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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
This is how it feels to be me reading this book: endless pain.
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This stands the test of time. Even 20 years later, it remains a pinnacle of Star Wars storytelling. An absolute masterpiece.
has no business going this hard as a movie novelization… subscribes entirely to the mythological power of its story while taking full advantage of its novelistic medium to introduce more complexity to characters and more dramatic weight to the unfurling apocalypse. first 150 pages or so is lovely: breathless, immersive action that masterfully establishes stakes, characters, and conflict.
though this is the end of the age of heroes, it has saved its best for last.
picked this book up again out of curiosity and read the whole thing through by virtue of that opening. and as someone so familiar with the movie to the point of nigh-burnout towards it, i really appreciate how different of an experience this novelization is.
though this is the end of the age of heroes, it has saved its best for last.
picked this book up again out of curiosity and read the whole thing through by virtue of that opening. and as someone so familiar with the movie to the point of nigh-burnout towards it, i really appreciate how different of an experience this novelization is.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was really interesting to see how little needs to be changed to make a story work so much better. A scene added here, and a conversation slightly changed there, and suddenly all 3 of Anakin's main 3 relationships (friendship with Palpatine, friendship with Obi Wan, romance with Padme) felt much stronger. Also the forces pulling between those 3 relationships also felt much stronger, and generally made the culmination of Anakin's arc feel more believable.
That being said, why did Stover feel the need to change the line "So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause."
8.3/10
That being said, why did Stover feel the need to change the line "So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause."
8.3/10
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As beautiful and operatic as Lucas tried to make the film, and even more ambitious. The novelization enhances the emotionality of the story substantially and sells the fall of Anakin Skywalker as a true tragedy. Best read in the context of the Legends Clone Wars novels published prior to the introduction of Ahsoka, as she is not mentioned.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“this story happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. it is already over. nothing can be done to change it.”
***
holy crap. that was beautiful. this book made me love the movie even more. some of the differences (especially with some of the dialogue) added so many layers to some scenes that felt pretty straightforward in the movie, and i am so excited to rewatch it having read this now.
specifically with anakin’s character, i absolutely love the added internal dialogue and how his thoughts and feelings are laid out. it makes his turn at the end feel much less rushed and more like his confusion and fear made him spiral so much that he just gave up and gave in, which i feel like george lucas TRIED to do in the movie. of course in the clone wars show, this is also done, but seeing as how this book was written before the clone wars came out, i just wanna look at how it changes how i view ROTS without any added context from TCW. also the reoccurring dragon metaphor for his fear and the darkness inside him was genius and so beautiful.
also, can we just talk about THE PROSE??? there were at least 20 lines that had my jaw hanging open. and this is literally just a movie novelization. insane.
i’ll be thinking about this one for a good long while. thank you very much, author. matt. my dude.
“all things die, anakin skywalker. even stars burn out…”
***
holy crap. that was beautiful. this book made me love the movie even more. some of the differences (especially with some of the dialogue) added so many layers to some scenes that felt pretty straightforward in the movie, and i am so excited to rewatch it having read this now.
specifically with anakin’s character, i absolutely love the added internal dialogue and how his thoughts and feelings are laid out. it makes his turn at the end feel much less rushed and more like his confusion and fear made him spiral so much that he just gave up and gave in, which i feel like george lucas TRIED to do in the movie. of course in the clone wars show, this is also done, but seeing as how this book was written before the clone wars came out, i just wanna look at how it changes how i view ROTS without any added context from TCW. also the reoccurring dragon metaphor for his fear and the darkness inside him was genius and so beautiful.
also, can we just talk about THE PROSE??? there were at least 20 lines that had my jaw hanging open. and this is literally just a movie novelization. insane.
i’ll be thinking about this one for a good long while. thank you very much, author. matt. my dude.
“all things die, anakin skywalker. even stars burn out…”
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars for the amount of raw feeling it stirred up in me about the space wizards. Half a star off for the 40 page spaceship battles.
Shockingly good. Stover manages to enhance and turn Lucas's script into something incredible.
My favorite of any of the Star Wars novelizations, though the movie doesn’t even touch my top 3.