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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I'm going through the new official Star Wars chronology from the very beginning. This was the first Star Wars novel I read. I liked the Clone Wars references, the appearance of Tarkin, the origins and mindset of Orson Krennic, the rise of the Empire and the setting up of Rogue One and the creation of the Death Star. But I was disappointed by the good guys. The Ersos were goofy. Saw Gerrera barely had a cameo. And the Rebels get a rather anti-climactic showdown that could have been depicted way better.
James Luceno’s books have the same vibe as the Andor show - greater focus on the socio-politics and inner machinations of the Empire rather than jedi/sith lore.
I had to read this one since I loved the Rogue One film so much. I had been saving it for a rainy day (or a blue one, in any case), and finally got into it. It's a precursor to the events of the film, looking into the emergence of Galen Erso as the premier scientific mind of the Empire.
The story begins as the Clone Wars come to an end. The Republic and the Separatists couldn't be at greater odds, and tensions continue to rise. In the midst of this, Galen and his pregnant wife Lyra are arrested and kept apart. They are thankfully brought together for the birth of their daughter Jyn, who, unbeknown to them, will make a heroic sacrifice in their name several years later.
The book brings in a few of the main characters from the film, including the vile villain Orson Krennic. He is exactly as pedantic as his film version, but at this stage, he has less confidence to go with it. Krennic's wish to commandeer the Empire's secret weapons programme is what reconnects him with Galen, and he is the reason why the Ersos never find any peace again.
As enjoyable as it is to get a backstory to these characters and their actions, I found the book to be largely superfluous. Its confused plotting and errant character development did these characters a grave injustice. Galen is a pacifist; a man married to his love of science and his work. What does Lyra see in him? Lyra, an adventurer and nature enthusiast, gives up her entire life to join him at his scientific labs - spending her time transcribing his work. Wait, what? Lyra from the film didn't look like the kind of person who would put her life on the back burner. She may have been on screen for a total of five minutes, but in those minutes her characterisation was clear - she has enough faith in her daughter to know she can take care of herself; she loves her husband enough to take on the Empire; she firmly believes in the Force and its ability to guide you, and most importantly, she dies fighting for what's right.
None of that comes across in the book. Galen and Lyra aren't a happy couple in love, but two people dutifully bonded to each other. Their feelings for each other aren't shown; their relationship is told to us. I found this incredibly disappointing. They spend the majority of the book apart - maybe not physically, but certainly existentially and ideologically.
Krennic too comes across as someone worryingly obsessed with Galen. There's a weird rivalry between Lyra and Krennic for the affections and attention of Galen (which sounds more romantic than it is), which plays out uncomfortably throughout the book. Krennic doesn't capitalise on the debts the Ersos owe him, not in a logical fashion in any case. He constantly attempts to drive a wedge between the couple, which is not a regular way of currying favour with the one person about to deliver you the perfect tool for a promotion.
Galen is written as a kind of messiah. Only he can create the master weapon, no one else. He starts the book as a company man - it's a bit of a leap, no matter which way you look at it. It would have been far more logical for him to have been working for a scientific company in the Republic, only for it to become absorbed into the Galactic Empire, which then proceeds to try and weaponise his work. A clash of ideologies is what sets Krennic and the Ersos apart, or at least that's what it looked like in the film. The author of the book, however, doesn't understand that. Hence we get an overly convoluted plot, none of which makes sense half the time.
Saw Guerrera, undoubtedly a fascinating character worthy of a few books, only comes in at the end, and plays nary a part in the Ersos' lives. Another baffling decision by the author - Saw is the first person Lyra turns to when Krennic arrives to capture them in the film, yet they have only one encounter in the book to build their trust of each other. That is the interesting relationship we wanted to know about!
Aside from the bizarre takes on the many relationships in the book, I also felt the author struggled to understand the machinations of the political worlds the book encompasses. Going from the Clone Wars era to that of the Imperial Senate run by Emperor Palpatine is a lot to figure out - add to that the knowledge that the Geonosians had a blueprint of the Death Star more than 30 years prior to the Death Star being built, and that Count Dooku, leader of the Separatists and secret follower of Palpatine is then betrayed by the Emperor himself, and you can see why the author drowned in film facts and new canon information. It's a muddled mess, trying to showcase a galactic conflict through the narrow vision of Krennic's ambition.
