King Kong Books
Novelizations
King Kong – 1932
Adventurous filmmaker Denham sails to remote Skull Island, capturing gigantic ape Kong after he abducts actress Ann Darrow. Exhibited in New York as the Eighth Wonder, Kong escapes, rampages through the city protecting Ann, and meets tragedy atop the Empire State Building.
King Kong – 2005
Depression-era director Denham ventures to Skull Island for epic footage, encountering savage beasts and Kong, who forms a profound connection with vaudeville actress Ann. Brought to Broadway, Kong's rampage culminates in poignant defiance against modern civilization.
Kong: Skull Island – 2017
In 1973, a Monarch expedition to uncharted Skull Island awakens ancient horrors. Scientists and soldiers confront massive creatures, allying uneasily with Kong against deadly skullcrawlers, exposing hidden Hollow Earth secrets and humanity's hubris.
Tie-In Novels
Merian C. Cooper's King Kong – 2005
Rewriting the classic tale, Denham's crew discovers Kong on prehistoric Skull Island amid dinosaurs and natives. Captured for display, Kong bonds deeply with Ann, escapes captivity, and faces aerial assault in New York, emphasizing his tragic nobility.
Kong: King of Skull Island – 2005
Decades after the original events, Carl Denham's son returns to Skull Island, uncovering ancient histories of Kong's species, native tribes, and prehistoric threats, blending prequel origins with sequel revelations of survival and legacy.