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The thesis of this provocative and potentially important book is the increasing threat of violence arising from renewed conflicts between countries and cultures that base their traditions on religious faith and dogma. This argument moves past the notion of ethnicity to examine the growing influence of a handful of major cultures--Western, Eastern Orthodox, Latin American, Islamic, Japanese, Chinese, Hindu, and African--in current struggles across the globe. Samuel P. Huntington, a political scientist at Harvard University and foreign policy aide to President Clinton, argues that policymakers should be mindful of this development when they interfere in other nations' affairs.
Book Description
Based on the author's seminal article in Foreign Affairs, Samuel P. Huntington's The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order is a provocative and prescient analysis of the state of world politics after the fall of communism. In this incisive work, the renowned political scientist explains how "civilizations" have replaced nations and ideologies as the driving force in global politics today and offers a brilliant analysis of the current climate and future possibilities of our world's volatile political culture.
Customer Reviews:
Pure hate... Author wants to blame everything to muslims.......2007-07-11
It scares me to find out that educated (so called intellectuals) are writing this type of hate infested books that are aimed at nothing but inflaming more hate and voilence in the world. Author has a stubborn belief that all muslim cultures have speriority complex and they are there to destroy the western influence. He needs to wake up and understand that every culture even western or african or latin is sustaining because there are good things there to fullfill the needs of the people along with bad things that represent historical events/influence, economic or social problems etc. Author completely ignores the fact that one (Malaysia) out of all muslim countries are run by our appointed dictators with the exception of Iran and Syria who are kept in isolation so they have no reason to praise us have any dialog going. I would suggest that the author should cosider psychotherepy and need to start reading outside of his shell.
A Classic?.......2007-05-18
As a retired agronomist with a strong science background I tend to check out references that are commonly used. This book is very often quoted, not always favorably. If you have recently, like I, become interested in world politics and especially Islam this is definitely one of the texts you should read. From my weak politics and history background I found Dr. Huntington making a lot of interesting observations. I found the book very intriguing and educational. I really enjoyed his take on the Bosnian War.
Helps you to understand current global affairs.......2007-05-16
This book helps you to understand current global affairs. Although one might not agree with some of the author's theories.
Although this book is from the Western perspective, the author does not glorify the western civilization and has shown respect for other civilizations.
Clash of Cultures and Politico-Religious Hegemony.......2007-05-11
Huntington provoked worldwide outrage by this book, both from conservative westerners who thought he was too "nice" about Muslim extremists, and from non-conservatives who believed him to be arrogant and ethnocentric. My opinion is that both are correct: there is a clash between those using religious identities to promote political agendas, and those attempting to keep religion at the personal level and politics at the macro level of society. This book infuriated many non-readers because of its apparent linking of Islam with political terrorism. Careful readers understood that this was merely reporting of what "experts" said, and not a personal attack by Huntington on faithful adherents to Islam. Below are a few of my favorite quotes:
--"This awakening is comprehensive--it is not just about individual piety; it is not just intellectual or cultural, nor is it just political. It is all of these, a comprehensive reconstruction of society from top to bottom."
--One study of militant leaders of Egyptian Islamist groups found they had five major characteristics, which appear to be typical of Islamists in other countries. They were young, overwhelmingly in their twenties and thirties. Eighty percent were university students or university graduates. Over half came from elite colleges or from the intellectually most demanding fields of technical specialization such as medicine or engineering. Over 70 percent were from lower middle-class, "modest, but not poor backgrounds," and were the first generation in their family to get higher education. They spent their childhoods in small towns or rural areas but had become residents of large cities. While students and intellectuals formed the militant cadres and shock troops of Islamist movements, urban middle-class people made up the bulk of the active membership. In some degree these came from what are often termed "traditional" middle class groups: merchants, traders, small business proprietors, bazaaris.
--Islamist activists "probably include a disproportionately large number of the best-educated and most intelligent young people in their respective populations," including doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, teachers, civil servants.
There is a clash today, and Huntington calls it rightly. There is violent conflict between those seeking political power through the power base of religious identities are opposed by those unwilling to give up values and ideals in their secular political system.
Already happening?.......2007-05-06
What exactly makes a 'civilization'? Why do tribal conflicts in Africa not spread too far outward? Why did the conflict in Yugoslavia prompt Orthodox Russia to support the Serbs, and Muslim Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Islamic states to support the Bosnians? Why couldn't the civil war in Lebanon be solved by dialogue? Why are Islam's borders so bloody? Even though Saddam Hussein was a vicious tyrant and killed many of his own fellow Muslims, why did so many in the Islamic world proclaim him a hero when the United States invaded Iraq? Will demographic decline in the West change the balance of economic and military power in the world? Is the West in severe decline and can it turn itself around?
If there is any book that can fit into the context of today's global political sphere and shed light on the questions above, it is this book. The book defines what a civilization consists of, and why some are incompatible with each other. World demographics are depicted and used to make predictions about the future balance of world powers. The buildup of non-Western armed forces is highlighted and used to show how the West could lose its military dominance, and what will the future hold with such a change in power. Will it be multiculturalism and tolerance, or will it end up being a giant Lebanon or Yugoslavia, and how could we prevent such a disaster if it were to occur?
Regardless of your political position on the book, I must say it is by far the most comprehensive one I have come across on this subject. Accurately and extensively researched and documented, this outstanding book may be the most important one explaining the conflicts of the 21st century.
Average customer rating:
- By Order President
- Incredible action and characters
- Needs to do his homework
- Longwinded Drivel
- My First Book By Griffin
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By Order of the President
W. E. B. Griffin
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The Hostage
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Under Fire
ASIN: 0515139777 |
Book Description
When a leased Boeing 727 is violently hijacked from Angola and flown to parts unknown, the President turns to an outsider--Major Carlos Guillermo Castillo--for answers. A pilot, West Point graduate, and veteran of Desert Storm, Castillo has a sharp eye for the facts--and the truth behind them. In Africa, he is helped and hindered by unexpected allies and ruthless enemies, and begins to untangle a plot of horrific dimensions--a plot that, unless Castillo acts quickly, will end very, very badly.
Customer Reviews:
By Order President.......2007-05-16
This is a new politica thriller series and is certainly by Griffin. He knows how to use his very great knowledge of the military and the U.S. government to create a new lead character in the battle agaist terrorist attacks. The use of the (bad but not to bad) Russian to feed important information to the lead character makes one think of just what is right and wrong in this world.
Incredible action and characters.......2007-05-13
Early attempt to change venue with outstanding new hero characters and believable interaction in the plot.
Enjoyed very much B+
Needs to do his homework.......2007-04-10
As a retired Marine Corps officer who currently works at USCENTCOM & has also spent time in the special operations community both on staff(USSOCOM) & operationally, I really looked forward to starting this new series from Griffin. However, like I assume most military members who read military-related books, I look for any military inaccuracies that might jump out of the story. Although not always presenting a problem, these inaccuracies sometimes detract from the story, as well as the author's crdibility. This story was disappointing in that respect. Almost immediately the first inaccuracy comes in regard from where the plane was hijacked. Angola is not in the CENTCOM area of operations, but rather in the European Command's area of operations. Neither is Chad or several of the other western African nations mentioned. Next, the J-5 does not have a special operations division/branch/section/etc. J-5 is policy & plans. Special operations for a Geographic Combatant Command (GCC), of which CENTCOM is one, are usually run by that respective GCC's own Special Operations Command, in this case SOCCENT. Also, CENTCOM would not run Delta Force operations. US Special Operations Command would most likely have some say-so in that. Although these inaccuracies would not probably be picked up by most non-military readers, I would assume that the majority of readers of this series by Mr Griffin would be military & might be annoyed by the lack of attention to detail that the inaccuracies project. After all, Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, & several others who write in this genre seem to do their homework & get it right. I would expect the same from Griffin.
Longwinded Drivel.......2007-03-06
Unlike the author of this book, I will make this review mercifully short. The book was great up to page 50, then descended into such a muddled pool of unnecessary detail, useless characters, and boring backstory that I forgot what the book was supposed to be about. Unless you're into minutia and enjoy run-on sentences and endless renditions of "Yes, sir", do yourself a favor and move on.
My First Book By Griffin.......2007-02-20
While I enjoyed the story of this book, the lack of action and constant long flashback scenes kind of make this book drag along. I only got this one because I wanted to read The Hostage and this is the first book in the series.
Book Description
Swift and deadly, the Yuuzhan Vong have blasted their way across the galaxy—and now stand on the threshold of total victory. Yet a courageous few still dare to oppose them. . . .
Rife with hostile cultures and outright enemies, the Unknown Regions holds many perils for Luke Skywalker and the Jedi, searching for Zonama Sekot, the living planet that may hold the key to dealing once and for all with the Yuuzhan Vong.
Meanwhile, on the edge of the galaxy and in the heart of a trusted ally, old enemies are stirring. The Yuuzhan Vong have inflamed long-forgotten vendettas that are even now building up to crisis point. And as Han and Leia journey on their quest to knit the unraveling galaxy back together, betrayal and deception await them. . . .
