Edge of Tomorrow (Movie Tie-in Edition)

All You Need Is Kill

By: Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Narrated by: Mike Martindale

Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

First time on audio! The original novel that inspired the sci-fi blockbuster film starring Tom Cruise!

When the alien Mimics invade, Keiji Kiriya is just one of many recruits shoved into a suit of battle armor called a Jacket and sent out to kill. Keiji dies on the battlefield, only to be reborn each morning to fight and die again and again. On his 158th iteration, he gets a message from a mysterious ally - the female soldier known as the Full Metal Bitch. Is she the key to Keiji's escape or his final death?

©2013 Viz Media, LLC (P)2014 Simon & Schuster Audio

Not bad for a short story!

Alright, so we all know that this storyline is a complete lift of the story of "All You Need Is Kill". So I'm not going to beat that dead horse. I'm not even sure why they used the movie title and slapped Tom Cruise on the cover? This book that I just read IS "All you need is kill" The two stories though diverge in certain ways. To me the movie was very very humorous. The book, is more serious though it does have it's moments where I couldn't help but chuckle.

It follows the same premise, basically the US, China, Russia and Japan are the big four nations are can offer support against the invading mimics. Our hero Keiji starts out as a green novice recruit, but by the end is a battle hardened vet with a philosophic bend. All in "one" day!
What I liked about the book over the movie adaptation is that they go into the "Full Metal Bitch's" back story, far more. This sort of puts a face on the 'bitch'.

The book does a decent job at describing the battles, but the description overall of the style of weapons, aircraft, and the world itself leaves something to be desired. The author described the jacket and it's technology well enough, but outside of that, there wasn't a lot of world building.

I don't understand why they had to make everyone White in the movie though... the characters in the book were very relatable to that of the movie.. Is having a Japanese main character that hard of a pill for Western audiences to swallow? I don't think so..Anyway the story moves pretty quick, which is good, I suppose. You don't want to get dragged into an over dramatic and stretched out story. Though I think the movie does an excellent job in drawing out more from the story. ( and of course changed the ending)


The narration wasn't great, but the reader had a very resonating voice. This worked well most of the time, but did seem a bit unfitting in parts. There were times where it seriously sounded like a movie announcer voice. It didn't distract from the actual story so I have no complaints.

Overall, enjoyable, action packed, great for fans of military scifi, with a twist.

It's not the same but worthy

If you love the movie like i do, you are up for a surprise. The cover with the actors is absolutely deceiving. Th movie is based LOOSELY on the book. I love the movie, much better then the book. But it did help me to understand things the movie did not cover.
Still, I take the movie over the original book.
I liked it better.

better than the movie

the original title was all you need is kill, and this is completely different from the film, and better for it.

Loved it

I think I listened to it around five times. Plenty of replay value and a great story.

Better than movie

A lot different from the movie. It was almost too short as I was highly enjoying it and it just kind of ended. Very good though.

More coherent but less thrilling than the movie

The movie is only loosely based on this, so don't expect to get deeper insights into the movie's plot or characters.
Regardless, this book is in itself a worthy piece of sci-fi. The time loop theory is a little better based. The plot line is very different from start to end, so you get a completely different ride through the same (or similar) world.
All in all well worth the time to listen.

better love story than twilight

Just like Starship Troopers, the book All You Need is Kill is worlds different than its movie adaption. Both the Movies and books have phenomenal storys that are so different they can stand up on their own.

This story is one of my favorites, easily in my top 10 reading list. the emotions I felt reading it were incredibly intesne, the story short and to the point, the MC completely relatable and yes the whole story revolves around themes of love, hope, hatred and lost. A real emotional rollercoaster of a story. love it! bigly!

Different the movie

Generally good story & performance. Japanese names & words badly pronounced - lazy reader & director. It's not hard to get close.

Similar to movie yet different

Listened to this as part of a book club where we watch the movie and compare it to the book. Was pretty excited because while I really can't stand Tom Cruise at this point (the stories about how he treats women, let alone the whole scientology thing has turned me off him pretty much completely) I have to admit that I love this movie. I have watched it numerous times, like over and over... just love it. This story is different in that it is happening in Japan rather than France and the ending is completely different than the movie's ending. Rather than being a demoted talking head in this version he's just a grunt... there's no transfusion element this time, and who the invaders are is explained, which the movie doesn't really bother to do. That all said, I didn't like the ending on this one...

A MUST Read

Even if you've seen the film (Edge of Tomorrow: Live Die Repeat), I HIGHLY recommend listening/reading All You Need Is Kill. I absolutely loved the storyline, even if it's somewhat different from the film. I loved learning more about Rita's background and mindset.