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Marvel Press Novels
Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon & Groot Steal the Galaxy!
Marvel's first original prose novel, featuring the stars of Guardians of the Galaxy! These are not the Avengers or the Fantastic Four -in fact, they're barely even famous -but Rocket Raccoon and the faithful Groot are the baddest heroes in the cosmos, and they'e on the run across the Marvel Universe! During a spaceport brawl, the infamous pair rescues an android Recorder from a pack of alien Badoons. Everyone in the galaxy, however, including the ruthless Kree Empire and the stalwart Nova Corps, seems to want that Recorder, who' about as sane as a sandwich with no mustard. Join Rocket and Groot on a free-for-all across the stars while they try to save all of existence -again!
359 pages, Hardcover
First published July 15, 2014
67 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
February 7, 2017
D’asted brilliant and flarking hilarious, gentle readers!
{Explanatory protocols activated}
This is a prose novel, not a comic book, in fact this is first original prose novel published directly under the label of Marvel. Many books has been published before using characters from the Marvel universe, but those novels were licensed by Marvel to be published by third parties. Also, Marvel has published some novels recently under its label but so far they were novelizations of previously published comic book storylines. This novel is the first one with original material to be published under the label of Marvel.
{Explanatory protocols deactivated}
This review is brought to you by Timely Inc.
Timely Inc., the name that you can trust!
{Reviewing Mode activated}
BECAUSE THE REVIEW MUST START AT SOME MOMENT
Previously the movie of this year (2014), I just barely was aware of the existence of a Marvel title named Guardians of the Galaxy, that it was published on the 70s and “rebooted” like in 2007, and that it was about some kind of super team operating in deep space. And after the huge success of the film (I already have the blu-ray, thanks for asking), I thought that it didn’t hurt to read a bit about them, specially of the “rebooted” version (basically since it’s the closest version to the shown on film) and I read the first volume of the comic book “reboot” at the beginning of December (2014), and after that I engaged into this book, that I already explained above that it’s an original story only available to read on this prose novel.
This is a story about disconcertingly human-like hands, unfeasibly large weapons, and a never-ending upgrading of the concept of mayhem.
Trust me! I am not joking! Well… I am joking, duh!, but nevertheless, it’s an accurate assessment of the story.
The setting of the story isn’t clearly defined in the “rebooted” comic book timeline or the new film part of the Marvel Cinematic universe, but maybe at some point in between. You just don’t need to worry about it. Just enjoy this story that it’s set in the generally known concept of the cosmic Marvel universe.
The Guardians of the Galaxy are in a “hiatus”, so our good pals of Rocket Raccoon and Groot decided to make some money in the meantime but troubles will appear since the beginning when they have to protect a Rigellian Recorder, a curious android, that all major powers in the galaxy are hunting him to get a secret that it’s unknown even to him. But that secret may be the key to control the galaxy! Maybe even more!
The Badoon, the Kree Stellar Empire, the Nova Corps of Xandar, the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, and even a rogue Spaceknight are just some of the pursuit parties after Recorder 127, but if you think that that was plenty enough, well think again, since the cameo of a big villain hiring the services of an unexpected guest star of the very same team of our good pals of Rocket Racoon and Groot, will add more complications and twists to the formula and when you’d think that the room is full, yet another chasing party will appear! And of course, it will have some other cameos too, don’t worry!
Hey, this is a cosmic story after all! And space is pretty big place, so the more, the merrier! Plenty room to more fun!
Recorder 127 will be your friendly narrator and you will love him! The narrative is so flarking hilarious that any reader fan of the writing styles of authors such as Douglas Adams, Jasper Fforde, Gareth Roberts and/or Jonathan Morris will have a d’asted good experience with this marvelous (yes, pun intended, duh!) book.
Definitely, Dan Abnett, the author, did a brilliant job with this novel.
Maybe, just maybe if I have to comment something kinda negative (but not so negative like to avoid its well deserved 5-star rating) is that the story will have some dues-ex-machina element at the most climatic moment, but the whole reading experience was so d’asted good and flarking hilarious that I didn’t mind (well, just enough to comment it here, but not enough yet again, to change its well-deserved 5-star rating, gentle readers).
So, what are you waiting for?!!! Jump in for the adventure, the thrills, the fun, the Oh-What-the-Flark-Event-Horizon of joining the ride of our good pals Rocket Racoon and Groot along with Recorder 127.
I am pretty sure that you won’t regret it!
But if you do, you can always write your complains to Timely Inc. Headquarters at Alpha Centaury.
{Reviewing Mode deactivated}
BONUS INTERVIEW!!!
We have the luck of getting a very exclusive interview of one of the characters of this story, commenting his most inner thoughts and opinions about this story.
Please, be warned that the comments or opinions expressed on the following interview are those of the respective interviewee only. The views expressed on the following interview do not necessarily represent the views of the reviewer. The reviewer is not responsible for, and disclaims any and all liability for the content of comments expressed by the interviewee on the following interview.
What do you think about the story?
I am Groot.
I see. But I guess that you have something positive to add?
I am Groot.
Well, there is no need of bad language.
I am Groot.
That’s better, since anyway that kind of attitude doesn’t suit you.
I am Groot.
Oh! That’s an interesting angle about your role in the story.
I am Groot.
Mmh. Yes, that’s true, that’s true. Yes, that could be deal in a better way.
I am Groot.
Really? Wow! That’s flarking amazing indeed!
I am Groot.
Okay, that good to know too. And in other topic, what are your impressions of having worked with Rocket Racoon and Recorder 127 on this original story?
I am Groot.
Sorry, but you must be more concise to avoid overwhelming the audience with so much facts in the same comment.
I am Groot.
Well, we understand that you are quite busy and thank you again for your time for this very exclusive interview.
{Explanatory protocols activated}
This is a prose novel, not a comic book, in fact this is first original prose novel published directly under the label of Marvel. Many books has been published before using characters from the Marvel universe, but those novels were licensed by Marvel to be published by third parties. Also, Marvel has published some novels recently under its label but so far they were novelizations of previously published comic book storylines. This novel is the first one with original material to be published under the label of Marvel.
