Customer Reviews

Rogue Planet (Star Wars)

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(47)
3 star:		(44)
2 star:		(27)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

It has been 1 year since the movie but 3 years have passed when this book's tale takes place.

The story and the writing are outstanding. This book reads with the same familiarity that the middle trilogy and the writings that surround those characters posses. I do not include the "Vector Prime" series, which has been jarring to say the least.

Mr. Bear is faithful to all that is appealing in this Universe of long ago, and he certainly has his own style. Unlike many other Authors he brings his talents to bear without trampling over the "feel" of Star Wars, he does not impose himself on the ongoing saga he relates it beautifully.

This adventure has to be read as it is filled with events that will need to be known before the next movie is released. Like Phantom Menace this story centers around Anakin, and expands on what we know about him from the movie. I was curious how they were going to fill a 10 year gap between the story of Episode 1 and 2, but this books demonstrates how, and even includes a slick Coda at the end that makes the reader wish there were an additional 341 pages.

A young man who we all know from the Deathstar is introduced, and other familiar characters we know from the middle trilogy appear here.

The book opens with a type of race that is every bit as good, or better than the Pod Race, Anakin's flying skills are tested with an incredible ship. And throughout it all, Obi-Wan keeps up. He knows like we do, that Anakin is not one to be competed with. "The Chosen One" and what he is and will become are beginning to show in this volume.

I hope Mr. Bear will write many more installments. I kid you not, he's that good!

I just finished the book, and it was wonderful! To those of you who disagree, let's get one thing straight: this book wasnt intended to outline a huge adventure and turning point in the star wars timeline--that's what episode 2 is for--it was written to further character personalities and relationships. And further this it did beautifully!

First, I really liked that we see the Jedi Masters, Mace especially, as people.

I enjoyed very much the look at Obi-Wan and Anakin's relationship as master/apprentice and friend/friend alike. I also loved the personal struggles that we see each one go through--it shows they're very alive and very real, such as Obi-Wan's love for Anakin and his lonliness for Qui-gon, and Anakin's battle with himself and the voice he hears and the dreams he dreams. It's also interesting to observe the great power that he cannot yet control.

The appearance of Tarkin was very interesting as well. It is nice to see him as a young man, but he is little changed from when we see him in A New Hope. I thought it ironic that he makes the same mistake of underestimating his enemy, only this time it did not lead him to death. I thought it was a little confusing in the book when it says he came up with the initial idea for the death star, but if you remember, so did the scientists in the maw installation.

This book also does some major foreshadowing and linking. It hints, or more like shouts, that the world of Zonama Sekot has been attacked by the Yuuzhan Vong. From this, and the second Dark Tide novel, we gather that the Vong have been planning to attack for decades...I wonder what would have happened if they had striked the Old Republic, or the Empire... And speaking of the Empire, Tarkin constantly hints that a great change in power and ways of the government are about to take place in the future. He also hints at what we know as the Empire's ways, telling Sienar that humans are the race of the future and so on.

In my opinion, the book also links Anakin Skywalker with his grandson, Anakin Solo. Notice how they both are incredibly strong in the Force, have a knack for dealing with machines, and want adventure and excitement.

Overall, this was a wonderful book that bridged the gap between the first two episodes of the Star Wars prequels perfectly, and provides exactly what Episode 1 lacked the most--character developement.

I plowed through ROGUE PLANET fairly quickly.

Greg Bear's story has adventure of course, but for the most part is a fantastic character study of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi individually and within their relationship. The set-up for certain events of Episode II (and beyond) is clearly here, so I assume Lucas had an outline for this part of the story, decided it could not be told in the films, and left it to an author to "flesh out."

Some ideas from THE PHANTOM MENACE (particularly the Terry Brooks novel version) are expanded upon in terms of Anakin's character. In Brooks' novel, as opposed to the movie, much more of Anakin's potential in the Force, as well as darkness, was explored. Here, at age 12, Anakin is beginning to show a few more signs of what will come later. I particularly enjoyed "inner thoughts" that Bear uses at one point which create a parallel between what happens on the 'rogue planet' and a crucial moment of Anakin's future.

