Rating: 
Summary: High Adventure from a Terrible Loss
Review: In his entry to the SW universe, Luceno has created a rip-roaring adventure in which Han Solo once again takes off into the galaxy - this time to cope with the loss of Chewbacca. After being approached by an old friend, he learns that an old smuggling friend is working for the murderous invading Yuzzhan Vong, and heads off to seek revenge. But along his travels, he suddenly finds himself the only one who can save the Jedi from an Vong assassin - and he doesn't even know it! Some unanwsered questions (like why the Jedi knight Vengene from Greg Bear's Rogue Planet would aid the Vong in mass murder) but otherwise an exellent novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Another one makes the list.
Review: For quite some time now, there have been three SW authors that I couldn't decide between as far as who was best: Stackpole, Allston and Zahn. Luceno has joined them. Why?he plot moves along at a nice pace. I was kept on the edge of my seat for several chapters. The action sequences are very well written. Pulse pounding blaster battles and dogfight. No lightsabres, however. This book does fine without them though. It's in te department of characters that Luceno really shines. Han is the obvious star of this book and Luceno does a great job exploring him and his grief. Luceno does a great job bringing back the Han of old and helping him grow. Han's new friend is also well done. I found myself laughing outloud at some of their exchanges, such as when they are flying in battle together. Luke, Mara, Leia and Anakin are also close to the mark. In what amounts to a cameo, Borsk is dead on as well. And speaking of cameos, Luceno knows his EU. If you liked, Kapp Dendo showing up in Ruin, you will love this book. Cameo after cameo. One of my favorites is back, Showalter from the Corellian Trio. I really enjoyed his plot. Some of the best scenes involve 3PO. It's amazing how Luceno gets inside his head. I also learned a lot of new words from the book. I liked that aspect of it. Anybody know what gibbous means? You will after you read this. And read it you should.
Rating:
Summary: Kinda feels like Star Wars again....
Review: The Agents of Chaos series kicks off with a rousing Han Solo adventure that brings some much needed levity to the New Jedi Order proceedings. Han may be dour and grumpy, but he's far more entertaining that the brooding Jedi we spent the last two books with. Luceno puts the focus back on the core characters (Han and Threepio especially), and as such, the book just feels more...Star Wars-y. If you're an Expanded Universe junkie, though, fret not! There are more references to the Pre-Jedi Order books than you can shake a gimer stick at. It's almost as though Luceno's editors asked him to throw these tidbits in to assuage fan worries that those books were being ignored. Believe me, those worries are no longer justified. Hero's Trial also resolves some long-standing issues from Vector Prime (think Mara Jade) and ends on a pseudo-cliffhanger. I'm not sure I like Han's questionable familial ethics here, but I'm sure he'll redeem himself in the next book...or not. That's really the beauty of these NJO books: long character arcs where anything can, and usually does, happen. All in all, if you dig the New Jedi Order, you'll dig Hero's Trial. It's good, swashbuckling fun for geeks of all ages.
Rating: 
Summary: Good story, but a little hard to read
Review: I have always been a Han Solo fan, and it was good to find him getting over his self-pity and back to his usual form. However, I found the writing style of the book a little disappointing. The author seemed preoccupied with substituting overly-large words in the place of more simple terms. Anyone younger than graduate school will probably need a dictionary to get through it. Although I liked the story, the word choices really detracted from its appeal. Timothy Zahn and Kevin Anderson remain the champs when it comes to quality of Star Wars books.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELENT
Review: EXCELENT BOOK! Wonderful! I enjoyed James's writing and I look forward to more of it. This book worked for me because I LOVE Han Solo! I don't know why, but I loved his sarcasim and charm from A new hope to know! Very Exciting and keeped me reading until I couldn't open my eyes. I almost cried when I got to the final page because I wanted to keep reading!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful New Edition to the NJO
Review: It's Han's time to shine in this wonderfully written book. Yes, after all the attention the Jedi received, Luceno masterfully focused on Han Solo, bringing out the potential and strength to face the death of Chewie and the yearning for vengeance. Luceno succeeded beautifully. The charachters(especially Han, duh) show depth and feeling, the action is intense, the story has a smooth flow and amazing ideas, and the pages fly by fast. This book is really good. I am looking forward to the sequel and I would recommend it for not the usual Star Wars fan, but rather someone who is looking to read a book with wonderful style.
