Lucasfilm continues a new book marketing strategy of early free chapter downloads with lawyer/author Paul S. Kemp's latest novel, The Old Republic: Deceived.
The novel stars Darth Malgus, the Dark Lord of the Sith who lead the sacking of Coruscant and destruction of the Jedi Temple.
The first three chapters are an action packed ride filled with swirling emotional termoil for the main characters. The theme of love and attachment and how if effects our decisions appears to play heavily in this story set approximately 3,653 years BBY.
The following reviews includes Spoilers from the first three Chapters of Deceived which have been released on-line for free.
Chapters Dramatis Personae:
Zeerid "Z-Man", smuggler/Captain of Fatman. Darth Malgus/Veradun, Sith Lord. Eleena, Twi'lek slave/lover of Darth Malgus The Mandalorian, Female Bounty Hunter Aryn Leneer, Female Jedi Knight Syo, Male Jedi Knight Dar'nala, Jedi Master Satele Shan, Jedi Knight Ven Zallow, Male Jedi Master Oren, Male Human, Handler for The Exchange Darth Angral, Sith Lord, Sith Commander of Invasion. Darth Adraas, Sith Lord, Drop-ship commander Republic Senator Am-ris, Cerean Male. Lord Baras, Sith Lord and negotiator. Plot Summary:
Zeerid is a former Republic trooper turned smuggler, who is now working for a criminal syndicate called "The Exchange." Zeerid is the first character we meet in the story, a down-on-his-luck shipper who has a sick daughter Arra, who's existence he keeps a secret so that the Exchange cannot use her as leverage against him.
Zeerid's life is turned even more upside down when he is ambushed on a weapon drop off, and forced to blow up a case of the Exchanges grenades up to escape. This puts him even farther in the Exchanges debt and forces him to make a special drug run of Spice to Coruscant, that promises to pay off his debts but could cost him his life.
We also meet Darth Malgus who we have previously seen in the Old Republic Trailer "Hope," about the Battle of Alderaan when he had a grenade exploded in his face by a Republic Trooper. Leading to the breath-mask wearing monstrosity we see on the cover. We get hints from the relationship that Malgus has with his slave/lover Eleena, that he may have some internal conflict that will later boil to the surface.
Malgus answers to Lord Angral who waits in orbit above Coruscant in his command ship. Malgus is accompanied on his attack on the Jedi Temple by his political rival Lord Adraas who was given command of the drop ship and Sith warriors aboard.
With the help of the Mandalorian, the Sith are able to bring down Coruscant's defenses. The few Jedi at the Temple are led in their defense by Master Ven Zallow, the former master of Jedi Knight of Aryn Leneer who is part of the Republic delegation to Alderaan.
With Eleena and her twin blaster pistols at his side, Malgus stages his attack on the Jedi Temple. The battle for the Jedi temple opens with the Sith drop-ship crashing into the Temple behind Malgus and Aleena, as Lord Ardaas and 50 Sith warriors pour out and a melee ensues pitting Sith versus Jedi. Ultimately concluding with a dramatic duel between Malgus and Zallow, passion vs. peace.
Meanwhile Master Dar'nala and Senator Am-ris are leading the Republic delegation set to meet with the Sith to negotiate a peace treaty suddenly and surprisingly proposed by the Sith Emperor. Among the delegation are three Jedi Knights, Syo, Aryn Leneer, and future Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan.
The death of her former Master and surrogate father Zallow, causes Aryn to give in to her emotions and almost fall to the darkside before being calmed by her fellow Jedi. But Aryn has vowed to herself to learn the identity of the Sith who killed her Master and make him pay.
Impressions:
Deceived is author Paul S. Kemp's second entrance into the GFFA, following last years Jaden Korr centered novel Crosscurrent. In terms of novel time-line it precedes Sean Williams' The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance, in which we see Satele Shan as Jedi Grand Master.
The first chapters of Deceived match pretty closely with what we have seen in the first Old Republic Teaser trailer posted above. The "Hope" trailer tells the story about the events leading up to both The Old Republic MMORPG and the series of The Old Republic tie-in novels.
I really enjoyed Kemp's Crosscurrent novel which had some weird elements that aren't traditionally part of Star Wars novels, the Anzati "soup" drinker as well as the demented Dark Jedi clones. It was like weaving some horror into the space opera without making it an overtly horror novel. A nice touch.
Aside from Zeerid's self inflicted nickname "Z-Man," which annoys me beyond belief for some unknown reason, I really enjoyed the first three chapters of Deceived. I get the feeling that Spice isn't the only thing Zeerid is going to be hauling into Sith Empire occupied Coruscant, somehow Aryn is going to find her way aboard in her search for answers in her Master's murder and the fall of Coruscant.
Of what has been released so far Aryn and Malgus are the most interesting characters to me. Is Malgus a purely evil hearted Sith Lord, or does his relationship with Eleena expose some fatal flaw within him that will cause problems for him in the Empire's hierarchy?
