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All You Need Is Kill
Group Reads Discussions 2019
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"All You Need Is Kill" First Impressions *No Spoilers*
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I’ve owned this book for years but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I actually bought it before the movie came out yet somehow didn’t read it.The film is superb, and I’ve watched it at least a dozen times. I hear they’re making a sequel, although I don’t know how they’re going to do that. It’s a perfect one-and-done.
Edge of Tomorrow (aka Live Die Repeat): https://youtu.be/bydHcLDfWuY
Edit to add the better trailer.
I’m almost done and would have finished sooner if it weren’t for a crazy schedule the last couple of days. It’s very readable, although I’m not sure it tackles its themes with as much depth as I’d hoped. It’s also a fascinating mashup of ideas, styles, and tropes. Above all else, I’m not sure I ever would have heard of this book, let alone read it, if it weren’t for this group, and as always I’m grateful for being exposed to work that is new to me.
I haven't been able to find the actual book but did find the audiobook. Don't know if I want to listen to it though. Do you reckon watching Tom and Emily would suffice? The way I feel at the moment it might be the best I'm going to get with this one.
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I watched the movie a couple years back and enjoyed it more than I expected. I was very interested to read the original book and see how it compared. So far, it's a quick read but pulls you right into the complicated story very well.
Oh my, no spoilers at all, but the final third of the book just pretty much ruined it all for me. Super disappointed.
So far I'm loving it! What a beginning! Not the sort of book I'd typically read but I'm thankful to the group for opening my eyes to it.
Trike wrote: "The film is superb, and I’ve watched it at least a dozen times."You're aware of the irony in that, right? (I've probably watched it half a dozen times.)
Jacqueline wrote: "I haven't been able to find the actual book but did find the audiobook. Don't know if I want to listen to it though. Do you reckon watching Tom and Emily would suffice? The way I feel at the moment..."The book and the movie are very, very different.
So, I didn't really care for this book on one hand but I enjoyed it on another. I liked the movie more...but the book is much more realistic.
I love the movie. I love Tom Cruise. He's crazy, doing his own stunts (and especially in the last one).The opening chapter is visceral; reminds me of Saving Private Ryan, trying to stay alive in the madness and confusion of combat.
Andy wrote: "Trike wrote: "The film is superb, and I’ve watched it at least a dozen times."You're aware of the irony in that, right? (I've probably watched it half a dozen times.)"
I don’t think that word means what you think it means.
M.L. wrote: "I love the movie. I love Tom Cruise. He's crazy, doing his own stunts (and especially in the last one).The opening chapter is visceral; reminds me of Saving Private Ryan, trying to stay alive in ..."
I just didn't like them creating a whole character for Cruise. He could have played the book's MC as is.
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I wasn’t interested in the movie or the novel. And I just realized the illustrator for the manga is the one for Moriarty the Patriot (Everyone is so beautiful in story~ Ahh, what kind of review is this?). I guess I’ll give the manga a try.
Hmm, I think I should rephrase as after I read it, I don’t really like it. Not interested in it sounds a bit arrogant, ahh, sorry...
I thought I had the manga version but it turns out I have the novel so once I have finished my present book I will be joining you.I liked the movie but had forgotten it was based on the novel.
I don't think I've ever seen the movie version of this. I read the first section of the first chapter this morning and while I'm interested to see where this goes from here, I'm not necessarily hooked.
Trike wrote: "I don’t think that word means what you think it means."Inconceivable.
The start is pretty good. I like the novel opening more than the movie one so far. The style and language is a little juvenile, but that matches the story.I'm also happy to read a short novel. I've been reading a lot of 600-1200 page epics lately and need a faster pace story.
Just wow on this book. I really really enjoy it. I thought that the author has a great tone in the book so far. It started a little slow, but dang I got hooked very fast.
I am now at 50 percent mark and while it is an easy read, I can not say it is on the level with other power armour SF novels of note.
It sucked me in slowly, but then I devoured the 2nd half quickly.
I might not get to this for a while, but I am curious about whether anyone else thinks of the Beatles song. I keep hearing the brass section in the chorus of "All You Need Is Love."
