Rating: Summary: Will ANYBODY get out alive? Review: "Vector Prime" not only is the first Star Wars novel under Del Rey's wing, it is a rebirth of Star Wars literature into a bold new direction, with a multi-book "story arc" that is unlike anything seen before with the saga. And when R.A. Salvatore has the first shot, he certainly goes for broke. "Vector Prime" was easily the most controversial Star Wars book EVER, considering what happens inside (which you, O Fearless Reader, I shall not deprive of the shock if you do not yet know) Most controversial, but also one of the best ever! This AIN'T the safe, cozy galaxy we came to love during the '90s. This is Star Wars for the new millennium... older, rougher, nastier. Reader beware: a disease is coming, and they call themselves the Yuuzhan Vong. And before too long ALL your Star Wars heros are gonna be running, shooting and screaming for their lives... if they haven't lost already. Hell comes a'knockin' for the galaxy, beginning with "Vector Prime". Who will be left standing is anyone's guess...
Rating: Summary: a new era starts off with a bang Review: When I first started reading this book, I was very reluctant. It was such a leap of time in the star wars universe that it would have to leave many holes left open. However, my reluctancy soon vanished as I found myself immersed in the book. By giving each character a personal challenge and seeing how they could fight it while weaving a great story together is what makes this book great. The best part however was watching Jaina, Jacen, and Anakin grow up in a hurry and contribute in a vital way to the fight. I have a few reservations though. The first is Anakin. I see him joining to the dark side of the force on down the road. He has great potential, buthe may be rushed into being a jedi. The second is Han. He failed to see how Anakin reacted when Chewbecca died. The flaw is that it should have been Han that died and not Chewbecca. I hope to see more Jedi then just Kyp, Luke, Mara, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin. Overall, a good book, but with some flaws.
Rating: Summary: Fast action Review: I've never been able to read Salvatore. I had a friend who read everything Salvatore did and told me about the stories. Elfs. Dark elfs. Magic elfs. Surface elfs. Elfs. Oh, and swords.I was wrong to prejudge Salvatore's abilities in the SW universe. True, a weakness may be in his not-so-developed character development. He hasn't been around as long as Stackpole and Anderson have so I can understand that. It was a little "darker" than just about all the other titles I've read (which is all of them including the kids books), with the possible exception of the Jedi Academy Trilogy. You have to admit, the witch planet was kind of dark and foreboding and so was the destruction of Exar Kun. He tells a good story in this book. He set a good stage. Salvatore was in a difficult place: New to the SW universe, first book in a series, fundamental shift in the story line, and the reintroduction and bringing together of many of the characters. Characters in previous story lines have been compartmentalized into their own sub-plots (that's not a criticism, I love the Rogue series). But here, with Salvatore, he has and is bringing the SW universe together like we haven't seen since Episode Six. A tough spot to be in. A great story teller. A real good read. Try it. The worst thing that can happen is that you find out the beginning of a new and incredible series of titles in the ongoing saga. And by the way, we are finding out that even Jedi Master's are not omniscient...
Rating: Summary: Awesome Review: This was an awesome book.I loved it.The inside cover had a great map I liked.The book had all the action and adventure to satisfy ME!If you read this book you will not be disapointed(unless you're an idiot).When Chewbacca died I thought Poor Chewie, but i got over it.Just because he dies is no reason to to just throw the book away.I loved the book, you should too.
Rating: Summary: Great way to Move to new beginings Review: This is a must have. The only problem I had was that the loss of one of the main characters was unnecessary. It didn't add to the story line and in fact was a distraction. Somehow that character should be brought back. Also... when is Luke going to find out that R2 and C3PO belonged to his parents? That's a loop that should also be closed.
Rating: Summary: Excellent! Review: I found this book to be a wonderful read. One of the best SW books ever! The introduction of a new race of villains that are not affected by the Force makes the battles between the Yuuzhan Vong & the Jedi knights all the more intriguing. Can't wait for Salvatore's version of SW EP 2.
Rating: Summary: Stay away all lovers of good writing Review: Frankly, to echo some of the other reviews in this section, I am amazed at the illiterate readers who reviewed this book who are unable to see it for the shlocky, sloppily written piece of work that it is. This goes double for LucasFilm and DelRey, who apparently are so thrilled at pulling the collective wool over credulous SW fans' eyes that they have signed R.A. Salvatore to write the Episode 2 book. Let us pray that he buys that thesaurus he so desperately needs and that he learns that an overabundance of adverbs are a hallmark of weak writing that tells instead of shows before he starts it. As for Vector Prime, I could care less that a character dies or that another is sick. Those are interesting plot twists that, in the hands of a talented writer, could actually go someplace. However, this book just zig-zags all over the place simply to suit the whims of the author, who couldn't plot his way out of paper bag. Could someone tell me the signifance of the scene in which Han visits his smuggling contacts? Did we get any information that we don't get again later on? This is just one example of the waste of page space on insignificant scenes, while scenes that would deepen characterization and make this book feel connected to those that came before it are missing completely. As a result, the characters are paper thin, and in some cases resemble nothing of their previous selves. The worst case is poor Mara Jade, who suddenly resembles a plucky little heroine tailor-made to be played by Jane Seymour or Judith Light on some bad movie of the week. Alas, poor Mara, we hardly knew ye! The death of a character was laughable in its absurdity and implausibility. So if you like your action unbelievable, your characters wooden and cardboard, your plots dropped halfway through the book (such as Luke's desire to discover a connection between the rogue Jedi and the smugglers, which was a herring not so much red as a very washed-out pink), and your villians so cartoonish in their evilness that all that is lacking is a moustache to twirl with one hand and an eviction notice to clutch in the other: then by all means give Vector Prime five stars. But if you like your literature to be worth the time, money and brain cells, then stay away. If you want to read a DelRey Star Wars book, you'll be much, much happier if you go directly to the Dark Tide books, Ruin and Onslaught, by Michael Stackpole. Unless you like to have your intelligence insulted. In which case, go for Vector Prime.
