Rating: 
Summary: What in the galaxy were they thinking!
Review: I must say I am deeply (and I mean deeply) upset on how this book turned out to be. Ever since the beautiful book Timothy Zahn created, VotF i was SOOOOOO excitied about this book. I mean look at all the hype it got! A TV commercial, numerous websites devoted to it ect... is a little, well a lot, no all hype. The book to put it in standard form- THE BOOK WS TERRIBLE! First of all, and quite the most upseting was the lack of emotion between the characters. I mean did you see anytime Luke or Mara made any signs of love to eachother. If I hadn't read VotF I would have been completely clueless to their marrige. Did you at once read anytime where Luke didn't call Mara his BELOVED wife. Sure the word beloved says a lot but not after the 60th time! The only physical contact they had was a sloppy hug Luke gave Mara. There was more physical connact between the two before they were even married. I mean they didn't even kiss in VP. This is now the time where we all give a depressed and let down sigh. *Sigh* Next is the Chewbacca thing... I really don't know wheteher to be happy or sad. I mean he never did anythin besides babysit. But yet he is apart of the fame of Star Wars. I know everybody reading this is probably saying "great another person going on, and on, and on, and on about Chewie's death", so I won't because personally I am getting sick of it myself. I want to take an opinion poll. In your own summaries please answer at the bottom to the question "What do you think about the Yuzzan Vong?" Thanks I really just want to know what other people think about it. May the Force be with you.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable, but totally out of character
Review: The newest Star Wars book is put simply a fun read. But, there are some problems: first of all, characters. The book reduces Han Solo to barely even a person and doesn't focus on him, Leia or Luke. And come on Mara being sick? Why did the writer do that, Mara Jade is the most awesome character ever to grace the pages of a Star Wars book. Also, the book is graphic, in violence and content, definately not on the lines of the Jar Jar BInks infested Episode I, what was George Lucas thinking when he okayed this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Great
Review: With a brisk pace and a stunning evocative power that ranks it up there alongside my personal list of favorites with 'The Triumph and the Glory', 'Ender's Game', and the Foundation trilogies, this exceptional SF novel fulfilled all of my expectations from beginning to end.
Rating: 
Summary: Deeply disappointed in this one ...
Review: I was quite disappointed in this book. I thought that the publishers had finally figured out that the Star Wars readers really appreciated quality material but this is really a 2nd rate effort by the well known author RA Salvatore. I was looking forwarded to something that would rival the recent works we've been getting from Zahn, Stackpole and Allston. Instead we get a book that seemed to be written in haste and is almost completely devoid of the colorful detail and thoughtful description which makes the better books so enjoyable. The exception being a handful of fight scenes. I'm guessing Salvatore was contracted to do the work primarily because he has a well known name and could get it done on time. It's painfully obvious that quality took a distant backseat. Salvatore, a popular fantasy writer, has only a cursory understanding of how things 'work' in the Star Wars universe and this is most evident in his plots and portrayal of space battles. His ignorance of basic science was embarrassing and some of these details were key to the outcome of the book. Salvatore does get the characters right, for the most part, but with Lando portrayed as too much of a 'techie' instead of the egotistical gambler and ladies man we've known for years. On the positive side, the Solo kids were finally something other than precocious brats and this was nice to see. Use of The Force in this book, however, was quite poor with the Jedi seeming to 'forget' they were Force sensitive at times. One Jedi would be in life-or-death combat with another, just a couple rooms away, having no clue that anything was going on. Also, things that were blatantly obvious to the reader were completely unknown to Force users in the story. Frustrating. I suppose what bothered me the most was the complete lack of chemistry between the characters, most notably the newlyweds Luke and Mara. The reader finds out in the first chapter that Mara is quite ill with a mysterious disease and Luke does nothing to try to help heal her even though The Force is the only thing that seems to work and Mara uses it to hold back the disease almost constantly. Why not combine their efforts? Maybe they tried this and it wouldn't work? Well, the reader has no idea as it's sadly never addressed. Luke doesn't even suggest anything that would be obvious such as seeking help from the Jedi healer Cilghal. The Yuuzhan Vong aliens that are the new villains in this series aren't terribly impressive but since many of the better ideas have already been done I can see why they were introduced. A few other readers have described the 'organic' nature of these aliens from another galaxy as merely a gimmick not unlike the overused 'superweapons' of past books. I would have preferred a novel dealing maturely with the difficult political situation facing the New Republic but this plot is barely mentioned. It remains to be seen what Michael Stackpole can do with this mess in his forthcoming book "Onslaught" due out in a few months. Hopefully, he can get me interested in this series as this kick-off book failed at the task miserably.
