The Force Awakens (Star Wars)

You've probably been wondering what people mean when they say some things were added. Was it entire scenes? Additional dialogue? Both. It does help explain some things I was a bit confused about. It almost replays the movie in my head, but that's almost because of everything added. That's not as vivid.

An awesome reboot of a classic. Someone tried to kill a great trilogy by messing with the originals and then putting out three awful movies, but this movie brings us back to what was great about Star Wars. The book helps fill in some of the blanks that hit the cutting room floor during the editing of the film.

Enjoyed it, there's a little new information that is probably from deleted scenes which I hope will show up in the dvd release. Interesting snippets that weren't in the movie indicate Kylo Ren knows who Rey is and where she came from before she was left on Jakku. Can't wait for episode VIII!

I usually really enjoy the novelizations of the Star Wars movies, but this lacked depth and emotion. There also wasn't as much creativity in the storytelling. It's hard to compare any to the wonderful Revenge of the Sith novelization though. Great for fans of the movie wanting to sink into the nostalgia of the film though.

It was okay. Some sequences missing from the picture were written here (Like how Poe survived the tie fighter crash). Other parts of the movie were better explained in the book. There were some slight differences in how the characters were finally depicted in the movie. It's a fun and light read that adds little more than a reenact if you have already seen the movie. I was hoping I could get some more information of the current Star Wars expanded universe, but there is little that this novel can offer.

Adds some information to the movie and clarifies some stuff that happened so fast that you couldn't keep up. Was true to the characters and brought back a lot of feelings about the characters. Was a little disappointed that it didn't follow the expanded universe stories. It would have been nice to know the storyline and be able to follow it.

Foster seems incapable of building excitement. Even the most thrilling of scenes are bogged down by an excess of words. It seemed as though the author, at times, was just trying to stretch his word count to meet a requirement. He's also apparently terrible at showing instead of telling. The last line of the book is a perfect example of both of these complaints. "She wondered what would happen next." Not only is that outright telling instead of showing, but it's a meaningless do-nothing line that cheapens the whole resolution.

I have no major problems with the story itself, that's a 4/5. But the writing ranges from mediocre to terrible - a 1.5/5.

MEH! I purchased the book because I had hoped there might be some more meat to the movie story, but alas I was mistaken. The book is pretty much exactly like the movie. Alan Dean Fosters writing is pretty good, but not as good as other books he's written in the Star Wars universe (e.g. Splinter of the Minds Eye). So if you're looking for more backstory, you will be disappointed.

Alan Dean Foster is the dean of the novelization, and a fine writer in his own worlds. I'd planned to read this before seeing the movie, but didn't because my kids got us tickets for the opening night. It's a good read, though - I'm always glad to say "I read the book!"

Bland narrative for the movie that reintroduced us to Star Wars. There were a couple of scenes from the movie that I wanted more explanation on, and this book did not deliver. There is a added dialog and descriptions but no added insight. I really wanted to like this book but it bored me to the end and simply felt like a person describing the movie. I would have preferred a person telling this story despite there being a movie including inner monologue, maybe a bit more history, something to make it come alive. If you have seen the movie, don't bother with this second hand narration which adds nothing to the story.

The novelization makes the movie better. I have gotten good at suspending disbelief and just going with the concept of the story. Herein we get from A to Z without, imho, too many holes. This far exceeds Episodes 1-3. I read some of the backstory, too, which puts more context on the movie and the book.

See the movie instead.
Although this has a few small, minor insights into characters the movie doesn't show. This book is basically just a novelization of the script. A few tidbits more, but it's stuff you picked up on in the movie. Eveb the dialogue is 98% the same.
It is well written though.
The movie also gave A LOT more info (although it happened quick) when Rey touches the Skywalker lightsaber. I was hoping the book would describe what she saw better. It barely describes anything.

SPOILERS!!!!!

If you saw the movie but want more of the inner thoughts, then you want to read this book. If you wondered how Poe got off that sand heap, you want to read this book.
It was the perfect companion to an epic movie.
May the Force be with you.

I enjoyed reading the book and had fairly low expectations going in for anything more than 'just' a novelization of the movie. I would have hoped for far more internal dialogue, or backstory, but any additional information at all would have been good. Still, a good read if you liked the movie or even Star Wars in general.

Alan Dean Foster has done what he does well: cleared up some scenes that were vague in the movie, filled in some action that might have been dropped by the filmmaker, and given us some backstory that helped explain why characters did what they did. Simply enough written for even the very youngest of readers. Without the special effects and warp-speed features of the big screen, though, the action is lackluster and stunted.

Sadly pedestrian writing. Normally I like Foster's work but it really lacked emotion. If you go back and read his "The Tar-Aiym Krang" or even "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" they are significantly superior in writing quality. Really felt phoned in.

When the movie came out I was rather critical, many things about it I thought were lacking to help explain seemingly important details. The book helped clear up a fair amount of those issues and brought life into scenes I thought were dull in the film. I encourage this for all Star Wars fans but indeed people that thought the movie was lacking. Good book overall.

Like five out of the previous six "Star Wars" novelizations, it is a fairly rote telling of the story. The only feelings of excitement to be had were in scenes from the original script that were excised from the final film too late to change the book.

Contrast that with Foster's novelization of the original film. Not just a by-the-numbers changing of a script to prose, his "Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker" was a rollicking space yarn.

I was really looking forward to Foster's return. At least I still own the first book.

Great addition to the Force Awakens movie. This story goes more into detail of all the different stories that are followed in the movie but were choppy or not fully explained. In my opinion a much better story and general flow compared to the movie. There is a better overall idea to the progression and ideals that each character has. Awesomely paired with Star Wars: Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka.