This book, despite its flaws, is an entertaining journey into a fictional world that so many of us adore. While not always delivering a coherent or cohesive plot, we see another side to these characters who have now become as important as those we first saw 40 years ago. There's no denying the magic of Star Wars. The Force isn't always with this book, but give it a shot if you want to step back into a galaxy far, far away...
The story begins as the Clone Wars come to an end. The Republic and the Separatists couldn't be at greater odds, and tensions continue to rise. In the midst of this, Galen and his pregnant wife Lyra are arrested and kept apart. They are thankfully brought together for the birth of their daughter Jyn, who, unbeknown to them, will make a heroic sacrifice in their name several years later.
The book brings in a few of the main characters from the film, including the vile villain Orson Krennic. He is exactly as pedantic as his film version, but at this stage, he has less confidence to go with it. Krennic's wish to commandeer the Empire's secret weapons programme is what reconnects him with Galen, and he is the reason why the Ersos never find any peace again.
As enjoyable as it is to get a backstory to these characters and their actions, I found the book to be largely superfluous. Its confused plotting and errant character development did these characters a grave injustice. Galen is a pacifist; a man married to his love of science and his work. What does Lyra see in him? Lyra, an adventurer and nature enthusiast, gives up her entire life to join him at his scientific labs - spending her time transcribing his work. Wait, what? Lyra from the film didn't look like the kind of person who would put her life on the back burner. She may have been on screen for a total of five minutes, but in those minutes her characterisation was clear - she has enough faith in her daughter to know she can take care of herself; she loves her husband enough to take on the Empire; she firmly believes in the Force and its ability to guide you, and most importantly, she dies fighting for what's right.
None of that comes across in the book. Galen and Lyra aren't a happy couple in love, but two people dutifully bonded to each other. Their feelings for each other aren't shown; their relationship is told to us. I found this incredibly disappointing. They spend the majority of the book apart - maybe not physically, but certainly existentially and ideologically.
Krennic too comes across as someone worryingly obsessed with Galen. There's a weird rivalry between Lyra and Krennic for the affections and attention of Galen (which sounds more romantic than it is), which plays out uncomfortably throughout the book. Krennic doesn't capitalise on the debts the Ersos owe him, not in a logical fashion in any case. He constantly attempts to drive a wedge between the couple, which is not a regular way of currying favour with the one person about to deliver you the perfect tool for a promotion.
Galen is written as a kind of messiah. Only he can create the master weapon, no one else. He starts the book as a company man - it's a bit of a leap, no matter which way you look at it. It would have been far more logical for him to have been working for a scientific company in the Republic, only for it to become absorbed into the Galactic Empire, which then proceeds to try and weaponise his work. A clash of ideologies is what sets Krennic and the Ersos apart, or at least that's what it looked like in the film. The author of the book, however, doesn't understand that. Hence we get an overly convoluted plot, none of which makes sense half the time.
Saw Guerrera, undoubtedly a fascinating character worthy of a few books, only comes in at the end, and plays nary a part in the Ersos' lives. Another baffling decision by the author - Saw is the first person Lyra turns to when Krennic arrives to capture them in the film, yet they have only one encounter in the book to build their trust of each other. That is the interesting relationship we wanted to know about!
Aside from the bizarre takes on the many relationships in the book, I also felt the author struggled to understand the machinations of the political worlds the book encompasses. Going from the Clone Wars era to that of the Imperial Senate run by Emperor Palpatine is a lot to figure out - add to that the knowledge that the Geonosians had a blueprint of the Death Star more than 30 years prior to the Death Star being built, and that Count Dooku, leader of the Separatists and secret follower of Palpatine is then betrayed by the Emperor himself, and you can see why the author drowned in film facts and new canon information. It's a muddled mess, trying to showcase a galactic conflict through the narrow vision of Krennic's ambition.
This book, despite its flaws, is an entertaining journey into a fictional world that so many of us adore. While not always delivering a coherent or cohesive plot, we see another side to these characters who have now become as important as those we first saw 40 years ago. There's no denying the magic of Star Wars. The Force isn't always with this book, but give it a shot if you want to step back into a galaxy far, far away...
