I, Jedi : Star Wars

Rating:
Summary: Pleasent Change
Review: I found this book to be a pleasent change from the usual third person. I like how we use our brains to try and figure our what other people are thinking. Being inside a character's head and see their every thoughts, I think is a good idea. I inputs suspense by us not knowing the bad guy/girl in great detail.

Rating:
Summary: This book makes "Black Fleet Crisis" look good!!!!!!!!!!
Review: When I bought this book, I expected "I, Jedi" look good, since a lot of it takes place during the Jedi Academy Trilogy (which is one of my favorite books). But I was wrong BIG TIME!!!!! I hated it from beginning to end. For several reasons: 1)This loser of an author made Luke Skywalker- the most powerful Jedi in the universe- look naive, ignorant, weak, and STUPID!! My God, I couldn't believe that. "I've met the dark side face to face, more than you'll ever know," Corran says. Yeah, right. He doesn't know jack about what Luke's been through. I'd like to see HIM go to the dark side and see how he feels. 2)The book was written from only Corran's point of view. THAT made it completely boring. I hate first-person books! 3)Corran also made the other Jedi trainees look bad. He thought he could take on Exar Kun all by himself. He should have helped them when they defeated Kun. All he did was nearly get himself killed for NOTHING!!! 4)Hardly any Leia, Han, or their kids. 5)Hardly any action whatsoever. Very confusing at times. 6)All Corran does in this book is whine about his dad. He should get over it already! 7)Mara Jade was way too nice in this book. She's supposed to have an attitude! 8)This Admiral Tavira was a wussy enemy. Daala would have kicked her butt. She completely relied on those Jensarrai people. Overall, "I, Jedi" was a waste of precious reading time. It put me to sleep several times, and the plot was confusing and pointless. NOT WORTH THE READING!!!! TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!!!!! IT'S EVIL, ABSOLUTE EVIL!!!!!!!!!!! I rest my case.

Rating:
Summary: Alright but not that great
Review: I can't totally rip on this book because the fact of it is, is that its very difficult to write a book that's place in the middle of a series that was written years before. On the hold he did an okay job with fitting it in. but I think the reason he tried to portray Luke in that way so it'd be different from KAJ's trilogy. This was also the first book to focus on one character which I didn't care for since I personally prefer having Zahn's multiple plots that at the end coverge cleverly. Stackpole experiemnted with many things that had never been done in SW books (First person, placing a story in the already written series, following one character only) but I think it was too many in one book. But another reminder who knows if all of this was his idea for first person, maybe it was suggested by the publishing company. Peeps gotta remember that writing an official SW book is different than writing a 100% original novel and some aspects you don't have complete control over.

Rating:
Summary: Confusing and un-nesasary
Review: I, Jedi is confusing and VERY un-nesasary in the series. The first person concept Stackpole uses causes a CONSTANT re-reading of pages. E.g. "I'm coming to the acadamy." "Great." He replied. Due to the normal 3rd person sceneario we really don't know who is saying what! This book is un-nesasary in the series because it dosen't fall into place. This book takes place during the Jedi Acadamy Trilogy. If you read this before reading JAT, JAT will be very boring because you know what happens. Also the JAT books are just better in general so you wouldn't get all the quality out of them. If you read JAT then read I, Jedi the book is even worse. You know what's going to happen next and this book is just bad in general. So I recommend skipping this one, in fact try to petition this book out of the series. (IF YOU MUST READ ALL THE BOOKS READ THIS ONE AFTER jat.)

Rating:
Summary: Best in the SW series
Review: I'm taking for granted that you've all read The Academy Trilogy and the X-Wing series. If so you have the background for this excellent, excellent masterpiece of the Star Wars Universe. It uses the most rounded character in the whole series, Corran Horn, and introduces new characters, Elegos, Rostek, Invids, and others. It's in first person and after reading it (many times) I honestly can't imagine it being in any other format. I can hardly wait for Isard's Revenge.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent piece of work-incredible
Review: Very well I just wanted to say I, Jedi was a masterpiece of print, in comparison to many other Star Wars books-it is one of the closet to a real life universe. To summarize the merits of the book 1:) The Jedi Academy was played with immense dignity and each character from the Anderson trilogy becomes nearly "real"-Luke's strange plot decisions become clearer in purpose as does the effect on others. 2:) The book completly avoids rehashing Lucas's films (as all superweapon books have) and shows the power of a single Star Destroyer) 3:) Tavira was a good villian and at least the Force disiples she acquired were stolen from a reasonable background. 4:) The use of West End Games's SW line (which has died before it's time) I played the game avidly and salute Zahn's honoring it. To address the complaints about the book 1:) Luke was weak-because as Zahn showed his mind is swimming with the whammy the Emperor put on it-his refusal to correct Kyp is a reflection of himself. 2:) THANK GOD somebody corrected the Mara thing-chracters shoudl not be run through the wringer-especially not ones author's made for specific purposes. 3:) The first perosn point of view gives one interesting perspective-ignore it. 4:) The Force was not overpowered-Corran fooled a bridge crew. So what? 5:) Corran knew his wife wasnt suffering instinctively but that he had no way of finding her or rescuing her even if he did know. 6:) Corran I think is fudging his role a bit. My only complaints (which are minor enough to warrant still a five) is that Corran seemed too "right" too often and that he seemed to correct everyone about their true feelings-Jedi Masters do that..not adepts.