Customer Reviews:
book 16.......2006-10-22
this book couldve been half as long had all the nonsense been cut out.theres a lot of politics and ceremonies and the like.i think the author was going for drama,but it came out more like over-detailed and uneventful.there are just certain things people have come to expect from anything star wars.like a light saber battle,a super weopon,the sith,ise of the main characteres in meaningful and interesting events.this book lacks all these qualities.you will,however,have to trudge through it if you are reading the series.now i will give you the low down.the good guys,for some reason,are looking for a living planet instead of fighting the vong.anakan solo is still dead.which still makes me mad.landos super cool droids arent around and niether is the coolest sith since darth vadar in lord nyax.heck,even han solo ,luke skywalker and thier families dont see much action.luke spends the book in a library.oh thats so cool.[ugh].all the real cool stuff happens in like the last 70 pages.there is a assassination attempt on someone important.so the other jedis,not in danger,gave to twart the attempt.i feel so sorry for poor old tahiri.shes not only hopeless about the future but severely depressed and now gas an alternate persona.my heart really goes out to her.nom-anor is hiding beneath coruscant trying to get the shamed ones to revolt.the good guys do find a planet full of droids powered by souls.a terrorist assassanation attempt gets an ok air battle towards the end.jacen solo spends most of his time in the library also.ho-hum.but danni expresses her true feelings for him.lastly,theres the living planet.it is said to ne inhabited by insects.theres dense oxygen.every 3 years a fire god burns up its surface.a prophetess from there is said to have created the force.the planet can jump through hyperspace also.thats all they find out in over 400 pages.they never did find the planet either.
Three-sided storyline that I found rather enjoyable.......2005-12-27
I read the other reviews and I wonder if I read the same book that they did. I genuinely enjoyed the complexity of the book. Perhaps for the Star Wars fan who enjoys duels and battles, this book isn't for you. However, I enjoyed the political complexities present in the book on all three sides of the storyline.
In one, Luke continues on his mission to find Zonama Sekot and hope that it can make the difference in turning the war around. Contrary to one review, the conflict at the end is a huge benefit in their effort to get access to Chiss space, but I will not spoil how. Also, I believe that there is a very good reason that we don't have the map, that is because the Chiss are very secretive and even though Luke, Jacen and the others are looking at records, I am doubtful the Chiss are actually letting them look at star charts showing exact locations. Remember, many were VERY skeptical of their arrival and mission. Not providing us the map makes it more realistic for us in following the story.
The second side is the continuing mission led by Leia and Han to bring the distant regions of the galazy back into the fold. They are taken to Bakaura on the edge of the far reaches of the galaxy, bordering on Ssi-Ruuk space and the Unknown Regions. The political turnabouts in this theater are complex and telling. I agree with one reviewer that the whole ruse was completely predictable, but the subtle mechanisms are intreging as is the climax to the incident.
The third theater is on the planet formally known as Courscant, now the headquarters of the Yuuzhan Vong in the galaxy. Nom Anor is trying to lead a cult based on the Jeedi to being about his revenge on the leadership of the Vong. This is the least interesting of the three, but has some long term potential. Anor is trying to take advantage of the fact that the Shamed Ones have been put down for so long and that they have a desire for something more. This is, of course, a theme seen throughout the world at different stages of history. However, this isn't as well developed as the other two theaters of the book, but hopefully will be in book three.
If you are only into battles and lightsabre fights, this book isn't for you. However, if you are into a more in depth look at various facets of the ongoing galactic war along with the political intrige implicit in it, enjoy!
2.5/5, An improvement, but not enough..........2004-08-09
To say the first "Force Heretic" novel was a monumental dissapointment that made me want to rip my eyes out, would be a minor understatement. Which made it all the more surprising to find that I actually enjoyed this second book in the Williams-Dix composition for the New Jedi Order series.
In all honesty, it appears as though one of the writers (I can't tell which) wrote the first book, and the other one wrote this one, so different did I find the styles. Gone were the plaguing problems of incoherent sentences and paragraphs, stuttering storylines and lack of involvement in the characters. As well, I found most of the intrigue laced in this book to actually work. Previously, I staunchly believed mystery and Star Wars don't mix - they didn't in Episode II, on film, they definitely won't on paper - but at least in the case of Bakura, with so much back-stabbing and betrayal going on at once (even the Yuuzhan Vong get in on it) I was genuinely pulled into the book. The whole plot on Csilla seemed like an afterthought however, and the conflict that occured there seemed a little too mainpulative and coincidental. It would've been much easier for Jacen, Luke and Co. to learn Zenoma Sekot's location without an overly done powergrab. Just my opinion. The plot with Nom Anor as Yu'shaa, the Prophet, also worked well, and helped advance the Yuuzhan Vong side of things with surprising clarity.
Of course, the book still wasn't that great.
The lack of chapters will bug me forever, I'm sorry, it probably sounds petty, but it just doesn't work for me. Call it a stylistic choice if you want, I hate it. The characters were absolutely stupid on occassion (even if I feel Dix and Williams did an ok job of molding them this time), a good case of which is with Jaina. She has ample opportunity several times to free herself from Harris (the Vice-President) and his cronie's grasp, yet waits until possibly the worst time to do so, after two backup character's unneccessarily die. I mean, she only has to fight two guys, and at one point one of them is knocked out of the equation and Jaina isn't even bound by cuffs (as she is when she eventually does break free) and yet she still doesn't act, instead choosing to allow another person to die. Horrible plot-manipulation, flat out. Time and time again, I saw character's make hideously foolish choices that no Star Wars hero or heroine would truly make, just to make the plot advance. It came off as downright lazy to me. That being said, I still enjoyed the plot - go figure.
All in all, this novel was a definite improvement on the previous Williams-Dix endeavor, but still failed in far too many aspects to be worthy of joining the likes of Traitor, Star by Star, or any of Aaron Allston's or Michael Stackpole's novels. 2.5/5 stars.
Ugh........2004-07-15
Whose idea was it to let this slop stretch into a trilogy? All of the important points could have been condensed into a single novel (or maybe even a short story). The New Jedi Order does bring an exciting new plot arc to the Star Wars universe, and there have been some great books in the series, but once we get toward te end, the true marketing genius becomes clear; a reader who has already read a dozen novels and gotten caught up in the story of the war with the Vong, will work their way through even the worst book to make it to the end of the series. Or indeed, the worst three books. Only a couple of interesting bits (like the Tahiri subplot) save this from a 1 star review.
The Truce is Broken.......2003-12-31
The second novel of the Force Heretic trilogy encompasses three story lines. The first story line follows Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker, Jacen Solo, and other Jedi as they enter Chiss space in search of the planet Zonama Sekot, in hopes that the planet will hold the key to winning the war against the Yuuzhan Vong. While an interesting tale, it is really a secondary story to one of the other story lines. However, this book does move the story along for Luke and Co.
The second story line is also a sub-story. Nom Anor is the fallen Executor of the invading Yuuzhan Vong race. He has been banished as a Shamed One. Not satisfied to sit back and accept his fate, Nom Anor has begun a heresy of sorts by establishing a cult amongst the Shamed Ones that reveres the Jedi, and looks upon them to free the Samed Ones of the shackles of oppression.
The main story follows Leia and Han Solo, their daughter Jaina and Jag Fel as they return to Bakura. Bakura was the subject of the novel 'Truce at Bakura,' which takes place immediately after 'Return of the Jedi.' In that novel, an alien race called the Ssi-ruuk were threatening to 'entech' an entire planet. Entechment is a process of stealing the souls of a sentient being and using it to control a machine.
Bakura appears ready to sever its ties with the New Republic and form an alliance with a race once subjugated by the Ssi-ruuk. There is more than meets the eye though. The Prime Minister is missing, but then suddenly reappears. The Deputy Prime Minister suspects something is up. Malzana Thanas, the daughter of a political hero of Bakura, is being tried for treason. Intrigue abounds.
Overall, this novel was pretty clever. The story on Bakura had many layers, but about two thirds of the way through, the pieces fall into place rather obviously for most readers. It was interesting, and a bit refreshing, that most of the action took place away from the war against the Vong. However, there is a bit of a surprise near the end of the book that will cause most readers to scratch their head a bit.
Tahiri has an interesting role in this triology. She is dealing with an inner demon, and after this novel, she may never be the same again. This sub-plot has alternated between being interesting and annoying. Hopefully, it will reach an interesting conclusion in the third installment.
I'd recommend this novel to anyone that has been reading the New Jedi Order. I would not recommend starting with this novel. Go back to the beginning and read 'Vector Prime' and other novels in the series first.
Book Description
As the bloodied and weary galaxy faces battle once more, the Jedi take on the formidable task of bringing the last of the Empire into the light. . . .
From the ashes of the New Republic—torn to shreds by the savage Yuuzhan Vong forces—the newly formed Galactic Alliance has risen, determined to bring peace to the entire galaxy. But first the Yuuzhan Vong must be contained once and for all. And so Luke Skywalker seeks a world long lost to legend: Zonama Sekot, a sentient planet believed to have repelled an invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong decades ago. Deciphering the enigmatic secrets of Zonama Sekot just might turn the tides of a relentless war.
Aboard the Jade Shadow, Luke, his wife Mara, Jacen Solo, and other Jedi head off into the Unknown Regions, where rumors and clues suggest Zonama Sekot might be found. Yet the mission has barely begun when the searchers stumble into a horrific battle. The Imperial Remnant, in retreat from the mighty Yuuzhan Vong, is about to be destroyed. It would seem those aboard the Jade Shadow have little choice but to leave the Empire to its fate. But these are no ordinary space travelers, they are Jedi. . . .
