Early Adventure for Obi-Wan and Anakin
598171
Obi-Wan and Anakin takes place after the events of the Phantom Menace film.  Obi-Wan has taken young Anakin Skywalker under his wing which was the dying request of his master, Qui-Gon Jinn.  Although Anakin's connection to the Force is strong, he has reservations about his Jedi training and is considering leaving the Jedi order.  As he contemplates his decision, a distress call from a distant planet is received and he agrees to accompany Obi-Wan to Carnelion IV.  Soon after arriving on the planet, the two witness a conflict between two dirigibles.  They learn that the planet is host to a long-standing war between two factions,the Open and the Closed, and that much of the planet's surface has been destroyed or impacted due to the long-standing dispute.  Upon brokering a small peace agreement between the survivors of the airship conflict, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and the survivors set off to discover the source of the distress beacon.  The ensuing efforts go awry as expected leading Obi-Wan and Anakin to deal with the two factions; protect the source of the distress call; and face the difficult environment that the planet's surface has become as a result of the horrors of war.  In addition, Anakin must deal with his inner turmoil regarding whether or not to continue his Jedi training.

Having read a number of these graphic novels/trade paperbacks from Marvel over the past several weeks, I found this one to be a decent read.  It's certainly not one of the better stories, but Charles Soule is a very solid writer and certainly turned in a solid script.  It's just that the story itself isn't that compelling and neither are any of the supporting characters.  And while the flashback sequences do illustrate the beginnings of Anakin's relationship with Palpatine, they are only a small portion of the overall story.  In addition, while the ending works fine, it mostly resolves Anakin's internal conflict and somewhat ignores much of the leadup in the first four chapters dealing with the warring faction on the Carnelion IV.  The artwork is solid (particularly the coloring work), but there is a bit of an overuse of double-page spreads that make some of the action difficult to easily follow.
132109
It's hard to believe there hasn't been a review for this book yet, especially since all this material has been reprinted in another Dark Horse omnibus and now a hardcover omnibus from Marvel itself.
These stories take place after Return of the Jedi, which Dark Horse omitted the comic book adaption of in this collection since it wasn't written into the regular series but as its own limited series.
The New Republic is trying to get the newly freed planets on its side after the Empire is defeated. So Luke, Han, Leia and Lando all spread out across the galaxy coming to new worlds and meeting new characters.
Most of the stories are written by Mary Jo Duffy. There's no regular artists so the art style can change a lot from issue to issue.
The series takes a new direction into what was uncharted territory at the time, since this was the mid 80s and there wasn't a whole universe of Star Wars books or prequel movies or a new trilogy coming up.
I'd recommend reading this before volume 7 since this book builds up a whole new cast of supporting characters you'll need to be familiar with.
4052392
After their adventures on the planet of Phindar, Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi again make their way to Gala. For many years the planet has been ruled by the Beju-Tallah dynasty but now the queen has decided to give an election for the new ruler. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn's mission is to observe to make sure the elections go smoothly. But everything does not seem to be all that simple. The Queen Veda is dying, her angry son is conspiring to win over the elections to maintain his rule as the throne's heir. And then of course the Queen shocks them with this news; Prince Beju is not the true heir, Elan of the hill people is! Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan must find a way to conserve peace on the planet and to find the true heir bearing the Mark of the Crown.
One of my favorites books in the entire Jedi Apprentice series! There's plenty of action and adventure, suspense and excitement. Jude Watson has certainly done an astounding job, the plot and story of the book is so unique and interesting and I couldn't put it down! I still enjoy reading the books as much as I did when they first started coming out in the summer of 1999.
This series explains a lot about how Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan first meet. Their beginning is far from simple and all smooth-sailings, which would be pretty monotonous if it was. Though the books are said for ages 9-12, like many other reviewers I agree that the Jedi Apprentice Series are for anybody. Extremely well-written, the emotions, thoughts, and feelings of the main characters are very well put down into words. I also like the different array of humans and aliens which are portrayed, both good and bad; the dying Queen Veda who still has the strengths and capabilities of a noble ruler, Elan the headstrong woman who wants nothing to do with Gala's government, Jono the palace servant who becomes friends with Obi-Wan, and many more characters.
The first Jedi Apprentice book is written by Dave Wolverton while all the rest (19 more books) are written by Jude Watson and are all very highly recommended from me. The books don't really 'end' at all, the books ends in either a cliffhanger or with a little glimpse into the future. Believe me, once you start reading them, you'll want to read the next one... then the next one...  I can't wait for Jude Watson's next Star Wars series, The Jedi Quest Series with Obi-Wan Kenobi as the Jedi Master and Anakin Skywalker as the Padawan Apprentice.
Another Star Wars Series I recommend and like a lot are the Young Jedi Knights series. The stories are about Jacen and Jaina Solo (twins of Han and Leia Solo), and their friends as they journey on the road to becoming Jedi Knights. More on the teenager level of reading. For adult readings, a few selections I enjoy reading are "The Thrawn Trilogy", "Rogue Planet", "The Jedi Academy Trilogy", "The Corellian Trilogy", and "The Truce at Bakura".
4530579
Not seen this one, but I still own two of the later issues of this fantastic series of Star Wars storyzines from pre-internet times, and they were great; featuring quality SW fan fiction and fan art.

