certainly been… shall we say, a doozy. Through it all, I hope that all of you have remained safe, healthy, and most importantly, happy. I know I have.

I’ve also been busy. Being stuck at home does have its advantages, and through the current unpleasantness I have been writing, re-writing, researching, and even doing a little recording! There are a LOT of exciting things happening behind the scenes here at GNP HQ, and the time for revealing it all is getting close!

Today’s update deals with the long-overdue resurrection of a part of the site that has seen little activity as of late: the behind-the-scenes “Monster Musings” blog. I figured it was time to provide a little peek behind the curtain and analyze the creative process behind the development of one of the project’s more challenging adaptations… that oh-so-strange 1971 anti-pollution masterwork, Godzilla vs. Hedorah.

I won’t say too much here (that’s what the blog is for, after all!), but I will say that putting my thoughts and ideas regarding the writing of this particular novelization down into words was incredibly fun. I had a blast writing this blog, which delves into such topics as deciphering trippy imagery, finding meaning in seemingly-random symbolism, and honoring the vision of the late, great Yoshimitsu Banno, without whom Hedorah would never have existed. At the end of the day, honoring the visionaries who created these films is what the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT is all about, and Banno-san was nothing if not a man with a unique vision. This blog is a celebration of that vision, and an exploration of what it means to translate it into the written word.

If you’re a fan of this movie, I hope you’ll get some enjoyment out of this blog. I also hope you’ll continue to join me in my quest to novelize this very strange – and very special – Godzilla film.

Follow this link to begin reading. See you all in the next update, and watch out for those fish heads; you never know where they’ll turn up!

 

Greetings, readers!

Today marks the 56th Anniversary of one of Godzilla’s finest cinematic moments: 1964’s Mothra vs. Godzilla. I’ve talked before about how much this film means to me and how wonderful it is, so I’ll spare you the repetition. I’ve also talked about the awesomeness of the film’s leading man: the legendary Akira Takarada, who shares a birthday with the film he helped make so memorable.

Needless to say, this duo of true class acts need no introduction. So join me in bidding both film and actor a heartfelt HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

To celebrate, the long-awaited second chapter of the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT’s ongoing adaptation of the film has been published! This chapter took a LONG time to finally get right, and part of that came down to the format this book will be taking. As previously discussed, multiple chapters in the book will be separated by newspaper articles penned by Takarada-san’s character, reporter Ichiro Sakai. The exact placement of these “artifacts” from the story’s universe took a while to lock down, but once I figured out the best places to put these articles, the outline of the whole book fell into place. Whew!

That being said, the next chapter of the novelization will begin with another of these articles. In fact, it will be the one we actually see on screen following the egg’s recovery at sea! In classic monster-movie fashion, a newspaper appears on screen, loudly proclaiming that a mysterious egg has washed ashore. For those who’ve always wondered how that article read (c’mon, I know there are at least a few of you out there!), the next chapter of the GNP’s Mothra vs. Godzilla novelization should be a fun read!

But until then, check out the latest chapter by following this link.

(And if you’re new to the GNP and/or haven’t read the previous chapters, head to the book’s table of contents and start from the beginning!)

That said, it’s time for me to get back to work! There are a LOT of things happening behind the scenes here at GNP HQ, and I can’t wait to announce them all! Until then, stay safe, stay well, and stay happy.

Oh, and eat plenty of hard-boiled eggs. It’s what Jiro would want!

Hello, and Happy March 32nd to all of you!

I think it’s safe to say that April Fools Day couldn’t have come at a better time. The world is currently trudging its way through a frightening pandemic that has affected our daily lives and reminded us that, once in a blue moon, truth is more tragic than fiction. It’s been a strange and stressful time for all of us, and if ever there was a time when we could all use a good laugh, it’s right now.

To that end, I set out to make this April Fools Day a special one. Last year’s prank was a classic fake-out gag that tricked and confused a few readers, and it was a fun little thing to do. But it wasn’t my first choice. My initial idea was to actually write a full story and give people a good laugh. When I ended up not having the time to write that story, I went with a simpler prank. This year, I was determined to see that original idea through to completion, and hey… I did!

