by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: Before the Storm, was written by Michael P. Kube-McDowell. Book one of the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic era, 16 ABY (16 years after the Battle of Yavin).
SUMMARY
Luke wants to step away from his responsibilities as the head of the Jedi Academy. He passes authority over to Streen, who understands Luke’s desire to leave and accepts his new role. Luke leaves the planet, seeking solitude.
Lando, bored with life goes on a mission to track down a legendary ship that skips across the galaxy, it’s origins unknown.
Residents of the New Republic grow leery of the Leia’s leadership. She deploys the new Fifth Fleet. Some consider this an act of aggression or suppression of the people, when it’s simply sent to patrol a sector struggling with pirates. The New Republic has been growing lately. Leia, speaks with Nil Spar, a representative of the Yevethan people. Leia struggles in her role as president of the Republic, not fully trusting in her advisors. Her poor decision making and trusting others outside of her leadership circle, brings certain doom to Coruscant and worlds across the galaxy.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
I’m a fan of what McDowell did with this book/series. He took the characters we enjoy and puts them in uncomfortable, unpredictable situations. While we all know are we aren’t going to see the death of any major characters, putting the characters in high stakes situations that could alter the outcome of the New Republic or the people is a great way to make the story have weight.
The book has multiple storylines happening between Leia, Luke, and Lando. The author did a fine job being heavily descriptive. I believe he gave a good voice to each character and provided great dialogue that wasn’t dull. I’m happy to report that Luke Skywalker doesn’t come across as super annoying like he has in previous books, though there are some things he’s still working out with himself.
The book gets political, which I find far more entertaining than blasters and explosions. The political chess pieces being strategically placed on the board before chaos consumes the New Republic is more entertaining to me, than an author attempting to make it seem as though a main character is a bout to be killed off.
This book has a lot of entertaining moments sprinkled throughout. While there are many times the story drags, I’d say the exciting moments made this story worth the read.
RATING
I give Star Wars: Before the Storm, a B (plus).
by Matthew Wilson
Star Wars: The Crystal Star, was written by bestselling author, Vonda N. McIntyre. This Expanded Universe tale takes place during the New Republic Era, 14 ABY (14 years after the Battle of Yavin).
So, this book hurt my brain… sorry for the poor review of this book. Just… don’t read it if you love yourself.
The three Solo children had been kidnapped! You gotta love how Leia and the kids spent time on a planet Montro Codrru, knowing that abduction was a popular thing. It’s a tradition there, people stealing others… great parenting.
Han and Luke are at Cressi Station, the are unable to be contacted by Leia due to the Crystal Star, the black hole nearby disrupts communications. Han had been receiving messages about strange activity at the station, which was once imperial but abandoned and reinhabited by random folks. Luke believes there is a Jedi there in hiding, and he hopes to find the force user.
Hetherir has the Solo kids, tells them that their family was killed, an earthquake had destroyed everything, took the lives of their parents. Jaina knew he was lying. The twins knew that their father and Luke were not even with them, that they were far away.
This guy, Hethrir is attempting to bring up a new Empire, the Empire Reborn, made up of force users. This Empire Reborn, huts children and tests them for force abilities.
The interdimensional being called Waru is at Cressi Station, people believe Waru to be a healer… it’s a blob covered in gold scales…
Luke is weak, Han is angry, Leia is in a panic. Waru is Waru – I’m done.
Rating is an F.
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.
