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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A new kind of Jedi..., April 3, 2001
`Conquest' is the shortest novel in the New Jedi Order line thus far, but don't let that discourage you - it's also in many important ways one of the best. Like `Hero's Trial' before it, `Conquest' follows only one character, Anakin this time, through the bulk of the book. Though it is short, this entry reveals more to us about the Vong as a people, as a culture, than any three novels before it. In addition, it's nice finally to see a New Jedi Order novel that actually focuses on the Jedi. Greg Keyes certainly isn't the best author who's been inducted into the Star Wars fold recently, but he definitely *is* one of the most engaging. At times, Keyes' style seemed a little "fan fiction-ish" rather than "profic." The sentence structure and word choice sometimes just didn't feel professional, but that is easily overlooked because it didn't detract from the novel, it was just different.The plot is straightforward: Several months after Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster Tsavong Lah's offering to end the invasion if all the Jedi are turned over to him, the Peace Brigade, as well as planetfuls of desperate people near the path of the invasion route, are out hunting Jedi - pretty much completely unhindered by the New Republic government. Because of this, the schism that has been growing between the Jedi deepens drastically. Figuring that Yavin IV, home of the Jedi Academy, will be a Vong target, Luke sends Karrde to evacuate the trainees, but Anakin knows he won't get there in time, and rushes off, against Luke's direct orders, to help his friends. He arrives in the Yavin system to find that Karrde has not yet arrived, but the Peace Brigade has. Thus begins Anakin's trials and tribulations, which will last the rest of the book. As his quest continues, Anakin teams up with a renegade Yuuzhan Vong, a "Shamed One" who has apparently lost the favor of "gods and family" (although he quite vehemently denies it), through whom the young Jedi really begins to understand what the Republic is dealing with. Meanwhile, Tahiri, Anakin's best friend, has been captured by the Vong and is being brainwashed by members of their "Shaper" caste who want not only to understand what the Force is, but also want to have their own, Vong, Force-user. Previously, many Star Wars fans have complained that the New Jedi Order sequence has been to dark, too gruesome for their tastes. Despair not!, for `Conquest' is much more upbeat both in terms of tone, style, and content. There is a little Vong brutality, but it mostly happens off-camera, and what is shown is handled tastefully, not in the over-the-top manner which we have seen so often previously. As I said earlier, Keyes is a very engaging author, with an easy-to-read style that allows you to fall right into the book. The action and suspense are gripping, but instead of following the move-by-move descriptive formula favored by R.A. Salvatore and Michael Stackpole, Keyes tended to focus on what the characters involved with the action were thinking and going through. In many ways the style of this novel would feel more at home in the Bantam or Young Jedi Knights series than in the New Jedi Order. In fact, character is what Keyes seems to do best. Luke, Mara, and Borsk all acted (or didn't act, as the case may be) in character, although sometimes their dialogue didn't sound quite right, but all the other characters were perfectly portrayed. And there were quite a few characters, mostly Jedi and others hailing from the Young Jedi Knights and Junior Jedi Knights lines of YA novels. The twins, Anakin, his best friend Tahiri, and others were all perfectly on-target in terms of characterization and attitude, and some previously unremarkable characters, such as diminutive Jedi Master Ikrit and Dorsk 82, were completely salvaged. In addition, look for a cameo by Corran Horn. As I have noted, this is an "Anakin novel," in much the same way that `Balance Point' was a "Jacen novel." In fact, in many ways this book feels more like a follow-up to `Balance Point' than it does a prelude to the events of the next novel, `Rebirth.' In BP, Jacen essentially went on a journey of self-discovery, and while at it he learned much about the nature and balance of the Force. `Conquest' builds on that, and complements it. Here, Anakin, while working to help his fellow Jedi, also "finds himself," and through his interaction with the Yuuzhan Vong begins to understand them, their actions, and their place in the Force. Yet although this is very much a character-driven novel, there is plenty of action in this book. Anakin starts the novel with the highest Vong hand-to-hand kill count, and that number rises drastically over the course of this novel. We get to see various offensive and defensive measures of the Force, some of which we have seen previously and some of which we have not, but all of which are quite interesting. As well as ground combat, there are plenty of aerial and space-born skirmishes and battles to keep even the most impatient of readers happy. And if Anakin learns a lot about the Vong, we as readers learn a whole lot more through the eyes of one of their Shapers." On the down side, Lando still has not showed up, and also notably absent are Han and Leia. Overall, Keyes is an extremely entertaining author with a fun style and a good grip of the Star Wars universe and the characters he was dealing with. This book was tight, fun, suspenseful, and very rereadable. Although 'Conquest' is not quite as good as `Hero's Trial' or `Balance Point,' it's a far cry above the abysmal `Ruin' or the less-than-great `Jedi Eclipse.' I can't wait for the next book. Definitely buy this one, even (or especially) if you have been feeling skeptical about the direction this series is taking overall.
