Revelation (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 8) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Karen Traviss (Author)
Key Phrases: star destroyers, cae dus, forensics droid, Jacen Solo, Anakin Solo, Yuuzhan Vong (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

During this savage civil war, all efforts to end Jacen Solo’s tyranny of the Galactic Alliance have failed. Now with Jacen approaching the height of his dark powers, no one–not even the Solos and the Skywalkers–knows if anything can stop the Sith Lord before his plan to save the galaxy ends up destroying it.

Jacen Solo’s shadow of influence has threatened many, especially those closest to him. Jaina Solo is determined to bring her brother in, but in order to track him down, she must first learn unfamiliar skills from a man she finds ruthless, repellent, and dangerous. Meanwhile, Ben Skywalker, still haunted by suspicions that Jacen killed his mother, Mara, decides he must know the truth, even if it costs him his life. And as Luke Skywalker contemplates once unthinkable strategies to dethrone his nephew, the hour of reckoning for those on both sides draws near. The galaxy becomes a battlefield where all must face their true nature and darkest secrets, and live–or die–with the consequences.

About the Author

Karen Traviss is the author of two previous Star Wars: Legacy of the Force novels, Bloodlines and Sacrifice, three Star Wars: Republic Commando novels, Hard Contact, Triple Zero, and True Colors, as well as City of Pearl, Crossing the Line, The World Before, Matriarch, and Ally. A former defense correspondent and TV and newspaper journalist, Traviss has also worked as a police press officer, an advertising copywriter, and a journalism lecturer. Since her graduation from the Clarion East class of 2000, her short stories have appeared in Asimov’s, Realms of Fantasy, On Spec, and Star Wars Insider. She lives in Devizes, England.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: LucasBooks (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034547757X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345477576
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,325 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Parts better than the whole, March 29, 2008

By	ShriDurga - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)

The penultimate installment of Legacy of the Force gets off to a slow start, has far too much material that doesn't drive the plot, but is nevertheless one of the more interesting chapters in the series.

While you might not notice it among the large number of pages devoted to the Mandalorians, a few things actually happen in Revelation. The Imperial Remnant and Joint Chief of State Niathal turn against Jacen, a lovable EU character bows out while another one shows up literally out of nowhere to save the day, the Skywalkers and Solos finally wise up to Jacen, plus there's one of Legacy's most suspenseful space battles. Amongst all the happening, you'll also find the most genuine writing of the series, including what has to be one of the most touching scenes in the Extended Universe.

The first half of the book is rather plodding. A large part is written as a police procedural, with Ben out to gather forensic evidence necessary to convince his family (and prove to himself) that Jacen killed his mother, Mara. While unnecessary for the reader - we knew Jacen was the killer before we even read the fifth chapter, Sacrifice - a solid presentation of the facts is required for the Skywalker and Solo families, who, as a Mandalorian healer remarks to Jaina, have "been hoping that [Jacen will] see the light and [won't] have to do the dirty work."

Unfortunately for the series as a whole, there's been far too much material on the Mandalorians, material largely irrelevant to the main plot, and that's especially so in this volume. The editors at Del Rey should have suggested a side-project for Traviss where she could have developed the material more fully and without having to try to find ways to justify its inclusion here. The ostensible purpose for the Mandos in this volume is Jaina's search for a method or means of capturing or killing her twin brother Jacen. She goes to one of the galaxy's most feared Jedi hunters, Boba Fett, who fits her in armor, shows her how to use a metal blade, but most importantly teaches her the need to be someone else: "A nasty Jaina. A crafty, cheating Jaina. A bounty-hunting Jaina." The training itself doesn't require that many pages. What does is concluding the drama of Boba Fett and tying up loose ends from Traviss' Republic Commando series, both of which happen to fit neatly into the thematic foundation of the book, if not necessarily the plot. The revelations include Boba's poignant sacrifice for his wife, a Jedi disclosing his true identity, Jaina's calling, Mara's murderer, and a Sith's coming out.

