Posted by Arturo Bandini at 128.192.116.112 on August 11, 2003 at 15:24:24:
In Reply to: i wasn't joking posted by shitty speller...DEAL WITH IT! on August 11, 2003 at 15:11:42:
The movie Fletch is based on the first book in a popular series of novels by Gregory McDonald. The movie is more-or-less faithful to the book, although I believe the literary version of Fletch is blond and a little more well-built than Chevy. A few names were changed here and there, and the ending is just slightly different as I recall.
Fletch Lives is not based on any of the Fletch series books.
The are quite a few of the books (Fletch was published in the early-ish 70s -- you'll have to forgive my vagueness as I am at work; check Amazon.com for specific dates, etc). Although the books do follow a chronology of sorts, they were not published in "chronological order" (sorta like Star Wars). Fletch was published first, but Fletch Won (which takes place before Fletch) was published much later on. There's a Fletch, Too as well.
After he'd run Fletch into the ground, McDonald created Fletch's son, who stars in Fletch Reflected and others. THe "Son of Fletch" books are OK, but aren't as good as the others, in my opinion.
McDonald also wrote a briefer series of Flynn books, based on a police inspector he introduced in Confess Fletch. He also wrote other novels that have nothing to do with Fletch, such as Skylar (which I've owned for a few years but still have not read yet)
Some of the good ones are Fletch; Confess, Fletch; Fletch's Fortune; and Flynn -- I originally read the entire series via my local public library. During the past year or so, Vintage Books has reprinted this series (it was out of print for awhile)
OK, now go hit amazon.com for more info. I've got work to do! :)