Customer Reviews

Outcast (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi, Book 1)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Darth Caedus is gone but the Galactic Alliance is suffering from the aftermath of his dark reign. The Jedi have been shouldered with the blame and Luke Skywalker has been banished from Coruscant because he was unable to stop Jacen Solo's turn to the dark side. To make matters worse, Jedi Knight Valin Horn is suffering from a psychotic break that brings even more unwanted attention on the Jedi. In a desperate move, the Galactic Alliance assigns official observers to every Jedi Knight to keep them in check.

After his banishment Luke and his son, Ben, decide to uncover the truth behind Jacen's turn to the dark side and their search leads them to Dorin, home world of the mysterious Kel Dors. While there they uncover some startling revelations that bring a whole new set of problems. Meanwhile, back on Coruscant, the Jedi continue to struggle under the watchful eye of the government and the media. When a rogue Jedi appears suffering from Valin Horn's same condition, the Jedi must find a way to capture him and get the answers they need. All the while they must outwit the government forces that have turned against them.

Outcast was a mixed bag for me because even though I flew through the pages, there were certain elements that didn't work. One thing that works well throughout is Aaron Allston's top notch writing. This story flows easily and Allston does a wondrous job of plopping us right into the middle of the civil conflict brewing around the Jedi. Throughout the story we are treated with a nice balance of action and character development that make this an effortless read. I especially enjoyed the fresh insights into the Kel Dors and it was fun to see grandparents Han and Leia up to their old tricks.

What didn't work for me was how little actually happens in this story. I hate to even comment on this since I enjoyed Allston's writing so much, but that is my straight up initial reaction. Granted, I have not read the Legacy of the Force series, and one could argue that perhaps that hindered my understanding and comprehension of everything going on in Outcast. Honestly, I feel like Allston did a great job of including the perfect amount of background info to set the stage for the story and besides, I didn't encounter anything a little Wookiepedia couldn't remedy. In the end it just seems like very little happened here and I never really felt like any of the heroes were in any kind of danger.

Don't get me wrong though. As I stated earlier, the elements that did work, worked quite well and were enough to keep me going. Star Wars fans will no doubt find plenty here to rave about, but I won't be surprised if many are left with the same impressions that I was. This is the first book in the series, and my hope is that as the series unfolds I will look back on Outcast and have a deeper appreciation for it. In the meantime I am eagerly anticipating the release of the second installment, Omen.

The politicians are meeting in a summit on the planet Coruscant to discuss bringing the Imperial Remnant into the Galactic Alliance. Luke Skywalker is arrested at the instigation of Chief of Sate Natasi Dalaa for dereliction of duties. His protégé Jacen Solo turned to the dark side of the force and caused the Second Galactic Civil War when he became Darth Caedus. Dalaa wants to prosecute Luke for his failure to recognize Jacen's turn to the dark because he believes Luke is accountable for the deaths caused by the war.

Luke pleads guilty because he knows the charges are true; he is excommunicated from every Jedi Temple and Coruscant for ten years. He will be pardoned if he can learn what turned Jacen. Jedi Knight Valin Horn has a psychic break that makes him believe everyone he knows is an imposter. The media captures his rampage and the public turns against the Jedi Order leading to restrictions on them. Han Solo, his wife Leia and their granddaughter go to the dying planet Kessel to find out why earthquakes are out of control; they find an underground tunnel complex filled with machines and energy forces that could destroy the orb. Luke and his son Jedi Knight Ben go to Dorin where Jacen studied the native use of the Force hoping to find a clue.

This is the opening act of a nine book saga in which the Jedi have fallen into disgrace as the government and the public believe they are not held accountable for their actions. There is plenty of action and the known characters stay true to their film personalities. Perhaps the only negative is eight books to go in this arc, but if they are anything like the first this will be one of the better Star War entries.

Harriet Klausner

I'm not sure why I picked up with this new series. "Legacy of The Force" was a great series that ended horribly with "Invincible." I didn't even bother with "Millenium Falcon" after reading that atrocity - but the "Coruscant Nights" series has given me hope that Star Wars books can still be good and after a long reprieve from the post "A New Hope" era I figured I'd come back and pick up with my old friends.

I honestly liked this book but I couldn't give it more than three stars because after 300 pages I still don't know where this particular story is headed. This book succeeds in doing what it is meant to do - kicking off a new story and getting down to the details in setting up the back-drop but where this next adventure will ultimately lead and who the primary antagonists are in the story is still anybody's guess.

The writing is very good and this book does keep you engaged enough to where you want to see what is coming next. If you are a Star Wars fan like I am this one seems like it is essential to read for the upcoming dramas - I just don't know why yet. Let's just hope it ends better than the last one...

The GA is holding a Unification summit, the Jedi are mistrusted and certain of them are suffering psychotic breaks, and Luke Skywalker is accused of dereliction of duty for failing to stop Jacen Solo before he became Darth Caedus, so he is being partially blamed for everything Jacen did during the Second Galactic Civil War. A stunning opening to what looks to be an amazing new series!

