Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections: The Spacecraft and Vehicles of the Entire Star Wars Saga Review

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(More customer reviews)I have loved these cross-section books since even before these came out (seen a cool Star Trek OS cutout of the Enterprise). What you are getting with this volume is every entry in the previous four cross-section books as well as some extras. That's right. Even if you have all four original books you are still not getting everything.
This book adds cross-section entries for the TIE Bomber, TIE Advanced (something only touched on in the original trilogy cross-section), A-Wing Fighter, B-Wing Fighter, and the Imperial Shuttle. That's roughly half the vehicles you would find on a regular cross-section book added to this volume. On top of that you get a forward by both artists/writers talking about the fun they had making the books.
So what does that mean? Well if you have never gotten a Star Wars Incredible Cross-Sections book this is the one to get. You get ALL of the vehicles fromt he previous books plus another 1/2 book's worth of exclusive material. If you don't quite have all of the previous books then I say get this one at the price of a regular book (shouldn't be hard at all). If you don't have the original trilogy book that makes the purchase that much more sweet as that's where the new material is.
If you have the complete collection then you have to make a choice. Do you buy the book, thus get the extra ships and more shelf space? Do you complain to Lucas for the double dipping? Personally I am one of those people with the complete set and figured I didn't need the new book, however I really, really love the B-Wing and relished the idea of having a view of its innards so I got it. I'm pretty pleased with the purchase, and besides I was able to sell my old books to recoup some of what I spent.

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This amazing title unites all four Incredible Cross-Sections books in one volume, enlarged and updated with brand-new illustrations-includingthe TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, and B-wing-along with revisedtechnical introductions, behind-the-scenes pages, glossary, and index.(c) 2006 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TMAUTHOR BIO: Hans JenssenHans Jenssen has spent the last nine years in a galaxy far, far away, co-illustrating a total of ten Star Wars books with Richard Chasemore, with whom he has developed a close friendship. They have traveled across three continents, sampled exotic beverages with Boba Fett, and partied with R2-D2. He now lives a quiet life in Devon, England, with his partner and young son.RICHARD CHASEMORE Richard Chasemore has worked as an illustrator and 3-D computer artist in the United States and Europe, most notably on DK's Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections and, Inside the Worlds of the Star Wars series. Lately he has written educational books for budding digital artists. He lives on the south coast of England, where he enjoys sports involving boards and high speeds!

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Star Wars, Classic (Ultimate Sticker Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)When I first looked at the title/price of this book, I thought it was overpriced for a sticker book. But then I actually leafed through it and saw it was so much more. This isn't your typical coloring book where you add a few stickers. This is like a real book where you get to add the photos. My son (age 7) LOVED it. Once the stickers were all placed, we removed the empty sticker sheets and he's been reading it over and over just like a regular book. These DK books are awesome.

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Rediscover the excitement of the original Star Wars movies and create your own picture book using the characters, vehicles, and spacecraft found in this book. More than 60 superb full color stickers let Star Wars fans get into the action, and each section includes key information on favorite characters and creatures.