{Explanatory protocols deactivated}
This review is brought to you by Timely Inc.
Timely Inc., the name that you can trust!
{Reviewing Mode activated}
BECAUSE THE REVIEW MUST START AT SOME MOMENT
Previously the movie of this year (2014), I just barely was aware of the existence of a Marvel title named Guardians of the Galaxy, that it was published on the 70s and “rebooted” like in 2007, and that it was about some kind of super team operating in deep space. And after the huge success of the film (I already have the blu-ray, thanks for asking), I thought that it didn’t hurt to read a bit about them, specially of the “rebooted” version (basically since it’s the closest version to the shown on film) and I read the first volume of the comic book “reboot” at the beginning of December (2014), and after that I engaged into this book, that I already explained above that it’s an original story only available to read on this prose novel.
This is a story about disconcertingly human-like hands, unfeasibly large weapons, and a never-ending upgrading of the concept of mayhem.
Trust me! I am not joking! Well… I am joking, duh!, but nevertheless, it’s an accurate assessment of the story.
The setting of the story isn’t clearly defined in the “rebooted” comic book timeline or the new film part of the Marvel Cinematic universe, but maybe at some point in between. You just don’t need to worry about it. Just enjoy this story that it’s set in the generally known concept of the cosmic Marvel universe.
The Guardians of the Galaxy are in a “hiatus”, so our good pals of Rocket Raccoon and Groot decided to make some money in the meantime but troubles will appear since the beginning when they have to protect a Rigellian Recorder, a curious android, that all major powers in the galaxy are hunting him to get a secret that it’s unknown even to him. But that secret may be the key to control the galaxy! Maybe even more!
The Badoon, the Kree Stellar Empire, the Nova Corps of Xandar, the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, and even a rogue Spaceknight are just some of the pursuit parties after Recorder 127, but if you think that that was plenty enough, well think again, since the cameo of a big villain hiring the services of an unexpected guest star of the very same team of our good pals of Rocket Racoon and Groot, will add more complications and twists to the formula and when you’d think that the room is full, yet another chasing party will appear! And of course, it will have some other cameos too, don’t worry!
Hey, this is a cosmic story after all! And space is pretty big place, so the more, the merrier! Plenty room to more fun!
Recorder 127 will be your friendly narrator and you will love him! The narrative is so flarking hilarious that any reader fan of the writing styles of authors such as Douglas Adams, Jasper Fforde, Gareth Roberts and/or Jonathan Morris will have a d’asted good experience with this marvelous (yes, pun intended, duh!) book.
Definitely, Dan Abnett, the author, did a brilliant job with this novel.
Maybe, just maybe if I have to comment something kinda negative (but not so negative like to avoid its well deserved 5-star rating) is that the story will have some dues-ex-machina element at the most climatic moment, but the whole reading experience was so d’asted good and flarking hilarious that I didn’t mind (well, just enough to comment it here, but not enough yet again, to change its well-deserved 5-star rating, gentle readers).
So, what are you waiting for?!!! Jump in for the adventure, the thrills, the fun, the Oh-What-the-Flark-Event-Horizon of joining the ride of our good pals Rocket Racoon and Groot along with Recorder 127.
I am pretty sure that you won’t regret it!
But if you do, you can always write your complains to Timely Inc. Headquarters at Alpha Centaury.
{Reviewing Mode deactivated}
BONUS INTERVIEW!!!
We have the luck of getting a very exclusive interview of one of the characters of this story, commenting his most inner thoughts and opinions about this story.
Please, be warned that the comments or opinions expressed on the following interview are those of the respective interviewee only. The views expressed on the following interview do not necessarily represent the views of the reviewer. The reviewer is not responsible for, and disclaims any and all liability for the content of comments expressed by the interviewee on the following interview.
What do you think about the story?
I am Groot.
I see. But I guess that you have something positive to add?
I am Groot.
Well, there is no need of bad language.
I am Groot.
That’s better, since anyway that kind of attitude doesn’t suit you.
I am Groot.
Oh! That’s an interesting angle about your role in the story.
I am Groot.
Mmh. Yes, that’s true, that’s true. Yes, that could be deal in a better way.
I am Groot.
Really? Wow! That’s flarking amazing indeed!
I am Groot.
Okay, that good to know too. And in other topic, what are your impressions of having worked with Rocket Racoon and Recorder 127 on this original story?
I am Groot.
Sorry, but you must be more concise to avoid overwhelming the audience with so much facts in the same comment.
I am Groot.
Well, we understand that you are quite busy and thank you again for your time for this very exclusive interview.
June 5, 2015
What a lovable, enjoyable, adrenalized hoot this was! I still would have preferred to see all the action sequences (of which there were many -- many I tell you) play out on the big screen (sometimes the prose falls a little short of adequately capturing the epic scale and magnificence of the fighting, running, space racing, exploding drama) but overall, for a novelization of two notoriously preeminent comic/cinematic heroes this was a thrill.
Rocket Raccoon and Groot utterly ambushed me in last summer's Marvel blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy completely stealing my heart. I was not expecting to have such a reaction. I had never heard of them, had never read the comics and have been late wading into MCU waters. As I mentioned in another review, my geek sci-fi cred is almost nil, embarrassingly so. But I am committed to making up for past sins and lost time. With Marvel anyway. Doctor Who and Star Wars are gonna have to wait.
But back to my two favorite guys: Rocket and Groot (and by guys you know I mean a talking raccoon and a talking giant tree, right?). They are rogues, badasses, heroes, and sometimes, Guardians of the Galaxy. This is their story, though Gamora has a notable kick-assing role to play. She's a lot fiercer and meaner and scarier in these pages (win!) than the "softer side" we get in the movie. I love her.
