Destiny's Way (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 14) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is not a bad novel, but one that will probably disappoint the NJO fans - like myself. If you are following the series, then you have to read it - or you 'll miss a lot of important plot points.
But even though the overall NJO story-arc is served very well, the Expanded Universe in general, is not. The problem seems to be that this should have definatelly been a much longer novel - perhaps even a trilogy. As it stands the book feels very rushed.
The story begings strongly, from where Traitor left off. Indeed, the first half does an amazing job of tying up a lot of lose ends, both in particular subplots and the more abstract aspects of the NJO series:
We learn Vergere's story; we find out what happened to Bel Iblis, Kre'fey and Wedge Antilles after Star by Star and the Enemy Lines duology; we witness the developing situation on Coruscant (Yuuzhan'tar), Nom Anor, Chavong Lah, Nen Yim and the rest of scarhead gang; and finally, after four books (since Star by Star) we catch up to the larger state of affairs in the New Republic.
Also, the war seems to reach equilibrium: for thirteen books now I 've been thinking that , the element of surprise aside, there is NO way that a small extragalactic force can beat a galactic scale republic; in all warfare, resources will ultimately determine the outcome, unless the bigger of the two combatants is swiftly eliminated right on the outset. (see WWI, WWII etc.) In Destiny's Way the story finally reaches this rational stage. The New Republic is pulling itself together and switching to war footing, swinging the momentum back.
So the first 200-or-so pages are great. However, after that the story falls apart; or, rather, it gets too rushed, even with the two chapters that became the eBook "Ylesia" ending up being cut. The story seems to get pushed to its predetermined conclusion and the play-by-play becomes color commentary. Diverse characters are used briefly to facilitate the needs of the action and then dropped without explanation. Williams switches from a day-by-day narrative to an event-by-event one, skipping between places and situations with dizzying speed.
The final 200-odd pages should have been 200 + a 400 page Dastiny's Way II. That would have made this a 5-star effort, on par with Star by Star.
The other big disappointment with Destiny's Way (probably related to the lack of space) is that A LOT of the best characters, suspiciously almost all of them having been created by either Timithy Zahn or Michael Stackpole, are portrayed very badly. They following favorites are all out of character:
[ SPOILERS ]
- Grand Admiral Pellaeon, acting like a stiff Imperial biggot all of the sudden, even though he is already Leia' s friend.
- Soontir Fel, who is momentarily referrenced as Jag Fel's father, "an Imperial Baron". Surely, there is waaayyy more to Fel than that! How about the Chiss and their part in the war? the relationship to Antilles? to Garnd Admiral Thrawn and his views on the galaxy?..
- Bel Iblis is asked by Luke to save the day, in a final titanic battle, as the New Republic is still short on ships. He shows up, gets not a single line and seemingly hands control of his entire fleet to Luke. I had to read it twice to try and figure out whether he was present at all.
- Antilles himself, the hero of Borleias, who has more or less singlehandedly changed the momentum of the war, is completely left out. Apparently he is in Kuat with Tycho. He is not recalled for the final battle, despite the fleet's shortages.
- Wraith leader Garik "Face" Loran makes a cameo, says "understood, Major" over his com unit and fades back into annonymity...
.. which brings me to the final (perhaps minor) problem. The technical details of the Expanded Universe, which authors like M. Stackpole use so artfully to bring their stories to life are way off and inconsistent. Here Williams didn't do enough research.
- Fleets are called "squadrons", squadron flights are called "sections", warships are generically "cruisers" or "frigates", the Wraiths are flying "super fast snoopships", whatever that is and the author becomes infatuated with A-Wings.
- Apparently, two (!) new Super Star Destroyers are in existence, yet they are NOT used for anything, inspite the aforementioned ship shortages. Thank God for Booster's Errand Venture, the only Destroyer-class vessel that sees any action.
I realise that these are rather esoteric points, yet consistency and continuity are what has made Star Wars' Expanded Universe so addictive. This novel felt strange and a bit alien, like a PC user experiencing a Macintosh for the first time - to uncomfortable to be fully satisfied.
I would still recommend this any Star Wars fans, but I do wish the editorial staff at DelRay would do a more thorough job in the future.

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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.

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