Archive for the ‘Star Wars’ Category

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Backlash – Aaron Allston

Monday, April 12th, 2010

 

 Cover of Fate of the Jedi: Backlash

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: LucasBooks (March 9, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345509080
ISBN-13: 978-0345509086
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Characters:

Han Solo – Captain of the Millenium Falcon
Leia Organa Solo – Jedi Knight
Luke Skywalker – Jedi Grand Master
Ben Skywalker – Jedi
Vestara Khai – Sith

Overview:

Luke Skywalker continues his exile from the New Republic. This time around, He, Ben, and the Solos end up on Endor. He’s tracking Vestara Khai, the Sith he previously encountered. Along the way they help join two tribes of Dathomiri, and discover whether Vestara has a hidden agenda.

Review:

I’m not totally sure how I felt about this book. It seems that Luke and Ben have now abruptly ended their search for why Darth Caedus came to be. While I liked seeing Dathomiri life, I’d like to have seen a little more of the Nightsisters. There were some interesting battles in this. One in particular involved a native Dathomri life form. I’m not 100% certain though that it really advanced the story much. Being the fourth book in the series, I expected it to grab me a lot more than it did. There are times where I can’t put a Star Wars book down. That didn’t occur in this case. I’d recommend it if you’re following this series. It’s definitely not a stand-alone novel. I keep holding out hope that the broader picture/storyline will impress me a lot more. So far, I’ve just had lukewarm feelings towards it. I’d say it’s definitely only for the Star Wars fan, and probably not the general public.

I do look forward to the next one though, because at some point, I’m thinking, all evil is going to be unleashed. When that happens, I think I’ll begin enjoying the story a lot more.

*Disclaimer* An Audio Book version of this was provided by Random House Audio. Thanks go to Kathryn for that audiobook.

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Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil – Drew Karpyshyn

Thursday, December 31st, 2009


Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Lucasbooks (December 8, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345511565
ISBN-13: 978-0345511560
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Main Characters:

Darth Bane
Zannah
Princess Serra of Doan
Lucia – Bodyguard to Princess Serra
Set Harth – Dark Jedi
Huntress

Storyline Summary

Darth Bane is in search of the Holocron of Darth Andeddu, a talisman that will make him immortal. Zannah is to the point where she feels she can confront her Master and take over as Sith Master. Before she can do so, however, she must find an apprentice. A secondary plot has Princess Serra out to get her revenge, and is aided (or is she) by her trusty bodyguard Lucia.

The story eventually brings all these characters into one spot for a big showdown.

Novel Review

This is the third in the Darth Bane series of books. Like the two prior, it concentrates a lot on the ideas of the Sith. It give a good glimpse into the rule of 2, and what must go on when an Apprentice seeks to overthrow their Master.

I found the action scenes moved very quickly. I love the character of Bane, and it was interesting to see how despite enormous power, you are never invulnerable. Some other interesting characters were, not so much introduced, as re-introduced in this book. Princess Serra, Lucia, and the Huntress in particulare were characters I really liked. here was a lot of flashback/referrals to previous events, some involving these characters.

While I don’t think a reader would have to have read the prior books, I would recommend it. Not necessarily to follow the storyline, but in order to enjoy the full experience of the whole story.

I’d love to see more novels set in this time period, or even in that of other Sith Lords. While the Jedi stories are usually entertaining, I find the history and ritual involved in the darker side of the force to be interesting, and worth pursuing more. I guess it goes back to that adage that it’s more fun to be a bad guy.

If you like Sith, and want a good adventure with one of the best Siths in a long time, pick up this book. I think you’ll really like it.