Customer Reviews:
the lowest rating ive given one yet book 15.......2006-10-13
ok,first of all,im still po/d that the most dangerous sith ever was introduced 3 books ago and still hasnt been used by book 15.so i guess either the new writers have no respect for the previous books in the series or for some reason they chose not to use a god-like sith .this goes back to my points from before.everybody loved anakan solo and chewbacca.both get offed.and both of the solo twins went down the dark side earlier but the dark side was gone by the next book.not worked out just simply dismisssed.thats why i gave this book a lower rating than the previous 14 books in the series.the republic and empire are working together in this one.but theres a ton of poliyical bs they have to bore the reader with 1st to get to that point.jacin solo and a much older danni start a romance.the vong are out being vongs and blowing up planets and sacrificing prisoners.tahiri is still very much depressed over anakan solo even to the point of having schizophrennic-like episodes.nom anor is realizing some mind blowing truths about the vongs spiriyual beliefs the hard way.a lot of interesting stuff happens with him in this book.there is a search going out for a living planet.a new characheter is introduced.hes chewbaccas son,lumpawarrump.not that that makes them killing chewbacca in book 1 ok.an air battle pitting the republic and empire vs the vong goes down along with 3 battles for planets.the vongs lowest caste "the shamed ones" began questioning the truths about the vong gods,threatening to destroy thier most fundamental beliefs.so the vong began slaughtering them.thats about it.of course.I LEFT YOU MANY SUPRISES.anyhow,this book is really hust a jumbled mess.its somewhat interesting but not all that exiting.its a 400 plus page story that couldve been told in 250.and its slow to read,as was book 14.i hope this isnt a trend developing.with only 4 books left,somebody better start picking up the slack or i will be very disappointed.
A new front for the war against the Yuuzhan Vong.......2005-11-29
I really enjoyed this book. Sure, there is some review in the beginning of the book, but not as much as some reviewers would have you think. There is plenty of new material as the main protoganists go off in two different directions on two very different missions, but both designed to ensure the survival of the newly formed Galactic Alliance.
Leia is leading one expedition to reconnect severed links to the Galactic Alliance. They will find surprises on the way. The suspense is evident in several instances through the first stage of this mission and a familar enemy along with a stange alien will make their presence felt.
On the other side of the (not the MLS champion L.A.) Galaxy, Luke is leading another expedition to the Unknown Regions with a stop at the Imperial Remnant. Surprise, surprise, they too will meet with a familar enemy. Political intrigue and a very Latin Americanesque approach by the Grand Admiral typify the reaction of the Empire to the unwanted visitors.
Along the way, we see the continued struggles of Tahiri as well as the development of the young Jedi. There is some repetition of information worked into the story in the form of informing new protoganists of what is happening. However, if you haven't read previous books, you will really miss out on much of the storyline.
sort of dull, but still entertaining.......2005-09-03
this is the first adult star wars book i have read. it took halfway through the book just to get to the first lightsaber duel, which wasn't really a duel at all! had good cover art, though.
there were good things about this book and bad things. entertaining, but if you want a better read, i recommend destiny's way.
Eh...it was all right.......2004-12-17
What was going on in this book? Some character development and then none at all. Complete luck that Luke's party stumbled onto the Battle of Bastion. This whole book was very up and down. First 60 pages it took me three months. Then I started to ease my way through it. It was a rough read. Definitely could have been better. And it's way to long for so much nothing. It was very average and my lord what do the Ryn have to do with anything? Plus these two authors need to quit it with calling Han and Leia "Anakin's Parents" nonstop. Plus this whole thing with Tahiri is quite annoying. And don't Han and Leia and the military Twin Suns Squadron have more important things to do than go to small insignificant planets and stop them from falling to the Vong? Shouldn't they be fighting the true war? What is going on? The next two better explain what's going on...
Pretty bad... 1.5/5 stars........2004-07-24
Of all the New Jedi Order books I've read, I must say this is by far the worst.
Where to begin? Well, the plot itself isn't really that bad - Luke and company go to find Zenoma Sekot, while Leia, Han and the others go to round up support for the Galactic Alliance - as I said, not bad. Even this has problems though. Based on the occurences in the novel, the Yuuzhan Vong are obviously expending a fair amount of resources to defeat possible attackers on their borders - and what is the Alliance doing while this is going on? Nothing. No offense, but after scoring a huge victory in Destiny's Way, the Alliance appears to be back to the New Republic's way of sitting there and doing nothing until they are attacked. The logistics just didn't make sense to me, and it wouldn't have been that difficult to include a new section devoted to say Wedge or Cal Omas or even Admiral Ackbar.
As the plot is really the work of LucasArts though, and not of the writers themselves, any failings in the overall story department can be forgiven. What really made the book dissapointing for me was the writing style of the authors.
In my opinion writing teams rarely work, as authors simply have different views, goals, opinions and thoughts - combining the work of two authors into a single book (or set of books) is a bad idea, in my mind. This is just the start of the problems however.
Firstly, there were no chapters in the book. I can't understand the purpose of this besides forcing the reader to see the "Part" that they are currently reading as a single collection of actions and thoughts - which they really weren't. The lack of spacing between the four sections (not to mention a long prologue and longer epilogue) was offsetting to me, and I missed the deliberate pacing of chapters that all the other New Jedi Order books have. Heck, most books have them. As I said, unless it was some failed attempt at novel artistry, there was no point to it, and just aggravated me.
Secondly, the book went far too much in spurts and stops. Almost useless portions of the plot would be given huge amounts of space, while the conclusions to battles and character depth were rushed, barely mentioned, or forgotten altogether. While I did enjoy the burgeoning love relationships between Jag and Jaina and Jacen and Danni (though I still believe Jacen and Tenel Ka should be together), nothing else really seemed all that well done to me, almost as though the writers were looking to find a niche in the story where their talents could shine.
Thirdly, I found it nearly impossible to follow the flow of the writers words. A paragraph of character thought, for example, would follow normally through a pattern of logic, then suddenly, the character would arrive at a totally different conclusion than I would have ever thought of, or what I thought Williams and Dix were leading me towards. It felt as though the two writers were either confused in the writing of the book, or still attempting to discover their characters and those characters' place in the novel. A prime example (on a larger scale) is with Saba, who, from the prologue, I thought was going to be a main character throughout, but eventually only showed up in any importance at the very end, once again, like the writers just weren't sure what they wanted to do with the characters. For such an important area of the arc plot (ie. finding Zenoma Sekot and possibly dooming the Yuuzhan Vong), it was dissapointing to see the writers meander their way through.
Lastly, the imprecise battle tactics. I had absolutely NO understanding of what was going on during the space battles. None whatsoever. It was really quite sad that the only description of the battles was "The Empire was winning," or "they were on their heels" (those aren't real quotes obviously). It really hurt the book on the whole, as it was practically a nail in the coffin.
I have several other points which also bothered me, but there is a word limit to this review and there's no real point in going on, as anyone reading this will get my point. I didn't enjoy the book at all. I'm almost certainly going to skip over the next two novels as well and pick up with The Final Prophecy, in the hopes of some restoration of the series before Dix and Williams completely destroy it. No offense intended.
Average customer rating:
- The New Jedi Order marches on
- Overall a pleaser for those who love the Star Wars characters
- Onslaught of the galaxy!!
- #2
- Awesome, once again
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Dark Tide I: Onslaught (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 2)
Michael A. Stackpole
Manufacturer: Del Rey
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Dark Tide II: Ruin (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 3)
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ASIN: 0345428544
Release Date: 2000-02-01 |
Amazon.com
The Jedi are back and ready to rumble in Dark Tide 1: Onslaught, the second book to appear in Del Rey's five-year New Jedi Order story arc, which picks up events 25 years after A New Hope. Reading R.A. Salvatore's Vector Prime first--while not necessary (and some fans even recommend against it)--will help enormously in understanding the alien threat facing the New Republic, the sinister Yuuzhan Vong. The Jedi, under the now truly formidable Luke, must rise to beat back the biotech-wielding invaders, and we really get to see the Solo kids and good ol' Corran Horn shine. Lando and especially Han get short shrift (that's probably just as well in this new series), but Luke and Mara still manage to get a whole lot of lovin' going on. This is excellent work by the ever popular Stackpole (Rogue Squadron). --Paul Hughes
Book Description
In this epic of unsurpassed action and imagination, Michael Stackpole helps to launch an exciting new era in Star Wars® history. ONSLAUGHT pits the battle-tested heroes of the past--Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa Solo--along with the next generation of Jedi and droids, against fearsome never-before-encountered enemies from beyond the galactic rim . . .
It is a perilous time for the New Republic. Just when unity is needed most, mistrust is on the rise. Even the Jedi feel the strain, as rogue elements rebel against Luke's leadership. When alien invaders known as the Yunnan Vong strike without warning, the New Republic is thrown on the defensive. Merciless warriors, the Yunnan Vong glory in torture. Their technology is as strange as it is deadly. Most ominous of all, they are impervious to the Force.
Now Luke must wield all the awesome powers of a Jedi Master to defeat the gravest threat since Darth Vader. As Leia and Gavin Darklighter lead desperate refugees in a fighting retreat from Yunnan Vong forces, Mara Jade, Anakin, Jacen, and Corran Horn find themselves tested as never before by a faceless, implacable foe determined to smother the light of the New Republic forever beneath a shroud of darkest evil . . .