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jedi and Vong unite! Anakin Solo adventure reveals much., April 19, 2001
Though 'Conquest' by it's moniker looks like it's part one of a two novel series by Mr. Keyes, it is indeed a stand alone self contained novel with events taking place shortly after 'Balance Point'.Our novel starts with a great prologue which takes the reader bouncing about the galaxy and peering in on the fate of certain Jedi characters we have become familiar with over the last few years in print media...and the outcome is pretty dim. This sets the tone and back story for events that are being discussed within the government of the New Republic, more specifically between Luke Skywalker and the Bothan, Fey'la. Tensions arise and fissures deepen within the Jedi ranks as Kyp Durron's (and his followers) see events and Jedi responses different from what appears to be a passive Luke. It seems the Vong want Jacen Solo and all Jedi in return for no more aggression. While both sides of the Jedi know this is a hollow promise from the alien invaders, the choice to bring the war to them or to defend the galaxy in a hotly debated subject. But as these events are taking place, the Vong have their sights set on Yavin 4 and the Jedi academy there...and their targets: the unprotected Jedi children. Here is where the book really begins. Anakin, in secret and against the wishes of Uncle Luke races to Yavin to help evacuate and protect the children. Upon entering Yavin's system, Anakin makes a startling discovery that involves the Peace Brigade and is forced to land. Shortly thereafter the Vong show up, and Anakin and a hand full of children are on the run through the jungles of Yavin 4. Here, Anakin's best friend Tahiri (and Jedi in training) is captured and brought to the 'Shapers' for experimentation. Now Anakin must rescue Tahiri from her captures in a soul searching adventure that helps him discover more about his own Jedi heritage and beliefs. But he is not alone....It seems a fallen from grace Vong warrior with his own agenda must also get into the complex. So human Jedi and alien Vong, must learn to put their differences aside and help each other out. Together, this unlikely pair must battle the opposition, and their selves to get to the end. They have many conversations that are told from totally polar opposite points of view, but soon come to understand each other and their cultures. This is where the book shines. The majority of the novel is an Ankin adventure, however, the reader benefits by learning so much more about the Vong than any previous novel in the New Jedi Order series. We learn about the Vong caste system, the hierarchy of their people, more background about their gods and beliefs, and that not everything or everybody within the Vong race agree with the invasion. You see, in like any culture their are those that are oppressed, or have a different belief system, and for the first time we see division amongst the Vong. Some might consider them heretics, but it is revealed that all Vong don't share the same mindset. What is scary is the power of the Shapers. Regarded with reverence amongst their race, the Shapers are the bio-engineers creating horrific new species and weapons through gene manipulation and torture. Unfortunately, Tahiri is their lab rat, and Anakin can feel her pain and transformation into something much darker. Most of the original Star Wars cast is not here, but there are appearances of Booster Terrik, Corran Horn, Talon Carde and Shada. All in all, this was a great insight to Anakin and a great novel for such a limited focus on the overall picture of the invasion.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent follow-up to Balance Point..., December 11, 2001
