STAR WARS - THE NEW JEDI ORDER - ENEMY LINES II - REBEL STAND

LUCAS BOOKS

Written by Aaron Allston

Copyright 2002 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.



In Rebel Stand, written by Aaron Allston, Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, and Tahiri Veila, along with Wraith Squadron, find on Coruscant a genetically-engineered force sensitive masquerading as a legendary being called Lord Nyax - who is determined to open a Force nexus beneath the old Jedi Temple. Meanwhile, Han and Leia set up secret resistance cells on planets that are ready to join the alien enemy Yuuzhan Vong in New Republic space - when Han and Leia get captured. On Borleias, Wedge Antilles organizes defenses - with Rogue Squadron Jedi pilot Jaina Solo continuing as the Yuuzhan Vong's Trickster goddess while she is flying missions.

It is sad to see Tahiri still suffering the effects of being held a prisoner of the Yuuzhan Vong. I am hoping that Tahiri will someday come to terms with her captivity, as I missed her enthusiasm, especially when she was with Anakin. It was great to see Wraith Squadron again. Wraith Squadron was used as an intelligence unit in the book instead of as a fighter squadron. With Coruscant becoming terraformed by the Vong, the planet has become more of a city with jungle overgrowth since it's fall, instead of the megalopolis planet that it used to be as Wraith Squadron picks it's way throughout the city. It is interesting to see the fate of the traitorous Galactic Senator Viqi Shesh. I haven't liked her since I first met her, and to see the Yuuzhan Vong treat her like dirt was rather satisfying.

As a videographer, I totally sympathized with the holocam operator Tam Elgrin being an unwilling saboteur for the Yuuzhan Vong. I was wondering how I would react if I were him, and if I would be strong enough to fight off the influence of the Vong. It would devastate me if I were a traitor killing everybody.

I was sad to know the final fate of the Imperial Star Dreadnought Lusankya, considering the powerful mythology that was used behind the Lusankya. I still think of the Lusankya as the powerful mythological prison the Empire's intelligence chief Ysanne Isard used to interrogate and brainwash her prisoners to become sleeper agents.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - THE NEW JEDI ORDER - REBEL DREAM

A Del Rey Book

Written by Aaron Allston

Copyright 2002 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Rebel Dream - the first of the Enemy Lines duology, written by Aaron Allston, and part of the New Jedi Order series - the surviving New Republic Advisory Council blackmails General Wedge Antilles into setting up a defense on the planet Borleias as a delaying tactic after the Yuuzhan Vong's invasion of Coruscant. Meanwhile, Han and Leia Solo travel to various worlds to instigate a rebellion against the New Republic's policies toward the Yuuzhan Vong war - and Luke Skywalker sneaks onto Coruscant with a team amidst the Yuuzhan Vong.

It is interesting that several key figures from the Star Wars universe form a group to set up independent resistance cells from the New Republic to fight the Vong. almost like a new rebellion bringing the story back to the beginning. Almost like the New Jedi Order series reinvented the Star Wars series. Meanwhile refugee documentarian Wolam Tser and his assistant Tam Elgrin arrive on Borleias - unbeknowance to everyone that survivor of Coruscant Tam Elgrin is secretly under control by former Kuati senator Viqi Shesh to be a spy for the Yuuzhan Vong. As a videographer, I could appreciate Wolam Tser wanting to document the rebellion and getting the rebels personal stories.

Wedge uses strategic planning as well as blackmailing the Advisory Council to get the resources he needs - including the use of the SuperStar Destroyer Lusankya in the space Battle for Borleais. This results in the lack of the Lusankya's mystique for me as the Lusankya is used just as a destroyer - instead of as the mysterious stronghold of the Empire as the Lusankya used to be.

Jaina Solo being used as a diversionary Trickster Goddess against the Yuuzhan Vong is both a good diversion and a disturbing idea for me, as it also separates her from the rest of the forces on Borleias to make the diversion against the Vong work. Of course the New Republic forces resent her special treatment, especially since they are unaware of her real mission of being a diversionary tactic for the Vong. This adds more to her isolation because the war has been taking away Jaina's loved ones - such as Chewbacca and her brother Anakin.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

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.