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Death Troopers – Joe Schreiber

Saturday, October 31st, 2009

 

 Death Troopers

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Lucasbooks (October 13, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345509625
ISBN-13: 978-0345509628
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Characters

Aux Myss
Jareth Sartoris
Kale Longo
Trig Longo
Zahara Cody

Overview

I first heard about this book coming out, by a friend in Star Wars Galaxies. My first thought was what in the world could they be thinking. This type of thing has no place in the Star Wars Universe. But when the book was released, I decided to keep an open mind and give it a chance. The story starts on board the Imperial Prison Barge Purge. The ship comes into contact with a derelict Imperial Star Destroyer. Scans show that where there should be thousands of life forms on the Destroyer, there are very few. A decision is made to send a party of 10 people over to the destroyer to salvage parts and repair the barge. The trip goes uneventful, and no working parts are found. On the return trip, several members of the boarding party start coughing, and throwing up. Soon, whatever has been picked up on the ship is spread to the rest of the crew. Prisoners and jailers alike start dropping dead. Then something even more dark and terrifying starts happening on board the ship. I won’t go into any more details than that, because I don’t want to spoil the story.

Review

I thought this book was pretty good. I wasn’t quite prepared for this type of story in the Star Wars universe, and had my doubts. The characters, not being characters we were familiar with, weren’t quite as developed, and things went so quick that things were left out when they should have been. Sometimes emotions that one character felt, didn’t seem to be there. There was a moment of surprising sacrifice. Narrow escapes. A lot of the things you’d expect in a Star Wars story. Some things were anti-climactic. For instance a fight between the Longo brothers and Aux Myss I felt should have gone longer. Here’s an evil gangster, who’s managed to survive some of the worst criminals, and a face-off with him is over in the blink of an eye. It just seemed to wrap things up too easily so the author could get on to the story he wanted to write. Also, there was the introduction of two characters that seemed gratuitous and not really needed for the story. In fact, by placing these characters in the story, it disrupted the literary timeline, and inserted a major event (like what happend in Shadows of Mindor) in the life of characters that is never referenced in future stories.

Overall, if taken as a standalone Star Wars story with a different twist, it was a good story. I’d recommend it, but would more strongly have recommended it had all the characters been throw-a-ways. Pick it up, I managed to read it in about 2 days, so it’s a quick read, and quite appropriate to have released it around the halloween season. There also is a tie in currently going on in the Star Wars Galaxies game. I’m not sure if the book was written to promote the game, or if the game was changed to help promote the book, or if both were just done in order to cash in on the holiday, but check it out and let me know what you think.

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Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Abyss – Troy Denning

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

 

Abyss

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Lucasbooks (August 18, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345509188
ISBN-13: 978-0345509185 
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Main Characters:

Luke Skywalker
Ben Skywalker
Jaina Solo
Han Solo
Leia Solo
Vestara Khai

 Storyline Summary

Luke and Ben are off to the deep core of the Maw Cluster.  They’re objective, to talk to the Mind Walkers, and determine what may have caused Caedus to turn dark.  The Jedi are still involved in determining what is making young Jedi become chaotic.  A plot is uncovered involving Mandalorians.  The Sith manage to find their way back into the Galaxy.

In the Maw Cluster, Luke and Ben Skywalker discover the Mind Walkers.  While there, they are able to leave their bodies and travel into an ethereal existence called “beyond shadows”.  In this alternate world, they are able to commune with the spirits of some of their loved ones who’ve joined the force. 

 The Sith after leaving Kesh, end up on a planet where they meet a woman known as Abeloth.  Abeloth it appears has been stranded on this planet for 30 years.  Members of the Sith strike force keep getting killed, even though under Abeloth’s protection?  Is she who she seems to be, or is there some darker agenda?

Luke and Ben also encounter Abeloth while “beyond shadows”.  Is she behind the mysterious illness of the young Jedi?  What secrets do they discover that will help them understand Caedus’s fall?  How many young Jedi will succumb to this illness before a cure is found.  Who is Abeloth and where did she suddenly come from?

Novel Review

This is the 3rd of a nine book series.  I still don’t feel a great sense of danger with Luke/Ben that I felt with the Yuuzhan Vong or other story arc’s.  The Jedi/Sith Battle left me wanting a lot more.  It seemed to be over far too quickly, and too cleanly.  Maybe I’m expecting a little too much, since we’re only 1/3 of the way through the story, but numerous Sith against 2 Jedi, would seem to indicate a much fiercer battle to me.  However, I found these Sith and the Sith masters to be weak and ineffectual.
 
