Star Wars: The Force Awakens

By: Alan Dean Foster

Narrated by: Marc Thompson

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The official novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the blockbuster film directed by J. J. Abrams.

More than thirty years ago, Star Wars burst onto the big screen and became a cultural phenomenon. Now the next adventures in this blockbuster saga are poised to captivate old and new fans alike—beginning with the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And alongside the cinematic debut comes the thrilling novel adaptation by New York Times bestselling science fiction master Alan Dean Foster.

Set years after Return of the Jedi, this stunning new action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters. Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges.

So return to that galaxy far, far away, and prepare yourself for what happens when the Force awakens. . . .

Praise for Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“Like all the best novelizations, Alan Dean Foster’s adaptation of Star Wars: The Force Awakens enriches the movie experience. The novel goes beyond simply giving us insight into the characters’ thoughts, with plenty of additional scenes painting a broader picture of the galaxy.”—New York Daily News

“Fast-moving, atmospheric and raises goose-bumps at just the right moments. [Foster] not only evokes entire onscreen worlds . . . he also gives us glimpses of an even more vast, unseen universe.”—The Washington Post

“Was my experience of the film enriched by the book? Yes. No question. Is the novelization worth reading? Yes. . . . Foster has written a book that captures the spirit of the film, while presenting additional information that helps answer some of the questions that linger.”—Coffee with Kenobi

©2015 Alan Dean Foster (P)2015 Random House Audio

Even better than the movie.

Even better than the movie. Gives great insight on all key characters. Well worth the listen

A Nice Companion

overall, this was quite enjoyable. Well paced and well written. Extra bits are nice cause they add some depth and fill in a few gaps that didn't make it into the movie. BB-8 effects were a welcome surprise!

Good narration, although it can be a little jarring as some of the lines were delivered by their on screen counterparts in a way that wasn't necessarily reflected in the novel.

One thing though, the soundtrack is taken from the prequels and a few times the Anakin/Padme love theme is used and it just doesn't fit. it would be nice if they'd have been able to get the Force Awakens music.

Adds some extra story

Does a good job of supplementing the movie. Adds some extra scenes and dialogue that are really cool to hear. Performance is great and nicely enhanced by the music and sound effects.

Lots of details that help clarify the film

What did you love best about Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

The characters, the speed of the storyline, the action, and the details

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kylo Ren. His development is stronger than in the film.

Which character – as performed by Marc Thompson – was your favorite?

Marc Thompson does an excellent job with the men and the Irish male accent; however, the women just sound - weird. His Leia performance made her sound weak, bewildered, and just odd. His performance of Rey was somewhat better but still grated on my ears. I'd rather just hear a more neutral female voice and let me inject my own feminine voice with my imagination.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Gosh, yes! The details not in the movie........ I had to stop and think and then listen again!

Any additional comments?

Get it!

Very well done!

This was my first "Audible", and I was very surprised by the exceptional narration. Compared to other audio books I've listened to, this was leaps and bounds better.
Being a "Star Wars" fan and not having seen the movie yet, I really enjoyed the story more than I expected!

excellent story

I really love books that are narrated by Mark Thompson. Star Wars books are an incredible enjoyment for me I listen to them while I work thank you

Just as good as the actual movie!

What did you love best about Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

It was a great adventure with new and old friends. I loved the action sequences being described in such a way that set the stage, but still left a lot up to your own imagination. Plus, the little tid-bits that didn't make it into the movie were extra special and enjoyable.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked hearing the inner dialogs of the characters. Since the book is based on the movie, the actors embody so much emotion that doesn't translate into words. The I feel the book really gained a lot of depth in both its content and delivery.

What about Marc Thompson’s performance did you like?

It was amazing! Though the women's voices threw me off at first. Though there was a delicacy and distinct femininity about those specific performances, that allows the listener to get lost in the emotion. You couldn't have asked for a audio better performance.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

That's not how the Force works!

Any additional comments?

No thank you. Satisfied and happy.

Excellent

This was my first audio book. It helped pass the time at work. I am hooked!

not the same

not quite the same as the movie obviously, but certain points I disagree with, but still good

The Force is back!

I love Star Wars novels, my favorite novelization is "Revenge of the Sith" but this is a close second. The writing is wonderfully done, and the characters feel truly alive. The added depth of characters like Kylo Ren make this book far more interesting than you can imagine. Every scene with Finn and Rey is absolute magic, and Poe Dameron is the (new) definition of cool. Marc Thompson did a really good job, this is the first time I've ever heard him perform a starwars audiobook, but I understand he is a legend among fans. My only complaint is the ending, it's too abrupt. When it finished, I sat there thinking "Is that it?" But, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise fantastic read. I recommend this book very highly, it definitely awakened the force within me.