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Bloodlines (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)This second installment in the new 9-volume Legacy of the Force series proves one thing - even a good writer can't make up for a silly plot.
Legacy started poorly in the first volume with a premise for which there is no evidence, namely that the Galactic Alliance (GA) is now more like the old Empire than the New Republic, running roughshod over member states, creating a general air of mistrust and indirectly fomenting ideas of rebellion and secession. When Corellia decides it's had enough, Luke Skywalker suddenly looses his good sense and sends a Jedi snatch-squad to kidnap Corellia's leaders so that they can then be bullied into not leaving the GA. How's that for implausible?
But it gets even worse in Bloodlines. Not only aren't we given any additional background information about why now everyone suddenly despises the GA, the characters start to act even more out of character, especially Luke and Mara, who despite the very obvious evidence that their nephew Jacen Solo is turning to the dark arts, do nothing to secure their son Ben Skywalker from training with the budding Sith Lord. They're also complicit in continuing to support the GA in bullying the Corellians. In the story's other major thread, Jacen is appointed colonel of an antiterrorist unit and spends his days rounding up and interrogating Corellians living on Coruscant. All the while he continues to explore his new powers, killing a "terrorist" while interrogating her and traveling through time to meet his grandfather, none other than Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader. Perhaps in the next volume he'll be able to visit Corellia by flying through space.
Fortunately, we've got Karen Traviss writing Boba Fett into the story and for a time at least diverting us from the improbable main plot.
Now 71-years old, the dying mercenary needs the help of the Kaminoan scientists to arrest a fatal condition. But the cloner who can help him has fled Kamino and if Boba is to ever to get help, he's going to have to first find him. Which is made all the more difficult when the new president of Corellia, Thrackan Sal-Solo, makes Boba an offer he can't refuse, a huge pile of cash to assassinate his cousin and chief political rival, Han Solo.
As regular readers of the Star Wars novels are aware, Traviss is the new authority on all things Mandalore, having written quite an extensive back history and even the rudiments of a language for her two Republic Commando novels and her Boba Fett novella. The former military journalist's command of detail in this world of clone warriors and mercenaries imparts a certain depth and confidence that makes these sections more compelling than the palsied main plot. They also have a sad charm about them, as Boba begins to reflect of his mortality and experience for the first time regret for having long ago abandoned his family.
Besides a well-drawn Fett, Traviss provides some clues as to what happened in the intervening years to some of the characters in her Republic Commando series, and she also gives us for the first time a partially developed Ben Skywalker. Until now he's been just a kid and mostly Luke Skywalker's kid. But Traviss here for the first time makes Ben into a young man with his own personality, who begins to come into his own as an apprentice in Jacen's antiterrorist unit, using his Force powers on raids to sniff out people and munitions. This is one character I'm now interested in seeing how Troy Denning will handle in the forthcoming volume, Tempest.
I don't expect, however, no matter how well he writes Ben, that Denning will be able to rescue us from a poorly developed premise. I think we're now too far in to see any hope of saving what has revealed itself as a thinly disguised and poorly conceived retelling of the film saga, a story about a boy of enormous talent, trained as a Jedi and lured to the dark side in the belief that only the power he can find there will prevent his loved ones from suffering.

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A new era of exciting adventures and shocking revelations continues to unfold, as the legendary Star Wars saga sweeps forward into astonishing new territory.Civil war looms as the fledgling Galactic Alliance confronts a growing number of rebellious worlds–and the approaching war is tearing the Skywalker and Solo families apart. Han and Leia return to Han's homeworld, Corellia, the heart of the resistance. Their children, Jacen and Jaina, are soldiers in the Galactic Alliance's campaign to crush the insurgents. Jacen, now a complete master of the Force, has his own plans to bring order to the galaxy. Guided by his Sith mentor, Lumiya, and with Luke's young son Ben at his side, Jacen embarks on the same path that his grandfather Darth Vader once did. And while Han and Leia watch their only son become a stranger, a secret assassin entangles the couple with a dreaded name from Han's past: Boba Fett. In the new galactic order, friends and enemies are no longer what they seem. . . .

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Vector Prime (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)[...] I've read all the Star Wars novels also, and I liked most of them, didn't like some, and some I thought were fantastic. Tim Zahn, for instance has 5 brilliant novels. This novel is great too. [...] Aren't you tired of the Empire making ANOTHER comeback? Aren't you tired of the Jedi kids getting kidnapped again? Aren't you tired of another Superweapon? Then this is a fantastic step in the right direction. The writing is very fast paced and is gripping. Many readers complain of "no plot movement". I beg to differ. It moves along at a fine pace, and there is another thing to consider. This is the FIRST book in a continuous story arc of a TWENTY-FIVE book series. Do you want everything resolved in one book? Give me a break. I think the Yuuzhan Vong are a very interesting race, and will make for some great books. Also, you people that can't handle Chewie's death, get a life(By the way, I found his death was classy and well done. I was nearly brought to tears, and he went out a hero). For so long now, our SW characters were invincible. The books lose some intensity when you KNOW the main stars can't die. This move wasn't a publicity stunt. It was bringing something fresh and new to the Star Wars universe, and I welcome it.There was also a comment about this being a DARK novel. I agree. It is more dark and foreboding than others. But, I must say after "Phantom Menace" seemed to target the 10 and under audience, I'm very happy to see the SW universe take a more adult view, without losing the "feeling" of this great place. You want more cute stuff, go read Ewok adventures or something. One criticism I agree with was the portrayal of Mara Jade. Her character was rather flat, and I expected much more from the firey red-headed Jedi. Of course, she kind of has her reasons for being so subdued. Finally, I'm sending a challege to all Star Wars fans that bashed Vector Prime. Go to theforce.net and read the MASSIVE interview with R.A. Salvatore in the interview section. He addresses many of the criticisms of his novel, and really explained everything you could possibly want to know about the new direction of the novels. Including the Chewie issue and many others. I GUARANTEE upon reading this, some will change minds about this novel. Hopefully I haven't offended anyone too badly, for we all love Star Wars, and I just get upset when my SW brothers and sisters can't handle change. I think more highly of us as readers. I'm off my soapbox now.

