Rating: 
Summary: Stackpole never lets you down
Review: Being an avid reader of Mr. Stackpole's Battletech novels, I finally decided to pick up his SW novels and I was really impressed to see the same ole Stackpole going at it with Star war characters. His new series Dark Tide:I Onslaught and Dark Tide:II Ruin really brought depth to the old SW characters I knew and the younger jedi that I havn't had any knowledge of. I especially liked the development of the Solo kids and Ganner while becoming intrigued with the character of Corran Horn. The whole invasion of the Yuuzahn Vong seems very exciting with the conflict in cultures and different technology used. The thing I realized with the Vong is that it is very similar to Stackpole's Blood of Kerensky series in Battletech in which the Clans invade from outside known space with a totally different society based on the warrior caste. All in all this series has an outstanding combination of action, politics, and philsophical questioning. Now that I'm hook I have to read the rest of this series, and if there is any relation I would like to see whats happens to the Yuuzahn Vong(in battletech the clans are defeated)
Rating: 
Summary: Still outstanding, But could have been better
Review: Stackpole wrote an impressive book with Ruin, developing the Yuuzhan Vong culture more in this book. However, this was not one of his better Star Wars books. Don't get me wrong, it is still a good book, and one that I could not put down. However, it did seem lacking in some areas.
Rating:
Summary: Worth reading, but a few problems
Review: Once again, Stackpole proves that he is an excellent writer, however, I thought there were a few problems. The mission to Garqi was way too short and easy for the Jedi. I haven't read Vector Prime, but in Onslaught the Yuuzhan Vong were at least partially difficult to kill. Another big problem is the appearance of some major characters. Han Solo shows up in one scene, and then promptly disappears! I would like it if he and Wedge Antilles showed up more. I liked Ganner's growth in the middle of the book. It proves that he is learning from his experiences, as every Jedi should. However, I think the new Jedi should be more like the old ones, taking on apprentices and when the apprentices are ready to become Knights, they can take on apprentices... anyway, it's okay the way it is. I also think Stackpole almost forgot Mara's illness when he wrote this book. He mentions it once, maybe twice. I hope that books like this keep coming out (without the errors, of course). And for those of you who have not read this book, the ending will scare the heck out of you.
Rating:
Summary: Action packed, but quirky ending. Dark Jedi?
Review: Ruin is the follow up to Onslaught, and even though the story continues, the author's style and focus seem to have shifted somewhat.Whereas Onslaught (and Vector Prime) portrayed the Vong as a super powerful force that would even shake the Empire and Rebellion alike to its core, Mr. Stackpole tends to soften them up a bit here in this novel. By a fluke the Jedi discover a weak link in the Vong armor and soon plans are set in motion to exploit it. However, the Vong figure this out as well and decide to make the climatic battle at Ithor. Though the action was fast paced throughout, I was a little surprised on how quickly the Vong seemed to lose their edge and tenacity at Ithor. What was more surprising is the Imperial Remnant makes their debut as an ally to the New Republic (who would have ever of thought?). Mr. Stackpole clearly defines a new breed of Imperials, as a new generation (other than Admiral Palleon) have a slightly more liberal view of the galaxy than those who served the Emperor. An interesting debate takes place near the new Imperial home world of Bastion as the Moff's discuss their future and their involvement in the war. There is further character development in Jacen, Anakin and Jaina, as now their new roles in the galaxy are shaping up. They clearly now have their own identities and paths before them, all different. What was interesting to see was that each Solo child had made a new friend in the book that clearly balanced them both as Jedi and humans. They learn valuable lessons from those they would least expect. However, this book was clearly that of Jedi, Corran Horn. Stackpole's creation from 'I, Jedi' takes a front and center role here and even the climax of the book centers about his actions. But, despite Jedi Horn's outcome, there does not seem to be a clear cut ending in this book. Stackpole once again seems to be laying even a broader foundation of things yet to come in this era of The New Jedi Order series. What is missing in this novel to hardcore fans is once again: a brief glimpse of Han, C-3PO and Leia. No Lando, little of R2 and others we have come to recognize. On the flipside lesser characters are coming to the forefront in Ganner, Palleon, Mara Jade, Kyp Durron, and a few Bothans. But Luke fans have no fear...Luke is here, though an interesting dilemma seems to be forming with the new generation of Jedi. Luke has tried so hard to bring a new Jedi order to the galaxy he efforts some think may be spread too thin, and it begins to show in the graduates and students of the Jedi academy. Some of their actions are in question, and the New Republic government is starting to fear them and question their agenda. What doesn't help is there are a few clear cut examples of Jedi walking the line of the dark side, and Luke is aware of this and wonders what his next actions are. Will some of these Jedi soon flip as the Vong war escalates? Finally, there is a new player in that of the Vong. Clearly, by novel's end you begin to learn that yet another Vong Leader is behind the scenes pulling strings of the Vong on the forefront who think they are in control. This mysterious warrior is yet to be revealed until other novels down the road.
Rating:
Summary: Mike Stackpole offers a different "next generation"...
Review: ...to the Star Wars universe. I'm sure a lot of us already are taking it for granted that Han and Leia's kids are the heirs apparent, so it's all too easy to ignore the "tweener" generation Stackpole has been introducing us to for several of his "X-Wing" books. As such, the "New Jedi Order" shows us that in no uncertain terms. In this book, as well as its predecessor "Onslaught", we see that the Solo kids have plenty of "elder siblings" to look to--the best of them in my opinion being Corran Horn and his wife Mirax Terrik. Horn, in the manner of Master Luke, found his Jedi identity relatively late in life during his service as an X-Wing pilot after having been a cop on his native Corellia. It goes to show you that Yoda's objection to Kenobi that Luke was too old to train properly was quite wrong. We also get in this series a whole new type of enemy who've built a jihad-based religion on a hatred of machines. Sort of makes the Empire seem benign by comparison, huh? As a matter of fact, both cultures form a military treaty to present a common front against them--despite the enmity, they've always respected each other's abilities as warriors. After all, didn't most of us in our universe think when the original Star Wars came out that the Soviets and the West would remain bitter enemies forever?