Abeloth, is one character I’m interested in seeing.  I want to see what powers she possesses, and how things happen when she is unleashed on the galaxy.  While I look forward to the rest of this series, I’d like to see a little more action, and to actually feel that some of these characters are in danger.

One of the problems I had with the Sith, is how they suddenly went from the planet they were on with Abeloth, to where Luke/Ben were. There seems to be a lot of instant traveling, which, while moving the story along, sometimes makes it unclear how a character got from point A to point B.

I look forward to the future releases in this series.  Hopefully the Sith will become more powerful and plentiful, and we’ll find Jedi and Sith both in a battle for their lives.  If  the new jedi order was any indication, no-one is safe, and that is as it should be.  If you want to see the rise of a Sith Army, and some of the Sith Culture that you get a glimpse of in the Darth Bane series, then check this book out.  If you’re looking for hardcore, sith-on-jedi action, then you might want to skip it and wait for later books in the series.

You can discuss it here

*DISCLAIMER* An Audiobook copy of this was provided to me by the publisher for review. This in no way influenced my review.

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Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Omen – Christie Golden

Monday, June 29th, 2009

omen

Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Lucasbooks (June 23, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345509129
ISBN-13: 978-0345509123
Order from here:
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Main Characters:

Luke Skywalker
Ben Skywalker
Jaina Solo
Han Solo
Leia Solo
Vestara Khai
 
Storyline Summary

They’re Back!!! The Sith have returned to the Galaxy. Vestara Khai have been living and training as Sith on the Planet Kesh, waiting for when they could take to the Stars and return to their proper places. Then comes the arrival of Ship, a Sith training Sphere. While Vestara goes through training to become a Sith, the Jedi are still trying to find what is making their members start acting abnormal. President Daala, due to the violent outbreaks from these Jedi, is further trying to crack down on the Jedi. Luke Skywalker is still under banishment. He and Ben go on a journey to discover more about what could have turned Caedus to the dark side. This journey leads them to the Aing-Tii. Before the answers are given to them though, they must discover the truth behind some artifacts the Aing-Tii have collected.

Novel Review

This is the second book in a 9 book series. It is also Christie Golden’s first foray that I’m aware of, in the Star Wars Universe. That being said, I’m willing to give her a little time to get her feet wet. While there was not a ton of action in this book, I thought Ms. Golden did very well in her characterizations of the Solo’s and the relationship between Luke and Ben. There was a few action sequences, and given that it’s still early in the story, I’ll give them some wiggle room.

With the Luke/Ben stories though, I haven’t got the feeling that they were ever in any kind of danger. Luke is a Jedi Master, these adventures of his and Ben’s should be something worthy of an adventure, in my opinon, rather than just an informational gathering expedition.

I’m looking forward to future books where the Sith finally make their appearance, and see what the result is if there are no Jedi to protect the Galaxy from the Sith. I’m interested in finding out what is making the Jedi go crazy. I’m interested in seeing all the species Caedus met during his journey to the darkside and the lessons he learned.

The book, for the normal price of a hardcover, was pretty thin. I finished it in much less time than normally for a Star Wars book. I think maybe the publishing company was giving Ms. Golden a lighter load for her first book, so that she can break into the Star Wars Galaxy. I think for the first attempt though, that she did a pretty good job.

This series to me seems to be leading into the Galaxy we see in the Legacy series of comics. I look forward to seeing how all the history between the universe we know, and the universe of the legacy time period unfolds.

If you liked the first book, and want to see the Sith vs. Jedi battles, which I’m certain will happen, then go and pick up this book. I think you might enjoy it.

You can discuss it here

*DISCLAIMER* An Audiobook copy of this was provided to me by the publisher for review. This in no way influenced my review.

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast – Aaron Allston

Monday, June 29th, 2009

 

outcast

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Lucasbooks (March 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345509064
ISBN-13: 978-0345509062 
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Characters

Luke Skywalker
Ben Skywalker
Han Solo
Leia Solo
Landa and Tendra Calrissian

Storyline Summary

This book is set after the fall of Darth Caedus.  Luke Skywalker has been charged for the destruction Caedus was allowed to do, and banished for 10 years.  During this banishment he can have no contact with any Jedi or Jedi matters.  Luke and Ben set out on a mission to discover why Caedus fell to the Dark Side.  This leads them to the Baran Do’ Sages.  In order to find their answers though, Luke and Ben must die.  While they discover their answers, Han and Leia, along with Jacen’s daughter journey to Kessel in order to help Lando discover what is tearing the planet apart.

