Force Heretic II: Refugee (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 16) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author), Shane Dix (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Swift and deadly, the Yuuzhan Vong have blasted their way across the galaxy—and now stand on the threshold of total victory. Yet a courageous few still dare to oppose them. . . .

Rife with hostile cultures and outright enemies, the Unknown Regions holds many perils for Luke Skywalker and the Jedi, searching for Zonama Sekot, the living planet that may hold the key to dealing once and for all with the Yuuzhan Vong.

Meanwhile, on the edge of the galaxy and in the heart of a trusted ally, old enemies are stirring. The Yuuzhan Vong have inflamed long-forgotten vendettas that are even now building up to crisis point. And as Han and Leia journey on their quest to knit the unraveling galaxy back together, betrayal and deception await them. . . .

About the Author

Sean Williams and Shane Dix are the bestselling and award-winning coauthors of the Evergence series. Their last novels were Echoes of Earth and its sequel Orphans of Earth. Individually, both have numerous short story credits, and Williams is a successful author in his own right. His novels include Metal Fatigue and The Resurrected Man. His fantasy series, The Books of the Change, concluded in December 2002.

Williams and Dix both live in Adelaide, South Australia, a city Salman Rushdie once described as the ideal setting for a horror story. Dix lives with his wife, Nydia, and has two children from a previous relationship. Williams lives with writer Kirsty Brooks and DJs in his spare time.

For more information, please visit www.seanwilliams.com.au.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; State First Edition edition (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345428714
• ISBN-13: 978-0345428714
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,732 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 16 in The New Jedi Order Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Save your money, May 11, 2003

By	G. Swift "97jedi" (Southwestern Missouri) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a waste of money. I cannot fathom how nearly 400 pages can contain NOTHING to advance a storyline. Even if you are a fan who would normally buy it for your collection, my advice is to skip it altogether.

As with the first book in this trilogy, there are numerous spelling and grammar errors (particularly split infinitives, which might be acceptable for speech, but not for narration), fixations on particular words and/or phrases (e.g., "Be that as it may..." is used WAY too often), and inconsistencies. I still am unaware whether CEDF stands for Chiss Expansionary Defense Force or Chiss Expeditionary Defense Force, since it switches between them repeatedly. Or perhaps there are two such bodies, one with each name, that share the same acronym; it certainly is not clarified in this book.

As with Remnant, book 1 of the trilogy, there are three separate storylines. One following Luke and others on a quest to find The Rogue Planet (see that book for a story actually worth reading), the second follows Han and Leia et al. investigating comm breakdown from former New Republic Allies, the third focuses on Nom Anor and his infidel uprising on the former Coruscant.

All three story lines go nowhere. For Luke, there is an absolutely pointless and unresolved conflict that occurs on the Chiss homeworld, which we don't even get to see on the star chart, with everything still referred to as the Unknown Regions. Nevermind that they mention many planets and such, leaving the reader to guess where they might be. For Han and Leia, on Bakura, there is about 100 wasted pages of poor exposition, again with battles simply for their own sake, serving no plot advancing purpose. The resolution is disappointing, again with no surprise. Meanwhile, NOTHING happens with Nom Anor except that he gains an informer.

Honestly, this story reads as though written both by AND for a twelve year old. It is insulting that this is included in the storyline populated by quality writing earlier in the series. The best thing this book might be used for is recycling.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another embarassment, May 15, 2003

By	Simulacrum (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Williams and Dix are careless and sloppy. They make constant major mistakes with the source material, like claiming that Mara and Luke were last in Chiss space in Thrawns day (off by about a decade, given that Mara and Luke went into Chiss space in a Zahns last series). Prime Minister Cundertol loses an arm at the elbow, wants payment to buy a new arm, decides to fight for it, and clenches his fists. Both of them. None of the pre-NJO characters, not a single one, acts in character. Luke may as well be Kenth Hamner or any other minor Jedi with a vague personality. Jacen, the thoughtful one, the one who should be the most self-aware and applicably intelligent, acts like an absent minded professor. Danni continues to throw herself at Jacen, still with no justification other than hormones. It seems like she does this because someone decided to write this plot into the series, but no effort is made to actually show any sort of interest or interaction, any reason for her interest. Perhaps this is because the idea itself makes no sensethey have no compelling potential for a relationship. Hopefully shes killed off soon. The entire Bakura plot is pointless, another slow, small mystery being presented when the series really needs to get moving. Tahiri is sometimes written competently, but the resolution of her multiple personality subplot {makes no sense}. Welcome to the realm of the plot device.

There is some small praise I can offer: the Yuuzhan Vong are written wonderfully. Nom Anor is at the top of his game. Action scenes are written well when we arent focusing on a characters internal monologue. Basically, Williams and Dix cannot write dialogue or monologue, spoken words or internal thoughts, with the exception of the Yuuzhan Vong. Im not very impressed with fan-fiction in general, but I can say that Williams and Dix dont even come close to the fairly low quality of the average fan-created story available on the internet.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid NJO book but too predictable, May 12, 2003

By	J. K. Moser "JKM" (Flemington, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Force Heretic II: Refugee is very well-written, fast paced New Jedi Order story. Although it one of the longer books in the series, it is a very quick read. The storylines are good if a bit predictable. One storyline follows Jacen Solo on his quest to find a mustical living planet. Along for the ride are Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade, Saba, and Danni Quee along with some Imperial Remnant troops. They fly into Chiss space where typical, if a bit predictable and subdued, Star Wars mayhem ensues. The second storyline follows Han, Leia, Jaina, Jag and Tahiri to Bakura where anti-Republic sentiment masks a deeper more malevolant plot. The third storyline deals with Nom Anor and his Jedi heracy. This was actually a very interesting Vong subplot, usually I just find those subplots annoying but hearing Nom Anor preach about the Jedi was quite interesting. There is not all that much action to sustain the story and Mara Jade and Han Solo get nothing more than bits parts to play, while Princess Leia only shines occasionaly. Danni's relationship with Jacen, which seemed to be moving forward seems stalled in this book. It was interesting to return to Bakura and to see Chiss space, and the subplot involving Tahiri jumps forward and one of the better parts of the story. Overall, this book is not as good as Force Heretic I. It is well-written, but misses something that the first book had. There is less of the witticism and humor that are contained in the best Star Wars books. This is a solid addition to the NJO series and sets up the third book in the trilogy rather nicely.