And it couldn’t have been a better time. All across the internet, Godzilla fans are joining forces to entertain their fellow G-lovers with art, podcasts, live streams, and good conversation. It’s been inspiring and truly heart-warming to see, and I hope I can be a small part of spreading such positivity through my own creative endeavors.

To that end, I’m happy to present an all-new – and VERY silly – short story that’s been a long time in the making. It adapts an original scenario that’s been stuck in my head for years, a scenario involving bad guys, time travel, and a certain beloved – if charmingly convoluted – entry in the Godzilla franchise. I think that’s all you need to know before giving it a read!

I hope you enjoy this goofy little tale, and that it brightens your day and gives you a laugh or two.

Give it a read here.

Stay safe, stay happy, and thanks to you all for your continuing support. Stay tuned for more fun stuff and big announcements coming soon!

Happy Friday the 13^th, readers! Hopefully your day has been a lucky one!

The first part of this update is a tad overdue, and you’ll understand why in a minute! Better late than never, I say. In keeping with my goal to maintain weekly updates to the site (even if they’re little updates), I figured this was a good a Friday as any to discuss a recent(ish) change to the site’s novel/short story pages that you may have noticed…

A few months ago, while trying to figure out ways to make the GNP site more visually appealing, I decided that it was high time for each story to have a unique image to go along with it. After all, every book has its cover, right? After uploading a few test images, I decided that every major page needed its own header image that represented what you’d be reading. It’s pretty self-explanatory, and something I really should have done a long time ago. I file this under the “First-Time Web Designer” heading, which is (not shockingly) a pretty thick file at this point. I’m definitely still learning as I go along, and I’m always open to suggestions for better visual/performance improvements to the site going forward!

That said, here are a few of the images that now appear at the tops of each novel/timeline/short story page:

Cool, no?

I’ve been having fun creating these little “covers” for the stories and timelines, and I hope they’ve been appreciated! That said, there’s still a lot I’d like to do visually with the site in the future, including FINALLY getting rid of those annoying ads that pop up in the middle of the text (one of the side effects of having a free WordPress account) and maybe even teaming up with artists in the kaiju community to create better images for the site! More on those updates as they continue to develop.

That said, I do have one more special announcement. The GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT welcomes the one and only Jimmy From NASA to its growing family of Patreon supporters! (Jimmy, if you didn’t know, is the mysterious – and potentially non-corporeal – producer of The Monster Island Film Vault podcast, hosted by friend (and fellow Patreon supporter!) Nate Marchand.) Jimmy backed at the popular $10 level, which means his name will be worked into the story of a GNP adaptation! His movie of choice was Monster Zero (not shocking if you know Jimmy!), which is still on my list of books to start in the future. But when I do, look for Jimmy’s name!

If having your name immortalized in your favorite Godzilla story sounds like a cool investment, head over to the GNP’s Patreon page and join Jimmy (and other awesome $10 backers like Nate Marchand, Allison Fey, and Kyohei Toshi) in supporting the project! A monthly donation of as little as $1 gets you recognition in the site, and my eternal gratitude. Support of any amount is humbling to me beyond words, and to anyone who would consider helping me to continue making this project a reality, I truly thank you.

(And remember, the more support I have, the more physical goodies I can offer supporters! When the project starts earning $50 a month, I start rolling out tee shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, keychains, or anything (within reason, of course!) that you might be interested in!)

Well, I think that’s enough shameless promotion for one day. Asking for support is always uncomfortable for me, but realistically speaking, it’s the only way this project will ever be completed in a timely and high-quality fashion. That said, the amount of support I get from readers, monetary or otherwise, continues to both blow me away and warm my heart. I hope that I can continue to be worthy of your praise and your readership.

Thanks for reading through this update, and for being such awesome fans. I’ll catch you in the next update! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to the theater to see Godzilla vs. Ko-

Oh.

