Reviews Books The JC Lit Reviews Special: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (spoilers)

I give the book 8.5/10, with really only TTT being better SW books to my mind, EU or novelizations. There were a few lines I would have added or deleted from the novel where I thought the film worked better. There were also one or two scenes from Threepio's POV where I would much rather have seen the speaking characters (like Obi-Wan and Padme) directly instead of through his eyes.

On the whole, though, while it took me a little while to get into Stover's style (I never read Traitor; and the "this is how it feels to be" moments were a little odd at first), I soon realized that I was reading more of an EU book instead of a novel, and I started to really enjoy it. Novelizations are usually so poorly done as mere transcriptions of what's on screen, when the entire reason that you're reading is to get extra insight into the characters. Stover apparently understood that -- he provided the extra insights in a really compelling way. He had me at the 'Obi-Wan is the consummate Jedi' passage From the confusion swirling in Anakin, to Dooku's shift from arrogance to fear, to the stunned reactions of Mace when he learns Palpatine is Sidious (with nary a change in expression, of course), to the better explanation of why Yoda conceded defeat to Sidious, to the contrast between the Yoda/Sidious (good vs. evil, Jedi vs. Sith, light vs. dark) and Anakin/Obi-Wan (just brothers) duels, this novel was a great read. Thank you, Mr. Stover!

 

10/10.

Sped through it in a day. It was wonderful.

 

Review forthcoming, but in the meantime...

10/10 - shiiiiny!

 

Counting 58 ratings: 552.4/58 = 9.52

 

Ah, first post in about three years...

I have just finished ROTS, and I must say, it absolutely BLEW my expectations! I haven't read a whole lot of SW books before (Jedi Academy series, X-wing trilogy 1, SotE, some NJO and a few others), and based on those I just throught it would be the usual mediocre SW-book. But this book really adds so much depth to all the characters, not to mention the movie. And Anakin seems so much more 3D now. I absolutely must see the movie again now, after reading the book.
A bit topheavy, but then, I don't think anything should have been cut - it just should have been much thicker .

10/10

Oh, and to get the ultimate experience, listen to the ROTS soundtrack while reading. I had track1: SW-Main/Revenge of the Sith looping while reading, and it really adds a lot!

 

Yes, the ROTS novel was awesome. I've never had a SW book pull at me at so many emotional levels. Sure, when Chewie died in Vector Prime (I had not seen any spoilers) I cried. When Anakin Solo died in another NJO novel (sorry, I lost track of all of the titles), I was very sad.

But ROTS made me feel for Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The novel and the book are certainly companions. All SW fans should take in both.

 

Agreed. I saw the movie again after finishing the book and it was even better the second time around as a result.

 

Counting 59 ratings: 562.4/59 = 9.53

 

I saw a copy of ROTS for $26 at a certain store, normally priced at $40-55. So curiosity had me picking it, flicked through the ending fight. The writing looked somewhat abbreviated and rushed, typical for a novelisation, but in all fairness you can imagine how hard it'd have been to complete that manuscript. And fair enough, the ending pages of books are usually rushed. Except for Enemy Lines, of course, which rudely and abruptly stopped.

But it was the pages that minted a Kreian frown---so flimsy! For a hardcover, they're supposed to be thicker, stronger. That was mass market quality at best, it'll discolour in a few years for sure!

What that the case over at your end, were the pages soft? I was almost afraid to turn them. Or perhaps the book's print run was such, that they needed that format . . .

 

Teriffic fun. 9.6/10.

 

Counting 60 ratings: 572/60 = 9.53

 

Simply Wonderful.

10/10

 

I love it, Stover is the best EU author.

11/10.

 

I just finished it. Very good, overall. The whole 'This is Anakin Skywalker' thing was a little off-putting at first, but I got used to it. Also a few things seemed jarring, such as the Yoda-as-a-baby scene; I don't think I'll ever get used to that one. And I didn't like Vader's dialogue with the doomed Separatists leaders; I'm not sure why, yet. The first two-thirds of the book were, by far, better than the last third. It just felt somewhat rushed after Anakin turned, IMHO. All of this is not to say that I didn't like it. I did. The emotional level and character examination was very enjoyable and moving in most parts, and the depth and extra scenes that the book adds to the movie are a big plus.

I give it a 9.5.

Edited to add: I especially loved the scene in which Padme gave Obi-Wan the japor snippet and Obi-Wan, near or in tears (can't remember now), later tells Yoda and Bail that he doesn't even know what it is. Very moving. I was in tears myself reading it.

 

Counting 63 ratings: 601.5/63 = 9.55

 

I didn't really like the book. It didn't have any emph (spelling). It was nice and long but rumble jumble. And it's weird cuz i like starwars books, but on this one it just wasn't what I expected it to be. I guess because i saw the movie first but anywho thats just what i think. But don't get me wrong it had some good stuff in it.

 

10 This novel was great. I actually read it before I saw the movie and have re-read it since the movie. I actually found myself almost disappointed that there were things in the book that were not in the movie.

I recommend the novel to anyone who wants to truly experience the story to its fullest extent!

 

Counting 64 ratings: 611.5/64 = 9.55

 

I give it 7. There are good parts in the novel, but especially the last parts of it are somewhat weak. Typical novelization problem, not the fault of the author, I think. Overall the dialogue is better than in the movie and Anakin´s fall is portrayed more convincingly, but some things, like the fight scenes, are weaker.

 

9.5/10. I loved this book, even when it deviated from the movie plotline. Dialogue, characterizations, plotline, fierfekking awesome. One of my favorite parts was when Needa was talking to Grievous. That really tied the two trilogies otgether.

 

Counting 66 ratings: 628/66 = 9.52

 

Amazing. Probably the best Star Wars book I have ever read.
I loved the portrayal of Anakin, Dooku being betrayed, Mace's death (and he fell forever...) and the end, this is Anakin Skywalker, forever...

10/10. Bravo, Matthew Stover.

 

Amazing read, but room for improvement.

9/10

 

I give it 10 out of 10.

 

I give it 9/10 it's a real good read it's been awhile since i read it but i enjoyed it alot. Matt Stover did an excellent job.