Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Disappointing Review: The book gets off to a slow start, then never really goes anywhere. It spends a lot of time on the character development of Obi-Wan and Anakin, some of which is interesting. Unfortunately, the book's portrayal of Obi-Wan is that of a rigid, unimaginative person -- not really consistent with his portrayal in any of the movies so far. The rest of the characters are basically shadows, with no real development of any of them. Greg Bear's other novels are much better written than this.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Has potential, but it's kind of a let-down Review: This book was okay. I enjoyed getting deep into Anakin's mind and feelings, and seeing the darker side that was not shown in Phantom Menace. However, Obi-Wan was very poorly written. He is boring, tedious and just plain un-interesting. As for the plot, it concentrates way too much on Sekotan shipbuilding rituals. Native cultures should be used as enhancments, not as the base for a story. The conflict isn't qutie as good as it could be. The "bad guys" and the "good guys" plans clumsily come together, and the end is, also, clumsy. I also can't quite figure out Rath Sienar's role in this story. If Tarkin was going to interrupt the mission, then why did he send Sienar in the first place? Or what was Vergere's role in the whole thing? The book does offer some interesting points, though. Along with getting into Anakin's character a little more as I have stated, the Jedi Council sees a little more action here, and Mace Windu's character is deepend. The book had great potential, but I was disappointed. Read it if you must, but if you skip it, you're not missing a whole lot.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: Where's the action? Review: Rogue Planet was a, well, okay book. From the looks of the first chapter, which was thrity pages long, I was expecting a lot of action throughout the story. Where did it go wrong? From then on the action was, well, lets just say non-existent. There was none. Just talking and a lot of description that bored me at points. The plot was okay, but seemed a little different than something from the Star Wars universe. It focuses on Obi-Wan and the now older Anakin searching for a missing Jedi named Vergere. Pretty weak? But wait, it gets a little better. Commander Tarkin and Raith Siener attempt to wipe out the planet, Zonoma Sekot, which the two Jedi are on. Tarkin sound familiar? He later creates the Death Star, which is mentioned in the book. Rogue Planet was an alright book. It had good Star Wars like dialogue, which I could do without. I'd rather have action like in Return of the Jedi, but it came only in the first and the last two or three chapters. Four chapters of action? Yup, about forty pages out of the 339 in the book. If you like sci-fi and are looking for a good story....stay far, far away. If you're a true Star Wars fan like myself, I consider you read it. It bridges the gap between Episode 1 and 2, which makes it all worth while.
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Good For Any Star Wars Fan Review: This book was okay. The begining was great. Then in the middle got a little boring. But at the end it got better! A very quick save! This book is meant for any Star Wars fan!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: A beautifully character-driven adventure Review: If you're looking for those incredible, devious plot twists a la Zahn and Thrawn, look somewhere else. But if you're looking for a great punch in the gut, this is for you! Timothy Zahn aside, this may be the best Star Wars novel since the original trilogy. Not since Return of the Jedi have the characters lived--really lived, not simply acted out the plot. The adventure is lived on two planes: the physical, and the spiritual. Anakin is an adolescent recognizing that he's more than your average Padawan. Obi-wan is a rigid, tradition-bound master, not truly comfortable with himself or his apprentice, who sometimes frightens him. By the end of the book, Anakin has had a terrifying glimpse into his future, and Obi-wan has found the love inherent in being a teacher and true Master. Hayden! Ewan! Read this book!!
Rating: ![4 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-4-0.gif) Summary: Not bad Review: This is the first Star Wars book I've read that wasnt based on one of the four movies. Overall, it was a good read and a good bridge between Episode I and II. There could have been a little more action as all of it seemed to happen in the last 50 pages or so. We do see the character's developement from Episode I and the growing relationship between Anakin and Obi-one. Its also interesting to see the beginning of Anakin's trouble with controlling the force. Overall, a good book that helps get you through until the next movie.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: How did he win a Hugo? Review: Really a poor book by a reputedly good author. It moved at a glacial pace, particularly during the opening parts of the book. Also it forgot about incredibly important parts of the book. It never adequately explained what happened to Vergere, a Jedi Knight who caused a panic when she disappeared, and while the book made a huge deal about how these fast starships are organic, it is later shown that this has very little to do with their performance; even going so far as to explain that the ship has a modified hyperdrive. The enemies were unconvincing, the plot pretty weak, and the character interaction poor. I do enjoy foreshadowing, but not when it takes hundreds of pages to develop. I also found out why his Hugo and Nebula winning book was entitled "EON". . . because it must have taken an eon to develop. Another thing that bothered me was that the galaxy was never really in any danger. And while the characters (who included Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker) are often faced with life or death decisions, you never really care if they live or die. A sub par book, read the Jedi Academy Trilogy, or Heir to the Empire instead.
Rating: ![3 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-3-0.gif) Summary: SW: Rogue Planet is OK. Review: Rogue Planet has some really good points and some pretty bad ones, as well. Good: 1. The relationship of Anakin and Obi-Wan. 2. The introduction of Tarkin. 3. Anakin's struggles with the Dark Side. 4. The supporting characters, like Mace Windu. Bad: 1. The story of a planet the grows ships. 2. The lack of closure to the Vergere storyline. 3. Ke Daiv, a really boring villin. I like the aspects of this book that didn't relate to the specific plot (i.e. the journey to Zonama Sekot), such as the development of Anakin as a Jedi and his life in the Jedi Temple. Also of interest is the struggles Anakin goes through. These are the books strong points.
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: Boring, predictable, not worth the money Review: As I've written several reviews for Star Wars novels before, Isimply want to remind readers that the words "Star Wars" ona book cover simply do not make the book great. There are such considerations such as plot, character development, pacing, etc. that need to be taken into account. "Rogue Planet" has some interesting character development but the pacing is way off. Not much happens in the book. For a book that's around 340 pages, I kept waiting for "something" (anything!) to happen. Instead Mr. Bear carries us through chapter after chapter after chapter of short little pieces of a story. There are points in the book in which chapters were only 1 - 2 pages long. I wondered as to why they were written that way, giving Mr. Bear the benefit of the doubt. But by the end of the story, I felt disappointed. The novel appears disjointed and not well developed. I understand that it is extremely difficult to write a novel about characters between movies (a la "Shadows of the Empire"), ( ) I'm not willing to spend such money on a half-done idea. Thankfully, a friend lent me her copy. So beware: There are two interesting subplots that make for good discussion (one of the reviews on this page gives these away), but outside of that--boring. I whipped through the story and hoped that maybe the next Star Wars book would be better. I'd advise that you save your money for the next one...
Rating: ![2 stars](http://www.reviewfocus.com/images/stars-2-0.gif) Summary: A disappointment in the world of Star Wars Review: Seeing a new Star Wars book made my heart leap, so immediately I purchased it, and as it arrived at my door, I tore open the wrapping and began reading. In fact, I was reading it every night until 3:00! Well as I was reading, I found the "evil" characters to be much more than boring. Every chapter they were involved in made me want to put the book down. The use of language was horrible, considering that the beginning of a chapter was Obi-Wan slept. Who is the author trying to kid? For a book of that size, a bit more detail and imaginative language could have been used. I suggest that you save your money, even if you are a die hard Star wars fan, like myself.
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