Rating:
Summary: NEW JEDI ORDER better not mean new main characters
Review: Salvator's "stunning surprise" was a farce cause it was unnecessary. Chewie would not have to throw a Jedi to his dad and the Jedi could get Chewie aboard the ship (size matters not). And Mara is using her Jedi skills to prevent her death from these spores (and she hasn't even been married to Luke that long either. He finally found someone and know this? I mean really! . That is probably one explanation for Mara and Luke not being involved much. She is using all her energy to keep herself functioning. This is not the way to start out a new 5 book series. Since this book doesn't really end, I quess we have to wait til the 5th book comes out. How many more of the main characters will be killed off/or get the spores. Some people are saying it is time for the protection bubble to burst - who says? - the vast majority of heros are still around in other series, books, movies comics (look aat James Bond - how long has he been around). That is one good thing about TV shows, you know that the main characters will be back next week - it doesn't lessen the suspense. Lucas called this SW a fairy tale/myth. The good guys win, the bad guys don't. We don't have too kill people off just to do something - that is what Imperials do - one of you kicked me so I am going to kill everyone in this town. Han will have to go to Chewie's family and say there was nothing we could do even with the Jedi (how out of his character)- it wouldn't be believable. Han and Chewie have always been there for each other no matter what. This time he grabs his son and flys back over to look at his friend on the ground? Dropping the ramp would have been guicker! . So who will it be next - all you that think the main characters have lived long enough. And does DelRey have a whole new cast lined up? DelRey's Shapiro said "fresh and new but still feel like Star Wars." She also said that readers would finally get to see their favorite characters develop in ways that prove surprising (unless it is Chewie)-"might ignore some things but we won't go against anything established." This is also a continually developing storyline. So I guess the guidelines are there and the author must write to them. She also insults those that wrote for Bantam saying that "they couldn't respond to what happended before." And us readers - implied that we couldn't follow something that didn't follow a timeline 'cause Bantam's books didn't fall in sequence. Not a bad over all story, good seeing the kids come of age and watching their folks view this, tho Anakin was bratty, considered all the above. I do not like reaading a book and discovering it doesn't end. DelRey should TELL us know like Bantam did when the story would take more than one book. I have all the Bantam books if hardbacks (I had to get some from the Book club). DelRey won't get that treatment - if I even reaad them. Doubt George Lucas even keeps up with the fiction side of the house. In an interview he said that there was some kind of timeline but he didn't know what it was and hadn't read anything on it. It is Star Wars at least so maybe in paperback? Was it Salvatore or DelRey's decision to kill Chewie (they should have at least done it honorably)? Chewie deserved more!
Rating:
Summary: A great direction for a wonderful saga!
Review: Before buying this book one should ask why? If you are a TRUE fan of Star Wars you'll want to buy it solely on that fact alone. I bought it not just because of the Star Wars factor but also because I own and have enjoyed everything Mr. Salvatore has published. I was very apprehensive about him switching genres but then for him to go into the Star Wars universe for a new launch..? After stepping back and thinking about it I rather looked forward to the idea. I knew he would bring an ability that many authors lack, the ability to bring the reader to the story not just the story to the reader. Using a nimble and deft approach to recounting the tale, he makes the reader feel they are a part of everything that is taking place especially the action. His ability to describe a battle or tense action scene without burying the reader with non-essentials is uncanny. With Vector Prime Mr. Slavatore's woven lavish textures and subtle plot development with rich characters, old and new, and given this saga a breath of fresh air that many would miss during their short-attention spawned, inexhaustible pace to devour the next 'big event' on the horizon. With Vector Prime we see the humanistic qualities brought back to these well-known characters. We see a thoroughly believable, mystical aura unleashed back into a developed universe that too many have 'filled to the gills' with technology and special effects and he's done it all without pulling any punches. I revel in the return to the 'code of the warrior.' This has been sorely lacking in many of the other Star Wars tales most with a laser guns-a-blazing mentality. The struggle within one's self and the struggle for social placement all wrapped with a cloak of mythological steadfast beliefs were the basis that Mr. Lucas held to when he began and has always continued with and we get here in spades. Topping it all off Mr. Salvatore's brought about those same qualities, albeit with a wonderful twist, in the birth of a great new adversarial race with our introduction to the Yuuzhan Vong. This is no 'kiddie' book or 'all is right with everything fairy tale,' but a well crafted and detailed read that was both quite a surprise and a pleasure to consume. It's plainly set the stage. The possibilities are endless and the future is wide open... once more. The struggle to inject a new vein (not to mention new life) for this well-entrenched saga was quite a monumental undertaking. I think Mr. Salvtore did a superb job. Great one RAS! I anxiously await the next!