Novel Review

As the opening act in a 9 book series, I liked this for the most part.  The storyline seems to be setting up the Galaxy for the way those of use who read the Legacy series see the universe we’re all familiar with.  There are three basic plots beginning here:

1)      Luke and Ben out to discover why Caedus fell to the dark side.
2)      Han and Leia helping Lando discover what is ripping apart Kessel.
3)      What is making all the Jedi start acting in a bizarre manner.

On the first plot, Luke and Ben set out for to see the Baran Do’ Sages.  While there they discover that the elder leaders voluntarily die.  Determined to solve this puzzle, Luke and Ben must first die.  This wasn’t really one of the strongest plots.  Nothing really ever gave me the impression that the two heroes were in actual danger, and the whole plot just seemed a way of looking at a culture who has the wrong way of going about their ideas and beliefs.

The second plot has Han and Leia bringing in some of the Republic’s most famous pilots in an attempt to discover what is tearing apart Kessel.  While this plot was interesting at times, I just found it really confusing, and couldn’t see where the storyline was actually going to go with it.

The third plot I found the most interesting.  Why were the Jedi going insane.  Was it the reappearance of large groups of sith?  Are these insane Jedi going to become the Sith that lead to the Sith Empire in the Legacy galaxy?  Seeing an entire army of sith ready to take on all the Jedi we’ve come to know and love really gives me hope for the outcome of this whole series.

While this wasn’t the strongest book I’ve read, as a stand alone story it leaves a lot to be desired, I hold out hope that future stories will really flesh out the events we’ve seen and when I’m able to look back on the whole series, I’ll have a deeper appreciation.  So for the casual Star Wars reader, I’d recommend some of the other series, such as The Thrawn Trilogy, but for the hardcore enthusiast who just like to see adventure after adventure in that galaxy far, far, away, pick this book up, you might enjoy it.   I did enjoy it, but it just left me wanting more substance.

You can discuss it here

*DISCLAIMER* An Audiobook copy of this was provided to me by the publisher for review. This in no way influenced my review.

Coruscant Nights III: Pattern of Force – Michael Reaves

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

 

patterns-of-force

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Lucasbooks (January 27, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345477588
ISBN-13: 978-0345477583 
Order from here:
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Main Characters:

Darth Vader
Dejah Duare
Den Dhur
Haninum Tyk Rhinann
I-5YQ
Jax Pavan
Kajin Savaros
Laranth Tarak
Pol Haus
Probus Tesla
Thi Xon
Tuden Sal

Storyline Summary

Assassination.  Betrayal.  Death.  These are just some of the things awaiting our small family of heroes.  They receive a request to assassinate Emperor Palpatine.  Despite numerous ways of doing this, they at first decline.  Along the way they discover Kajin Savaros, a powerful child with great force abilities.  Jax reluctantly takes on training this young force user, while trying to discover a way to hid Kaj’s abilities from Darth Vader and the Inquisitors.

Subplots involve Rhinann’s continued searching for a link to the force, that he believes is contained in the Bota plant.  There is also a traitor in their midst that could destroy everything they have worked for.  Will they be able to control Kaj’s abilities?  Will the Inquisitorius find Kaj?  Will they find the traitor, before Vader and the Emperor find them?  Will I-5 discover there is more to life than what it seems?

Novel Review

I really liked this and the others in the series.  The characters remind me of the prequel characters when they were in their younger days.  Having read about these characters through the Medstar series, Darth Maul, and this series, I’ve grown to really like them, and want to see more of their adventures.  One problem with this, as with all #3 in a series books, is it build on previous, so if you haven’t read the other two, you may not know everything going on here.  However, if you’ve read the other two, and look forward to finding out what happens, or the answers to the questions I posed, then pick it up.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 

You can discuss the book here.