Customer Reviews:
The New Jedi Order marches on.......2007-08-24
Onslaught is the first book in Michael Stackpole's Dark Tide duology, and the second book overall in the New Jedi Order saga. Picking up where Vector Prime (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 1) left off, Onslaught finds the technology-hating and pain-obsessed Yuuzhan Vong continuing their invasion of the Outer Rim planets. The New Republic politicians would rather scheme and debate rather than meet this challenge head-on, so it's up to the Jedi and Rogue Squadron to try and repel the Vong invasion.
Stackpole's previous Star Wars experience was with the excellent X-Wing Rogue Squadron series, so key characters like Corran Horn and Gavin Darklighter play key roles in Onslaught, as do Luke and Mara Skywalker and the Solo children, who are finally starting to emerge from their parents' shadows. The author also places plenty of emphasis on the ground and especially air battles, which is in keeping with his X-Wing background.
While this chapter in the New Jedi Order is relatively free of casualties, the mood is still very grim. The Yuuzhan Vong invasion has tested our heroes to the limit, and this is only the beginning. The book suffers from two real flaws. One is that we really aren't given any insight into the Vong that we didn't get from Vector Prime until the epilogue. The other, and this is something that shows up often in Stackpole's work, is that his characters tend to say things that nobody - in any galaxy - would ever say out loud. I'm all for characters that are introspective and seek to learn new things about themselves and their place in the grand scheme of things, but that kind of stuff should be thought, not spoken in every casual conversation. I found myself wondering whether these Jedi Knights were preparing for battle or a group therapy session!
Those gripes aside, Stackpole does a decent job of moving the series forward, and since I'm on my third trip through the series I know that the story improves greatly in Dark Tide II: Ruin (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 3).
Overall a pleaser for those who love the Star Wars characters.......2006-09-04
I m a very big fan of the NJO, and I thought this book was one of the best. It dived into a whole new world, still being only the 2nd book in the series. You also get to know many character on a more personal level. Characters such as Mara Jade, Anakin, and Jacen. And if you are like me, and find intense battle scenes too complicated to follow, this bok makes it a little simpler, but still delivering a well thought-out and realistic battle.
Overall, this book was a pleaser on both emotional levels and action sequences. Very well written! Five Stars!
Onslaught of the galaxy!!.......2006-08-22
alright, so im back and I promised no spoilers before and will continue to do so. I have just finished onslaught and what did I think of it??? First off id rather give it 4 and a half stars. It was a good storyline overall. It simply wasnt gripping enough until about halfway through the novel, though the exposition to help set things up really needed to be there. Some of it felt disjointed to me, the narrative. Just when you thought you knew where it should go, it went another way and left holes leaving you wondering what happened. The last 100 pages were fantastic. I loved that. It wasnt as developed as vector prime was, not as detailed. It did move along though like one of the films would, brief scenes meant to move the story along at a fast clip. I also like where they are taking the Solo children in their development as characters. As far as I am concerned this is their coming of age story and thats where I am most intrigued to see where it is headed. Overall, it does make me wanna keep going so that is a good thing. Stay tuned for my review of book 3 Dark Tide II- Ruin
#2.......2006-03-14
luke skywalker teaches jacen colo in the force now.luke spent this book rescuing those closest to him.mara teaches anakan a little also but is really jainas master.when no one coyld effectively handle the vong,anakan bested 2.like certain other anakans he was very strong in the force.the vong actualy grow thier ships they are so opposed to tech.the ships can produce black hole shields which the good guys find very frustrating.danni-the scientist that 1st discovered the vong works with anakan to stop the vong.also a couple of rogue squadrons best rejoin them.the clones/storm troopers are good again.lots of action!a real page turner!
Awesome, once again.......2006-02-06
I have just finished the book. I am now on Dark Tide 2. I thought Dark Tide 1 was awesome. It continued the adventures of all the caracters, adding new characters. The book starts out almost right after Vector Prime. I thought the ending was awesome: with all the slaves attacking on dantooine. So over all not a bad book in NJO. Lots of Action,Lightsabers, and overall a good plot line. I would reccomend this book to any star wars fan.
Average customer rating:
- "Embrace the pain, scarhead"
- Exellent Book
- wedges moment in the sun
- Anakin Solo fans read this please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Now this is the Star Wars I've always loved!
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Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 11)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0345428668
Release Date: 2002-03-26 |
Book Description
As the Yuuzhan Vong’s spectacular conquests continue unchecked, Luke Skywalker, Han and Leia Solo , and Wedge Antilles are forced to destroy what they have risked their lives to create. . . .
Scattering like rats before the Yuuzhan Vong’s invasion of Coruscant, the panic-stricken members of the New Republic Advisory’s Council pause just long enough to set up a mock defense on nearby Borleias—a transparent attempt to buy time that fools no one, least of all the Jedi.
Leia and Han Solo trek from world to world to foment rebellion against the New Republic’s disastrous appeasement policies. But Luke Skywalker has chosen the most dangerous assignment of all: to sneak into the Yuuzhan Vong’s stronghold on Coruscant. His outrageous scheme to gain entry is either brilliant or suicidal, depending on the outcome. And bearing down swiftly on Borleias is a Vong invasion fleet, determined to destroy the galaxy’s remaining defenders. . . .
Customer Reviews:
"Embrace the pain, scarhead".......2007-10-05
After the cataclysmic events of Star by Star (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 9) (and the relatively pointless distraction of Dark Journey (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 10)), I was ready for another full scale New Jedi Order novel. Enter Star Wars veteran Aaron Allston (X-Wing: Wraith Squadron) and his Enemy Lines "duology".
Book 1 - Rebel Dream - finds our heroes finally making an effective strike at the Yuuzhan Vong by retaking the planet Borlais, which was used by the Vong as a staging point for their invasion of Coruscant. Allston brings Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade together with Han and Leia Solo, as well as Jaina Solo and her entourage of hotshot pilot Jag Fel and rogue Jedi Kyp Durron, all under the leadership of Wedge Antilles. Naturally plenty of members of both Rogue and Wraith Squadron are featured as well. Antilles and company know they can't hold Borleas forever, but they're determined not to let the Vong have it without one hell of a fight. On the Yuuzhan Vong side, Warmaster Tsavong Lah brings his father - the former Warmaster Czulkang Lah - out of retirement to make the Rebels pay for their actions.
Allston is definitely in his element here, crafting a story that has plenty of military strategy, starfighter dogfights, and covert operations. He's definitely at home with the majority of these characters, and manages to write the unfamiliar ones like a seasoned pro. Like fellow X-Wing novelist Michael Stackpole, Allston has a tendency to end every chapter with some bold statement by one of the characters, but that's a relatively minor flaw in an otherwise excellent story. Long time New Jedi Order readers will be relieved to see the good guys finally catch a break instead of being kicked around from one book to the next, and the end of the book will leave you chomping at the bit for book 2 - Rebel Stand.
Exellent Book.......2006-10-20
This is really good book just like all the other Star Wars books! I reccomend before you read this one though you read the ones before in the series.
wedges moment in the sun.......2006-08-29
an "inner circle" is formed.a secret jedi society to take out the vong like the alliance years before.mara jades in before she goes to the jungle with tahiri[whom i feel sorry for every time i see her poor broken hearted name] and luke.luke is on the inner circle also since he did form it.they travel to coruscant to battle a dark side enemy luke sensed through the force.as if the vong werent bad enough now here comes the dark side back.han solo joins the inner circle.han has an idea about being a crime lord with leia.this book is really centered around wedge and his elaborate plan to nail the vong.wedge is in the inner circle as it was partly his idea.i cant really go into detail but the vong give coruscant a makeover.the battle in this book is ar borelia which is near corelia where hans from.jaina solo forms a force based air strike team called the twin suns under her command.a big risk since she almost got brainwashed and almost went dark side within the last book.jaina begins having depression due to all the losses shes endured.jag and kyp join jainas team.princess leia considers becoming a crime lord with han............so lets review wedge is the focus,inner circle is formed,and a big fight.
