Customer Reviews

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter (Star Wars)

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I found Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter to be an interesting, exciting and fun change of pace from the more run-of-the-mill Star Wars novels. It obviously takes place in the Prequel Era, and covers the events immediately before the start of The Phantom Menace. Basically the plot is that a Neimoidian with news of the Naboo blockade tries to sell the information on Coruscant, so Darth Maul is sent to hunt the guy down and kill him, as well as anyone he has told about the blockade.

Michael Reaves is by no stretch of the imagination a fantastic author; his writing style and mechanics just weren't that great. However, this minor lapse is more than made up for by all the great elements to this book. Reaves introduces several new and interesting characters, which is a boon since because they aren't "main" characters, there are no assurances that they will survive, and the suspense is therefore much greater than in most of the Star Wars stories.

The author also explores a lot of hitherto underexplained and -explored elements of the Star Wars universe. For example, the fighting style known as tėras käsi has been referenced and mentioned a lot in previous novels, but here for the first time we see what it really is. Also, we get more insight into the Sith culture -- why they want "revenge" on the Jedi, why Darth Maul in particular is so obssessed with killing Jedi, and things that make the Sith's motivations in the films much more clear. The book goes more into the actual role of the Jedi in the galaxy, and how much influence they have, and it explores some of the problems with Jedi policy. Also, though Reaves is a newcomer to the Star Wars universe, there are enough small references to other works to please fans especially.

In terms of action, of which there is certainly plenty to be found here, the author had a lot of fun. New and innovative ways of killing and dying in the Star Wars universe, cool weapons and capabilities. And instead of giving us a blow-by-blow breakdown of lightsaber duels, Reaves instead opts to go more into the mindset of the fighters, how the Force helps and influences their actions and decisions, which gives us a unique view in that regard. In fact, for a novel more oriented towards adventure, I think that this book has an outstanding amount of introspection and thought regarding the ways, the use, and the limits of the Force, and the differences between the Light Side and the Dark Side.

There were really only a few small downfalls in terms of plot. First of all, the Obi-Wan subplot was really unnecessary. It didn't really go anywhere, and it didn't really establish anything new about the character anyway. Also, in this book it seems that Holocrons are also able to be used as simple recording devices -- I had thought from previous sources that they were something different. And finally, there was really no reason to introduce the "Crimson Corridor." There are already plenty of bad places that we know about on Coruscant, an easy example being the Southern Underground, without the author having to create an even new, even worse section than we've seen before.

Overall, however, this was a great effort. A quick, fun, and entertaining romp through the bowels of Coruscant, filled with fun and enjoyable characters that I for one would like to see more of in the future. Good job Michael Reaves!

I loved this book. Finally are we able to learn something of the life of Darth Maul. Taking place immediately before the beginning of The Phantom Menace, we follow the efforts of Darth Maul to prevent the premature exposure of the Sith.

Reaves combines action, suspense, and often humor, into an effortless, fast read. As the story takes place in the bowels of Coruscant, we see some of the incongruities of the Republic government, and the Jedi. We also get a few tantalizing glimpses of Darth Sidious, as he directs the actions of Maul in his pursuit.

The battles are very nicely written, without being overdone, and letting us into the mind of Maul, with his contempt for the Jedi, and basically all non-Sith. I had a few minor complaints about this book, but to discuss them would be to reveal essential events in the story.

I do recommend this book to all Star Wars enthusiasts, assuming you haven't already got this one. If you're waiting for paperback, you still want to remember to get this one. It reads fast, like all the Star Wars books -- you just can't put it down!

I picked up this book not quite knowing what to expect. Could this just be a story slopped together to cash in on one of the most popular villians in recent memory? A possibility. To me, Maul seemed in the Phantom Menace to be Darth Sidious' personal killing machine, and not a lot more. He didn't have the great characterization or presence of, say, Vader. But dang was he cool when he went about being that killing machine, and that fact, along with an uncontrollable urge to pick up every Star Wars novel that comes along, made me pick it up.