Well… that’s disappointing.

Happy March, readers!

One of the many wonderful things that has happened as a result of starting the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT has been connecting and collaborating with other “kaiju creators” on various projects. Since launching the GNP, I’ve had the opportunity to guest-host on two different podcasts, where I’ve waxed philosophic about anything and everything giant monster, and talked about a few of my favorite films in the genre. Long-time readers may have heard me co-hosting a few episodes of the excellent Kaijuvision Radio with Brian Scherschel, wherein we dove deep into various aspects of films like The Three Treasures, Battle in Outer Space, The Last War, and more!

Well, if (by chance) you enjoy listening to me ramble about kaiju flicks, I have good news! I recently joined friend and fellow kaiju geek Nathan Marchand on his new podcast, The Monster Island Film Vault, for an EPIC discussion about one of my favorite films of all time: Peter Jackson’s masterful 2005 version of King Kong. It’s a movie that’s very near and dear to my heart, and having the opportunity to talk about it on “the air” was truly a blast. Nate and I discuss everything from the film’s respect of the original and its incredible special effects, to its depiction of 1933-era New York and the history of Vaudeville!

If you’re so inclined to give it a listen, you can check out the episode on the MIFV website or on YouTube, or download it from your favorite podcatcher.

And after you finish listening to the Kong ’05 episode, be sure to check out more of The Monster Island Film Vault! Nate (and, of course, his enigmatic cohost Jimmy from NASA) puts on a fantastic show, and his first season (currently at 12 episodes) is largely focusing on a “Kong-Quest” series of discussions about the 8^th Wonder’s filmography. As of this writing, Kong: Skull Island is next!

Happy listening, and stay tuned for more GNP updates coming soon!

WOW. Today, the 22^nd of February, marks the 2^nd Anniversary of the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT. We’re growing up so fast, aren’t we? Why, this time last year the project barely came up to my knee, and now it’s somewhere at roughly hip level. Where did all the time go…

All joking aside, it’s hard to believe that I’ve been at this for two years now. In some ways it feels like this project has been a part of my life for much longer than a mere 24 months, and in some ways it feels as though I’ve only just begun. I suppose there’s truth in both statements; the idea for the GNP has indeed been in my head since my teenage years, and I think it’s completely appropriate to say that this project is only getting started as we continue forward.

And make no mistake, readers… the key word here is most certainly “we”, as in both you and I. Reader and writer. Supporter and creator. After all, what are words if there’s no one there to read them?

I’ve talked about this before, but two years ago today, when I decided to launch this project and share my passion with the Godzilla fan base, I was a bit nervous. Not about the writing process, research, or the ridiculously time-consuming commitment I was about to make (believe it or not, those things outright excited me!), but mostly about how such an undertaking would be received by potential readers. Would fans enjoy what I was writing, get excited about future updates, cheer me on as I worked, or find it in their hearts to support the endeavor?

Well, looking back at two years of pouring my heart, soul, and creative juices into this project, I’m overjoyed (and just the SLIGHTEST bit relieved) that the answer to all of these questions has been a resounding and enthusiastic YES! To this day, I’m still in awe at how quickly Godzilla lovers far and wide jumped aboard the GNP bandwagon, humbling and inspiring me in the process. Fans have engaged with me on social media (especially Twitter, which has grown into a community of nearly 2,000 followers as of this writing!), providing feedback and suggestions for ongoing and future books while also taking the time to shoot the breeze with me on all things “kaiju”. I’ve been afforded the opportunity to appear on podcasts, write articles for magazines, and find a voice within the Godzilla community that I never thought was possible. I’ve received encouragement from some amazing sources, not the least of which is my growing group of AMAZING Patreon supporters who have seen fit to sacrifice their heard-earned money to help me realize this lifelong dream.

