Lostpedia has arranged a string of interviews with characters from The Lost Experience. Follow the links to submit your questions for Speaker, The Lost Ninja and Javier Grillo-Marxuach!
Do you have an idea for a new wiki? Please share it with us here

Literary works

From Lostpedia

Jump to: navigation, search

The following literary works, references or authors have been mentioned or shown in the series to date. Please see their main articles for details; this page is primarily for listing.

Contents

Books and literature

After All These Years

After All These Years
See main article: After All These Years
By: Susan Isaacs
Lost References:


Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
See main article: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
By: Lewis Carroll
Lost References:

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's, better known as Lewis Carroll, literary works Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, have been incorporated into the story of Lost in many episodes, such as "White Rabbit", "The Man Behind the Curtain", and "Through the Looking Glass".

  • In episode 1, pilot, we see Vincent the yellow labrador race by, as a reference to the white rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
  • White rabbits are used as recurring themes in Lost.


Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret
See main article: Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret
By: Judy Blume
Lost References:
  • Sawyer is seen reading this book; he says it's "Predictable. Not nearly enough sex," when Sun approaches him. ("The Whole Truth")


Bad Twin

Bad Twin
See main article: Bad Twin
By: Laurence Shames (Ghostwriting for metafictional character, Gary Troup)
Lost References:


Book of Laws

Book of Laws
See main article: Richard's objects
Lost References:


Holy Bible, The

Holy Bible, The
By: Various
Lost References:


A Brief History of Time

Brief History of Time, A
See main article: A Brief History of Time
By: Stephen Hawking
Lost References:


The Brothers Karamazov

Brothers Karamazov, The
See main article: The Brothers Karamazov
By: Fyodor Dostoevsky
Lost References:


Carrie

Carrie
See main article: Carrie
By: Stephen King
Lost References:
  • The book that Juliet and the other members of the book club are reading.
  • Emilie de Ravin played the character Chris Hargensen in the 2002 television remake of Carrie
  • Minor characters include Principal Henry Grayle (possible connection to Henry Gale)and Restaurant Owner Hubert Kelly, who "Complained constantly that his electronic pacemaker was on the verge of electrocuting him."

("A Tale of Two Cities")



Catch-22

Catch-22
See main article: Catch-22 (book)
By: Joseph Heller
Lost References:
  • A Portuguese copy of the book is found by Desmond after a helicopter crash near the Island ("Catch-22")


The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia
See main article: The Chronicles of Narnia
By: C.S. Lewis
Lost References:
  • Charlotte Staples Lewis is a reference to Clive Staples Lewis.
  • Narnia is a hidden world where time passes faster than on Earth and where magic is common. The guardian of Narnia is Aslan, a lion who appears after death. Only certain people chosen can enter Narnia. All references to the Island, Jacob, visions of dead people and the Losties.


Coalwood Way, The

The Coalwood Way
By: Homer Hickam
Lost References:


Dark Horse

Dark Horse
By: Tami Hoag
Lost References:
  • This book is found in Jack's book shelf in his office while he is speaking with his father.("A Tale of Two Cities")


The Dark Tower

The Dark Tower
By: Stephen King
Lost References:
  • The first book of this series, The Gunslinger, has been said to be found on Ben's bedside desk while he is recovering from spinal surgery in his house ("The Man from Tallahassee")


Dirty Work

Dirty Work
See main article: Dirty Work
By: Stuart Woods
Lost References:


Dune

Dune
See main article: Dune
By: Frank Herbert
Lost References:


The Epic of Gilgamesh

Epic of Gilgamesh, The
See main article: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Lost References:


Evil Under the Sun

Evil Under the Sun
See main article: Evil Under the Sun
By: Agatha Christie
Lost References:
  • The book Sawyer was reading when he was interrupted by Nikki ("Exposé")


The Fountainhead

Fountainhead, The
By: Ayn Rand
Lost References:
  • Sawyer is seen reading this book while noticeably missing Kate ("Par Avion")
    • Peter Keating, a main character in the book, is in love with Catherine Toohey, who he calls "Katie." Keating is something of a con-man, manipulating, using and backstabbing his way to prominence in his architectural firm. Katie knows this, and even Keatings potential to use her, but says she loves him anyway.


