Customer Reviews

Star Wars: Rebel Force #4: Firefight

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Picked this up this past weekend. I've kind of been hanging on to this last young adult Star Wars series hoping that it pulls some of the plot strings together from Jedi Apprentice, Jedi Quest, Last of the Jedi, etc. Although it is an entertaining read, I feel it pulls a little too much from the Prequels. As much as it is practically a standard nowadays in Star Wars literature to include canon from the new movies which have shed a great deal of light on history in that galaxy far far away, some of these stories seem to force it. It almost seems formulaic that each of these novels will visit a planet or major plot point from episodes I-III. While results are often interesting, the intention is clear: Tying Original Trilogy characters with their Prequel Counterparts. Heck: SPOILER: Practically this entire novel takes place on Kamino. And while this could push the story in an intriguing and new direction pertaining to clones, it decides to give us a story more on par with a modern day monster movie. There is the inlclusion of a character from past series that makes the read rewarding, but the plot has less to do with his past than it does with in your face thrills and chills. If you've read the series up to this point, don't give up, but don't expect any huge new developments.

These young adult books from Alex Wheeler and Jude Watson are a ton of fun for Star Wars fans of all ages! I was excited to see this Rebel Force series coming out to cover the time period where Luke is still learning his powers and the imperial presence is there and chaotic. This book was the first of this Rebel Force series to tie directly back to the "Jedi Apprentice", "Jedi Quest", and "Last of the Jedi" series with a main character related or descended from those books. I highly recommend you read ALL the Jedi Apprentice up thru Last of the Jedi series books in the order listed on Wikipedia for Star Wars books. They are very sequential - like reading episodes of a radio drama with cliff hanger endings. When I saw the appearance of one of the characters in this new book Firefight, I had to put the book down and start cheering, thinking about all the adventures that could happen with this character alive in the Rebellion Era. I had previously asked friends that read only the adult-targeted Star Wars books and comics, and they had not seen any of these characters from the Jude Watson books in the future. Bodes well that they are starting to get picked up by other authors and I hope to see much more in the near future!

BTW - I disagree with the other reviewer regarding action taking place on Kamino. It was an interesting and different take on that planet, one that was far from Tapoca City and had a more independent feel, with Kaminoans that were not as icy cool and perfect. No human cloning taking place at this location, and no background or further tie-in with stormtrooper history. Did have some hopes there when a mission to that location was proposed in the first chapter of this book.

Just read it and enjoy, look forward to more books from Wheeler, just wish they were getting published at a faster pace.