Spoiler Free Review: Fate of the Jedi Vortex

Troy Denning's latest addition to the FotJ series, entitled Vortex, is a fast paced slug fest that carries on the major story lines of the previous novels and turns a couple of the story lines on their head.

Sub-plot 1: Luke/Ben/Vestara/Lost Tribe/Abeloth: 

Troy Denning has done a superb job capturing the love and good humor that exists between the two Skywalkers.  A absolutely loved the sense of humor that Luke showed in this novel in particular and the series in general.  The death of Mara and fear for his son made the portrayal of Luke in the Legacy of the Force series darker and more serious.  This series presenting him in a different light is a breath of fresh air.

The character of Vestara introduces an interesting dynamic into the mix.  She is Sith, cannot be trusted, yet as a reader there is still something likable about the character.  The dramatic tension of her redemption or rejection of the light, is something that has been well played so far.  It echos the Skywalker's habit of redeeming those who fall to the Darkside, and the outcome is not pre-determined.  This is a nice bit of mystery that I would assume they keep playing with until the final book in the series.

The alliance with the Sith and the investigation of the entity known as Abeloth, make some interesting debate among fans.  Would Luke Skywalker who has just lost his wife to his Sith Lord nephew be so pragmatic that he allies with Sith?  This storyline has to be played carefully or it becomes a little too unbelievable that Luke would keep working with the Sith when they don't seem to be contributing much.

Abeloth will be discussed more in my review that includes spoilers, this is a weird character, and I am not sure how I feel about her.

Sub-plot 2: Daala vs. Jedi:

Finally we have a little movement in the Daala/Jedi standoff.  I think Denning does a very nice job with Corran Horn in this novel, with one of his pet characters Saba Sebatyne, and at least in the first half of the novel with Acting Grand Master Kenth Hamner.

Hamner is a man caught between two worlds, as a military officer in the New Republic and a Jedi he feels a sense of duty to both the GA and the Jedi.  This characterization fits well with how the character has been portrayed since the NJO.  However, towards the end of the book, Hamner takes some actions that raise some really interesting questions and leave me a little confused.

Sub-plot 3: Slavery:

The sub-plot of slavery was added to the series after it was originally conceived to add some more body and depth to the story telling.  The introduction of Perre Needmo the news anchor and his roving reporter Madhi Vaandt, were interesting enough tangents.  But leaves the bigger question of what exactly is causing all of these simultaneous slave uprisings.  Who is behind it? and Who is behind "Freedom Flight?"

Sub-plot 4: Tahiri's Trial:

I absolutely loved the Tahiri storyline in the last novel.  In this one, it was good, but left me a little confused as to what exactly is going on with Tahiri and her lawyer Eramuth Bwuat'u.  It certainly appears based on the cover of the next novel Conviction, that Tahiri will take center stage in the next book.  This story line didn't seem to advance greatly in this novel, and felt like it was just there to remind you what was going on and set it up for her taking a big role in the next book. 

Conclusions:

Overall, this is a very strong novel, which reshuffles the decks, foreshadows some of what is to come, but leaves the mystery of Abeloth largely intact.  The only real criticism I have is that it was basically told dirt side the entire time.  Except for the first chapter there was very little action in space.  There was some atmospheric vehicular action, but most of the story was characters interacting face to face as opposed to through a transparisteel canopy. 

I give it 8.5 out of 10 Lightsabers.

First Impressions: Fate of the Jedi: Vortex (Spoiler Free)

Finished Vortex late last night and I will have two full reviews, one spoiler free and one spoiler heavy posted, hopefully tomorrow night.  But until then a couple quick thoughts.

• Denning nailed the 3 major fight scenes in this novel.  They were graphic in terms of the physical violence, so I would be concerned about too young of kids reading some of it, but for adults and most kids it was great.  The fight scenes were also spread out enough that it made for good pacing of the novel.  

• I have no idea where they are going with the Abeloth storyline, what kind of entity it is, and whether or not there is any connection to the Keshiri legend of the Destructors, but I have a feeling there is.  

• Luke Skywalker was funny in this book.  I enjoy the less serious Luke we have gotten in this series with his interactions with his son.

• The Ben and Vestara relationship gets more complicated and interesting.

• Wyn Dorvan's characterization seemed weird, it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the series.  

• There was more then one cliff hanger moment, when you thought Denning was about to kill of a beloved character, nice way to keep the reader on their toes.  

• For a series that has at some points felt like it was spinning its wheels, it feels like this novel really advanced some of the plot points and had a lot of good action in it.

• Did anyone else catch the tongue in cheek reference to the canceled novel  Blood Oath

Preview Review: Fate of the Jedi Vortex Chapter 5. *SPOILERS*

What is Vortex?