Anakin Solo fans read this please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-08-06
Now everyone knows that Anakin died in star by star so i say something if the force still has mysteries couldn't amys tery be to revive jedi or that anakin found a way to be reborn but i think somebody should make Anakin return because he was the geatest jedi from the three solo children he was smart and intelligent what if they cloned him but please spread the word and for all star wars authors and george llucas himself please find a way to make Anakin come back i mean since you killed Anakin Solo many fans have lost their interest in the star wars series and it's true in the junior jedi knights review many fans say they have lost their liking to the star wars series i myself find the book less exciting so please everyone help spread the word and don't take this review off you know what i say is true since Anakin died the star wars series haven't been the same, so my concluding in this review is that author Aaron Allston, Troy Denning ,Greg keyes, Timothy Zahn all of you even George Lucas himself please think of a way to make Anakin reborn or cloned or something i would think reborn andi'd put it that the force would let Anakin be renborn i would make it something like this "Leia was in a dream and Anakin was in it "Anakin" Leia said" oh Anakin we thought you died "Mother you are asleep but i am here through the force in a vision i have talked with jedi master Obi-Wan kenobi and Yoda even a Jedi master called Qui-Gon Jinn mother they ha ve found a way to make me reincarnate but it wi take you and every jedi in the galaxy dead and alive to make it they say that a dark time aproaches one that only i can stop it and they have decided that i should be reborn to stop the looming threat so come awake mother and tell this to everyone uncle Luke Jacen Jaina every jedi we are preparing over here mother so wake up wakeup leia."Anakink said "Anakin"Leia said "Anakin wait"but Anakin only said "Wake up Leia Wake up"Leia saw Han in in front of her He said "Leia leia wake up you were having a drea you kept saying Anakin"Leia wasnow wide awake she said to Han" Han Anakin's coming back he told me they're going to revive him i have to tell Lukee we have to makea ritual ofsome kind"she said and left the room".Now that's just a theory but it's good but all in all please find a way to make Anakin Solo come back please it's just not the same without him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now this is the Star Wars I've always loved!.......2006-03-17
With Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream, Aaron Allston joins the pack of Star Wars authors for the New Jedi Order, and he gives us a rip-roaring adventure with a lot of what drew me to the Star Wars universe to begin with. Known (at least where this universe is concerned) for contributing to the X-Wing series, as well as introducing Wraith Squadron, he's definitely the master of exciting spaceship combat, and this book is no different. If you've found the New Jedi Order too depressing recently, that won't completely change here, but Allston does give us a lot more of what we all know and love as well. An excellent first book.
After the fall of Coruscant, the homeworld of the New Republic, the remaining members of the Council are frantic. The New Republic manages to capture the Vong base at Borleias, but General Wedge Antilles and the rest of the garrison there know that they can't hold it. That would seem to suit the Council just fine, adding even more political intrigue to an already horrendous situation. Wedge, his followers in the army, and the Jedi decide that the New Republic is dead, and that they must return to their rebellion roots to keep as many planets as possible from negotiating with the Vong. To this end, they send Han and Leia Organa Solo on a mission to various planets to begin this operation. Meanwhile, Luke senses a horribly dark presence back on Coruscant, and embarks on a seemingly foolhardy plan to go back and investigate, along with a team from Republic Intelligence hoping to set up a Resistance cell there. What Luke finds there may be the end of him, and the last hope of the New Republic could fall to the huge Vong invasion force determined to re-take Borleias.
Rebel Dream has a lot of stuff in it that I have been missing from the Star Wars books up to now. The characterization of all the regulars is fabulous. Wedge Antilles really comes into his own here, now that we have somebody who is very skilled in writing him contributing to the books (I believe Michael Stackpole also utilized him well in his two books, but I can't remember for sure). He's older, wiser, more seasoned, but he remembers what it was like to be a young, hot-shot pilot and the byplay between him and the rest of the cast is excellent.
Even better, however, and truly the saving grace of the book, is Han and Leia. They are sent out to set up resistance cells on planets whose governments may not be willing to help against the Vong, and they are the Han and Leia that I have missed since this series started. The banter between them is marvelous, the teasing with the deep love that is underneath, flowing between them like a bond that will never be broken, is back in full force. Don't get me wrong. This is not "reset button" characterization. Everything that has happened to them and their family still affects them, and they both have their wistful moments thinking of Anakin and Jacen, and their doubts about Jaina. The teasing between the two of them has often served to cover their insecurities, so it's logical that it's even more pronounced here. Literally every scene they have in the book is wonderful, at least where they are concerned.
In fact, that's the best part about this book. Despite the heavy content, the book is fun. That's something that I couldn't have said about many of the New Jedi Order books, and it's a refreshing change. Luke and Mara have a serious mission to Coruscant, but they have time for humorous asides as well. The Wraith squadron, which Allston created many years ago, comes back (or at least some members do) and their senses of humour are a shining beacon after so much darkness.
The only problem with this much humour is that Jaina's dalliance with the Dark Side of the Force is shunted aside a bit. Yes, at the end of Dark Journey, Jaina was on her way to dealing with it, but it seemed that there would still be a tough road ahead of her. In Rebel Dream, it didn't seem like it was that hard. That being said, everything she's gone through has led to some wonderful scenes in this book with both Jag and Kyp, as well as a wonderfully touching scene with her mother. Allston hits the right notes on all of these, whether it's darkness, light stuff, or some emotional scenes, everything is good.
That's not to say the book is perfect, though it is definitely a 5-star effort. The storyline involving the human spy that is under the control of the Vong is very predictable, and thus quite dull. One thing Allston is not is subtle. Tricky, yes, as he keeps Wedge's ultimate plan hidden from even the reader. But he's not subtle. The spy story is right there in the reader's face, very obvious to anybody who's paying attention. Unfortunately, that also makes the resolution seem too easy, and there's no real tension involved. It does lead into something nice for the next book, but in this one, it's just tedious.
Rebel Dream is a return to form for the Star Wars books. Yes, I have liked most of the New Jedi Order series, but there's always been a "but this isn't really the series I grew up with" feeling behind it. Allston succeeds in marrying what I have always liked about the series to what I like about the recent books, and making a perfect match. He should be commended, and this book should be read despite not really having much to do with the overall storyline. It's not an "important" book for the series, but it is definitely worth the side trip.
David Roy
Average customer rating:
- The end of Tsavong Lah (The Warmaster) ! A must read!!
- A cool book
- book 14
- Things are starting to look up for the Republic!
- Back to the war. Is there any hope?
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Destiny's Way (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 14)
Walter Jon Williams
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0345428749
Release Date: 2003-07-29 |
Book Description
The time of reckoning is close at hand. Events in the New York Times bestselling Star Wars The New Jedi Order series take a decisive turn, as the heroes of the New Republic prepare for their most volatile clash yet with the enemy—from without and within.
In the war against the ruthless Yuuzhan Vong, the fall of Coruscant leaves the New Republic divided by internal strife, and on the verge of bowing to conquest. But those who steadfastly refuse to consider surrender—Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, and their children and comrades-in-arms—are determined to seize victory against overwhelming odds. And now, finally, there are signs that the tide may be turning in the New Republic’s favor.
After capturing crucial Yuuzhan Vong intelligence, Jedi fighter-pilot Jaina Solo prepares to lead a daring surprise strike against an enemy flagship. Meanwhile, Jaina’s brother Jacen—liberated from the hands of the enemy and newly schooled in an even greater mastery of the Force by the Jedi Knight Vergere—is eagerly poised to bring his unique skills to bear against the invaders. And on Mon Calamari, the New Republic’s provisional capital, the retired, ailing hero Admiral Ackbar has conceived a major tactical plan that could spell the beginning of a swift end for the Yuuzhan Vong.
Yet even as opposing squadrons face off in the depths of space, intrigue runs rampant: in the heated political race for Chief of State . . . in the shadows where Yuuzhan Vong spies plot assassinations . . . and in the inscrutable creature Vergere, a Jedi Knight whose allegiance is impossible to predict. And as Luke Skywalker sets about reestablishing the Jedi Council, the growing faction opposed to the ways of the Force unveil a terrifying weapon designed to annihilate the Yuuzhan Vong species. But in doing so, they may be dooming the New Republic to becoming the very thing it has sworn to fight against—and unleashing the power of the dark side.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
The end of Tsavong Lah (The Warmaster) ! A must read!!.......2006-12-15
For the past three years the Yuuzhan Vong have laid waste to the galaxy. Mighty heroes have fallen, planets have burned, and Coruscant, the illustrious seat of government for millenia, is no more. The ruins of the great city planet have given birth to Yuuzhan'tar, the legendary homeworld of the Yuuzhan Vong. All hope seems lost for the New Republic as darkness sweeps the galaxy. But from that darkness emerges a beacon of light, a lost hero, a lost son - Jacen Solo.
"It is the turning point."
This phrase echoes throughout Destiny's Way, and it proves true. Walter Jon Williams leads us on a journey that chronicles the restructuring of the New Republic, the rebirth of the Jedi Council, and the return of a lost hero - all leading up to a clash of titanic proportions. At the Battle of Ebaq a conglomeration of Yuuzhan Vong battlegroups rivaling that of Battle Plan Coruscant is wiped out to the last living ship. By novel's end Warmaster Tsavong Lah is dead and the Yuuzhan Vong... well, if there were any Yuuzhan Vong survivors they would be licking their wounds.
Williams must have delved into the layers of EU material when penning Destiny's Way. The book is filled with subtle references to more-obscure content, such as the classic X-Wing PC game. Keyan Farlander, now a Jedi and a general, returns at the helm of a New Republic fleet. We also get to see a variety of ship types instead of the standard fare: Lancer-class frigates, Corellian gunships, and the classic MC80 Mon Calamari cruiser. At the end of the novel we learn what became of the other Super Star Destroyer the New Republic's been hiding - the Guardian.
The book has a variety of battles. Williams gives us small skirmishes and dogfights, grand space battles, lightsaber duels, and even the rare underwater conflict. The submarine battle is awesome, and seems like something straight out of the pages of The Hunt for Red October, but the Battle of Ebaq takes the cake for my favorite scene (even though it's a good chunk of the book).
My favorite parts of the novel, aside from the sprawling Battle of Ebaq, were those involving the Yuuzhan Vong. Shimrra is a veritable monster, and Williams does an excellent job showing us many facets of the Supreme Overlord. We finally get a glimpse into the inner workings of the highest-level of the Yuuzhan Vong government. The Shaper Lord Ch'Gang Hool, High Priest Jakan, Warmaster Tsavong Lah, High Prefect Yoog Skell, and of course, Onimi, who is destined to be a crowd pleaser with his antics and clever rhymes. Also sure to please fans: in Destiny's Way the veil of mystery surrounding what really took place on Zonama Sekot is lifted.
