Computer programmer Kevin Flynn is transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer, where he interacts with various programs in his attempt to get back out. During his adventure he meets Tron, a rebel program fighting the tyrannical Master Control Program.

At first it was just an interesting read and I felt like I was getting a little bit more of the world, but it was still just another movie novelization.

The writing style felt really weird and clunky, mainly because of it’s age (the book was written a couple of years before I was born), and that probably didn’t help matters much.  The flow of words felt outdated and strange to me, but I continued to read because I’m a huge TRON fan.

I’m actually really glad that I kept going, because even though I felt like I had gone back in time writing wise, the story gets REALLY good.  Right around the time that Tron meets up with Yori, the story picks up pace and doesn’t slow down until the very last sentence.

I enjoyed the extra details about Tron’s fights with the Memory Guard on the solar sailor and the way the author described Flynn saving Yori’s life on Sark’s Carrier had me both worried and relieved that Yori would be alright and wondering why Flynn couldn’t have figured his powers out in time to save RAM (I love RAM) *cries*

So, in conclusion:  At times, I felt like I’d traveled back in time and was reading something from the dark ages, BUT, even having to deal with an outdated style of writing, I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book.  It gives the reader a sneak peak into everything we all know was going on in the background, but that they just couldn’t fit into the movie.

Audience: I think that fans of science fiction might also enjoy this book, but it’s a definite must-read if you are a fan of either of the Tron movies.

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Format: Paperback
Publisher: Del Rey
Source: Library ILL
Rating: ★★★★☆
Links: Amazon || Goodreads

In all honesty, I enjoyed everything about the Pacific Rim novelization except for the ending.

Having read the book before seeing the movie in theaters, I was pleased with the details included in the novelization.  While it doesn’t deviate drastically from the main script of the movie, this book does give you a little bit of the history and a look into each character’s minds.

Many authors who write movie novelizations are working with an early version of the script, which often leads to discrepancies between film and novel.  In the case of Pacific Rim, the big difference is the ending and while the movie ends with Mako and Raleigh embracing atop his life pod the book ends with them kissing.

I’ve heard many, many arguments about the perceived romance between Mako and Raleigh and I have to admit that I just don’t see it.  Yes, there is a possibility for a romantic relationship between them but it is also just as likely that they will be bros/best buds for life… Something I would kill to see in the sequel, quite frankly.

The story told in Pacific Rim does not need to use a romantic relationship as a crutch, a theme which is so often found in movies these days.   If there is one thing that I want people to realize about Pacific Rim, it would be that it is so much more than romance!  You have people who are dealing with a world that no longer supports them and their struggle to protect it; men and women who are fighting to protect the family they created; and the innocent masses of people who don’t know anything but a world ruled by the fear of a Kaiju attack.

If you’re interested in more of my thoughts on Pacific Rim, take a look at my post about “Drifting In Pacific Rim.”