Metropolis

By Thea Gabriele von Harbou

Set in 2026, a future city splits into indulgent rulers, segregated laborers, and mechanized underworld toilers.

Written at the beginning of the last century and set in 2026, 'Metropolis' by Thea von Harbou was the novel that inspired the cult silent SF Movie of the same name, directed by her future husband, Fritz Lang..The novel is more complex and nuanced than the movie The city of the future is two cities: one occupied by its hedonistic ruling class and that of a much larger segregated subculture, toilers in a mechanised underworld, labouring to provide the rich with their pleasures. When a charismatic leader arises, she seeks a savior to unite the disparate social orders. "Between the brain that plans and the hands that build," she declares, "there must be a mediator―the heart."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1914990277
• ISBN13: 9781914990274
• Release Date: April 2028
• Publisher: Jantar Publishing
• Length: 100 Pages

Customer Reviews

A story of love and redemption.

I was always fascinated by the movie "Metropolis" (1927, Fritz Lang). I followed the movie from the recovered fragments to the almost complete version with the added footage from Argentina. Then it dawned on me that the movie was probably adapted from a story. Looking at the credits, I found this story, "Metropolis" by Thea von Harbou (1888-1954). I had no idea that Thea Gabriele von Harbou was part of 77 great movie titles, including "M" and "Siegfried". She was a German screenwriter, author, film director, and actress. You might find Thea's (second wife of Fritz Lang) writing style quite interesting, not quite modern, but clear. She repeats herself quite often, sort of in the style of the Bible. As with many movies at that time, the story in the description stuck a lot closer to the book than they do nowadays. Today's movies should say inspired instead of adapted from. Reading the book, you could see the movie almost blow-by-blow. However, with a few strategic modifications here and there, the book and movie deviate greatly in their purpose and delivery. While the movie was about the class struggle between what was called the hands and the head, with a mediator, the heart. The book was more of a personal struggle for man's soul and redemption. Of course, the book had the freedom to take more time than the movie to describe actions and actors. Also, of course, there were a lot of scenes that would have to be cut out for the movie. But of those who left him, they were quite accurate. Whether you liked or didn't like the movie, you cannot afford to overlook this book. There are a lot of shocks and surprises awaiting you. And there is always time enough for love.