by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Dark Apprentice, book two of the Jedi Academy trilogy, written by bestselling author, Kevin J. Anderson. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic era, eleven years after the Battle of Yavin (ABY).
SUMMARY
The Jedi Temple on Yavin IV has been active with the resurrection of a new Jedi Order for a few months now. Luke Skywalker is burdened with the task of rebuilding the order, training force sensitives to have control of the power within them. The location of the new Jedi temple is on ancient Massassi grounds. A haunting presence works to destroy all that Luke is attempting to build.
Disaster shakes the New Republic leadership when Akbar crashes a ship while on a diplomatic mission, which leaves thousands dead. Akbar then leaves his role in the New Republic, seeking seclusion on his home-world. Leia takes on more responsibility as Mon Mothma slowly steps out of the limelight. Yet, she wastes no time in attempting to bring Akbar back into the action.
Admiral Daalla and her imperial fleet go back to the drawing board on war tactics. Things have been changing rapidly and drastically for this fleet. After learning what’s happened throughout the galaxy during an interrogation of Han Solo and research, they find that the remnants of the Empire are preoccupied with fighting each other instead of the “rebellion.”
It appears that history is beginning to repeat itself, will the New Republic or resurrected Jedi Order survive?
OVERALL THOUGHTS
There are so many cool moments in this book, things I wish we could have seen on the big screen. Kevin J. Anderson went dark in some places with this book, and I love it. The story is exciting, taking us to a new place with the characters, putting them in uncomfortable positions and throwing real challenges at them.
While I’m not too impressed with the characterization Luke, not just because he’s struggling with how to do the task set before him, but just the way he handles people and events regularly. I get the “Luke speaking to Jabba” vibes, I don’t care for his demeanor. I believe other, original characters to this story were handled very well.
This is a thing that just annoys me, it happens a lot in Star Wars, not just this story. I don’t like it when phrases that Yoda said are repeated by others, as Yoda said it. “Size matters not.” No one else talks like that, i just doesn’t flow right when others repeat it like that, they’d say, “size doesn’t matter.” I know… I’m being petty, but that’s just a Star Wars pet peeve of mine.
Kip Durran, one of Luke’s students, is eager to learn more, he appears to to be almost like a “new chosen one.” Once he makes it to the Yavin Jedi training area, what Luke calls the Praxium, he shuts himself off from socializing to focus on his abilities and studies. The spirit of Exar Kun, an ancient Sith Loard roams the Massasi grounds, seeking whom he may manipulate. Some of Luke’s students are tempted by Exar Kun… with knowledge that would exceed what Luke Skywalker could ever teach.
Do I recommend Star Wars Dark Apprentice? Yes.
RATING
I give Star Wars Jedi Academy: Dark Apprentice a B+.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Jedi Search, book one of the Jedi Academy trilogy, written by bestselling author, Kevin J. Anderson. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic era, eleven years after the Battle of Yavin (ABY).
SUMMARY
The New Republic continues to expand and reach out to worlds unassociated with the new government. Han Solo and Chewbacca fly out to Kessel with hopes of communicating with the ruling party of the wild planet. It’s overrun with former inmates and crime lords. Kessel is widely known for its production of spice (drugs). Han Solo’s history plays a role on Kessel, the former smuggler was to deliver a load of spice to Jabba, but once the Imperials got on his trail, he dumped the spice from the Falcon (there begins the beef with Jabba and Solo). The mission falls apart quickly, leading to the capture of Solo and Chewy, and forced labor deep in the spice mines of Kessel.
Luke speaks with the Senate. He requests that the New Republic sanctions his quest to search the galaxy for force users and to establish a Jedi Academy. He stresses the importance of the Jedi, laying out their role in resolving disputes and protecting the galaxy. One person objects, stating that only one failed Jedi could bring about the destruction of the New Republic, it happened once, it could happen again, the recent battle of C’baoth is still fresh on everyone’s mind. However, the senate agrees to Luke’s proposal.
An Imperial instillation is discovered, leading to the emergence of a new threat to the Republic.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Kevin J Anderson does a fine job, he does well with being descriptive, as Luke Skywalker stands out on a platform on Coruscant, he stares up at the sky as the wind wraps around his robe. Debris of destroyed ships from the battle of taking Coruscant from the Empire is still orbiting the upper atmosphere of the planet. Parts of the planet are now a wasteland, where ships have crashed into the cityscape. (this imagery would be cool to see on film) I never thought about that, and now I can’t get that awesome/battle worn image out of my head. New Republic is at work cleaning up.
Luke’s experience in Dark Empire, where apparently he fell to the dark side of the force for a bit, broadened his insight and understanding of the force. The power of the force is so vast, it actually terrifies Luke. (reminds me of God, we fear God, the creator of the universe, we exist in a moment of time, our understanding of reality and the spiritual realm is so limited.)
