by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Starfighters of Adumar was written by Bestselling Author, Aaron Allston. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, 13 ABY ( 13 years after the battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
Adumar, a world on the edge of wild space, was found by a mapping scout while doing a run in the unknown regions. The New Republic wants Adumar to join them, as intelligence shows that the planet and its people would be able to produce an endless supply of proton torpedoes.
The people of Adumar don’t like politics though, but really admire pilots, specifically fighter pilots – a strange idolized hero worship. Audumari leadership will not speak with any regular old politicians – they must be a skilled pilot, specifically, a starfighter pilot.
When Wedge Antilles arrives, he’s surprised to find that not only are the Adumari a crazy people (always fighting and killing each other in the name of “honor”), but the Empire also has representatives present to win over Adumar.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Such a strange time to bring in another X-Wing book. Such a random place in the timeline. I hate to say it, but this book feels like those TV shows that don’t really move the story forward, “filler episodes.” That’s what this book feels like.
I enjoyed the Wraith Squadron books by Allston, but this one is weak. This “filler” story starts off decent, yet quickly drops off the interest scale. The action – dull, the plot – boring, the characters – bland. I really had my hopes up that this was going to be exciting and fun. Some aspects of the story were a little interesting, with betrayal and some of the competitive spirit of the Adumari people, but overall, I’m disappointed with this story.
Do I recommend this story? No
RATING
I give Star Wars: X-Wing – Starfighters of Adumar, a C-.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Planet of Twilight, book three in the Callista Trilogy, was written by bestselling author, Barbara Hambly. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, 13 ABY (13 years after the Battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
Leia is to win over another group of people to the New Republic, but is kidnapped. Luke tries to find his love, Callista, and crashes on Nam Chorios. In this strange tale our characters must fight for their survival… much as I had to fight for mine while reading this book.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
This story is a disaster. There is so much going on, I honestly got lost. I nearly dozed off every time I opened this one. If the author would have simplified the plot and trimmed up all the adventures and aliases the characters went by, it could have been more entertaining.
Oh man, Callista, such a lame character that just fizzles out in the end. She has to be the most bizarre character in the EU; from possessing a computer in a ship, to transferring her spirit to a force user. She was in three books, and not a single thing happened with her that was exciting. She said she’d love Luke until the day she died… but runs from him. I don’t like the characterization of Luke in this story either.
Do I recommend you read this book? No.
RATING
I give Star Wars: Planet of Twilight a F.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Darksaber, book two in the Callista Trilogy, was written by bestselling author, Kevin J Anderson. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, 12 ABY (12 years after the Battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
Luke Skywalker and Callista work together in an attempt to rebuild the force strength within Callista. Since her possession of a physical body, she has lost touch with the force.
Durga the Hutt and his goons obtain superweapon blueprints from the former Imperial Information Center. The gang plans to build a Death Star like weapon called the Darksaber. Meanwhile, Admiral Daala returns from the shadows in an attempt to bring unity amongst the shattered empire.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Not a bad story overall, but there are many cringe worthy moments. I think Kevin J Anderson did a good job continuing what was set up in the previous book, Children of the Jedi. Often times, an author will set up something in a book, other authors will write a the next event in the timeline, but overlook most of the story that came before it. I’m glad Kevin J Anderson came back to write more of the Jedi Characters that he established in the Jedi Academy trilogy.
I enjoyed the Hutt’s and their attempt to gain power. What I liked more than that, was the return of Admiral Daala. I think the setup for her power grab was done well; she didn’t want to be in control, but the immaturity of her peers left her with no choice but to wipe the slate clean and take the lead.
I can’t stand the relationship between Luke and Callista. Callista says they shouldn’t be together, she shouldn’t be in Luke’s shadow, unable to do the things she was once able to. The foundation of the relationship is the force and the ability to use it… that’s stupid.
It was fun to see the empire attempt to take Yavin 4. While I like the Jedi, I do like how things haven’t been too easy for them. The resurrection of the Jedi Order has been a difficult undertaking with many challenges.
Do I recommend you read this story? Yes.
RATING
I give Star Wars: Darksaber a C.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Children of the Jedi, book one in the Callista Trilogy, was written by bestselling author, Barbra Hambly. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, 12 ABY (12 years after the Battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
It’s revealed that there is a group of lost Jedi children that were hidden from the Emperor during the days of his reign. Han, Chewie, and Leia head to the planet Belsavis to investigate this revelation. Meanwhile, a force user taps into an Emperial vessel, to reactive the mission it was set to accomplish long ago.
