Editing Forbidden Planet (section)

==Novelization==
{{Original research section|date=May 2020}}
Shortly before the film was released, a [[novelization]] appeared in [[hardcover]] and then later in mass-market [[paperback]]; it was written by W.J. Stuart (the pseudonym of mystery novelist [[Philip MacDonald]]), which chapters the novel into separate [[first-person narrative|first person]] narrations by Dr. Ostrow, Commander Adams, and Dr. Morbius.<ref>Stuart 1956 {{page needed|date=January 2015}}</ref> The novel delves further into the mysteries of the vanished Krell and Morbius' relationship to them. In the novel, he repeatedly exposes himself to the Krell's manifestation machine, which (as suggested in the film) boosts his brain power far beyond normal human intelligence. Unfortunately, Morbius retains enough of his imperfect human nature to be afflicted with [[hubris]] and a contempt for humanity. Not recognizing his own base primitive drives and limitations proves to be Morbius' downfall, as it had for the extinct Krell. While not stated explicitly in the film (although the basis for a deleted scene first included as an extra with the [[Criterion Collection]]'s [[LaserDisc]] set and included with both the later 50th anniversary DVD and current Blu-ray releases), the novelization compared Altaira's ability to tame the tiger (until her sexual awakening with Commander Adams) to the medieval myth of a [[unicorn]] being tamable only by a [[virgin]].

The novel also includes some elements never included in the film: For one, Adams, Farman, and Ostrow clandestinely observe Morbius' house overnight one evening, but see or hear nothing.   When they leave they accidentally kill one of Altaira's pet monkeys.  When Dr. Ostrow later on dissects the dead animal he discovers that its internal structure precludes it from ever having been alive in the normal biological sense. The tiger, deer, and monkeys are all conscious creations by Dr. Morbius as companions ("pets") for his daughter and only outwardly resemble their Earth counterparts. The novel also differs somewhat from the film in that it does not directly establish the great machine as the progenitor of the animals or monster; instead only attributes them to Morbius' elevated mental power. The Krell's self-destruction can be interpreted by the reader as a cosmic punishment for misappropriating the life-creating power of God. This is why in the film's ending, Commander Adams says in his speech to Altaira "...we are, after all, not God". The novel ends with a postscript making a similar observation.