Luke knows the charges are somewhat true and bargins with Chief of State Daala to avoid going to prison. Luke accepts exile for 10 years from Coursant and the Jedi Order. The only chance Luke has of returning before the completion of the 10 years is to discover what caused Jacen to turn to the Dark Side. Luke and his son, Ben (also a Jedi) begin traveling the galaxy to find where all Jacen went during his five year travels to visit different Force-users, trying to learn what caused Jacen to go to the Dark Side. They begin with visiting the planet Dorin, the home of the Kel Dors, the people Jedi Master Plo Koon belonged to. There, Luke begins his quest to determine what all Jacen learned during his travels.

Han and Leia, with their granddaughter Alanna (also known as Amelia) travel to Kesssl to help Lando save his mining enterprise for dangerous groundquakes that are threatening to tear the planet apart.

The Jedi are all assigned government observers to follow their movements and restrict their usefullness.

Jag Fel and Jaina Solo have fallen in love and are having secret meetings. This story line is going to be very, very interesting.

I currently have the audiobook version of Outcast, I am waiting for my book to arrive in the mail. This first books in the Fate of the Jedi series is recorded in its unabridged length, a welcome change to having almost all other Star Wars books be abridged for audiobook. Well done, Random House and Del Ray!

This story promises to bring a welcome new chapter to the Star Wars saga, especially after the devastation that took place during the Legacy of the Force stories. Allan Allston is a wonderful writer, who keeps the story moving. Outcast has a wonderfully written style and keeps the reader engaged. In fact, I am beginning to like Allston almost more than Troy Denning, who wrote my favorite Legacy of the Force novel, Inferno. (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Inferno) I highly recommend Outcast to anyone who loves Star Wars and wants a great new series to read.

May the Force be with us!

I really enjoyed this book. it's been a while since i couldn't put down a novel. Outcast is well done. it throws you right into the story withing the first few pages. This story will keep you entertained the whole time. One thing that i really enjoyed of this book was the Jedi philosophy and the examining of it through Luke's eye. I also like the comedic dialogue between Luke and Ben, and Jaina and Jag. As i said, i loved it and was shocked by a lot of it. Can't wait for the next one.

Allston is definitely one of the best Star Wars writers. As mentioned by others, his writing style is outstanding.

What is great about this book is that it's not another "the entire star wars universe is going to blow up if we don't do something!!!!!" nor is it a "I have a premonition in the Force that bad things are about to happen etc."

This is a fun romp of a novel that gives us the characters with some seriousness of a behind the scenes plot. I also loved the substory with Han and Leia just going to help out Lando. They are never presented as about to die, just some excitement. Feels very refreshing in the brooding SW universe of late. The scenes with Jag and Jaina are also great, as well as the Ben and Luke time together.

Overall a very fun book that brings some joy back into the SW world. What we need now are some new characters. Too many deaths, not enough new faces.

First, this book represents a truly original new storyline with all of the credibility of a seasoned Star Wars author. Granted, it isn't Alliston's best foray into the Expanded Universe, but a worthwhile read none the less.

Watch out, spoilers to follow...

From cover to cover, Outcast is a fairly fast-paced adventure. It has better constructed political bent, with more realistic governmental and judicial conversations. Certain legal questions about the Jedi are raised, and what their role in the state should be. Daala, as the new chief of state, has been written as a more complete and well-rounded character than Fyor Rodan (who was the last to really raise the 'Jedi Question' during the Vong arc.)

Also, as the tide turns against the Jedi, the character development of the Solo/Skywalker clan also turns a corner. Luke becomes thoughtful and begins a new journey, (thankfully not in the tired 'Shield of Lies' way) Leia and Han take-off for Kessel with Amelia, (thankfully not in the silly 'Tatooine Ghost' way) and Jania becomes a more interesting 'sword of the Jedi' (thankfully unlike the poor portrayal constructed in the 'Raynar Thul' arc)

So why three star?

Simply because the plot devices were so... obviously constructed to move the characters into their respective story-lines.

1. Luke being short-term banished, with a clear out. I wonder how that will turn out? <--- sarcasm implied.

2. Leia and Han going to Kessel to help out? Because them being in certain places usually fixes things? <--- more sarcasm.

3. More lost Jedi-type characters? More lost Sith-type characters to come? WOW, I think they called it 'Order 66' because there goal was to destroy about 66 percent of all Jedi-types. Good job Palpatine! <--- more of an apathetic/caustic remark.

Finally, I love that Alliston uses any excuse to bring back the pilot cadre from previous books. (<--- no sarcasm at all.) I played T-Fighter a million years ago, and mentioning pilot Stele made me do a double-take. I just wish Alliston hadn't stuck him in a TIE-Bomber. I hated those missions.

Go read this book. I an certainly looking forward to the next one!