Based on that, I would recommend this earlier edition wholeheartedly.

(Unable to clear the stars and keep the comment.)
4709621
Overall the book is well written and held my interest from start to finish. But, some of the situations that the characters encounter along the way made me feel that I was reading a D&D novel instead of a Star Wars novel. We get some good insights into life in the underbelly of Coruscant, but no real clues as to why the Jedi are so despised by the Sith. Finally, for one who's already familiar with the events of Episode I, the entire book is read with the fore-knowledge that the Jedi counsel will not receive warning about the impending blockade of Naboo, nor information about the existence of the Sith. In short, we know in advance that the heroes will fail.
781538
Pretty basic 'way early Star Wars book.  Will read the other two Darth Bane issues.
3981095
I can't say that this was an "edge of your seat" adventure, but it was fulfilling in the fact that it gave useful information on the continuing development of Anakin Skywalker.  I found the description of Sekot hard to follow a lot of times, but it was still an interesting plot.

The best parts of this book had to be the exchanges involving Raith and Tarkin.  Raith Sienar is an excellent new character and I hope he appears somewhere else down the road, though I doubt he will.  Tarkin is excellently portrayed through the book.  The Blood Carver Ke Daiv is another great character who is dynamic and complex.

The coolest thing about this book is the vague, but definitly present, foreboding of events during the NJO series.  Good stuff.

The book is rather tediuos till the very end, where the action and revelations are definitly worth the wait.  The Coda at the end of the book is especially powerful and thought provoking.

I suggest this one to patient readers who enjoy a good star wars book.
1595174
In this Star Wars adventure, the Rebel Alliance asks Han Solo to extract a rebel spy from deep within enemy territory. Solo expects trouble from the Empire, but what he doesn't expect is a former colleague waiting in ambush. More importantly, he doesn't know that the spy he's been sent to find -- the beautiful and clever Scarlet Hark -- plans to enlist him in an attempt to prevent the Empire from obtaining a super-weapon left behind by an extinct civilization.

The novel begins on an unusual note, pointing out that the Rebellion depends on the support of shady characters like Han Solo. Not only do they need wily scoundrels who can survive difficult missions, they need the supplies and financing that they can only get from people and organizations who, like the rebels, have less than cordial relations with the Empire. This book isn't a "revisioning" of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Lies-of-Locke-Lamora/dp/055358894X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Lies of Locke Lamora</a>&nbsp;with Han Solo in the title role, however, and the authors really don't want us to think through what it means for the rebels to be in bed with a bunch of criminals. Honorable scoundrels give spice to life; real-life murderers and thugs, not so much.

As with most novels of this sort, the story is both end-of-the-world dramatic and yet entirely routine. Because this novel takes place after "Star Wars: A New Hope" and before "The Empire Strikes Back," we know that Han Solo isn't going to die or wind up in Jabba the Hutt's clutches, we know that the Empire isn't going to acquire a heretofore-unknown doomsday device, and we know that Han and Leia are fated to become a couple, but not just yet. Big things can happen in the novel, but only if they don't have any obvious lasting effects on familiar characters and the broader universe. This limits the authors' freedom, but they can still work their will on smuggler Baasen Ray, spy Scarlet Hark, and mad scientist Essio Galassian -- characters that are central to this book, but don't exist elsewhere.

Fans, of course, are not reading this book for novelty; they want to see their favorite characters doing what their favorite characters do. And they do. Han cracks wise, Chewie moans and waves his arms, Han and Leia clash and flirt at the same time, etc. The writing is competent, the story moves along quickly, and there are the usual plot complications. This book is not a must-read, and it's not going to rock your world, but it's perfectly serviceable entertainment for a rainy day or a wait in the airport. Mildly recommended.
2926161
Crash Course is the second volume in a quarterly, graphic-novella series by Dark Horse and is based on The Clone Wars as presented in last year's film and the current TV series. In this tale, Anakin Skywalker and his young Padawan Ahsoka Tano try to uncover a Separatist spy by gong undercover as a podracing team. So you think - Well, Anakin has done this before. Nope, Ahsoka is the driver this time. As was true in Shipyards of Doom, the first volume in this series, the story in this book is interesting, the characters are familiar to us, and the book looks good. I knocked it down by one star only because I found the story to be slightly convoluted.