Whether you have been with the project since the beginning or are only just discovering it, whether you are a casual reader or an enthusiastic supporter, I’d like to take this moment to sincerely – and from the bottom of my heart – thank you. The many words of encouragement I’ve received, recommendations and positive reviews I’ve read, and opportunities to be a voice in the fandom I’ve been given through this project are truly, truly humbling, and I’ll never know just how to fully express my gratitude to each and every one of you who has joined me on this journey. There’s still a LONG road ahead for this project, but with the passion and support of wonderful readers like you by my side, it’s a road I very much look forward to continuing down.

………………………………………………

That said, it’s time to move past the mushy stuff for a brief moment to bring you another installment of the GNP’s patented (and long winded) STATUS REPORT!

It’s been a while since the last time I rounded up all the progress that’s been made on the site’s various projects, and I think it’s high time I provided a peek into how each novel, short story, timeline, blog, and other various sundry creative endeavors are developing. Also highlighted will be some aesthetic upgrades and other goodies. This might be a lengthy read, but feel free to skim the list below and check out the projects you’re most interested in!

So, without further ado, let’s get cracking:

 

THE NOVELS

 

GODZILLA: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

This is a novel I get asked about quite frequently, and it’s not heard to see why. This is, after all, the original classic that started it all, and perhaps the most universally beloved of all the films. It’s also the first Godzilla novelization I started on the site, and the wait for Chapter 3 has been a long one. If you’ve read the already posted chapters and are familiar with the order of events in the film, then you know the next chapter will bring the action first to the panicked headquarters of the Nankai Steamship Company, and then to the Pacific to witness the sinking of the Bingo-Maru. I’ve continued to experiment with various perspectives these scenes could take in the prose since the last status report, and have spent several months continuing the process of writing and rewriting the various moments in order to best capture the emotions seen in the film. That said, I’m still not 100% on board with what I’ve tried so far, so it’s going to take a bit longer to iron out the rest of the kinks to create a chapter I’m proud of. The film deserves the best I can give it, and I hope to have Godzilla: Chapter 3 ready to read soon!

 

KING KONG VS. GODZILLA: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

As I said in the last status report, the adaptation of this film (which is based on the legendary original Japanese cut of the film) has been a unique and exciting opportunity for the GNP. To be able to present Honda and Sekizawa’s original, hilariously satirical vision to western readers is truly an honor, and it’s something I’m definitely taking my time on.

That said, this adaptation has been far more research-heavy than I initially anticipated, and Chapter 1 is still the only chapter that has been completed and posted thus far. My continuing research into the period (specifically the Japanese “Economic Miracle” and its effects on television, advertising, and big business) has prevented me from converting my outlines into further chapters. However, progress on Chapter 2 is definitely being made (especially since it will deal almost entirely with the crew of the Seahawk submarine, and will be pretty much devoid of political/social commentary). I’ll estimate a publication date of March for this one!

 

MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

As I mentioned last time, this is another novelization that requires a surprising amount of research. How did politics on a local level work in 1964? What does the Kurata Beach disaster communicate in regard to the modernization, industrialization, and urban expansion of Japan during such a prosperous decade? How big a role did the press play at the time, and just what was the price of a chicken egg back then? Lots to discover, and lots to learn!

All that said, the next chapter has been outlined (along with more “in universe” newspaper articles penned by Akira Takarada’s character, Ichiro Sakai), and the writing process has been going on for quite some time. It shouldn’t be too much longer before that giant egg washes ashore…

 

ALL MONSTERS ATTACK: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

Progress on this one has been surprisingly quick! The next chapter is currently shaping up quite nicely, and this particular novel has quite a bit already outlined. More should be coming soon from this adaptation, and I’ll even go as far as to dub this one a solid contender in the “Finish This Year” Challenge! More on that in a future update…

 

GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

As mentioned a few months ago, the process of writing this truly INSANE film as a book has been one of the most enjoyable creative experiences of my life. This is evident in the fact that Hedorah is, as of this writing, the longest novel on the site, currently sitting at five chapters (including the prologue)! The chance to take a film so infamous for is visuals and translate it into the written word is a thrill, and often times a serious challenge.