Rating:
Summary: The Force for an ordinary person! Thank you!
Review: I think many people have been overly critical of this book. There are a few parts that were a little overdone. It seems at some time that Corran is more of a superhero than a Jedi, but if you look for references in the movies and especially in the Star Wars RPG made by West End Games, there is a justification for each of his powers. The ability to absorb energy and rechannel it into Telekinesis was something a little new and different, but I don't think it was outrageous. As for the portrayal of Luke, that's exactly what should be expected! This is first-person point of view, we're inside Corran's thoughts so of course we're going to get a little bit of slant! The real Luke is probably not quite as weak and indecisive as he appears, but that's how Corran views him! Remember, this is in retrospect after all, and Corran left the academy because he didn't like the way it worked. Masterful work by Stackpole there. I also enjoy the discussion of how Corran views the Force, how the challenges to the Dark Side aren't so cut and dry as they are in other books and especially the movies. In the movies it's all the Emperor and Vader yelling "Give in to the Dark Side!" but here it's much more subtle. For example, at one point when Corran is totally beating up one guy, you don't realize that he's acting for evil until he looks back and realizes that he was so brutal because of envy and hatred! This is so much more realistic than the books and the movies, because it's how evil approaches us in everyday life! So I have to say that though the book was a trifle overdone and Corran got really powerful really quick, the overall quality of the book was very high and I applaud Stackpole for it.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing story seen from the POV of a Jedi in training.
Review: I loved this book. Perhaps what captured me the most was the fact that it was in first person POV, and that I was able to visualize how a Jedi sees the world. It was also nice that it had resonance with the previous Jedi Academy trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but could be better.
Review: I had a good time reading "I,Jedi". I recommend that people read it. Here are some things that if they been done different, it could have been a #1 best seller. 1) Corran made the force look like it could destroy a Star Destroyer. He blanks people's memory with it, he absorbs explosions with it. He fools a ships sensors into thinking a Star Destroyer is a Super Star Destroyer. He makes the force look like it can do anything and has no limits. If he is an amateur than how could Jedi Masters die? According to Corran, they could destroy a death star without a scratch! Stackpole should have another experienced author read this book and have him change how the force is used in this book a little. 2) Stackpole changed Luke and Mara's characters way too far. If this is the first time you read about Mara Jade you might think she's actually kind and charming! Acording to Zahn, Mara is almost a one emotion mercenary, she's suppose to be angry 90% of the time! Stackpole makes Luke look arrogant, weak, and almost stupid! He makes Luke look like a terrible Jedi, and an even worse Jedi Master. To solve this problem Stackpole should have had Zahn look over the manuscript and change his characters. He also should have had Lucas do this, or someone with experience on writing the character of Luke. 3) What is Corran doing at a Jedi Academy for a year while his wife is in a prison?... and for all he knows is being tortured! Then when he comes to his senses and leaves the academy he spends another year trying to reach the top ranks of the Invids to find her. You would think he'd jump into his X-Wing and kick some Invid @$$ in a dogfight. Of course that would make a terrible book, a guy flying an X-Wing. All I think Stackpole should do about this is re-evaluate his book's time frame. 4) Corran spends way too much time whineing about his dead father, I really think Stackpole should cut out most of the details about him. Stackpole really made a big deal of Corran's Father.

Rating:
Summary: Stackpole proves that he is the supreme Star Wars novelist!!
Review: This book expands on the intriguing saga that began in the X-wing series. I think Corran Horn is easily the best developed character from the novels. He is so dynamic... he is the only character that I feel is completely round that wasn't in the original trilogy. Unlike most of the Star Wars novels written by second rate authors, this book is an essential part of the Star Wars universe... you learn so much about the force in this novel. Stackpole has such a flair for this type of "expository fiction". Good stuff!!!