I've read other adaptations by Foster before and found they added depth and motivation to the movie characters. I can't say I received much of either in this one. I found myself questioning if the author had suffered some trauma, but it was suggested to me that he possibly just lacked motivation.

Spoilers aside, after watching the movie I had hoped for some answers, which it seems will have to wait. Wit and humor will fill you as you turn these pages, and it is just as entertaining as the film.

I've mentioned that we have seen Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens a few times in the theatre. So far, it has been three times. Tomorrow, Sunday, we are seeing it for the fourth and last time in the theatres. AMC is only offering four promotional prints, and I think it has been amazing to see the types of records a film of this has broken already.

When I heard there was a novelization that filled in some of the movie's more noticeable holes, I preordered (back in 2015, of all things!) and got it yesterday, despite a copious delay from the USPS (I think it had to do with weather). Anyway, it is safe in my hands, and read to boot!

Rather than spoil things for those who might not have seen the movie, I am going to keep it very vague. But, I will tell you that reading this book is a MUST for any Star Wars fan, or any of those who may have questions about the film, itself. I was impressed by how much seemed to be edited out (probably for time) and that made sense when superimposing the book's text or dialogue with the movie. I cannot stress how many questions (apart from the big one) that the novelization by Alan Dean Foster answers.

It is a dark time, as the First Order readies a weapon that will most certainly destroy any planets that disagree with their policies and procedures. But there is hope, in the form of a small map that will point the way to the Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker. And, as Skywalker disappeared years ago, the First Order (and Kylo Ren, a Sith on the verge of bringing back the mantle of Darth Vader) uses all available resources to find the map. But, as the droid carrying it befriends two humans who partake a quest to get the droid back to the Rebellion, the window to the First Order finding Skywalker gets smaller and smaller. Will the Rebellion triumph, or with the darkness of the Sith overpower the small, scattered group of rebels?

Alan Dean Foster is well-known within the sci-fi and fantasy genre, and I can't think of someone more prepared for writing the novelization (with one or two exceptions). However, this novelization appears to be fantastic and a true treat for any Star Wars fan. Pick it up in hardcover, ebook or audio format from your favorite retailer today. You won't be sorry!

I was so, so disappointed by this novelization. I picked it up right after I saw the movie for the first time, because I was hoping the book would answer some questions. It did, but it was so dry that I regretted doing it. I should've spent the money on another movie ticket. There's no emotional tone to the book at all, the characters are wooden, and the descriptive writing is lackluster at best.

If you're thinking about it, don't bother. If you're a collector of the movie novelizations, just don't read it.

What I loved most was the additional information. It provided reasons and motivations that were not apparent in the film. This is also what I didn't like in that it lacked the heart and action of the movie. To me anyway.

Good, but would have best been released BEFORE the movie as they dis with Eps 1-3. Kinda hard to stay motivated to read. Kinda use it more as reference material for the details of a scene rather than it being an adventurous read.

This novel of the screenplay was well done. It was enjoyable even having seen the movie several times. As only a book can it enlightened many of the scenes from the movie through details unable to be given on the screen.
If you are a Star Wars fan give it a read.

I saw the movie first obviously, they arranged it that way with the late release of the book. That being said, I expected more detail in the book that what was given in the movie, more inner thought, not just enough to scrape by with.

Actually a very well-written novel and compelling in its own right. It has a lot of scenes, explanations and characterization missing from the film. It's also unexpectedly humorous, as when BB-8 (BeeBee-Ate) thinks about eating (get it?) as a concept he will never understand. Kylo Ren is also FASCINATING in this portrayal, and you really get a much better understanding of who he is, where he's coming from and what drives him.

I saw the movie first obviously, they arranged it that way with the late release of the book. That being said, I expected more detail in the book that what was given in the movie, more inner thought, not just enough to scrape by with.

Actually a very well-written novel and compelling in its own right. It has a lot of scenes, explanations and characterization missing from the film. It's also unexpectedly humorous, as when BB-8 (BeeBee-Ate) thinks about eating (get it?) as a concept he will never understand. Kylo Ren is also FASCINATING in this portrayal, and you really get a much better understanding of who he is, where he's coming from and what drives him.

Thankfully the author didn't just broaden the script in this entertaining book. I had a better sense of the characters and had more relevant background revealed in this book which makes me want to see the movie again in a newly informed context.

It follows the plot of the movie. There was some extra information but not as much as i had hoped. It was still a good read and worth the time. it did fill in a few blanks without answer any of the big question which should be expected.

I appreciated what would have normally been the 'deleted scenes' in the novelization. It gave some additional back-story that was beneficial. I plan on re-reading it a few times in anticipation of the next theatrical installment.

The book was almost exactly the movie, with a few exceptions. There were parts of the book that were not in the movie, which helped to give more of a background on the characters and the story. It made me fall in love with the characters all over again.

Much better than the movie was! And that's saying quite a bit! I liked the movie very much but there were several areas in it which suffered due to important aspects being glossed over or very badly implemented in the movie. For example the book details how Poe survived on Tatooine, which is very badly glossed over in the movie. But the best part is they gave a MUCH better explanation for how the planet/deathstar worked in the book. I really wish they'd used that in the movie because the "it absorbs a star to power the gun" explanation was just flat out stupid and unbelievable. There were lots of other areas where the book just did a much much better job of explaining how and why things that just 'happened' in the movie were actually coming about.

Definitely worth a read! But try to get it on sale or with a gift card or something rather than spending hard earned cash on it. I got it with Google Play money earned through the Google Rewards app. I love Star Wars but the novels are massively over priced.