Destiny's Way offers more of my favorite character - the executor everyone loves to hate, Nom Anor. Having escaped the warmaster's wrath after the events of Traitor, Nom Anor finds himself in the court of the Supreme Overlord, where he undergoes a vigorous 'mind-rape' at Shimrra's hands. It is here that Nom Anor learns of the heresy among Shamed Ones and members of the worker caste. He infiltrates a small group of heretics and decides that they need a leader - a Prophet. Later, when events turn sour and Nom Anor unadvertently leads the Yuuzhan Vong to their greatest defeat, the executor abandons his position and goes into hiding amongst the heretics. I don't think we've seen the last of him just yet.
"What are you doing, Executor?"
"Giving Shimrra an itch."
Traitor left me fearing for the executor's life, and Destiny's Way is no exception. By the end of the novel Nom Anor is a marked individual, and Shimrra will stop at nothing to have his head. How long can one run from death before it finally catches up? Hopefully forever.
I applaud Williams for not falling into a common trap - what I like to call 'fan popularity bias'. Too often we see the main characters being forced into situations, often because of their popularity among the fanbase. For example, the majority of fans were counting on a rematch between Jacen and Tsavong Lah. Instead Jaina was the one to put an end to the warmaster's reign of terror. Instead of populating the Jedi Council with all the fan-favorites he included Kenth Hamner and Tresina Lobi, two Jedi with very little prior exposure. Not only does this add to the element of surprise and believability (the main characters can't do everything), it also gives us the opportunity to learn more about second and third-tier characters.
A cool book.......2006-11-15
As OVERrated as Traitor was, Destiny's Way is UNDERrated. Williams has a nice smooth flowing writing style that made it an easy read and, unlike Traitor, advanced the plot on a galatic scale. I'd like to address some of the statements made by previous reviewers.
I'm not sure how Williams `ruined' Palleaon. Sure, he wasn't as cordial with Han & Leia as he'd been in the past nor should he have been. It was business. The Empire wanted something from the Republic for their aid as they should. And I'm not sure why reviewers made such a big deal about his garden either. Geez, it was in 2 or 3 paragraphs. I don't get their gripe about the election either. Luke & Mara did NOT sabatoge it. Lando & Karrde did - and RIGHTFULLY so. They needed a Jedi friendly leader & got one.
The formation of The Jedi Council was one of the coolest scenes in the whole NJO. Jaina's title of `Sword Of The Jedi' was befitting in the context it was given. Vergere was FINALLY killed off so there won't be any more of her special brand of `help'. Her character could've been handled so much better. My only grip was the fight between Jaina & Tsavong Lah. It was over way too fast & should've been done better.
book 14.......2006-09-25
in this one the author ties up loose ends mostly.he also ignores some of the cooker stuff happening from previous books from the series.anyhow,lando has created mouse droids to weed out vong secret agents.luke skywalker begins the new jedi council and his wife[and lets not forget former sith] is the 1st on it.princess leia goes to the empire for help vs the vong.i didnt see that one coming!jaina solo gets promoted to major.she also makes jedi knight,despite the fact she turned bad a few books ago.do the authors of these read the old ones ?i wonder!vergere is taken prisoner by the jedis.id like to see her killed off.she is so obnoxious!5 more ppl make the jedi council only one of whom was really in any of the previous books.the ever controversial kyp durron!2 books ago in the series they introduced a sith lord called lord nyax.what happened to him?why are we keeping all the dorks and killing or not using all the really cool people?there is a major thing i cant say going on with the vong.the bothans declare a state of "ak'rai" which means like genocide on the vong.a few more folks make jedi knights also.among them the heart broken tahiri,jacen solo-who was on the dark side a book or so ago.......................and lowbacca-a jedi wookie.i still prefer chewie.the vong structure is coming apart at the seams.jaina is promoted to lt colonel after a major feat.once again im not allowed to spill the beans.this book is interesting but really has little to do with previous books in the series.
Things are starting to look up for the Republic!.......2006-05-09
After the extremely personal events of Traitor, the New Jedi Order series gets back to galactic adventure in Destiny's Way, by noted science fiction author Walter Jon Williams. Things are reaching a turning point as the Yuuzhan Vong are stretched almost to their limits, but the New Republic is too, and both sides are delivering weaker and weaker blows. Williams does a good job with this, though the politics in the book slow things down quite a bit. Also, some of the characterization seems off, though not to a huge degree. Still, it's another winner in this series, and with five books to go, things are starting to move toward a conclusion.
Jacen Solo is on his way back to the Republic, with new-found friend (possibly) and mentor Vergere coming with him. In Destiny's Way, Vergere reveals the truth about who she is and how she came to be with the Vong, and she also sows the seeds to what might end up being the solution to all of their problems. Meanwhile, the New Republic needs a leader, and Luke Skywalker wants to re-establish the Jedi Council, and he finds a good ally in Cal Omas. If Cal can win the support of the majority of the senators, he may be able to help Luke with his goals as well. Meanwhile, the Vong are discovering just how many resources they've expended in this relentless war, and they have to decide whether to regroup or go for a final assault. Admiral Akbar, retired military expert, comes up with a plan that may draw the Vong into a final assault that they cannot win, with hordes of Jedi (along with the most important ones, the Solo twins) as bait. Will things go off as planned, or will the Vong do something completely unpredictable and ruin everything?
Destiny's Way starts out with a bang, with Han and Leia facing off against a bunch of Vong coralskippers as they travel to the remnants of the Empire to ask for help. There, they discover that, while some help is better than none, the Empire may be waiting to see who wins. This, along with a mission proposed by Jaina Solo to decapitate the leadership of the Vong with one shot, gives the book a bit of excitement, as there isn't a lot of action after this (other than an assassination attempt and a another ship battle with Jaina) until near the end. Of course, any Star Wars fan loves spaceship battles with the Falcon, so Williams started out with the good stuff.
The problem is that it starts to bog down a little after that. Some of the conversation is interesting (I loved the scene on the Imperial Remnant, with both Leia and General Pellaeon dancing around diplomacy as they have dinner and visit with each other), but some of it wasn't so much. I found the politics around the new Republic head of state to be rather dull (assassins notwithstanding, as well as a cool Lando scene). The new Jedi Council has some interesting possibilities, but only two of them (Luke and one other) really grabbed my attention this time, even as they wrestled with some serious issues. Thankfully, Williams' writing always stands up, even when the plot isn't that intriguing. While the pace slowed, it never stopped, and that's down to his prose.
The other slight problem was the characterization of Jaina. Perhaps it's because of Jacen's return, but she seems to regress from the previous couple of books, and I thought she had come out of her dark shell more than Destiny's Way portrays. She was still gloomy, but this book has the return of her "I'm going to die anyway, so why should I care about anybody?" shtick. That was really the only characterization fault that I had. Jacen seems to have matured from his ordeals in Traitor, the changes in Luke's attitudes are clearly created by what's happened to him and what he discovers with Vergere (in fact, the scenes between the two of them are probably my favourite in the book), and everybody else is captured fairly well too.
The ending of the book is wonderful, though. Lots of action, reverses as things don't go quite as planned, heroics, and starships blasting each other out of the stars. There's a lot to like there, as everybody gets involved in one way or the other. It'll be interesting to see where the series goes from here, given what happens at the end. Williams' writing shines in these sequences, as he shows he can handle starship combat with the best of them. It's not quite as frenetic as Stackpole and Allston can be, but they are masters of the craft. I'm not familiar with Williams' writing (other than a couple of short stories, and The Courtship of Princess Leia, a book that didn't really contain too many ships), but he definitely has a clear way of handling it.
The New Jedi Order is entering its stretch run of books, and Destiny's Way is another high point. It's just not as high as some of the other books around it have been. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next one, though I haven't heard the best things about them. Here's hoping that the quality keeps up.
David Roy
Back to the war. Is there any hope?.......2005-09-28
After volume 13 which focused on Jacen's struggle with the Yuuzhan Vong, Vergere and himself, the focus returns to the war at large, which hasn't been going well. However, there may now be some light. New Republic forces are learning more and more about not only Vong biotech, but also their culture, and are picking up some weaknesses along the way.
However, the infighting and lack of confidence among the locals have been their greatest weakness. Politics has been the downfall of the New Republic thus far.
Will Luke and Cal Omas be able to turn the political tide? Will the work of Ackbar and Jaina produce the tactics needed to win the war? Will Danni and other scientists produce the advances needed to outgun and disrupt the Vong?
All of these questions are hanging through this volume. Some questions will be answered, but more than enough is kept lingering for future volumes. This read is one of the hardest in the series to put down. Williams does a masterful job of transitioning from one theater of the war to another (including the political and religious theaters of the Republic and Vong respectively) to keep you turning the pages.
The jedi themselves are beginning to come to order, but will that order be on the old lines of the Old Republic of Vergere OR will there be a new Jedi order? If it is the later, what form will it take? Read on!
Book Description
The Star Wars epic continues its dazzling space odyssey in The New Jedi Order–as Luke and Mara, Leia and Han, and others battle the mighty enemy from beyond the galactic rim.