Another terrific element is that which involves Tarkin (from A NEW HOPE) and Raith Seinar, the designer of the Empire's Star Destroyers, among other ships, according to various CD-ROM and book sources. The approaching future of the galaxy is laid out in generalities through the interactions of these two characters. I have a feeling Seinar is the role Christopher Walken will play in Episode II if rumors of his being cast turn out to be true.

Excellent and interesting writing. Anyone who finds themselves wanting to know more before 2002 will definitely get it.

The books aim is to bridge the gap between Episode I and Episode II. The book is set 3 years since the Battle of Naboo (i.e. 3 years since Episode I) and focuses on Anakin's training by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Also it tells about the change that occurs since Palpatine was elected. Overall I would recommend anyone who is a star wars fan, or has seen Episode I. A well written book - 9/10

The Star Wars books are not exactly associated with literary greatness in my mind. The first ones were reasonably good (Kathy Tyres was quite good; Zahn could be rather tiresome occasionally, but was always a good read), but things went downhill rather quickly starting when they allowed Keven J. Anderson to set pen to paper, never a good idea.

So anyway, I haven't been back to Star Wars books in quite some time - apparently, I picked a good time to try again. Unlike previous installments, this book is not obsessed with super-weapons and cartoon heros, but gives fair play to actual dialog, characters, and plot. Mr. Bear has done an outstanding job of capturing the characters of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. As an added bonus, this is not just another serial but adds some useful and interesting back-story to the Phantom Menace, and should temporarily sate the appetites of those of us waiting with a certain measure of impatience for Episode II.

It's not perfect, and certainly isn't threatening to become literature or anything. The whole plot with the building of Anakin's and Obi-Wan's ship is extended a bit past its useful life, and the writing is somewhat uneven. But these are really quite minor quibbles; almost irrelevant, really, for what the book is trying to be. For the true Star Wars fan who has been disappointed with some of the recent dreck, the faithful characters and well-developed plot should more than enough.

With so many authors penning novels and stories in the Star Wars universe over the past few years, the field of thought provoking and enjoyable science fiction novels among the Skywalker line is has become quite muddy. But Greg Bear's novel rises from the murkiness and shine's upon it's own.

What Greg Bear has done here is introduce us to classic science fiction story telling. The aliens are quite different than most `bi-pedal' creatures we are so familiar with. Mr. Bear also goes far in detailing different environments, culture's, and philosophies, making us realize that we have been reading so many over-hashed similar stories that we forget how to use our imagination. Not here, we rediscover strange new worlds!

Call it Phantom Menace 1.5, this novel takes place 3 years after Episode I. The focus of this novel is around Anakin and Obi-Wan, and not just in their traditional Master/Padawan role, but as friends and mutual respect for each other. Obi-Wan, more than ever before senses the un-measurable power within young Anakin and takes great pride in molding him in his adolescent life to being a Jedi. He often reflects on the teachings of his former Master Qui-Gon and see much of his former self in young Anakin and thus learns to appreciate the teachings of patience and understanding of all things alien. Obi-Wan, for all intents becomes a father figure.

Anakin is a different story. We clearly see how far this boy has progressed over the last few years. It is amazing on what we as the reader can see just below the surface of this boys psyche and can understand on how one day he will become Dark Lord of the Sith. He skills develop daily, as does his aggressiveness. He still has the wonderment of a child, all the questions, but his yearning for adventure and his lack of patience `will' be his eventual un-doing.

A surprise character takes on a semi-major roll here. We are introduced to a young W. Tarkin as we know one day will become the 1st Grand Moff from `A New Hope'. There is great insight to his character here as we learn about his youth at the Republic Academy, how he has made some `political changes' as of late and strives for a New Order, one in which Human's will dominate the galaxy. These all lend to the ideas of Chancellor Palpatine here and how this young Officer wants to make an impression on the political regime that is slowly forming.

We see all see characters such as Mace Windu, (briefly), but in a more `human' role, and other events taking place in the galaxy that lend to the development at Star Wars as we know it, and how things are shaping up in the future. (note: look at new weapons, the replacement of the battle droids, other political references and you'll see what I'm talking about).