However, I am pleased that Dark Horse is doing this series. The books tie in nicely with the TV shows currently on The Cartoon Network, and I look forward to Volume 3 scheduled to come out in May.
1663154
Though it's written, in part, to bridge the Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi series, this novel is fun in its own right. The stakes are much less significant than galaxy-changing events, but the story is still gripping and full of adventure. Luceno deftly captures the roguish magic at the heart of the Han/Falcon mythology as he fills in the gaps of the ship's epic history, from the time it leaves the assembly line to the in-universe present. He does this by interspersing the stories of previous owners within a larger frame narrative in which the Solos (and several mysterious newcomers) trace the Falcon's history. A couple of these vignettes drag, but most are great, and they're a nice way to add some variety and structural depth.

Like I said, though, this is clearly a bridge novel. Luceno (quite cleverly) gives you a galactic history primer within the book, but the more familiar you are with prior EU/Legends works (even as far back as the Han Solo Adventures) the more you'll get out of this novel. There are also a couple plot threads left open which I can only presume the Fate of the Jedi series resolves. But if you like the Millennium Falcon as a ship and are fine with the fact that this isn't canon, you'll probably enjoy the novel regardless.
3152278
Cool figure not so much for the articulation or sculpt (which are done well) but for the signifigance this character holds in the Star Wars universe. Palpatine mentions him in Revenge of the Sith as the inspiration to bring Anakin to the darkside. He was the Sith Lord who found a way to cheat death by his control of the power of the darkside and the manipulation of the Force utilizing the way of the Sith. Anakin was of course seduced by the idea he could thwart a premonition he kept having dreams about his beloved Amadala and her inevitable death while in labor with twins Luke & Leia. I don't expect this action figure to have the same type of acension as the 1997 30th anniversary action figure "Darth Revan" but I do expect it to be somewhat valuable just for the fact it is a 1st scult of this character and it has signifigance to the story as a whole. I say get it before it levels off at about $45 or so. You never know though...
4443299
What a thrill it was for me to read the second installment of the Thrawn trilogy.  It seems obvious, but some people do skip around when reading a series, I most definitely recommend one first read&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Star-Wars-Heir-to-the-Empire-The-20th-Anniversary-Edition-Star-Wars-Del-Rey/dp/0345528298/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Star Wars: Heir to the Empire: The 20th Anniversary Edition (Star Wars (Del Rey))</a>&nbsp;(yes, the 20th anniversary edition is best) before starting this.  As for the Kindle version of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dark-Force-Rising-Star-Wars-The-Thrawn-Trilogy-Book-2/dp/0553560719/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dark Force Rising (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Book 2)</a>, there were a few misspellings, but it was otherwise well formatted and easy to read.

Because it is the middle part of a trilogy, a lot happens but not much is resolved.  Han, Luke, Leia, Lando, Chewie, and the droids are all back.  Timothy Zahn is expert in bringing their personalities to life.  The interplay between them is spot on, with dialogue that feels like it's right out of the movies.

Mara Jade is becoming a most interesting character, one of the best additions to the Star Wars universe (forgive me if there are more, I'm new to this).  Her interaction with Luke excites me.  They have such chemistry.  She says hates him and wants to kill him, but it doesn't seem to worry him in the least -- not since they first met and not now.  I can't wait to see how that plays out.  **I am not looking.  Don't anyone tell me!**

The feel of this book is more like the prequels than the original trilogy, because there are battles happening on many fronts and the political maneuvering means the reader has to stay awake to keep track.  My only quibble is the ending, which feels a little blunted.  No matter, I'm on to the next book to find out what happened.

Happy reading!  MTFBWY.
4099737
This is a fascinating look at canon when there isn't any canon yet. It's set between Empire and Jedi and it's transparent they were spinning their wheels. The characters are in no way formed with Luke still vaguely in love with Leia and almost zero reference to Vader's revelation. It should be laughable. However, this comes from some of the greatest talent Marvel had in the early 80s including Chris Claremont, David Michelinie, and Walt Simonson. The result is a raft of great SF comics that vaguely feel like Star Wars comics. They're thrilling and fun reads well worth the time.
4880526
Published in 2014, "Star Wars: A New Dawn" served two purposes: to introduce the new canon and to act as a prequel to the animated television show Star Wars: Rebels. Having thrown out all previous novels in the Star Wars canon, "A New Dawn" certainly had a lot riding on it. Author John Jackson Miller had some large shoes to fill, as his predecessors had written some excellent stories. However, Miller had also written several Star Wars novels prior to "Dawn," including the well-received "Kenobi." So how does "Dawn" stack up against its predecessors and does it do justice to the new canon?

