Customer Reviews

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Vortex (Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi (Unnumbered Audio))

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Vortex has a lot of action And Denning does know action. He does a commendable job not only juggling all of the various soap opera story-lines in FOTJ but he does so while giving us the feeling that things are really finally moving. Not happy with the Jedi Council lately? Denning remedies that. Thought Ben and Vestara were too cutesy in Allies? He tweaks that relationship too. So there was a feeling of resolution of several ongoing plots. Whether I agree with all of them is debatable.

Abeloth is more confusing and relentless than in Abyss. Why she's after Luke's old flames I don't know but I hope that goes somewhere. I really loved Denning's Luke. I haven't always in the past but Luke is as wise, powerful and understated as we want him to be. Denning creates with Abeloth something pretty un-Star Warsy. It's new. It's a Force driven David Lynch realm. But I mostly approve of the risks Denning takes by making the Force cringeworthy.

I won't call this a page turner as I didn't tear through it. I did however notice that it's more what the fans have been clamoring for in this series. There are definite consequences in Vortex. A fine entry in a fairly thin series.

Maybe it's just me, but these very long star wars series really seem to be stretching their various plotlines out much too long. I think fate of the jedi has done a better job than legacy of the force at keeping my attention, but it still seems that each book in FOTJ hits long boring parts. It seems many of the star wars plot devices used before are just being continually recycled with slight tweaks. I understand that in order for a disaster to truly affect the great Luke Skywalker it has to be massively universe threatening. But it seems as if the whole universe leans on him a bit much. So I really do think having him step down as grandmaster was a fantastic step in the right direction to limit him calling on other jedi for help. Unfortunately he seems to have no problems solving every issue thrown at him.

That being said, the Luke/Ben storyline in this book was much more interesting for me than the previous book. But I found the Han/Leia sections to be extremely forgettable, including what was supposed to be their big action sequence in this book. And as much as I love star wars, I think the best books do not involve these galaxy spanning political problems. Not because I think politics are boring, but because I don't think any author has been able to introduce a political thread in star wars that can stretch through 6 or 9 books and keep it from becoming stale. I did like the fact that the jedi council finally showed some resolution in the deadlock they have been suffering through.

Overall I can't say this was a bad book, but I certainly didn't find it an overly exciting addition to the series. More of a place holder for a series that probably could have been formatted to fit 6 books allowing for a tighter more streamlined exciting series.

I agree with some of the previous reviewers. This is a relatively interesting book, but only when compared to others in the series. The Fate of the Jedi series really seems to depart from the typical understanding of Jedi.

This book continues the series' depiction of Kenth Hammner as weak-willed and disconnected from the rest of the Jedi. It furthers the depiction of the rest of the Jedi council as arrogant kind of "know-it-alls" for lack of a better word. It furthers the depiction of Daala as a dangerous idiot. It furthers the depiction of Luke as an all-powerful, all-knowing Messiah-esque character who can do no wrong, yet terrible things happen to those all around him. And so forth and so on.

The whole Aboleth creature was fairly ridiculous, and just when you thought they realized how terrible it was and written it out (like removing Jar Jar almost completely from Episodes II and III), they bring it back, in less interesting ways than ever.

To be honest, I've simply stopped caring about this series' versions of all the major characters. I'll probably finish the series, just because I want to know what canon says will happen in the Star Wars universe, but it won't be with the same interest and fervor that previous series held for me.

My advice is to borrow it from the library if you can, and not to give the people responsible for such a boring-at-best, terrible-at-worst series more money. As long as people buy the books as-is, they're not likely to change their writing.

Well, first things first. Easily the best Star Wars book I've read in a long, long time. Anything that can almost bring me to tears (a 22-year old college student) I consider good stuff. Two scenes in particular (don't want to spoil it) made the book worth it. They were heavily emotionally written and worked extremely well.

Denning has shown that again he knows Star Wars. I realize that many people are upset about the direction Star Wars has gone, so if you view the book with those tinted-glasses, then you might be disappointed. But I feel that if you read it with an open mind, then you will enjoy it as I did.

One of the big complaints about the recent books is the lack of continuity between authors. I believe this has been fixed a great deal. Whether the authors are learning from mistakes or if the bigger gaps between books has to do with it I don't know, but you can definitely see the difference. Subplots from the previous book (slavery, the trial) are carried over and are written very similarly.

Speaking of the trial, that way of story-telling, along with the news reporting, are two things that help keep Star Wars fresh for me. It's not been done outside this series and I really like the way it is done.

Also, there is a lot that happened in this book. If you've been thinking that this series has just been meandering around without really having a point, then you'll really like this one. Allies was a lot of fighting, but in this one the Jedi actually "do" something after just sitting around for five books. So that definitely is a plus.

Overall, I highly recommend it. The Sith are well done, the Fallanassi are creepy as always, and the Jedi are just awesome.

One more thing: Wynn Dorvan = my new favorite character.

The following will have spoilers from the previous 5 books of the "Fate of the Jedi" and some spoilers in this book (nothing huge). The books in this series are getting to be fun for the trainwreck factor (how can they keep messing the star wars setting up) and not for the story itself. I def. found this more enjoyable than books 4 & 5. But too much things in this series seem contrived to me.