But back to Rocket and Groot. By coincidence and accident they cross paths with a Rigellian Recorder (#127) who needs rescuing. It seems everyone in the Galaxy - Multiverse wants their version of hands on this guy. He has "recorded" some very vital information, data that could lead to absolute power over reality itself. I loved 127. In my limited comparison capabilities he reminded me of what little I know of C-3PO. He's SUPER smart containing a trillion Wikipedias, but he's an emotional being, with humor and even desires, developing a crush on Gamora herself and forging a lovely bond with his unlikely allies Rocket and Groot.
So much of this story follows the intrepid heroes (soon joined by Gamora) as they race from planet to planet, escaping the clutches of very many species of races from the Kree to the Nova Corps and Badoons not to mention from the Timely Inc megacorp itself (the ones who stand to gain ALL the power if they should successfully recover 127). Oh yeah, and there's a hired SpaceKnight mercenary in the mix too ready to capture and hand over 127 to Timely Inc.
But Rocket and Groot have decided that's not going to happen. Not on their watch. But it will test every bit of ingenuity and tactical skills that they have to avoid failure and/or a horrible death. It's thrilling, let me tell you, and a ridiculous amount of fun, but it's only made me long even more for the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel (that for the record is still TWO YEARS away). ::sad face::
If it was even possible, I'm fangirling even harder for these two now more than ever. This story is a nice treat, a little gift to help ease the pain of the long wait ahead for the next movie. Abnett needs to write another one stat!!!
Meet Rocket --
And Groot --
December 29, 2021
Quite witty, droll, and tongue-in-cheek about all things Marvel Cosmic even before it was cool.
Rocket & Groot, Feat. an Unfeasibly Large Gun and Disconcertingly Humanlike Hands.
Rocket & Groot, Feat. an Unfeasibly Large Gun and Disconcertingly Humanlike Hands.
September 17, 2023
Douglas Adams meets the Marvel Universe
Dan Abnett, who is basically the creator of the modern filmic version of the Guardians of the Galaxy, as written an exciting science fiction space opera novel that combines the farce of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with the cosmic Jim Starlin-esque adventures of Marvel's various space alien mythos.
It's a corporate satire, it's meta and self-aware, and requires a lot of knowledge of the many galactic empires that have invaded the earth in comics over the years. It works surprisingly well as a novel, starring Rocket Raccoon and a Rigellian recorder robot. Some mainstays like Gamora show up, but it's not a Guardians teamup adventure. Enough goes on that Star-Lord not missed.
Also like Hitchhiker's Guide, which of course started as a radio drama broadcast, there's an audiobook version with sound effects and multiple actors which could be the preferred way to experience this book. The comparisons can't be avoided, which is a compliment in my view.
Dan Abnett, who is basically the creator of the modern filmic version of the Guardians of the Galaxy, as written an exciting science fiction space opera novel that combines the farce of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with the cosmic Jim Starlin-esque adventures of Marvel's various space alien mythos.
It's a corporate satire, it's meta and self-aware, and requires a lot of knowledge of the many galactic empires that have invaded the earth in comics over the years. It works surprisingly well as a novel, starring Rocket Raccoon and a Rigellian recorder robot. Some mainstays like Gamora show up, but it's not a Guardians teamup adventure. Enough goes on that Star-Lord not missed.
Also like Hitchhiker's Guide, which of course started as a radio drama broadcast, there's an audiobook version with sound effects and multiple actors which could be the preferred way to experience this book. The comparisons can't be avoided, which is a compliment in my view.
May 20, 2023
Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Racoon and Groot
- Steal the Galaxy
By Dan Abbott
Man, this needs to be one of their movies! It only has Rocket and Groot in it mostly. There is Gomorrah for part of the story. There is a robot Recorder that is wanted by just about everyone and Rocket and Groot save it. He becomes their friend and the Recorder saves them too! Gomorrah is even after the Recorder!
It's a fast paced, action packed, fun, multiple chaos adventures with my two favorite Guardian characters!
This audio has multiple narrators, is like their slogan say, "like a movie in your mind". It was brilliant!
I got this from my favorite audio place to find sales, chirp!
- Steal the Galaxy
By Dan Abbott
Man, this needs to be one of their movies! It only has Rocket and Groot in it mostly. There is Gomorrah for part of the story. There is a robot Recorder that is wanted by just about everyone and Rocket and Groot save it. He becomes their friend and the Recorder saves them too! Gomorrah is even after the Recorder!
It's a fast paced, action packed, fun, multiple chaos adventures with my two favorite Guardian characters!
This audio has multiple narrators, is like their slogan say, "like a movie in your mind". It was brilliant!
I got this from my favorite audio place to find sales, chirp!
September 7, 2017
Fast, fun, light, silly ... and true to form. Perfect airplane (or travel) reading or a nice break from from a diet of literary fiction, serious non-fiction, or even though-provoking and heavy sci-fi.
OK, no hiding the ball here: this one isn't for everyone. But ... but ... if you're a comic book reader, if you're a Stan Lee-and-Marvel reader, if you lean towards the second-tier, less conventional, somewhat more than off beat side of things, or if you got sucked into to either of the big screen (surprisingly engaging and successful) Guardians of the Galaxy movies, well, you just might want to give it a try.
Granted, there are plenty of folks who want their comic books (or graphic novels) to stay in their intended form, large pages packaged with a central staple and populated with sequential panels full of drawings and speech bubbles.... But if the format is just another medium to you, and you enjoy the story-lines and the characters and the banter and the action and not-terribly-ordinary suspension of disbelief that comes with superhero lore, well, why not give it a try?
At the end of the day, there's a lot more action here than humor (although there's enough to keep it light), and there's far more momentum than common sense (but, let's not lose sight of the fact that it's a novelization of a comic book). But, if you know what you're getting yourself into, well, ... it works.
OK, no hiding the ball here: this one isn't for everyone. But ... but ... if you're a comic book reader, if you're a Stan Lee-and-Marvel reader, if you lean towards the second-tier, less conventional, somewhat more than off beat side of things, or if you got sucked into to either of the big screen (surprisingly engaging and successful) Guardians of the Galaxy movies, well, you just might want to give it a try.
