Old Friends: Leia Organa Solo, Jaina Solo, Mara Jade Skywalker, C3P0, Jacen Solo, Borsk Fey'lya, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2D2, Anakin Solo, Lando Calrissian, Kyp Durron Synopsis: There is a new and deadly menace threatening the New Republic. Coming from outside the known galaxy, these new villans, the Yuuzhan Vong, have plans to completely overwhelm and subjugate our universe. There is alot going on in this book, some of it is unpleasant, some annoying, but if you want to understand the next 5 in the series, you have to get through this one first. Review: Leia Organa, along with Mara Jade Skywalker and Jaina Solo, are on another diplomatic mission, this time to the Outer Rim, to try and maintain peace between 2 arguing planets. The mission starts badly and gets worse. Nom Anor, the person orchestrating the conflict, has a hidden agenda that is not immediately revealed. Mara Jade Skywalker is ill with a mysterious disease, but is still training Jaina Solo as a Jedi. Meanwhile, back on Coruscant, Luke and Jacen Solo attend a meeting of the New Republic Advisory Council, the ruling body of the New Republic. Presided over by Borsk Fey'lah, Leia's old nemesis, the Council is more interested in fighting with each other than resolving any issues concerning the Jedi. Luke is considering the reformation of the Jedi Council, destroyed by the Empire long ago. Jacen and the Council question Luke's motives and the role of the Jedi in this new age. This conflict will follow through the book, putting Jacen and Anakin at odds with each other and with Luke. Han, Chewbacca and Anakin Solo, on the other hand, are more concerned with repairing the Falcon, again. The Yuuzhan Vong arrive and immediately begin their destructive plan to overthrow the galaxy. The description of the aliens themselves, and their methods are best left to the author. Suffice it to say, they are merciless, are much stronger that initially suspected, and have a totally different outlook on life. The reader will find himself imediately and definitely disliking them. It is unfortunate that the author of this book never read any of the Star Wars novels. He said, in an interview in the Star Wars Insider, that he watched the original trilogy and that was his research. It shows. He did not take the time to study the characters and their personalities, but rather spent more time developing his new alien threat. It shows in some of the dialogue, in the actions and reactions of the "regular" characters, and the attention spent on "his" aliens. In doing so, he did a disservice to the readers and writers of Star Wars books to date. The initial premise of an alien culture, bigger, stronger and nastier than ever before encountered, combined with technology that is alive, is a good start. Some parts of the book are pretty good; the battles in space are well written; the author makes an effort to bring in a few of our old friends, and introduces us to a new means of governing on Coruscant. But I still feel that this is probably the worst Star Wars book ever written. In looking forward to the rest of the series, the only saving grace for this entry into the Star Wars timeline is that it sets the stage for the following authors to repair the damage and fill in the blanks. If you want to understand the rest of the series, you have to bite the bullet and read this one first.
Title: Vector Prime |
09/06/2005
Synopsis: The Galaxy is finally at widespread peace. This Peace is threatened by a invasion that is just over the horizon. The Invading species is the Yuuzhan Vong. The Vong are a superior race, with much better technology and weapons. The stage is set, and the Torpedoes are armed, war is coming again, will you be caught up in it? Review: The book starts out with Leia Organa Solo, Jaina Solo, and Mara Jade on a diplomatic mission to a set of dueling planets, Rhommamool and Osarian. Their mission goes bad when the leader of the Rhommamoolian leader Nom Anor, attacks the Mon Calamari Cruiser guarding the planets, faking his own death. On the rim world of Belkadan, a Mysterious scientist named Yomin Carr is working in the ExGal outpost. When a ship enters our galaxy from the far reaches of the galaxy, the scientist didn't realize they were the first human, and other life forms from our Galaxy to see a Yuuzhan Vong vessel. Back on Coruscant, the Provisional Council is still arguing over things that are really rather trivial compared to what is about to unfold. Luke Skywalker and Jacen Solo are pleading to re-establish the Jedi council, to rein in the rogue Jedi like Wurth Skidder, and Kyp Durron. Chief of State Borsk Fey'la is strongly opposed to the Jedi Council and would probably rather see them being slaughtered than treated as the saviors they are. The Falcon is broke, again. Han and Chewie and Anakin Solo are working vigorously when Anakin is taught a lesson by Chewie. Chewie showed Anakin that the Falcon ‘is more than Just a ship'. The Yuuzhan Vong set up their base and immediatly try and expand to the worlds of Serpindal, Durbillion, and Belkadan. The Vong are a ruthless species that has a rather weird take on life. They were created by the author. When I started reading it, the Vong seemed like Sith without Lightsabers. I was also wondering when I read the book, what was going through the authors mind when he created them. Full of hate and love of pain and death the Yuuzhan Vong will push the New Republic to the core and then thrust a deadly sword through their heart if not taken seriously. On this note I do have to agree with Kali that the author didn't have a clue. He didn't do any research and it showed. The starfighter battles were not depicted in the stellar fashion that the starfighters battles of the X-wing series were. I also think that if this author writes more Star Wars books it won't be good and it will not sell. I give Vector Prime a 3. I can't bring myself to give it a 1 because it had it's moments of greatness. I can't give it a 4, or 5 because the mechanics of the book were all off, so I settled in the middle with a 3 and I think I could have gone either way. Vector Prime has a wonderful story line, with crappy mechanics, try it and see what you think.
Title: Vector Prime |
09/06/2005
Synopsis: Three years after successfully negotiating a peace treaty with the remnants of Palpatine’s broken Empire, the New Republic faces a dire threat from beyond the outer rim. Coming from a distant galaxy, the Yuuzhan Vong have been instructed by their “gods”, through the priestly caste, to cleanse this galaxy of all sentient life, or at least convert it to our way. Thousands of brushfire wars between neighbouring planets have sprung up all over the New Republic, most of them started by Nom Anor, a Yuuzhan Vong advance agent sent in to lean about the infidels, and to ripen the galaxy for a YV invasion. Borsk Fey’lya has been elected Chief of State following the resignation of Princess Leia Organa Solo. Review: I gave this book a three, because it wasn’t fantastic, but the other –did- do a very good job with the task he was given, and it did have a decent plot line. The mechanics of the book weren’t all that great, and he didn’t do the research he should have. I don’t feel he did enough character development to fully portray the grief and emotions playing out in this book to make it good. I believe he is a good author, but that he didn’t do good enough Star Wars. That’s why I gave it a 3, and not anything less or anything more. I feel this book could have been a 4 or a 5 in the hands of another author, one who had more experience writing Star Wars.
Title: Vector Prime |
09/06/2005