Even our favorite Jedi, Luke Skywalker, misquotes Vader when reflecting on his time on Cloud City. “Luke, I am your father.” WRONG.
I’m glad we have a story of Luke going out in the galaxy to find trainees. I also like that some citizens of the New Republic are actually a bit concerned with the resurrection of the Jedi Order. Many are fearful that one slip up, one Jedi that craves too much power, could bring about the destruction of the galaxy once again. We meet new characters, young and old that are ready to be attuned to the force, to get a better understanding of the power they have within.
At first, I was concerned with how the Empire was handled in the story. An Imperial instillation has been out in the Maw, a cluster of black-holes, for 11 years. The instillation is run by Admiral Daala and she hasn’t heard a word from Tarkin, the only individual aware of this weapons development program. They continued about their work all these years, not knowing a single thing about what has happened to the Empire. As odd as it is, I think it works, only because it was a top-secret facility.
Do I recommend Star Wars: Jedi Search? Yes I do.
RATING
I give this story an A.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Isard’s Revenge was written by Bestselling Author, Michael A. Stackpole. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, nine ABY (9 years after the battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY: Wedge Antilles finally accepts a promotion. He and Rogue Squadron.
Somehow… Isard has returned. Turns out the Isard that was believed to have been killed, was a clone. With Thrawn out of the way, the real Isard is ready to establish herself as the successor to the Emperor.
OVERALL THOUHTS
I really hate to say it, but this book was such a boring read. After the excitement and thrills I experienced with the three Wraith Squadron books by Aaron Allston, this one was a sad let down. The book wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t near as fun as the Wraith Squadron trilogy. Corran Horn believed the hard battles would be over, that the New Republic just had some mopping up to do to snuff out the Empire, but he was wrong. The arrival of Thrawn had disrupted everything! I like getting into Rogue Squadron’s thoughts of Thrawn and how they aren’t buying into the belief that he’s truly dead.
This book pivots back to Stackpole’s take/vision of the New Republic X-Wing squadrons. We spend too much time with boring characters and get a deeper look into the strange lifestyle choices of two, with their interspecies relationship. It’s pretty gross and really stupid, the Bothans view relationships with non-Bothans is the Emperor winning.
Somehow… Isard has returned. With this book taking place after the Thrawn trilogy, where Timothy Zahn brings in the use of cloning, Stackpole jumps on the coat-tails of that idea and uses it as a way to reintroduce us to an enemy that was already defeated. However, that does seem to be a recurring issue in Star Wars… the dead enemy is resurrected. I believe that sort of thing can work, when handled appropriately, such as Palpatine in Dark Empire.
This book just feels like “things happen” and “more things happen.” Just to get us to the back cover. The previous three books felt like a real structured story with satisfying arcs and conclusions. By the end of this book I was just tired with the characters.
Do I recommend you read this X-Wing book? No, too boring.
RATING
I give Star Wars: X-Wing” Isard’s Revenge, a D.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Solo Command, book seven in the X-Wing Series, was written by Bestselling Author, Aaron Allston. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, seven ABY (7 years after the battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
The mission to eliminate Imperial Warlord Zsinj continues under the command of General Han Solo. Wraith and Rogue Squadron work close together in many space battles that result in a cat and mouse chase with Zsinj.
A new tactic of the Empire against the Republic, is to build distrust against a race of people, by inserting secret assassins to bring chaos and death to the New Republic.
Wraith Squadron will face many challenges on the hunt for Zsinj, not only from external forces, but from those internally as well.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Another great X-Wing story written by Aaron Allston! The characters he writes and the situations they get into are so fun to read. One thing that I find funny about our main villain, Warlord Zsinj, is that he’s always talking, even just thinking out loud. The drama that unfolds with who Wraith Squadron knows as Lara Notsil was intense! Such heartache and anger throughout the story, and it isn’t cheesy or cringy at all.
The concept of dividing the different alien races against one another was already a plan devised in a previous X-Wing book with the creation of the Krytos Virus. Luckily the route taken in this novel was sparse, more of a side issue that was taking place.
Han Solo is present pretty often in this novel, the title is a bit of a dead giveaway. Yet, the book doesn’t lean on Solo, the story doesn’t revolve around him, he’s not a crutch for the book to lean on. General Solo’s flagship during his quest to end Zsinj, is the Mon Calamari ship, Mon Remonda. Han doesn’t really enjoy the job too much, but he’s doing his best.
The Wraith mission at the Binring Biomedical facility was intense. I thought Allston did a nice job giving us that commando action which was teased in book five – Wraith Squadron. Taking Piggy back to the laboratory he was experimented on was harsh, but great.
One negative, I don’t like how the missions on both sides were paralleled in a few cases… It’s way to convenient! The setup for the missions were disappointing – Zsinj wants to set a trap at a specific place, meanwhile, Wraith Squadron is getting ready to investigate said place.