Fortunatly, this book is chock full of characters and the adventures they go through made me forget that most of the action takes place on Coruscant. Usually SW books hop from planet to planet. We get to know Lorn Pavan, a character I grew to really like, even though his dislike of the Jedi was annoying at first. But, like it has been pointed out, he had his reasons, and he grew a bit by the end of the story. This book also introduces us to the coolest droid since R2 and 3PO, the sarcastic, quick witted I-Five. His scenes with Lorn are great, up there in SW lore with duos such as R2/3PO, Han/Chewie and Luke/Mara.

Also, we find ourselves on a journey to Jedi Knighthood with Padawan Darsha Assant, who has her troubles, moments of doubts, and times when she really shines as a Jedi. As her path leads her to Lorn and co, the story really gets interesting, for this is where our friendly neighborhood Dark Lord of the Sith comes in. I've heard him compared to a Star Wars Terminator in this book, and that description ain't that far off. Like the movie, our anti-hero doesn't have a lot to say, but his actions always speaks louder than what he would say. He is truly a figure to be feared here, and anytime a character I began to care for in the story crossed his path, I feared for them.

Some would say that knowing the events of The Phantom Menace takes away any suspense from this book, but I say nay. There's plenty of suspense here, you don't know exactly what's going to happen to these characters; what twists and turns may come into play, so don't let that deter you.

The pages fly fast and the pacing is perfect. Never a dull moment, and I finished the book faster than anything in recent memory, but I give this book 5 stars for being a fast, vastly entertaining read with some laughs and tears. If that seems your cup of tea, it probably won't disappoint.

One of the things I find interesting about the Star Wars prequels is the notion that although most fans know the eventual outcome -- Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is going to declare himself Emperor, Anakin Skywalker will succumb to the Dark Side, and a climactic duel with his friend and mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi will leave Skywalker terribly scarred and transform him into Darth Vader -- the movies (flaws and all) give us the details of the story. To those few fans -- if the reviews of Episodes I and II on this site are a reflection of how many people do like the new movies by George Lucas -- who enjoy The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, the revelations about the decline and fall of the Galactic Republic, the roles, missions, and lifestyles of the Jedi Order, and the tragic transformation of a well-intentioned but vulnerable Jedi into the galaxy's most menacing villain are intriguing.

Because the prequels cover a much longer span of time than the Classic Trilogy and focus mostly on Anakin, his stormy apprenticeship with Obi-Wan, and his forbidden romance with Padme Amidala -- with Palpatine's rise to power as the backdrop -- there are always "untold stories" about the mysterious Sith and the soon-to-be-vanquished Jedi Order. A few details are divulged in the films, such as the Sith being limited to two members -- "a master, and an apprentice." But inevitably running time and other considerations preclude more detailed explanations about Darth Sidious (Palpatine's Sith alter ego) and his sly machinations to defeat the Jedi and take over the decaying Galactic Republic.

Some novelists -- Alan Dean Foster, James Luceno, Greg Bear, and Michael Reeves -- have written an Expanded Universe series of novels that seek to fill in some of the blanks about the prequel era. Bear and Foster, for instance, chronicle some of the events in the decade between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones in Rogue Planet and The Approaching Storm. Luceno and Reeves' novels, on the other hand, are "pre-prequels" set shortly before the events depicted in Episode I.

Whereas Luceno's Star Wars: Cloak of Deception focuses on the political machinations of Palpatine and sets up the downfall of Supreme Chancellor Valorum, Reeve's Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter is a Star Wars film noir-styled mystery set shortly before The Phantom Menace. Darth Sidious and his greedy but none-too-brave Neimoidian allies are planning to blockade the small planet of Naboo to express the Trade Federation's objection to the taxation of trade routes. Everything is going according to plan: the Federation's fleet is preparing to head to the Outer Rim and the Naboo system, the battle droids are hidden in the doughnut-shaped starships' holds, and Sidious' sly maneuvers have thrown the Galactic Senate into a political maelstrom.

But when one of the four Neimoidian conspirators, Hath Monchar, reverts to his species' cowardly nature and flees to the city world of Coruscant, Sidious realizes that he must take decisive steps to prevent the Republic from discovering the Naboo scheme prematurely. Fortunately, he has a powerful asset: Darth Maul, his young, well trained, and formidable apprentice. The horned and tattooed Dark Lord and his double-bladed lightsaber should not have too much trouble finding one scared and desperate Neimoidian, even one hidden among Coruscant's teeming billions.

