Rating: 
Summary: Why does Stackpole save his best stuff for Battletech?
Review: Stackpole continues the New Jedi Order storyline right along, but I fear it will never live up to what I expect. I just feel that the Star Wars Universe is being short-changed. Who is driving the vision? Given a choice, I would take a Stackpole Battletech novel over a Star Wars one, because he is too good of a plotter and it comes across stronger when he has complete control. I hope the second part of this story can blow me away.
Rating: 
Summary: Turn The Pages Carefully And Slowly
Review: That the pages be turned slowly is important, as this is much briefer than previous books, carefully, because if 2 pages stick together you could literally miss an entire appearance of a long time mainstay of the Star Wars History.The additional time spent on the organic weaponry of The Yuuzhan Vong, is brilliant. I don't know where the credit should be given, but whether from one author, a collaboration, or Mr. Lucas, this part of the new series I find fascinating. This book opens a variety of issues that are going to need to be resolved. To the extent these details are shared, I believe the reader can get a better idea of where this whole new series that started with Vector Prime may be heading. The book resolves very little if anything, and really sets the stage for a variety of future plot lines. Additionally it strongly reinforces the mood that Vector Prime began. This is a more violent, more graphically depicted part of the Star Wars Saga. It also introduces conflict where you would least expect it, on issues as basic as what a Jedi Knight was, is, or should be. So far these two books offer no moments that are light, the whole experience is burdensome, painful. The quality in this new series is present and abundant, the issue is making the adjustment from the previous mood that was Star Wars, to the new experience it has become. Other than the brevity I have one complaint that may be considered nit picking, but I believe Star Wars Fans tend to be demanding, and I am glad they are. The artwork on the book is weak. I don't like the style and unlike Vector Prime it is almost generic. When Chewbacca was portrayed as a constellation on the Vector Prime Cover, you either knew something was coming, or after the reading was through, the image on the book was exceptional, regardless of whether or not you cared for the storyline. My complaint is hardly large, as I would read these books if they had blank covers. Since there has been such outstanding artwork, i.e. Dave Dorman, I have come to expect it, so it was glaringly missed this time around. The book is very well done, and the shortcomings like the length are minor, all in all buy it. Just take your time reading it!
Rating:
Summary: Short but sweet
Review: This is one of the best Star Wars books. Before this I was skeptical about how the NJO series would be. Mike's books are always great. I couldn't put this book down (which is a hard thing to do in the middle of an economics class!). There is a nice mix of everything in this book, including new and old characters and new situations. I'm really looking forward to the next book, Ruin!
Rating:
Summary: Who are these people and where am I?
Review: Onslaught is certainly an improvement over Vector Prime. Considering the amount of time Stackpole has already spent in the Star Wars universe it should be. I was still dissapointed though. The Jedi's internal conflict feels forced, and the Vong are still rather flat though the epilogue was encouraging. My biggest complaint is the character inconsistencies. By Visions of the Future Leia was a Jedi if also a diplomat, and now she's not? Kyp is completely unrecognizable. And what *is* Danni's purpose? Han I believe is being set up for his own parallel books, but I think that is a huge mistake and a cop out. Stackpole's normal problems with weak dialogue and hollow supporting characters were there, but he is the action king. The action was good when he finally got around to it, and he handled the Jedi very well in respect to their fighting abilities and ingenuity. I think that the New Jedi Order over all is missing the elements of grandeur and wonder. And without them, it just doesn't *feel* like Star Wars.
Rating: 
Summary: The New Jedi Order is not bad
Review: I've just put down the 2nd book in the New Jedi Order series. Onslaught was a real page turner filled with quick paced action and suspense. The typical Stackpole prose. I was a little ambivilent about this series, especially since I had just finished Timothy Zahn's "Vision of the Future". Salvatore's book was somewhat of a disappointed in the beginning, but it grew on me and the whole New Order story is turning into quite a tale. What stands out about Onslaught is Stackpole's commitment to carrying on the precedent set by Zahn. He brings back the intimacy in Luke and Mara's relationship that was inconspicously left out in Salvatore's book. The whole feel of the book carrys on Zahns vision of what the Star Wars universe is. Stackpole mixes in his great characterizations from his X-Wing series in Corran Horn and Gavin Darklighter. The Rogue Squadron is alive and well in Onslaught. This was a good book! I can't wait until June for Stackpole's New Jedi Order #3.
