Customer Reviews

Traitor (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 13)

5 star:		(114)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Let me make two things clear: I am a diehard Star Wars fanboy, and a bigtime Stover groupie. A such, when this novel was announced months ago, it quickly became my most anticipated Star Wars novel ever. As the months wore on, the anxiety grew; I needed this book, and simply couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I trusted that Stover would give me a fantastic novel. My trust was not unfounded.

Right from the outset, this book is something special. Stover is a compulsively readable writer, and his prose and writing style are head and shoulders above many of the other authors writing Star Wars novels. He knows how to turn a phrase and shape a paragraph so that it sticks in your mind long after you've finished reading the book.

And what a book! From the Holy [cow]! opening (which finally explained Jacen's emanations from Dark Journey) to the stunningly awesome climax (featuring one of the coolest lightsaber fights ever) to the outstanding three-against-the-galaxy ending (and you'll NEVER guess who the third one is), Traitor proved impossible to put down. Literally. I read it in one sitting and have since read it twice more. Jacen's feats in this book put to shame similar conquests by his siblings in the novels focusing on them, and Vergere absolutely blossoms as an interesting, enigmatic character. Jacen's revelations throughout the novel, often spurred by Vergere's observations, are consistently interesting (and pretty consistent with what you'd come to expect from a Stover novel). With Nom Anor it's pretty much just more of the same, which is getting kind of old, but Ganner really shines here. You can expect a cameo or three from a long lost pal, as well as a whole lot of Stover-style philosophizing on the nature of the Force and its Dark Side, as well as what makes a Hero, and what makes a Jedi, and a whole bunch of other questions that haven't, or haven't often, been tackled before in a Star Wars novel. You'll be surprised at the answers offered, when they are offered, which isn't always, considering that, as is said, the question is often more telling than the answer. The action is fantastic, as is to be expected from a Stover novel, and for you skeptics out there - put your fears to rest; there's only one fight scene (out of many) that's described at all graphically or gorily. Do not mistake graphicness for intensity, however - these fights are as intense as anything you've seen in a Star Wars novel. Overall, yes, this is easily my favorite New Jedi Order novel so far; my only real complaint is that there's not more of it. And it could have used a little more humor.

If you're a Star Wars fan, or a Stover fan, or just a fan of good Literature (yes, I daresay that this, a Star Wars novel, qualifies as Literature), you can't go wrong with this book. It is, quite simply, the best Star Wars novel yet published.

In TRAITOR, Matthew Stover gives one of the first real hero journeys in the NJO series. Jacen Solo was captured by the Yuuzhan Vong shortly after his brother Anakin died. It has long been advanced that he was subsequently killed by them. Stover provides the action which led to Jacen's severance from the force causing even his twin sister Jaina to believe him dead.

While all the previous NJO novels boasted a large supporting cast, TRAITOR possesses only six characters. The foremost of them are Jacen and Vergere. Vergere has appeared several times in past NJO novels, as well as some Pre-Empire novels. Always enigmatic, she plays both friend and foe to Jacen, seemingly helping ease his pain at times during his indenture, other times aiding those who hold him. Constantly throughout the book, the reader is forced to wonder exactly whose side she is on, if on any side at all other than her own. Thankfully, it seems this question is honestly resolved at the book's end.

As a prisoner, Jacen is first subjected to what any reader would regard as torture, but not for any specific purpose, e.g., gathering of information. This motivation, among others, is part of the learning Jacen must experience in order finally to find a path for his life. In previous novels he has appeared only as a whiner, always wondering if he is doing enough, too much, or simply the wrong thing. While he must suffer much, he gains wisdom and experience unique among Jedi.

This book is filled with some of the most descriptive writing in the series, but it lacks some of the flamboyant action and violence typical of some of the past books. If you really want space combat and individual battles of Jedi and Yuuzhan Vong, this is really not the book for you. While there are some moments, they all serve to educate and mature young Jacen. There is a very significant combat at the end involving a figure not seen much since the earlier novels in the series in which he played a noticeable role.

I really enjoyed this book, as it was more cerebral and psychological in nature than those preceeding it in the series. It is a short book, though, under 300 pages, ending too quickly for my enjoyment.

Jacen Solo, brother to twin Jaina and younger Anakin.....long thought dead to the New Republic and an underestimated Jedi makes a strong comeback in this 13th installment of the New Jedi Order series.

However, this book is slightly different from the 12 that preceded it. I'd say about 85% of this novel takes a direct focus on Jacen and the enigmatic Vergere. It seems that the Vong have had special plans for Jacen all along, not only as a twin to Jaina, but to help capture her as well. Nom Anor and Vergere concoct a plan to turn Jacen...turn him to the Vong cause.

