Customer Reviews

Terminator Salvation: The Official Movie Novelization

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're like me, you can't wait to see the movie "Terminator Salvation." The book serves as a good fix, and if it's any indication of what the movie is going to be like, I think it's going to be a winner and give the franchise a much needed boost. I always enjoyed the thought of man vs. machine in the post apocalyptic world envisioned in the very first film. Now we'll get to read about it and see it soon on the big screen.

If you've seen the trailers, I think you have a pretty good idea of the plot of the film - and obviously the book, as well. Skynet is no different from man in that engineering takes a bit of R&D. During the time of the time period of the book, there are no T-800 (similar to the one played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the films) or more advanced models, such as the T-1000, etc. As seen in the trailer and detailed in the book, Skynet is using harvesters to capture the survivors of Judgment Day for some unknown project. Skynet it seems has an unpredictable side. One could even say it possesses a human aspect in that it starts to show it needs to use trickery and subterfuge in addition to cold machine calculation in order to finish the extermination of man, especially John Connor and Kyle Reese.

The book follows the exploits of John Connor and his band of fighters, which are part of the overall Resistance movement formed by the survivors of Judgment Day. This group includes a number of old guard military members, who seem to show a disdain for Connors sometimes independent attitude.

The book also follows the character of Marcus Wright, who serves as the enigmatic centerpiece of Skynet's R&D work. As seen from the trailer, Marcus Wright is a new kind of Terminator, one that no one has ever seen. Even John Connor reflects that this "is not the future his mother warned him about." John, it seems, is not expecting to see the T-800 line so soon. Moreover, Marcus is something new altogether. Marcus is also followed by Kyle Reese and Star, who are ignorant of his true nature - as is he (again, see the trailer...no spoilers here...nothing new).

The book follows these threads, as the finally come together with John and Marcus meeting each other - as also seen in the trailer. Around this time, Command discovers a way to seemingly end the war with Skynet once and for all. Wise beyond his years and conscious of his own fate in the outcome of the war with Skynet, Connor begins to doubt this plan and questions the actions of Skynet, fearing that it's not Skynet's imminent destruction that is coming, but man's final end.

The book is full of action, mystery, and even philosophy (What is a man? Is he not just an organic machine after all?). I recommend it to anyone that loves the setting and anyone who can't wait for the movie.... Like me. :)

Unlike some Terminator diehard fans, we liked the new Terminator: Salvation movie.

Although the weak part of the movie was Christian Bale's John Connor. The script lacked where his part was concerned, needing his deeper characterization that was built up in the last 3 movies. The scenes with him were merely 'action hero' placed here - and that's pretty much it. He ignored the glaring fact that his wife was pregnant.

And a solid actress who payed Kate Connor was wasted, as well. The scenes in the book that were not in the movie - we're exactly what the movie needed to balance drama with sci-fi action.

But where the movie showed you all the special effects in glorious color and panorama view, the book lacked in descriptive prose. I filled in that lack of detail with the movie. But overall, I liked this book better than the prequel, because it showed the inner fighting with the newly-created Terminator, Marcus Wright. The actor did a solid job in the movie, and stole the show away from John Connor, but the book can descriptivelt tell you his inner turmoil, which came off much better than the silver screen did.

We still liked the movie, despite its flaws, but the different types of Terminators were cool to watch, and we really hope there will be a continuation of this fresh new look and feel to a great franchise.

The plot is excellent. It adheres closely to the movie, with a few interesting variations, until the end. The end diverges entirely, and in my opinion, this ending is superior. First, it makes more sense. The largest logic flaw in the end of the movie never makes it to this book. Second, it sets up some amazing stuff for a later book. There will be more books, and I'm looking forward to them.

There is additional content available online using a code towards the back of the book. There is a preview for Terminator Salvation: From The Ashes in the back.

I suspect Alan Dean Foster is crying over what happened to this book. Please, don't think this is his normal writing style. He's brilliant. This looks like someone from the studio with delusions of being a poet, got a hold of the work and decided to "improve" it with wanton visits to the inkwell "Connor evinced no such anxiety" and an excess of metaphor. We get such gems as "The body proceeded to address him". If mishandled prepositional phrases bother you, please avoid this book.

Overall, the story is excellent, but the prose is overwritten.

There's nothing like the post-apocalyptic world to make humanity contemplate the possibility that at any moment a rogue military program may gain sentience, seize control of key military assets and reconstruct reality in its own image. Enter Terminator: Salvation, the best movie novelization I've read to date. Alan Dean Foster is a brilliant writer and has penned this story brilliantly. If you are on the fence about reading this novel before you see the movie, I urge you to read it. The inner conflicts, thoughts and actions of the characters are ablaze with perspective beyond anything that can be depicted visually in theatres. The literature will bring a level of insight that will mesh brilliantly with the visual spectacles of the upcoming movie.

Welcome to the world of Skynet, the year 2018. In the wake of Judgment Day (July 25, 2004) humanity is being hunted by T-600s, Hunter Killers (HKs), and Hydrobots, all devised for the specific purpose of eradicating humanity's presence on Earth. The world is vastly different from prophesies told to John Connor through his mother. He leads his branch of the Resistance but answers to a collective mass of military leaders who coordinate the war against Skynet from afar. John Connor is viewed in a messianic light, brutally waging war against a force that's waged war against him since before he was born.

