The Final Prophecy (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 18) Review

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(More customer reviews)The end of this horrible, genocidal Yuuzhan Vong/Galactic Alliance War is coming to a close. After months and years of the Yuuzhan Vong pushing and conquering the New Republic/Galactic Alliance inhabitants all across the galaxy (including capturing the capital homeworld, Coruscant, now known as Yuuzhan'tar), the Alliance finally struck back and began putting the Vong on the defensive. These two opposing forces have finally created the irresistible force meeting the immovable object syndrome. The tension builds and one of the sides will have to break.
The forces in play on both sides portend of a spectacular climax. An Alliance Expeditionary Force, led by Luke Skywalker, finally located the living planet Zonoma Sekot, seeming the last hope for ending the hostilities that have plagued the galaxy. On Yuuzhan'tar, dissention continues to permeate the ranks of the Yuuzhan Vong. A politically motivated move by disgraced executor, Nom Anor, to regain power has now gained a force stronger than anything he can control. Using a 'masquer' to conceal his identity and playing upon the reverence the Shamed Ones of the Vong have for the Jedi, Anor created a rebellious movement that has infected all levels of Yuuzhan Vong culture, including certain members of the inner circle of Supreme Overlord Shimmra. What's more, Shimmra's claim of an alleged mandate from the gods to continue to pursue this genocidal conflict is slowly coming under scrutiny. It's becoming obvious to some that Shimmra may actually be a fraud and much of what he preaches, and much of what is central to Yuuzhan Vong culture, may prove to be earth-shatteringly false. So lays the groundwork for the events that take place in the penultimate story of the New Jedi Order series, "The Final Prophecy".
Though there is a space battle around the famed Bilbringi Shipyards that involves favorites like Wedge Antilles, Garm Bel Iblis, and Jaina Solo, the primary focus of "The Final Prophecy" deals with an unlikely truce between higher members of the Yuuzhan Vong and select Alliance members (the oft-absent Corran Horn and the enigmatic Tahiri). These Yuuzhan Vong, specifically master shaper and heretic, Nen Yim, wish to seek the truth about the existence of the living planet, the honor of the Jedi, and possible treachery committed by Shimmra. With assistance from High Priest Harrar (a powerful Yuuzhan Vong whose dissident nature is still clandestine), Nen Yim makes contact with the Prophet Yu'Shaa, the leader of the Shamed Ones movement, with the intent of making a secret plea to Galactic Alliance to seek out Zonoma Sekot. Unbeknownst to anyone, Yu'Shaa is really Nom Anor, and Anor plans to use this truce as a means to further his own political agenda. The results of this unlikely and unholy alliance are among the most compelling twists so far in the New Jedi Order series.
There are a few things to be said. For starters, it is nice to see Corran Horn back in the fold. He has essentially been MIA since the "Edge of Victory" duology and he was sorely missed. It helps that he was not forced back into the series with an unnatural storyline. He is paired with Tahiri to 'capture' Nen Yim and proceed on to Zonoma Sekot. In Corran's last significant appearance in the NJO, Tahiri was a major factor and there was much that happened between them. Putting them back together and referencing their past was a very smart move. Tahiri has become an even more intriguing character now that she is becoming more at one with the combination of her human and Yuuzhan Vong personalities. She continues to the wild card that keeps events intriguing.
What is most fascinating about "The Final Prophecy" is seeing the divide that is taking place among the Yuuzhan Vong. Nom Anor's antics are nothing new, so his actions throughout are no surprise. However, the fact that Vong as high up as a Master Shaper (Nen Yim) and a High Priest (Harrar) doubt Shimmra and begin to develop a respect for the Jedi foreshadows greater dissention among the Yuuzhan Vong. It's become clear that the end result will not be the eradication of Yuuzhan Vong from the galaxy, so it becomes necessary to adjust to the concept of the Vong and the galaxy residents co-inhabiting peacefully. Zonoma Sekot holds the secrets of how this might actually happen, but it's the interactions between Tahiri and Corran with Harrar and Nen Yim that make it seem as though this is a possible destiny.
"The Final Prophecy" is a quick read at 300 pages. The end seems near, yet it seems still very much in doubt. It leaves the reader hungry for the final novel "The Unifying Force" and gives a fascinating look at what the future could possibly hold for the galaxy.

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