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62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stackpole brings life to the New Jedi Order, February 24, 2000
This review is from: Dark Tide I: Onslaught (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)
I gave this book 4 stars because I reserve 5 stars for really groundbreaking books with outstanding plots. In the Star Wars Universe, I have given 5 stars only to I Jedi (also by Stackpole), Vision of the Future, and the uproariously funny Star Fighters of Adumar. Onslaught isn't quite in that category. Mr. Stackpole is adding to an established story arc and must work within the confines of the arc. He does a tremendous job of making the plot and characters become true to the Star Wars name. This book focuses mostly on Luke and Mara, the Solo Children, Corran Horn, and Princess Leia. For those readers who missed Han Solo in this book, be patient. Han gets two books of his own soon. Jim Luceno (former writing partner of the late Brian Dailey, author of the Early HS trilogy) will be writing books 4 and 5 of the New Jedi Order. Han will get his day. In Onslaught, Stackpole shows more about the new villains, and makes them seem very alien and threatening. These guys are really BAD! Even Corran Horn is astounded by their ruthlessness, and he's seen the dregs of the Galaxy. When Stackpole writes of Luke and Mara, we can see the depths of their love of each other. And Luke fans will find the Jedi Master at his best. The Solo children continue to blossom into real people in Onslaught. Stackpole does a marvelous job of combining the Solo children, as seen in the Young Jedi Knights and other books, with the almost grown up Solos of Vector Prime. He continues the growth that was started by Salvatore and adds the connections to previous works that was missing in Vector Prime. Corran Horn fans will will love Onslaught, he is well represented in Onslaught. Corran has "grown up" some since his Rouge Squadron days, but still has that delightful arrogance that only a former CorSec officer could have. To sum it all up, Onslaught is not Stackpole's best work, but it is what was needed to bring the New Jedi Order to ALL Star Wars fans, old and new. Stackpole skillfully blends the best of Vector Prime and the New Jedi Order story with the Star Wars that so many of us have know and loved for so long.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Turn The Pages Carefully And Slowly, February 6, 2000
This review is from: Dark Tide I: Onslaught (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)
That the pages be turned slowly is important, as this is much briefer than previous books, carefully, because if 2 pages stick together you could literally miss an entire appearance of a long time mainstay of the Star Wars History. The additional time spent on the organic weaponry of The Yuuzhan Vong, is brilliant. I don't know where the credit should be given, but whether from one author, a collaboration, or Mr. Lucas, this part of the new series I find fascinating. This book opens a variety of issues that are going to need to be resolved. To the extent these details are shared, I believe the reader can get a better idea of where this whole new series that started with Vector Prime may be heading. The book resolves very little if anything, and really sets the stage for a variety of future plot lines. Additionally it strongly reinforces the mood that Vector Prime began. This is a more violent, more graphically depicted part of the Star Wars Saga. It also introduces conflict where you would least expect it, on issues as basic as what a Jedi Knight was, is, or should be. So far these two books offer no moments that are light, the whole experience is burdensome, painful. The quality in this new series is present and abundant, the issue is making the adjustment from the previous mood that was Star Wars, to the new experience it has become. Other than the brevity I have one complaint that may be considered nit picking, but I believe Star Wars Fans tend to be demanding, and I am glad they are. The artwork on the book is weak. I don't like the style and unlike Vector Prime it is almost generic. When Chewbacca was portrayed as a constellation on the Vector Prime Cover, you either knew something was coming, or after the reading was through, the image on the book was exceptional, regardless of whether or not you cared for the storyline. My complaint is hardly large, as I would read these books if they had blank covers. Since there has been such outstanding artwork, i.e. Dave Dorman, I have come to expect it, so it was glaringly missed this time around. The book is very well done, and the shortcomings like the length are minor, all in all buy it. Just take your time reading it!
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Onslaught...Passing of the torch to new characters!, March 27, 2000
This review is from: Dark Tide I: Onslaught (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)
Michael Stackpole is a great sci fi writer. 'I, Jedi' was great, and this novel solidifies him as a boneafide Star Wars novelist. His descriptions of landscapes, alien worlds and technology vividly paint pictures within your head without going overboard like other authors. What makes Onslaught a unique book is: 1) This book begins a story arc that seems to fit in between Vector Prime's overall story arc. Though it can be read alone, probably best if you read Vector Prime first to understand some events. 2) It is hard to describe, but this is a great novel with no real plot resolution or end. This novel seems to almost to be a prelude to an actual novel not yet out--meaning that there are numerous events taking shape all across the Star Wars universe, almost shot like small vignettes, and only towrds the physical end of the novel do things start shaping up getting ready for hopefully the next one. 3) The Vong (enemies) here have no central characters unlike the one's in Vector Prime. They are treated as this overall imposing threat and we learn more about them through their actions and culture, but no one Vong character is present....until the Epilouge. 4) Some of your main SW chracters you have learned to love aren't here or play very MINOR roles....Han is only around very briefly in the beginning, Lando has a 'few' moments, there really is no 3PO, Ackbar, Mothma, Antilles, etc. 5) <I seperated this for a reason> Another character dies. This lends some believability to this New Jedi Order of novels. The characters we love, aren't invincible anymore, and neither are their friends. A great plus! 6) Most importantly, I beelive this novel truly does usher us into the next generation of Star Wars. We see some returning Jedi from other novels playing a more prominent role, you see less of the standard characters, we are seeing new enemies with little of the Imperial Remenant. However, this is the deciding novel where the Solo children are finally given their own identities. We were always treated to Jacen and Jaina as twins and whenever they were written about it was typical twin stuff. Anakin Solo was just the cute little kid who was strong in the force. But here is where Stackpole shines....We now see the individual strengths, fears, and dreams of these children. Jacen is very insightful questioning his own role as a Jedi, Anakin full of Pride (never wants to let Luke or Mara down), Jaina full of adventure (the next Rouge). It just gets better and better. I think one of the best scenes for me was when Jacen and Anakin were side by side, new Jedi's in trade, taking on the Vong. It was a real page turner and I felt as if I was there with them, adrenaline pumping. When a writer can do that, it's a good novel!
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