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

Don't like the movie edition

I got this some time ago, when I first listened to it I loved it. Then audible changed the book without asking or my permission to this movie tie-in edition. It took out a big part of the book showing the main characters training. The book is lacking now, nothing like the story I originally bought and loved. Shame on audible

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.

Good story, but the wrong reader

I enjoyed the story quite a bit, the descriptions of it as a sci fi twist on Groundhog Day aren't far off the mark. It was entertaining, fast paced, and with a surprising amout of humor.

My one issue is that the reader is all wrong. He doesn't do a bad job with the story, but the narrator is a teenage boy fresh out of high school. The reader is a gravel voiced middle age man, and doesn't try to modulate his voice accordingly.

ALL YOU NEED IS KILL

STARING AT THE GROUND LIKE A FARMER WATCHING RICE GROW
The best thing about this book is the main character Keiji. He is a very likeable guy. He seems like an everyday average sort of guy. This makes it easy for the listener to put himself in Keiji's place. The story was enjoyable, had a twist at the end and yes it would make a good video game. The aliens are cool, the battle suits are cool and the writing is above average, of course that is hard to tell since it is translated. It is not a five star book, but close and worth $5.95, which brings up my next topic.

The $5.95, unannounced secret sale.
At the time I am writing this you can get this for $5.95, but it will not stay that way. If you cruise through your favorite categories you will find more books for this price, such as Dream Catcher and Hearts of Atlantis by Stephen King. Horns by Joe Hill. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. There are lots more. You will not get any notice of when these books go on sale. It will not be printed in Red. It might end tonight or tomorrow or a month from now. Last year I bought Battle Royal and Krampus at this low price, today these are selling for around $19.00.

It's a F/U world with F/U rules , so F it.

Couldn't find a Japanese reader?

While Mike Martindale is an awesome reader and did a very good job, I would have liked a Japanese reader. Story was awesome as well.

Military Sci Fi Grind at it's finest

Would you listen to Edge of Tomorrow (Movie Tie-in Edition) again? Why?

I love military Sci Fi Fiction. This captured the horrors of war while relating it to this generations view of war as a video game. Excellent satire as always from one of my favorite Genres.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rita, The Full Metal Bitch. It was a short story but her character was Cold as ice and surprisingly vulnerable. Well Realized Bad Ass!

What does Mike Martindale bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His delivery is fantastic. I just thought Keiji should have probably sounded more japanese. It's a silly Knit PIck I know.

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

It had a bit of dark humor and like most war fiction had some very sad imagery.

Any additional comments?

This was my first Audible DL and I just want to say I'm very happy with Audible.com bringing me listening that I can't get anywhere else.

this is not a story. Do not buy.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

This was not a story it was an cool idea made into a movie which made it into a story. Really bad book. Nothing to it. Just watch the movie. Tge movie made it into something that the book was missing, An actual tale.

Would you ever listen to anything by Hiroshi Sakurazaka again?

I have

Any additional comments?

Do not get this

Good story - not so Hollywood

I can see how they made Edge of Tomorrow out of this book, and it’s a pretty good movie. The book has the same central idea, but it’s pretty different, and different in a pretty cool way. There are a couple of egregious pronunciation errors by the reader, but it’s a decent performance. It’s going a little surprising if you’ve seen the movie, and that’s a good thing.

Movie tie-in readervoice drags down excellent book

I think the choice of reader might have been influenced too much by the heavily Americanized movie. Too gravelly to pass as the everyman Japanese soldier. Pronounciation of Japanese was atrocious, highlighting a poor casting choice and lack of background work. Despite these problems, the Japanese style shines through, laced with tropes instantly recognizable to friends of Japanese pop culture.

Of all three versions

I loved the audio actor, but disliked the twists in plot. The manga was my first intro to the story which led me to the movie. I feel like the book held a closer resemblance to the manga, but the movie was the best version in my opinion. The effect of the ww3 Beach front invasion seemed to be lost in this version...

Stick to the movie

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Needed more story - I guess it would read better in it's original graphic novel format.

Would you recommend Edge of Tomorrow (Movie Tie-in Edition) to your friends? Why or why not?

I couldn't recommend this really. The movie was much better (and was the reason I bought the audio version), it was too short and just didn't make sense to me.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Average narrator, but I guess he was constrained by the content. Poor voices.

Could you see Edge of Tomorrow (Movie Tie-in Edition) being made into a movie or a TV series? Who would the stars be?

It already has been made into a movie!

Any additional comments?

Watch the movie or read in it's original graphic novel format, don't waste your time with this.

Great Fun

Although there will be a distance between book and film, some of which which be the interesting clashes and mixing of food stuffs that make this story amusing and accessible, it's still a great, slice of sci-fi silliness, if you only saw the film...the book is still worth reading.

not as good as the film

Normally when I have read the book a film was based on I've been amazed at the extra detail, but as this was originally a graphic novel there isn't much detail. It's as if this book is a summery of the full book!

Super enjoyable if you liked the film

Really enjoyed this more than I was expecting. I wasn’t to sure about the ending but at the same time I wouldn’t mind a sequel which the ending allows

Wow

I really enjoyed the edge of tomorrow movie and the book blew the movie adaption out of the water in every way, which is impressive as edge of tomorrow was a fantastic movie.
Won’t give anything away from the plot but I laughed and cried listening to this tale.