Luke Skywalker on his own mission, winds up on an old secret weapon of the Empire, The Eye of Palpatine,. The Eye of Palpatine is a ship that was somehow reactivated to carry out its mission; gather troops from across the galaxy and destroy Belsavis.
Luke meets the force ghost of long dead Jedi, Callista. She had been on a mission long ago to stop the Eye of Palpatine, but managed to somewhat succeed through failure; while not able to stop the battle-moon physically, she possessed it with her spirit. Together, they must stop the Eye of Palpatine before it destroyed the world of Belsavis!
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I’ve already reviewed many books published by Bantam Books, it was a different time for the Star Wars Expanded Universe. To me, these books just have a different vibe than other stories in the EU. Not negative feelings… just different. I know a lot of EU fans aren’t a fan of this book, but I don’t think its all bad.
This book has a lot of strange things going on. It’s weird, and sometimes weird can be fantastic in sci-fi/fantasy. I don’t care for too much weirdness in my Star Wars though. The brainwashing of Gamorreans, Tusken Raiders, and other aliens to become servants of the Empire is just funny to me. I do like that there are more force users in the galaxy, some using it for evil.
I like that the past is still threating the future/present. The Eye of Palpatine is a pretty cool ship and weapon system. I like that Hambly established some lore with the Jedi, and though I don’t really care for the ghost of Callista possessing not just a machine, but another body, was a tad strange. That sort of thing seems to me, like it’s the dark side, a way to prolong life, the type of thing Darth Sidious and Plagueis were trying to accomplish.
I am not a fan of the way Luke was written. He’s portrayed as weak, easily giving in to his emotions. I mean, he falls in love with a possessed computer, the ghost of a long dead jedi! He even tells her he doesn’t want her to die… She’s a ghost! I also think that the internal conflict with Mara Jade is a little overdone. She finds out that there was another with the title “Emperor’s Hand” and it makes her angry.
Do I recommend you read this book? Sure, it gets weird but is a fun adventure.
RATING
I give Star Wars: Children of the Jedi, a C.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Republic Commando – Triple Zero, book two in a series of Republic Commando novels, written by Karen Traviss. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the Clone Wars in the Rise of the Empire era. Twenty-two years before the Battle of Yavin (ABY).
SUMMARY
Eight years before the Battle of Geonosis, friend of Jango Fett and fellow Mandalorian, Kal Skirata, arrives on Kamino. Upon leaning that six clones were scheduled for termination, as they did not meet the Kaminoan standards for the the Clone Troopers. These six defected clones were defiant and unruly. Skirata steps in and claims the six as his own. He raises them as unique ARC troopers, with an understating of their Mandalorian heritage.
Flashing forward a year after the Battle of Geonosis, Skirata is hired along with Omega Squad & Delta Squad and a few Jedi, to track down and terminate a Separatist terrorist/spy cell on Coruscant. The unit is fractured by conflict, the two squads just can’t get along. Etain reunites with Omega Squad to oversee the mission, during this time, her and Darman fall in love. Etain, then becomes pregnant, truly defying the Jedi Orders strict ways.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
This is where I loose people. Soon after I started this book I was already over it. My goodness, all that I enjoyed from book one was absent in this one. I was bored out of my mind with this story. I may not be the biggest fan of action, but when I turned page after page after page of mediocre dialogue. I’d have to stare at the cover of the novel to entertain myself.
I thought the character development was fantastic in the first book, Hard Contact. This one was lacking in that department, mostly, Kal Skirata was an interesting character, but he alone couldn’t save this story. Etain bugged me, she was constantly reassuring the troopers that they weren’t expendable – that they were all special, it’s almost as though she was saying it so much to remind herself of that.
We get more about the Mandalorian culture, which is neat,, but also weird at times. We learn that they think its okay to commit adultery when there’s some separation (as long as they raise the child that becomes of it) that’s stupid and random. Mandalorian define themselves by culture and behavior. I’m sorry but when some of the clones were doing a tribal type song and dance, I couldn’t help but chuckle… A war is going on and these outcast troops are breaking out into a musical.
This book is overloaded with acronyms and slang (in the Mando language), making it a little challenging to follow.
What I’m about to mention here contains a spoiler. The love story between Darman and Etain, fine whatever. Interesting choice though to have Etain keep such a massive secret from Darman; she’s pregnant and doesn’t tell Darman that he’s going to be a father! So much for these clones being something special, individually meaningful… if can’t even tell one that he’s going to have an heir!
I am looking forward to the next book in the series, my fingers are crossed with hope that I’ll appreciate it much more than this one.
Do I recommend this book? Nah, just look up spoilers and move on.
RATING
I give Star Wars: Republic Commando – Triple Zero, a C-.