Hedorah’s super psychedelic Chapter 5 has been on the back burner for a while, but with so much progress already done on this book, this might just be another possibility for finishing before the end of the year! Might…

 

GODZILLA VS. GIGAN: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

Talk about a fun novelization to write! I’ve always loved the characters in this film, and having the opportunity to explore them deeper is a true thrill. The latest chapter was a big hit with readers, and the next one should be coming soon!

 

GODZILLA VS. MEGALON: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

This is another book I’ve hit a few roadblocks on. As I detailed in my last status report, one of Megalon’s biggest issues as a film is its cardboard cutout characters. Therefore, as I refuse to write for cardboard cutouts, it falls to me to provide them with the character they are lacking. It all boils down to this: I’ve committed to thinking harder and longer about Godzilla vs. Megalon than perhaps a human brain ought to.

And – perhaps predictably – I’m enjoying it immensely.

I’m not sure when to expect the next chapter for this one, but I’m shooting for publication sometime in March, perhaps to coincide with its anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day. Wish me luck!

 

GODZILLA VS. MECHAGODZILLA: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

Unfortunately, the status on this book remains the same as the last time progress was shared a few months ago. Much like Mothra vs. Godzilla, a surprising amount of research is required to make this novel authentic. Specifically, knowledge of the history of Okinawa, it’s past and then (1974) current relationship to Japan, and its unique religious background are all necessary in presenting an accurate portrayal of the setting of the story.

The good news is that research into these topics is going well, if slowly. Once I have acquired the necessary knowledge to accurately portray the setting of the film, then work on the next chapter will resume. Hopefully it doesn’t take too much longer!

 

GODZILLA VS. SPACEGODZILLA: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

This is the most recent novel started on the site, and as of this writing, it is planned to be the last for some time. As mentioned elsewhere, the focus of the project is now squarely on crafting new chapters for already started books. The entire idea behind having multiple adaptations being worked on at the same time was to give the site some variety during its early days. Well, after two years, I felt that the variety I was looking for was finally in place.

That said, the adaptation of Spacegodzilla has been wonderful to work on, as it’s always been a personal favorite film of mine in the franchise, as well as a film that I feel is far better than its reputation. Chapter 2 is making progress, and I’m hoping to have it ready to publish before this year’s G-FEST.

 

GMK: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

Without getting too much into the story here, this is a particularly special adaptation for the GNP. This book was a special request from a wonderful Godzilla fan named Josh, a young man whose bravery in the face of life-altering health issues continues to humble me. Nearly a year after #GodzillaforJosh started trending on social media, I couldn’t be more thrilled that Josh is thriving and remains both loved and supported by Godzilla fans far and wide.

First and foremost, this book is for him. The next chapter should be coming in the next few months, and I can’t wait for both Josh and all of you to read it.

 

GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA: THE UNOFFICIAL NOVELIZATION

As mentioned elsewhere, this story is a unique one for the project as it is being told from MULTIPLE perspectives, including jumping between first-person accounts of the film’s events (such as the Prologue taking Akane’s perspective) and traditional third-person chapters. The final result should make for an interesting (and hopefully coherent) read that continues to be an exciting challenge to write! The next chapter is being written as we speak, and will assume a new perspective as the events following Godzilla’s initial nighttime attack are seen through the eyes of the government, specifically Kumi Mizuno and Akira Nakao’s characters. Expect it soon!

 

AND YET ANOTHER?

If you read my last status report, then you’ll remember that there was a mystery project gathering dust on my laptop’s hard drive. Well, funny story… that particular project (the prologue to Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla) has finally been published, and has been replaced with ANOTHER mystery project! Which story could it be adapting? You’ll have to wait to find out…

Ain’t I a stinker?

