StarWarsClassics

Ambush at Corellia This is a nice cover style. I wish they'd used it more. I think this is the first time I've done a post that actually has a substantial spoiler. If you care, skip down to the final review section. Summary:  Han, Leia, and the kids are going on a vacation to Corellia (Han's home planet) ahead of a major trade summit. They're unescorted, despite the fact that Corellia is on the brink of civil war (possibly even leaving the New Republic) and Han was attacked the day before. Luke and Lando go looking for a rich woman for Lando to marry. The civil war starts, Chewie and the kids get out, Leia is stuck, and Han gets captured. What It Introduces: A bunch of stuff about Corellia. Political system, species, etc. Which is good. It's already got some background importance, and it's only going to get more important. "Ugly" Starfighters: Made out of combinations of parts from others. They'll also show up a bunch more later. Centerpoint Statio...

The Crystal Star   Cover to the worst Star Wars book ever? Summary: The Solo kids get kidnapped (add that to my stock plot list) and engage in stock evil boarding school hijinks. Han and Luke go on a "vacation" to look for Jedi (Han doesn't quite fuck everything that moves). Leia gets DiD. A dark Jedi gets eaten by The Blob. What It Introduces: There was a little in the Zoo section of Dark Apprentice , but I think this is the book that really establishes the twins' personalities/abilities. Jaina: more impulsive, good at machines. Jacen: more level headed, good with animals.  Commentary:  The Crystal Star  is famously the worst EU novel ever written. I'm not going to go out of my way to particularly defend it (it is a terrible book), but I don't even think it's the worst book I've read so far. I actually "skipped" over a book on my way here. I'm officially dubbing it  the worst Star Wars book I've read so far, and will refrain from pos...

  Champions of the Force Stupid cover, stupid title, stupid book I thought I'd at least finished this trilogy before I stopped doing these blogs. Oops. Whatever, you're not missing much, KJA continues to be a garbage writer. Summary: Kyp blows up the system an Imperial academy is in. This is apparently a bad thing, but we're never given any info that there's anything else in the system (and the population is lower than the population of some states in 1994). His brother dies in the process, which drives him even more dark side/crazy. The destruction of the planet creates a disturbance in the Force, which partially wakes Luke from his Force-com (basically leaving him as a Force Ghost). Exar Kun tries to destroy his body, but the trainees are able to protect him, and eventually banish Kun's spirit, which allows Luke to return to his body. (He was out for like half a book!) The Imperials find out where Anakin is being hidden thanks to their control over Terpfen (Ackbar...

  Dark Apprentice Why is there an Invader  jumpship from Battletech on the cover ? I gave KJA a lot of shit about the last book because... it as a shit book. So, I'll give him a little credit on Dark Apprentice for at least avoiding any kind of sophomore slump, middle book syndrome, whatever you call it.  Summary: Luke officially starts the Jedi Academy, Exar Kun (moderately successfully) tries to corrupt his students, Kyp Durron steal the Sun Crusher  (which the New Republic stashed inside Yavin), Admiral Ackbar goes into exile after crashing into a cathedral, Wedge and Qui Xux get closer, Mon Mothman is sick, Daala blows stuff up, Kyp blows more stuff up and puts Luke in a Force coma. What It Introduces: The Cathedral of the Winds and the Vors aliens. They're bird people. Vodo-Siosk Baas: An Old Republic era Jedi Master who shows up a bunch in KJA's other stuff. Wookiepedia says this is the first time Anakin Solo is named, though he showed up in Dark Empire  f...

  Jedi Search Who ya gonna call when you need a questionable tie-in novel? Summary: Two years post the Thrawn campaign (does the date jumping settle down later? I don't remember, but I sure hope so) and the year after Palpatine's last death, Luke is working to start a new Jedi academy. Leia tries to balance being a mother and a politician (Anderson is not good at women). Han goes back to Kessel to try to negotiate with the underworld there, but winds up getting captured. He escapes with the help of the Force-sensitive Kyp Durron, but only to get re-captured at The Maw Installation a secret Imperial laboratory in the middle of a nest of black holes. There, he finds the latest Imperial superweapon, The Sun Crusher. Admiral Daala, commander of the security force there, charges out to take revenge on the Rebellion for the Death of Grand Moff Tarkin. What It Introduces: The Maw and Maw Installation: The Maw is a cluster of black holes "near" (space distances are awkward) K...

  The Truce at Bakura I should start tracking the "stock" Star Wars novel plots that get used over and over again and when they first appear. 0. The Empire builds a superweapon ( ANH 1977) 1. A lost Imperial warlord, general, etc. shows up and kicks the New Republic's ass ( HttE  1991) 2. Somehow, Palpatine returned. ( DE 1991) 3. Aliens show up, forcing the Empire and New Republic to work together ( The Truce at Bakura 1993) This is the first post Thrawn trilogy adult Star Wars novel, so some big shoes to fill.  Summary: Bakura, an Imperial frontier world, is attacked and sends a message to the Emperor. It arrives the day after  RotJ and is intercepted  by a race of lizard aliens called the Ssi-ruuk who are definitely into BDSM. Leia says they should go help them to try and bring them into the fledgling New Republic. Luke (as is required at this point in the EU) gets the hots for a local, Senator Gaeriel Captison. She believes in THE COSMIC BALANCE, w...