I’m not quite sure how I feel about how this book ended. Wraith Squadron, decommissioned as an X-Wing unit. I’m looking forward to seeing more of these characters in future books.
Do I recommend you read this novel? Absolutely, no need to skip this book! I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying the X-Wing series.
RATING
I will give Star Wars: X-Wing: Solo Command, a B+.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Iron Fist, book six in the X-Wing Series, was written by Bestselling Author, Aaron Allston. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, seven ABY (7 years after the battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
Warlord Admiral Zsinj is on the prowl, his hit and run tactics are brutal against the New Republic. He sits comfortably in his Star Destroyer – Iron Fist. While he seems unpredictable, New Republic Wraith Squadron narrows down his tactics through collected intel and risky groundwork.
Wraith Squadron works hard to prevent Zsinj from accomplishing one of his biggest moves yet, acquiring a super star destroyer to expand his fleet. The missions that take place to maneuver Wraith into having chance to face off against Zsinj comes with a heavy price tag; the cost… life.
In this tale, Wraith Squadron gains new members, replacing the few that were recently lost. One new member, isn’t quite who she claims to be. Lies are told, secrets are kept, and blood is shed.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Alright, this is the best one yet in the X-Wing series. This book had so many tense moments that kept me glued to the pages! I really enjoy not knowing what the outcome will be when it comes to the characters; which is the best part about “side’ characters of Star Wars. We all know the established characters will be around.
Allston does a wonderful job writing the characters of Wraith Squadron. The misfit group of pilots work well together, mostly. The plot of this book was simple, the missions were highly entertaining, and the villain really gets under the skin. The story was unpredictable, the author wasn’t afraid to kill off anyone.
Gara Petothel, has to be my favorite character in this story. One of my complaints for the previous book, Wraith Squadron, was that we didn’t get that much commando action. This book fulfills what that book lacked. The fighting on the ground was just as exciting as the fighting in the air/space. Allston does a fine job setting the scene and building up tension.
We get a peak at what happened right after that Return of the Jedi special edition scene where the people on Coruscant are pulling down the statue of Emperor Palpatine. I loved that little moment that gave us a direct tie-in visual to the film.
Do I recommend this book in the X-Wing Series? Absolutely. This book has great humor sprinkled lightly throughout, it’s not overly done. The characters are fantastically written.
RATING
I give Star Wars: X-Wing: Iron Fist, an A! Making this book the best in the series so far.
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Tatooine Ghost was written by bestselling author Troy Denning. This tale takes place during the New Republic Era on the Expanded Universe novel timeline, eight years ABY.
SUMMARY
The Killik Twilight is one of the last known famous Alderaanian moss pieces, is on its way to auction. The Killik Twilight, isn’t just a unique and magnificent piece of art, but it serves an important role to the New Republic. It contains a hidden spy communications device!
Han and Leia disguise themselves to attend the auction being held on Tatooine, to get the Killik Twilight back in Republic hands. Imperial Star Destroy Chimaera shows up, sending a squad of Imperials to the auction to get the artwork for their Admiral (the name isn’t mentioned, but the man sure loves art).
The auction gets explosive when the art-piece is taken by a familiar name in Star Wars history, Kitster Banai! Now, Leia and Han race against the Empire to recover the art. Along their journey on Tatooine, Leia discovers much about her family history. This story brings in characters from across the timeline in a unique way, teaching Leia many lessons.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
This is a story with many ups and downs, liking and disliking the story throughout. Yet, for me, in the end, the positive outweighed the negative. I can see though how some folks would dislike this story as It leans heavily on The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. The plot was pretty straight forward – get the painting. However, events unfold in a way that relied on Leia’s viewing of the vid-journal that belonged to Shmi.
Troy Denning did a good job stirring up the emotions of Leia, as well as the reader on some occasions. I liked that we got to witness Leia discover a piece of her history, watching her Grandmother on the vid-journal. She experienced conflicting emotions as Shmi spoke of such love for her son – Anakin. Leia, only knowing Anakin as the Darth Vader, the dark lord of the Sith, a torturer, a murder, a destroyer of worlds.
I believe this story feels like a classic adventure with Leia, Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO. It’s got some really cheesy moments, it’s got wonderful character interaction and references to other things that took place in the expanded universe. One of my favorite mentions is that of Outbound Flight! I think the flashbacks or journal scenes were my favorite parts of the story. There is a pretty wide section that felt very repetitive.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, like I said earlier, I can see why some readers would not like this story and wouldn’t think they were crazy for disliking it. When a book gets me to sit up straight and bring a smile to my face, I’d call it a good book.
Do I recommend you read Star Wars: Tatooine Ghost? Yes, I think this would be a fun one to read immediatly after watching the prequels.
RATING
I give this expanded universe novel a B.
