Episode 1 &2

I've just got into reading the star wars books and I was wondering if anyone could give me any insight as to how good the novelizations of Episodes 1 & 2 are.

 

2 kicks the movie in to touch, episode 1 was ok, read the first chapter or two and you have the best of it though IIRC...

 

I enjoyed the AOTC novel. It gives a better idea of Jango and Boba's relationship, for one thing.

 

Both were ok, but could have been better, espically compared to Stover's FANTASTIC ROTS novel.

 

Amen to that. I just finished the RotS novel literally an hour ago, and it was phenomenally good. I haven't read the other prequel novelisations, but from what I hear, they can't compete.

 

lol, i knew you'd say that....

 

TPM does a good with the duel between Darth Maul, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.

 

I recently finished Episode 1, It was good, although I was expecting a little more from it. Like stuff that the movie didn't get. There was some stuff, but nothing that really just popped out and stuck to me as being totally different or new. I just started 2 so I hope its a little better.

 

TPM: 5-6/10
AOTC: 8/10
ROTS: 10/10

TPM bored me, and I liked the relationship parts of AOTC.
If you haven't read ROTS yet, you should put the others aside and devour Stover's masterpiece.

 

The Attack of the Clones novel was good for its insights into the Jango/Boba and Anakin/Padmé relationships, but beyond that it was pretty terrible. It's essentially the movie, with a few extra scenes, in book form. Beyond the aforementioned relationships, there were almost no new insights into the characters or situations, and precious little sign of creativity or originality. In that regard, it reminded me a lot of the Empire Strikes Back novel. A very bland book, overall.

As far as I'm concerned, none of the others can touch Return of the Jedi and Revenge of the Sith.

 

I liked the Dooku\Skywalker\Kenobi duel in the AOTC novel...

 

One part of the Episode 1 novel was that it had some detail about the Sith and their history. There is a couple of pages about them. But I do think that the novel was very bland. After having seen the movie, the book was like the same thing except it took a lot longer to complete. It didn't really provide any insight or new things that would have made the book better.

 

I thought the TPM novel, having read it prior to seeing the movie, was a great re-introduction to the saga. I enjoyed it, particuarly the new scenes concerning Anakin's adventures. Duel of the Fates was also well done, and, as mentioned, Sidious' thoughts towards the end were very interesting.

I loved the AotC novel, too. The speeder chase, in particular, was exciting and fun, and actually turned out to be better than the on-screen realization. And yes, the Fetts were given some well-developed page-time.

But, of course, Stover's is the one novel to rule them all. It's epic, and moreso than the chopped-up movie version. The Senate sub-plots remain, and add needed variety to the Anakin story - which is also expanded here, and helps the reader understand Anakin's motivations a lot more. The end, though apparently rushed, is fantastic. And try reading the 'This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker, forever' section, then read Anakin's lament from James Kahn's RotJ novel straight after. The two complement each other very well, and you could hardly tell that the latter was written 20-odd years before RotS was released.

 

I just completed Episode 2 a few days ago, and I have to say it was better than the first one, except for the ending. Geonosis seemed to be rushed. Throught the book, Sal did a good job of using descriptions and what not. But come the end it just seemed like it was rushed and put together to meet a deadline. I think the ending battle sequence could have been extended and put in some more detail about the start of the war. Even more in the fight between Dooku and the Jedi. The part was only like 30 pages. The rest of the book was 300. They could have easily added 50 more pages, well maybe not 50 but they still could have added more to the end. So I would rate the book an 8 out of 10 just because of a poor ending. Otherwise I loved it. Now on to Episode 3. I've already read it once, but now I wanna go back and read it again because I have now read 1 & 2. And see if it really ties together well or if it seems like its totally out of sequence.

 

Phantom Menace is more bland fair than fanfair. A commendable attempt at insubstantial writing, but if you're not used to it by now the stimcaf needs a higher dose.

The opening chapter is exciting and explains just how the kid busts up his racer, which is about the only good writing you'll see in the book. Once the movie's opening scene kicks in, the parameters of restrictive writing closes in, limiting attention to detail, depth and casual flow till the back cover.

And the simple, easy style of writing certainly doesn't impress. Numerous occasions he'll begin a scene saying "Qui-Gon, Padme, See-Threepio and Jar Jar Binks returned to Watto's shop", or something to that effect. These lists of character names strung out one after another is about as boring as you can get. How about "Qui-Gon was the first to enter Watto's shop, Padme at his back; Jar Jar trailing her wake."

He falls into the same robotic writing that Luceno, Zahn and certain others have; repeating the same descriptive features, repetitive wordage and other annoying facets. While we didn't get Denning's infamous efflux word 30 times a book (only 3 in Joiner King!), I don't want to see Qui-Gon's "leonine" face described as such even half as much, or the kid's "pug face."

It was almost as if you just went through the motions, you didn't quite feel the real emotions and thoughts of the characters. A rather detached style, all too common nowadays with Star Wars. And don't say the book was based off a rigid manuscript and a few available movie shots---you don't need them to deeper decriptive surroundings, emotive thoughts and flow of action. Dialogue was equally stiff and I really don't see why characters just can't speak whatever extra they want, so long as the movie lines are of course used.

And when your career evolved around outright LOTR plagurism, it's insurmountably challenging to take seriously. Mountains of Mist, for Misty Mountains; Mount Dhoom for Mount Doom. I don't want to talk about it . . .

It was rare for a character to actually be wrtitten without their full names; I think saying Bibble instead of Sio Bibble would have sufficed, what do you think? And though Brookes' book had to specially cater to a global audience new to a SW book, having seen the movie, just why was a major name like Obi-Wan writen so rigidly and awkwardly? Was he ever not seething with impatience, anger, impetuous?

The final showdown almost saves this light pancake, and it was apparent how awkward it would be if Qui-Gon and McGreggor could only call Maul "dark warrior" or Sith Lord" every time, so he gives in and just says Darth Maul, despite the fact Qui-Gon's pov couldn't know his name. I can forgive that.

One of the rare books whose paperback came out mere months after its debut hardcover, but like Cloak of Deception, it's not catering to dedicated fans, but a broader audience. Of course, just how Maulie tracked them to Tatooine is still a mystery. But I want to know HOW, damn your Revaning mum.

6 / 10 all up. It's the stiff writing that does it in.

Haven't reviewed AOTC . . . and it's not worth my while or wiles. All right, turth is you don't want me to Mindflayer it.

 

What does everyone think of the novelization of Episode 3? or Labyrinth of Evil?

 

Both very strong books.

 

Yeah I loved Luceno's LOE and Stover's ROTS. I CANT WAIT till Dark Lord. Anyone know the date?

 

I know its due out in November. Possibly the 22nd, not positive on it tho. I was reading about it, but I don't remember exactly.

 

All of the novelizations are worth it... besides AotC, which is in the running for worst book ever, IMHO.

 

ROTS was a blast! One of the best Star Wars books I've read, which is odd, because reading stories I already know usualy puts me to sleep, which is why I never finished TPM or AOTC, or even looked at the OT. But since it was Stover, I knew I had to read it. And I must say that I loved it. Very strong, origonal writing, that ads so much more to the movie, and isn't just the script in a book. It compliments the movie very well.

 

Attack of the Clones was a better novelization than The Phantom Menace, At least in AOTC they had some extra scenes. TPM was basically the movie.