Rating: 
Summary: A worthy ending to a spectacular series
Review: First of all, I really enjoyed this book. Sure, at times the writing style was a little bland and the supporting characters a bit formulaic, but for me, the amount of emotional development in the main characters of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and the quickly moving, descriptive plot completely made up for it. Many found this book in particular too reminiscent of earlier ones, particularly the whole Melida/Daan disaster. But I thought that having Obi-Wan reflect back on the horrors he saw there, and the huge rift between himself and Qui-Gon back then, made the similarities haunting rather than tedious, and added a heightened sense of drama to the overall story. It also showed how much Obi-Wan's matured over the past few years, in his willingness to never let anything like that happen again. Anyway, in this book Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are sent on a mission to Vorzyd 4, a planet on the edge of war with it's neighbor, Vorzyd 5, whom they are certain are the culprits of the resent terrorist attacks on their cities. As soon as they get there however, it's clear that everything is not as it seems... At the same time, Qui-Gon is beginning to become aware of the fact that Obi-Wan is growing up, and that the time they have left together is short, and this pains him terribly. Anyway, this is definitely a must for those of you who've been following the series. There is one more book after this, another split "special edition" adventure that features first Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, and then later Obi-Wan and a young Anakin. Here's to that one being even better!
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I believe sadly that this is last book in the Jedi Apprentice series. However, it is a redemption for Jude Watson, who in her last few seemed to have lost her focus. Obi-Wan is now 17 and both he and Qui-Gon are beginning to look upon the young Jedi in a different light. When they are sent to settle an accusation between the planets Vorzyd 4 and Vorzyd 5 as always what seems to be an easy mission become very dangerous. Qui-Gon begins to see the first glimmerings of true Jedi Knight in Obi-Wan Kenobi and fights to hold back his protectiveness for the Padawan when Obi-Wan concocts a plan to settle the dispute between the young and old people of Vorzyd 4 (a lot of comparisons to Defenders of the Dead, book five of JA.) Obi-Wan begins to doubt his plan but holds to it in the hopes that it will play out. Wondefully played out, the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is finally strengthened in a more believable way then what has been sorely lacking in the last few Jedi Apprentice books.
Rating:
Summary: A good book, yet a not so good way to end the series
Review: I love the Star Wars Jedi Apprentice Books. I have been reading them ever since they were published. Although I must admit this is a good and well written book I would have liked to see this series end better. I was hoping perhaps it would lead us into Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and judging from the cover I bought the book believing that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan would be forced to fight each other, yet what it turns out to be is just that they are just practicing their light saber skills. I was dissapointed but I cant deny that I enjoyed reading the book. It shows Qui-Gon starting to really look at Obi-Wan not as a child anymore but rather as a fellow Jedi Knight. For the first time we see Obi-Wan really take charge of a mission. This book was pretty good, exciting, and full of suspense. I just wish this wasnt the book that ended the series.
Rating:
Summary: A Certain Point Of View
Review: I realize that a number of people did not enjoy this book. I, however, did. I supose that it all depends on what you are looking to get out of the book. If you are looking for character developement, realationships, and interaction, as I was, then you will be very pleased. However, if you are looking for an outstanding plot with twists and complexity, then you might be dissapointed. (Let's keep in mind that these are still children's books; once I admitted that, I think I enjoyed them more, because I did not expect as much.)
This book had what I was looking for, namely, the final eveolution of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's relationship as Jedi and good friends. The story itself was a bit lacking, but I thought that if I was going to read it as an adult and demand the satisfaction of an adult book from it, then maybe the book shouldn't have to do all of the work: that, as an adult reading a book written by an adult, I should be able to read between the lines and get a feeling for the more advaced themes of the book.(I once read an interview where Juse Watson admitted that adults really did have to read betweent the lines with the JA books, because she had to target them to kids.
When closly examined, The Threat From Within had many mature and serious aspects. For example, the characters reflected upon past actions and experiences and applied them to the present situation; in this way we see them change. This is a classics technique in character developement, which brings together all of the books and makes the character's past more real. It was comforting to know that experiences such as Obi-Wan's leaving of the Jedi and people such as Talh did not fade out of existence, as things tend to do in other series. Another serious issue was that the kids didnt know when to stop playing pranks. They started out good, but ended up divided, as on Medlinda/Daan. And, I must point out that history DOES repeat itself, so the plot was all the more true-to-life for being similar.
Rating: 
Summary: Half a book
Review: It is hard to really say something specific about the book, because it presented me with many conflicting feelings.
At the start it had almost the feeling of a return to the earlier books, where Obi Wan would face an unknown quest on an unfamiliar world, but then it turns into a stop-and-go, where the earlier books were just crammed full of story, and moved forwards at all times.
I had the feeling that the book wanted to say much more than it could in the end. The series is coming to an end, while the padawan-master relationship isn't, not yet for several years.