I, too, loved the movie and can't wait to start with the book! Seems most here like it so far... :)
I have just started but it is good so far.
Oleksandr wrote: "I am now at 50 percent mark and while it is an easy read, I can not say it is on the level with other power armour SF novels of note."Which others would you recommend?
I think the only audio version I found was abridged. Did anyone find unabridged?
J.w. wrote: "I think the only audio version I found was abridged. Did anyone find unabridged?"This says unabridged: https://www.audible.com/pd/B00JPJ6LE6
Esther wrote: "Oleksandr wrote: "I am now at 50 percent mark and while it is an easy read, I can not say it is on the level with other power armour SF novels of note."Which others would you recommend?"
Usually the classical four are
Starship Troopers
The Forever War
Armor
Old Man's War
Oleksandr wrote: "I am now at 50 percent mark and while it is an easy read, I can not say it is on the level with other power armour SF novels of note."Power armor SF? Does that just mean SF that has powered armor in it? It sounds a bit too specific to be a genre.
Oleksandr wrote: "Esther wrote: "Oleksandr wrote: "I am now at 50 percent mark and while it is an easy read, I can not say it is on the level with other power armour SF novels of note."Which others would you recom..."
Starship Troopers I want to read but never get round to it. The Forever War I found interesting but dated.
Scalzi is one of my favourite authors but Old Man's War has body enhancements not power armour. His Lock In series sort of has power armour though there are no bodies inside and it isn't military scifi.
Some of the Warhammer stories are interesting. They have a range of mechanincs, power armour and genetic/bio-engineered body enhancements.
I am about half-way through. I like the tone which is calm and conversational and the fact that the story advances without endless descriptions of the obviously, repetitive battles going on behind the scenes.
I have meant not power armour SF but novels with strong military line and warriors with super human abilities, whether in armour or body modification. Of course there are a lot of such books, but I tried to name the ones assumed to be the most important or popular of the ones I noted, there are award winners. Also these ones concidered mainstream, unlike Warhammer or Mechwarrior
Love, love, LOVE Starship Troopers but it is not action-y. Old Man's War does have armor but its nano-tech, not powersuited. It's an excellent read, however.
Too existential. I understand why he would be but the way it's written interferes with the story. I've read about half of it. Definitely like the movie better.
I'm at 25% now and am enjoying it a lot so far. It's an easy read, and even though I knew the story from the movie, the book managed to spark my interest and pull me in instantly. I'm going to spend the day at the pool tomorrow and finish reading. Looking forward to that!
What also surprised me is that Hollywood for once didn't screw up a story when adapting a book to a movie. Happens rarely enough imo.
I just finished listening to the audio version of this. I haven't seen the movie (not even once) so I knew nothing about it other than what almost everyone already knows. I thought it was pretty good and appreciated its brevity.
I have just rewatched the film and am suprised how much it differs from the book. I like the film especially Emliy Blunt but I would love a more close adaptation of the book set in Japan.
Esther wrote: "I have just rewatched the film and am suprised how much it differs from the book. I like the film especially Emliy Blunt but I would love a more close adaptation of the book set in Japan."
You know, I was ok with the movie being set elsewhere - it was the lack of Japanese characters (and MC) that bothered me the most.
Esther wrote: "I have just rewatched the film and am suprised how much it differs from the book. I like the film especially Emliy Blunt but I would love a more close adaptation of the book set in Japan."
It's simple marketing why they choose to make such changes. Hollywood always tries to sell their movies to a wide audience worldwide. With budgets of 300 million and more that's only understandable.
So, it's logical to cast Tom Cruise as the main character instead of a Japanese actor nobody outside of Japan knows.
But to see characters which have been clearly discribed in a certain way in a book cast completetly different in a movie is always irritating. I agree with that.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Starship Troopers (other topics)The Forever War (other topics)
Old Man's War (other topics)
Lock In (other topics)
Starship Troopers (other topics)
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Content warnings: (view spoiler)[Graphic violence, casual and rampant misogyny, racism, and homophobia. Depiction of mental illness and suicide. (hide spoiler)]
Another note: the alternate title for this book is "The Edge of Tomorrow." It is also printed as a novel and a manga. The group is reading the novel.