Reading this novel, you capture the world much like the movie previews. It is desolate and uninviting; survival has become man's first instinct. John and Kate Connor struggle valiantly to maintain an air of hope amongst those that have survived the onslaught of the machines. Along with other members of the resistance their world shatters at the appearance of Marcus Wainwright, a new Terminator design that couldn't have been predicted. The character conflicts that emerge in the wake of these discoveries are absolutely fascinating. I could barely put this book down once I started it.

Foster is an incredibly gifted writer with years of experience, especially in writing novelizations. This novel is no different and holds its own against ordinary literature. His style is poignant and descriptive; he has a way with words that puts the icing on the cake, so much so that I had to retrieve my dictionary to look up some his word selection, but that's a good thing. Each chapter unfolds with volumes of information to help fabricate the post-apocalyptic events and scene within your imagination so potently, you'll don a Resistance armband and prepare to assault Skynet Central (located in San Fransisco, California FYI).

There is a cliffhanger at the end of the novel will leave you contemplating the future of this series. I for one cannot wait for Terminator: Salvation to come out in theaters, and any future releases in store for this franchise. Read it, I implore you.

So many books based on movies are just poor shadows of the movie we loved so much. Not this one. Its very well written and keeps faithfully to the movie and chracters traits. Alan Dean Foster also wrote the novelization of the Star Trek movie. This book is great read and will tied us over till we can get the DVD.

This book is a must have for fans of the Terminator franchise and especially for fans of the movie! If you liked the movie you'll love the book. It has many scenes that were left out of the movie that would have been wodnerful to have seen! It's even better than the director's cut of the movie, sort of like an extended director's cut.

I understand Alan Dean Foster is a well-known sci-fi writer; I recall reading his Star Wars novel 'Splinter of the Mind's Eye' a few years back; and, I own a couple of his adaptations from the Star Trek Animated Series. However, this particular book reads like a script in prose form, as if Mr. Foster was rushed to meet a deadline, and not allowed to build the characters, differentiate the characters, or get into world-building.

Mind you, I haven't seen the film this book is based on; I actually wanted to read the book to get an idea of what I was in for. (Interestingly, I still don't really want to see the film, but that is for another discussion).

As aforementioned, there is nothing that sets the characters apart; you can't really 'see' the world these people inhabit; and you don't care for the characters. (At least for me, I didn't stop in the middle, I finished so I would have a clear idea of what didn't work for me).

Interestingly, I will be soon reading the novelization to 'Star Trek' (the 2009 film I DID see)....

A book that Mr. Foster also wrote.

You know the story: "If you are listening, you are the Resistance," John Conner has been moving up the ranks as he continues to survive, but Skynet has a plan for him. amongst other things, the plan involves cutting off the head of those moving against it, plus an unknown named John Conner. Aside from that, it also has another ace up its sleeve - one that seems to be just like you, me, or anyone else.

Alan Dean Foster has to be my favorite of the novelization writers. In the past he's done fantastic work on things like aliens, and this time its no different. He does take a few liberties here and there when it comes to describing the things you've seen, but a book wouldn't be a book without that type of workmanship. Besides, it is interesting to see more of the people you have been following, with a writer like foster allowing you to look at their inner thoughts and fears.

The only problem i have with books like this is that sometimes people read them before they watch the movie. While that appeals to some people, it gives them a false sense of what has transpired. They also don't know what the enemy is supposed to look like, how Skynet reacts, and what the Rebels really have. This leads to some problems on the reading front - not to mention the fact that it ruins the movie.

If you liked the movie - I really did - then you will like the book. I appreciate the time it takes to get the cycles just right when they need to do their thing, and I like it when the T-600s get do their machinegun happy dance. Aside from that, there are a lot of other reasons tthat fans and people who really didn't like the films would appreciate this. I know i see these in a different right than the movie - perhaps a picture is worth a thousand words but the words articulate things you could never do on the screen.

Judgment Day has come and gone. And John Connor a leader for the Resistance is searching for Kyle Reese, a teenager who will one day become his father. But the machines are advancing faster than they were supposed to. And Connor must stay one step ahead if he is to fulfill his destiny.

Marcus Wright, a death-row inmate, donated his body to science before his sentence of lethal injection. And after his death, he awakens in a post-apocalyptic world. He is met and befriended by a young Kyle Reese, before they are attacked by the machines.

The heart of the story revolves around Marcus Wright and his hope for a second chance at life. John Connor must make some difficult decisions regarding an attack on SkyNet. When Reese is captured, Connor risks his life to save his future father's.

In this adaptation from the latest Terminator movie, Foster gives more depth and a slightly different ending than that of the slightly surprising one in the film. Just as exciting as the movie, Terminator fans will enjoy this non-stop, action-packed novelization.

Judgement Day has happen, now the war for survival has begun John Conner is leading a group of men and women against Skynet, but something is different and the future is not set. One of the things that is different is Marcus Wright, whose last memory was being excuted by the state. Who is Wright and what danger does he pose to John Conner? What is to be come of Kyle Reese, the boy who will be Conner's father?
The novelization book of "Terminator Salvation" by Alan Dean Foster is great! It a great read that will get any fan of the movies ready a great sneak peak of the story of the up coming movie.