Rating: Summary: Can't wait for the next one! Review: At last the tide has taken a small turn against the Yuuzhan Vong! If you have read the other books in this series you will want to read this one too.
Rating: Summary: The Vong story continues... Review: As with other books in this series, the action is fast paced while still maintaining a depth of character and sense of humour. I couldn't put it down, and wish they could release them much faster (but then the quality might suffer). Aaron writes well, and even managed to give some well loved SW characters an extra dimension. Jaina plays a major role in this story, and although I miss Anakin, she is becoming a favourite character of mine, mostly because of her unpredictability (although Jag may disagree). You will need to read the previous 10 books before this one as there are too many story lines underway, but the series is so good, this won't matter.
Rating: Summary: Woeful Review: In short, this book is terrible, which is typical of all books of the NJO series. Up to the Thraw duology, the expanded Star Wars universe had been slowing down somewhat, the defeat of the Empire and subsequent establishment of the New Republic allowing the galaxy to be 'reborn' as such, and we even started seeing some old grudges come back. Pre-NJO books were usually trilogy series, long and rich in detail, and most of the time adding something substantial to the plot. Yes, there was a 'superweapon of the week' syndrome for a while, but that died down with Zahn's last work. With the start of NJO in Vector Prime, we saw a very much darker image of the galaxy, written in a basic, rudimentary fashion designed to give the reader some elementary facts about the plot, but precious else. Many of the major characters were simply forgotten about in VP, and the death of Chewie sent NJO prematurely to the grave The Vong themselves were somewhat interesting, a culture built strictly on biology, but I found them very far fetched. Their entry into the galaxy almost seemed to be unopposed, their advance unstoppable into the heart of the SW universe fans have learned to know and love. The level of violence in these books is also disturbing, many of the battle scenes are graphic and go to great efforts to describe the bloody scenes, I thought there was a real thing against anything but the slightest trace of blood in SW? This latest book is woeful, not only have the New Republic been invaded, but Coruscant, heart of the galaxy, has fallen to the 'Vong'. This is ridiculous. The major characters are now forming a 'New Alliance' against the New Republic, going against their superiors in order to fight the Vong, the whole concept of which betrays the principles so many brave young men and women died for in the Galactic Civil War. In short, these novels are perpendicular to the principles George Lucas established in his movies, the only reason I gave this one 2 stars was because the writing was somewhat decent. Don't buy these books.
Rating: Summary: This series just keeps getting more interesting Review: Rebel Dream was yet another of the better books in the New Jedi Order series. Taking place just shortly after the fall of Coruscant, the New Republic Advisory Council sets up a fleet at Borleias to trick the Yuuzhan Vong into believing that Borleias is a key planet, which in theory does indeed work, but it makes everyone else concerned about the N.R.A.C.'s ability to function properly. So Han, Leia, Luke, Mara, and others visit various worlds to spread rebellion against the New Republic, the one thing they spent their lives to create. The cool thing about this book is that a new plan is set into motion, one that could bring an end to the Yuuzhan Vong invasion completely. What is it you ask? I'll just say that it involves the re-creation of something that the main characters spent their lives DESTROYING: The Empire. I really like how the book ends like a cliffhanger, so that if you read this book you have to go out and buy Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand when it comes out.
Rating: Summary: Thanks Aaron Review: Well well... First I would like to say that it's great to see Wedge and Lando back in action. Lando's persona and humor has been missed, and Wedge is a complex character who provides some new life to a dark horizon. Yes this series has been a little dark, but this book gives a little hope for the future. Allston cuts right to the point by proclaiming the New Republic dead. The alliance is back, even if most of the galaxcy doesn't know it. Allston brings his graphic depictions of battle from the X-Wing series and applies it masterfully in this book. Best of all, FINALLY SOMETHING IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING!! Allston provides some much needed direction to the series by identifing specific tactics that the Alliance will use to hopefully turn the tide. I couldn't put this book down and look forward to Rebel Stand.
Rating: Summary: a new start Review: the new rebel alliance has been defeated at coruscant. the goverment has set up a fake base on the planet of borealis to try and fool the yuuzhan vong into attacking there. this plan fools no one and the members of the jedi and militaray they send there know that they are being left there to die. this group includes luke skywalker, wedge antilles and jania skywalker. jania has her own problems though. after the death of anakin and the disappearce of jacin, she is having a hard time dealing with life in general. anyone who has lost a loved one young will definitely identify with her. after much planning, it is decided that a team led by luke will rescue jacin from the enemy. this is a suicide mission but luke is the only one capable of doing this. this book has a great start and is continued into "rebel stand". it is not as good as some of the others of this series because the end is so boring that it almost makes you ask now where is the clifhanger at? if this is a 2 part series, the ending should have been more dramatic then this. it left me cold and wondering if i should even buy the second book.
Rating: Summary: The NJO Revived Review: I was disappointed when Dark Journey came out, and now that three horrible books have been published (Dark Tide and DJ), I began to lose my faith in the series, and I would have, if not for Star by Star and Balance Point.Now, it seems a great book appears right before I decide to junk the entire series. Reminescent of his X-Wing novels, Allston delivers an action-packed book. The characters come more vivdly, and the battles are described thoroughly. The entire plot if great. However, even if this may be one of the best books in the NJO, there sre still many flaws. Mara, for instance, seems like a weakling more than a Jedi Master. There is absolutely NO trace of the dark side in Jaina, whereas it seems she has transformed into a complete angel. I would've given this novel five stars, if Allston had done a better job at developing the newer characters, and if it had been a tad longer. Hope he does a better job on his next one, since i am looking forward to it.
Rating: Summary: Excellent tempo and characterization Review: To be brief, this is one of the stronger books in the New Jedi Order series to date. The pacing is quite good and this book did not drag for even a few pages. There is minimal exposition or re-hashing, which is a welcome change. It seems that the authors are finally realizing that the majority of people reading this far into a series are quite aware of the events that have already transpired in this storyline. If you're new to the series, this is no place to start unless you want to be confused and have a number of key plot points from the earlier novels to be spoiled. The characters play true to their established boundaries, but not with a confinement that leaves them stale or boring. This novel seems to work as a transition piece into the next stage of the storyline. The ending comes about a bit quickly, but it works well enough as a sort of cliffhanger for the upcoming New Jedi Order: Rebel Stand.
Rating: Summary: Allston's Back and the Story Feels It! Review: Aaron Allston (who previously wrote the second half of the X-Wing series) is back, and he brings his considerable talents with him. After the lull of 'Dark Journey', we finally pickup were 'Star by Star' left off. With Coruscant defeated, the New Republic is shattered. This novel follows, of all people, General Wedge Antilles, who manages to win back the planet of Borleias from the Vong. Filled with an comfortable mix of characters from both the X-Wing series and the main players of the New Jedi Order, 'Rebel Dream' brings back to the series what it had been sorely lacking - comedy. Allston's trademark sense of humor results in a more personable portrayal of the main characters. While he provides exellent planning and strategy for the Rebel forces, those looking for Troy Denning's complex and intellectual portrayal of the Vong will come out somewhat dissapointed. Clocking in close to what's becoming the paperback average page number - 300 - this serves as a bit of fast and light reading well worth your time. I flew through it... and am eagerly waiting it's followup, 'Rebel Stand.'
Rating: Summary: A Bright Spot in the NJO Series Review: Allston brings a little of his humor and a lot of his talent back into the universe, and, although it's not as funny as his X-wing books, it's very well written. The only thing it seems to lack is the appearence of my favorite comedy team; Janson and Hobbie. Did I miss something? Did one of them die or something? All in all it's a good read, better than any other NJO book.
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