Everything Jacen has ever learned as a Jedi is now put to question as Vergere takes the roll of teacher. She challenges Jacen to rethink his role in the universe and his destiny....a destiny without the use or link of the Force. Jacen soon discovers that there is more to the force than just the light and dark sides. He begins to retrain himself, not necessarily as a Jedi, but something else...something bigger than the Force as he learned it from Master Skywalker. Jacen's abilities and sensitivity to telepathic and empathetic thoughts soon exceed even Nom Anor's and Verge's wildest dreams. Jacen becomes something new, and Nom Anor revels in the fact that Jaina Solo will soon be his with the aide of his newest Vong prodigy.

But nothing ever ends up the way things are planned in a good Star Wars novel. Jedi Ganner Rhysode has heard the rumors....Rumors that Jacen lives and has returned to the core worlds. His mission is his own, rescue Jacen and bring hope to the losing New Republic and crush the Vong spirits. But Ganner stumbles upon a man once known as Jacen, but someone much different and much more powerful. Soon, Ganner must make a choice and perhaps place his trust in a much darker and powerful Jacen.

I can't say enough good things about this novel. Though there is plenty of action and background information given on the Vong, the trial and tribulations of Jacen under the thumb of Nom Anor and Vergere are very powerful for the reader. While there is plenty of action for the reader, author Matthew Stover really gets the reader sucked into the psyche of Jacen. Soon you really are emotionally attached to Jacen's character and feel his confusion and doubt of everything he though he believed. The role of Vergere in this book was pivotal, and even though the reader may find her musings and teaching maddening at times (she speaks a lot in riddles and never gives a straight answer), but does a wonderful job in actually making the reader question everything we have read about the Jedi order and the Force. Is it possible that there in more to the Force than just the light and dark sides? This book will surely make you ponder. Excellent job.

I loved Traitor, it was worth every penny.
It was also quite unlike any SW book I have read so far, much more philosophical than say the Enemy Lines duology wich was much more action oriented, but that was a good thing I thought.

This book also turns a few concepts upside down and introduces new viewpoints, some of this I have noticed has been quietly hinted at in earlier books in the EU too, one is also given some hints as to why the Vong are not seen in the force by the Jedi.

All in all, this is a very good book, I read through it very quickly though because of that.

I must say that the NJO has gotten alot better now with these latest releases after Star by Star.

Let's hope the trend lasts.

I found this book to be among the best of the NJO series, if not THE best. Although I have always been a Jacen fan, I have been irritated with the writing of his character in previous NJO books. However, if you read between the lines in many of these books, you can see how they were leading up to Jacen's development. I've gone back to previous novels and read pieces of the books and found little snatches of information hinting at just how powerful a jedi Jacen really is. Previous novels have hinted to how Jacen was able to use the force in many different ways; i.e., healing, empathy, fighting, etc. And remember how surprised Jaina was at the end of Balance Point when she saw the power her brother exhibited while fighting to save their mother? Neither Jaina nor Anakin ever exhibited such a diversity in their abilities with the Force.

With a couple minor exceptions, this writer did an excellent job with continuity. He tied the unanswered questions left from previous NJO novels into this one and provided believable answers. After reading this one you can think and say yeah, that makes sense now with what happened in .... NJO novel. I sincerely hope that Matthew Stover continues to write in the Star Wars Universe. As far as I'm concerned, he's right up there with Timothy Zahn (the Best!), Michael Stackpole, Troy Denning, and Kathy Tyers.

I'm happy to see a Star Wars novel get back to what makes Star Wars Star Wars. The Force. This was a wonderful read and I believe has been a critical change for the Star Wars Universe as it relates to the Force. I can't wait for the next novel to see how others, particularly Jacen's family and friends, react to his change.

This book was, in my opinion, the best NJO book so far. For the non-StarWars fan, that's the New Jedi Order series, the latest in the Star Wars Universe.

Jacen Solo is the main character in the book, and Veregre playes probably her biggest role yet, but aside from that there are very few characters represented in the book. Those in the book are portrayed excellently though.

For the readers that like action, this book is only for the patient reader. You will not find giant battles either in space or with Jedi flashing lightsabers. The action is there, but what action there is focuses on the philosophy of it. That brings me to the main point of the book. Jedi philosophy takes a hit, and Jacen re-invents himself.

The book focuses on the training of Jacen by Veregre and Jacen's growth from a child into a man. The book is written with a purpose and is one of the few Star Wars books I could call literature. It was truely written with the flow and form that rivals some of the best novels I've ever read. When I read the book i was reminded when I was taught exactly how to write in my English classes. Through all this though, I believe the book is written in such a way that less advanced readers would enjoy it too. It is not like "Animal Farm" for instance, as Animal Farm's true point is difficult for the young reader to grasp. The plot of the book is easy to grasp, but the way it was written was what made it rise above many other books I've read.