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The Star Wars Trilogy, Episodes IV, V & VI Review

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(More customer reviews)The 25th Anniversary edition of The Star Wars Trilogy breaks no new ground or make any editorial changes to the three movie tie-in novels based on the screenplays for Star Wars (now known as A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. There are no adjustments or rewrites to make the novels match the Special Edition re-releases of 1997. It isn't even the first time all three novels are collected in one volume...there are mass-market and trade paperback three-in-one editions. The only new features are the cover art by Ralph McQuarrie, the conceptual artist whose paintings "sold" George Lucas' "out of this world" ideas to leery 20th Century Fox executives and short intros to each novelization by Lucas himself. Whether or not those were written for the 25th Anniversary Edition or if they appeared in other reissues of the novels isn't important; what is important is that the 25th Anniversary Edition's elegant package recaptures the magic of reading the Classic Trilogy....
Like most novelizations of popular movies, the authors (Alan Dean Foster being the ghostwriter for George Lucas, Donald F. Glut, and James Kahn) have adapted the screenplays to Episodes IV, V and VI with a certain sense of unity, yet each writer has a distinctive style of his own. On the whole, the best writer is Foster, who had, before Star Wars, adapted the Star Trek animated series into the Star Trek Logs series. Very few Star Wars authors, with the exception of Timothy Zahn and a few others, capture the essence of the characters and situations of the movies as well as Foster. Glut is almost as good a writer, and his style is not all that different from Foster's. Kahn's style is minimalist. I like the Jedi novelization, but there is a strange sense of connect-the-dots permeating it all the same.
All right, so we aren't talking great literature here, and I do know that the writers work from drafts of the screenplay that are different from the final shooting script. That's why Luke Skywalker's comm sign in the novel of A New Hope is Blue Five; in the movie the callsign is Red Five. And the novels do expand the storyline and "restore" deleted scenes....the literary equivalent of a DVD extra features disc, you might say.
I rate this book 5 stars not because it is brilliantly written or philosophically meaningful, but rather because it recaptures the magic of reading those dog-eared paperbacks, but with a bit more class.

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Backlash (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi, Book 4) Review

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(More customer reviews)This being the fourth book in the Fate of the Jedi series, I don't have much to add to my thoughts on the series. The main plots are here, Jedis going crazy, political power struggles between the Remnant Empire, the Galactic Alliance, and the Jedi, and Luke and Ben adventuring together. Thankfully, the book is not entirely a clone of the ones before it, which books 2 and 3 pretty much were. The Jedi going crazy plot is given little space and that is to this book's benefit. Luke and Ben have switched from following Jacen Solo's trail to following the Sith Vestara Khai's trail; well, that's a bit different at least. And the political power struggles? Well, if the Star Wars: Legacy comics are part of the Expanded Universe continuity, we know how things end up, so there's not too much tension there. Pros: The second half of the book is more suspenseful than the first, especially with Vestara Khai proving to be an interesting and deceitful foe for Ben. Cons: Luke and Ben are still following somebody and interacting with a weird tribe of people that they must prove themselves to, just like in the former books. The small plot involving Allana/Amelia Solo is just as cutesy and seemingly pointless as the ones in the previous books. (Pro: it received much fewer pages this time.)
Overall, this book continues the Fate of the Jedi series: not enough happens for the price of the hardcover. The entire series is the most blatant money grab yet for the Star Wars books; at least the New Jedi Order books, which also had a lot of pointless filler, were mostly in paperback. These books will continue to be enjoyed by Star Wars enthusiasts and completists, and I count myself among them, but do yourself a favor and check it out from the library or wait until it is in the bargain bin.

