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middle_name_joy 's review for:
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
by Alexander Freed
I am perpetually leery of film novelizations, just as I am leery of film adaptations of novels. The narrative of film doesn't always translate to written word, and vice versa. Yet I heard good things about Alexander Freed's take on Rogue One, which I consider the finest film of the recent installments to the Star Wars series. Luckily, my expectations were mostly fulfilled.
Freed leads an internal inspection of the characters across 300+ pages, while still retaining the plot, if not quite the blazing pace or humor, of the original version. In many ways, the writing style matches the film: somber and desperate and tense, divulging what little is known of the ragtag team in the time given.
To wit, the Cassian and Jyn relationship was handled perfectly (this is of utmost importance, of course). The histories of both were attended to; they were allowed to probe each others' motives, faults, and strengths. They were curious--and trust grew between them. The trust of soldiers, of kindred spirits without the gift of time.
"Maybe it was the need he'd seen in Jyn, the fire that had carried her through the fighting in the Holy Quarter. It seemed obscene to leave that need unanswered, abandoned to the dust."
Be still, my RebelCaptain heart.
The magic of Rogue One is in part because it is a story abbreviated. While I sometimes wished the narrative had pushed further into the characters' psyches, I realize that to do so would have been a betrayal to the purpose of this prequel piece. Jyn and Cassian and Bohdi and Co. were destined to come together for only a brief, defining moment.
Even Krennic, a token villain pawn in the film, is portrayed with evil genius brilliance. Especially well done, and singular to this novelization, is the exploration of Krennic and Galen's difficult past. It was set up almost akin to a Hamilton-Burr relationship: "[Krennic] could follow Galen Erso's thread through his life. He could see the full extent of the tragedy, the waste of effort on a wasted man."
The true waste is that the story ends. But, if the successfulness of a story--in film or book--is measured on how much the reader desires it to continue on after the last word, then Rogue One accomplished its mission twice.
Freed leads an internal inspection of the characters across 300+ pages, while still retaining the plot, if not quite the blazing pace or humor, of the original version. In many ways, the writing style matches the film: somber and desperate and tense, divulging what little is known of the ragtag team in the time given.
To wit, the Cassian and Jyn relationship was handled perfectly (this is of utmost importance, of course). The histories of both were attended to; they were allowed to probe each others' motives, faults, and strengths. They were curious--and trust grew between them. The trust of soldiers, of kindred spirits without the gift of time.
"Maybe it was the need he'd seen in Jyn, the fire that had carried her through the fighting in the Holy Quarter. It seemed obscene to leave that need unanswered, abandoned to the dust."
Be still, my RebelCaptain heart.
The magic of Rogue One is in part because it is a story abbreviated. While I sometimes wished the narrative had pushed further into the characters' psyches, I realize that to do so would have been a betrayal to the purpose of this prequel piece. Jyn and Cassian and Bohdi and Co. were destined to come together for only a brief, defining moment.
Even Krennic, a token villain pawn in the film, is portrayed with evil genius brilliance. Especially well done, and singular to this novelization, is the exploration of Krennic and Galen's difficult past. It was set up almost akin to a Hamilton-Burr relationship: "[Krennic] could follow Galen Erso's thread through his life. He could see the full extent of the tragedy, the waste of effort on a wasted man."
The true waste is that the story ends. But, if the successfulness of a story--in film or book--is measured on how much the reader desires it to continue on after the last word, then Rogue One accomplished its mission twice.