Granted, there are plenty of folks who want their comic books (or graphic novels) to stay in their intended form, large pages packaged with a central staple and populated with sequential panels full of drawings and speech bubbles.... But if the format is just another medium to you, and you enjoy the story-lines and the characters and the banter and the action and not-terribly-ordinary suspension of disbelief that comes with superhero lore, well, why not give it a try?
At the end of the day, there's a lot more action here than humor (although there's enough to keep it light), and there's far more momentum than common sense (but, let's not lose sight of the fact that it's a novelization of a comic book). But, if you know what you're getting yourself into, well, ... it works.
October 31, 2020
This was good fun at times, but not a great Marvel prose novel. I think the book couldn't decide if it wanted to be a Marvel superhero novel or a comic space opera or something else, so it tried to incorporate a lot of different elements that didn't complement each other too well. Also, it's about 350 pages and should have been around 250. It really drags at times; the first few times a cute and clever description is used it's great (descriptions of Rocket's hands and weapons, for instance), but after the first thousand it becomes tedious and tiresome. The narrator is a robot (very reminiscent of Douglas Adams), who holds the final key to the puzzle of, well, life, the universe, and everything. He's befriended by Rocket and Groot (who are soon joined by Gamora; dunno why she doesn't get billing in the title, too), and they're pursued by a baffling number of corporations and races and governments and organizations, all trying for the prize. (Go Spaceknights!) There's lots and lots of interstellar chases and battles before the situation is resolved. I did like the scene in the end, which presents a where-they-ended-up re-cap of all of the major players, like the ending credits of Animal House. And, as Rocket would say, flarkin' Excelsior for flark's sake you flarkin' flarkers.
April 10, 2021
It was a fun adventure with Groot and Rocket Raccoon, plus, Gamora and a Recorder. Yes, a Recorder!
December 30, 2020
A fun listen!
February 15, 2017
Honestly, I went with a mid score. I gave three stars to the action-filled parts and five stars to the story parts.
Why?
Well, the story parts first. Rocket and Groot. Of course! They're the story. Funny, smartly written, fun to read. The narrator is Recorder 127, a digital humanoid who's sole purpose is to record the events of the universe. And so he did until The Brotherhood decided he was worth death because he was recording in one of their hangouts. The tale has Rocket and Groot taking charge and keeping this recorder safe.
What they didn't expect was that all of the universe was out for him for his information. Including the Negative zone. Which is how Gamora entered the story.
It winds up twisty, and intense and keeps to the Guardians of the Galaxy canon. It was a really good story where I found myself laughing more times than not. (Like the movie for me.) Very fun. I couldn't recommend this more.
But then we have the action chapters. Words seemed to get jumbled and the pictures scrambled in my head. I have to have a sort of dyslexia when it come to this type of story, because it's hard for me to follow and i have to read it over and over a few times to really get the image. (Which is why watching sci-fi, action is better before the book.) It felt like too much sometimes. And then people/creatures would appear and I'd have to back track to find when they could have come into the scene...
I personally didn't like reading it, but if i skipped it, then i was missing new characters and events that were essential to the story.
Hence the four stars.
If you're like me and cannot read action very well, you might want to skip this one. If you love Guardians, Rocket Racoon, Groot stories, then YES read it!
*A DECEMBER 2016 READ*
Why?
Well, the story parts first. Rocket and Groot. Of course! They're the story. Funny, smartly written, fun to read. The narrator is Recorder 127, a digital humanoid who's sole purpose is to record the events of the universe. And so he did until The Brotherhood decided he was worth death because he was recording in one of their hangouts. The tale has Rocket and Groot taking charge and keeping this recorder safe.
What they didn't expect was that all of the universe was out for him for his information. Including the Negative zone. Which is how Gamora entered the story.
It winds up twisty, and intense and keeps to the Guardians of the Galaxy canon. It was a really good story where I found myself laughing more times than not. (Like the movie for me.) Very fun. I couldn't recommend this more.
But then we have the action chapters. Words seemed to get jumbled and the pictures scrambled in my head. I have to have a sort of dyslexia when it come to this type of story, because it's hard for me to follow and i have to read it over and over a few times to really get the image. (Which is why watching sci-fi, action is better before the book.) It felt like too much sometimes. And then people/creatures would appear and I'd have to back track to find when they could have come into the scene...
I personally didn't like reading it, but if i skipped it, then i was missing new characters and events that were essential to the story.
Hence the four stars.
If you're like me and cannot read action very well, you might want to skip this one. If you love Guardians, Rocket Racoon, Groot stories, then YES read it!
*A DECEMBER 2016 READ*
September 18, 2015
I listened to this via GraphicAudio. I don't think I would have enjoyed it, reading it in prose form. The audio is so brilliant. That is, of course, if you enjoy the outer space hijinks of everyone's favorite talking raccoon and mobile tree. And, honestly, flark off if you don't. Abnett obviously knows and loves these characters and has created here another story for Guardians of the Galaxy fans to adore.
March 22, 2015
Lielisks episkās humoristiskās zinātniskās fantastikas kokteilis!
Visu jaunais mīļākais dzīvnieks un mīļākais augs glābj Galaktiku no ļaunām megakorporācijām un algotiem slepkavām un dažādu nāciju specvienībām.
Guardians of the Galaxy, kam pievienots bišķītis Zvaigžņu karu kosmiskās dēkainības un Duglasa Adamsa inteliģentā humora.
Ja patika Guardians, šis ir obligāts lasāmais!
Visu jaunais mīļākais dzīvnieks un mīļākais augs glābj Galaktiku no ļaunām megakorporācijām un algotiem slepkavām un dažādu nāciju specvienībām.
Guardians of the Galaxy, kam pievienots bišķītis Zvaigžņu karu kosmiskās dēkainības un Duglasa Adamsa inteliģentā humora.
Ja patika Guardians, šis ir obligāts lasāmais!
July 15, 2015
Enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy movie last summer, so I had some sense of the series characters. The series reminds me of the Batman tv show of the 60s--comic violence, lots of action, myriad puns and popular culture references (our hero, an android Recorder, likes to put things so we can understand them). Very amusing and worth a listen if you like this kind of thing.