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Repercussions from the dark side's fatal seduction of Jacen Solo and the mysterious plague of madness afflicting young Jedi continue to wreak havoc galaxy-wide. Having narrowly escaped the deranged Force worshippers known as the Mind Walkers and a deadly Sith hit squad, Luke and Ben Skywalker are in pursuit of the now Masterless Sith apprentice. It is a chase that leads to the forbidding planet Dathomir, where an enclave of powerful dark side Force-wielders will give Vestara the edge she needs to escape—and where the Skywalkers will be forced into combat for their quarry and their lives.Meanwhile, Han and Leia have completed their own desperate mission, shuttling madness-stricken Jedi from Coruscant to safe haven in the Transitory Mists and beyond the grasp of Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala. But the bold maneuver has intensified Daala's fury, and she is determined to shatter Jedi Order resistance once and for all. Yet no greater threat exists than that which still waits in the depths of the distant Maw Cluster: A being of pure, ravenous dark-side energy named Abeloth calls out across the stars to Jedi and Sith alike. For some it may be the ultimate source of answers crucial to their survival. For others it could be the ultimate weapon of conquest. But for all, it is a game-changing—and life-altering—encounter of untold magnitude and a tactical gambit with unimaginable consequences.

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Invincible (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 9) Review

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(More customer reviews)What strikes you most about this final volume of the Legacy of the Force is how little there is to it. Weighing in at a slight 299 pages, Invincible consists largely of two long duels between Jaina and Jacen, interspersed with a pair of subplots involving Ben. The epilogue attempts to tie things up with a couple of quick stitches, a hastily tacked-on conclusion that leaves the nine-volume saga incomplete.
One is left with the impression that the manuscript was completed in a rush. It reads like an extended outline - all plot, no character, no theme. The major event of the book, and perhaps the series, is the death of a Sith. How does it feel when one of these Dark Lords leaves the force? How does it feel to a family member? How does it feel to the Sith himself? What happens to Jacen in the force? Was he redeemed by his last minute thought for his daughter? Does he become a ghost, like his grandfather? What's the reaction on Coruscant? On Corellia? On Korriban? Among the Jedi? How does Luke feel? How about Tenel Ka? Allana? Ben? Tahiri? We can only imagine. Denning doesn't tell us.
Nor does he suggest what it all means. We never knew what Jacen wanted, beyond bringing order to the galaxy. But as the disorder was instigated and exacerbated by the Sith, he dies playing a fool's game. How is one to regard this galactic tragedy? What do the other characters learn from this? How has the Star Wars universe changed?
The political end is given about as much thought as the beginning and concludes in just a couple of pages with a New Galactic Alliance. Once Jacen is gone, all appears to be forgiven and forgotten. One of the central characters of the series, Admiral Niathal, is completely missing from the story. The reigns of state are passed to a character who shows up at the last moment and whose appointment appears to be a set-up for the next series of Galactic Tyrant vs Jedi novels.
Where there was so much that could have been developed, we get instead material that should have been left on the editor's desk, such Jaina and Leia chasing a paddy wagon across Coruscant to rescue Ben. The sequence is made possible by the thinnest of contrivances, the Jedi mind trick, and concludes with no rescue and no discernible effect on the plot.
Equally inconsequential is the introduction of a new force power, one potent enough to stop Jacen with a figurative blink of any eye. Shatterpoint (from the novel of the same name) is an ability once attributed only to Mace Windu, to be able to exploit stress points in any given substance or phenomena. Jacen uses it to crack beskar, a metal impervious to even lightsabers. Jaina learns the power from Luke in a matter of days. But it's never used. If Luke, Jaina and Jacen all have this ability, why bother with space battles and lightsabers? Just burst your opponent's heart, or crack open their spaceship, and the game is over.
I usually enjoy Denning's writing, but he's absolutely flat here. The jokes at the beginning of each chapter was a silly idea. Not only because the jokes are bad, but because they make an obvious and trite point - everyone is innocent at some point in their life - and because they served as an excuse for Denning to not have to make an honest attempt at writing a tragic ending. Invincible has no sense of gravitas, no weight, no heft, no feeling that something worth nine novels has happened. It feels light, hurried, rushed, abrupt and empty.
If you would care for a Star Wars series that rewards reading, try these:
Republic Commando
Hard Contact
Triple Zero
True Colors
Order 66
Legacy
Broken (Vol. 1)
Shards (Vol. 2)
Knights of the Old Republic
Commencement (Vol. 1)
Flashpoint (Vol. 2)
Days of Fear, Nights of Anger (Vol. 3)#

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Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a brief video walking you through this incredible pop-up book.