Finally, Greg Bear hints at another force outside of the known galaxy. There is described a powerful race who uses organic technology and organic ships that one of the Jedi had taken upon herself to follow. This is mentioned in sparse sentences throughout the novel and all clues indicate that this force will become known as the Yuuzhan Vong that will menace the New Republic many years after the Empire has fallen.

Finally, a Star Wars novel that is not at a break-neck pace, with no supervillains of superweapons, and in which the fate of the entire galaxy does not hang in the balance (at least not in any way to be resolved in one simple battle.) While I enjoy the action elements of Star Wars, what has always appealed to me most was the characters and the themes, which have been sadly underdeveloped in most of the Star Wars books before. But Greg Bear has exquisitely captured the developing characters of Obi-Wan and Anakin. I relished the slow pace which gives us an opportunity to focus on their special relationship (especially considering how little time they actually spend together in Phantom Menace), and the hints of WHAT IS TO COME, handled so deliciously well. (That particular scene was so well done, I had to put the book down and work off the tension. If you've read the book, you know which scene I mean.) I have also really enjoyed seeing the development of the Master-Apprentice relationship, both in this book, as well as the excellent Jedi Apprentice series by Jude Watson. This book is far more subtle and profound than any other SW book so far, and I hope that there will be more like it. Let's put the heart back in Star Wars! P.S. Can we have a book that focuses on Amidala! How come Anakin gets all the press?

As you can see, I am not a fan of the Star Wars books. Not to say anything against the authors ... they just don't work for me, is all. But I was looking forward to RP because I liked Phantom Menace and I like Obi Wan as a character. And to my great surprise, I really liked this book. If I were going to be really picky I'd have to say that the prose could have done with one last polish, because every so often you get some poor word usage that spoils the over all quality of the narrative.

Characterisation here is great, the plot is great, it combines good sf with good SW canon, uses existing canon to great effect, the invented characters are strong, believable and interesting. Most importantly, Bear has made an effort to get inside the hearts and minds of his two leads, and does it well. At the en d of the book you feel you know Anakin and Obi Wan better than you did at the beginning ... and for me, in a Star Wars books, that's about a first.

Read. Enjoy. And two thumbs up to Mr Bear.

I bought this book in the wake of the hype over The Phantom Menace, and the thought of seeing a new adventure of Anakin amd Obi-Wan in between movies seemed appealing. Unfortunately, Greg Bear lived up to HIS hype as "The greatest living writer of hard science-fiction"....epmhasis on HARD. Unlike the excellent Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, by Michael Reaves, Bear emphasizes ridiculous tech (Wooden spaceships?) over characterization, and the characters all blur together into one nondescript bore, and the plot is just non-Star Wars-like; it seemed more like a Star Trek story. I really had to struggle to get through the book, and even though there IS an interesting development with Anakin, it really isn't enough to get me to recommend this clunker. I also didn't appreciate the way Bear wasted huge chunks of the book on the story of missing Jedi Vergere and her confrontation with "The Far Outsiders", a plot that goes nowhere, and is apparently a set-up for the New Jedi Order books. In the context of Rogue Planet, it's just sloppy and pointless.

This book is simply dull. Not a whole lot interesting happens. The "climax" is dull and predictable. The rating I give this book is relative to Zahn's first book Heir to the Empire, I would give Zahn's 3 books in the series and overall review of 4.

This book could have been so much more interesting. The most interesting parts of the book are toward the beginning where Obiwan and Anakin speak to the Jedi council. But that part ends quickly. Then there is the possibility of some interesting interaction between Tarkin and Siennar- nope, nothing there- no depth. In fact this lack of depth carries thru to the end and I find myself wanting to just skip past those chapters just to get to somewhere interesting between Obiwan and Anakin. After going thru 3/4 of the book I reach the ending and nothing interesting has really developed.

If you like books where there are long-winded descriptions of far off planets then this book is for you. If you are interested in learning more about the characters, the nature of the Force, or the political intrigue surrounding that period of time, then you will be extremely disappointed.

One telling thing about the book, now that I have read it, is in the interview with Greg Bear at the end of the book. Read that before you buy. It pretty much sums up the lack of feeling put into this book.