Scan barcode
ibnjah's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mrsgrievous's review
1.0
I really like the author's other books, but Riddick just did not hold my attention very well.
mirable's review against another edition
2.0
I normally love Alan Dean Foster but I was disappointed in this. Every writing teacher says show don't tell, but this book was just the opposite. Everything was told, over and over and over, to the detriment of what is actually a decent story.
sigh
sigh
nakedsushi's review against another edition
3.0
Entertaining for what it is. Don't expect great literature.
anovelstart's review against another edition
3.0
Well, I never knew this was a book! Its only a short read, however it's still very enjoyable. The content is the same as the movie, which in turn leads me to believe the book was written from the movie script.
Something I liked about this book in comparison to the movie is that you can easily see how the characters feel. Unlike other books, this author portrays feelings through other characters opinions and assumptions. For example, Riddick is a very closed person. He doesn't show his feelings and speaks little. However, we can assume how he may be feeling through his long-time friend Kyra. She sees him thinking through a hard situation and she assumes that under his dark glasses that his eyes are concerned for the welfare of the other escapees. She sometimes imagines that he smirks but doesn't quite know if she's seen it or not. I like this type of writing because it keeps you guessing. It gives you an inkling about how Riddick may feel but it also keeps the mystery about the character.
I found this book a lot more informative about Riddick's past than the movie (perhaps because it's spelt out!), example. Riddick has some flashes, imagines, almost like movie snippets when he's in trouble. It's assumed that this is his home world and he's repeatedly referred to as a Furian. You see, when I watched the movie I must have missed this part, and it certainly wasn't repeated. I knew Riddick was different, but I didn't know what he was. The book tells you what he is and the typical traits of his species and sometimes why (e.g. being able to handle more heat that other types of human).
I'm glad I read this book because although it didn't tell us why Riddick was on the run in the first place, or about his past, it gave us an inkling about his early life and where he's from. A bit of the mystery has been solved.
This book is easy reading and you can easily finish it in a day or two. I'd recommend it over the movie as the description of fights and combat are quite amazing. The way the author writes really sucks you in.
I only gave this book three stars because it felt like something was missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I couldn't even begin to tell you what it was, but something was definitely missing for me. As a book I'd rate it an average read. It's not amazing (though it did impress me), and it's worth a read if you're interested in a story like Riddick's. It's one of those books that you'd pick up to pass the time more than anything else, unlike one that you pick up because you can't wait to start it or see what happens.
Either way, if you decide to read, it please do enjoy!
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit: http://a-novel-start.blogspot.com
Something I liked about this book in comparison to the movie is that you can easily see how the characters feel. Unlike other books, this author portrays feelings through other characters opinions and assumptions. For example, Riddick is a very closed person. He doesn't show his feelings and speaks little. However, we can assume how he may be feeling through his long-time friend Kyra. She sees him thinking through a hard situation and she assumes that under his dark glasses that his eyes are concerned for the welfare of the other escapees. She sometimes imagines that he smirks but doesn't quite know if she's seen it or not. I like this type of writing because it keeps you guessing. It gives you an inkling about how Riddick may feel but it also keeps the mystery about the character.
I found this book a lot more informative about Riddick's past than the movie (perhaps because it's spelt out!), example. Riddick has some flashes, imagines, almost like movie snippets when he's in trouble. It's assumed that this is his home world and he's repeatedly referred to as a Furian. You see, when I watched the movie I must have missed this part, and it certainly wasn't repeated. I knew Riddick was different, but I didn't know what he was. The book tells you what he is and the typical traits of his species and sometimes why (e.g. being able to handle more heat that other types of human).
I'm glad I read this book because although it didn't tell us why Riddick was on the run in the first place, or about his past, it gave us an inkling about his early life and where he's from. A bit of the mystery has been solved.
This book is easy reading and you can easily finish it in a day or two. I'd recommend it over the movie as the description of fights and combat are quite amazing. The way the author writes really sucks you in.
I only gave this book three stars because it felt like something was missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I couldn't even begin to tell you what it was, but something was definitely missing for me. As a book I'd rate it an average read. It's not amazing (though it did impress me), and it's worth a read if you're interested in a story like Riddick's. It's one of those books that you'd pick up to pass the time more than anything else, unlike one that you pick up because you can't wait to start it or see what happens.
Either way, if you decide to read, it please do enjoy!
If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit: http://a-novel-start.blogspot.com
koryou's review
1.0
I'm so very 'blah' about this book. I already know the overall story, of course, seeing as I've watched the movie at least three times. So I was mainly reading in the hope to get more background on the Necromongers and maybe Riddick, but nope. The writing is so boring, it can't keep my attention for more than two pages at a time.
shakiral's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Wanted more Kyra, that's why I got it, it feels like it has even less Kyra than the movie and she's the whole reason for most of his decisions here so what happened?
agntsmyth's review
4.0
Added some emotional depth to the characters, but no additional story. I enjoyed the story enough to give this 4 stars and getting to enjoy it without having to watch Vin Diesel act almost convinced me to give it 5.
nightxade's review
3.0
In my quest to read more movie novelizations this year, it's unsurprising that Foster's name would pop up on the list. In fact, in searching my library for more novelizations by him, this one popped up. Pitch Black and subsequently The Chronicles of Riddick are favourite films in my household and I am quite fond of the character of Riddick. I suspect Vin Diesel, the actor who plays him, is quite fond of Riddick too, and it shows with Chronicles. I could have done with a little less of Riddick being Riddick in what was perhaps Diesel's attempt to bring back the macho tough guy of the 80s, but with less campiness, and more attempted intellectual and occasionally gross sexist (I'll never watch the third movie, Riddick, again for the latter reason) comments and actions.
