Edge of Tomorrow (Movie Tie-in Edition)

All You Need Is Kill

By: Hiroshi Sakurazaka

Narrated by: Mike Martindale

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

If you watched the movie, skip it

I picked up this novel after realizing that the movie I enjoyed was originally based on it. That may not have been the right mindset to go into a book with but it can't be helped.

Immediately I loved the changes that I was seeing. The different characters, similar premise, and subtle changes made the book brand new for me. It's like they had taken a premise that I loved and put a whole new spin on it. Funny, I know, since this was actually the original but I was having a great time.

Then the downsides started popping up.

The first would be the length. Normally when someone turns a book into a movie, they need to trim a lot of fat in order to fit the important parts in. This book was the opposite. At less than half the length of my usual fare, the characters all felt flat and weak. The main character changes very little despite his growth in skill, and the heroine is a little girl with a weak backstory. Even the supporting cast are all one dimensional and forgettable. Even now after just finishing it I can't even remember a single one of their names.

The second, issue was the explanation of the technology in the world... Or really the lack of it. Nothing is truly explained, and whenever something is, it feels like the characters are making very unintuitive leaps to come to their explanations. From the bad guy's origins, to the final fight, nothing felt like it made sense. I can only suspend my sense of disbelief for so long before I have to slam on the brakes.

All this would be forgivable if it wasn't for the ending. Without spoiling anything, I really did not enjoy this ending. There was a chance for something really good here but instead of anything getting solved, it felt like it was left open for a possible series. In fact, I'm not sure if it was some subtle details I can't recognize, or just the Japanese atmosphere, but it feels like one of several animes that were started but never satisfactorily finished.

In the end, this story is interesting but only if you don't have the much more satisfying movie to compare it to. Read this novel if you're interested in time loops, then go check out the film version once you're done.

great story!

This is a great book. the storyline reminds me of enders game. it has a different ending than the movie. I can recommend both!

I love this story.

I would recommend it to a friend for a good read . It's a good addition to my own personal collection of books, I consider classics . that I can enjoy reading for years to come.

Different ending than the film

Personally felt it was a good addition and edition to the novel, manga, comic, and film. Not sure others will agree. (See other review stating this but I went ahead n bought anyways) I’d recommend but not all will feel the same b

Great story

A bit different than the movie but it’s great with better character development. The ending is quite different as well, in a good way I think.