Old Friends: Anakin Solo, Booster Terrik, Chilgal, Corran Horn, Gavin Darklighter, Han Solo, Jacen Solo, Jaina Solo, Kam Solusar, Leia Organa Solo, Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, Nem Yim, Nom Anor, Tahiri Viela, Telon Karrde, Traest Kre'fey, Tsavong Lah, Vergere, Borsk Fey'lah, R2-D2, C-3P0, Lando Calrissian, Kyp Durron Synopsis: Things are not going well for the Republic. The Yuuzhan Vong and their bio-engineered warships and weapons continue to thwart all efforts by the Republic to stop the death and destruction as the Vong move closer and closer to finishing off the job the Emperor started and failed at so many years ago. Our heroes are making a little progress, but it is painfully slow. Review: Han and Leia are finally together, again, and Anakin and Jacen and the droids are traveling with them. Lucky for everyone, Anakins previous adventures has given him a personal "edge" against the Vong weapons. Unfortunately, the Republic stil has not figured out how to use that knowledge to protect everyone, not just one young Jedi. Luke and Mara are on Coruscant awaiting the birth of their child when Mara suffers a relapse of the insidious Vong disease that almost killed her. To add insult to injury, Borsk Fey'lah has issued a warrant for Luke's arrest. Warned in advance, Luke and Mara, joined in mid-flight by Jaina Solo, escape Coruscant in search of Booster Terrik and a safe haven. Jaina ends up back in the cockpit of her X-wing, and eventually joins Kyp Durron and his group of errant Jedi. This is not a good idea! Anakin, along with Tahiri, are sent off to locate and assist Jedi who are threatened by the Peace Brigade. Not surprisingly, they get caught up in the hunt for Jedi, and barely escape. Finding themselves in the company of Talon Karrde, they discover an unusual opportunity to get first hand, good, inside information into the Vong and their next plan of attack. There are quite a few sub-plots going on in this book, so the reader has to pay attention. Some questions are answered, and alot more are raised. We are not given any indication of just how much longer this conflict will continue, but at the moment, it doesn't look like the next book is going to end it. Again, the author has done his homework and it shows. After the first dreadful book in this series, "Vector Prime", much more attention to detail, to character back-stories and "Star Wars" canon are apparant. Once again, old friends from the Classic Trilogy books and movies are well incorporated into this storyline, their past roles in the stories and their personalities remain intact. It is a credit to the author, and the ones who have gone before (except of course R.A. Salvatore) that they have taken the time and effort to make this storyline as seamless as possible while including so many of the old friends and places that the reader is familiar with. As the title implies, "Rebirth" does eventually end with the arrival of "baby Skywalker", but not without much difficulty and a great leap of faith. And, we do have to journey back to Serpidal, the place that Chewbacca died, and deal with those memories. One final note: the Yuuzhan Vong have a problem - a big one, More insights into their culture are revealed. And that culture and its rigid laws and religious fanaticism may just be their undoing. The Shamed Ones, the slaves of the Vong - may just be the allies the Republic has been waiting for. Stay tuned - The Force is Still With Us!
Title: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth |
09/06/2005
