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 - SPECTER OF THE PAST

A Bantam Spectra Book

Written by Timothy Zahn

Copyright 1997 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cover illustration by Drew Struzan,
copyright 1997 by Lucasfilm Ltd.




Star Wars - Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn, is the first of the The Hand of Thrawn Duology. With the Empire on the brink of collapse, the New Republic is also on the verge of a civil war as various factions want justice for the virtual extermination of the Caamasi race and their planet. However, this pales in comparison to the shocking news - the Empire's Grand Admiral Thrawn is back.

I liked how Thrawn was brought back into the series and how manipulative he and his co-conspirators are in the Empire as they make strategic plans for their agenda in creating their own power. I also liked how honorable Admiral Pellaeon tries to broker a peace between the Empire and the New Republic. Pellaeon was never really the Empire to me, but just a guy caught up in the political aspect of the galaxy. I was not crazy about the various political factions capitalizing on revenge for the Caamasi for their own agendas. Only the Caamasi should have the right to proclaim justice, and the Caamasi refuse to do so - but the other factions within the New Republic refuse to do what the Caamasi say, zealously enraging their own biases.

Luke teams up with Mara Jade to search for rogue pirate ships in deep space, which apparently contain clones, as well as sesarching for the appearance of a mysterious ship which appears to be related to Thrawn. You can see Luke and Mara's relationship growing as Luke teaches Mara more about the Force, and Mara teaches Luke more about himself as they search for the Hand of Thrawn.

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 JEDI ACADEMY TRILOGY - DARK APPRENTICE

BANTAM SPECTRA

Written by Kevin J. Anderson

Copyright 1994 by Lucasfilm Ltd.

Cover art by John Alvin.

In Dark Apprentice, Volume 2 of the Jedi Academy Trilogy, the New Republic wonders what to do with the captured super-weapon the Sun Crusher - while rogue Imperial Admiral Daala, in retaliation for the New Republic stealing the Sun Crusher from her, attacks Admiral Ackbar's watery homeworld from space. Meanwhile, at the Jedi Academy, a brilliant Jedi student is influenced by an ancient Sith Master.

Admiral Ackbar, after coming out of voluntary exile when he accidentally destroyed the holy Cathedral of Winds and killing numerous Vors with his starfighter on the planet Vortex, defends his homeworld from Imperial Admiral Daala' Star Destroyers. Since both Ackbar and Daala were under the influence of the late Gran Moff Tarkin, Ackbar was able to defeat Daala's tactics of using her Imperial Star Destroyers against his Mon Calamari homeworld.

It is nice to see the students at the Jedi Academy that Luke Skywalker created for learning about the ways of the Force. Mara Jade has decided to join them at the Academy for a short time, but you can see that Jedi student Kyp Durron becoming dissatisfied with Master Luke's limited teachings on Kyp's quest for power. Kyp then becomes a student of the spirit of an ancient Sith Lord Exar Kun. Determined in his quest for power, and vengeance for the loss of his parents, Kyp recovers the super-weapon The Sun Crusher with the Force from inside the gas giant planet Yavin for vengeance against the Empire. He soon declares himself the new Dark Lord of the Sith. After encountering Exar Kun, what happens to Luke is very ominous.

Watching Wedge fall in love was nice to see - until Kyp gets to Wedge's scientist charge, Doctor Qwi Xux. Kyp mentally rapes her as a form of capital punishment, which is understandable since Qwi was the weapons scientist whose research designed the Sun Crusher - as well as designing the Death Star. As a result of this loss of memory, Qwi can never construct a superweapon again.

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.

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 - THE LAST COMMAND

Bantam Spectra

Written by Timothy Zahn

Copyright 1993 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In The Last Command, Volume 3 of a Three-Book Cycle of Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Coruscant, the home capital world of the New Republic, is under bombardment by cloaked asteroids from space being delivered by Grand Admiral Thrawn's fleet. Meanwhile, smuggler entrepreneaur Talon Karrde tries to build a partnership of smugglers to go up against the Empire. Luke and Mara go up against an insane Dark Jedi named C'boath in C'boath's secret fortified cloning facility who is determined to make Luke and Mara as his apprentices as well as shaping Leia's unborn Jedi twins into his own image.

After searching for, and locating, the lost Katana fleet of warships in the last book Dark Force Rising - the Katana fleet is hardly mentioned at all in The Last Command, which was a disappointment to me, when you consider how powerful the Katana fleet would have made the Republic if the Republic were the ones who had found the Katana fleet instead of the Empire. This is a shame as I was expecting that the fleet of warships would be utilized against the Republic in massive space battles, especially under the strategic command of Thrawn. While they may have been out of date, a fleet of warships is still pretty powerful and it was sad for me not to see them utilized. It is curious at how I was not sure which way Mara Jade would side with, as Mara used to be known as the Emperor's Hand. Insane Dark Jedi C'baoth was a very frustrating and formidable foe that I had looked forward to C'baoth being beaten.

Pancho
All people smile in the same langauge.

Star Wars - Survivor's Quest

A Del Rey Book

Written by Timothy Zahn

Copyright 2004 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

Excerpt from Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil Copyright 2005 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

In Survivor's Quest, the remains of Outbound Flight, a lost Jedi Expedition from fifty years ago, have been found. Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker join a diplomatic expedition with the Chiss and a new alien species and travel to the remains of Outbound Flight to search for Jedi history - and discover secrets and treachery.

It is great to see Luke and Mara Jade work together as both Jedi and married couple. Mara has matured from being a brash young woman from when she had first appeared in the Star Wars universe, into an experienced mature loving woman with incredible power in the Force. It was hard for me to relate to the new aliens that were depicted in the story, in which the book makes the aliens appear to be a new force in the universe.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Star Wars - Allegiance

Del Rey Books Mass Market Edition

Copyright 2007 by Lucuasfilm Ltd.

Written by Timothy Zahn



In Allegiance, by Timothy Zahn, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, and Han Solo are sent to mediate between Rebel factions. Mara Jade, while serving her master - Emperor Palpatine - searches for treachery in the Empire. Meanwhile, a team of Imperial stormtroopers jump ship - and form an independent justice group.

While I find it is always interesting to follow the exploits of a young Mara Jade, the fugitive Imperial stormtroopers were much more interesting for me to be involved with as the stormtroopers wind up serving the spirit of their ideals - instead of following evil orders. After one of the troopers accidentally kills a brutal Imperial Security Bureau agent, the troopers must flee from their ship. As the troopers struggle for a solution as to where to find a place of where to hide, the troopers still get involved in helping people when those people get in trouble.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Star Wars - Shadows of the Empire

A Bantam Sprectra Book/Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

Written by Steve Perry

Copyright 1996

Set between the movies THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI, Shadows of the Empire feels like a proper sequel to the Star Wars universe. While searching for the carbon-frozen Han Solo, Jedi-in-training Luke Skywalker is pursued by Darth Vader - as well as the head of the criminal organization Black Sun, Prince Xixor, who overhears a private communication between Emperor Palpatine and Vader about Luke. One wants Luke alive, the other wants Luke dead!

The book gives more insight into the Star Wars universe, set during the movies, with the introduction of the criminal syndicate Black Sun as part of the running of the Galactic Empire; this also includes running the various merchants and bounty hunters as part of Black Sun's operations.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.