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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
it's slow! until the last few chapters worth it just for the end
What happened, James Luceno? What happened with this book? Were you given a horrifically short timeline to write? Did Disney reject all the better, more interesting plots you proposed to them until all you were left with was dull characters who care way too much about lightsaber crystals? I'm confused. I don't think I've ever before been so incredibly bored by a Star Wars novel.
That really is the major flaw of this book: that it's boring. There's less a plot with key moments or turning points or character revelations as there are just... things that happen in chronological order. We have very few characters to follow in general in Catalyst. Those characters are Lyra and Galen Urso, Orson Krennic and occasionally Tarkin blessedly shows up to give me someone to care about. But primarily it's an ongoing day in the sad life of Galen and Lyra while Krennic putters around trying to manipulate Galen into working on the Death Star project. Lyra is fine, as a character but primarily is put in the "nagging wife" category, which in itself is frustrating because the "nagging" she's doing is attempting to explain to Galen that it's incredibly obvious Krennic is a bad dude and that there's all sorts of shady nonsense going on.
The main issue is Galen. He's just.... so boring. He's portrayed as a moral opposer to the war in the beginning of the book, but it's not really for any ethical reasons. He just wants to be left alone to study crystals. Pretty much all he cares about are crystals. Remember that nagging? Most of it is immediately brushed aside when she brings up evidence of Krennic/the Empire's evil machinations because "but Lyra! He brought me lightsaber crystals to study!"
This book was incredibly disappointing. There was little to no driving force in the plot, most of the characters felt flat and it told me little leading up to Rogue One that I didn't already know. There are some memorable and well done points in the book, but it's not worth the endless slog of Galen Urso having a bad day and just wanting to research his crystals. For his part, James Luceno does a fine job most of the time with the actual writing of the novel, but it does seem rushed at times. One positive thing I can say about Catalyst is that it solidified my desire to read Tarkin, also written by Mr. Luceno. Tarkin was one of the few characters in this book who shone brightly on the page and were interesting. Anytime he showed up was a happy time for me. I only hope I'm not as let down with Tarkin as I was with Catalyst.
That really is the major flaw of this book: that it's boring. There's less a plot with key moments or turning points or character revelations as there are just... things that happen in chronological order. We have very few characters to follow in general in Catalyst. Those characters are Lyra and Galen Urso, Orson Krennic and occasionally Tarkin blessedly shows up to give me someone to care about. But primarily it's an ongoing day in the sad life of Galen and Lyra while Krennic putters around trying to manipulate Galen into working on the Death Star project. Lyra is fine, as a character but primarily is put in the "nagging wife" category, which in itself is frustrating because the "nagging" she's doing is attempting to explain to Galen that it's incredibly obvious Krennic is a bad dude and that there's all sorts of shady nonsense going on.
The main issue is Galen. He's just.... so boring. He's portrayed as a moral opposer to the war in the beginning of the book, but it's not really for any ethical reasons. He just wants to be left alone to study crystals. Pretty much all he cares about are crystals. Remember that nagging? Most of it is immediately brushed aside when she brings up evidence of Krennic/the Empire's evil machinations because "but Lyra! He brought me lightsaber crystals to study!"
This book was incredibly disappointing. There was little to no driving force in the plot, most of the characters felt flat and it told me little leading up to Rogue One that I didn't already know. There are some memorable and well done points in the book, but it's not worth the endless slog of Galen Urso having a bad day and just wanting to research his crystals. For his part, James Luceno does a fine job most of the time with the actual writing of the novel, but it does seem rushed at times. One positive thing I can say about Catalyst is that it solidified my desire to read Tarkin, also written by Mr. Luceno. Tarkin was one of the few characters in this book who shone brightly on the page and were interesting. Anytime he showed up was a happy time for me. I only hope I'm not as let down with Tarkin as I was with Catalyst.
tense
slow-paced
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.
I enjoyed Catalyst, though I can see why some might consider it dull or slowly-paced. Given that the book is essentially setting the scene for the Rogue One movie, it is fairly light on action and heavy on exposition, dialogue, and internal ruminations from the characters. Even in instances where there is action, in fact, like some of the battles between resistance fighters and Imperials later in the book, much of it takes place outside of the actual narrative, and we are simply told what happens later. But James Luceno is a fairly solid writer, one of the better ones by Star Wars novel standards, and the book kept my interest in part because he does a good job of developing the characters of Orson Krennic and Galen & Lyra Erso.
