Rogue One: A Star Wars Story by Alexander Freed
$1.99
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- By: Alexander Freed
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Series: Star Wars, Book 22
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy
Publisher's Summary
Go beyond the film with a novelization featuring new scenes and expanded material.
As the shadows of the Empire loom ever larger across the galaxy, so do deeply troubling rumors. The Rebellion has learned of a sinister Imperial plot to bring entire worlds to their knees. Deep in Empire-dominated space, a machine of unimaginable destructive power is nearing completion. A weapon too terrifying to contemplate...and a threat that may be too great to overcome.
If the worlds at the Empire's mercy stand any chance, it lies with an unlikely band of allies: Jyn Erso, a resourceful young woman seeking vengeance; Cassian Andor, a war-weary rebel commander; Bodhi Rook, a defector from the Empire's military; Chirrut Ïmwe, a blind holy man; his crack-shot companion, Baze Malbus; and K-2SO, a deadly Imperial droid turned against its former masters. In their hands rests the new hope that could turn the tide toward a crucial Rebellion victory - if only they can capture the plans to the Empire's new weapon.
But even as they race toward their dangerous goal, the specter of their ultimate enemy - a monstrous world unto itself - darkens the skies, waiting to herald the Empire's brutal reign with a burst of annihilation worthy of its dreaded name: Death Star.
©2016 Alexander Freed (P)2016 Random House AudioBooks
Rod
Better than the movie
The original Star Wars was a space-faring Boys Own Adventure story and, while the second trilogy (episodes 1, 2 and 3) forgot his and focussed more on galactic politics and teen angst, Disney has restored Star Wars to its former glory.
The expanded novel universe of Star Wars, like many popular film and television tie-ins, is young adult fiction that should, nonetheless, appeal to the greater masses. Based on the film, rather than the other way around, the novel by Alexander Freed is a relatively accurate depiction of what’s seen on the big screen. Where books succeed over films however, is the added depth of characters’ inner thoughts and deeper motivations. Freed’s novel excels in this, making more sense of some of the dubious character decisions depicted in the film.
Jonathan Davis narrates the audiobook of Freed’s novel with the aid of sound effects and music, making it just as exciting and breathtaking as the film. The action levels are high and the descriptive prose of the book comes to life under Davis’ excellent narration.
This is one audiobook that is read quite slowly, possibly due to the targeted audience, but kicking the playback speed up to 1.25x or more only enhances the thrills.
The action in the audiobook, surprisingly, feels faster-paced than the film because of all the extra details thrown in about the characters and events. It’s an exciting listen that is sure to please everyone, not just Star Wars fans. Rogue One is a prequel story to the original 1977 Star Wars film, so it’s a great starting point for newcomers to the franchise who won’t require any background knowledge to enjoy this new Girls Own Adventure story.
Read my full review and other audiobook reviews under the Entertainment section of glamadelaide dot com dot au.
4 people found this helpful
S W
Filled the movie out nicely
I liked the movie and this filled out the story nicely so the characters were bought more to life and you got to know what drove them.
well worth the listen