Vortex is the 6^th of 9 books in the Fate of the Jedi series by Lucas Books/Del Ray. The novel by Troy Denning is due out November 30^th, so for those looking for Christmas gifts, it would be great way to reward that Star Wars fan you know. Denning's latest is clocking in @ 400 pages and is available for pre-order $16.20 at Amazon or if you're a Kindle owner only $6.29. If you own the Kindle there is no reason not to get the book at that price. Awesome deal. Anyways onto the official Blurb:

In a stunning turn of events, Luke Skywalker and his son, Ben, joined forces with members of the Sith armada sent to kill them -- and turned their combined might against the monstrous being Abeloth, whose power was causing young Jedi Knights to go seemingly insane. But with Abeloth gone and the Knights sane again, the Sith reverted to form, making a treacherous attempt on Luke's life.

Luke and Ben have no time for retaliation. A new and even more insidious threat is rising, one that endangers not only the Jedi but the entire Galactic Alliance. Unless the Skywalkers survive to sound the alarm -- and to pass along the secrets they have learned about Abeloth and the Sith -- the galaxy will suffer as it has never suffered before. But the reinforcements they need remain grounded on Coruscant, where the political battle of wills between the Jedi Council and Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala has reached a boiling point.

Now Luke and Ben must go on the run, taking along the inscrutable -- and dangerous -- Sith apprentice Vestara Khai. With a host of Sith warriors in hot pursuit, the Skywalkers soon find themselves trapped on the moon Pydyr, caught between their former allies and a mob of angry Fallanassi. A new truce may be their only hope. But can a Sith ever be trusted?

               With the Jedi's most famous father-and-son team outnumbered and outgunned, the countdown to
                 galactic disaster  has begun -- and time is running out!  

There be Spoilers below…………Seriously stop reading now unless you have selective memory.......or are a Cerean with a two brains and will use one to read the spoiler and another to read the book….of course if you are a Cerean that's pretty awesome…….

CHAPTER 5: Preview Review

Vortex presents us with two main plot lines, Luke/Ben vs. Sith vs. Fallanassi (White Current), and Jedi Order vs. Daala/GA/Mando Mercs. In Chapter 5 which is available in PDF form here, we get a scene dealing with the later.


Setting: Foot of the Jedi Temple, Fellowship Plaza, Coruscant.


Chapter Dramatis Personae: Han Solo, Chief of State Daala, Jedi Sothais Saar and Turi Altamik, and Xenopsychiatrist Dr. Talleus Tharn.


Summary:

CoS Daala has come to the Jedi Temple expecting the Jedi to finally cave into the Galactic Alliance's siege of the Temple, and turn over all the crazy Jedi to be locked up in Carbonite. Little does Daala know that she is playing Sabacc against Han Solo and he has a skifter in his pocket. What Han has is sane Jedi. From the previous novel Allies by Christie Golden, when Luke "killed" Abeloth, the psychosis that was affecting the Maw sheltered Jedi miraculously dissipated. Han is running a con on Daala, attempting to trick her to publicly committing to free the cured Jedi, lift the siege and hopefully get the Horn children released from GA custody.

Chapter Excerpt:

Daala's glare turned suspicious. "I want the barvy ones, Captain

Solo: Sothais Saar, Turi Altamik, and all of the other unstable Jedi who

pose a danger to the citizens of this planet." She raised her chin and

spoke directly to the holocams hovering overhead. "And to this

galaxy."

"And then you'll lift the siege." Han phrased this not as a question,

but as a condition . . . and he made sure he was also speaking into a

holocam mike. "That's the agreement."

"I'll lift the siege after I'm satisfied that the Jedi are no longer sheltering

psychotic Jedi Knights," Daala said carefully. "And I am going to

search the Temple. Let's be very clear about that."

 Impressions:
    Its jam packed with Star Wars awesomeness! Seriously in this brief 14 page excerpt we have 14 characters making an appearance and 3 others being mentioned. It is also jam packed with descriptive writing, for example we learn that Jedi Master Kyp Durron wears algoraspice cologne. Do I need to know that? No, but it's this kind of background detail that fleshes out characters and settings and makes for a very good Star Wars novel.

    This is also a great characterization for Han Solo. It is almost like he slipped into his old Smuggler boots and ditched the "respectable" persona that has been crafted for him in much of the EU. I could just see the smirk on his face when Daala finally figured out he had her outmaneuvered and there was nothing she could do about it.

    The chapter also leaves a nice cliff hanger as the fates of Jysella and Valin Horn is left unresolved, and the presentation of Corran and Mirax Horn in really rough emotional shape foreshadows interesting and dark directions that the story could take. Does Corran go to the Dark Side in frustration/anger to get his kids back?

    If chapter 5 is any indication, Vortex has the potential to be the best book in the Fate of the Jedi Series. Will it live up to its potential? Find out with me on November 30^th.