Aryn gave into her emotions pretty hard in the chapters as well, can she avoid falling to the darkside, I am not sure but I really want to find out.
In these introductory chapters Kemp also succeeding in drawing emotional reactions to supporting characters, I already hate Lord Ardaas and cannot wait for someone to put a lightsaber through him. I also have a very strong dislike for Jedi Master Dar'nala who appears to be the TOR equivalent of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
I really enjoy Kemp's style of writing and at 304 pages, Deceived is a pretty good sized hardcover novel. It looks like this book is going to be well worth the price. Pick it up Tuesday March 22, 2011 wherever books are sold.
“Let us live our daily lives in solidarity with those less fortunate than us – the poor, the sick and elderly, those enduring abuse, discrimination or violations of their rights – and thereby build a better world for all”.
Picture found at: http://simonz.co.hu/clonewars_eng.html
1. Senator Garm Bel Iblis:
Garm is the Senator from Corellia, created by Timothy Zahn in the Thrawn Trilogy and established in the EU as one of the founding members of the Rebel Alliance. Who because of a falling out with Mon Mothma left the Rebel Alliance and waged a private war against the Empire.
We have already a had Mon Mothma introduced as well as a number of other minor Senators, Garm is an obvious character who should be in the series to connect it to the rest of the EU. I really wonder if Lucas has something big planned for Corellia as it has been noticablh absent from the series, given the planet/systems importance in the rest of the EU material.
2. Cathar Jedi
The Cathar are simply a cool species, picture a feline wookiee type species.
3. A young Wilhuff Tarkin:
It could just be a cameo, but it would be very cool to see a young Wilhuff Tarkin seeking to suck up to Chancellor Palpatine.
4. More Republic Commando characters:
We will be getting a brief appearance by Delta Squad in the Season 3 episode "Monster" debuting Jan. 14. But we haven't seen any Mandalorian training Sergeants, Kal Skirata, Walon Vau or any other of Mandos would be awesome. There is also Etain Tur-Mukan and Bardan Jusik the staring Jedi of the series.
5. The Caamasi:
The destruction of The Caamasi homeworld and later Alderaan destroyed most of the Caamasi in the GFFA, however they are a very interesting looking species which according to the EU had a strong effect early in the Jedi's history in developing Jedi philosophy and morality. They seem to be the perfect species to include in the Clone Wars both from a visual point of view and because they were pacifists who could make interesting opposition voices in the show.
6. Jedi Master Djinn Altis and Callista Masana:
Master Altis and Callista would be very interesting characters for Anakin to interact with given his romantic attachment issues. It would also allow for the introduction of Jedi Praxeum ships into the series, which according to Jedi Path seem to be a relatively common mode of Jedi training in the Old Republic.
Ce n'est pas parce que c'est inventé que ça n'existe pas!
Natanël a bientôt 7 ans mais il ne sait toujours pas lire... Quand Éléonore lègue à Natanaël le contenu de sa bibliothèque, le petit garçon est loin d'imaginer que tous ces livres renferment le plus incroyable des secrets... Bientôt Alice, Pinocchio, le capitaine Crochet et tous les héros de ses contes préférés prennent vie autour de lui. Ils sont menacés par une terrible malédiction, et seul Natanaël peut les sauver. Commence alors pour le garçon une folle course contre la montre pour délivrer ses nouveaux amis.
Kerity la maison des contes de Dominique Monfery est sorti en décembre 2009! Un film d'animation tellement beau! Une excellente motivation pour les élèves plus petits, ceux qui fréquentent l'école primaire et qui souvent, tel Natanaël, ont des difficultés à lire.
Peut-être se sentiront-ils motivés, en regardant ce monde féerique des livres?
Une bilbliothèque! Un monde de magie qui peut s'ouvrir devant leurs yeux éblouis et les faire retrouver toutes les belles histoires, de Pinocchio à Alice, d'Aladin à Cendrillon. En même temps, c'est une alèrte contre la dispparition des livres en papier.
Comme Natanël,ils vont essayer de les découvrir par eux-mêmes, en apprennant à lire avec plasir.
Les professeurs, à l'aide de la vidéo et du site, pourront distribuer le livre en classe, en laissant que les tout petits aient juste la joie d'apprendre l'alphabet. Et pour les plus espiègles, 5-7 ans, améliorer la lecture?
Ah! En plus de l'espace pédagique contenant un dossier d'accompagnement et des fiches pédagogiques, il y a aussi un espace presse très intéressant à faire décovrir.
Je crois que Kerity et le monde merveilleux des livres est vraiment délicieux à la veille de Noël! Un projet de rêve à faire découvrir aux plus jeunes! Ils vont adorer. J'en suis sûre!
Et puis la bande-sonore de Christophe Héral, compositeur français qui a travaillé aux jeux vidéo, est magnifique!
Pour les parents, un beau cadeau à offrir à leurs petits enfants, en livre ou vidéo? Un cadeau de Noël qui motivera les plus petits à lire avec joie!
