Rating: 
Summary: Rogue Planet is a rogue Star Wars book.
Review: To put it in a nutshell, this book is too slow. Nothing happens and all this stuff about organic, living ships just doesn't seem like "George Lucas" Star Wars. For a time that the Republic is falling apart, there just wasn't a lot of action. Also, if Raith Seinar is the designer of the Death Star, this contradicts with the "Jedi Academy" series in that the scientists in the Maw (who built the Sun Crusher of this series)designed and built it. Bear tried to be too flashy with his words and was sometimes confusing when describing the feelings of Master and apprentice.
Rating: 
Summary: An interesting, well written bridge....
Review:
I plowed through ROGUE PLANET fairly quickly.
Greg Bear's story has adventure of course, but for the most part is a fantastic character study of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi individually and within their relationship. The set-up for certain events of Episode II (and beyond) is clearly here, so I assume Lucas had an outline for this part of the story, decided it could not be told in the films, and left it to an author to "flesh out."
Some ideas from THE PHANTOM MENACE (particularly the Terry Brooks novel version) are expanded upon in terms of Anakin's character. In Brooks' novel, as opposed to the movie, much more of Anakin's potential in the Force, as well as darkness, was explored. Here, at age 12, Anakin is beginning to show a few more signs of what will come later. I particularly enjoyed "inner thoughts" that Bear uses at one point which create a parallel between what happens on the 'rogue planet' and a crucial moment of Anakin's future.
Another terrific element is that which involves Tarkin (from A NEW HOPE) and Raith Seinar, the designer of the Empire's Star Destroyers, among other ships, according to various CD-ROM and book sources. The approaching future of the galaxy is laid out in generalities through the interactions of these two characters. I have a feeling Seinar is the role Christopher Walken will play in Episode II if rumors of his being cast turn out to be true.
Excellent and interesting writing. Anyone who finds themselves wanting to know more before 2002 will definitely get it.
Rating:
Summary: Quit making faces at me!
Review: I have acquired toll booths and plant sacks. If it is plausable, cancel my bread donation kitchen nasal passages. When discovering meat fables, involuntary spazm nodes may occur. Sausage arm and my cookie hurts. I made a poop log, thank you
Rating: 
Summary: Could've been better
Review: Rogue Planet was well written, with a lot of very good character insights, especially with Anakin but a couple with Old Ben as well. (though I don't think Bear is familiar with the Jedi Apprentice series) The writing was pretty good, but all the descriptions were exceedingly detailed, so for all the books 350 pages, not a whole lot happened. I wasn't expecting a huge event of galactic relevance, but literally very little actually occured. I liked Sienar, thought Tarkin was great, but thought that author could've done better with Obi-Wan.From the looks of it, this book was basically sold as a "Master and Apprentice" story, but it doesn't really tell that. The master and apprentice don't interact as much as I would've liked, but for all the time they spend together, instead of doing things together, they sit around and think about their relationship. A few of the characters and species introduced were very interesting, and it was clear when it came to technical explanations that the author had a clear grasp of what he was talking about, but there really wasn't much use of the Force at all. As I said earlier, not much happened. This story was basically written as a New Jedi Order tie-in. I mean, sure we get to see Anakin's anger, but nothing really develops, it just kind of ends. The best part of the whole book was the coda at the end. This is a technically well-written book, but it was lacking somewhat in depth. I definitely recommend it to die-hard Star Wars fans, but to the casual reader, this is probably not the best selection.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully characterized
Review: Well, without trying to spoil the book too badly-- It's enjoyable to read and hard to put down. The emotional qualities Bear describes in the characters are fascinating and do a fabulous job of rounding out the motivations that lead to the story's action. In other words, this is a character-driven book, something we've been lacking in the Star Wars EU for too long. I appreciated the foreshadowing of why the elegant technology of the Old Republic turned into the utilitarian ugliness seen in Eps. 4,5, and 6-- and the reason is character-driven as well. The aliens are fascinating and the dialogue, perfect. I wish this book was 400 pages longer.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but a little slow paced
Review: This book did a great job of establishing Anakin Skywalker as a young apprentice adjusting to his new life with Obi-Wan. A little slow in some points, but it does a good job in setting up the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan and the differences between each character and the Force.
Rating:
Summary: At last ... a decent Star Wars book
Review: As you can see, I am not a fan of the Star Wars books. Not to say anything against the authors ... they just don't work for me, is all. But I was looking forward to RP because I liked Phantom Menace and I like Obi Wan as a character. And to my great surprise, I really liked this book. If I were going to be really picky I'd have to say that the prose could have done with one last polish, because every so often you get some poor word usage that spoils the over all quality of the narrative. Characterisation here is great, the plot is great, it combines good sf with good SW canon, uses existing canon to great effect, the invented characters are strong, believable and interesting. Most importantly, Bear has made an effort to get inside the hearts and minds of his two leads, and does it well. At the en d of the book you feel you know Anakin and Obi Wan better than you did at the beginning ... and for me, in a Star Wars books, that's about a first. Read. Enjoy. And two thumbs up to Mr Bear.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Side-Story of The Star Wars Saga
Review: The force has returned! As most of us know, Episode II will take place about 10 years after Episode 1. So that leaves us fans wanting to know more. Rouge Planet does that. It details Anakin's training and is an exciting, fast paced novel, true to the series. Like the other great Star Wars books, this one captures the true spirit of the characters wheather it be Ben's reclesness of Anakin's curiosity. Govenorn Tarkin is also in the story. Overall, a great piece of literature to carry us over until 2002.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I know some people will be wondering if they should get this book in light of the fact that the movie sucked. I was considering the same myself in the store today and read the first chapter (which is quite long). I must say that the characters were very well written (at least in the first chapter), especially Anakin and Obi-Wan, and the action was very descriptive and had an excellent flowing excitement about it. The inner demons the author hints that Anakin is carrying as a result of the events in the movie are very well done and do not interrupt the action. He also fleshes out a character that can eventually become Darth Vader as opposed to that Disney-Esk Happy Moron who was in the movie. This, along with what I consider dead on characteristics of Obi-Wan help elevate this book above the usual Star Wars. Despite the old question about whether or not Lucas will make this story invalid with Ep 2, I think if the rest of the story is as good as the first chapter it will be fantastic on it's own. The action seems excellent, the settings are described in vivid detail, and the characters are dead on (much more so than the movie). I suggest everyone on the fence (like me) take the time to read the first chapter and then order from Amazon. =-)
Rating:
Summary: Action?
Review: Not a bad story, but not a Star wars book. Where's the action. Not a single laser, blaster or lightsaber until page 249. I was hoping to get more insight into the training of a jedi, but this was also missing.
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