Written by Glen A. Larson & Roger Hill
SUMMARY:
Released in 1983 by MCA Publishing through Pinnacle Books, this 245-page paperback novelization adapts Knight Rider’s 1982 feature-length pilot episode (aka Knight of the Phoenix). Saved from certain death by terminally ill billionaire Wilton Knight, undercover police detective Michael Long emerges from innovative plastic surgery with a new face and a new identity as ‘Michael Knight.’ Reluctantly partnering with the futuristic KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) AI unit housed inside an indestructible, black Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am, Michael vengefully pursues justice against an industrial espionage ring. Once Michael and KITT show up in quiet Millston, California, a fiery showdown vs. Tanya Walker’s murderous band of thieves is imminent.
Still, KITT’s technological wonders might not be enough to thwart these ruthless bandits, once they realize who the mysterious Michael Knight really is.
Note: One jailhouse scene includes a racial slur.
REVIEW:
This well-written novel is different than the TV pilot beyond adding or changing some cosmetic details. For instance, a comedic sub-plot re: two hapless car thieves is omitted, and the opening Las Vegas sequence now occurs in Reno, Nevada. Another intriguing twist is a change in the individual fates of Tanya and her co-conspirators. Frankly, this new outcome for femme fatale Tanya isn’t plausible (its irony is too perfect). Far more glaring is that two tantalizing mysteries are still left unaddressed: 1. How did Wilton Knight know of Michael Long in the first place? 2. More so, how did Knight’s team know when and where to search for a critically-wounded Long after Tanya’s gang leaves him for dead? Even a quick hint re: Knight employing well-placed spies would have sufficed, but readers aren’t divulged the necessary answers.
Still, there’s some intriguing depth to Michael’s backstory re: his childhood, Vietnam War experiences, and a decade’s experience as a cop. It’s not surprising that this adaptation more plausibly conveys Michael as a savvy ex-undercover cop and Vietnam veteran than David Hasselhoff’s cheesy on-screen acting. Further, the realistic use of other perspectives and some potential double-crosses (i.e. Tanya and crony Fred Wilson) fleshes out the characters past existing as merely talking cardboard. Michael’s developing respect for both KITT and Devon is also a well-played element. Ultimately, this darker version of Knight Rider makes an entertaining read, especially as it isn’t as cartoony or formulaic as the TV series itself.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
None.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
Notes: Subsequent Knight Rider novelizations included the first KARR episode: “Trust Doesn’t Rust.” Larson also co-authored an adaptation of Battlestar Galactica’s pilot episode.