December 31, 2020
This is narrated in the present tense by Recorder 127 of the Rigellian Intergalactic Survey. For some reason, 127 has odd blanks in his memory. He knows lots of things and can apply that knowledge in useful ways, but he has no idea why Roamer, a Spaceknight mercenary, keeps showing up and trying to capture him.
Rocket Raccoon sees potential profit in Recorder 127, so he and Groot do their best to stay by his side and keep the Spaceknight from taking him. Plus, Rocket's happy to have an excuse to shoot at all the trouble that keeps following both him and 127 around.
Meanwhile, Timely Inc. is the most powerful corporation in the galaxy, and they have plans to become even more powerful still. They just need to get their hands on Recorder 127 first.
My knowledge of Guardians of the Galaxy is limited to the two movies and one Rocket Raccoon graphic novel volume. As far as I could tell, this worked well as a standalone, although I did have some issues picturing just about everybody in the cast except Rocket, Groot, and Gamora. The book wasn't completely without descriptions, but it definitely assumed more knowledge of what the various alien species looked like than I possessed.
The narrator's voice is not going to appeal to everyone - I think the narrator is part of the reason why I quit reading this the first time I tried it a few years ago. Recorder 127 comments on his own storytelling abilities a lot and makes lots of jokes and asides that the author probably thought were fun and clever. Unfortunately, they didn't really work for me, and sometimes I just wanted Recorder 127 to shut and up tell the story without embellishments. Also, there is only so often readers need to be told about Rocket's "disconcertingly human-like hands" and "unfeasibly large guns" - the author had everyone commenting on them, not just Recorder 127.
A note on Recorder 127 and Gamora: his lusting over her made zero sense to me. It never really went further than "hopeful puppy dog eyes," but since the text made it clear that he wasn't a biological entity, his seemingly biological pants feelings were bizarre. Yes, I understand that Gamora was supposed to be hot, but noting her physical attractiveness to others should have been enough to emphasize that.
The story was almost nonstop action, Rocket, Groot, 127, and (later) Gamora going from one place to another, first in an attempt to escape people trying to capture 127 or kill Rocket and Groot, and then in an effort to finally get to the bottom of whatever Timely Inc.'s plans were. It was confusing but, I think, meant to be that way - the final showdown There were individual moments I enjoyed, even though following along with the whole thing was sometimes difficult. My favorite parts generally involved the Centurion characters, particularly the sentient ship that Rocket managed to talk into helping him.
The plot's reliance on was another one of those things that I suspect was supposed to be seen as clever and fun and instead just felt lazy.
Overall, this was okay, but not the best Rocket and Groot experience I've had, and it didn't leave me wanting to read more of Abnett's fiction.
Extras:
The book ends with a short excerpt from Neil Kleid's Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt, adapted from the graphic novel by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeek.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
Rocket Raccoon sees potential profit in Recorder 127, so he and Groot do their best to stay by his side and keep the Spaceknight from taking him. Plus, Rocket's happy to have an excuse to shoot at all the trouble that keeps following both him and 127 around.
Meanwhile, Timely Inc. is the most powerful corporation in the galaxy, and they have plans to become even more powerful still. They just need to get their hands on Recorder 127 first.
My knowledge of Guardians of the Galaxy is limited to the two movies and one Rocket Raccoon graphic novel volume. As far as I could tell, this worked well as a standalone, although I did have some issues picturing just about everybody in the cast except Rocket, Groot, and Gamora. The book wasn't completely without descriptions, but it definitely assumed more knowledge of what the various alien species looked like than I possessed.
The narrator's voice is not going to appeal to everyone - I think the narrator is part of the reason why I quit reading this the first time I tried it a few years ago. Recorder 127 comments on his own storytelling abilities a lot and makes lots of jokes and asides that the author probably thought were fun and clever. Unfortunately, they didn't really work for me, and sometimes I just wanted Recorder 127 to shut and up tell the story without embellishments. Also, there is only so often readers need to be told about Rocket's "disconcertingly human-like hands" and "unfeasibly large guns" - the author had everyone commenting on them, not just Recorder 127.
A note on Recorder 127 and Gamora: his lusting over her made zero sense to me. It never really went further than "hopeful puppy dog eyes," but since the text made it clear that he wasn't a biological entity, his seemingly biological pants feelings were bizarre. Yes, I understand that Gamora was supposed to be hot, but noting her physical attractiveness to others should have been enough to emphasize that.
The story was almost nonstop action, Rocket, Groot, 127, and (later) Gamora going from one place to another, first in an attempt to escape people trying to capture 127 or kill Rocket and Groot, and then in an effort to finally get to the bottom of whatever Timely Inc.'s plans were. It was confusing but, I think, meant to be that way - the final showdown There were individual moments I enjoyed, even though following along with the whole thing was sometimes difficult. My favorite parts generally involved the Centurion characters, particularly the sentient ship that Rocket managed to talk into helping him.
The plot's reliance on was another one of those things that I suspect was supposed to be seen as clever and fun and instead just felt lazy.
Overall, this was okay, but not the best Rocket and Groot experience I've had, and it didn't leave me wanting to read more of Abnett's fiction.
Extras:
The book ends with a short excerpt from Neil Kleid's Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt, adapted from the graphic novel by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeek.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
July 14, 2018
So this was my first audiobook and I absolutely loved everything about listening to the audiobook and the story. This had a full cast and sound effects and everything sounded great. The story itself made my heart so happy. Groot is just the best character ever. The story was filled with nonstop action and made sense. I enjoyed it very much. I’m sad that I won’t have more of the story to listen to on my way to work and back
January 17, 2021
This was an entertaining story of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Rocket and Groot are the characters that started the story, but the adventure included Gamora and a host of other characters from all over the galaxy.
February 9, 2025
What a “Flarking” fun story!
July 19, 2023
Chef's kiss.
May 12, 2020
Genuinely fun. Felt like a Hitchhikers Guide book. One part still makes me chuckle when I think of it.