 

THE SHORT STORIES

 

CASEFILE: “MATANGO”

This one – no pun intended – has been an interesting case. The story – told as an “in-universe” testimony delivered by the film’s sole survivor upon his rescue – currently consists of five parts, plus an introduction. After dedicating a lot of time to writing what I estimate to be half the story (meaning that you can expect it to clock in at ten parts once it’s done), extenuating circumstances in my life caused me to stop for a while, and when work on the GNP resumed, I began working on another adaptation instead. Rest assured, however, that Part 6 has been fully outlined, and half written, so the story should be continuing soon…

 

THE TIMELINES

Ever since launching the Timeline section of the site, I have been absolutely blown away by the amount of attention it has gotten. Even on days when the novelizations receive little web traffic, all of the timelines get an often shocking number of views. It’s been humbling to see that all the hard work that goes into researching, cataloguing, and writing the (sometimes obscure) facts in these timelines is being appreciated and enjoyed by fans!

Work on the timelines has slowed in recent months due to focus on other projects, but work is still being done behind the scenes on research for future updates. Look for events from several drafts of the shooting script for the 1998 film (which has led to some interesting discoveries!), several publications released to promote the film, both the adult and junior novelizations, episodes of the animated series, two Godzilla: The Series comics, and even the GameBoy game coming to the Sony Timeline very soon!

The Anime Timeline continues to be one of the site’s most popular pages, even with a year having elapsed since the release of the final film in the trilogy. Expect additions pertaining to the events of Planet of the Monsters to be published to the timeline soon!

Work on the Monsterverse Timeline is an ever-evolving process, especially with the bevy of new lore that has come out in the wake of 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Info on the events of Kong: Skull Island is due to hit the timeline in the coming weeks!

 

THE “MONSTER MUSINGS” BLOG

This is another part of the site that has slowed down considerably. While I’m proud of the material published already, I really want the idea of behind-the-scenes blogs (and general pontifications on all things kaiju) to be a bigger part of not just the GNP, but of my overall writing contributions to the Godzilla fandom.

That said, I’m considering a radical shift in direction for the Monster Musings. It’s an exciting possibility, and I’ll be sure to share more with you as it develops…

 

EVERYTHING ELSE

As always, there’s a LOT more going on behind the scenes of the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT than it might seem! There are a ton of chapters that have been outlined, and a number of concepts that have been documented for future use. Research on various aspects of the series continues on a daily basis, and new opportunities for collaboration and promotion are manifesting for the project! It’s an exciting time, and if the amount of growth I’ve seen over the last two years continues, well… year three of the GNP is going to be a wonderful one.

In terms of the updates you can see, it’s worth noting a couple of big changes/additions that I think have made the site a lot more appealing for readers! First up are the images that now appear at the tops of each novel/timeline/short story page. In an effort to give the site a bit more visual variety, I decided that each project needed an image to go along with it. After all, every book has its cover, right? From now on, every chapter/part of the GNP’s various projects will have a picture that accompanies it. It’s been a fun side project to tackle, and I hope it’s been appreciated!

Next up are the introductions I’ve recently been adding to the completed short stories. It has been my plan for a long time to include intros to each novel and story told on this site, but I made the decision upon launching the project that such intros should only be written and published when the story they are introducing was completed. In lieu of currently having completed novels to write intros for (although hopefully that’ll change soon!), I have instead begun writing them for the site’s finished short stories. Since the last status report, two new such stories have been both started and finished (those being The Cosmos Apocrypha and Sora no Daikaiju), both of which now have introductions that discuss the writing process behind them, as well as why the films they are adapting were selected. I’ve had a blast writing them, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them!

Now on to the subject of possible GNP merch (something I get asked about more often than I honestly thought I would!). As mentioned before, I’ve been approached by several parties that are interested in producing items for the project, which is definitely exciting! I’ve even crafted prototype images of a few of these items, which only Patreon supporters have seen thus far. If things like GNP shirts/apparel, buttons/pins, stickers, coffee mugs, or other goodies interest you, please let me know, and seeking avenues to get that stuff produced will become a priority! (But remember, making this stuff isn’t cheap, and most of my GNP budget goes to research materials. There is currently a goal on my Patreon page that states that, if the project starts making $50 a month from supporters, the production of merch can officially begin! If this is something you want to see happen, donating even a dollar a month on Patreon REALLY helps! The more backers I get, the better merch I can offer!)