Reeves, of course, can't change the Star Wars galaxy's destiny and having Maul fail in his mission. He -- and the audience -- knows that the rise of the Sith and the Empire is set in celluloid and print, yet somehow he manages to write a suspenseful tale pitting the relentless Maul (who really got very little screen time in a movie that was heavily promoted with his likeness) against a strange alliance between the cynical rogue Lorn Pavan, a ne'er do well former employee of the Jedi Temple who lives in the fringes of Coruscant society, and Darsha Assant, a young Jedi Padawan on her first mission without her Master's direct supervision. Thrown together by circumstance and pursued by the relentless Darth Maul, these two characters -- and Lorn's sarcastic droid companion I-Five -- prove to be an unexpected challenge to the Jedi-hating Sith Lord.

Reeves' style and tone are similar to Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer stories, albeit set in George Lucas' "galaxy far, far away." The characters are vividly described and are, for a space/fantasy genre novel, engaging and even believable. And even though -- like its film source -- the ending is not a surprise, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter is a fast-paced and entertaining read.

As someone who generally gets new Stars Wars books on the day they become available, I freely admit I am not as hard on these books as I probably should be. However I think most fans enjoy the Universe of Lucas so much, minor or irritating issues are less noted. There is one idea that is not an issue. To suggest this book lacks any suspense or surprise because virtually all readers have seen Episode I is completely absurd. All fans already know what happens to Anakin, and a variety of others from Episode I, as we have seen Episodes IV, V, and VI. There are over 150 other written works that take place before, during and after all the movies, and as readers know the whole epic is more enjoyable as influenced by how much of the reading you have done. There are hundreds a bits of information that are and will remain unknown to those who have never picked up a book. The movies are still great, but the reading adds another level of detail.

Michael Reaves does an average job with his entry as a Star Wars Author. The storyline is enjoyable, and much is learned about Darth Maul and the embargo that takes place in Episode I. Not only does the movie not detract from the book, the background information gained, enhances Episode I.

On the down side the information about Maul's entry to the Sith is fragmented, and placed in several spots in the book. They are not clean transitions, and the questions foremost in your mind are never dealt with. There is a training sequence that would be great on film, but it will remain in the book unless many more movies come to pass. Maul like other "bad" characters before him, has developed a huge following among fans, even though his part in the movie was short, critical, but short and quite final.

The book is loaded with light saber battles both single and double bladed, so the snap hiss fans will love it. The Jedi Philosophy is both nobly portrayed and practiced, and as always new pieces of information are shared with readers.

The book is one great chase with the last sentient in the Galaxy you would wished to be pursued by. And as the action takes place almost exclusively on Coruscant, the possibilities and endless locations of the City-Planet make for great reading. Some new and clever life forms are introduced, and the battles that are fought are not easy victories for either side of the force that is wielding a blade.

The next installment will be another Maul based adventure, and for the first time it will only be available as a download online. It's appropriate that the greatest science fiction epic ever created will be delivered via cyberspace and silicon.

I have one small issue and another I found annoying. Why did this Author decide to have one Jedi constantly introduce himself, as only James Bond would do? The other is a larger issue. When disbelief is suspended the reader should not be snapped out of it with the issue I already mentioned, even if it too is fictional. It is totally inappropriate to attempt to insert a reference to the fact-based world. It is even worse when done badly, and in this instance it certainly was. For future Authors, kindly do not rip me out of a tale and insert me into the electronics store down the street, or into a multitude of industry magazines that have zero bearing on the story. Promoting real world products not only kills the moments while it lingers, it is appalling when it is used for another Lucas owned consumer product.

I'll say I was really excited when I first heard about this book and eagerly awaited reading it. Not to often does a book focus around a 'bad-guy' as the star, but you'll have to admit what allures us so much to these characters (Vader, Exar Kun, Sidious, etc..) is their ability to intrigue us about their motivations, their secrecy, and mysterious and commanding personas. (The strong and silent types are always popular. See Boba Fett as an example).

