Resident Evil: Retribution (Book Review)

Resident Evil: Retribution is in theaters nationwide right now, and the newest sequel to the Resident Evil movie franchise is once again racking up some impressive box office totals. Not everyone is a fan of the film series, but it's hard to argue against the numbers, and in order to keep capitalizing on this awesome franchise, Titan Books and author John Shirley have once again collaborated to bring the world the Resident Evil: Retribution novelization. Resident Evil: Retribution isn't Shirley's first crack at novelizations or his first novel related to video games with highly successful books based on Bioshock and Borderlands on his resume as well. If you're a gamer, a fan of the film series or just enjoy a good book, you've got to check out Resident Evil: Retribution by John Shirley.

Resident Evil: Retribution is a novelization, which means it will follow very closely to the storyline of the hit film. The book begins where the last Resident Evil film left off; Alice finds herself onboard a mysterious ship and later begins meeting some familiar faces including her own! Other protagonists and enemies enter the story as you progress through more pages, and of course, there are plenty of encounters with zombies and other monsters and lots of action like you'll find in the film. Eventually, more of the storyline is revealed as we learn of the past of the deadly T-Virus and learn more about these post apocalyptic survivors. Essentially if you loved Resident Evil: Retribution the film, you'll greatly enjoy the novelization as well.

Although both Resident Evil: Retribution and its novelization share glaring similarities, Shirley makes sure to create his own narrative that produces numerous changes that fit right in with the Resident Evil storyline. New characters are present in the book that have yet to make appearances in the film series, and where the film contains far more action than backstory and character progression, Resident Evil: Retribution the novelization makes a strong effort to help you better understand the actions of characters throughout the storyline. Shirley manages to find a nice balance by using the film's entire script for Resident Evil: Retribution and introduces plenty of new elements that make the novelization a fantastic read even if you've already seen the film.

John Shirley is a multitalented writer whose name should be known to all gamers for his contributions to the industry. With his newest novelization of Resident Evil: Retribution, he shows both his knowledge of the Resident Evil film franchise and a love for the great video game series on which the series is based. Even if you've already seen the film in theaters, pick up the Resident Evil: Retribution novelization, and let the story of Alice continue from the pages of one of the best reads of 2012.

For more information on the Resident Evil: Retribution novelization, check out the official Titan Books website.

Score: 10 out of 10