An Unrevised Exploration of Star Wars Expanded Universe
A coup on Thyferra, home of the medical miracle cure Bacta manufacture, has left the New Republic in trouble. The Krytos virus can’t be cured without it, but neither can they by their own laws overthrow the internal affairs of a planet. Rogue Squadron steps up, by stepping down to fight the Bacta War. Resigning … Read more
Coruscant is in the hands of the New Republic, but at the start of the Krytos Trap, Corran Horn is presumed dead and Tycho Celchu is on trial for his murder via tampering with his fighter. Meanwhile, a deadly virus unleashed by Ysanne Isard and Derricote rage through various species of the city world, and … Read more
You might call survivor’s Quest the sequel to Outbound Flight, or you might call Outbound Flight the prequel to Survivor’s Quest. Either way what ends here was begun long ago, before the Clone Wars. The Chiss have finally rediscovered Outbound Flight and plan to return it to the Jedi and Republic. But they may have … Read more
This story by Greg Bear features a world strong in the Force itself and very mysterious. The Jedi Knight Vergere vanished here, but most of Rogue Planet is in the development of Anakin, with Obi-Wan along to guide him and solve the mystery of Zonoma Sekot. It also features some developments involving some figures rather … Read more
The protagonist is Lorian Nod, and starts when he and Dooku are boys in the temple. Legacy of the Jedi jumps to Dooku as a Master with Qui-Gon, then on to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and finally Obi-Wan and Anakin during the Clone Wars. It’s got some rare background on Dooku from before he left the … Read more
Most people first saw Boba Fett in the Empire Strikes Back, a few in the Holiday Special. But few imagined the child he must’ve once been, or how he became the ruthlessly efficient hunter he was. This is how he got that way. Orphaned by the swing of a Jedi lightsaber and seeing only the … Read more
Wedge’s Gamble is the second book in the acclaimed X-Wing series of novels by Michael Stackpole. It’s a real page turner, but it doesn’t stand alone unless you want the cliffhanger ending to be your last glimpse that leaves some characters in desperate straits. The previous book is X-Wing Rogue Squadron and the follow-up is … Read more
“Only two there are, Master, and apprentice” ~ Yoda and Darth Bane: the Path of Destruction is where it begins. While he first appears in the Jedi VS Sith comics, this story fills out his backstory up until the ending where he is set to establish the Rule of Two. Darth Bane Lore and Continuity … Read more
X-Wing Rogue Squadron fires up an adventure that catapults Wedge Antillies and the new hero, Corran Horn, into star status. Wedge already survived 2 Death Stars and Hoth, Corran is a (almost) new character. But now, Luke Skywalker’s legendary squadron has been officially handed over. Rogue Squadron is being rebuilt with the best of the … Read more
This is a new beginning, where Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy now has put out enough adult Jedi to shift toward training younger students. Naturally, his own niece and nephews, Jacen and Jaina, along with Anakin are among the youngest. In this series, Jacen and Jaina are the center, along with their friends Tenel Ka and … Read more
In Yoda Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart, during the Clone Wars, a Jedi returns to the temple with a message for Yoda. Dooku claims to want peace. Unlikely as the prospect is, Yoda must set out to find the truth, with 2 Jedi and their padawans. The meeting is on a dark side world of … Read more
The mysterious Outbound Flight Jedi colony ship was first mentioned all the way back in the Thrawn Trilogy, Heir to the Empire. Now at last its full story is told. Complicated manipulations by Darth Sidious, the stubborn determination of Jorus C’Baoth whose behavior has even the Jedi Council wary, and a crew of smugglers who … Read more
Attachment is forbidden. A Jedi isn’t to fall in love. But it does happen. Across 3 generations this is explored in Secrets of the Jedi. Qui-Gon is barely over the loss of his secret beloved, when he, Obi-Wan, Adi-Gallia & Siri are sent to protect a boy who is witness to an assassination plot. The … Read more
The stories in Tales of Jabba’s Palace are short and stand alone in themselves, but most of them interweave with the others. It’s creative and entertaining how the beings in Jabba’s palace are expanded here. This isn’t just a different points of view of the events but a bit of background and some on their … Read more
When a young Jedi is killed, a Jedi archivist must find the reason for his fate. A mysterious new and deadly spice, a new scourge on the galaxy, seems involved. Along with the young Jedi’s sister, and her bothan companion, they have to finish the original mission to get exclusive hyperdrive routes from the Hutts, … Read more
This book by Barbara Hambly had some interesting moments and made good use of the original trilogy characters. Once more there is an abundance of creepy bugs, but there is also a well balanced use of old characters as well as some new ones. There is a lot of mystery and suspense in this package. … Read more