Anyway, after surviving the monster infested planet in Pitch Black, Riddick has sequestered himself away from humanity, but is dragged back in thanks to the arrival of the Necromongers, a powerful race of beings bent on purifying the galaxy and preparing everyone for the great beyond. As with all fanatics, they believe they are doing their lord's work. Alas, the Lord Marshal is going to have to deal with Mary Sue--I mean-- Richard B. Riddick, who has now been imbued with magical Furyan powers thanks to a prophecy and upgraded backstory. Not that these new elements don't work for the story. They do make sense, but it's how Riddick is now portrayed that has me rolling my eyes. And yet, it's for this very thing that I give Foster credit. Part of writing a novelization is being able to capture the feel of the film, right down to Riddick's new found ability to be faster than fastness and more quiet than silence as he skillfully murderdeathkills vast hordes of bad guys.
"Riddick moved forward, seeming to cross the intervening space between the clerics and himself with barely a step. One by one, he pushed back hoods and examined faces. He had no divining equipment with him, needed none. He knew men better than any machine."
Foster's words drip with the sense that someone thought more of Riddick's status than they should have, and I get the impression that, as wrote, Foster was frequently peppered with phone calls and emails from Diesel with suggestions on how to improve scenes. So I feel like I should give Foster credit for capturing both the vibe of the film and showing such patience with our illustrious star.
Fortunately, this book was not just about Riddick and the perspective quite often changed. Kyra in particular is a character of interest, as is the Lord Marshall in his unwavering beliefs, but really, I am here for the Vaakos. Foster did not let me down with the sultry blade that is Dame Vaako.
I read novelizations with the hope that I'll get a few new insights into the characters and events, and maybe a deleted scene or two. This honestly didn't add much save for amusement in reading the Riddick loves Riddick story. I was disappointed though -- or perhaps pleased with the final movie version of the parting between Riddick and Kyra. The movie moment is powerful and the line "Are you with me Kyra?" is a much stronger connection to the running theme of his abandonment of her in the first place. In the book, he demands to know "what side" she is on, which holds less emotional stakes. I'm guessing that was a last minute script change that made it into the movie, much like Leia and Han's "I love you" "I know," which was not in the novelization.
www.bibliosanctum.com
Anyway, after surviving the monster infested planet in Pitch Black, Riddick has sequestered himself away from humanity, but is dragged back in thanks to the arrival of the Necromongers, a powerful race of beings bent on purifying the galaxy and preparing everyone for the great beyond. As with all fanatics, they believe they are doing their lord's work. Alas, the Lord Marshal is going to have to deal with Mary Sue--I mean-- Richard B. Riddick, who has now been imbued with magical Furyan powers thanks to a prophecy and upgraded backstory. Not that these new elements don't work for the story. They do make sense, but it's how Riddick is now portrayed that has me rolling my eyes. And yet, it's for this very thing that I give Foster credit. Part of writing a novelization is being able to capture the feel of the film, right down to Riddick's new found ability to be faster than fastness and more quiet than silence as he skillfully murderdeathkills vast hordes of bad guys.
"Riddick moved forward, seeming to cross the intervening space between the clerics and himself with barely a step. One by one, he pushed back hoods and examined faces. He had no divining equipment with him, needed none. He knew men better than any machine."
Foster's words drip with the sense that someone thought more of Riddick's status than they should have, and I get the impression that, as wrote, Foster was frequently peppered with phone calls and emails from Diesel with suggestions on how to improve scenes. So I feel like I should give Foster credit for capturing both the vibe of the film and showing such patience with our illustrious star.
Fortunately, this book was not just about Riddick and the perspective quite often changed. Kyra in particular is a character of interest, as is the Lord Marshall in his unwavering beliefs, but really, I am here for the Vaakos. Foster did not let me down with the sultry blade that is Dame Vaako.
I read novelizations with the hope that I'll get a few new insights into the characters and events, and maybe a deleted scene or two. This honestly didn't add much save for amusement in reading the Riddick loves Riddick story. I was disappointed though -- or perhaps pleased with the final movie version of the parting between Riddick and Kyra. The movie moment is powerful and the line "Are you with me Kyra?" is a much stronger connection to the running theme of his abandonment of her in the first place. In the book, he demands to know "what side" she is on, which holds less emotional stakes. I'm guessing that was a last minute script change that made it into the movie, much like Leia and Han's "I love you" "I know," which was not in the novelization.
www.bibliosanctum.com
More...