"A New Dawn" is set in between the events of Episode III:Revenge of the Sith and a Episode IV: A New Hope. The plot revolves around Kanan Jarrus, a former Jedi who is now in hiding, and the mysterious Hera, an early figure in the rebel movement against the Galactic Empire. Looking to gather information on one of the Emperors enforcer's--the cyborg Count Vidian-- Hera visits the planet Gorse, where she, Kanan, and several other characters are drawn into a light-hearted adventure to save Gorse and defeat the evil Count Vidian. The plot is unoriginal and Miller seems to tread lightly, perhaps so as not to ruin any surprises in future television or movie episodes. The plot contains the requisite number of dogfights and blaster skirmishes with stormtroopers. It is also small in scope and takes place primarily only on the planet Gorse, and never feels like the galaxy-trotting adventure that Star Wars should be.

Where the book shines (and ultimately saves itself from a lower score) is in the characterization. The plot is so derivative I was ready to give the book up, but the robust characterization drew me in, particularly in the last third of the novel. Kanan is a very interesting and complex character, who wants no part of a rebellion, but is ultimately dragged into it when a friend is murdered by the Empire. Hera is mysterious and leaves the reader wanting to know more about her background and ultimate goals. At first glance, Count Vidian is your typical evil science fiction cyborg, but Miller gives him a fascinating backstory, and he ends up becoming one of the more memorable characters in the story.

The style that "A New Dawn" is written in can best be described as light and cartoonish. The book reads like a young adult novel, an apparent (and disappointing) trend in novels of the new canon. Dialogue is often silly and certainly sounds like it is drawn from a cartoon.

Ultimately, "A New Dawn" doesn't pass muster when compared to those Star Wars novels that have gone before it, though it does act as an effective prequel to Rebels. If you're interested in getting some backstory on two lead Rebels characters, "Dawn" is worth the read, especially given its strength of characterization. Just be aware that it isn't the best example of what Star Wars authors are capable of.

In Summation:

The Good:
-an effective Rebels prequel
-strong characterization

The Bad:
-unoriginal plot
-cartoonish writing style
-small scope of action
3164576
Preparing myself for Episode III, I decided to start at what I considered the beginning.  This is the prequel to The Phantom Menace which explains a bit about the Trade Federation, Valorum, Palpatine, and the tangled web that makes up the taxation of the trade routes.

And though some of the political motives escaped me sometimes, it was an excellent start to the Star Wars Universe.  The action was quick, and the characters were well done.  The new character Cohl made for exciting reading, as he has a hint of Han Solo to him.  Also Palpatine, Valorum, Qui-Gon Jinn, and surprisingly Tarkin are interesting to watch in these early stages of the fall of the Republic.

The Jedi take a backseat in this political thriller while the Senators, Freedom Fighters (also called terrorists), and the Trade Federation are the focal point of this novel.

Luceno does a good job of keeping the action rolling and the suspense intriguing, even for a book that isn't filled to the brim with space dogfights and flashy jedi.  It is also obvious that Luceno has a love of all things Star Wars and is very knowledgable about some of the smaller details of the universe.
4806506
Leo Blake was called back to Naval duty. He learned the earth was building its first star ship. The Kher returned to recruit more people to fight the Imperials as well as regain the first crew that had fought in the war before..

The Kher was shocked when the Imperials returned and attacked them. This was a surprise since they usually waited 1000 years between battles. Thus, they had to gather those who served before and acquire more humans to join the fight for survival.

A further problem was the presence of an extremely large ship called the Hunter. It had AI directing it. The Imperials seemed to have control of it.

There are many battles,big and small, rank contests, and my h more to learn. Enjoyable reading can be yours!
1931884
I received a copy of this book for my honest review. This is a fast action prequel to another longer book (Iron William and the Carpenter's Tears). If you are new to this adventure I suggest you start with this one first, as it provides some background for adventures that follow. It's written in what strikes me in the style of the Indiana Jones movie adventures. There's not a lot of character development, there is some dialogue, and there is a lot of action, which propels this story forward. For those readers who enjoy fast action adventure, this is a recommended read.