Well, I'll admit that when I started this book, I wasn't expecting much. Mostly because I liked Balance Point a whole lot, and suspected that anything coming immediately after it would be eclipsed by it from birth. Man, was I wrong! While this book didn't have as large and diverse a cast of main characters, or anywhere near as complex a plot, the overall writing and style was definitely on a par with anything that came before it! The scene descriptions were breathtaking, the death of a certain character heartbreaking (at least if you've read Junior Jedi Knights), and the battle scenes nerve-bending, without being overly bloodthirsty (unlike some others I could mention). I am actually quite mystified at why some would say this book is no more than a glorified Young Jedi Knights novel. To me that's partly what made it so enjoyable, since it followed up on characters and events that were left hanging in that series, yet continuing the flow of this series without too many confusing things being thrown in at once. The main focus of this book was Anakin Solo, which was cool, since he has always (from the day of his birth) been shunted aside and practically ignored at times in favor of his dynamic and outgoing brother and sister, and one can see how he's maturing. Anyway, the Vong Warmaster has called for the heads of all the Jedi, (particularly Jacen's) saying that if all of the remaining Jedi are turned over to them, they will stop their viscous pummeling of New Republic forces. Unfortunately, many citizens of the New Republic, having been terrified into a frenzy, are dumb enough to believe the ultimatum, and so eagerly begin to hunt Jedi, while the fractitious New Republic government simply looks the other way. While they are treated like criminals and hunted like animals by those the Jedi Code says they are to protect, the Jedi are slowly coming apart at the seams. Kyp Durron insists that the only way to fight the Vong and the Peace brigade is to return aggression with aggression, but Luke, realizing that Kyp's real motive is his own grief and lust for revenge (most of the jedi that have been killed so far have been his close friends, including his own personal apprentice) maintains that that is of the Dark side, and that they must remain strong and peaceful, fighting only because they have no alternative and to defend themselves and their children. Unfortunately however, a depressing number of Jedi are more than willing to listen to Kyp... By this time however, the Vong have managed to get far enough into the galaxy that they are becoming a threat to Yavin 4, so Luke, realizing that the young students at the Jedi academy are in danger, sends Talon Kardde to go and get the children off the planet, fast, while he remains at the side of his own newly pregnant wife. He gives direct orders to the Solo children (having learned their disappearing tricks by now) NOT to go there into the line of fire, but Anakin slips by him and races to the academy anyway, prompted by a disturbing vision of his best friend, Tahiri, in serious danger. He gets there in time to warn them, and they quickly rescue almost all the kids, except Anakin, Tahiri, Sannah ( also from Junior Jedi Knights), and Valin (Corran Horn's twelve year old son). Tahiri is soon captured, and despite this Anakin manages to get Valin and Sannah rescued, while he presses on alone to save his friend, all the while uncomfortably aware (through their force bond) of the things the Vong are doing to Tahiri... Anyway, this was a great book, especially good for those of you who, (like me) were fans of the Junior Jedi Knights series. I was quite pleased to see the return of Tahiri, especially since she was not a character I expected to see again, being that, while the nine and ten year olds who read and enjoyed Junior Jedi Knights (myself included) would now be old enough to read and understand this series, I doubt that the averedge adult reading this book would have any idea whatsoever who she is, but the author handled this generation block well, bringing her easily into the story, without throwing in too many confusing events and complications associated with her that would make some of us feel left out. I also enjoyed the way he portrayed her character (remmember, she's five years older now), bringing out and emphasizing what was cool about her in the first place, and leaving out the annoying childlike giddiness she had in the other series, which, all in all, made her a better and deeper character. So, in general, I liked this book a lot, and thought that it expanded well on the series, and brought out the characters well. This book (and the rest of the series) would be great for anyone thirteen or so, all the way up to adults.
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