In one of the previous two books there is a scene where a group of sith cut off shards to some sacred relic on an alien planet because they thought the material may be worth something (there wasn't even some real explanation like it would prove invaluable as a power source or something, it's just like they decided to make trouble just to make trouble. The scene made the sith look like petty thieves that are around just to steal and plunder (there is supposed to be more to it than that).

But now, in this book "Vortex" we find out why the writers had to create that situation. The scene only happened so that Jaina Solo (who just so happened to fly to the planet RIGHT AFTER THE SITH WERE ARRESTED, talk about timing) was forced to preside as some sort of judge over the crime (really? the planet is going to select her? I don't care what court system the use, I don't accept it. I think the rule was something like they only allow outsiders to judge and it came off like Jaina couldn't refuse her selection).

That situation only happened so that the current person in charge of Star Wars government would see all of this recorded trial info. and feel that Jaina Solo was some how working with the sith by allowing a judgment that allowed half the sith to go free (making it look like she was working with the sith rather than fighting them).

That is just one example of the contrived events taking place.

Other problems, for me, include Luke Skywalker selecting a jedi to acting as Grand Master that clearly isn't supported by jedi to begin with. Hamner (the jedi in question) also doesn't seem "right" for the role even after Luke/the writer explain why he was selected (because he had a military background and that would make things easier to communicate with the government somehow, if you ask me it makes it sound like he'd be likely to become a puppet of the government). This jabroni was doomed to fail from the start, and now I assume Luke Skywalker isn't as wise as he is supposed to be.

And of course there is the constant annoyance of Han & Leia's grandchild that speaks her mind even in front of jedi masters (yes she is royalty, but come on someone needs to take her somewhere while the grown ups are talking about the galaxy).

And there is Han Solo who gets to distrube all Jedi affairs when ever he wants to. I know he has had that sort of role even in the movies, but it is getting old. He comes off as some disruptive child in a classroom. I know he is supposed to be famous and everything, but I really don't think he should pull as much weight as he does, esp. when Luke isn't in charge anymore (right now).

And lastly, the titles of these books. Maybe you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I think these simple titles clue you in on just how "good" these books are. Vortex? Really, sure there is a storm brewing in the galaxy and I guess this could be the center of it, but the real storm are all the lame and random stories flying around in this series.

I am dying just trying to read this book. This series has the ability to build up one's excitement, and then leaves you wanting to drive off of a cliff...

The story line is a bit drawn out but still, overall, a fun read. However, the lack of editing is very distracting.

The Jedi losing their way and doing things like acting selfish is all a part of the story line. Their true leader, Luke, has been out cast so the Jedi no longer have a strong leader that they all trust. Hammer was choosen by Luke to lead in his stead because of his political skills and not his skills as a Jedi. He is there in an attempt to be someone the government may actually listen too and to be someone who may actually listen to the government. In the long run that's what the Jedi needs more then someone who woul put the needs of the Jedi over the needs of others like Kyp Durron would do.

The only complaint I have about the Star Wars series of late is all the short books they keep releasing. No book under 300 pages is worth the [...] they want you to pay retail. And the paper backs are delayed for a year or more so it's not like you can wait 3 months to get the paper back and save some money. A sub 300 page book is something for little kids. Look at some of the good Zahn books that could get to be over 600 pages long.

Remember when Star Wars was fantasy? Remember when it didn't feel like one was reading Law & Order or CSI: Coruscant? Remember when we read Star Wars to escape from the realities of politics?

Where has that gone?

Who decided that Han Solo should put away his blaster and engage in a battle of wits with the Chief of State?
Who decided that political maneuvering was as entertaining as the complex maneuvering of a space battle?

I certainly don't mean to condemn Troy Denning - of the three, I enjoy his entries the most. But it really hit me a couple of books ago when I realized I was reading a chapter of a Star Wars novel where the only plot going on was the Solo family sitting together ... watching TV. Yep, my Star Wars experience has been reduced to reading about my favorite action characters taking in the evening news.

I keep hoping it'll get better. Three books left.

Yeah,the title says it all. I was kind of looking forward to this book. I liked the first four FOTJ books although I was dissapointed that the Jedi were starting to act selfish. I didn't like the fifth one because the Jedi were starting to be rude and increasing in their selfishness. Jedi Masters calling their leaders assistant "Kenth's pet"? Horrible.
But I still had the hope that this was just because Christie Golden was new. But no,this book is the worst Star Wars I ever read. The Jedi act selfish and disrespectfull to Hammer's authority,act vain,and basically lose all resemblance to Jedi. Even if Hammer might have been wrong,(I think he was right)that was still no reason for the disrespect the Jedi showed him. Luke left him in charge,and he's a JEDI MASTER! I can't imagine the Council ever being this horrible to Yoda or any other Jedi leader even if he was voted down! Jedi aren't reckless. And the Jedi are supposed to help people. That's the whole point of them. But in this one they only care about each other. I'm starting to agree more and more with Daala.
And it was so horrible to bring Aboleth back the way they did.