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Sabuda and Reinhart Studios have created another spectacular pop-up book for George Lucas's epic STAR WARS movies! Bestselling pop-up artist and engineer Matthew Reinhart has designed a thirtieth anniversary commemorative edition that comes packed with a variety of novelty features -- pop-ups, working light sabers, pull tabs, and other interactive looks at the exciting and popular movies. This beautiful book will impress all fans of STAR WARS and gives a whole new perspective to the films. MATTHEW REINHART is a renowned paper engineer and bona fide STARS WARS aficionado. He has worked with Robert Sabuda on many wonderful pop-up titles such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, A B C Disney, Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs, andMovable Mother Goose. He also created Mommy? by Maurice Sendak, The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares, and The Pop-Up Book of Phobias. He lives in New York City.

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Star Wars: Death Troopers Review

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(More customer reviews)I've read a fair share of Star Wars books, but never anything this gory or downright scary. Star Wars is usually pretty tame. So I was surprised to find this book whose cover is comprised of a bloody Stormtrooper head hanging from a chain with a hook jammed through its eye. I like old-school Star Wars, from the Classic Era, Episodes IV-VI, so I was eager to read this to see what the "Death Troopers" were all about. Well, that decapitated Stormtrooper head scene is actually in the book, along with many others that could probably not be proudly displayed at your local bookstore. I'm actually surprised that this book doesn't contain a warning label or sticker that this book is for "Suggested for Mature Readers". But here it is, for the first time, a Star Wars book about flesh-eating zombies in deep space. Parents, the Clone Wars this book is not. Here are some sample lines:
"[The zombie's] mouth was buried in Pauling's throat and it was busily slurping its blood, ripping off huge gobbets of his flesh... Strands of Pauling's flesh were dangling from its teeth."
"The leg was connected to a torso, covered up by another, and another, the pile growing in front of him comprising what he realized was hundreds of dismembered corpses--heads, arms, legs, and whole bodies, bare bones, many of them still dressed in rotten Imperial uniforms... hacked recklessly to pieces, still others partially devoured, whole gobbets of of flesh gnawed off. Many of the parts were bloated to the point where the skin itself had begun to split open like sausages..."
Well, that's probably enough for you to get the idea. There's an exciting, gritty story here with a couple of fun cameos from classic Star Wars characters, but to get through it your imagination will have to cope with all kinds of horrific imagery and gristly situations where people eat each other alive and poke weapons into eye sockets and shove cleavers into heads. There are also some heart-racing chases in the dark for those who dig that kind of thing. So if you like that stuff, you'll enjoy this. I can't say I ENJOYED that part of it, but I was able to stomach the content and I particularly enjoyed the fact that it takes place within 5 years of Star Wars: Episode IV. However, I can't imagine letting my little boy crack this book open and I hope other parents won't blindly buy this book for their kids just because "it's Star Wars". If you wouldn't let your kids read a book based on Night Of The Living Dead, steer them clear of Death Troopers too.

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When the Imperial prison barge Purge—temporary home to five hundred of the galaxy's most ruthless killers, rebels, scoundrels, and thieves—breaks down in a distant part of space, its only hope appears to lie with a Star Destroyer found drifting and seemingly abandoned. But when a boarding party from the Purge is sent to scavenge for parts, only half of them come back—bringing with them a horrific disease so lethal that within hours nearly all aboard the Purge die in ways too hideous to imagine. And death is only the beginning. The Purge's half-dozen survivors will do whatever it takes to stay alive. But nothing can prepare them for what lies waiting aboard the Star Destroyer. For the dead are rising: soulless, unstoppable, and unspeakably hungry.

