Rating: Summary: Could be a lot better Review: I am not saying this book sucks, as a matter of fact it is a lot better than other SW books out there. The only problem is that the author doesn't stand to the quality of others like Zahn, Allston or Stackpole. He tries to give some edge to the book by introducing characters found in earlier books, but that goes in detriment of new characters and the story as a whole. Also, the book starts to get really exciting only after half of it is gone. Besides that it is quite a good book.
Rating: Summary: Good but predictable Review: I have read some of Luceno's other work, namely the Robotech books. While he is usually a great writer, honestly this is the first book of the New Jedi Order which seems to telegraph the plot turns in advance too much. You know exactly what will happen, and when it will happen. It's predictability seems overly cliched as well. Still it is decent, but not as good as his Robotech work.
Rating: Summary: A great addition Review: James Luceno has done an excellent job of continuing the saga. His handling of Han through his depression and bringing on a new side kick was superbly handled. While die hard Chewbacca fans are still strugling through the loss, realist understand that creatures die in conflicts. I can't wait until book II hits the mailbox.
Rating: Summary: So Han comes out of his shell. . . Review: Han has finnaly emerged form his shell in this breathtaking novel. With all the grace of the original movies, James Luceno twists words to make us see what he writes. He gives us a heartbreaking portrayel of Chewie's memorial service and takes Han on a mission of revenge and rage. Han suffers more losses, an discovers a plot to take down the Jedi. Thsi book deals mostly with Han, but the others make their apperances too. Needless to say, I loved this book, and i suggest it to any one with a sense of justice and love and an imagination.
Rating: Summary: What I was waiting for... sort of Review: For those of you looking for more of Han, look no further, for James Luceno has him brilliantly portrayed in this excellent novel. It seems that he is finally coming to grips with the loss of Chewbacca. And one of my old favorites, Tenel Ka, is at least *mentioned* which is far more than I can say for her in the *other* NJO series. However...Where were Anakin, Jacen, and Jaina, not to mention Danni Quee? Same question for Corran, Wedge, Gavin, some more rogues, Janson, Tycho... call me retro, but I love those guys! Lowie and Waroo (wasn't he called 'Lumpy' in earlier books or was that my imagination?) don't really have significant parts either, although I can hardly begrudge James Luceno for that- if I had it my way the book would be a thousand pages long (that way I probably wouldn't be done before the next book comes out- on second thought, I'd have it done in a week, maximum). All in all, a brilliant piece of science fiction. Yay James Luceno!
Rating: Summary: Vergere, Vergere, Vergere Review: Did anyone read Rouge Planet? Vergere was the missing Jedi Anakin and Obi one were sent to find. She discovered the Vog invasion 50 before it took place!!! She left with the Vog in some peace agreement to save the planet and the living starships bieng grown there. Now she comes back with the priestess Elan as her bizarre avian companion, a Fosh? I don't think we have seen the last of her.
Rating: Summary: Han is BACK, baybay! Review: I was wondering when Han would stop moping around after the loss of Chewbacca and get back into his old wisecracking self. I also liked running into his old smuggler pal Roa again, as well as the fact that the Vong are slowly assuming their rightful place as easy-to-vaporize cannon fodder. Han also gets a new pal of sorts, Droma the ever-so-amusing Ryn with eccentric personality traits and insights into the universe in general. There's also confirmation of any suspicions you've ever had about the similarity between sabacc cards and tarot cards, and an amusing Indiana Jones misquote to boot.
Rating: Summary: Han's back, but better than ever? Review: This is the 4th of the "New Jedi Order" set of books, which started a new story line in the Star Wars universe, introducing a new enemy that is slowly beating down the New Republic's forces. In the 1st book "Vector Prime" They brought a moon down on a planet killing Chewbacca. In this book, "Hero's Trial" we finally have Han's closure, and quite possibly Chewwies successor. I won't give away the plot, Han's new buddy is certainly a distinct enough character that is both likable, and believeable. The chemestry between Han and his informal new co-pilot is wonderful, but certainly not as good as Han/Chewie. It was a good read, and I'm curious as to where this goes.
Rating: Summary: Excellent first showing for Luceno Review: Honestly, I was a bit skeptical when I first picked the book up, as Luceno was an author unfamiliar to me, and the NJO series was so filled with complexities and disappointments. However, I have to admit, Luceno has a lucid, flowing style that keeps you enthralled in the novel. I put the book down twice while reading it. Once to eat dinner and once because I _had_ to sleep. With the reintroduction of Han Solo to the playing field, things are looking up for the beleaguered New Republic. Unfortunately, the book is a little lacking in the Jedi presence for a novel supposedly focused on them. Also, I find it vexing that the two major internal problems confronting the heroes were cleared up in the same novel. It makes me wonder what we've got in store in the next installments.
Rating: Summary: A worthy continuance of the NJO Review: This is certainly a more than adequate follow up to the excellent Dark Tide duology by Stackpole. Luceno, no stranger to Sci-fi, takes Han back to the days before the Empire, when he was just a smuggler trying to eke out a living on the wrong side of the law. Indeed, Luceno makes several references to Brian Daley's classic Solo adventures. It seems to me that each NJO book focuses on different characters. In HT, it was Han, in DT it was the Solo kids, etc. On the downside, the Vong seem to be getting even easier to kill, yet they plow right on towards the Core. This is, all in all, a good follow-up to DT, and I eagerly await Jedi Eclipse and Balance Point. But one thing I don't get is, how are they going to stretch this Vong thing into 30 novels? Anyone with ideas, please e-mail me.
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