There is much reflection on earlier experiences, and at times I had the same feeling as I had during the Melida/Daan books. Towards the end it felt like the hopelessness and the pointlessness of an act of violence like running a plane through an officebuilding, was repeated here to make a point, which I believe is already well-taken. It felt like an addition, that forced other scenes to be left out. Many things are unexplained in the end, many threads left fluttering.
What was the reason behind the retirees dying within weeks of their retirement? It felt like some sort of conspiracy, some dark secret at the start of the book, but it is left unexplained. There is a further remark made by the grandmother: "We are not allowed to show such silliness. Especially not now." Not now? Why? What changed? Pranks? Threats of war? Did not the fact that acts of silliness were not to be shown start the pranks in the first place? And did these not lead to threats of war?
Bryn's unhappiness is remarked upon, but never really explained.
Flip's turn to violence is explained, but what made Tray decide to nudge him into violence? She's the one with a true affection for her kin from first moment.
Many things are left unsaid, which is probably the weakest point in the whole story.
Were the young activists aware that their pranks were causing a threat of war with the other planet? They merely treated it as fun to distress their old and upset the rule of the day. Why were they never made to see the implications of their actions, especially in the light of their motto, that everything had to remain without violence.
As a consequence of one of their pranks, a children's hospital computer system is nearly shut down, and young life is nearly lost. Why did Obi Wan did not pass on that bit of information, and let them proceed with a prank that had much more potential for disaster, and indeed did cost life.
Why did Qui-Gon, who never spoke up, because he wished to put trust into his Padawan's plans, try to diffuse the situation between the two planets by presenting himself as an impartial party? He remains with the chairman of Vorzyd 4, and never once tries to talk in private with the Lady Felana, not even when she turns up at Vorzyd 4 and he could easily have taken her aside, to tell her, that he knew who was behind the attacks, and that she need not worry about the accusations of the chairman, since everything would solve itself out soon.Like the cover (though much much praise for mr Nielsen's continuing art) the title doesn't effectively speak for the book. I could not decide whether the threat within came from the young pranksters, or the establishment that did not want the change, or if there was an even deeper threat within either Qui-Gon or Obi Wan, as we see them sparring, apparently fighting eachother on the cover. At the end of the book we see them re-establishing their bond, while they were never really at odds in this particular book. But we know already that their personalities will keep complimenting eachother and clashing as well, until the very painful end, and as such this scene seems a bit out of place as well. I have often said, that the biggest problem with this, my favourite, series, is that the books are too short. It is the first time that I've finished one of its books with a feeling that I've only read half of it.
Rating:
Summary: The Threat Within Could it be Better?
Review: No longer a boy,not quite a man,Obi-Wan is growing up.and he has his own ideas about how missions should be handled. Qui-Gon must begin to let go.but he is finding it is no esay task to give Obi-Wan room to trust his instincts and make his own mistakes.
Rating:
Summary: the emotional side
Review: No longer a boy,not quite a man,Obi-Wan is growing up.and he has his own ideas about how missions should be handled. Qui-Gon must begin to let go.but he is finding it is no esay task to give Obi-Wan room to trust his instincts and make his own mistakes.
Rating:
Summary: The Threat Within
Review: Obi-Wan is seventeen and almost a Jedi Knight. His Master, Qui-Gon, now views him as someone who can truly work on his own.They know that their partnership is almost over, and have faced much together. Protecting a faction known as Vorzyd 4 against evil,in which the young rebel against the adults, Obi-Wan finds that he had once faced a similiar situation on Melida/Daan, where he had left the Jedi path to join a war in which he had ended up losing Cerasi. The young find that the way to success is war, but some from the faction feel that is should be peace. Obi-Wan disguises himself as part of Vorzyd 4 to see if what they're up to is all for a good cause. It could be more dangerous than they know they're getting into, and he works alone to uncover the truths. Does this small group of fighters know what they are trying to succeed in -- or are they only making it worse for their world? Jedi Apprentice #18: The Threat Within, the last serially numbered book in this series, is sadly disappointing and doesn't measure up to either its anticipation or to its previous books. It offers little interest and is short, but is very good when it comes to drama and the story of what will eventually become of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. I can't wait for the series conclusion, Special Edition #2: The Followers, and it will hopefully be better than this.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful while it lasted
Review: The Jedi Apprentice series is amazingly gripping, always makeing the reader come back for more. Alas this time there is no more to come back to, yet remarkably Jude Watson, again left her audence with a feeling of fofillment; the relationship of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon finaly seem to fit. If you are looking for a thrilling, heart-stopping, and even possibly learning somthing about your self kind of book. Look no further. J.W. Thank's for the great read.
Rating:
Summary: The Threat Within Could it be Better?
Review: This book is very exciting but it could use some more spice because it makes Qui Gon look like an overly protective father figure who will never let Obi Wan go out on his own but you SHOULD read it.
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