STAR WARS - THE NEW JEDI ORDER - DARK TIDE II: RUIN

LUCAS BOOKS
A Del Rey Book
Publishing by The Ballantine Publishing Group

Written by Michael A. Stackpole

Copyright 2000 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In Michael A. Stackpole's  STAR WARS - THE NEW JEDI ORDER - DARK TIDE II: RUIN, the sequel to Onslaught, has Jedi Knights Corran Horn and Jacen Solo going on a scouting mission to the planet Garqi, a world occupied by the Yuuzhan Vong, "The Choosen Race" - a race that has no Force presence that the Jedi can sense. The Caamasi Senator, Elegos, is a political prisoner of the Yuuzhan Vong as they invade the galaxy, and Luke and Anakin go after a vengeful Jedi.

With the discovery of bafforr tree pollen as a biological defense against the Yuuzhan Vong living armor found on Gargi, the Jedi destroy the biological defense on Gargi before the Vong realizes what and where the bafforr tree pollen came from. Having a biological defense against the Yuuzhan Vong is most apropos as the Vong only use organic weapons, creatures that were born and bred for their tasks, since they fanatically abhor machines. Imperial Remnant Admiral Pellaeon joins forces with Republic Admiral Kre'fey in New Republic space for the global defense of Ithor, the the lush jungle planet that would help grow and develop the new biological defense against the Yuuzhan Vong. The fact that Ithor was also in the direct path of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion was also a factor in the Vong attack against Ithor.

As a result of Corran Horn's possession of the ancestor's bones of Shedao Shai, the leader of the Yuuzhan Vong forces, Elegos is returned home. Angered at what has happened to Elegos, Jedi Knight Corran Horn duels Shedao Shai - with the planet Ithor at stake. One wonders how all of this will eventually effect Horn with the high cost of victory against Shedao Shai.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - THE CLONE WARS - NO PRISONERS

A Del Rey Trade Paperback Original

Written by Karen Traviss

Copyright 2009 by Lucasfulm Ltd.

All Rights Reserved.

In No Prisoners by Karen Traviss, Padawan learner Ashoka goes on a routine three day space shakedown cruise on a newly refitted assault ship with brand new untested clone troopers - when they suddenly go on a rescue mission for a Republic undercover agent who was investigating a planetary rebellion.

It is interesting to see Ashoka relate to a different type of Jedi order who assists in the rescue of Republic agent Hallena Devis. Anakin's reaction to this Jedi order is sad as well, since this order allows marriages amongst their Jedi. With his secret marriage to Padme, and his taking time off to see her when Ashoka's routine mission becomes a rescue mission, this Jedi order makes Anakin feel very guilty and fills him full of regret when he meets them and measures his life against them. Anakin also feel betrayed that Master Yoda did not tell him about this order of Jedi.

Captain Gilad Pellaeon's secret relationship to agent Hallena Devis fills him full of regret as well, since he is using his authority as the ship's captain to go to his lover's rescue. Devis regrets that everyone is risking their lives to rescue her, especially when one of the new inexperienced clone troopers gets killed during the rescue. I feel so sad for her as I know I would feel the same way if I were under the same circumstances. You also feel how powerful Jedi can be when one of the Jedi uses the Force to become one with the assault ship during a space battle.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - DARK NEST III - THE SWARM WAR

A Del Rey Mass Market Original
Written by Troy Denning

Copyright 2006 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpt from Star Wars: Republic Commando: Triple Zero copyright 2006 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In The Swarm War, at the Chiss-Killik border space, the alien insect race Killiks are at war with the Chiss. The Jedi try to stop the war, although the Chiss do not like their interference while almost Joiners, Jedi Knights Jaina Solo and Zekk assist the Killiks. Meanwhile, Jacen Solo believes that in order to stop the Killiks, they need to kill their old friend Raynar Thul.

When Jaina and Zekk refuse to return home to the Jedi Academy when Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker calls them, you know they are basically Joiners and you are concerned for them as they are in the trenches fighting with the Killiks. Luke wants the Jedi to be focused on committing to put the Jedi Order first instead of being distracted by other concerns which is driving the Jedi apart. Jacen being so cold blooded as to wanting to kill the leader of the Killiks, his old friend and former Jedi Raynar Thul, shows Jacen's slow path to the Dark Side of the Force. Luke, of course, disapproves and would rather search for another way, as killing is a last resort to the Jedi. Although Raynar has been unknowingly influenced by the Dark Jedi Queen Lomi Plo to control the Killiks for her own agenda, Raynar's stubbornness and forceful will is annoying and you almost agree that the only way to stop him and the Killiks is by killing Raynar.

The excerpt of Triple Zero by Karen Traviss shows Kal Skirata first encountering the Null clones children on Kamino and his basically adopting them away from the Kaminoans clonemasters who want to destroy them for being defective. It is rather touching to see mercenary Skirata's heart breaking as he sees these determined children protecting each other in order to survive.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - DARK NEST - THE UNSEEN QUEEN

A Del Rey Books Mass Market Original

Written by Troy Denning

Copyright 2005 by Lucasfilm Ltd.

Excerpt from Star Wars: Outbound Flight copyright 2005 by Lucasfilm Ltd.

In The Unseen Queen, the alien insect Killiks are producing an alien membrosia that is being distributed throughout space, but a dark membrosia is also being produced and the Jedi blame the Killiks for it. Meanwhile, the Dark Jedi queen in charge of the Dark Nest of Killiks tries to get Luke while the Jedi masters become divided as to the best direction of what the Jedi Order should do.

It is sad to see a former Jedi become a Joiner and become a Dark Jedi. I was hoping Luke would break the hold of the Joiners and bring Alema Rar back as a Jedi. Raynar Thul was a lost cause when he became the leader of the Killiks. You also get a glimpse of Jacen as he grows more in the force and touches on the dark side as he is determined to prevent a galaxy wide war. With the Jedi masters divided as to the direction of what the Jedi Order should do, as half of them want to search for Luke, the Galactic Chief of State manipulates Jedi Master Corran Horn to lead the Jedi as Luke and Han are being held hostage by the Killiks.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Star Wars - Dark Nest - The Joiner King

A Del Rey Books Mass Market Original

Written by Troy Denning

Copyright 2005 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In The Joiner King, Jedi Knights involved in a strike force in the book Star by Star, including Jaina and Jacen Solo, go missing. Luke, Han, and Leia leave home and to search for their kids in the Unknown Regions. They encounter a colony of alien insects led by a former disfigured old friend as king.

It is interesting to see how the Young Jedi Knights have grown and changed. Being under the influence of the aliens is rather frustrating, especially if you are familiar with their characters from earlier books. The alien insects are on the verge of all out war with the Chiss as the insects expand into Chiss space. This jeopardizes any alliance between the Republic and the Chiss and the insect Killiks. Having Luke get a glimpse of his mother from an old record file is rather heartbreaking.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.