The brutal Yuuzhan Vong are scouring the universe for Jedi to slaughter. With no help from the divided New Republic, the Jedi stand alone against their seemingly invincible foe. Han and Leia Organa Solo risk deadly consequences with their controversial tactics to bolster the Jedi resistance. After uncovering a new Yuuzhan Vong menace, Anakin and Tahiri find themselves wanted for murder by the Peace Brigade. To avoid capture, they jump into hyperspace . . . and into trouble far graver.
Hunted by the Yuuzhan Vong, wanted as criminals by the New Republic, and with unrest stirring within their own ranks, the Jedi find peril everywhere they turn. But even in the midst of despair, while the most fiercest battle of all looms on the horizon, hope arises with the birth of one very special child. . . .
Customer Reviews:
The New Jedi Order continues to impress.......2007-09-14
Rebirth is the eighth volume in the massive New Jedi Order saga, and the second book in author Greg Keyes' Edge of Victory duology. Unlike the first book (Edge of Victory I: Conquest (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 7)), which was primarily focused on Anakin Solo, Rebirth reads more like a classic Star Wars adventure, with different groups of characters off on separate quests yet working towards the same goal.
Rebirth follows Han, Leia, and Jacen Solo as they embark on a campaign against the Yuuzhan Vong's Peace Brigade collaborators. At the same time, Anakin Solo, Tahiri, and Corran Horn infiltrate a Yuuzhan Vong invasion force to try and stop the next planetary conquest. Jaina Solo teams up with Kyp Durron and Rogue Squadron to take out what can only be the Yuuzhan Vong equivalent of the Death Star. As these conflicts occur, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker must battle for the very existence of their unborn son. Rebirth also marks the return of the mysterious Vergere to the NJO storyline.
Despite the numerous subplots, Keyes weaves them all together quite skillfully, showing both a real understanding of what makes this diverse cast of characters tick as well as the ability to tell a great story. He also continues to give readers a better understanding of the Yuuzhan Vong invaders, further developing characters like Nom Anor (don't you just love to hate this guy?), Nen Yim, and introducing (finally) Supreme Overlord Shimmra.
This is the second of two exceptional books by Greg Keyes. I think Conquest was a better book overall, but Rebirth is as good if not better than any other book (so far) in the NJO series.
One of the Best of the New Jedi Order.......2007-03-23
Greg Keyes' Edge of Victory II: Rebirth is one of, if not the,best of the New Jedi Order novels. It featured strong writing, a good storyline, a wider focus than its predecessor and was also very important to the storyline.
First, I want to discuss the quality of the Greg Keyes' writing. One of the greatest flaws with the massive collection of Star Wars novels on the shelf today is that the writing is inferior. The novels tend to rely on famous and popular characters and, with some exceptions such as Timothy Zahn and Michael Stackpole, tend to push quality writing aside. Star Wars novels may be written well enough for children but the actual merit of the writing will disappoint most adult readers. However, Greg Keyes' novels are a huge exception to this rule. He writes extremely well. His narration is top notch and his dialog is snappy and realistic. His writing is intelligent and engaging and pretty out of the norm for Star Wars novels.
Although Rebirth focuses heavily on Anakin Solo as its predecessor Conquest did, Rebirth widens its focus to include more of the galactic war. Keyes managed to make me like Anakin, even though the young Jedi was still portrayed as a way-too strong and intelligent young Jedi. I have always thought that Anakin was one of the weakest parts of the New Jedi Order series. He was too powerful, too-smart, he learned too quickly and adapted way too well. Aside from youthful overconfidence, he was an utterly perfect character, which lends an air of unrealism to the series. But Keyes works hard to make Anakin more human, even if he does not make any strides towards limiting Anakin's power.
The plot is rather typical of the New Jedi Order. Luke, Leia, Han and Mara are trying to rally the Jedi who are becoming more divided as pressure from the New Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong cause them to reach their breaking point. Despite the many redeeming qualities of this book, it is not a particularly important one, from the point of plot-advancement. However, it offers excellent character development and a solid build up for the next novel in the New Jedi Order series, Star by Star, which is probably the most important in the series.
edge of victory is great.......2006-08-02
Greg keyes did a good book he finally gave luke his son,Anakin is growing stronger and the battle with the yuuzhan vong continues,and thanks to mara's baby she is saved ,Han and leia were not mentioned much in this book and the Jacen Danni relation ship was over though it would have been good to become fruitful overall this is a great book read it and read the whole njo installment it's really good
#8.......2006-05-03
this is one of the best books of the first 8.a lot is going on in this one for such a short book.the republic want the jedis in exile.luke is on the run so as not to be arrested.his "unsactioned military actions" were acryaly the rescue and relocation of thousands of slaves.luke decides the jedi,being wothout friends,should band together like in the long long ago.the bounty hinyers going after the jedi are gargantuan so they randomly jump through hyperspace without rhyme or reason to avoid capture.mara jade skywalker finaly lets luke help her fight off the disease that is killing her to better save thier unborn child.jaona solo struggles with her place in rogue sqaudrin as it is hard on her.mara jade and lukes method works and she has a baby boy they named ben after obee who called himself ben while in exile.the peace brigade kill a jedi named kelbis nu.however anakan and tahiri chase them off before they can kill more jedi.anakan and tahoti are arrested as local police think they did it.jacens older brother and father could barely take down one gammorrean.[anakan once took 4 on alone].han,jacen and leia take the millenium falcon up and chase down the peace brigade and a big battle ensues.jacen decides to use thr force freely again after a important character from the movies gets thier legs hacked up and he needed it.jacen gets a crush on a 40 year old twi'lek[blue chick with tentacles for hair].anakan,the always busy builds remote droids that fight like the vong to pracrice against.although he has visions of tahiri going evil he treats her no different.anakan saved corrans life[a master jedi].soon enough they are in the space battle too.bad news for the vong as their world ships are getting old.a story is told of the reckless kyp durron once blowing up a planet a week after becoming a jedi.wedge antilles comes out of retirement and into the space fight too.kyp and jaina flirt a lot despite shes nor even legal at 17 and hes like 40.she is almost killed but not scared.however by books end she tells kyp "of you were dying of dehydration on tatoonie i wouldnt spit on you".so either thier courting is off or she really likes him.the vong sacrifice thousands of people a day to thier gods.dissention finaly breaks in the high levels of the vong.since they embrace death they use kamikaze type methods to fight with sometimes.a new vong female gets into the fray at the end who us some sort of seer.she sees the 8th vortex which only 4 people ever have seen,2 of which were gods and one was told by one of those gods.she predicts"now my shaping truly begins and the universe shall tremble at what i create".anakan challenges and kills a vong war captain-just another feather in his cap.he and tahiri share loves 1st make out errrrrrr kisses i mean.this was one of the best books of the series.it ties up a lot of unanswered questions and is really incredible from a sci fi fans point of view.everything youd want in a sci fi novel.
Good book.......2006-02-13
I loved this book. Thought it was better than Conquest. I really did not like Mara's birth being felt by half the family. That is my only issue with it.
Book Description
The saga of Recluce, launched in The Magic of Recluce and continuing in The Towers of the Sunset and The Magic Engineer reaches a new climax in The Order War. "Modesitt has created an exceptionally vivid world," says L. Sprague de Camp, "so concretely visualized as to give the impression that Modesitt himself must have dwelt there." Publishers Weekly says, "Modesitt creates a complex world bgased on a plausible system of magic and peopled with engaging and realistic characters."Set after the events of The Magic Engineer (and prior to The Magic of Recluce) The Order War illuminates great figures and major events in the historic war between order and chaos that is the central focus of the saga of Recluce.The deadly White Wizards of Fairhaven, wielding the forces of chaos, have completed their great highway through the Westhorns and now threatened the ancient matriarchy of Sarronnyn, the last bastion of order in Candar. The ruler of Sarronnyn appeals to the Black order wizards of Recluce for help.Justen - a young Black Engineer in the city of Nylan - joins the relief force. Despite their success in destroying more than half the White armies, Sarronnyn falls to the White Wizards, and Justen is chased into the most inhospitable desert in Candar. These trials are but the beginning, for the White Wizards have all Candar in their grasp. Justen must fight both Recluce and Fairhaven, as well as the highest powers of order and the forbidden technology to harness chaos itself in his efforts to halt the conquest of the chaos wizards.The Order War is the fourth book of the saga of Recluce.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Another Recluce book set a bit earlier in time. This tells the story of another Black engineer type, who goes off to battle to assist a far-off community against the White Chaos Wizards.
After this goes pretty badly he meets a woman from another culture who shows him there may be another way, that of the Gray Wizard. He gets political grief from everyone as a result.
Another good book, but a step down from the previous two.......2003-10-23
This book brings the Rucluce Saga full circle with the introduction of Justen the Gray and the destruction of Fairhaven. I was really excited about this story because I thought that those two topics could be really great. However, I was somewhat dissapointed in many aspects of this book. I don't really know what it was, but I just wasn't able to get into this book as much as I did the last couple. Much of the book seemed to drag on with very little being accomplished, and while the action was thrilling (with Justen and Gunnar whipping the Whites, and the Whites whipping innocent people in turn) it was few and far between. I think more could have been done with the druids (I don't feel like the reader really learns much about them) and with the Black Devil (which just supplied transport for Justen to get to Fairhaven) and what was with the metal rods that Justen used to kill those last Whites??
