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 - DARK TIDE I - ONSLAUGHT

A Del Rey Book

Written by Michael A. Stackpole

Copyright 2000 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In Onslaught by Michael A. Stackpole, Rogue Squadron and the New Jedi Order learn about the Yuuzhan Vong and must learn how to fight off their invasion of New Republic space. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker sends off his nephew Anakin Solo and Corran Horn on various missions in their quest to defend against the Yuuzhan Vong, while Leia Organa Solo must deal with the New Republic Senate's political disbelief that there really is a new enemy from beyond the galaxy.

Having Republic Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya refuse to believe the existence of the Yuuzhan Vong and accusing Leia of using this as a political ploy for power when she brings in this news is very frustrating. It makes you think that he is the one really using this news to maintain his power, especially when he refuses the military their desire to make a reconnaissance of the suspected area of contact. Mara Jade's illness from the Yuuzhan Vong is very sad, but her teachings of the Force to Anakin and how not to use the Force is very loving and motherly. Anakin's sister Jaina Solo joining Rogue Squadron continues the tradition of the Skywalker line being a part of Rogue Squadron and furthers her character development.

The fact that a Yuuzhan Vong scout has been in New Republic space on a planet at the edge of the galaxy 50 years before adds to the history of the Vong society being just beyond the galaxy in preparation for their invasion. This history is enhanced as one of the Vong leaders searches for his lost grandfather's remains and is horrified at the desecration of his grandfather's remains by the educational expedition that found him. Because of their alienness - with the Yuuzhan Vong's abhorrence of technology and their use of biological weapons, embrace and glorification of pain, and lack of presence in the Force - the Jedi are hard pressed to fight off the Vong as the Vong are determined to cleanse the galaxy of all forms of technology.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.