As for me personally, The book absolutely caused me and the wife to be there in line that Friday night when the movie finally came out Summer of '77. I don’t think it opened in May at my local theater. Did I mention there was a line? Did I mention there was a table full of merchandise? I should have got the t-shirt!
Edit, Luke had an older brother in the book. Must have been cut out of the movie.
One slightly high powered laser… problem solved.
(is joke… ha ha. Gee you science folks are touchy)