The majority of the setting takes place on the Old Republic capital world of Coruscant just prior to events in Episode One. One of the Trade Federation member's defects and with him the horrific information about the ensuing blockade at Naboo. Also his knowledge of the long forgotten Sith to be sold to the highest bidder, perhaps even the Jedi. Of course, Lord Sidious cannot have this, and so dispatches Darth Maul to eliminate this Neimodian and all he comes in contact with.

Where the story has been told before lies in this: The 1st attempt of Maul to complete his mission is of course disrupted by the interference of others who get wind of what going on. Enter Lorn Pavan (human with a distaste of Jedi and a love of money) and his comedic sidekick droid I5 (refurbished protocol droid with a sharp tongue). Also throw in new Jedi padawan, Darsha, (friend of Obi Wan Kenobi) into the mix as her current mission also stumbles upon the ensuing pursuit by Maul. Darsha, I5 and Pavan (an unlikely alliance brought together for survival) are now on the run through the underbelly of Coruscant's lower levels to the Jedi Council. Here, twists and turns of action take place, and we begin to understand the character of Pavan. Also we begin to feel for Darsha, and what it feels like to be on her first mission on as a fledgling Jedi. Smiles and chuckles are supplied by the sarcastic I5.

Where the story is new: I was really impressed in the detail and new locations with Coruscant. Believed to be the crown jewel of the Old Republic, little has ever been discussed about the lower levels of the planet. Here we see like any metropolis, seedy locations and species are abound all with their own agendas. Survival is the key as is greed, and the danger lurks around all corners. All species at this level are the underprivileged, trying to find a way out to the levels above. New monsters are introduced as well as new insight into both the Jedi and Sith belief systems.

This is where Maul shines. We now understand more about his origin, his training, his thoughts, and his hatred for the Jedi. As a reader, I even began to respect him as a warrior through his discipline and ethics. Nothing gets in his way, and he does not consider his shortcomings as failures, but as setbacks. Failure is not in his vocabulary.

Anyway, the chase is on through the whole book and I was wondering how the author was going to pull it off. The elimination of those characters I came to enjoy so much, for they cannot survive in order for the events of Episode One to take place. I was pleasantly surprised on how this was handled, and a really neat *easter egg* appears on page 300 which explains all in a nice tight paragraph.

All in all, I found this novel very good with nonstop action and a great resolution that does not diminish Darth Maul in anyway or any of the supporting characters. However, I will agree with one other reviewer that 'cliché' phrases are abundant in this novel and is probably the only irritating point within these pages. Sometimes they sound downright silly even coming from a Jedi.

This book was great! Lots of action, a great cast, and a solid story. The references to Exar Kun as well as Wild Space, Bothans, and other known EU names and places showed Reaves' eye for detail. The characters were very well written, and I actually felt for all the ones who didn't make it out alive. Reaves' work on "Batman" shows as Maul tracks his prey as a kind of anti-Batman set on destruction. The insight into Maul's mind and how it works made you look at his character in a whole new way, and made you understand why he did what he did in TPM.

The story was very straight-forward and didn't get bogged down by subplots. This was a pure action/adventure story. The ending was brilliantly pulled off. It was hard to determine which characters were going to survive Maul's rampage, and which would end up as Banth Fodder. Great work!

I was a little hesitant to pick up this novel. Like many others, I was afraid this would be a cheap attempt to cash in on the "coolest" character from Episode One. I was also afraid that we would get something that expanded the myth and legend of Darth Maul that would be contradictory to George Lucas's vision. In addition, while others found the cover catchy, in comparison to covers for other Star Wars novels, I thought this was a bit cheap, and I was afraid the story would be the same. Fortunately, none of my fears were realized.

Before I get too much further into the review, I think it is worth noting that when I judge Star Wars novels, I am generally holding them up to the standard of the movie. Do they capture the same feel? Could you see the scenes on the big screen? Is it fun? Or is it overburdened with obscure characters and cheap solutions to critical plot points?

To quickly summarize the plot: Darth Maul is dispatched by Lord Sidious to eliminate a Neimodian that is attempting to sell information about the impending blockade of Naboo. The hunt expands to include a Jedi Padawan, a rogue, and his sidekick.

