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chappellmw90's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
altruest's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good, very obviously a prequel to a much bigger story. I am curious about the saga of the seven sons now though, I'll probably try to read it at some point.
slapshottechnology's review against another edition
4.0
Was actually surprised that this was a graphic novel. Interesting pre-quel. Answered some questions and did a nice job to help visualize certain events (the Burton for one) that were so crucial to the series.
kemitix's review against another edition
2.0
I haven't read any of [a:Kevin J. Anderson|4845|Kevin J. Anderson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1215310030p2/4845.jpg]'s books before, but as I was planning to read his [b:Hidden Empire|1428655|Hidden Empire (Saga of Seven Suns, #1)|Kevin J. Anderson|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329298273s/1428655.jpg|883419] I decided to whet my appetite with this prequel novella.
This is an adaptation of the graphic novel he wrote. Sadly those origins shine through in the pacing, plotting and dialogue. At first, before I knew of the graphic novel origins, I thought I was reading a synopsis of the story. It was very thread bare on details and simplistic in characterisation.
I enjoy the occasional graphic novel, and in that medium, such brevity is appreciated. In prose it comes across as rushed. Stannis is a cardboard power behind a comically weak king. There is no attempt to explain how the relationship of the Chairman and the figurehead King is able to function. Other than to assume that the populace of Earth are spoon-fed from a mass media under an absolutely authoritarian government. Cross-fertilisation with the alien Ildiran is glossed over. The treatment of Ramirez, regardless of previous actions, is abhorrent, yet we are expected to sympathise with Chrysta.
Reading the rest of the novella with the realisation that it was a graphic novel in prose form helped in that I could see the pages of the book in my mind complete with word balloons. While not ideal, it at least allowed me to get through the novella.
It hasn't put me off reading Hidden Empire, but it better be a vast improvement. I wouldn't want to read an entire novel, never mind an entire series, that lacked any depth.
The setting is interesting and I hope that with the broader canvas of an entire novel and series that it will be fleshed out a lot more and brought to life.
This is an adaptation of the graphic novel he wrote. Sadly those origins shine through in the pacing, plotting and dialogue. At first, before I knew of the graphic novel origins, I thought I was reading a synopsis of the story. It was very thread bare on details and simplistic in characterisation.
I enjoy the occasional graphic novel, and in that medium, such brevity is appreciated. In prose it comes across as rushed. Stannis is a cardboard power behind a comically weak king. There is no attempt to explain how the relationship of the Chairman and the figurehead King is able to function. Other than to assume that the populace of Earth are spoon-fed from a mass media under an absolutely authoritarian government. Cross-fertilisation with the alien Ildiran is glossed over. The treatment of Ramirez, regardless of previous actions, is abhorrent, yet we are expected to sympathise with Chrysta.
Reading the rest of the novella with the realisation that it was a graphic novel in prose form helped in that I could see the pages of the book in my mind complete with word balloons. While not ideal, it at least allowed me to get through the novella.
It hasn't put me off reading Hidden Empire, but it better be a vast improvement. I wouldn't want to read an entire novel, never mind an entire series, that lacked any depth.
The setting is interesting and I hope that with the broader canvas of an entire novel and series that it will be fleshed out a lot more and brought to life.
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