This novel is being billed as “This is the story you must read before
the brand-new movie hits theaters!” So, it is a must read for Terminator
fans? I guess so. Does it give special insight into the movie? Not sure
as I have not seen the movie yet but I will assume that you will be
able to enjoy the movie without reading the novel.
In reality this is a self contained story with a beginning, middle and end. There is no real special insight into the Terminator Salvation universe to be gleamed from this novel (I use the term Terminator Salvation universe to mean the time line that is created by the upcoming movie as there are numerous other time lines created by the previous Terminator movies and TV Show). The book is just a fun and light read that will entertain you between other challenging novels.
There are essentially two main plot threads running through this novel that converge in the end with a huge battle against Skynet. The first involves a young John Connor leading his own resistance cell. The generals in the larger resistance army are not willing to fold Connor’s cell into their army unless they can prove they are ready for prime time. So Connor works up a daring plan that will be giant defeat to the terminators and Skynet. I am not sure why the requirements are so stringent to become an official resistance soldiers since most of the human race was killed off, you think that they would need anyone and everyone to help fight.
The second and more interesting story line involves Sergeant Justo Orozco. This thread follows the typical post-apocalyptic theme in which a group of survivors band together to form some assemblance of a civilization. Sergeant Orozco was a US Marine before Judgment Day and after he becomes head of security for a community known as Moldering Lost Ashes. They have fought off gangs in the area and have become somewhat comfortable in their lives until the big dog on the block, Skynet, takes notice and decides to wipe them out. Kyle Reese and a new character, Star, are also residents of Moldering Lost Ashes but they never really add much to the story except for constantly running from the terminators.
The third act consists of Connor’s cell and Moldering Lost Ashes joining forces to fight against Skynet that is both thrilling and exciting as I suspect that the movie will be.
What I liked: The action sequences are well done. But I generally enjoyed reading about the day to day struggles of Moldering Lost Ashes to become a viable community more than the battle against Skynet. Maybe it is because this ground has been covered numerous times before making the other plot line more interesting.
What I didn’t like: No Summer Glau. I also would have liked more of insight into Skynet and how it operates. But then again, maybe it is better to have a faceless enemy whose only goal to kill all humans.
Last word: Mr. Zahn is no stranger to movie tie-in novels and can generally squeeze the material for all it’s worth. This novel is no exception. Overall, it was a fun read that I found myself picking it up more and more instead of some other serious Sci-Fi novels that I have laying around.
In reality this is a self contained story with a beginning, middle and end. There is no real special insight into the Terminator Salvation universe to be gleamed from this novel (I use the term Terminator Salvation universe to mean the time line that is created by the upcoming movie as there are numerous other time lines created by the previous Terminator movies and TV Show). The book is just a fun and light read that will entertain you between other challenging novels.
There are essentially two main plot threads running through this novel that converge in the end with a huge battle against Skynet. The first involves a young John Connor leading his own resistance cell. The generals in the larger resistance army are not willing to fold Connor’s cell into their army unless they can prove they are ready for prime time. So Connor works up a daring plan that will be giant defeat to the terminators and Skynet. I am not sure why the requirements are so stringent to become an official resistance soldiers since most of the human race was killed off, you think that they would need anyone and everyone to help fight.
The second and more interesting story line involves Sergeant Justo Orozco. This thread follows the typical post-apocalyptic theme in which a group of survivors band together to form some assemblance of a civilization. Sergeant Orozco was a US Marine before Judgment Day and after he becomes head of security for a community known as Moldering Lost Ashes. They have fought off gangs in the area and have become somewhat comfortable in their lives until the big dog on the block, Skynet, takes notice and decides to wipe them out. Kyle Reese and a new character, Star, are also residents of Moldering Lost Ashes but they never really add much to the story except for constantly running from the terminators.
The third act consists of Connor’s cell and Moldering Lost Ashes joining forces to fight against Skynet that is both thrilling and exciting as I suspect that the movie will be.
What I liked: The action sequences are well done. But I generally enjoyed reading about the day to day struggles of Moldering Lost Ashes to become a viable community more than the battle against Skynet. Maybe it is because this ground has been covered numerous times before making the other plot line more interesting.
What I didn’t like: No Summer Glau. I also would have liked more of insight into Skynet and how it operates. But then again, maybe it is better to have a faceless enemy whose only goal to kill all humans.
Last word: Mr. Zahn is no stranger to movie tie-in novels and can generally squeeze the material for all it’s worth. This novel is no exception. Overall, it was a fun read that I found myself picking it up more and more instead of some other serious Sci-Fi novels that I have laying around.
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