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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
fast-paced
Did you watch Rogue One and wonder why you had no real backstory on the relationship, both personal and professional, between Galen Erso and Orson Krennic? Did you want more information? Like, a lot more? Then this is the book for you. In it, we get a very detailed look at the Erso family and their ties, both good and bad, with both the burgeoning Empire and status-seeking Engineering Officer Orson Krennic. We also get a lot of information about the development of the Death Star as a weapon of the Empire. It’s a pretty good book, to be honest. And, no, the focus is not on Jyn Erso. It is, in fact, on Krennic, Erso, his wife Lyra, a smuggler named Has Obitt, and Moff Wilhuff Tarkin. Give it a go if you like a little more Star Wars minutiae in your life. Avoid if you’re perfectly happy with what you’ve received in the films alone.
Catalyst is the most deliberate and contemplative of the Star Wars canon novels I have read thus far. As a prelude to Rogue One, it chiefly explores the relationships between Galen and Lyra Erso, and Orson Krennic. It also details Galen's study of kyber crystals, continuing the new canon's fascination with the Force outside of the Jedi, and the physical construction of the Death Star.
Spanning somewhere around four years, Catalyst is a slow-burn with little in the way of action as one may expect it from a Star Wars novel, but the story presented here is nonetheless intriguing. Early on, mysteries surrounding the genesis of the Death Star plans are unraveled, some of which have bothered me since the release of Attack of the Clones back in 2002. Looking forward, the novel provides a hefty amount of character development between its core trio, as well as Governor Tarkin, whose cat-and-mouse game with Krennic was, for me, probably the most entertaining aspect of the story.
Seeing where Jyn Erso comes from, and how her parents' sometimes conflicting views led to her unorthodox upbringing, informs much of what we see from her in the Rogue One film. (It does not, however, have much about her relationship with Saw Gerrera, which will be explored further in the upcoming Rebel Rising.)
The character that benefits the most from this story, however, is undoubtedly Lyra Erso. Very briefly appearing in the movie, Catalyst does a wonderful job of making that scene all the more impacting, and really makes the reader understand her actions, and what has led her and her family to that crossroads.
Overall, not much remarkable took place in this book. Characters did not undergo radical changes throughout to spin them from Catalyst heroes to Rogue One villains, and there were no epic battles that changed the course of galactic history. But that wasn't the goal to begin with. Catalyst was meant to be, and succeeds by any standard at being, a character study, building up Galen, Lyra, Krennic, Tarkin, Jyn, and Saw slowly toward their places at the start of the film. Non-revelatory does not equate to boring, as Catalyst is deeply interesting and engaging throughout for any fans who want to know more about these characters, and the events leading into Rogue One. A very worthwhile story.
Spanning somewhere around four years, Catalyst is a slow-burn with little in the way of action as one may expect it from a Star Wars novel, but the story presented here is nonetheless intriguing. Early on, mysteries surrounding the genesis of the Death Star plans are unraveled, some of which have bothered me since the release of Attack of the Clones back in 2002. Looking forward, the novel provides a hefty amount of character development between its core trio, as well as Governor Tarkin, whose cat-and-mouse game with Krennic was, for me, probably the most entertaining aspect of the story.
Seeing where Jyn Erso comes from, and how her parents' sometimes conflicting views led to her unorthodox upbringing, informs much of what we see from her in the Rogue One film. (It does not, however, have much about her relationship with Saw Gerrera, which will be explored further in the upcoming Rebel Rising.)
The character that benefits the most from this story, however, is undoubtedly Lyra Erso. Very briefly appearing in the movie, Catalyst does a wonderful job of making that scene all the more impacting, and really makes the reader understand her actions, and what has led her and her family to that crossroads.
Overall, not much remarkable took place in this book. Characters did not undergo radical changes throughout to spin them from Catalyst heroes to Rogue One villains, and there were no epic battles that changed the course of galactic history. But that wasn't the goal to begin with. Catalyst was meant to be, and succeeds by any standard at being, a character study, building up Galen, Lyra, Krennic, Tarkin, Jyn, and Saw slowly toward their places at the start of the film. Non-revelatory does not equate to boring, as Catalyst is deeply interesting and engaging throughout for any fans who want to know more about these characters, and the events leading into Rogue One. A very worthwhile story.
Maybe this will become more interesting after having seen Rogue One but it very heavy on post Clone War politics. Not bad but not all that exciting. I've always found it hard to follow the separatist storyline. It seems overly complicated while still being really uninteresting so I found myself spacing out during chapters about the Geonosians and whether or not the separatists under Count Dooku were also trying to build a Death Star. In fact, I can't even remember how (or if) that question was answered.
So again, maybe this will end up being interesting backstory after the movie comes out but for now it seems like an entirely unnecessary story.
So again, maybe this will end up being interesting backstory after the movie comes out but for now it seems like an entirely unnecessary story.
Good read! Last couple of chapters are very very good!
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this is my 2nd JL book - so I guess there’s something I like about his writing style. I thought the story was interesting but I must admit, there were times I thought “oh, that was it?”. Cool to read more of the backstory on the Dstar though, although I was expecting Galen to know about everything wayyyyy sooner. Not my fav SW book but I enjoyed reading it :)