Rating:
Summary: Good book, but Salvatore did the unthinkable
Review: I liked this book. I really did. But I'm stopping reading this as of right now. I cannot believe that Lucas Books gave Salvatore permission to do what he did. Killing one of the most lovable characters, Chewbacca, was downright despicable. I hope that you're reading this, Star Wars fans, because I sincerely hope that I'm not the only one with these same thoughts. Salvatore,you do not deserve to write.
Rating:
Summary: This book is the worst ever and only points out Lucas's
Review: Growing senility. He has completely lost it. These books were bad in the beginning and now its just ludicrous. Authorizing anyone to write such garbage is beyond me. I have been with Star Wars all my life, and nothing has ever quite touched the mystique of the first two films. His decision to include footage, such as the Wampa dripping blood or the Ewoks or Jar Jar is just further proof that he has lost any artistic flair he has ever had. And to be quite honest, I don't think he had any anyway. It in my opinion was purely Speilberg who made any of this happen -doubt it look at the films, Star and Empire and Raiders and Crusade, all co-productions everything else is horrible. And then to be able to let pathetic, just literal as it can get novels be released to try and create a fix for all us junkies, is close to making deals with the underworld. Just how much are we going to have to pay in dollars to get some real meat out of this ex-artist? Or do Republic Credits not work here. Give me something more real, not this Lucasfilm EMPIRE!
Rating:
Summary: Lets not count this one and remember Vision of the Future
Review: Ummmmm...... NO, shallow characters, poor plot, ooh a deadly disease for mara (like it won't be cured), the death of chewie (Chewie? brainiac), and an Alien race wanting to rule the galaxy..... ORIGINAL! I'll skip the next one. Where oh where has Tim Zahn gone?
Rating: 
Summary: Read the book, not the reviews
Review: Joseph Campbell, the man who popularized mythology and greatly inspired George Lucas, once commented that our culture is in need of a new mythology. Star Wars, in a limited and pop-cultural sense, has done just that. The characters and setting have become part of our cultural landscape. It has also become an enormous franchise: movies, books, comics, toys, collectibles. And forget about the "stuff:" consider the amount of time many people have vicariously spent in this world. It's easy to get so deeply invested in it that fervor begins to chase out fun. And this book, for all its darkness, is fun. Salvatore was an excellent choice for this new launch. His battles crackle with excitement, his plots are interesting without being overly complex. His characters follow the mythological archtypes that inspired Lucas. Admittedly, there are a heck of a lot of characters in this book, but the author juggles them all with remarkable dexterity. Let's face it: no matter what the book or setting, some characters will appeal more than others, but there should be something here for nearly every Star Wars fan (except, perhaps, the Bobba Fettishists...) Before proceeding, I should issue a sarcasm alert. Consider it issued. A lot of "serious readers" turn up their noses at shared-world fiction. Let 'em. We don't need them -- we fans are quite capable of fouling the well ourselves. Any Star Wars book has to run the gamut of our approval. It has to focus primarily, if not exclusively, on our favorite characters, who must react in precisely the manner we expect or hope they might. The plot line must follow minutely the directions our imaginations have mapped out for the characters and the setting. The book must fulfill our requirements in every particular, yet it must surprise us with its ingenuity and originality. It must be utterly familiar, and completely new. And oh yes -- it must fit the personal blueprint of each one of us, although we number in the many tens of thousands and comprise a wide demographic of age, experience, and personality. Sarcasm button off. Here's what I'd say if someone asked if I'd recommend Vector Prime: Read the book, not the reviews. Allow yourself to be entertained, surprised, moved or angered. Have your own personal take on the world, but be open to other possibilities. After all, Star Wars is basically mythology with special effects, and mythology is both universal and deeply personal. Good book. Thanks, RAS.
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