Rating: 
Summary: A definite reprisal to the darkness of previous NJO books...
Review: Not since the end of Vector Prime, the first book in this series, and perhaps the first Agents of Chaos book, have I actually finished a novel and felt the good guys are doing something right. Undoubtedly in this case they are.For shifting the attention away from the regular cast of characters, except for Jaina, Allston deserves much praise, but for doing it in a manner that reinforces the admirable strength and power of these characters makes it commendable. Even small touches such as adding Tam, the camera-man turned Yuuzhan Vong slave, help to flush out the plot of what was a steadily shifting, but constantly in motion chain of events. The addition of Tsavong Lah's father to the mix was also intruiging, and I wonder if Allston did this of his own ambition (in which case it was brilliantly done) as I peeked at the end of the next novel and am aware Tsavong's father dies, so he does not remain a character for the other writers. The character depth was good, the love-story between Jag and Jaina reaching the inevitable first kiss was well done, as was Jaina finally realizing her sense of mortality in an individualized manner - quite nice. All in all, I just can't wait to finish the next one.
Rating: 
Summary: "Star Wars", like "Star Trek", will live forever!
Review: This adventure concerns Luke and Leia, primarily, as another galactic villian arrives to begin his take-over at Courisant. And, thus, another great space opera begins and grips us just as tightly as other great sci-fi works of old and new: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "Foundation", "2001", "2010", "Rendezvous with Rama", "Ringworld", all the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" books, as well as books as new to the genre as "Advent of the Corps" and others.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best, by far...
Review: Aaron Allston hasn't lost his touch since his expansion on the X-wing series a few years back, that's for sure. His description and writing style is easily noticable, one of great ideas and strategy, combined with detail and a good plotline. The most noticeable trait is his humor, which is inserted expertly into convenient places for maximum effectiveness. Particularly around Wraith Squadron, which Allston created himself in his expansion into the X-wing series, there's points where the reader just has to stop to laugh for a few seconds. It's amazing fun to read his work. The idea to become the rebellion again, in that sense, was a great touch. Many of the unique strategies, particularly a radical idea from Lando Calrissian in the opening scene (read the book to see what I'm talking about) was just short of genius. I had tears in my eyes from laughing and just pure joy throughout the last 5 or so chapters, enjoying it all.
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