Grimm's Fairy Tales

Grimm's Fairy Tales
By: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Lost References:


Harry Potter

Harry Potter
By: J.K. Rowling
Lost References:


Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness
By: Joseph Conrad
Lost References:
  • Jack asks Kate "Tell me something, how come every time there's a hike into the heart of darkness you sign up?" when Kate volunteers to go on the boar hunt with Locke. ("Walkabout")
  • Charlie tells Hurley, "One minute you're happy-go-lucky, good-time Hurley, and the next you're Colonel bloody Kurtz!" ("Numbers")
  • Sawyer refers to John as "Colonel Kurtz" ("Confirmed Dead")
    • Colonel Kurtz is a character in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, which is loosely based on Heart of Darkness.


Hindsight

Hindsight
See main article: Hindsight
By: Peter Wright
Lost References:


Holy Qur'an, The

Holy Qur'an, The
Lost References:


Hotel

Hotel
By: Arthur Hailey
Lost References:
  • A copy of Hotel is found on Ben's bookshelf in Through the Looking Glass("Through the Looking Glass").
  • This story depicts a group of people who's lives are intertwined with a Hotel. Each of these characters has a shady past and each person is currently dealing with these pasts and trying to redeem themselves in the present.

    See also:
    Books on Ben's shelf


I Ching

I Ching
Lost References:


The Invention of Morel

The Invention of Morel
By: Adolfo Bioy Casares
Lost References:
  • Sawyer is seen reading this book at the barracks. ("Eggtown")


Island

Island
By: Aldous Huxley
Lost References:
  • The Pala Ferry alludes to Pala, the fictional island of this novel's title. ("?")


Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar
By: William Shakespeare
Lost References:
  • Sawyer says to Locke, "You too, Brutus?" ("Two for the Road")
    • This is a reference to the famous quote, "Et tu, Brute?", which are Caesar's last words in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.


Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park
By: Michael Crichton
Lost References:
  • The Monster's similarities with a dinosaur in relation to Jurassic Park is directly referenced by Nikki when she debunks Paulo's theory on the Monster by telling him "it's not Jurassic Park, Paulo." ("Exposé")


Kings of Love

Kings of Love: The Poetry and History of the Ni'Matullahi Sufi Order
See main article: Kings of Love
By: P. L. Wilson, Nasrollah Pourjavady (translators)
Lost References:
  • Seen on a bookshelf in Benjamin Linus' house. ("The Economist")


Lancelot

Lancelot
See main article: Lancelot
By: Walker Percy
Lost References:


Laughter in the Dark

Laughter in the Dark
See main article: Laughter in the Dark
By: Vladimir Nabokov
Lost References:


Left Behind

Left Behind
See main article: Left Behind
By: Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
Lost References:
  • The title of the Season Three Episode "Left Behind" ("Left Behind")


Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies
See main article: Lord of the Flies
By: William Golding
Lost References:
  • This novel is mentioned by Sawyer. "Folks down on the beach might have been doctors and accountants a month ago, but it's Lord of the Flies time, now." ("...In Translation")
  • Charlie mentions how the Tailies went "all Lord of the Flies." ("What Kate Did")
  • Hurley encounters a fly-infested boar hanging from a tree whilst trekking through the jungle ("Numbers")
  • Wild Boar were present both in the book, and on the island
  • The younger boys complained of a mysterious monster that traveled through the forest with ease.


Memoirs of a Geisha

Memoirs of a Geisha
See main article: Memoirs of a Geisha
By: Arthur Golden
Lost References:
  • Sun and Jin is in the airport having lunch when Sun spills coffee on Jin's lap. Sun tries to clean it up but Jin asks her not to and leaves to clean-up in the bathroom. After he leaves, a couple is overheard commenting on Sun's actions comparing her to a geisha while assuming that she does not understand any English. ("Exodus, Part 1")
  • "Ji Yeon's" pronounciation similar to "Gion", the geisha district in the book. (4x7)


Moby Dick

Moby Dick
By: Herman Melville
Lost References:

On the raft, Michael suspects that Sawyer is on the raft because he has no reason to live, a form of honorable suicide. In Melville's Moby Dick Ishmael comments on how whaling is his substite for the "pistol and ball," his suicide.



The Moon Pool

Moon Pool, The
By: A. Merritt
Lost References:
  • The Moon Pool of the Looking Glass DHARMA Initiative Station is a possible reference to this classic, pulp-scifi/fantasy novel concerning the strange adventures of the botanist Dr. Walter Goodwin on mysterious, otherworldly islands in the South Pacific (this character shares his name with the Other known as Goodwin, who was sent by Ben to join the tail section of survivors). ("Greatest Hits")
  • The characters of The Moon Pool cross through a portal to an underground city called Muria, a name which was obviously derived by the author from that of the fabled lost continent of Mu / Lemuria.


