Andrew's Review of Star by Star

5/5 Rancors - Troy Denning's Star by Star is the centerpiece of the New Jedi Order, the plunge the first eight books have built toward (some directly and some in a more meandering way). The book itself is massive: I don't have a word count but it is certainly one of the longest works in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. The action is almost non-stop and the stakes have never felt higher as the Yuuzhan Vong finally make their assault on Coruscant itself. The Jedi are forced into action, desperate to save the shreds of the New Republic and the lives of countless innocents.

The prior two books spent a great deal of time building the character of Anakin Solo, seemingly positioning him to be the heir to Luke's mantle and allowing him to develop into a fully interesting personality. He takes center stage in Star by Star, accompanied by his twin siblings Jacen and Jaina and a host of young Jedi from the Young Jedi Knights stories. I confess I have not read those, so some of these characters most likely resonate more strongly with those who have, but Mr. Denning sketches in enough detail and history that I felt comfortable with the rather large group that becomes a Jedi strike team. Enough at least to give the series of horrific events to follow some weight.

The primary storyline of Star by Star concerns itself with the aforementioned young Jedi forming a strike team and venturing to a worldship that hosts the voxyn queen, the source of the voxyn clones which have been hounding Jedi across the galaxy. It is a well-written, tense, and extremely engaging plot. The Jedi struggle with how close to the Dark Side to dance as they are confronted with unrelenting darkness aboard the Vong vessel. There were points where I found this storyline a trifle overdone, where I was ready for events to come to their conclusion and move along, but in its defense the mental and physical exhaustion of the team shines through as Mr. Denning devotes so many pages to their mission.

The secondary storyline involves the political and military maneuvering as the net tightens around Coruscant. Borsk Fey'lya, the shifty Bothan familiar from many prior novels, is trying to hold the New Republic together as he thinks best and he receives quite a few great scenes throughout the story. The battle of Coruscant itself is certainly cinematic in scope and Borsk's final scene in the book is absolutely stellar.

Star by Star has been out for years and the key events of the ending are likely known to most Expanded Universe fans, but I am still unwilling to spoil them here. The biggest character shock came out of nowhere for me, as it was handled in a manner that would make George R. R. Martin proud (and I intend that as a compliment). I frantically finished the novel, expecting something to reverse the tragedy that had just occurred, but it was for real. It's challenging to analyze further without risking spoiling the event itself, so I will leave it by simply acknowledging it as a very bold choice and one that fundamentally changed all novels to follow.

I struggled a bit with a rating for Star by Star, wavering between four and five rancors. My uncertainty stems from a feeling of fatigue finishing the book, a sense that it may have overstayed its welcome and dragged out some plots for too long. Of course, I cherish many far longer non-Star Wars books: it is simply a standard for a brisk story I tend to hold these stories to. However, my net feeling is the length and repetition of dark happenings gives weight and credence to the storyline itself, and the reader feels the exhaustion that the characters are enduring. So I will round up for full marks. There is no denying that Star by Star is one of the most significant Expanded Universe works and is a required read for anyone intending to delve past this point in the chronological history.

Andrew's Review of Darth Plagueis

5/5 Rancors - I was lucky enough to read this via an advance copy a month before its public release date. James Luceno has long been one of my favorite Star Wars Expanded Universe authors and my anticipation for this particular story was rather high, especially in light of its multi-year path to publication. Mr. Luceno has always excelled at weaving obscure aspects of the Star Wars galaxy into his tales and with that attention to detail combined with the opportunity to explore the origins of Darth Sidious via his master Darth Plagueis, it’s safe to say my expectations could not have been much higher.

Happily, Darth Plagueis does not disappoint. By telling the story of Plagueis’ rise to power, Mr. Luceno unlocks secrets of the corresponding rise of Palpatine and his eventual ascension to Sith ruler of the galaxy. After a prologue, notable for being a scene that we already know about from Revenge of the Sith’s opera discussion but one that we don’t know the WHEN of, the story jumps back to over sixty years before the Battle of Yavin. Several politically-oriented story hooks are embedded here, ones that may try the patience of a reader looking for a more battle-oriented tale, but they do pay off as a complex Sith plot is put into place throughout the novel. It is certainly helpful to have some working knowledge of Star Wars species and locales, as references to both are varied and numerous. If not, have the Star Wars Encyclopedia handy.