I felt that the treatment of Maul was ideal in this novel. First, Reaves gives us some background knowledge of Maul that fills in some of the gaps, but leaves out enough detail that Maul can maintain his mysteriousness that other characters have lost (take Boba Fett for example, he has gone from being mysterious to confusing as too many authors have tried to give him a history). I've heard others compare him to an alien Terminator, which is a fairly good description. Add a warrior's honor (like a Klingon from Star Trek?) and a hatred of Jedi, and you have Maul.

However, Maul isn't always the central character of this book. The protagonists are Lorn Pavan (the rogue), his droid partner I-Five, and the Jedi Padawan Darsha Assant. The book mainly follows these three, who unknowlingly fell into Maul's hunt for the Neimodian, and their attempt to find safety. The human droid pairing of Pavan and I-Five is especially satisfying and adds the majority of the humor to the novel.

While Maul doesn't change much over the course of the novel, the doomed protagonists, with the exception of I-five, do. Darsha comes to realize what it means to be a Jedi, while Pavan comes to grips with his extreme dislike of the Jedi (which is explained over the course of the novel and not re-iterated her so as not to spoil it for others).

The novel moves at a fairly quick pace. Most of the first half of the novel centers around Maul's pursuit of the Neimodian and then a chase of Pavan. The action is crisp and uncomplicated. Reaves has a definite knack for writing action sequences that are both vivid and concise, which is a trait many other action writers would be wise to learn.

The second half and end of the novel has a few surprises that twist the narrative to the inevitable conclusion and the events of Episode One: The Phantom Menace. The second half contains most of the suspense and thrills of the novel as Maul's pursuit of the protagonists slows down. Despite knowing who is going to win, getting their is still an enjoyable reading experience.

Of the established Jedi characters from the movies, Obi-wan Kenobi has the largest presence in the novel. He is in no way a major character though. He attempts to investigate the disappearance of Darsha. While others have criticized his inclusion in the novel, I felt he was properly used. He was an ideal character to tie the novel to the movie and was a useful tool in explaining how Maul's activities didn't reveal the Sith to the Jedi.

After having read many of the novels in the New Jedi Order, I was really pleased with this novel. It is truer to the spirit and pace of the movies, and doesn't bog down with an overabundance of characters. I'd recommend it to anyone that is looking for a quick adventure in the prequel era of the Star Wars universe.

When I heard a novel about Darth Maul was in the works, I got a little worried. I too am a Maulaholic, and I became concerned on what kind of story can possibly be told about him. Will it upset the events of Episode I in any way?

Shadow Hunter was a success. Mr. Reaves did a fantastic job of setting the stage up for Episode I. It was a fast-paced, action packed, lightsaber galore, of a novel. What makes this story very interesting is we learn how Maul thinks, the way he see's life, his views towards everyone he encounters (along with the Jedi and his Master), and we even get a peek at his training.

As the book came to a conclusion, there came the grand ending; possibly the best part. I won't spoil it for any potential readers, but the ending was amazing. Just like many scenes in the book, the end was something you would wish to see with your own eyes.

The only thing I didn't like from the book was the Obi-Wan scenes. Nothing new was learned about him and it probably wouldn't have made a difference if he was left out. But that still wasn't enough to hurt the story.

Great book and a job well done by Mr. Reaves.

The subject header for this review pretty much sums up my thoughts regarding 'Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter'. The book is a story set just before Episode I, centred around Darth Maul and his activities just prior to the blockade of Naboo.

The story quickly falls into an action adventure involving a Jedi Padawan, an information broker, and the broker's droid, all trying to escape from Darth Maul in the Coruscant underworld.

The book progresses along in a quick and simple fashion, lacking the detailed style and grace of other SW works by Zahn or Anderson. The ending, while ultimately bad (as we all know, Darth Maul survives to see Episode I), is also somewhat satisfying.

The book had some interesting background information about the Jedi, particularly with regards to their training and discipline, and the Jedi Code itself was interesting, and was referred to a number of times by the Jedi in their thoughts.

Shadow Hunter was released around the time that Episode I came out, and many people expected a detailed background to the movie to be in this book. It isn't. While this book may satisfy younger readers and fans of action based stories, I believe that most fans will be dissapointed by this book. If you're looking for a good background book, read 'Cloak of Deception', which gives all the political manouverings pre-Episode I.