………………………………………………

Well, that should just about do it! This was a long read, so congratulations if you made it this far down the preceding wall of text! I feel it’s important to keep you guys in the loop, so hopefully these status reports are appreciated.

That said, I’d like to end this 2^nd Anniversary post by, once again, thanking you all for your support, your encouragement, and your faith. Being able to pursue this dream is an incredible gift, and doing it without readers would be a difficult challenge, to say the least. It has been one heck of an amazing couple of years, but I assure you, we are just getting started. There will be much more to read (and write!), more camaraderie to be enjoyed, and (hopefully!) more fun to be had. I hope you’ll all continue to come along for the ride.

Thanks to you all! Let Year 3 begin!

Howdy, readers!

Well, its somehow February already. Not sure how that happened, but I figured it was high time to finish a story I began way back in October…

In keeping with the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT’s tradition of publishing new spooky content each Halloween, I took the opportunity afforded to me by the season to start a creepy new short story for the project. Much in the way that 2018’s Casefile: MATANGO branched off from the Godzilla series to tell a slightly different kind of story, last Halloween saw your humble author begin an adaptation of one of the greatest non-Godzilla kaiju films of all time: the original 1956 Rodan. The story was called Sora no Daikaiju, and retold the tale through writings left behind by the character of Shigeru Kawamura, played so memorably by Kenji Sahara in the film. By telling the story through his point of view (and including a few choice bits of narration dialogue from the US cut of the film, as I did in The Steve Martin Report), I felt that I could really get into Shigeru’s headspace and put into words the terror he felt throughout the film.

If the wonderful response from readers to the first half of the story was any indication, it seems I succeeded!

I’m happy to announce that the second half of the story is now complete, and ready for all readers to… well, read! This story was a joy to write, and I hope that I’ve been able to do the original film justice through this retelling.

So, without further ado, the GNP proudly presents Part 2 of Sora no Daikaiju!

(And if you haven’t checked out Part 1 yet, you can read it here!)

I’ll be back super soon to share a couple more updates with you, and discuss a few new pieces of content that you may have noticed appearing on certain pages of the site. Exciting stuff in coming soon, and I hope you’ll stick around for this long and wonderful ride!

Until next time, have a great weekend, and happy reading!

Salutations, dear readers! Happy New Year, and welcome to 2020! We’re a few hours into the new decade, and so far, so good!

While I’m planning a more in-depth status report for the GNP that’ll hit the site in late February (the 2^nd Anniversary of the project!), I wanted to take a brief(ish) moment to reflect on this last year, and to take stock of just what was accomplished in 2019. And it was quite a lot! New books started, new chapters published, new timelines launched, a few cosmetic upgrades, G-FEST panels and podcast appearances… it was a heck of a year! And, with hindsight being… 2020… there’s plenty to look back on with happiness.

And no, I will not be apologizing for that joke.

Anyway, let’s get started!

Since the beginning of 2019, the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT has:

• Published 18 updates, covering everything from newly published material to personal appearances and more!
• Begun three new Godzilla novelizations, including Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, GMK, and Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla.
• Published additional chapters to multiple novels, including All Monsters Attack, Godzilla vs. Gigan, and more!
• Created two new short stories (The Cosmos Apocrypha and Sora no Daikaiju), as well as adding new chapters to 2018’s Casefile: Matango.
• Revealed the successful MonsterVerse Timeline, as well as updating the Anime and Sony Timelines with new information.
• Helped make a difference in the life of an incredible Godzilla fan named Josh, to whom the project’s novelization of GMK is dedicated.
• Tricked a couple of readers with an April Fools Day prank!
• Unleashed three new BTS blogs for both general readers and Patreon backers.
• Co-hosted a successful panel at G-FEST XXVI.
• Executive produced a concert of kaiju music in Chicago.
• Gained additional Patreon supporters, most at the (currently) highest tier!
• Crossed over 1700 Twitter, and 300 Facebook, followers!
• Launched an Affiliate Marketing partnership with Amazon!
• Created unique artwork for each novelization, short story, and timeline, with more well on the way.
• Begun prototyping future GNP merch, including tee shirts, coffee mugs, keychains and more!

