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.