Dark Apprentice (Star Wars: The Jedi Academy Trilogy, Vol. 2) (Paperback)

~ Kevin Anderson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Luke Skywalker finds his academy threatened by untold dangers when his most talented and rebellious student, Kyp Durron, delves dangerously into the Dark Side of the Force, aided by an evil and deadly enemy.

From the Publisher

As the New Republic takes devastating losses in the ongoingwar with the scattered remnants of the Empire, the galaxy's future depends on three small children -- among them the Jedi twins -- born to incredible powers and perils, as an extraordinary new saga unfolds...

While the New Republic struggles to decide what to do with the deadly Sun Crusher -- a new doomsday weapon stolen from the Empire by Han Solo -- the renegade Imperial Admiral Daala uses her fleet of Star Destroyers to conduct guerrilla warfare on peaceful planets. And now she threatens the watery homeworld of Admiral Ackbar. But as the battle for a planet rages, an even greater danger emerges at Luke Skywalker's Jedi academy. A brilliant student delves dangerously into the dark side of the Force and unleashes the spirit of an ancient master of the evil order that warped Darth Vader himself. Working together, they may become an enemy greater than the New Republic has ever fought... more powerful than even a Jedi Master can face. ®, (TM) and © 1995 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Spectra; Reprint edition (June 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553297996
• ISBN-13: 978-0553297997
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,421 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This didn't help my opinion of Kevin J. Anderson, December 10, 2001

By A Customer

I can't say that I was particularly pleased with the first book in this trilogy, Jedi Search. However, this fact did not stop me frombeing even less pleased with the second entry into the series. Once again, we are treated to a lengthy series of escapades involving incompetant Imperials, grandoise superweapons and, of course, the omnipotent Jedi. Why did I read this series?

I'll start with the Imperials, more specifically Daala. Somehow, despite all the build up Anderson gave her, she manages to come off as little more than a cartoon villian, who dreams up wild plots, pats herself of the back for her supposed cleverness, and then fails miserably. If I wanted to see this type of character, I would turn on a children's cartoon! On a side note, the original idea behind Daala seems a little derivitive of Thrawn (character whose brilliance allows him/her to overcome a prejudiced environment). Sadly, unlike Thrawn, Daala is never able to live up to her reputation.

What the heck is up with the suncrusher? I could live with the Death Star (it was a very original idea the first time). Heck, I can tollerate a second Death Star. However, taking basically the same concept and going one better with it (we destroy stars now, instead of planets) pushes my limit. Especially when said weapon is invencible (it survives supernovas) and has the manueverability of a TIE fighter. Death Star? Who needs it? We can wipe out entire star systems with this little number. And, for good measure, its utterly indestructable. (Of course, we can't have such a weapon in Imperial hands. So, naturally, the rebels somehow get a hold of it. Go figure.)

Kyp. I rarely hate characters in Star Wars (why waste hatred on people who don't exist?), but Kyp annoyed me terribly. A brazen young hotshot whose limitless power in the force (conviently overlooked by the Empire) seems to me to be little more than a testiment to Anderson's ego, demonstarting that he can create a seemingly allmighty character.

Oh well. I shouldn't complain TOO much, since I honestly enjoy writing rants more than pleasent reviews (where's the fun in just saying nice things about a book?). Still, I can think of better ways to spend one's time, such as reading The Thrawn Trillogy, or The Hand of Thrawn. It is a free country, so I therefore conclude by saying that you are, as always, entitled to form your own opinions.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is where it falls apart, November 28, 2001

By	Kevin D A Major (Barrington, NH United States) - See all my reviews

The second book of a trilogy can make or break the overall product. This book falls into the latter category. Dark Apprentice is a cliched mess that's not worth picking up.

First, let's start off with characterization. The best characters in the book are two dimensional. The others...well, the others make cardboard cutouts seem lifelike. Kyp Durron, a kid with a hard life, is Luke Skywalker's most impressive apprentice. We all know what happens next. Kyp is tempted by the Dark Side, and ultimately rebels against his master. Admiral Daala, the biggest threat since Grand Admiral Thrawn (or, at least, Kevin J. Anderson would like us to believe so), is a bumbling idiot. She is as inept in subtlety as she is in conventional warfare.

Another problem that plagues this book are the multiple, and unneccessary, plot threads. There's Luke and his Academy, Kyp and his temptation, Daala and her desires of vengeance, Leia and her children, Ackbar and his pouting. With such a jumbled mess, it's of no wonder that the fundamentals are sorely lacking.

Perhaps the only thing of good worth mentioning is the Academy itself. Kevin J. Anderson actually does a fair job with explaining the history of the Jedi, the origins of the Sith, and various techniques the Jedi use to teach others in the ways of the Force. Unfortunately, even this is ultimately marred by another of his unending supply of cliches.

This is a poor book of a poor series, and unfortunately the trilogy only gets worse from here.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not the best book ever, but still highly enjoyable, March 28, 2001

By	"kandladin" (Castle) - See all my reviews

While this book is not literary work of art, it deserves a full five stars just for the pure enjoyment I got from reading it. Even though I knew what was going to happen (I have the guide to chronology) it still somehow managed to be suspensful and interesting. It read the whole thing in less than two days, and that's having to squeeze in reading time on acount of school and such. Anyway, for a brief summery; Luke has established his Jedi academy on Yavin 4 and is in the process of training new Jedi. Meanwhile, the secret is out, Mon Mothma is dieing of some strange wasting disease so now more and more of her responsibilites fall on Leia, which severly takes a toll on the time she gets to spend with her family. Also, the imfamous Admiral Daala decides to mount a massive campaign against the New Republic, who barely even realize she exists. Meanwhile, some of Luke's students start taking dangerous risks and dabbling in the Dark Side without his knowledge, most specificly young Kyp Durron... One problem I had with this book was that Admiral Daala was, well, dissapointing! She didn't at all live up to her reputation as a brilliant commander surviving in a sexist envirnment. Sure she was cool and everything, but where are her brilliant tactics? She loses half her fleet and only blows up one small group of settlers! And she basically does nothing except lead pointless failing campaigns. Also, I hated Kyp Durron right from the beginning, because he is just a ripped-off version of what would have happened to a young Luke if he had turned to the dark side. A good thing was that they finally included Mara Jade, who is my favorite character besides Luke, though I was somewhat dismayed that she only stayed for about two chapters and then left again. I can't help but think that Zahn's Mara would have tried a little harder before just giving up. Besides that, this is a great book that I recommend to any Star Wars fan, though it might be difficult to understand if you haven't read the Thrawn trilogy.