Rating: Summary: While not the best, it's not that bad Review: Vector Prime has to be the most controversial Star Wars novel to date. It's darker, sure. Certain things happen to certain characters that a host of folks aren't happy about. I myself wish it could be avoided, but what's done is done. First, I'd like to say, thank goodness the Empire's not the enemy here. The Vong are a great enemy, to be sure, but I doubt we've seen their true potential yet, as of this novel anyways (I'm currenty on Dark Tide 2, so I've learned more about them since this book, obviously). First off, this kind of story, the slowness and darkess isn't really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Keep in mind this is a set up book for the rest of the series and I applaud them for taking the characters in a different direction, and having the Jedi kids start to grow up and come into their own. Basically, if you want the type of Space opera adventure spirit of the movies and some of the books, you might be disappointed. But, if you like different directions and darker stories, this could be for you. I'm still kind of spit on it personally, I fall in the middle somewhere, so I found it a good, entertaining book, just not great.
Rating: Summary: new era in the star wars universe created. Review: r.a salvatore has started what i would say i the most exciteing starwars book for ages, maybe the best after heir to the empire by timothy zahn. the book vector prime is the contined story of old and new characters like leia, han , luke , c3po, r2d2 and new ones like mara jade, the jedi twins jacen and jaina solo and anakin solo. the book starts 21 years after return of the jedi. the new republic is struggeling to maintain order and peace troughout the galaxy. The new republic is focused on the troubles brewing in the rhommamool system, where a man named nom anor is driving two planets into war. The conflict has drawn the likes of mara jade skywalker and leia solo to the conflict. while the republic is occupied with the rhommamool system the jedi led by luke skywalker is thinking of re- establishing the jedi concil.And both are neglecting the outer rim which is slowly being presented with a mysterious enemy, first belived to be smugglers gaining some powers and wanting to take on the republic... but it's far more complex then that.. The new treat is far superior, and seems to be without any means of mecanics... The life forms are far superior to the new republics fighters and cruisers. The treat is being ignored by the republic and that leaves it to our friends leia, luke, han and the others to alert and prepare for the coming onslaught.
Rating: Summary: Prime Relief Review: When Star Wars fans were informed that a main character would be killed off in "Vector Prime" I, like many other devoted fans, thought, "Absolutely NOT! I can't handle this. I'll NEVER read it!" But curiosity got the better of me and I had to wonder how the death of Chewbacca would effect Han Solo. So I read...and I read on. Apart from a wonderful plot line consisting of some really mean villains, I was impressed with Savatore's treatment of emotions with the characters and I really felt for Han in that he cannot take time out to grieve for his freind of so many years and so many adventures. My heart went out to him. Thanks Mr. Salvatore for making me cry for my favorite Star Wars character in the last pages of your novel. Gee, can this mean that Han Solo will, after he gets back on his feet and going, take a more active, major role in the scheme of upcoming novels? I can only hope as I, and others, have for too long felt that he has been left on the sidelines with no real position to play. As much as I hated to see Chewie bite the big one, I have to admit, his loss does hit to the core. Furthermore, I rather liked that it made the "bubble" of safety in which Han had placed those closest to him burst wide open. I have read a few articles in which it was stated that such a loss will not only bring growth to many characters, it will also take away the safety margin that all of them will survive any new adventures or crises that will face them. Now, unlike the previous novels, Star Wars fan are put on the edge of their seats as are the characters. It's good storytelling: a reader should fear for what will happen in the coming pages in plotlines that place characters and their universe in utter danger. Otherwise, what's the point? One more thing which I found very refreshing in this (and the following two novels) is that there is only ONE plot line. In that, I mean that there are no side-line stories going on that have absolutely nothing to do with the major plot at hand. Everything tied in to the problem of this new menace which has invaded the galaxy. How refreshing! I can only hope that this is the shape of things to come in upcoming novels. If there is one thing that I did not like in "Vector Prime" it's that I wish the scene had been included wherein Han tells Chewie's family of his friend's death.
|