Rating:
Summary: The return of Han Solo
Review: This book was genuinely good. After the mopey Han we've seen in the last few installments, it's good to see him have an adventure again. This novel is exactly that, Han Solo's adventure. Luceno does it quite well also. He sets up the book quickly without belaboring every point, and then action begins relentlessly from one chapter to the next. So for everyone that was crying out for a good old fashioned, swashbuckling adventure, cry no more your wait is over. I cannot wait to begin reading the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: The Story Goes On
Review: I'd give it another have star, but they don't have a box for that. Han is back, but I feel you'll find him a little different. He still seems to be going through the healing process. I don't remember him being so angry all the time, but as with anyone going through the loss of a good friend, it takes time. The Vong seem to be invincible, but fortunately for everyone, they have human flaws. They don't think of every detail. Slow moving at the start, but it gets going toward the end. Star Wars fans read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: A competent job
Review: Jim Luceno's books "Hero's Trial" and its sequel "Jedi Eclipse" were both competent efforts that are sure to please the average Star Wars fan. If I were allowed to award ½ stars, this book would have gotten 3 and ½. Readers like myself who were disappointed in how this New Jedi Order series started because the kick-off book ignored so much of the continuity that has come before will be pleasantly surprised to find these too books positively crammed full of references to the past novels. Even fans considering themselves to be Jedi scholars will find themselves challenged to identify the origin of some names and places. The author and his helpers sure did their homework ... and then some! New readers shouldn't be confused by this but rather will understand that the Star Wars Expanded (Exploited?) Universe has a rich history worth exploring. The books have two failings worth noting. The first is that both try to do too much in too few pages. Many of the favorite characters are only mentioned or have bit parts in this story and the brevity makes them seem out of place. Also, as has been the case with many of the Star Wars books in the last couple of years, the endings seem far too rushed. There were a few hundred pages leading up to a climax that was finished off in only a couple dozen. I wish the endings were stretched out a little and described more thoroughly. Another thing that kept me from liking these two novels more is that they are part of the New Jedi Order series that is centered around the Yuzzhan Vong alien invasion of the galaxy. I find these new villains and their bio-tech weapons to be generic, not terribly interesting and the stories they appear in feel very different than the Star Wars that became such a mainstream hit. It is also sad to see the New Republic forces and the Jedi portrayed as short-sighted or even stupid although it is a convenient way to explain why they are continually being pushed back by the unimpressive Vong. Even though we are only a handful of books into a 20+ novel series, I'm already sick of these two-dimensional gooey thugs and I would like to see this invasion story wrapped up as soon as possible. If this book did not feature the Yuuzhan Vong, I probably would have given it another ½ star.
Rating:
Summary: HAN SOLO RETURNS- IN STYLE
Review: ADD JAMES LUCENO TO THE VERY SHORT LIST OF AUTHORS WHO HAVE MANAGED TO CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE- RIGHT BEHIND (1) TIMOTHY ZAHN AND (2) MICHAEL STACKPOLE- MR. LUCENO BRINGS HAN SOLO TO THE FORE AS HE ATTEMPTS TO FINALLY DRAG HIMSELF OUT OF THE DEEP BLUE FUNK HE'S BEEN IN SINCE THE DEATH OF CHEWBACCA AT SERNPIDAL. MR. LUCENO PAYS TRIBUTE TO CHEWIE WITH A MOVING MEMORIAL SERVICE ON THE PLANET KASHYYK. UPON HAN'S RETURN TO CORUSCANT HE BUMPS INTO AN OLD FRIEND WHO IS AFTER ANOTHER AQUAINTANCE OF THEIRS WHO NOW RUNS THE PEACE BRIGADE- A ROGUE GROUP WORKING FOR THE YUUZHAN VONG. IN THIS JOURNEY HAN REDISCOVERS HIS LUST FOR ADVENTURE AS HE IS PROPELLED FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AND FINDING A NEW PARTNER A BEING FROM THE MISPLACED RACE KNOWN AS THE RYN. THE ONE THING I ENJOYED MOST WAS HAN'S RETURN TO THE RECKLESS, CAREFREE ADVENTURER THAT WE FIRST MET IN "A NEW HOPE." THE ONE THING I ENJOYED LEAST WERE MR. LUCENO'S SPACE BATTLES. (I'M SORRY, BUT MICHAEL STACKPOLE RULES IN THIS CATEGORY- ESPECIALLY SINCE I JUST FINISHED HIS DARK TIDE SERIES I'M JUST A TAD BIT SPOILED. ALL IN ALL AN EXCELLENT, FAST PACED READ. I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT INSTALLMENT.
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