Darksaber by Kevin J. Anderson is the follow up to Children of the Jedi and follows multiple threads. It’s a bit of a complex story, involving the Jedi, the Empire and the Hutts, as well as Luke’s saga with Callista, his would be lover. It’s actually quite a roller coaster of an adventure and jumps … Read more
This novel, Dark Lord Riise of Darth Vader, really is a transition period for the fallen knight. The catalyst is not surprisingly, surviving Jedi, a struggle he’s wrestled with before. After all, his choice was predicated on saving his wife and he lost her and his health at the same time. Formerly the Jedi Anakin … Read more
Leading directly into Revenge of the Sith, Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno takes Anakin and Obi-Wan on a hunt for the identity of Darth Sidious. This is the trail that could lead them to unveiling their foe before he is ready. While most of us already know who that is, sometimes the journey is … Read more
The Death Star by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry adds a whole new depth to the first ever Star Wars movie, A New Hope. From the movie standpoint we only see the side (mostly) of the heroic freedom fighters. But while villains ran the Death Star, there were others aboard, who had bought into the … Read more
Patterns of Force doesn’t just wrap up the Coruscant Nights trilogy, but several plotlines from previous Michael Reaves’s stories and finishes in a satisfying way. It is a fun adventure, but a bit frustrating because it doesn’t so much explain all it’s own started threads as well. I love the general story I just do … Read more
The main story in Street of Shadows is a murder mystery set in the Star Wars dark times, when the few surviving Jedi are in hiding. The main story is well worth a read, though I didn’t care for the side quest and the continuity hiccups were a distraction. It continues the set noir style … Read more
by James Luceno This is kind of an adventure crossed with a political thriller and a mystery that, if you’ve seen the movies, you do know the answer to. But you don’t know how it got that way! It’s a solid story if you like intrigue, or if you want more Qui-Gon. Cloak of Deception … Read more
Spoilers for the previous books. Jedi Academy: Champions of the Force by Kevin J. Anderson story itself does reiterate and repeat certain points, as a refresher for those who haven’t read them in awhile. It’s an action packed finale to the series. It was a bit overwhelming at times but did get a great thrill … Read more
Dawn of the Jedi : Into the Void by Tim Lebbon opens up a whole new era. Before there was a Republic, the precursors to Jedi were confined to the Tython system, taken there by the Tho Yor for unknown (to them) reasons. This is the story of one Jedaii Ranger, Lanoree Brock and her … Read more
As the title “Dark Apprentice” indicates, the promising start of the first story in the trilogy is about to meet some dark challenges. Admiral Daala, loosed from the Maw cluster with her Star Destroyers is out seeking vengeance. Leia finds a tragic diplomatic crisis rocks the New Republic, as she struggles to manage family with … Read more
Story by Kevin J. Anderson, original cover art was by John Alvin. It was released in 1996. This is an amazing piece of galaxy building and I can’t overestimate it’s importance to the mythos of Star Wars. This was the book that starts the massive multimedia project, where game, comic and novels would tie together … Read more
Jax Pavan had barely made knighthood when Order 66 or ‘Flame Night’ went down. Now in Jedi Twilight, he’s finding that being on the run has compromised his morals as well as his ability to access the Force. To top it off, Vader for some reason is looking for him, him personally, with more interest … Read more
The final chapter of the Bounty Hunter Wars is an action packed story of survival set during the events of Return of the Jedi. Hard merchandise is the cold term that bounty hunters use for the people they hunt and treat as products to profit off of. And sometimes, the hunter themselves may become the … Read more
As the second book in the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy, Slave Ship gives us more information more adventure and a bit more that is expanded on later. There are tidbits I recognize as popping up in the rest of the Expanded Universe (both before and later). Naturally, the Boba Fett and bounty hunter bits are … Read more
The Bounty Hunter Wars Trilogy by K.W Jeter Boba Fett is dead, and his victims and rivals rejoice. But Dengar and a young slave woman who knows that Fett is part of her lost past have found evidence he’s not as gone as his enemies hope. And while neither trust him, they know they need … Read more
I,Jedi is by Michael Stackpole and he is the primary author of most stories (but not all) stories involving Corran Horn and his family. Warning going in: this book I,Jedi contains a few spoilers for the X-Wing Rogue Squadron Book Series. It also has spoilers for the Jedi Academy series. This book does stand alone … Read more
Black Sun is no one’s ally, and stamping it out and keeping it that way has been a job for Jedi, the Republic and even certain Sith. It isn’t the only bit of the past to rear its head in these stories. While a bit simplistic in the resolution (or suggested implementation) its still a … Read more