Look, this is a good book that fits nicely into the saga, but it just didn't live up to what I was expecting. I still look forward to the next book, in which the story returns to Lerris.
Good, but...........2002-02-10
The more I read Modesitt's work, the more I fight with the thought, "Do I get the next?" They have gone from great to good. The editorials and comments on the next couple of books don't look promising.
I have to agree, that Modesitt's sometimes just gives too many details about his character's professions. There's only so much I want to read about blacksmithing, engineering, and carpentry. He spends a lot of time telling you what a blacksmith does and thinks about, but doesn't put it into user friendly terms.
Lastly, there is only so much bread and cheese people can eat without MAJOR CONSTIPATION! Sounds like his characters would hae some serious "order" problems since every meal is BREAD and CHEESE. I think laxatives need to be introduced by a gray mage. It is, after all, a form of order which produces chaos ....
Do I get the next???
Much better!.......2000-08-05
This, the fourth book in the series (after THE MAGIC OF RECLUCE, TOWERS OF THE SUNSET, and THE MAGIC ENGINEER), is a vast improvement over the others. The pacing in this book was so much better. The other three had large sections in the middle where nothing really happened, at least in terms of plot progression. This book has slow areas, but they were the slow areas of mostly any other good book out there. They were used for character development rather than for philosophy, as in the first three books. In addition to the better pacing, Modesitt has cut down on the utterly confusing leaps of intuition that were a glaring mark throughout the first three books.
Modesitt's characterizations continue to be very strong here. All of the characters in his books are believable and the villains are not just some two dimensional cardboard cutout. I think the characterizations are the strongest part of Modesitt's writing. Since there's not always a lot of action, the growth of the characters is what keeps my attention in these books.
Modesitt continues to build a vivid, interesting world. I can't wait to find out what this "Legend" he keeps talking about really is. The only real shortcoming of this book is the lack of maps so I can figure out where the heck the characters are in relation to places they've been!
A good entry in the Recluse Saga.......2000-03-04
I enjoyed this novel in the Recluse series because it gives further insight into the complex magical system that Modesitt has created. It is fun to see how Justen changes through the book, and to watch the relationships with his brother, and other characters evolve. The pacing was a bit slow, just as in other Modesitt novels, and at times I got tired of the myriad of details he provides. Overall, enjoyable, especially the second half.
Average customer rating:
- Kills the momentum Star by Star established
- Depressing Let Down
- Great Heart and Interesting Plot...
- book 10
- The worst book in NJO series
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Dark Journey (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 10)
Elaine Cunningham
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0345428692
Release Date: 2002-01-29 |
Book Description
The New Jedi Order continues as Jaina Solo struggles with anger and despair after the Jedi Knights' harrowing adventure behind enemy lines.
Though the Jedi strike force completed its deadly mission into Yuuzhan Vong territory, the price of success was tragedy: not everyone made it out alive. In a daring getaway, hotshop pilot Jaina Solo stole an enemy ship, taking along her fellow survivors--and leaving behind a huge piece of her heart.
With the enemy in hot pursuit, Jaina is forced to seek haven in the unprotected, unfriendly Hapes Cluster, where the Jedi are held responsible for a past tragedy--and where the royal family has grim plans for their famous Jedi guest. Even more sinister are the intentions of the Yuuvhan Vong, desperate to capture Jaina for a hideous sacrifice.
Grief-stricken and obsessed with revenge, Jaina is blind to these threats--and to the overpowering evil dangerously close to consuming her. In the coming conflagration, Jaina will be fighting not for victory or vengeance, but fore her very being . . .
Customer Reviews:
Kills the momentum Star by Star established.......2007-09-26
After the jaw dropping (and heart wrenching) events of Star by Star (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 9), I was eager to see both how the Jedi community would react to the loss of one of its brightest stars as well as how the New Republic would deal with the loss of their capitol planet Coruscant to the Yuuzhan Vong invaders. Instead, Dark Journey gives us a tale of one Jedi's journey towards the dark side and a large serving of Hapan politics.
Under different circumstances, Elaine Cunningham's Star Wars debut would have been a perfectly enjoyable novel. She definitely makes great strides in further defining Jaina Solo's character, especially in terms of dealing with the death of one brother and the potential death of the other. Jaina's thirst for vengeance is perfectly understandable, even if not all of her actions are. Her interactions with hotshot pilot Jag Fel are a little too "romance novel" for my tastes, but her relationship with rogue Jedi Kyp Durron makes for very interesting reading.
The Hapan succession story, which was the other major focus of Dark Journey was relatively interesting, but ultimately unimportant in the grand scheme of things. This is not what the New Jedi Order series needs to focus on at this point. The Yuuzhan Vong invasion was still the main undercurrent of the book, but it should have been front and center.
Despite some interesting character development, Dark Journey serves as a brief (just under 300 pages to Star by Star's 600+) detour from the larger New Jedi Order saga. It's still well worth reading (at this point in the series you pretty much have to read everything), but is not on par with books like Star by Star or the Edge of Victory novels.
Depressing Let Down.......2007-06-23
First of all, I would like to state that Cunningham did the best job of at least trying to make the story look up a little, but she had very little to work with: Anakin dead, Jacen "Dead" and Chewie is just another excuse to mourn and moan.
This book is basically about Jaina's struggle through her grief of losing both her brothers in one day and then using outlets to deal out her anger. It's a annoying repetition of "Anakin and Jacen are dead, I'm sad and mad". It was somewhat plausible seeing as in real life people do mourn for a long time. But in books it can become annoying and boring all at once. The book went virtually nowhere. I had a different view of the story when I read the back: "Left behind a piece of her heart".
One, it was two pieces, Anakin died, and two, I first thought that Zekk would be the one to die. At least then it would make Anakin a possible hero in the future books to help bring the story back to its original glory.
No, sadly this novel didn't have too many heroes to work with and the ones left were too depressed and busy making a martyr out of Anakin to push the story further.
Jaina uses manipulation and one of the leaders of hapes to help her get her revenge and that's all that happens.
I'm not saying this is a bad book, it just didn't have a good predecessor and therefore had little else to work with.
Otherwise, it really doesn't do much for me. I read it with difficulty, hoping that someone would pop out and say "Hey people, Anakin" (Or another hero) "Is alive," or something to bring the series out of the dirt, but I lost hope as soon as they had Anakin's funeral.
With this book, I confirm that Star Wars has little potential to work with now that many new heroes have been killed off along with a few original favorites like Ackbar and Chewie.
I wish someone would just stop and write a new series that picks up on the original tone of Star Wars with all the characters restored somehow. But that's wishful thinking.
Anyways, if you can handle a book of depression and mourning, this is it. Or if you don't really mind that most of the heroes were killed off, this is a good book. I don't really reccomend reading it if you disliked Star by Star.
Great Heart and Interesting Plot..........2006-08-10
Dark Journey started out somewhat redundant, but once the young Jedi strike team reached Hapes, the plot took off. I like how this book's plot focuses more on one planet (especially with one as interesting as Hapes) and a few characters. I'm not saying that all NJO books should be this way but its a nice change. I LOVE the Kyp-Jaina and Jag-Jaina plots. Jaina desperatley needed a mentor with Mara taking care of her own child and Kyp was perfect with his experiance with falling to the dark side. Jag also adds some humor to the book by being properly bewildered by Jaina's behavior towards him. I also love how Tenel Ka's character is expanded and her feelings for Jacen were revealed. I also like having the old Han and Leia back. I didn't have high expections for this book because one of my favorite characters, Anakin would not be in it but I was pleasently surprised. I hope the new relationship between Kyp and Jaina will continue and I hope the next installment in the NJO series is just as good!
Mariel (Murl) Jorgensen, 13
book 10.......2006-06-25
you can rell this was written by a woman right off the bat.the entire book is based around leia and her search for answers and jaina solo and her inner battle vs the dark side.its really sugary and emotional as compared to the earlier books.it reasd more like a futuristic romance novel than a sci-fi action thriller.SPOILER.......oh yeah and if that wasnt enough ol elaine cunningham didnt wait for troy denning to write again and had yet another big name killed off.I CANT SAY WHO .but man i know theres a war going on and all but whats with you guys and killing off all the cool people?arent the good guys supposed to win?this was a good book but nearly as cool as the rest of the series so far.at the end jaina solo still usnt completely dark or light.id like to see her go bad just because everyone expected anakan solo too and he didnt.
The worst book in NJO series.......2006-05-14
I've only read the first 10 books of the NJO series currently, but this was by far the toughest book to finish. After getting to page 100, I had no clue where the book was going as nothing had happened. At page 200 I was still in the same mindset. Only at the end does it ever show any signs of having an advancing plot.
It's a tough book because 1) Very little happens - could almost skip this novel execept for a few key points 2) Her writing style is hard to follow. This did not feel like a NJO book, let alone a Star Wars book. It felt more like a soap opera in the middle then what it should have been. 3) The conclusion - the whole novel is built up to a long and slow point, and it just does a 180 and everything is fine.
It's sad to see other NJO books get cut while this made it into the line of books. Thankfully, it's near the middle of series so it won't detract readers from finishing the series (versus if it had been at the beginning).
They should have made this a 60 page e-novel, as they could have gotten the main points across in that much *and that's being lenient*
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