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Omen (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi, Bk 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)I mostly liked this book. It had a lot of interesting character moments, some decent action, and some interesting plot points.
That said, I have a few problems with this title, but only one of them can be placed at the feet of the author, Ms. Golden. I like her writing, she is great at characters (See Star Trek: Voyager Homecoming). Here is my one problem with Golden's writing. Several times during this book, Jedi ignite their lightsabers to cut through a door or wall. They've done this in the past, and they'll do it in the future. My problem is that each time, Golden goes on for several paragraphs about how difficult it actually is to cut through a wall with a lightsaber. Look, its a valid point, and something the other authors have ignored, but I got it after the first time. WE GET IT! ITS HARD TO CUT THROUGH A DOOR WITH A LIGHTSABER!
And I also would have liked to see some mention of the droids, and some of the other peripherial characters, but since other books do this to the expense of the big 3 (Han, Luke, Leia), its a minor complaint.
My other complaints with the title are more related to how it fits into the overall series and I believe these issues are the fault of the editors giving Golden strict guidelines.
-I love the father-son moments with Luke and Ben. Love them. I love the Father-Daughter moments with Han and Jaina. All of these scenes were great, but there were a lot of them. My problem here is that if you look at the first book in the series (Exile), you see almost none of it. This book felt very heavy on such moments, and light on important events. The editors need to encourage the writer's to balance this out more, to include a better balance in future books.
-Leia and Han getting their granddaughter a pet is NOT enough of a plot line to last the entire book. This is again the editor's fault, for telling Golden that Leia and Han must be in almost the exact same condition as they were before the book started. There are a plethora of crisis going on, and Leia (who has been instrumental in solving all crisis within the past 40 years) decides to go to a pet show? HUH?
-Acting Jedi Grand Master Kenth Hamner. Where do I begin? How about here: I can't remember him ever being introduced. We know almost nothing about him. The first mention of him that i can recall is in NJO: Edge of Victory Part 1 where he warns Luke and Mara that they are about to be arrested. Golden tried to get into his head, but the editors wouldn't let her create more of a backstory for him, and therefore, he still has almost none. And also, isn't he a JEDI MASTER? How can so many people lie to his face? I also can't remember him ever using the force.
-Also problematic is the visit with the Aing Tii. Many of the scenes here could have replaced "Aing Tii" with "Baron Do" and we never would have noticed the difference. The two visits were framed in very similiar manners.
-Also, editors: Amelia scenses something from the moon of Kessel in "Exile", tells Leia about it, and SHE DOESN'T INVESTIGATE!? Heh?
-And, lastly for now, my last complaint with the editors handling of the series: Why in the name of the force would Luke leave R2-D2 with Han and Leia? R2 is great with information and repairs, surprisingly good in a fight, doesn't take up that much space, and oh yeah HAS BEEN BY LUKE'S SIDE EVERY MINUTE FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS! Luke has risked his life multiple times to rescue R2, and now just dumps him on his sister like he's a nuisance? Now I haven't seen blueprints, but it seems to me like there's room on the Jade's Shadow for him.
All of this said, I loved the Sith on Kesh (even though it was obviously an afterthought), and Sylgal having an increased role is really cool. I am chomping at the bit for the next book. I just hope the editor's pay more attention.

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The Jedi Order is in crisis. The late Jacen Solo's shocking transformation into murderous Sith Lord Darth Caedus has cast a damning pall over those who wield the Force for good: Two Jedi Knights have succumbed to an inexplicable and dangerous psychosis, criminal charges have driven Luke Skywalker into self-imposed exile, and power-hungry Chief of State Natasi Daala is exploiting anti-Jedi sentiment to undermine the Order's influence within the Galactic Alliance. Forbidden to intervene in Jedi affairs, Luke is on a desperate mission to uncover the truth behind Jacen's fall to the dark side–and to learn what's turning peaceful Jedi into raving lunatics. But finding answers will mean venturing into the mind-bending space of the Kathol Rift and bargaining with an alien species as likely to destroy outsiders as deal with them. Still, there is no other choice and no time to lose, as the catastrophic events on Coruscant continue to escalate. Stricken by the same violent dementia that infected her brother, Valin, Jedi Knight Jysella Horn faces an equally grim fate after her capture by Natasi Daala's police. And when Han and Leia Solo narrowly foil another deranged Jedi bent on deadly destruction, even acting Jedi Grand Master Kenth Hamner appears willing to bow to Daala's iron will–at the expense of the Jedi Order.But an even greater threat is looming. Millennia in the past, a Sith starship crashed on an unknown low-tech planet, leaving the survivors stranded. Over the generations, their numbers have grown, the ways of the dark side have been nurtured, and the time is fast approaching when this lost tribe of Sith will once more take to the stars to reclaim their legendary destiny as rulers of the galaxy. Only one thing stands in their way, a name whispered to them through the Force: Skywalker.From the Hardcover edition.

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Star Wars and Philosophy (Popular Culture and Philosophy) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Popular Culture and Philosophy Series can be hit or miss as it tries to wrap in familiar characters or stories in the teaching of philosophers throughout the ages. This volume stands as one of the best produced so far. The Star Wars films have always held some deeper meanings than what appear on the surface, from the concepts of good and bad, light and dark, interconnectedness in the Force, and downfall and redemption. Decker and his fellow authors mine this rich source and bring up many topics or ideas that will make the reader go "Hmmm." Definitely riding on the wave of growing Star Wars mania, this book contains numerous references to the upcoming Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith film and the dark story that lies in the fall of Anakin. Being that this is a series with it's own resident philosopher in the wise Yoda, the writers have been able to spread out and discussion actions and thoughts of other characters in the Star Wars universe. Surprisingly, and somewhat disappointingly, they mine many of the same characters over again, so that while Anakin and the Emperor are well represented, of course, as are Yoda, Luke and Obi-Wan, characters such as Leia, Padame and Chewbacca get the short shrift. Maybe something for volume 2 perhaps? This is a great book for sitting back and letting you experience the saga at a whole different level. And if you are not as familiar with philosophy, this is a great introduction, relating a deeper subject to something so familiar and beloved. May the Force Be With You.