Two of the more intriguing topics introduced by the prequels that this novel touches upon are the nature of the controversial midichlorians and whether the Sith played a role in the creation of Anakin Skywalker. It’s difficult to broach these topics without spoiling specifics of the book. On the first, Mr. Luceno posits theories on the nature of the midichlorians which permit them to have a role in the Force without completely demystifying the beloved Yoda dialogue from The Empire Strikes Back. On the second I’ll only say I prefer there to be some mystery around Anakin’s origins and that I was content with how it was treated here.

I found Darth Plagueis a reasonably intriguing main character to follow but the book shines brightest when giving Palpatine the stage. His story follows a logical progression from his Naboo origin to his years as a political novice followed by his movement into the Senate. Scenes from Palpatine’s POV have been rare in the Expanded Universe and there are a wealth of them here. Some moments are downright fascinating to picture, such as the first time Palpatine tests his ability to conceal his Sith nature from a Jedi at a social event. The book depicts Palpatine’s plans as being more fluid than they appear in the films, as he navigates ever-changing situations and strives to balance his public and private personas, along with handling both a Master and an apprentice.

Darth Plagueis ends strongly and with a treatment of events from The Phantom Menace which adds layers of complexity and interest to what is already so familiar from the film. After the years of anticipation for this book, Mr. Luceno does not disappoint, and while I think more casual fans of Star Wars may find sections of it dry (due to the numerous EU references and plot points), readers who are versed in a cross-section of the books and comics and who want to know more about Palpatine will be richly rewarded.

David's Review of Star Wars: Knight Errant

4/5 Rancors - Knight Errant by John Jackson Miller is an original adventure featuring an inexperienced Jedi Kerra Holt, the star of the Knight Errant comic series by Dark Horse. The action takes place in ancient times, approximately 1,000 years before A New Hope and Luke Skywalker and a generation before Darth Bane. The Republic is going through critical times, and the Sith are numerous and powerful. The Sith also seem to spend most of their time maneuvering against each other or going to war when they think there is anything to be gained. Kerra Holt has mounted a one Jedi campaign to create chaos among the Dark Lords whenever she can.

All of this makes for interesting reading, although it can be a little hard to follow at times. It can be disconcerting to read a Star Wars book and not know a single character. However, we get to meet Lords Daiman and Odion, two crazy Sith brothers with separate empires, plus a number of other individuals who we have not met before. The Sith Lords are all actually part of an interrelated network of Sith leaders who may be related but still hate each other. The Machiavellian intrigues are incredible, and basically morals do not exist.

Jedi Holt is prepared to go against such Sith and do as much damage as she can. She does manage to find some help along the way from a mysterious Sith spy and a resourceful mercenary general. She faces numerous perils along the way and manages to find ways to deal with most of them.

Mr. Miller has written an interesting book with a look at a very different part of the Star Wars saga. Give Knight Errant a try.

David's Review of Star Wars: Darth Plagueis

5/5 Rancors - Let me first say that my copy of Darth Plagueis is an advance copy obtained through the Amazon Vine program. The book is not scheduled to be officially released until January 10, 2012. The wait will be well worth it.

James Luceno's Star Wars books have always been among my favorites, and Darth Plagueis also ranks high on the list. This was a much-anticipated book, and it delivers beautifully. Star Wars fans have thirsted for more information about Darth Plagueis ever since the memorable scene at the Squid Lake performance by the Mon Calamari Ballet in Revenge of the Sith when Palpatine tells Anakin the tale of The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. He succeeds in introducing to Anakin the idea of creating or extending life through manipulation of midi-chlorians.

Now, Mr. Luceno has given us the back-story we wanted. We are introduced to Darth Plagueis' history, and we get to see how he connected with Palpatine and gradually turned him into Darth Sidious. We are also introduced to Darth Maul. The interesting times just never stop. The book has a great deal of technical information about the Sith and about the Force, a huge amount of political intrigue, and some outstanding action scenes. Mr. Luceno does an excellent job of expanding situations that we first saw in the films.

I could go on, but I expect that you get the idea that I like the book. Darth Plagueis should not be missed.

David: Rancor Spotting #23

Star Wars: Complete Locations illustrated by Hans Jensen and Richard Chasemore

Pages 160-161

Complete Locations is an excellent coffee-table size book that gives you detailed information and drawings about many of the locations in the Star Wars saga. So, of course it would include the Rancor pit below Jabba's throne room. The pit is rumored to have been hollowed from a sacred B'omarr grotto and is now littered with the regurgitated bones of the Rancor's meals. Try to remember the first time you saw Luke fight the beast and the disconsolate reaction of Malakili, the beast wrangler. This is an excellent book to peruse at length.