This story has it’s grindy moments, as I kept wanting to get back to the actual Jedi, Anakin and Nejaa in Jedi Trial. I kind of wish there had been more moments with the two of them. But it was overall a good read. Right up until the end I had no idea how or … Read more
The final book in the trilogy hits peak action as are heroes are at their most desperate and the fate of billions is on the line. This may seem normal for them, but while the stakes are as always high, this is a different kind of foe with a different kind of weapon. The story … Read more
Assault at Selonia by Roger Allen McBride is the second book in the Corellian trilogy and the original trilogy heroes are now responding to the danger set up in the last book with new allies at their side. This book had me on the edge of my seat waiting for what happens next. The author … Read more
The Ambush At Corellia is pure suspense. We find out pretty quick there is danger for our heroes in the near future, we just aren’t sure what or how. There is an interesting family dynamic here, with typical kids being kids (except they are as bright as their Grandsire and they already know about the … Read more
This Young Jedi Knights story arc, about the Diversity Alliance, hits harder in 2022 than when it was released in the late 1990s. It’s the second arc in the series, so you might want to read that first if you are worried about spoilers. It picks up right where the other left off. Warning: review … Read more
This story by Dave Wolverton features Han and Leia and the reasons for their long delayed marriage in spite of what seems an overlong courtship. General Solo has been off battling Warlord Zsinj while Leia has been on the home front running diplomatic missions. On return he finds that one of those missions has led … Read more
The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes is full of intrigue, adventure and deeper themes behind the Clone Wars. Starring Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kit Fisto, a secret (but familiar) enemy it also introduces new characters that are well rounded and interesting. It’s a real page turner, and gets even faster and harder to put down as one … Read more
My Thoughts I absolutely love this book, Star Wars the New Rebellion. It’s by far one of my favorites of the post Return of the Jedi era. All the heroes of the movies have a part to play with the same sense of adventure, danger, humor and heroism. This isn’t always so in the books, … Read more
The story of Choices of One goes that an Imperial Governor is offering the Rebels safe haven for a base, in part, in hopes they’ll help guard the system from alien attack from outside the Empire. This is being investigated by our heroes among others. It’s also known by the Emperor, hence his sending Mara … Read more
Razor’s Edge surely implies where Leia finds herself as a mission to trade for supplies for the new Hoth base takes a dark twist. Between being attacked by the Empire, an Imperial spy among the rebels, and just to top it off, a band of pirates, Leia, Han and her crew are now in terrible … Read more
In Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn, It’s time for our heroes to step up and break through the morass of red tape, fear, and political hatreds stirred up first by the discovery of the Caamas document and then by the alleged re-appearance of Thrawn. (This is in Specter of the Past. Read that … Read more
My rating: 4 1/2 Stars Overview: Our heroes are in a bit of transition from their usual jobs. But the past is a specter that haunts them, both individually and as a united government. They won’t be allowed much down time as an old document has resurfaced that holds clues to a decades old vicious … Read more
“He’s just been on Ansion dealing with a border dispute.” It’s a simple statement at the beginning of the movie, hinting at what Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice did right before Attack of the Clones. But the mission to Ansion entails a planet spanning adventure in the Approaching Storm. Along with Master Luminara Unduli and … Read more
At first glance a lot of people don’t care for Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly. They don’t like her style or her grammar. Newcomers also think it’s evidence that the Expanded Universe isn’t canon because the Jedi mentioned don’t follow their prequel themes. (It was written long before.) However, the story actually has … Read more
Splinter of the Mind’s Eye often pops up when people complain about contradictions in the Expanded Universe. However, people perhaps aren’t noticing the publishing date. Splinter of the Mind’s Eye was written before The Empire Strikes Back, and is the story Lucas considered doing if Star Wars initial movie had not made enough for the … Read more
Dark Forces: The first video game. Dark Forces primarily starts life as a video game. Built on the old Dos System, by modern standards its pretty out of date. But this pixelated adventure starring Kyle Katarn (the player) is the first critical movie tie in. That’s because it is Kyle Katarn who steals the primary, … Read more
Medstar 2 picks up the pace from the first book. Barriss makes a startling discovery about the Bota that brings her to face the real, subtle temptations of the Dark Side. Her questioning is a serious question on what one should do for the greater good. It also gives a great arc for Jos Vondar. … Read more