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The Star Wars films continue to revolutionize science fiction, creating new standards for cinematographic excellence, and permeating popular culture around the world. The films feature many complex themes ranging from good versus evil and moral development and corruption to religious faith and pragmatism, forgiveness and redemption, and many others.The essays in this volume tackle the philosophical questions from these blockbuster films including: Was Anakin predestined to fall to the Dark Side? Are the Jedi truly role models of moral virtue? Why would the citizens and protectors of a democratic Republic allow it to descend into a tyrannical empire? Is Yoda a peaceful Zen master or a great warrior, or both? Why is there both a light and a dark side of the Force? Star Wars and Philosophy ponders the depths of these subjects and asks what it truly means to be mindful of the "living force."

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Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane, Book 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you want to read 2 star wars books this year you should "Rise of the Dark Lord" about Vader and this one. The author for this book is the one that wrote the story for "Knights of the Old Republic" = a Great game that you must play! The Knights time period (1000's years before new hope episode IV)is ripe with great history and it is a shame Lucas & Co. have not decided to use all the great options they have in order to make a movie or TV show from this time period.
I always wondered where the adage given in "Phantom Menace" Came from for the sith apprentice and Master and now I know. I did not make much sense that there could only be 2 true Sith= Master/Apprentice But this clarifies and explains the foundation = created by the character Bane - that became the golden rule for the sith. Add in Tons of action- jedi vs sith, sith vs sith, battles of all sorts, also add in well developed characters, and a story that is fast paced while still giving great details on the history that makes up the Star Wars myth and you have a excellent Book that is much fun to read. Highly Recommended!
May the force be with you.


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The Art of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Review

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(More customer reviews)Fantastic, beautiful book. Full of gorgeous artwork and pictures. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because for some inexplicable reason, the script is NOT included in the US version. However, the complete illustrated script IS included in the UK version, which I bought from Amazon.co.uk. I can't imagine why this was done, it is a real disservice to the US market. I highly recommend getting the UK version even though it will cost a bit more than the US version.

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Packed with breathtaking visuals created by a team of world-class artists, The Art of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith charts the visual genesis of this epic saga's climactic finale. For years, George Lucas's handpicked group has created characters, costumes, droids, starships, planetary vistas, digi-matte paintings, and sculptures–every type of visual imaginable.This extraordinary volume unveils never-before-seen images–thus taking readers on a fascinating journey from the first concepts to the final movie. While marveling at hundreds of brilliant pieces of art, readers will experience • Darth Vader–a look at the sinister chamber where he is created• stunning conceptual visions for the climactic lightsaber duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi• the evolution of General Grievous–the new face of evil– from initial sketches to ILM animation art• fantastic full-color renderings of costumes, weapons, landscapes, and spacecraft• intriguing insights from exclusive interviews with the artists, whose groundbreaking work helped bring Lucas's ideas to lifeNew to this edition–the one and only Revenge of the Sith screenplay, revealing every beat of the action.For Star Wars fans everywhere, this treasure trove of images from the final, fateful Star Wars movie will provide a visual feast that promises hours of endless excitement.

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Star Wars: Dark Empire Trilogy HC (Star Wars (Dark Horse)) Review

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(More customer reviews)First - the hardcover trilogy edition: 10/10
I love the size and the convenience of having Dark Empire I-III in one complete volume. The binding is great and the colors pop off of the page. This is the definitive edition.
Second, the content: 9/10
I consider myself an avid explorer of the Expanded Universe - but mostly I read the novels. I have read relatively few Star Wars comics, and for some reason I have avoided Dark Empire because I've heard hardcore fans complaining about the resurrection of the Emperor, and the whole state of the galactic civil war in Dark Empire.
I would liken this to Splinter of the Mind's Eye (an early SW novel) - does it fit in 100% with the rest of the EU? No. Is it a helluva lot of fun? YES. Read Dark Empire - it's a different flavor of Star Wars. But in a fun, classic way. Han Solo is perfect, and we get to see a new side of Luke that is thought provoking and sets up an epic story if nothing else.
Read Dark Empire, and buy this edition.