Rating:
Summary: IS IT JUST ME?
Review: A rating of 3 stars is as good as I could give this book. It's not Stackpole - he's a fine writer. This effort is better than the first NJO book by Salvatore, as well. The problem is this: I don't care about these people anymore. Luke, Leia and Han have gotten so boring. Several times in this novel, it is pointed out how old everybody's getting, as if apologizing or trying to explain why they are so dull, predictable, and arrogant. Even Mara, once a dynamic and exciting "side" character, has been reduced to a 2 dimensional, flat and dull character: a shadow of what she once was, just like everybody else. Though I have tried, i just cannot "get into" the Solo kids. I even tried reading a few of the "Young Jedi Knights" series. The very things that made Luke, Leia and Han so fascinating in the original movies was that the audience could relate to them on some level. I cannot relate to these arrogant little brats in any way at all. It grates on my nerves to read thier dialogue, and with each novel, there's more and more Solo kid dialogue. I really try to read it, I really do. I don't like them. It's that simple. Plotlines are predictable and dull: a great, terrible, seemingly undefeatable foe threatens the galaxy and it's up to our heros (and our heros alone) to save the day, blah, blah, blah, yadda-yadda-yadda. Killing Chewbacca in the last novel was supposed to inject an element of unpredictability in this increasingly predictable galaxy. A little shock value. It's become a NJO ingredient: take a "spare" character, kill them, make them evil,give them a disease, whatever. This time around, it's Kyp who is the sacrificial lamb (no, he dosn't die - but his "character" does get "assasinated" - if you read the book, you'll understand what I mean by this). I understand what they (the authors) are trying to do. It's just not working for me. I will not buy anymore NJO novels. This is the last. I am not angry, just sad. It's been a fun ride, but it's become very clear that all the good stories have been told.
Rating:
Summary: Why was the Book so short
Review: This is a first class Novel with my only Gripe being that it is not even 300 pages yet I had to pay £6 pound for it. Still it is well written with great charchters and plots (Am looking foward to Ruin the next NJO book coming out).
Rating:
Summary: Onslaught is quite that!
Review: I read this book in a few hours- not since Zahn have I been so engrossed in the Star Wars realm! Stackpole introduces some new characters and strongly develops a few of his own creation, namely Corran Horn and the Camaasii A'Kla. While the book is fairly short (only 292 pages) it is well worth the time (or lack thereof) and effort to read. If you like any of the X-wing series, this book is defintely a must-read.
Rating:
Summary: Stackpole does it with Zahn caliber!
Review: Not since "Heir to the Empire"has an author recaptured the raw feel of "Empire Strikes Back". Mike's new forray into the SW universe is definitely worth reading. His character development of Corran Horn is expounded from "I, Jedi", and you really get the feel that this is one Jedi that has some major events looming on his horizon. The Solo children begin to come out of their teeny bopper stages as well, and it will be interesting as to how other authors treat these new characters' development. (Sorry Kevin, but your Jedi brats were kinda weanie). Stackpole also addresses some ethical issues regarding the use of the force that really shed new light on events that will likely transpire in the new prequel trilogy (episodes II and III). DEFINITELY READ THIS BOOK! I can't wait to get my hands on DARK TIDE II: RUIN.
Rating:
Summary: This should be a better novel than the other one!
Review: Since Michael Stackpole is the best Stae Wars writer I think that this new book will blow the other one out of the water. Since starfighters are the best and since Mike writes about starfighters this will be a very cool book.
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