February 22, 2015
While this book could be amusing or even a rollicking space-adventure at times, it definitely was not something I'd ever pick up again. Wanna know why?? (If you don't, I won't feel offended if you don't read the rest of this mess. Not that you care whether I'm offended or I care whether you care, but still.)
First off, it's told from the POV of a recorder, which gives us a bit of a disconnect from Groot and Rocket and also reads very odd, for the recorder is, obviously, not a human. Which is fine and to be expected, as neither is Groot or Rocket or...any of the characters in the book, but the recorder is an AI and has a clumsy, if precise, style of thinking. Like, for example, all the many times he mentions Rocket's hands, he uses the phrase, "disconcertingly human-like". However true this may descriptor might be, it gets annoying quick. He also says "unfeasibly large" in reference to guns and other weaponry, roughly 40 times throughout the book, which is still less than he said "disconcertingly human-like". :(
This same recorder has recorded nearly all of the information in the universe and, naturally, is the most wanted piece of machinery across the galaxies. You might warm up to the little bugger, I know I did a bit, but he's very odd, because, among other things, he's attracted to Gamora, which is just weird. Doubly frustrating is that the book is more about Recorder 127 than Rocket or Groot, as the title of the book would suggest. It makes me think that Dan wrote a character that was, essentially, also the plot and then rewrote the book to make thatplot character also the main character.
That leads to a boring book, no matter how many fight and space-chase scenes you write in to spice things up. Which brings me to that matter. There were SO many space-chase scenes that were well-written, no doubt, but they were all the same and all very boring. Chases are very much a visual thing, and never translate as well as they do on a movie screen. Now I'm not blaming the book, it is what it is and could not be anything other. A space-adventure is required to have space-chases, but I didn't care for the reading of them.
As far as the rest of our characters go, Groot was spot-on. Granted, it might be hard to mess his character up, but he was as lovable as ever. I really liked that not only could Rocket understand him, but so could Recorder 127, which made for some of the best parts of the whole book.
Rocket was a little harder for me, because even though I liked him, he was not the Rocket that so many of us know and love from the movie. He was very much like that Rocket, but maybe better compared to a twice-removed cousin of that Rocket, than he could be called that Rocket himself. (Hope you muddled through that sentence.)
I appreciated having Gamora show up in the book, both on her own adventures and with Rocket and the rest, but she too was not herself, if you're going to go by the movie, as I did. I was also slightly confused as to when Rocket was supposed to have started calling her "Gam"??? Though when he kisses her on the cheek, I'm not denying there was some serious squeeing.
There were moments of humor throughout that had me giggling, mostly anything having to do with Timely, Inc (I see what you did there:D). That, and every time that Groot said anything and there was a conversation, however small, revolving around it. Oh, and there was this:
Which amused me greatly.
But other than that, it was a dud for me. I'd rather watch the movie blindfolded with the volume on low than read this.
First off, it's told from the POV of a recorder, which gives us a bit of a disconnect from Groot and Rocket and also reads very odd, for the recorder is, obviously, not a human. Which is fine and to be expected, as neither is Groot or Rocket or...any of the characters in the book, but the recorder is an AI and has a clumsy, if precise, style of thinking. Like, for example, all the many times he mentions Rocket's hands, he uses the phrase, "disconcertingly human-like". However true this may descriptor might be, it gets annoying quick. He also says "unfeasibly large" in reference to guns and other weaponry, roughly 40 times throughout the book, which is still less than he said "disconcertingly human-like". :(
This same recorder has recorded nearly all of the information in the universe and, naturally, is the most wanted piece of machinery across the galaxies. You might warm up to the little bugger, I know I did a bit, but he's very odd, because, among other things, he's attracted to Gamora, which is just weird. Doubly frustrating is that the book is more about Recorder 127 than Rocket or Groot, as the title of the book would suggest. It makes me think that Dan wrote a character that was, essentially, also the plot and then rewrote the book to make that
That leads to a boring book, no matter how many fight and space-chase scenes you write in to spice things up. Which brings me to that matter. There were SO many space-chase scenes that were well-written, no doubt, but they were all the same and all very boring. Chases are very much a visual thing, and never translate as well as they do on a movie screen. Now I'm not blaming the book, it is what it is and could not be anything other. A space-adventure is required to have space-chases, but I didn't care for the reading of them.
As far as the rest of our characters go, Groot was spot-on. Granted, it might be hard to mess his character up, but he was as lovable as ever. I really liked that not only could Rocket understand him, but so could Recorder 127, which made for some of the best parts of the whole book.
Rocket was a little harder for me, because even though I liked him, he was not the Rocket that so many of us know and love from the movie. He was very much like that Rocket, but maybe better compared to a twice-removed cousin of that Rocket, than he could be called that Rocket himself. (Hope you muddled through that sentence.)
I appreciated having Gamora show up in the book, both on her own adventures and with Rocket and the rest, but she too was not herself, if you're going to go by the movie, as I did. I was also slightly confused as to when Rocket was supposed to have started calling her "Gam"??? Though when he kisses her on the cheek, I'm not denying there was some serious squeeing.
There were moments of humor throughout that had me giggling, mostly anything having to do with Timely, Inc (I see what you did there:D). That, and every time that Groot said anything and there was a conversation, however small, revolving around it. Oh, and there was this:
"There is a...Multiverse?"
"Yes, Madam."
....
"How else would you explain interdimensional crossovers, or multiple alternate iterations of Wolverine or Spider-Man?
Which amused me greatly.
But other than that, it was a dud for me. I'd rather watch the movie blindfolded with the volume on low than read this.
Read
February 28, 2024I believe that this is a great book. It starts out with Groot and Rocket resting in bar Leery's in Xarth Three. They were waiting for someone to buy forty eight tons of Zunk. Later they find a group of badoons that were looking for a person. This led to a fight and Rocket wanted to avoid the fight, however, the bad guys win by the good guys doing nothing. He joins the fight with groot and saved the guy who was getting beat up. They flee from the planet, but are chased from planet to planet and they were forced to switch to different planets. Along the way they found out that the guy was holding recorder 127 from Timely Inc. Gamora had been sent to retrieve this because it could rival out project 616 which was to control the multiverse. They knew they couldn't be immoral mercenaries about this, and now they are trying to protect recorder 127.