The Mysterious Island

Mysterious Island, The
See main article: The Mysterious Island
By: Jules Verne
Lost References:


Oath, The

Oath, The
By: John Lescroart
Lost References:
  • Seen in Ben's tent in The Brig, when talking to Locke about how he's isn't ready to see all of the mysteries of the island until he kills his father.


Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, An
See main article: Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
By: Ambrose Bierce
Lost References:
  • Locke is shown holding this book upside down, in the Swan, flipping through the pages as if he's trying to find loose papers between them. ("The Long Con")


The Odyssey

Odyssey, The
See main article: The Odyssey
By: Homer
Lost References:


Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men
See main article: Of Mice and Men
By: John Steinbeck
Lost References:


On Writing

On Writing
By: Stephen King
Lost References:
  • The bunny theme in lost is an obvious reference to On Writing. In the nonfiction book, a writing exercise asks the reader to analyze an albino rabbit in a cage with the number 8 written on its back. A bunny with a number 8 on its back is seen in many episodes of Lost, along with other bunnies with either different or no numbers.


Our Mutual Friend

Our Mutual Friend
See main article: Our Mutual Friend
By: Charles Dickens
Lost References:


O Pioneers!

O Pioneers!
See main article: O Pioneers!
By: Willa Cather
Lost References:
  • The two main characters in this novel are Alexandra, a strong, independent, and resourceful girl, and her eventual husband Karl, spelled "Carl" in the book.


The Outsiders

Outsiders, The
By: Susan E. Hinton
Lost References:
  • In the flashback scene in the van, Hurley's friend Johnny says to him, "Stay gold, Ponyboy." This is a quote from the Outsiders, which is itself a reference to the Robert Frost poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay". In the novel, Johnny Cade's last words are "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold." ("Everybody Hates Hugo")


Pearl, The

Pearl, The
By: John Steinbeck
Lost References:


Perfume

Perfume
By: Patrick Suskind
Lost References:


Rainbow Six

Rainbow Six
See main article: Rainbow Six
By: Tom Clancy
Lost References:


Rick Romer's Vision Of Astrology

Rick Romer's Vision Of Astrology
See main article: Rick Romer's Vision Of Astrology
By: Rick Romer
Lost References:


The Shape of Things to Come

Shape of Things to Come, The
See main article: The Shape of Things to Come (novel)
By: H.G. Wells
Lost References:
  • Title of episode 4x09.


The Shining

The Shining
By: Stephen King
Lost References:
  • Minkowski mentions to Michael who was bouncing a tennis ball against a wall, about the scene in the film where the main charcter Jack bounced the balls against a wall before attempting to murder his family. The film was based on Stephen King's novel of the same title.


Slaughterhouse-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five
By: Kurt Vonnegut
Lost References:
  • Desmond's experiences of becoming "unstuck in time" are similar to those experienced throughout the book by the protagonist Billy Pilgrim.
  • Both Desmond and Billy Pilgrim experience these in a military setting, and become shunned by their squadmates. One of Desmond's squadmates is called Billy in reference to the novel's protagonist.
  • During a gameshow heard in the background in Meet Kevin Johnson, the novel and its author are named in one of the questions.



Stand, The

The Stand
See main article: The Stand
By: Stephen King
Lost References:
  • Producers say this is an influential book in Lost.


Stone Leopard, The

The Stone Leopard
By: Colin Forbes
Lost References:


Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land
See main article: Stranger in a Strange Land (book)
By: Robert Heinlein
Lost References:


The Survivors of the Chancellor

The Survivors of the Chancellor
See main article: The Survivors of the Chancellor
By: Jules Verne
Lost References:
  • The book that Regina read, (upside down) before committing suicide.


A Tale of Two Cities

Tale of Two Cities, A
By: Charles Dickens
Lost References:


The Third Policeman

Third Policeman, The
See main article: The Third Policeman
By: Flann O'Brien
Lost References:


Through the Looking-Glass

Through the Looking-Glass
See main article: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
By: Lewis Carroll
Lost References:


To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird
See main article: To Kill a Mockingbird
By: Harper Lee
Lost References:


The Turn of the Screw

Turn of the Screw, The
See main article: The Turn of the Screw
By: Henry James
Lost References:


Valhalla Rising

Valhalla Rising
See main article: Valhalla Rising
By: Clive Cussler
Lost References:
  • A copy of this 2001 book by Clive Cussler is seen on Ben’s bookshelf, on the 2nd tier in the episode Through the Looking Glass.

<