An interesting prelude to Rogue One that details the building of the Death Star by the Empire by way of secret Projects On one of these secret Projects is Galen Erso who is researching Kyber Crystals and the potential to use them as an energy source instead of the source for light sabers. Unknown to him is the Empires plans for an ultimate weapons platform and their desire for a weapon of planet shaking power.
I enjoyed the back story but there was not a great amount.of action. Perhaps a 3.5
I enjoyed the back story but there was not a great amount.of action. Perhaps a 3.5
Another step into the larger world of Star Wars.
Set around the time of the prequels, just as the Clone Wars are coming to an end (certain events from 'Attack Of The Clones' and 'Revenge Of The Sith' are hinted at in the novel), 'Catalyst' focuses on the beginnings of the Death Star through the manipulative Orson Krennic as he oversees the construction and development of the battle station, including recruiting the Ersos, Galen and his pregnant wife Lyra, to the project.
Krennic was a good villain in this. He may as well have been one of moustache twirling villains of old, as he enacts his schemes. Enjoyed reading the thoughts of Lyra Erso and smuggler Has Obitt too, as the truth of what they're involved in slowly dawns on them.
Probably not an essential read before going to see 'Rogue One', but it does set up the back story for Krennic, the Ersos and certain characters from the film, which fans, like myself, will lap up.
Set around the time of the prequels, just as the Clone Wars are coming to an end (certain events from 'Attack Of The Clones' and 'Revenge Of The Sith' are hinted at in the novel), 'Catalyst' focuses on the beginnings of the Death Star through the manipulative Orson Krennic as he oversees the construction and development of the battle station, including recruiting the Ersos, Galen and his pregnant wife Lyra, to the project.
Krennic was a good villain in this. He may as well have been one of moustache twirling villains of old, as he enacts his schemes. Enjoyed reading the thoughts of Lyra Erso and smuggler Has Obitt too, as the truth of what they're involved in slowly dawns on them.
Probably not an essential read before going to see 'Rogue One', but it does set up the back story for Krennic, the Ersos and certain characters from the film, which fans, like myself, will lap up.
3.5? there were clearly Things this book had to accomplish, and it's certainly worth seeing lyra and galen and even orson humanized. it comes alive toward the end and really makes the opening scenes of rogue one just gut-wrenching. now on to the novelization!
TikTok Review: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJKXuxq3/
I'm classing this as a 3.5 out of 5. I loved getting into the details of how Galen was involved in the construction of the Death Star weapon, the research into Kyber crystals was fascinating to read about. But I found the story lagged a little in the middle and got a little bit too bogged down in details, which I understand is necessary, but it got a little bit too much.
I also found Krennic to be a bit of an unbelievable character, I never found him to be massively 'evil' in the film, but his motives are revealed in the book and they just seem a bit silly. Not to mention the strange rivalry between him and Tarkin, which did make more sense at the end, but in between it was a quite petty and annoying.
Otherwise it was a great story, it was great to get to know Lyra Erso more, she is such a great character and I would love to know more about her.
I also found Krennic to be a bit of an unbelievable character, I never found him to be massively 'evil' in the film, but his motives are revealed in the book and they just seem a bit silly. Not to mention the strange rivalry between him and Tarkin, which did make more sense at the end, but in between it was a quite petty and annoying.
Otherwise it was a great story, it was great to get to know Lyra Erso more, she is such a great character and I would love to know more about her.
Lots of juicy background information!
This novel certainly ties everything together.
Lyra Erso is another strong female in the Star Wars universe and I wish we had more of her.
Getting to know Galen Erso & Orson Krennick is very welcome and will no doubt come in very handy when viewing Rogue One.
If you WANT to know more before going to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story... Read this.
You will not be disappointed.
This novel certainly ties everything together.
Lyra Erso is another strong female in the Star Wars universe and I wish we had more of her.
Getting to know Galen Erso & Orson Krennick is very welcome and will no doubt come in very handy when viewing Rogue One.
If you WANT to know more before going to see Rogue One: A Star Wars Story... Read this.
You will not be disappointed.