I recommend this book to everyone that has an interest in fiction, young or old.

The title for the latest Star Wars Extended Universe set of novels, New Jedi Order, has been touched upon within the books themselves once, maybe twice before, but in this amazing, thorough, impossibly revealing chapter of the series, the title of the series finally begins to take on the true extent of its meaning.

To summarize, Jacen Solo finds himeself captured by the Yuuzhan Vong, specifically held at the hands of Vergere, a minor character in previous novels. Slowly, through a variety of experiences that change his perspective, Jacen realizes that the current Jedi understanding of the Force is incorrect. To put it simply, Jacen faces the question, "If the Force is life, how can there be life, without the Force?" Referring to the Yuuzhan Vong's seeming non-existence in the Force. To understand that there IS in fact, no life, without the Force, Jacen realizes that the Force is in fact part of a larger power, an absolutely universal collection of dualities that bind things even as opposite as the Yuuzhan Vong and the New Republic, Love and Hate, Light and Dark and all others - they are all combined in a... something (energy, Force, connection, it's never really defined) that holds not only the Jedi and the New Republic in its grasp, but also the Yuuzhan Vong and all other life in the Universe.

Because so much of the book is composed of Vergere and Jacen's philosophical discussions, back and forth, one would think the plot and action would suffer, but this is not so, it merely heightens the intensity each action and turn creates. The introduction of Ganner as a main character, a full two thirds through the book, seemed strange at the time, but worked perfectly - highlighting the philosophy Vergere spouts - of dualities becoming one, through love.

With captivating descriptions, engaging dialogue, and a change in the very scales of power in the Star Wars Universe, the novel is a definite step in the right direction of a series that hasn't always lived up to its expectations or possibilities. Hopefully the books following this one do not fail to follow in Matthew Stover's path.

Traitor is by far the best, and most different, in the New Jedi Order series. It's great to finally know what has happened to Jacen Solo since we last saw him in Star By Star. Coruscant has been lost, and Jacen is believed dead. And he is. Sort of. Under the care of Vergere, the creature whom is allied with the Yuuzhan Vong, Jacen is learning much about himself. He is also learning of a new way to perceive the Force. But with this newfound power comes many questions, like how exactly will Jacen use his power? And for whom will he use it, the Yuuzhan Vong or what remains of the New Republic? This is an EXCELLENT read for any star wars fan, regardless if you've read the New Jedi Order series. It's hard to put this book down.

corsuscant has fallen to the enemy. anakin is dead. but what
actually happened to jacen solo? the last we saw he was captured and betrayed by vergere. she has him prisoner and is subjecting him to some of the most interesting tests i have ever seen. the
writer is clever not to let any one test last too long, but makes it interesting enough that you are clamoring for more. these tests will give him some answers that he did not even know
he was seeking and make him a stronger and better person. if you
are looking for fights, family interaction, this is not the book
for you. it is well written and i cannot wait until destiny's way
comes out.

"Traitor" is a thought provoking novel that is deviant from the rest of the series in terms of pace and content. It is an easy read, with not as many scenes of action as other books in the series. If you do not care about Jacen, do not read this book.

After reading the back, and the surprisingly short list of characters at the beggining, it's obvious that most of the novel will be about the development of Jacen. The book concentrates on Jacen's journey through "the lands of the dead", led by the very strange creature Vergere (Jacen's Virgil), during his captivity by the Yuuzhan Vong. The book is fairly reminiscent of "Conquest" in pace, and "Dark Journey" in character development. Once again, if you don't care about Jacen, don't read this book.

The book is exchanges action for very deep character development. There isn't as much action as in other Star Wars books. The actions scenes that are in the book, while fairly thrilling to read, come off as mere plot devices to change Jacen.

Stover's novel is very ambitious, subtly hinting a parallel to Dante's Inferno. Stover speaks in an eloquent language, occasionally waxing into prose that could be considered poetry. While sometimes this enhances the story, at certain points this deeply ambiguous, metaphysical narration seems too grandiose for the novel. After reading the novel again, it seems that the story was built around the philosophy presented, instead of vice versa.

One thing that bothers me is the 3rd part of the book, where Ganner is introduced. I find him to be somewhat out of character, weakened to flesh out the plot. Additionally Stover's quality of writing seems to drift off as he tries to assume Ganner's thoughts. Ganner's "None Shall Pass" line made me roll my eyes, and the choice of words throughout this section is indicative of the fantasy genre, and a couple words-that-don't-exist-in-the-star-wars-universe appear.

Ironically "Traitor" would stand stronger independent of the Star Wars series. The majority is very well written, however it does not give the flavor usually associated with Star Wars Books. It is not necessary to read and no fan would get lost if they skipped to Destiny's Way. While I personally enjoyed it, the lack of action and the dominating philosophical language may turn some fans off.