| Mobile Suit Gundam: Awakening, Escalation, Confrontation | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 10 reviews)
Sales Rank: 497757
Category: Book
Author: Yoshiyuki Tomino
Publisher: Stone Bridge Press
Studio: Stone Bridge Press
Manufacturer: Stone Bridge Press
Label: Stone Bridge Press
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 1880656868
Dewey Decimal Number: 741
EAN: 9781880656860
ASIN: 1880656868
Publication Date: April 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Called "a cornerstone of anime SF," Japan's Gundam franchise that began in 1979 now boasts a worldwide cult of devotees. In the Gundam universe, the Earth Federation battles rebellious off-world colonies, and "Newtype" warriors with evolved mentality pilot gargantuan suits of high-tech armor. This novelization presents creator Yoshiyuki Tomino's unvarnished vision for his own core series, with richer characterizations and a shocking ending. Controversial when it first appeared in English in 1990, the trilogy is being brought to fans in a single re-edited volume. Introduction by Gundam expert Mark Simmons. Yoshiyuki Tomino is a writer and one of Japan's best known SF directors. Translator Frederik L. Schodt has written extensively on Japanese culture and lives in San Francisco. "For anyone unfamiliar with the Gundam cultural phenomenon, this could be the perfect introduction." -- The Asian Reporter "Gundam viewers can enjoy a rendition that departs significantly from its animated counterpart, exploring the future world in greater detail, yet retains the visionary science fiction themes of exploration, change, and the struggle to adapt and survive in a technology-driven era scarred with conflict." -- Midwest Book Review
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Dark and shocking. July 31, 2008
A nice change to the sugar coated anime. Except for the surprise ending it's all what the anime should have been and mature and dark enough even by today's standards. Highly recommended for old, current and new fans. Even a good read for non fans of anime.
Gundam the way it was meant to be, at last. July 26, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I must start this review by stating my bias. I love Yoshiyuki Tomino's work, and Gundam is my favorite saga of anime.
This book, in my opinion, is the best piece of Gundam fiction hands down. As the original Gundam series neared it's end, Sunrise pulled the plug. The series was cut by almost a full season, forcing an entire story arc to be squished into a handful of episodes. About this time Tomino wrote the first of the three books contained in this volume. A few years later, as the series entered a revitalization and Sunrise ordered a three movie compilation to be made, Tomino began writing the final two books. Oddly enough, the original translation of these books were the very first part of the Gundam saga to reach America at the tail end of the 80s.
The books are a masterwork. They diverge from the original series from the first page, dropping the cliche of "young civilian boy finds giant robot his father built and fights evil" for a more realistic view. Amuro Ray is now a cadet, and the refugees of Side 7 are booted off White Base at the first chance. The story is dark, focusing on the pain of war and the stress of battle. Many characters who survived the anime die, and other are left out almost entirely. The story focuses more on Newtypes than the anime did, explaining what they are in better detail. There are only a frwMS attles, but each is heart pounding and well written.
The bottom line is this: Do not read these looking for a novelization of first Gundam. However, if you love serious science fiction, this volume will blow you away. Low points: Some of the translation is ackward, and the ending may make you cry. Personally I liked yhe ending, it was very powerful even if depressing.
I strongly recommend this book, to any Mecha or Sci-Fi fans.
 Gihren, Gihren, Gihren!!! November 6, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The author, Yoshiyuki, set out to add more realism to the sci-fi genre in which he worked at the time (giant battle robot cartoons), and what a tremendous success! Gone is the silly fairy tale world in which the heroes are all-powerful and never die: this is a grim account of a war.
In war, there are heroes (Gihren!) on both sides, villains, also, and casualties sometimes do not care to follow the rules of Karma: in war, people simply die. That is probably the most significant addition to the genre for Tomino.
This book goes all-out for technical details, charachter development (psionically, socially, sexually, all of it), tear-jerking, rationalizations by madmen (gottah love Gihren!), violence, and expression of the longing among all people, everywhere, to be as one.
Okay, that's the long version. Here's the short version: this book [...]
The Glory of UC December 22, 2005
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I loved this book, as previously mentioned this is not a novelization of the series it is a retelling of the basic ideas, and in many ways is much better. For on it eliminates most of the gimmicky weapons and vehicles that did not age well or make sense. Secondly it delves more into the meaning of newtypes. Overall buy this book, because come on its written by Tomino, what else matters!!! lol
Gundam is too kewl for u. October 21, 2005
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Like.. Totally...
okay, for real this time.
The book is different from the show, like everyone says.
in fact... to point out a major difference... nothing in the one year war takes place on Earth.
No Odessa day
No attack on Jaburo
especially no Doan's Island
But that isn't a bad thing, it's still good. Just Different.
If you enjoy sci-fi war stories, Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers(book... or movie... but if you like the move sequel then... I'm afraid I don't want you to read this book), or Gundam 0079.. then you should get this book.
If you are a fan of Casval Rem Daikun, or Edward Mass, or Quattro Bagina, or Char "The %$#@ing Red Comet" Aznable...
Then you should like this book.
cause Char still kicks ass
At the end of the day it's a book that was written by the creator of Gundam, and translated very well. the only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because I know some people will complain "it's not the same!" "you're just a gundam fanboy" "the Principality of Zeon suxxorz" and some other stuff that would actually reveal what happens in the book(not that it's bad.. it's just different). Get it if you call yourself a member of the Principality of Zeon, Everyone else.. get it too
Glory to the Principality of Zeon!
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