David's Review of Choices of One

5/5 Rancors - Mr. Zahn is best known for his eight previous Star Wars books, and I have always found his work to be extremely good, especially the novels with the Imperial officer Thrawn. Choices of One is another excellent effort and is great fun to read. It takes place in the period after A New Hope but before The Empire Strikes Back. We have Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and Mara Jade in lead roles. What could be better?

The plot revolves around Rebel efforts to find a new base eight months after the battle of Yavin. Governor Ferrouz of Candoras Sector offers an alliance that would provide the Rebels with sanctuary. In return, the Rebels would offer protection against the alien warlord Nusso Esva. New characters in the Star Wars world. That's a good thing. Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie are given the mission of evaluating the deal. This requires a trip to Candoras to see if the alliance is indeed possible.

Of course, very little is simple in Mr. Zahn's books. It turns out that our heroes are not the only ones headed in that direction. Mara Jade, known as the Emperor's Hand, and the five renegade stormtroopers known as the Hand of Judgment are headed in the same direction to stop Ferrouz and ambush the Rebels. From there, one betrayal leads to another, and things are not always what they seem to be. Mr. Zahn excels in character development and in descriptions of action scenes. His portrayal of Han Solo back in those days is just classic. Sarcastic, questioning, cocky - but at the same time, extremely capable. The byplay between Han and Leia is great fun as the two strong-willed characters deal with each other.

Timothy Zahn's classic book Heir to the Empire from twenty years ago is given credit for reigniting the world of Star Wars publishing. It is a wonderful book. LucasBooks has now released a 20th Anniversary Edition of Heir to the Empire, complete with annotations by the author, exclusive commentary from Lucasfilm and Del Ray, and a brand-new novella starring Grand Admiral Thrawn. The hardcover edition looks great, and I cannot wait to read it.

Mr. Zahn's books are always worth reading, and Choices of One is no exception.

Andrew's Review of Edge of Victory II: Rebirth

4/5 Rancors - In Rebirth, the concluding volume of the Edge of Victory duology, Greg Keyes widens the scope considerably from the first book Conquest. This time around there is a familiar Star Wars-style juggling of several important plotlines and more time is devoted to action rather than discussion/exploration. Still, the pace rarely flags, interest is maintained throughout, and it is a worthy successor to the superb first book. Also, even though both books in the duology are on the short side, Rebirth is distinct enough from Conquest that I accept the decision to split the story in half with no qualms. Conquest was an internal character study at heart, while Rebirth steps in to propel the story forward and set the stage for Troy Denning's massive Star by Star.

The title plays into several elements of Rebirth, but at its core appears to represent the rebirth of hope, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Mara Jade's pregnancy has progressed to a critical point and the sudden resurgence of her illness throws her health, along with the future of the Skywalker line, into doubt. The Yuuzhan Vong restart their invasion as they move on the Givin planet Yag'Dhul, a memorable locale where the natives are periodically exposed to the vacuum of space and have evolved accordingly. Shaper Nen Yim returns, demoted from the events of Conquest but developing an alarming desire to exact horrible vengeance on the New Republic and all inhabitants of the galaxy.

Tahiri and Anakin travel together as she rehabilitates from her torture at the hands of the Yuuzhan Vong. She now has a second personality implanted in her, a Vong that surfaces periodically, much to Anakin's alarm. This split makes her an interesting character, as does Anakin's vision of what she might become. Her rebirth from the depths also shines a light on new ways to bridge the gap between the galaxy's inhabitants and the Yuuzhan Vong, as she understands them in a way no other outsider can.

Political events take an intriguing turn in Rebirth as the government issues an order for the arrest of Luke Skywalker. The concept of this uber-powerful sect of Force-wielding individuals and their uneasy balance with the official government has always been fertile ground but not always fully utilized. Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya is not a one-sided character at this point: sure, he's a career politician, but we see between the lines that he may be a bit more sympethetic a character than he has often been portrayed. Luke's reaction to learning of his pending arrest is completely in character and provocative as a discussion point, depending on how each individual reader views the ideal role of the Jedi.

Rebirth was a bit more of a standard Star Wars Expanded Universe entry than Conquest before it, but it held up fine to the high standard set by its predecessor. The pace continued to be brisk, the dialogue well-writen, and the characters pushed forward in satisfying ways. To this point in the New Jedi Order, the Edge of Victory duology offers the most bang for your buck.