Generation X [Paperback]

Scott Lobdell (Author), Elliot S. Maggin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Generation X | Publication Date: June 1, 1997

Driven by guilt over the brutal slaughter of her former pupils, Emma Frost finds herself tormented by strange ghostly manifestations that are threatening her new students, and it is up to the teenage mutants of Generation X to stop the havoc. Original."

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572972238
• ISBN-13: 978-1572972230
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,444,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nice guest character & strengths don't offset weaknesses, November 30, 2000

By 

Preston Hunter (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generation X (Paperback)

The standout character of the novel is the new student from Nebraska, Walter Nowland, codenamed "Statis" because of his ability to manipulate ambient static electricity. Walter is the only really three-dimensional character in the book, and he largely saves it from being completely pedestrian. He is also largely figuring out what menace the group faces, and for thwarting it. Walter is a very endearing character with surprising depth and originality, but the regular characters actually suffer by comparison.

Unfortunately, this means that while Generation X isn't a complete waste of paper for fans of the series, it does little to supplement one's understanding of the regular characters. The novel leaves so much potential material untapped. Any one of the kids could easily be the focus of an entire novel. The fact that Generation X barely probed depths beyond what can be found in a regular issue of the comic book series was a disappointment.

The lack of great character insights and exploration is not even offset by a great action-packed plot or compelling villain. The main plot basically has most of the team filled with despair. I actually found this very unusual and interesting. But I'm sure that many readers won't find malaise a sufficiently exciting central theme.

One strong redeeming feature in the novel is Maggin's subtle but well-executed venture into areas of faith. Even when faced with a terminal illness, Walter has an amazingly positive attitude, due in part to guidance from beyond the grave (a ghost named Hiram) as well as faith in an afterlife. Maggin is a practicing Jew and has brought an intelligent, affirmative faith-based perspective to all of his novels, this one included. These elements are not overwhelming in the book, and are handled so generically and thoughtfully that they will not bother non-religious readers. But Maggin's appreciation of spirituality, ethical values, and non-quantifiable truths mark him as a student of such talented and well-rounded writers as C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesteron, Orson Scott Card, and J. R. R. Tolkien.

Unless you're a diehard fan of Generation X, Scott Lobdell, or Elliot S. Maggin, Generation X is a novel you should probably avoid. Fans of the series will find this prose treatment format interesting, especially as it was co-written by the series creator. Fans of Maggin's novels will find it interesting to see how this work fits in between his earlier Superman novels and his later masterpiece Kingdom Come. Thus, the novel may satisfy certain academic curiosities. But as a source of simple reading enjoyment, this book will only be read enthusiastically by young or fairly inexperienced readers.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but could have been better., September 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Generation X (Paperback)

I love Generation X, it's one of my favorite X-teams. I enjoy the story and the way it developed but there really was no depth to the story. Usually we get a kind of extra insight or understanding of these characters but I missed this in the book. I understand that you can't get into the mindset of these characters in a short novel but still..... Oer all it's a good plotline story if not character development-wise.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for X-men fans, December 4, 2003

By 

Stefan Legg - See all my reviews

This review is from: Generation X (Paperback)

If your are a X-men fan than this is the book for you

The main character that stands out in the book is Walter Nowland, codenamed "Statis" for his ability to control electricity. Walter has enherited the dreded legacy virus that kills many mutants. Even though he know he will die he seems to be more full of faith and joyfull than the others at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. He and Jonothon ("Chamber") later discover that the sadness that is going through everyone is being created by another mutant!
This mutant is making everyone see the horrible faults tha t they had made in their past and all they fear! Emma is trapped in this dream world, so to speak, seeing her former students the Hellions which were slaughtered in the past when she failed to save them. So it is up to Jonothon and Walter to save everyone from their despair.

The plot line of this book is different from that of others you might read because there are not many villians but most X-men fans will still enjoy it. The book does have a couple bad points about it though. It does not fully express each character in enough detial, and it is not long enough! I still wanted more of this great book!