August 26, 2015
I'd encourage others to give it a look, but I couldn't get past the POV. The spoiler tells who the POV is and why it stinks, but nothing further about the book.
September 10, 2014
I LOVED the movie, especially these characters - but ugh, this book was painful to read. It's told from the point of view of a robot or something so the language is very stilted and repetitive.
I'll stick to the movies and the actual comics.
I'll stick to the movies and the actual comics.
December 22, 2014
A great read for Guardians of the Galaxy fans! It definitely shows another side of Rocket and Groot! A wonderful and easy read.
September 4, 2015
A dizzying, hilarious, unpredictable, action-filled romp that is above all--and most importantly--HELLA FUN.
November 28, 2017
If you're like me--where you like comics, but you love books--this crossover novel will be a great find. Marvel characters in original novels! Love it.
A digression
I remember when I was a kid, we had a Fantastic Four book. It was one of those "big little books," where it was short and fat and had a picture on every other page but was a legit book. I loved being able to read a comic book story filled with some of my favorite characters, on my own, at my own pace, supplying most of my own pictures. I read that book a bunch of times.
The Fantastic Four: The House of Horrors
About the same time, we had a "Get Smart" novel, which somehow was more fun than the goofy TV show. TV is all dialogue, but a novel has narration, which makes the story seem more real to me, and filled in so much that was missing. I don't know where that one book came from, or why we didn't get more. Should have.
Missed It By That Much!
And my favorite novel of this sort (crossover from another medium) that we had when I was a kid was Alan Dean Foster's novelization of "Star Wars." I loved the movie, but in some ways preferred the book. It had scenes that were missing from the movie, which was cool, but what affected me the most was the narration: the lingering on crucial events that occurred in a second in the movie but filled a paragraph in the book, or a page; the revelation of the characters' thoughts and motivations; the explanation and description of technology; the backstory and connections. The movie was two dimensions, but the novel was in three. Or so it seemed.
Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker
TL:DR
This "original novel of the Marvel universe" is in the same vein, and I liked it. It is a straight-up comic book adventure, but it's more fun (for me, a book nerd) to enjoy it in novel format. The author employs an excellent smart-ass tone, supplies helpful exposition, uses a variety of settings and secondary characters, and keeps the saving-of-the-galaxy plot moving along with as much energy as a comic or movie. It is very much pulp fiction, with all that implies, except for shoddy writing; Dan Abnett is an excellent writer who knows the characters and universe very well. So, I suppose, this is high quality pulp, which I mean neither as an oxymoron (a lot of pulp is well-written) nor a criticism. Pulp is entertaining; pulp is imaginative; pulp doesn't make a lot of demands on a reader; pulp, more than anything is fun, which is what I want most from reading.
If you're not put off by your comic book characters showing up in your paperbacks, and you like novels to be fun, maybe even silly, you should take a look. I think you'll enjoy it.
A digression
I remember when I was a kid, we had a Fantastic Four book. It was one of those "big little books," where it was short and fat and had a picture on every other page but was a legit book. I loved being able to read a comic book story filled with some of my favorite characters, on my own, at my own pace, supplying most of my own pictures. I read that book a bunch of times.
The Fantastic Four: The House of Horrors
About the same time, we had a "Get Smart" novel, which somehow was more fun than the goofy TV show. TV is all dialogue, but a novel has narration, which makes the story seem more real to me, and filled in so much that was missing. I don't know where that one book came from, or why we didn't get more. Should have.
Missed It By That Much!
And my favorite novel of this sort (crossover from another medium) that we had when I was a kid was Alan Dean Foster's novelization of "Star Wars." I loved the movie, but in some ways preferred the book. It had scenes that were missing from the movie, which was cool, but what affected me the most was the narration: the lingering on crucial events that occurred in a second in the movie but filled a paragraph in the book, or a page; the revelation of the characters' thoughts and motivations; the explanation and description of technology; the backstory and connections. The movie was two dimensions, but the novel was in three. Or so it seemed.
Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker
TL:DR
This "original novel of the Marvel universe" is in the same vein, and I liked it. It is a straight-up comic book adventure, but it's more fun (for me, a book nerd) to enjoy it in novel format. The author employs an excellent smart-ass tone, supplies helpful exposition, uses a variety of settings and secondary characters, and keeps the saving-of-the-galaxy plot moving along with as much energy as a comic or movie. It is very much pulp fiction, with all that implies, except for shoddy writing; Dan Abnett is an excellent writer who knows the characters and universe very well. So, I suppose, this is high quality pulp, which I mean neither as an oxymoron (a lot of pulp is well-written) nor a criticism. Pulp is entertaining; pulp is imaginative; pulp doesn't make a lot of demands on a reader; pulp, more than anything is fun, which is what I want most from reading.
If you're not put off by your comic book characters showing up in your paperbacks, and you like novels to be fun, maybe even silly, you should take a look. I think you'll enjoy it.
February 27, 2021
Falgun 15, 2077, Saturday
Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon & Groot Steal The Galaxy - Dan Abnett (2014)
(Marvel Prose Novels)
Genres: Adventure Fiction/ Science Fiction
Pages: 359
Rating: 8.5/10
Themes: Friendship/ End of the Universe
Opener:
"A talking raccoon and a mobile tree walk into a bar—
Wait. My linguistic circuits inform me that in the vernacular of more than one hundred and fifty-six thousand civilized cultures, that opening sentence definitely sounds like the start of a joke.
The sort of joke that might also include the words “Why the long face?” or “I’m afraid not” or “Ouch, it was an iron bar.”"
Summary:
During a spaceport brawl, the infamous pair rescues an android Recorder from a pack of alien Badoons. Everyone in the galaxy, however, including the ruthless Kree Empire and the stalwart Nova Corps, seems to want that Recorder, who's about as sane as a sandwich with no mustard.
