Having read the novella long ago and with apparently little attention to the details, I was struck by the significant differences between the two. It was clear to our group that the creators of the film missed an excellent opportunity when they deviated so significantly from the source material.
They changed the story (adding a happy ending, of course), the setting, and most crucially, the dynamic between the main characters, Jerry and Davidge.
The story is of two combatants, fighter pilots in an interstellar war, dog fighting and ultimately crash-landing on a world far from any civilization. Stranded on the planet, they initially attempt to kill each other but quickly figure out that the only way they will survive the harsh environment is through cooperation. It is a story that could be told in any setting, in any time period. It is a simple and classic story of man-vs.-wild with the twists of enemies being forced to help each other. Well, there are a couple of other twists, but I'd hate to spoil the story.
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