Was a book the inspiration for the film Highlander?

[Riselka]

I don't see any mention of a book, or series of books, being the inspiration for the storyline of the film "Highlander" on the IMDb webpage for it, but I'm wondering if there was, in fact, some literary work that formed the basis for it?

And regardless of whether there was, or wasn't, a book, or series of books that inspired the film, is there a book, or series of books, that carry along on a similar vein - thematically - as the film? (ie. The idea that random humans are born with the potential to be resurrected as immortals after they've died, and the "There can be only one" theme.)

 

[Dave]

I don't think so, but the idea of Immortals living among us is not new.

The are Chinese legends of eight Immortals, and Greek and Roman legends taken from earlier Persian stories.

Nicolas Flamel, a French 15th-century alchemist who legend claims successfully created the Philosopher’s Stone, a mythical elixir that turns lead into gold and grants eternal life.

Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah. According to the Old Testement, Methuselah became a father at the age of 187, lived to be 969 and died the day the Great Flood appeared.

There are modern stories of Immortals - Peter Pan, Dracula, Lazarus Long (The Future History series) by Robert A. Heinlein, the Immortal Flint in 'Star Trek', 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde.

 

[Riselka]

Thanks for the info. Is it possible to get ahold of English language versions of the Chinese legends? They sound like they'd be an interesting read.

By Greek and Roman legends, I'm assuming you mean the stories from Greek and Roman mythology about their Gods - is this correct?

I was kind of hoping there would be a book, or books, that the films and tv series were based on. I think it would make an interesting Fantasy read to have a story where some kind of apocolyptic "battle to the last one alive" between immortals occurs at the "end of all things", where the future of mankind hangs in the balance, dependent on who the victor is.

 

[Dave]

Just Google "Immortals" or look-up "Eight Immortals" on Wikipedia for more info. Yes, I did meant Roman, Greek and Trojan Heroes and Gods. Sorry, I can't answer your question regarding a book, never heard of one. The screenplay was written by Gregory Widen if that helps, and no one else is credited.

You might be interested in Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné and his other Eternal Champion fantasies. While not immortal themselves, your description of the stories you were looking for just struck me as being in that vein. Again, just Google "Elric" or look-up "Eternal Champion" on Wikipedia for more info.

 

[j d worthington]

There's also Zelazny's This Immortal, (also titled "... And Call Me Conrad") which won a Nebula, as I recall.

 

[Nesacat]

Riselka ... I have three books about the Eight Immortals. I bought them several years ago so I don't know about current availability.

The titles are:
Tales of the Taoist Immortals by Eva Wong;
The Eight Immortals of Taoism: Legends and Fables of Popular Taoism by Kwok Man-ho translated by Joanne O'Brien
Lao Tzu and the Eight Immortals of China by Louise V Jaques

 

[littlemissattitude]

I don't think so, but the idea of Immortals living among us is not new.
...

Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah. According to the Old Testement, Methuselah became a father at the age of 187, lived to be 969 and died the day the Great Flood appeared.

There's also the tradition that Cain was condemned to wander the earth forever after he killed Abel.

And, in Mormon tradition, there are the three Nehpites, who were said to have been granted the privilege of living on the earth until the Second Coming, if I recall the story correctly.

So, yeah, it's a pretty common theme.

 

[j d worthington]

Yes, the story of Cain was the basis for Karl Edward Wagner's series about Kane, the mystic swordsman, who brought murder into his world and was condemned by a god to immortality. They're quite interesting books, as Kane is definitely not your typical hero ... a very dark, grim character who yet has a strong dash of the dreamer and romantic in him at times; he can be cold and vicious or self-sacrificing on a whim....

 

[iansales]

I always understood Highlander to be partly based on George Turner's Vaneglory.

 

[Riselka]

Thanks you guys, you've given me several things to look into. Vaneglory sounds interesting, but I'm not holding out all that much hope of finding it or the other books in the series.

I'll definately look into the availability of those books, Nesacat, they sound as if they'd be quite fascinating.

I always liked the Immortal theme in the Highlander movies and series. The first film was definately the best of the lot, the second a bit ridiculous. The one thing that bothered me about them was the lack of continuity between them. I just wish they'd come up with a plausible explanation of how and why the immortals were here and stuck with it.

j.d. worthington - Zelazny is the author who's comments appear on the covers of this Omaran Saga, by Adrian Cole that I've made an enquiry about on another thread here. I've never read any of Zelazny's work, what's it like?

 

[j d worthington]

j.d. worthington - Zelazny is the author who's comments appear on the covers of this Omaran Saga, by Adrian Cole that I've made an enquiry about on another thread here. I've never read any of Zelazny's work, what's it like?

Oooof! Summing up Zelazny.... I'll try to do so: He was one of the writers that came out of the more literary sf movement of the 1960s; he wrote the classic "A Rose for Ecclesiastes", Jack of Shadows, "The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth", Lord of Light, and the Amber Chronicles, among others. Versatile, doing both straight sf and fantasy, but always with an odd blending of the adventure tale and the High Literature aspects to them. He's not to everyone's taste, because of that odd mixture, but -- if you can adjust to the sometimes quirky prose rhythms (I, personally, didn't care for "... And Call Me Conrad" the first time around, and was very taken with it on a reread) -- I'd highly recommend him.

Oh, and I was wrong: "... And Call Me Conrad" tied with Dune for the 1966 Hugo award....

 

[Riselka]

Thanks jdw, I'll have to give his stuff a look. I rather like books that are a bit of a blend of genres.

 

[Cloud]

As far as I know it was Gregory Widen's original movie concept--could be wrong, though.

There are many, many books with immortality as a theme. After all, who wants to live forever?

Heinlien's Howard Family, as featured in Methusalah's Children, Time Enough for Love, and others, come to mind.

 

[the smiling weirwood]

Immortals? Try The Dark is Rising Sequence.