Verdict:
This was a rollicking ride. It does take some time initially to get used to the narrator’s voice—in this case; it is an android, Recorder 127 of the Rigellian Intergalactic Survey—but once you can take his slightly peculiar narrative style into stride, it is a joy ride. The narrator does not make the process easy, mind you, especially when he overuses the phrases “disconcertingly human-like hands” and “unfeasibly large” regarding Rocket’s hand and choice of weaponry. His voice, not so peculiarly, is robotic, but he does try to sprinkle his recounting with some pop culture references, which being exclusively limited to Western media, completely went over my head. Some segments of the book are absolutely hilarious. I think Drax’s style of humour was perfectly transplanted to the staff of Timely, Inc. I had a hard time getting behind the battles of Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rise of Kyoshi, but here, the narration when it comes to skirmishes and battles is on point, and the battles feel exciting. This was a flarking good novel.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Rocket Raccoon & Groot Steal The Galaxy - Dan Abnett (2014)
(Marvel Prose Novels)
Genres: Adventure Fiction/ Science Fiction
Pages: 359
Rating: 8.5/10
Themes: Friendship/ End of the Universe
Opener:
"A talking raccoon and a mobile tree walk into a bar—
Wait. My linguistic circuits inform me that in the vernacular of more than one hundred and fifty-six thousand civilized cultures, that opening sentence definitely sounds like the start of a joke.
The sort of joke that might also include the words “Why the long face?” or “I’m afraid not” or “Ouch, it was an iron bar.”"
Summary:
During a spaceport brawl, the infamous pair rescues an android Recorder from a pack of alien Badoons. Everyone in the galaxy, however, including the ruthless Kree Empire and the stalwart Nova Corps, seems to want that Recorder, who's about as sane as a sandwich with no mustard.
Verdict:
This was a rollicking ride. It does take some time initially to get used to the narrator’s voice—in this case; it is an android, Recorder 127 of the Rigellian Intergalactic Survey—but once you can take his slightly peculiar narrative style into stride, it is a joy ride. The narrator does not make the process easy, mind you, especially when he overuses the phrases “disconcertingly human-like hands” and “unfeasibly large” regarding Rocket’s hand and choice of weaponry. His voice, not so peculiarly, is robotic, but he does try to sprinkle his recounting with some pop culture references, which being exclusively limited to Western media, completely went over my head. Some segments of the book are absolutely hilarious. I think Drax’s style of humour was perfectly transplanted to the staff of Timely, Inc. I had a hard time getting behind the battles of Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rise of Kyoshi, but here, the narration when it comes to skirmishes and battles is on point, and the battles feel exciting. This was a flarking good novel.
February 10, 2019
I listened to the Graphic Audio version of this, and it was pretty fun. It's narrated by an android in the story called Recorder 127, the MacGuffin of the story wanted by many different people. I found his pauses, pop culture references, and explanation of the multiverse to be amusing. But I could see how the narration style could be a deal-breaker for other listeners. I did love how he put an officer in his place during an interrogation scene.
I also enjoyed the voice acting for Rocket Raccoon. It doesn't sound exactly like Bradley Cooper, but it's the same type of voice that people might associate with the character. The timing of my listening to this actually came around the time that Oreo, the model used for Rocket in the films, passed away. So I kept Oreo in mind when imagining that crazy raccoon on this adventure with his trusty tree.
As far as the engagement, I found some of the action a bit difficult to follow at times. I did like the rocking theme included here. It definitely fits. The only other Marvel audio I've listened to is Spider-Man: Drowned in Thunder, and I found that one to be more engaging. Maybe it's due to that one having more in-depth character moments. But I was expecting Steal the Galaxy to be more funny, so it did meet my expectations in that regard. I do think that it is still worth a listen.
I also enjoyed the voice acting for Rocket Raccoon. It doesn't sound exactly like Bradley Cooper, but it's the same type of voice that people might associate with the character. The timing of my listening to this actually came around the time that Oreo, the model used for Rocket in the films, passed away. So I kept Oreo in mind when imagining that crazy raccoon on this adventure with his trusty tree.
As far as the engagement, I found some of the action a bit difficult to follow at times. I did like the rocking theme included here. It definitely fits. The only other Marvel audio I've listened to is Spider-Man: Drowned in Thunder, and I found that one to be more engaging. Maybe it's due to that one having more in-depth character moments. But I was expecting Steal the Galaxy to be more funny, so it did meet my expectations in that regard. I do think that it is still worth a listen.
August 1, 2017
Taking place at a time when the Guardians of the Galaxy are on a break from their teamwork, Rocket and Groot working as a duo to secure an information-gathering sentient robot. The story is told through the robot's perspective, as it tries to understand why it is sought after by several cosmic entities.
The most fun part of this book is the world it sets up, which includes warring empires, a galactic corporation, and several others seeking control of the stars. The robot is an audience proxy, using the trick of telling the story while "relating to human understanding," in order to include pop culture references when describing events on other worlds.
Although the story doesn't include Starlord or Drax, it does include an appearance by Gammora, making it an almost-complete "Guardians" story. The book brings some of the cosmic races (Kree, Skrull, Shi'ar) seen in other Marvel properties to a narrative amalgamation that reminds me a bit of the political struggles present in "Star Wars". Overall, the story's humor is worthy read and exists as a great stand-alone novel, regardless of which comics or movies you've read previously.
The most fun part of this book is the world it sets up, which includes warring empires, a galactic corporation, and several others seeking control of the stars. The robot is an audience proxy, using the trick of telling the story while "relating to human understanding," in order to include pop culture references when describing events on other worlds.
Although the story doesn't include Starlord or Drax, it does include an appearance by Gammora, making it an almost-complete "Guardians" story. The book brings some of the cosmic races (Kree, Skrull, Shi'ar) seen in other Marvel properties to a narrative amalgamation that reminds me a bit of the political struggles present in "Star Wars". Overall, the story's humor is worthy read and exists as a great stand-alone novel, regardless of which comics or movies you've read previously.
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