Aaron Allston's writing style is practical; there is none of Matthew Stover's (or even Christie Golden's, judging by the preview of the next book in the series, "Omen") complex metaphors and artsy sentences. Allston describes how things look and what color they are with a precision which sometimes comes off as artless, but also as refreshing. At times the writing seemed cinematic, as if I were viewing what was going on, which lead to both very cool scenes and very odd point of view switches.

While some of the action scenes felt like they had been done before (speeder chases a la Attack of the Clones come to mind) there were also plenty of well-done hand-to-hand fights and an at-first restrained Luke proving that he can still hold his own against a powerful Force user.

In terms of plot, an earlier review saying that not much happened in this book made me realize that that's partly what I liked about it. As someone who skimmed the first "Legacy of the Force" book and found it too sensational to feel like Star Wars, "Outcast" has one surprising element (Corran Horn's son going crazy), but then focuses on the family dynamics and exploration of an endlessly fruitful galaxy. A Kel Dor Force order and excursions into the mines at Kessel were most interesting to me for their physical distance from things we've seen in Star Wars before, and for the time given to often humorous interactions between Luke and Ben Skywalker, and the Solo family. While at the end of the book I was left wondering how it was going to tie in with the rest of the series, as most of the story arcs were wrapped up, that made it feel like a nice trip back to a galaxy, far, far away. I would go so far to say that this book can work as a standalone, although enough questions are left unanswered for "Omen" to be potentially appealing.

While not great literature by any stretch of the imagination, my experience with "Outcast" was that it was an enjoyable Star Wars novel, a quick read even for someone who thought she'd sworn off the post-Legacy EU.

Don't read this, at least not yet. Your first mistake would be in thinking that this is a single book, it's not. Fate of the Jedi is a nine book story arc and you're going to be very very annoyed when you finish Outcast. Not because Aaron Allston doesn't peg each character perfectly, or because the action is not stunning enough, or because the mystery is not intriguing enough. No, like me, you will be deeply bothered that you cannot immediately pick up the next book in the series.


One of the biggest challenges of writing in the Star Wars universe is staying faithful to characters that fans have fallen in love with for the last 30 years while simultaneously deepening and developing those characters in your own unique way. Aaron Allston does this with the style and humor of a a true master. He displays a polished understanding of the force and the people who use in a way that many authors never quite come close to. So yes, you should read this but wait until maybe mid or late 2010 so that you can finish the entire arc without waiting. I should also warn you that this book is more engaging than the average star wars novel so be prepared to abandon major duties in order to finish it quickly.


The portrayals of Han, Leia, Luke, Lando are spot on. I think this book is worth reading simply because of the way Allston manages the relationship between Luke and Ben Skywalker. Cilghal maintains a presence as an incredibly clever, intelligent and lovable jedi master. Outcast does a strong job of balancing action, politics, law, mystery, humor and just the right spice of romance between Jagged Fel and Jaina Solo. I also want to say that I found this very approachable since I haven't read the Legacy of the Force Series.


During the course of touring for the book release Aaron Allston had a heart attack and is in stable condition after receiving quadruple bypass surgery. Send your thoughts his way if you read this.


Obviously, Outcast isn't perfect. There are soooo many characters that it's hard to nail down who I should really get attached to. The side story with Han and Leia seemed like a half-born distraction, and a sort of boring one at that. It could have been interesting and maybe even it's own book but it just lacked the (ahem) depth to really make me care. Some of the motivations of the Kel Dors seemed a little weak. The involvement of the Horn family is just dropped. Leia and Han have to be in their 70's in this book and somewhat unbelievably this doesn't slow them down at all. I was disappointed that I didn't hear more about Master Octa Ramis and her Padawan Seha. At times I had trouble deciding if the story was unfocused or simply more epic than could be contained in a single book. People looking for a straightup space battle should probably avoid this, it has more characterization and plot than a lot of star wars work.


Ultimately, a lot of these critiques can't be taken seriously until the entire arc is finished. And that, Padawan, is why you should cultivate patience.

Overall this book has four essential plots that are long and drawn out and a tad on the tedious side.

The overall theme of the book is the [1] political intrigue (government wants to control Jedi) and [2] Jedi randomly going insane.

Beyond this there are two slightly engaging adventures: [3] the Skywalker's investigation to Baran Do temple, and [4] the Solo's voyage to Kessel to help out Lando's business. The later story does not appear to integrate with the overall plot other than the possible foreshadowing of some entity talking to Allana through the Force, which is not further investigated (something that struck me as odd), and perhaps maybe some connection to the destruction of Center Point.

The purpose of this book is to setup the overall scenario for further future events, and in that scope it does accomplish that, in a less than exciting matter. I wish there could have been more intrigue overall and cultural development of Baron Do. A better idea would be to streamline these plots and throw in introduction and character development of other significant actors in the overall series. If I wasn't a Star Wars fan, my interest would not be piqued to continue the series.