Force Heretic III: Reunion (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 17)

Rating:
Summary: An Average Ending to an Average Trilogy
Review: 'Force Heretic III: Reunion' by Sean Willams and Shane Dix finally brings to a close the Force Heretic trilogy. The trilogy has had its ups and downs and has finally moved the New Jedi Order story arc into a position to come to an end as well.

There are two main story lines with multiple sub-plots. First, Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, Jacen Solo, along with some other Jedi and Imperial escorts conclude their search for the living planet of Zenoma Sekot. Now they have to try and persuade Sekot to assist them in the conflict with the Yuuzhan Vong, and how, if at all, that assistance should come.

Second, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Jaina Solo, and others attempt to re-establish a communications array on a distant world. The world has drifted out of a solar system and an indigenous species of sentient plant life wanders the surface. The Yuuzhan Vong quickly enter the fray, and then the Empire arrives to assist in the battle.

This book plods along for most of the novel. The last 150 pages are really the meat of the story. It could have used some serious editing. However, the battle to restore the array was well done, and worthy of most Star Wars action sequences.

As for the characters, Tahiri was the most interesting. She finally confronts her inner demons and allows her two personalities to reach a solution. The character that emerges at the end of this novel is far better than most of the secondary characters that have been featured in the trilogy.

One of my biggest complaints about this novel, trilogy, and the New Jedi Story Arc has been the inclusion of Zenoma Sekot. Half way through reading this novel, it finally occurred to me what really bothered me about this sentient planet. Its too much like 'Star Trek' and not enough like 'Star Wars.' Mind you, I have nothing against Star Trek, but this is not suppose to be a Star Trek novel. Rather than rely on this sentient planet, I wish those steering the series would have encouraged more adventure and less philosophy from the authors.

This novel does has its moments, and it is by no means awful. I really enjoyed the battle around setting up the relay station. It had Jedi weilding light sabers, speeder bikes, Han in action, and a space battle to match the ground action. It was well done, and I wish the rest of the novel could have been on an even par.

I'd recommend this to Star Wars fans. I suggest reading the rest of the New Jedi Order series first. I have begun reading the next novel in the New Jedi Order series, The Final Prophecy, and I'm enjoying it immensely. However, it'd be helpful to have read this first, as some of the events of that novel spring directly from this one.

Rating:
Summary: An Average Ending to an Average Trilogy
Review: 'Force Heretic III: Reunion' by Sean Willams and Shane Dix finally brings to a close the Force Heretic trilogy. The trilogy has had its ups and downs and has finally moved the New Jedi Order story arc into a position to come to an end as well.

There are two main story lines with multiple sub-plots. First, Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, Jacen Solo, along with some other Jedi and Imperial escorts conclude their search for the living planet of Zenoma Sekot. Now they have to try and persuade Sekot to assist them in the conflict with the Yuuzhan Vong, and how, if at all, that assistance should come.

Second, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Jaina Solo, and others attempt to re-establish a communications array on a distant world. The world has drifted out of a solar system and an indigenous species of sentient plant life wanders the surface. The Yuuzhan Vong quickly enter the fray, and then the Empire arrives to assist in the battle.

This book plods along for most of the novel. The last 150 pages are really the meat of the story. It could have used some serious editing. However, the battle to restore the array was well done, and worthy of most Star Wars action sequences.

As for the characters, Tahiri was the most interesting. She finally confronts her inner demons and allows her two personalities to reach a solution. The character that emerges at the end of this novel is far better than most of the secondary characters that have been featured in the trilogy.

One of my biggest complaints about this novel, trilogy, and the New Jedi Story Arc has been the inclusion of Zenoma Sekot. Half way through reading this novel, it finally occurred to me what really bothered me about this sentient planet. Its too much like 'Star Trek' and not enough like 'Star Wars.' Mind you, I have nothing against Star Trek, but this is not suppose to be a Star Trek novel. Rather than rely on this sentient planet, I wish those steering the series would have encouraged more adventure and less philosophy from the authors.

