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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I enjoyed Before the Awakening but ultimately it didn't totally satisfy my craving for more knowledge about these characters and the post Return of the Jedi universe they live in. I felt like either Greg Rucka, an exceptionally talented writer, wasn't given much to go on and/or wasn't allowed to really divulge any more detail.
While of course we know where all three end up at the end of this book, before Episode VII, I wanted a little bit more surprise on how they got there. However, Finn and Rey's stories are both extremely short and lacking in any real plot twists. The most I can say is it was interesting to see their pre-movie friendships with other Stormtroopers and scavengers respectively. Poe's story is about twice as long and much more interesting, including flashbacks to his childhood, action-packed scenes with his squad, and the meetings with Leia that eventually bring him to the Resistance.
While of course we know where all three end up at the end of this book, before Episode VII, I wanted a little bit more surprise on how they got there. However, Finn and Rey's stories are both extremely short and lacking in any real plot twists. The most I can say is it was interesting to see their pre-movie friendships with other Stormtroopers and scavengers respectively. Poe's story is about twice as long and much more interesting, including flashbacks to his childhood, action-packed scenes with his squad, and the meetings with Leia that eventually bring him to the Resistance.
Finished this in one sitting. Quite interesting tales on the three main new characters in The Force Awakens. Think of it like a mini *ahem prequel to the blockbuster. Poe's story is really exciting, full of hyperspace jumps, TIEs and obviously, dogfights.
The best of the new Star Wars canon books that are out there. Greg Rucka needs to write more Star Wars stories, because he nails so much about the universe. This book is 3 stories, 1 each, about everyone's new favorite hero's from a galaxy far, far away... before The Force Awakens. The book does everything right and doesn't try to wink at the audience, or use heavy-handed foreshadowing. "Before the Awakening" expands the characterization of Finn, Rey, and Poe and let's us further fall in love with these awesome new characters.
3.5 stars.
Light and action-filled and fun, this provides a bit of backstory and a bit of info on what Rey, Finn and Poe were up to before they collided together. We find out how Finn, though a good storm trooper, was also not a good storm trooper. We find out how Rey became such a good pilot while stuck on Jakku. And though we already know Poe's charismatic and a good pilot, we get to see more of this. And Leia shows up, being smart and on the job and sending Poe on missions.
Light and action-filled and fun, this provides a bit of backstory and a bit of info on what Rey, Finn and Poe were up to before they collided together. We find out how Finn, though a good storm trooper, was also not a good storm trooper. We find out how Rey became such a good pilot while stuck on Jakku. And though we already know Poe's charismatic and a good pilot, we get to see more of this. And Leia shows up, being smart and on the job and sending Poe on missions.
I am pleased to report that I enjoyed each of the stories in this book. Very little is added to the backstory for the movie or to the personalities of the characters really. Each was an interesting glimpse into the time before The Force Awakens but nothing crucial was revealed. I do enjoy learning more about characters I'll be spending a lot of time with in the future though, and here's to starting the new cannon and keeping up with it instead of coming into the series 200 books after the it's created, too close to when it was all erased.
Una lectura esencial si quieres sumergirte de lleno en el nuevo canon (y si te gustó el episodio VII te encantará)
A quick (~2 hours) mostly fun read. While she was the most interesting character in the movie, I found Rey's story the least interesting here--there were aspects of it that didn't quite work for me. Poe, the least fleshed out in the movie, had the most interesting story with the tightest tie-in to TFA. And in the middle, Finn's was fine, another look behind the scenes at trooper life.
The backstories were all very nice (and every person who complains about Rey being a Mary Sue needs to read this backstory so they can see that no, she doesn't just magically know how to do all these things; she's had years and years of learning and practice and getting things wrong before she got to where she is at the start of the movie). Finn and Rey's stories were kinda sad at the end but Poe's ended a little more happily, especially as it led right into his storyline from TFA. At times the writing style got a little wonky (just some weird word choices...and yes I know that sounds funny for me to say after I just said "wonky" but still it's my review and I'll complain how I want to); there were just some stilted turns of phrase that threw me out of the narrative for a second. Other than that, this was a fun prequel story to TFA.
Three enjoyable short stories featuring three of the new characters introduced in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' - Finn, Rey and Poe - before we meet up with them in the film.
Each serves as an insight into the characters, and in the case of the Finn and Poe stories, leads directly into events in the film.
If you enjoyed 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' and want to get to know the characters and a hint of the new Star Wars EU a bit more then give this a read.
Each serves as an insight into the characters, and in the case of the Finn and Poe stories, leads directly into events in the film.
If you enjoyed 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' and want to get to know the characters and a hint of the new Star Wars EU a bit more then give this a read.