It's been many many years since I last read this book, but I recently watched the movie. When I first saw the trailers I was outraged. Spaceships/hover crafts? Futuristic bikes? A love triangle? What was this bull honky? I REFUSED to pay money to see the movie. I eventually caved into watching it, but only as a free DVD checkout from the library. And again, there were many parts I didn't remember ever happening.
After revisiting the book, my convictions solidified. There never really was a love interest with Fiona. They have planes in the book, but his friend isn't a pilot. The communities are not on top of a plateau and Elsewhere is not a foggy landscape.
The book is just as good and as moving as I remember, though. A sad but wonderful tale about what it means to be human. That our lives have both beauty and pain, but without those feelings, we are like robots.
Just another example where the book is a million times better than the movie.