This novel does has its moments, and it is by no means awful. I really enjoyed the battle around setting up the relay station. It had Jedi weilding light sabers, speeder bikes, Han in action, and a space battle to match the ground action. It was well done, and I wish the rest of the novel could have been on an even par.

I'd recommend this to Star Wars fans. I suggest reading the rest of the New Jedi Order series first. I have begun reading the next novel in the New Jedi Order series, The Final Prophecy, and I'm enjoying it immensely. However, it'd be helpful to have read this first, as some of the events of that novel spring directly from this one.

Rating:
Summary: Save your time and money!!!
Review: (...) the book was free of anoying things like action, humor, and the making of sense. O wait, I guess that's the same hand...I HIGHLY RECCOMEND YOU READ A SUMMARY somewhere or just have a friend you don't like very much read this book and give you the important details. But, if you're like me you'll probably go out and read it anyway because it's part of the series and you made it through balance point and dark journey so you can make it through this and at least you heard the next 2 books are good and the last one is almost as good as star by star which is the only reason you're still reading the series of course rebel dream and that other one by the same guy were pretty good but you're the only one who thinks so probably because you're the only one who read the entire X-wing series by the same author and liked that but yeah...

Rating:
Summary: A strong conclusion to the Force Heretic Trilogy
Review: After the disappointment of the last book, "Reunion" is a good, if predictable, end to the Force Heretic Trilogy. Once again, three story lines run together. Luke, Mara, Jacen and the rest of their crew reach Zonama Sekot and spend most of the novel not doing much. There's a kidnapping that finally leads to a conversation with the planet and its decision wheather or not to come back. It's not that exciting but it serves its purpose and sets up for the conclusion to the NJO series.

All of the action takes place with Han, Leia, and Jaina as they stumble upon a Vong attack on a communications station by the same force that attacked the Empire. Not supriseingly, Palleon is already there and this is the first time the Galactic Alliance and the Empire officially work together, which makes for some interesting conversations. It also marks the return of Dorma, the best new character in the NJO series. Sure, it's obvious he's a replacement for Chewie, but the interaction between him and Han make for the funniest parts in the entire series. During this time we see the conclusion of Tahiri's story, and the new character that is created is integral to the conclusion of the novel.

Finally we have the Nom Anor story, which was never that interesting for me and this time it's way too predictable when one of his co-conspirators is unmasked. Still, I feel it is the feelings Nom Anor is stirring up that will ultimetly lead to the downfall of the Vong. It is in these feelings Jacen will find the peaceful solution he is looking for to defeat the Vong.

Overall, the book was a vast improvement over "Refugee", even though the action was a bit lagging. It gets a little disconcerting jumping between all the characters in all the storylines but it makes for a fast pace that overcomes the slow parts. The main problem is with the summary on the back, which does not describe what the book is about. Whoever wrote it should be fired. There is no "definat message", at least not from the planet. There's no "full-scale attack" launched, just the Vong taking advantage of attacking an undefended base. And Han and Leia aren't "sent", they just show up during the attack. The entire summary gives the wrong impression and I wondered how the editors could let something so important be so incorrect. But no harm done and with the series coming to a conclusion in November, it's going to seem like a very long wait.

Rating:
Summary: Force Heretic III: Reunion (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, B
Review: Another great adition to the long running star wars saga. This book has many great twists and turns along the way, and a space battle that will leave you stunned. Another great read for anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Wrapped up too easily
Review: As we wind our way towards the end of the New Jedi order there seem to be few surprises as to how we are going to wrap it up. The end has been well telegraphed, it is only a question of the mechanics.

Just as this trilogy ends, no mystery, no danger, no surprises in this book. It isn't a bad book, but I think the first two were better. The Tahiri solution was obviously coming and well foreshadowed so I'm sure everyone knew it. Zonoma Sekot turned out to be rather, well, dull and Han & Leia win another space battle. I love space battles, I loved the X-Wing series, here though the battles are becoming routine. Like the war torn galaxy and the decimated Vong the series is running out of steam.