Once all the preliminaries are out of the way, the second act is a page-turner featuring one of the most unusual space battles of the series, in which not one but two new players and two new fleets join the fray. The Galactic Alliance is riven mid-battle by a defection, and the planet being targeted becomes the planet from which a new alliance forms up against Jacen, driving him home to Coruscant to make what will most likely be his last stand in the final volume, Invincible.

The extended epilogue tidies up the Mandalorian saga with the most sincere and genuine writing of the series. This is perhaps the only Star Wars novel that ever got me choked up. And not once, but twice within the last 20 pages. The hardened mercenary unburdens himself, opens his heart and finds himself accepted, taking the first step to winning back the love and the family he had quietly cherished for more than 50 years. The Jedi deserter Gotab has at last a chance to explain himself to a fellow Jedi, to stop hiding and at last be welcomed within his adopted community for what he is, and not what he has pretended to be. Jaina learns to look outside herself, finding a reason and a will to do what 's necessary to take care of her evil twin brother. And in the last two pages, Traviss delivers the most understated and touching scene from the Star Wars Extended Universe, a quiet ending with Ben and Luke in the still of the Endor night. Read it and weep.

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Penultimate Novel, February 27, 2008

By	Mickey K. Thompson "Mik-to" (Bethlehem, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have read every book of the series so far, and usually within a day or two of its release. I have overall enjoyed the series, and Traviss' work has been the strongest of the series, especially the pushing forward of the Boba Fett/Mandalorian arc which has been handled primarily by Traviss. I have fixated on the Mandalorian story and Traviss adds to the lore of the bounty hunters like no one I have read before.

(Going to try and do this spoiler-free)

However, when Traviss adds to the other ongoing arcs, the story begins to fall apart. Revelation is more crime drama then anything, and there is no tension in the story since the reader knows 1) who did it and 2) why he did it. Having the characters in the story "figure this out" is unnecessary because in truth, it makes no difference to what the protagonists must do in the end. The seven novels preceding this one have painted the character of Jacen Solo as a combination Vader/Palpatine with most of the galaxy realizing what he is becoming. The fact that one more act was committed by this man, from the characters point of view, makes it more necessary to capture and or kill him?

Also, there is the inclusion of the Imperial remnant that seems like it is out of left-field. A bulk of the novel deals with Admiral Paellon and his dealings with the Moffs. I think most of what the Empire could have been stated with far less exposition. In fact, the overall theme of the Legacy series is beginning to be wittled away with all of the niggling side arcs which appear out of reference. Yes, there needs to be other events to move the story forward, but I think the Empire storyline is not necessarily important in the grand scheme of things. This could totally change in the last novel, but I think what the readers are looking for in the last novel is a very focused story about the Skywalker/Solo family struggle and do not want to be distracted by the GA, Imperial Remnant, Confederation, GAG, etc.

I really feel that Revelation is unnecessary and a lot of exposition is thrown in to make this a nine-part story. I won't throw any additional spoilers out, but I really feel that the authors of the entire series are given specific plot points that are to be included in every novel, and the revelation of this plot point had already been done in earlier novels. And again, the characters have the same choice to make whether or not the plot point was revealed to them at all.

Kudos on the Boba Fett/Mando story. Neatly done, and as much as the Mandos are the anti-heroes of the Star Wars universe, you can't help but empathize and understand what their cultural philosophy is and where it fits in with the Galaxy. Since no other novelist really went into the Mando world, I fear that this is the last we will necessarily see of this arc.

I don't recommend this novel to anyone other than readers of the preceding novels. I think you will have the same sense of "wow, this isn't very good" and "was this novel really necessary?" that I did, and I am a complete and utter fool when it comes to everything Star Wars.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another placeholder book in the series, March 3, 2008

By	Matthew Simmons "McDuck2112" (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As is the case with most of the new Star Wars novels, this one is another placeholder. Some space battles, very little character development (aside from the authors continuing love affair with Mandalorians).
I'm really tired of hearing about 'the armor'

How about a story with some meat?

For Hardcore SW fans (like me), this will fill the bookshelf while waiting for something compelling to come along.