Whew! See? That was a lot!

And folks, all of that – plus the previous year’s work – is just the beginning.

2020 is going to be a big year for the project, and for other monster-related endeavors I’ll be embarking on during the coming year. Those will be announced at a later time (and I cannot wait to discuss my plans with all of you!), but in regard to the GNP, it’s my personal goal to have (at least) ONE full GNP book in the can by the end of the year. How’s that for a New Year’s Resolution? It’ll be a tall order (especially with a number of changes in my personal life barreling toward me), but with your encouragement and support, I think it’s entirely possible. Besides, for all your patience (and aforementioned support), you deserve it!

So yeah, this next year is set to be a fun one. Busy, but fun! I cannot wait to continue on this journey, and I hope you’ll continue to join me as we enter the new year.

Happy 2020 to you all, and I’ll see you soon in the next update!

Happy December, readers! Hard to believe we’re already closing in on the end of 2019, and getting close to the second anniversary of the GNP! We really are growing up fast…

Anyway, I’m here to talk about a FAR more important anniversary than mine, and, as I often tend to do in these updates, to tell a story that makes the subject of today’s addition to the site particularly special…

25 years ago today, Toho released their 21st Godzilla film, and the film that itself signified the 40th Anniversary of the franchise: Kensho Yamashita’s Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla.  It was a tale of psychics and space travel, of mechas and monsters, of cute baby Godzillas and even a bit of romance.  Despite the reputation the film has (some might argue unfairly) developed over the years, this entry in the Godzilla series has always been one of my favorites.  I am fully aware that by saying this I have delegitimized myself to a certain sect of the fandom, and should be expecting an angry mob to descend on my home with torches and pitchforks.  But you know what?  I simply don’t care.  Bring it on, I say!  I fully intend to die on this hill, proudly waving a banner that says, “SPACEGODZILLA IS UNDERRATED!”

Whew, glad I got that off my chest.

Anyway, back to business.  I mention all this for two reasons, and upon the first of those reasons hangs a tale…

As I talk about briefly in my introduction to the GNP, the idea that would eventually become this project first started back when I was in high school.  I was 17, and got it into my head that adapting the Godzilla series to the written word would be a fun project to tackle, and in my excitement I produced at least two fully written prologues to potential novelizations.  One of those prologues was for Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla, and it was the one I thought turned out the best.  It was a brief retelling of the film’s opening moments: a series of bright lights shoot through space, followed by the imposing form of a monster.  The lights crash to earth, explosions ensue, Godzilla roars… it all rolled out of my mind and onto the spare notebook paper I kept in my homework binder.  Ah, youth.

Needless to say, a follow-up chapter never materialized.  The pressures and stresses of being a teenager ultimately took precedence, and your humble author shelved the project, secretly hoping the day would come when I could dust it off.

That was ten years ago.  How time flies.

But obviously the project did get dusted off.  Over the last two years, it has evolved beyond anything I ever could have dreamed of in high school.  And in that time, that prologue for Spacegodzilla remained in the back of my mind, waiting to become an official part of the GNP…

Which brings me to the second reason I’m telling you all this: that prologue has been sitting on my computer – fully polished, re-written from its previous “written by a teenager” form, and ready to publish – for over a year!

So why did I wait?

Because releasing it on the 25th Anniversary of the film seemed like the perfect way to celebrate a film I love, regardless of how many gatekeepers attempt to insult or dismiss me.

So, without further ado, the GODZILLA NOVELIZATION PROJECT proudly presents the beginning of Godzilla vs. Spacegodzilla: The Unofficial Novelization.

Read it here, and stay tuned for more soon!

Catch ya next time!