The mechanics of the book are fairly well done, the various threads, The Zonoma Sekot search, Nom Anor's heresy, Tahiri's struggle and the Empire/New Republic alliance battling together are woven together well. Perhaps a bit too much jumping between threads at the start but all together fairly well done. Not much character development takes place other than Tahiri, everyone seems to have matured into their final forms as we round the last turn and head into the final straight-away.

If you're a Star Wars fan, pick it up, it isn't bad, it's just "Another New Jedi Order Book" ANJOB.

Rating:
Summary: great ending
Review: at long last luke and jacen have found the living planet of zonama sekot. but when they arrive they find the people of the planet less than friendly and worse yet, the planet does not want to help them with the war.

meanwhile han and leia are still on their diplomatic mission when they find themselves in the middle of a war where they are greatly outnumbered. this book ties up a lot of loose ends, sets us up nicely for the last book of this fabulous serious, and my only wish is that they let the old timers that we have come to love do more than sit around and hope the younger generation is ok. that gets to be a little boring. i know jacen, jania and the rest of the younger generation are playing important parts now, but what about the characters that started the whole star wars saga?

Rating:
Summary: Force Heretic III, Book 17 New Jedi Order
Review: Good points first, since the bad outweigh the good.
1. Nom Anor was the best character in this book, and the previous two, His scheming against his own followers, and the people he once served, is simply brilliant.
2. The return of Droma and Pellaeon was well done.
3. The Zonama Sekot plot did not bore me, or go on to long, like the previous book.
Bad points.
The attempt by the Galatic Alliance to save the relay station was disappointing allaround.
Viewpoints were all from the Alliance's side, what about the Vong's side? Surely the traitor plot should have been covered from its own viewpoint. Plus Leia should have been able to sense the Traitor, even with her lack of training, or make a decent job of trying. And the Vong Commander should have had his own point of view. But what do we get? A few communications between the two fighting leaders, all shown from the alliance's side.
Ground battle scene towards the end - to brief/disappointing.
Space battle scene - despite being covered it was lacking in detail and action like the X-Wing Novels battles - and the NJO series.
1. There were 2 Star Destroyers and a Frigate against seventeen Vong vessels. We got no regular updates on how many vessels were destroyed, and damage taken to the alliance/Vong forces.
2. During the battle not many skips were released - when have the Vong not released many fighters into a major engagement zone?
3. The whole idea of Jag ramming two vessels with bulk from a destoryed Gunship was just a way to avoid a major battle scene.
The writers are not capable of writing major battle scenes.
And the ending was even worse. Surely it should have ended with Nom Anor, the only good thing going for this book. Not Tahiri the demented Jedi - who has got far too much coverage in this series. Hopefully Book 18 will be an improvement over parts 16/17.

Rating:
Summary: Finally Over
Review: Holy cow I am glad this series is over. Almost nothing happend in the entire series. That to me was the most annoying part.

And I personally didn't care for the authors syle of writing. I prefere chapers as opposed to lenthly sections. And I have never been so frustrated in a book as this one. About half way through the book, he (the author) would write a few paragraphs of what is going on with these people get it all good and then jump to a totally different story line with different people. I don't mind that so much if you space it out some, but "blah blah JUMP!, blah JUMP, blah JUMP, bl__ JUMP! I was going nuts. You have to read the first few maby one inbetween and last few pages out of 40 or so to find out what happend to anybody. Heaven forbid you do a entire story about what happend to this person at this time and then go on to another person/story. Very frustrating

Like I said in my title, thank goodness this series is over; worst 3 books in NJO.

Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: I found this to be the best book in the Force Heretic story arc. It was similar in many ways to the old Bantam novels, somewhat reminiscent of "Ambush at Selonia" in style and content. This novel presented unique problems with intersting solutions that kept me interested throughout. While the story is a bit choppy, the brilliant narrative style makes up for it. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good story.