The dynamic between Krennic and Galen in particular is an interesting one, and the fact that Krennic is able believably go toe-to-toe with Tarkin in terms of political maneuverings is impressive itself. Their rivalry was enjoyable to see develop. While Galen himself is an interesting as the eccentric, brilliant scientist whose altruistic research is being twisted for military purposes, some of the scenes involving his research into kyber crystals tended to become too technical and did drag at time. Nevertheless, the juxtaposition of the science behind the crystals and the alchemy-like nature of the Force was an interesting theme. And ultimately, it was interesting to see this new canon's take on the construction and development of the Death Star, with various scientists working on various components, with little or no knowledge about what the others were doing, or even what the project actually was.
Overall, I certainly wouldn't rate this among my favorite Star Wars novels by any stretch, but it made for an interesting back story leading up to the Rogue One film, and has made me that much more excited to see the movie.
The dynamic between Krennic and Galen in particular is an interesting one, and the fact that Krennic is able believably go toe-to-toe with Tarkin in terms of political maneuverings is impressive itself. Their rivalry was enjoyable to see develop. While Galen himself is an interesting as the eccentric, brilliant scientist whose altruistic research is being twisted for military purposes, some of the scenes involving his research into kyber crystals tended to become too technical and did drag at time. Nevertheless, the juxtaposition of the science behind the crystals and the alchemy-like nature of the Force was an interesting theme. And ultimately, it was interesting to see this new canon's take on the construction and development of the Death Star, with various scientists working on various components, with little or no knowledge about what the others were doing, or even what the project actually was.
Overall, I certainly wouldn't rate this among my favorite Star Wars novels by any stretch, but it made for an interesting back story leading up to the Rogue One film, and has made me that much more excited to see the movie.
I had high expectations for this book.
I'd heard that it was essential reading before seeing Rogue One, that it added so much depth and backstory. The characters developed, and the scenario explained.
Most of that is true. It does add a lot of depth to the backstory of what I assume we will be seeing in Rogue One.
But on it's own? I found it utterly dull. Completely boring.
Perhaps it is because I was wanting something from this book that it was never going to give me, but I found that while the story is more or less self contained to this book, all it is doing is explaining what the situation is that leads to the Death Star being built. It's so boring. It's a lot of exposition and characters who I couldn't care less about or even characters I would like to care about; making me not care about them.
It's not all bad and there are certainly worse Star Wars novels out there. But I was so disappointed with what Catalyst dished out. I knew a few chapters in that this novel wasn't for me. Ultimately, I enjoyed the relationship between Orsen and Galen and all the information on Kyber Crystals. Tarkin had a good presence also. Everything else I've pretty much forgotten. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you like the new Star Wars canon novels, you actually might enjoy this. It's not badly written and does provide a good look into the lead up of the Rogue One story. Sadly, it wasn't for me.
Overall rating: 2.5 stars
I'd heard that it was essential reading before seeing Rogue One, that it added so much depth and backstory. The characters developed, and the scenario explained.
Most of that is true. It does add a lot of depth to the backstory of what I assume we will be seeing in Rogue One.
But on it's own? I found it utterly dull. Completely boring.
Perhaps it is because I was wanting something from this book that it was never going to give me, but I found that while the story is more or less self contained to this book, all it is doing is explaining what the situation is that leads to the Death Star being built. It's so boring. It's a lot of exposition and characters who I couldn't care less about or even characters I would like to care about; making me not care about them.
It's not all bad and there are certainly worse Star Wars novels out there. But I was so disappointed with what Catalyst dished out. I knew a few chapters in that this novel wasn't for me. Ultimately, I enjoyed the relationship between Orsen and Galen and all the information on Kyber Crystals. Tarkin had a good presence also. Everything else I've pretty much forgotten. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you like the new Star Wars canon novels, you actually might enjoy this. It's not badly written and does provide a good look into the lead up of the Rogue One story. Sadly, it wasn't for me.
Overall rating: 2.5 stars
Rogue One is the best Star Wars movie, so I figured that this would be interesting to read, turns out it was great and I'm glad I learned about their relationship, it actually makes the movie even better