Customer Reviews

Generation X

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I thought this book was one of the best books I have ever read. A perfectly drawn Gen X reality. It reflects the comic book perfectly.

I really enjoyed reading this book. X-Men are my favorite Marvel Comics characters, and I like reading about all their adventures. This book talks about a sub group of theirs, and deals with the normal issue of us trying to fit in while being different, as in their case being mutants. They are able to help each other out in the toughest of times. It also great how Emma deals with the guilt of her past, and trys not to include it in her current life, she's a brave person. This book is one that must be read by all mutant lovers.

This book spotlights the newcomers in the X-books, the kids of Generation X. These kids are witty and intelligent, and they use their mutant powers for good. I think this book is really good, especially since it is written by the writer of the series, Scott Lobdell. A very good read

I liked this novel. It's actually better then the main X-Men novels, with the story centering on the characters and not on long, drawn out plots that go no where. (Which is what we see in many X-Men stories today). Elliot S. Maggin is a good writer here, developing Lobdell's plot for Generation X into a smooth story from start to finish, A surprise villian turns up in this novel, which adds to the suspence right up to the final chapter.

I am a huge fan of the X-title comic books (or at least when I can afford to buy them) and I usually find them wonderful to read. I am also a fan of the comic books that have been written as novels (I've read the death of superman, a couple of spiderman books, and golden's first book in his x-man trilogy) and I've found most of them to be excellent. Especially the X-titles. But this book just didn't have it. The characters were never developed (they spent most of the time moping around), the plot was weak. The drawings were good though. There just didn't seem to be a purpose to this story. I know the authors can do better work, and I hope to see them do better in the future. This book makes me want to only read a comic-book-turned-novel if it has Chistopher Golden's name afterwards. But, if they write another X-book, I'll give them another try. I see room for potential.

This book is a good read. It should be considering that Scott Lobdell co-created the comic book series. Even if you have never read the Gen-X comic you should like this book.

The generation-x novel is one of the few good books i have read lately. Im an avid gen-x fan and this novel is true to the comic. A must read. If you like it read the comic generation-x 97 it's based on the novel .