Rating: Summary: Best of the NJO so far Review: I really liked this book. Brought back a lot of the old characters that we're used to. I love Wedge and Tycho, messing with each other, like always. "We'll put that in your biography: Wedge Antilles was so good, he couldn't fail when he tried." And for once (in the NJO) the good guys aren't getting their collective A$$ kicked. I am getting pretty fed up with the series as a whole though. Most of the books by themselves are ok, but the switching off between authors makes for a very inconsistent story. Getting used to one style of writing, to having the focus on a specific group of characters, then getting something totally different slammed in my face is becoming annoying. But like it or not, I'll keep on buying the books, I'm sure most of you will too.
Rating: Summary: Allston Does it Again Review: Personally, I think that Aaron Allston is one of the best writers of the Star Wars books, right next to Timothy Zahn (Yes, that's what I said!) This book had everything in it. I kid you not when I say that I was actually laughing out loud at some parts in the book! Allston really gets into it, and as it was with some of his older Star Wars books, he focuses on space battles mainly, but there's plenty of plot all over the place to keep your mind more than occupied. There are no major developments in the entire storyline, but this book was GREAT nonetheless. So, as if you couldn't tell, it's definitely a great read, and I highly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: A breath of fresh air Review: Aaron Allston wrote the Wraith Squadron books, which I really enjoy, and you can find some of that wry tone in this book. To be honest, I've found the New Jedi Order books really depressing and was considering not buying them anymore, but this book, while still pretty dark, gives a hopeful note to the series and I can't wait for the second book to come out. It's nice to be able to laugh in the midst of pain, and the best part of Allston's books are the great lines he gives his characters. I hope that this is a trend in the series and not just a result of Allston writing a couple of the books. This is the best book so far in the New Jedi Order series in my opinion.
Rating: Summary: Best NJO to date Review: Rebel Dream is the best of the New Jedi Order series written to date. Not only are old characters such as Wedge Antilles, Garrik Lorran, Kell Tainer, Tycho Celchu, Gavin Darklighter, and other wraiths/rouges brought back, it also is well written by one of the most proven star wars authors. Aaron Alston knows his Star Wars, and he is also very knowledgeable about the rouges and wraiths whom he co-created and developed with Michael Stakpole. Another aspect in the book is the more hopeful outlook on the conflict then seen in other NJO books. For once, the New Republic forces are competent and there is a happy ending (at least until the next book...). Again, all-in-all a great book definatly worth the read.
Rating: Summary: Enemy Lines 1: WOW Review: I thought this was a great book. I really liked that none of the main characters died in any tragedies the way Chewie did. I enjoyed seeing Wraith Squadron again, too. One BIG question, though. . .WHAT HAPPENED TO JACEN? ? ? ? ? ? It is just too much suspence for me.
Rating: Summary: Competent and entertaining Review: Another workmanlike entry in the NJO series. Rebel Dream falls in the fast, fun read category; it's more narratively coherent and consistent than the previous NJO book (Dark Journey), but definitely not one of the best books in the series; on the plus side, it's nice to see old friends (e.g., Wedge Antilles) brought to center stage, and there are fun (if unlikely) sequences (like the New Republic infiltration team sky-boarding in from orbit); but the read is marred by editorial lapses (Danni Quee suddenly gains blue eyes, when she's been green-eyed for the previous ten books) and the biggest bad-science howler I've ever encountered, even by Star Wars standards (New Republic forces fire a laser beam--thorugh normal space--at a target in another solar system--several light-years away--and the laser beam hits the target on the same day that it is fired!).
Rating: Summary: Personal Growth and Pain Review: Many have complained that the NJO has been a series of depressing losses. For those people I say that without pain there can be no growth. Look at the great charater that Anakin evolved into. First and foremost our heros are human beings and they make mistakes. The NJO is going to change everyone, either make them stronger or weaker but, they will change. Rebel Dream is a classic example of bush fighting but on the system wide scale. Wedge is working at peicing together a new Rebel Alliance inside the New Republic so that the commanders are more effective, Meanwhile he is fighting a classic delaying action and putting in a few wrinkles to make them seem a more important target. Thus the "superweapon" aspect and "godess" development. The Vong are very devoted to their religion, A religion in which twiwns mean something on a whole different level than they do for the rest of the universe. The Alliance have taken information into consideration and use it against the Vong. This series is based on tatics and movements that can be "years" until they become effective. Look at what they have done to the Vong to date and you can see a patern start to develope.
Rating: Summary: Just what the NJO needed. Review: Like the reviewer of Star by Star who said "Maliase. That's the word for what this series suffers now" I too have been reading the NJO out of sense of duty for a year, waiting for things to get better. Thanks to Aaron Allston they do. When I saw he was up for the next couple of books I was tenatively hopeful, as I loved the Wraiths, as much as anything, because they were fun. I love Allston's sense of the absurd, and I hoped it would start lightening up the NJO. Which it does, to an extent.I personally think that the pivotal event in the NJO series happens in this book (the Insiders). The events here explain what the heck has been happening with the new republic government (from a plotter's perspective), and I think of George Lucas in one of the interviews from one of myriad videotape releases of the trilogy (paraphrased): In a three act play, act one introduces the characters, the second act puts them in the worst possible situtation, and act three gets them out of it. It seems to me that this book is the turning point to lead into act three of the NJO. The events have reached nadir, and are turning back up again. The point of Star Wars books for me is fun, escapism, enjoyment. The other NJO have been (mostly) enjoyable, but not usually fun, at least not since the first couple. Most of the time I would just rather reread the Bantam era stuff. Here is a book that gives me what I wanted in a Star Wars book. Thanks Aaron.
Rating: Summary: Rebel Ways Review: Finally a book that gave some level of hope, i really liked this book, Aaron Allston did a great job. Everything came together quite nicely. About time we start seeing a real reaction to the problem! i can't wait for book-12 this guy was really funny exactly what's needed for those still recovering from the effects of star by star and the loss of mostly everyones favourite charater. Alot of good ideas came out in this book, keep up the good work man!
Rating: Summary: Better than MOST of this damn sereis, anyway Review: It's amazing how bad things had gotten without anyone realizing it. Slowly, this sereis had been getting worse and worse. With this book, it's clear how BAD the last few (Especially Dark Journey, with it's barbie pink cover) books were. Aaron Allston does an excelent job, bringing the older characters back into the story, instead of focussing on the newer Jedi, and making the new characters actually interesting. Although the characterization is a LITTLE off in places, it's FAR better than just about everything else we've gotten from this arc, and is pretty good in general. As always with Allston, there are numerous interesting little spy-type gadgets, and for once the good guys actually seem to have the upper hand. Since Coruscant is gone, there's NO political intrigue (thank GOD! Since WHEN is Star Wars NOTHING but political intrigue!?) just straightforward dogfighting. And I won't give anything away, but there's even a little romance! In general, a great book, so go buy it! You won't be disapointed! On a side note, am I the only one who can't STAND the cover art for this sereis? I don't like photo montages anyway, but this stuff is just screen caps put through photoshop and scanns from sourcebooks, with some vauge cloud-star-planet muck thrown in. I know they're trying to make it look more "Edgy" but it just comes out looking ecclectic and disorganized. What happened to the old movie-poster style covers!? This isn't cyberpunk or horror, you know!
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