Customer Reviews

Mobile Suit Gundam: Awakening, Escalation, Confrontation

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I must start this review by stating my bias. I love Yoshiyuki Tomino's work, and Gundam is my favorite saga of anime.

This book, in my opinion, is the best piece of Gundam fiction hands down. As the original Gundam series neared it's end, Sunrise pulled the plug. The series was cut by almost a full season, forcing an entire story arc to be squished into a handful of episodes. About this time Tomino wrote the first of the three books contained in this volume. A few years later, as the series entered a revitalization and Sunrise ordered a three movie compilation to be made, Tomino began writing the final two books. Oddly enough, the original translation of these books were the very first part of the Gundam saga to reach America at the tail end of the 80s.

The books are a masterwork. They diverge from the original series from the first page, dropping the cliche of "young civilian boy finds giant robot his father built and fights evil" for a more realistic view. Amuro Ray is now a cadet, and the refugees of Side 7 are booted off White Base at the first chance. The story is dark, focusing on the pain of war and the stress of battle. Many characters who survived the anime die, and other are left out almost entirely. The story focuses more on Newtypes than the anime did, explaining what they are in better detail. There are only a frwMS attles, but each is heart pounding and well written.

The bottom line is this: Do not read these looking for a novelization of first Gundam. However, if you love serious science fiction, this volume will blow you away. Low points: Some of the translation is ackward, and the ending may make you cry. Personally I liked yhe ending, it was very powerful even if depressing.

I strongly recommend this book, to any Mecha or Sci-Fi fans.

The legendary GUNDAM series cast the mold for all relaistic robot anime to follow and good majority of todays realistic mecha driven anime/manga owe credit to this series. The novelized version of this anime classic differs greatly from the original animated series in several regards. The novel is not wayed downed by the dated look and feel of the original animated series thereby making it more timeless and classic a tale. Instead readers are treated to a rich retelling of this legendary franchise. Tomino goes into great depth explaining details and customs in the gundam universe from the psuedo physics of minovski particles to the very lockets pilots wear around their neck. The drama, politics and philosophy run high through the novel making the space opera that is GUNDAM race by. A definite must read for anyone curious about the legendary series and everyone who appreciates solid sci fi.

The book goes very in depth and has lots of philosophical undertones, making it a lot more mature than the tv series or the movie compilations. But it was extremely enjoyable as well. Lots of events int he book are different from the series but thats why its a retelling. I think it was done very nicely and will be very enjoyable for long time fans of the gundam saga.

If you thought you knew Gundam inside and out then you need to read this version of Gundam.

Tomino gives you enough of the familiar mythos to get you started, but turns everything upside down and delivers an emotional engaging story with a more human touch.

If you like Gundam for the mecha, then you should stay away.

The Gundam novel triology is way different from the anime and movies. It presents content that would be unsuitable for television and more mature themes. It still holds up today. A major difference is the characters: Amero Ray is aged up a bit and Char Aznable is more idealistic than vengeful and there's also no Haro and most of the supporting cast that died in the anime have reduced roles. The story itself takes place completely in space removing the Earth arc altogether. The back-story and philosophy on newtypes is covered in greater detail than in the tv series and movies and the ending is a real shocker. Highly recommended for fans of sci-fi and/or anime.

A nice change to the sugar coated anime. Except for the surprise ending it's all what the anime should have been and mature and dark enough even by today's standards. Highly recommended for old, current and new fans. Even a good read for non fans of anime.

The author, Yoshiyuki, set out to add more realism to the sci-fi genre in which he worked at the time (giant battle robot cartoons), and what a tremendous success! Gone is the silly fairy tale world in which the heroes are all-powerful and never die: this is a grim account of a war.

In war, there are heroes (Gihren!) on both sides, villains, also, and casualties sometimes do not care to follow the rules of Karma: in war, people simply die. That is probably the most significant addition to the genre for Tomino.

This book goes all-out for technical details, charachter development (psionically, socially, sexually, all of it), tear-jerking, rationalizations by madmen (gottah love Gihren!), violence, and expression of the longing among all people, everywhere, to be as one.

Okay, that's the long version. Here's the short version: this book [...]

this book was a major surprise to me. it starts almost like the tv series, but the development is completely different. at the end, you can hardly compare the book with the tv series. it's a must-have for gundam fans, even if someone may be disappointed with the ending. personally, i liked everything but the end. this is the way tv gundam should have been made, but wasn't. i was really sucked in by the book, and had to finish it right away (even if i'm not an english native speaker, so i had some problems reading it).

First off, I think it is important that you know I have not read Confrontation. I have an earlier print of Awakening and Escalation from the 80's, so I won't try to say how it ends. However, this new edition is a godsend for the modern fan. It is trademark Tomino, and while different from the show it is very good. Some of the major differences between the show and novelization are the characters. For one thing, Sha is the same as Char, but he acts very differently. He is revenge crazed, but he is also seemingly cold and manipulative. The newtypes are more widely acknowledged, and new characters come in, such as the Zeon spy Kusko-Al, who Amuro develops interest in Escalation. I have read the books, and any fan of Gundam, let alone sci-fi or anime, should at least read them.

Currently popular on the Cartoon Network, video games, and toys, Gundam has attained iconic status both within and beyond the world of manga. It was only a matter of time before a novelized version of the original story by Tomino-sensei appeared. Stone Bridge has once again proved why it is one of the more interesting publishing houses in the US.
The Gundam franchise began in 1979 and now has a worldwide following. In the Gundam universe the Earth Federation battles troublesome off-world colonies and "Newtype" warriors that feature suits of high-tech armor. This book presents Tomino's vision as outlined in the original Japanese series, but with perhaps even more vivid characterization and a shocking ending.
Translator Fred Schodt, the dean of American mangaphiles, has done a wonderful job of staying faithful to the original Japanese-and conveying meaning and nuance in hip mangaese. There is also an enlightening introduction by Gundam expert Mark Simmons.
For Gundam fans, Mobile Suit Gundam: Awakening, Escalation, Confrontation is as close to the Holy Grail as you are going to get. A stunning retelling of a classic story.