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Six years after the fall of the Empire in Return of the Jedi, the battle for the galaxy's freedom rages on. The Empire has been mysteriously reborn under an unknown leader, wielding a new weapon of great power. Princess Leia and Han Solo struggle to hold together the New Republic while the galaxy's savior, Luke Skywalker, fights an inner battle as he is drawn to the dark side, just as his father... Collecting the complete Dark Empire saga for the first time - Dark Empire, Dark Empire II, and Empire's End - this Star Wars hardcover is a must-have addition to any Star Wars library!

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Dark Tide I: Onslaught (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)I gave this book 4 stars because I reserve 5 stars for really groundbreaking books with outstanding plots. In the Star Wars Universe, I have given 5 stars only to I Jedi (also by Stackpole), Vision of the Future, and the uproariously funny Star Fighters of Adumar. Onslaught isn't quite in that category. Mr. Stackpole is adding to an established story arc and must work within the confines of the arc. He does a tremendous job of making the plot and characters become true to the Star Wars name. This book focuses mostly on Luke and Mara, the Solo Children, Corran Horn, and Princess Leia. For those readers who missed Han Solo in this book, be patient. Han gets two books of his own soon. Jim Luceno (former writing partner of the late Brian Dailey, author of the Early HS trilogy) will be writing books 4 and 5 of the New Jedi Order. Han will get his day.
In Onslaught, Stackpole shows more about the new villains, and makes them seem very alien and threatening. These guys are really BAD! Even Corran Horn is astounded by their ruthlessness, and he's seen the dregs of the Galaxy. When Stackpole writes of Luke and Mara, we can see the depths of their love of each other. And Luke fans will find the Jedi Master at his best. The Solo children continue to blossom into real people in Onslaught. Stackpole does a marvelous job of combining the Solo children, as seen in the Young Jedi Knights and other books, with the almost grown up Solos of Vector Prime. He continues the growth that was started by Salvatore and adds the connections to previous works that was missing in Vector Prime. Corran Horn fans will will love Onslaught, he is well represented in Onslaught. Corran has "grown up" some since his Rouge Squadron days, but still has that delightful arrogance that only a former CorSec officer could have.
To sum it all up, Onslaught is not Stackpole's best work, but it is what was needed to bring the New Jedi Order to ALL Star Wars fans, old and new. Stackpole skillfully blends the best of Vector Prime and the New Jedi Order story with the Star Wars that so many of us have know and loved for so long.

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Anakin in Action (Star Wars: The Clone Wars) Review

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The DK early reading program is exceptional. Licensing popular franchises for different levels. Anakin is rated 2, while the companion book, Watch out For Jabba the Hut is level 1.
For those who have seen the Clone Wars, this is a good way to explain the story to young viewers. With art taken from the film, these books are topical, and use appropriate vocabulary. Want to raise a young Star Wars fan, pick these up and before long, you'll find your child reading any one of the Star Wars novels.
Great job. Simon Beecroft has a remarkable skill in writing for different age groups.
Keep up the great work DK.

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Since the first time we heard Luke Skywalker ask Obi-Wan Kenobi "You fought in the Clone Wars!?" in Episode IV: A New Hope, fans the world over have been wondering exactly what the Clone Wars were and what clones in combat would look like. On August 15th, 2008, with the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, much will be explained. The Clone Wars take place between Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Lucasfilm is now bringing the wars to life in an all-new CGI animated series. The theatrical release will launch this groundbreaking computer-generated animated series, which will then debut on Cartoon Network and TNT in the fall. New characters like female Padawan Ahsoka Tano join old favorites Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Count Dooku, General Grievous, and others as the Jedi cross lightsabers with the dark side yet again.© Lucasfilm Ltd. & (tm)--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Star Wars: The Old Republic Volume 2 - Threat of Peace (Star Wars: The Old Republic (Quality Paper)) Review

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(More customer reviews)There was a drastic drop-off of quality in both art and story from Volume 1 to Volume 2 of this series.
Very disappointing.

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For decades, the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire have been at war. The Sith have gained control of the Outer Rim, but their efforts to penetrate the Core Worlds have so far been thwarted. Now, representatives from both sides attempt to negotiate a peace treaty - but deception by the Sith puts the Jedi in an unfortunate position...

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