17 January 2016

BOOK REVIEW: Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster

Star Wars: The Force AwakensStar Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set years after Return of the Jedi, this stunning action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2,and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters. Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges.

So return to that galaxy far, far away, and prepare yourself for what happens when the Force awakens. . .
 


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This book was a very pleasant surprise indeed. I've given it a high rating simply because it is a whole lot of fun, a supremely entertaining novelization of The Force Awakens that enabled me to experience a broader view of what is a great addition to the Star Wars canon. It's a quick read, flows very well and doesn't get bogged down in superfluous detail or minutiae of the Star Wars universe. This is partially why I've rated it so highly, the author has managed to weave the story into a fun action sci-fi novel. Sure, having in my mind's eye the characters, locations, ships and weapons, etc. really helped to visualize the story, but what a movie can't portray so well is the inner thoughts and emotions of the characters. This book presents very well this aspect, with some good insights of the characters' motivations and feelings. It's no ground breaking masterpiece that had me gasping with wonder but, taken for what it is intended to be, it's a cool ride. It's simply a well composed adaptation to another medium, written to follow the movie screenplay almost scene by scene. There are one or two minor scenes and characters and that I don't remember from the film, but generally the book follows the movie closely. Overall it's enhanced wonderfully my grasp of the story, a bit of background to the characters and the various places and things that make up the story backdrop. Add this one to your "to read" stack for a quick gap filler and I reckon that, like me, you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you discover.


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