Rating:
Summary: Dark tide II good sequel, Just needed a little more.
Review: Ruin was an excellent follow up to dark tide 1, the only real problem I had was with how the story developement went. At some points the book was fast paced and took time to explain things, then in other situations the author would skip a week and take the story from their. Dont get me wrong this was a great star wars book (as are all the New Jedi Order books). I mean the characters are great and the addition of new jedis is even better! Its nice to see Jedis with attitudes different from Luke's, and seeing the way the use the force and how they handle the responsibilites that come along with it. All in all it is a good star wars book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is reading the new jedi order books. The end of this book was really good and surprising. It makes waiting for the next one hard to deal with
Rating:
Summary: It saved the series
Review: Frankly, I wasn't all to enthousiastic about Dark Tide I: Onslaught. Wich I found to be a fairly nice read, but it seemed to be not much more than a ploy to create yet even more novels. Not with Dark Tide II: Ruin, which is a vast improvement over its predecessor. The most important reason for this is the fact that the story isn't told only or mainly from the New Republic/Jedi point of view, but from that of the Vong as well. This allows a more detailed picture of who these people are, what they think of things, and what they are up to. Additonally, there wasn't as much of the irritating 'oh how we hate the Jedi' stuff in it as in Dark Tide I. And further more, the appearance of the Chiss and Soonthir Fel's son was a little toutch of genious from the author. Even though it was just a rather small cameo, that last thing made sense. Baron Fel and the Chiss defend the galaxy from external threats, so with the Vong thrashing that same galaxy, I was already wondering were they were. All in all a very nice star Wars novel. Although reading Dark Tide I and, if possible, Vector Prime first is highly reccomendable. When first starting with reading Star Wars novels though, don't start with this series. It plays litteraly decades after the original movies and surely isn't the best SW series around. Start with Timothy Zahn's Thrawn series, or stackpole and Allston's X-wing series instead. As for the SW novel veteran: just read it, it's entertaining enough.
Rating:
Summary: Typical Stackpole
Review: Normally I would give Stackpole a full five stars, but his latest book Ruin seemed to be boring. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of action scenes in it, but something was missing. And Stackpole also did the same-old argument/counter argument routine a bit too much for my taste. Of course, the feeling of loss I have over this book could very well be the disappearance of Han and the small roles that all the other main characters from the original trilogy have in this book. Other than that this is a great novel, if a bit dark, but that seems to be the norm for this series. You will love the space battles and the lightsaber fights and at the same time Stackpole develops the Solo children very well. Read this book and you will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: A good book, but had a problem...
Review: Let me start out by saying this book is very worthy of being read, and I recommend it to anyone, even if you are not a long time reader. This book continues the story of the Yuuzhan Vong, invaders from outside the known galaxy. They are intent on dominating the galaxy, and will kill anyone or anything that gets in their way. In this book, we follow all the usual main characters (Luke, Leia, Mara Jade, the Solo children) and we also follow some other characters that take on main parts in the book (Corran Horn, Admiral Pellaeon, Elegos A'Kla, among others). The one character we don't follow though is Han Solo. Just like in the last book, Onslaught, he makes one appearance and then is forgotten. And this trend that Stackpole has in this book, with people and things making one appearance, is taking away from it. In Ruin, we see Han once. We here about Mara Jade's disease, and then it is forgotten like it went away. Wedge Antilles and Tycho Celchu, who make an appearance in the very end of Onslaught that includes a bit of foreshadowing, are seen once or twice and are not included again. This book is still good, I just wish some of the characters could be included more. I mean, who wouldn't want to see Han Solo back in action? But he just sits around and does nothing. While we know he is dealing with Chewbacca's death, it still is unlike him to do nothing when there is a threat this big. Oh well... maybe he will snap out of it in the next book, Agents of Chaos. One can only hope. All in all, a book worth reading but could have been better.
Rating:
Summary: Great follow up to Onslaught!
Review: Mike Stackpole delivers his second straight, action packed, thrill filled Star Wars New Jedi Order book, and it rocks. If there's one thing I hate about some books, is to see the same characters continuing to do the same things over and over. In DT 2, we see some of the Jedi, like Ganner, maturing after his encounters. He learns from his mistakes and becomes a better Jedi for it. It's always nice to see character developement. It seems to me the main focus of this book was Corran Horn, which was fine with me. He's really come a long way and it shows. Once again, we see the character developement as Corran and Ganner grow from almost advesaries to friends. He seems to be taking on an almost mentor like relationship to Jacen as well. If they ever revive the old "Jedi Master/Padawan" relationships, I can easily see Corran and Jacen in that role. Anyways, the book is filled with many action scenes sure to keep the pages turning, a few Jedi/Vong fights and a climatic duel, so the action fan should be well pleased with this novel. The book shows, undoubtably, the Vong are evil and a HUGE threat to the Republic and the Imperial Remnant. I can't concieve how they plan to continue this story arc over the next 20 some odd books, but I'll be there seeing if they can pull it off. Kudos to Mike Stackpole for giving us two fun filled exciting books in this new series and I'll look forward to seeing how the next author fares.
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