'STAR WARS' AT 40: A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS!

"Peering through the smoke with an uncomprehending look on her face was the young woman whose portrait Artoo Detoo had projected in a garage on Tatooine several centuries ago, or so it seemed.

She was even more beautiful than her image, Luke decided, staring dazedly at her."You're even - more beautiful - than I -"

Her look of confusion and uncertainty was replaced by first puzzlement and then impatience. "Aren't you a little short for a storm trooper?" she finally commentated.

"What? Oh - the uniform" He removed the helmet, regaining a little composure at the same time. "I've come to rescue you. I'm Luke Skywalker."

"I beg your pardon?" she said politely.

"I said, I've come to rescue you. Ben Kenobi is with me. We've got your two 'droids - "

The uncertainty was instantly replaced by hope at the mention of the oldster's name."Ben Kenobi!" She looked around Luke, ignoring him as she searched for the Jedi."Where is he? Obi-Wan!"

From the STAR WARS novelization by George Lucas (Alan Dean Foster) - 1976 

The classic scene as in the movie was likely shot at Elstree Studios around May 11th or 19th, 1976.

NOW AVAILABLE IN E-BOOK: 'EPISODE VII - THE FORCE AWAKENS'

He's an acclaimed and successful science fiction author in his own right, but we'll always love him for his work in ghost writing/adapting George Lucas's original STAR WARS into book form in 1976, plus his never made "alternate" sequel in the hugely entertaining, 1978 released continuance that was Splinter of the Mind's Eye. Now, Alan Dean Foster is back to adapt THE FORCE AWAKENS, and I think that this is one plum, and surely challenging, assignment which he'll give to the world with the kind of page-turning excitement and extra character depth for readers that will resonate just as strongly as the film unspooling into movie theatres this Christmas and beyond.

The adaptation is now available in electronic format here: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Star Wars the Force Awakens) eBook: Alan Dean Foster: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Then becomes available in novel form in the UK from CENTURY from 1st January, 2016: Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Amazon.co.uk: Alan Dean Foster: 9781780894768: Books

The 11 Biggest Differences Between the Book and Movie Versions of The Force Awakens

Look out for Alan Dean Foster's all-new short story lead in to THE FORCE AWAKENS in the STAR WARS INSIDER special issue to the film, available from December 18th, 2015.

Official website: ALAN DEAN FOSTER

The Most Interesting Man in the World - YouTube

AFICONADO REVIEW (2009): 'LEGACY OF THE FORCE: INVINCIBLE'

STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE 

BOOK NINE- INVINCIBLE

By Troy Denning

Released in paperback in the UK by ARROW BOOKS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

With the intriguing Tatooine Ghost and the epic volume Star by Star of THE NEW JEDI ORDER already under his literary belt, popular sci-fi novelist Troy Denning knows the characters, old and new, of the STAR WARS SAGA and its EXPANDED UNIVERSE by heart-and he has a writing style, alongside Matthew Stover, that fans have always enjoyed. So it is no surprise to discover that he had been chosen by the people at LUCAS BOOKS to bring to all-important life the next, and final, chapter of the LEGACY OF THE FORCE saga after previous devastating developments in books like Sacrifice and Revelation. And if you thought your heart strings had been effectively plucked out with the former, and the tragic murder of Mara Jade Skywalker, brace yourselves for the darkness ahead, as INVINCIBLE takes four of our primary characters –in particular the two key children of the Solo family- into a arena of evil and conflict, and a lightsaber showdown, that make you wonder if they’ll ever get out of it…they say it’s always darkest before the dawn and INVINCIBLE may prove it!

This final novel has so much to tie up there are moments when you wonder whether it can be done successfully and so live up to reader expectations. Well, for the most part it does. And, fortunately for us, Denning has never been afraid of such challenges. Surprisingly, many fans expected an adventure the size of STAR BY STAR-which you can damage your fingers from holding-it’s that weighty!! But, as any good book reader knows, the page count shouldn’t matter as long as the story is told well and can be read well. Despite that smaller page count, the author puts everything into INVINCIBLE’s story and characters that needs to be told.

Denning’s writing style is fast and fluid as expected and the descriptions of the action are fine, as are the stronger characterizations which, intriguingly, many feel are far superior than they have been in the last few LOTF books and in certain parts of Denning’s previous novels within the cycle.

As mentioned earlier, the book focuses on four characters who have proved highly popular with LOTF readers- Jacen, Jaina, their father, Han Solo, and Luke’s son, Ben (the latter mostly in a B plot that utilizes his character in a better way than most of the previous books in the LOTF series), though primarily on Jaina and the challenge of meeting her destiny as “Sword of the Jedi”. Many fans may bemoan the lack of participation of most the other main classic characters (like Luke and Leia) in major ways this time, and miss the way all the previous STAR WARS books have criss-crossed the stars in following the numerous plotlines-there is less of that here and the story is much more concentrated in a manner that you could say is all the better for it-there’s no serious epic Death Star type weapon or major league Imperial plot to be blown up, or a race against time in that kind of sense. The search-and-destroy mission aspect of this book is not handled the way you expect. Also positively, many readers have enjoyed Boba Fett’s appearance in this adventure much more than previously in this particular series, and he has some enjoyable in-character dialogue…has he outstayed his welcome? Probably, but everyone loves him regardless!

Additionally, as well as Jaina, hero turned baddie Dark Lord Jacen Solo also has some fine character moments, and there are links to the past thrown in that work effectively for long term readers, too. The final duel between brother and sister, as depicted on the nicely realized cover, is a finely described one, though again some readers may find it a bit anti-climactic as part of the overall arc of the series story…

To reveal too much of the book and its story would be a crime, and we at AFICIONADO aren’t party-poopers! All in all, there are some pure STAR WARS/ space opera moments of the best sense and some well described action… and loyal readers may get a shock surprise at the end of the adventure, too…

Judge for yourself and then look forward to STAR WARS: FATE OF THE JEDI!

AFICIONADO RATING: Whether INVINCIBLE ends the LEGACY OF THE FORCE saga in the manner that you’re after is up to you and “your own point of view.” However, with a writer of Troy Denning’s calibre on board to helm such a special LUCAS BOOKS event, you have a better chance of enjoying this read than with some of the other authors out there… 8 out of 10

AFICIONADO CLASSIC REVIEW: 'THE CLONE WARS - NO PRISONERS' NOVEL

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS- NO PRISONERS

A novel by Karen Traviss

Published in the UK by CENTURY PUBLISHING

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Now released from the possible restraints of adapting that first CLONE WARS movie into successful novel form, Karen Traviss continues to bring her unique writing mark to the STAR WARS universe with an all new adventure set during the three year galaxy spanning conflict. From the books inside sleeve story blurb, you’d think that, with NO PRISONERS-book three in the hardback series, that you’d be reading a smaller scale, more intimate war story. WRONG. STAR WARS never does anything small, even in book form.

Oh, and did you know that Karen Traviss likes Clone Troopers?

Past the Clone War itself, however, the nature and issues of the effects of attachment are by far the main, highly important aspect of NO PRISONERS-how far does a commander or a soldier go before they become compromised in their duty. And what would happen when a Jedi Knight is affected? Might their love and the need to protect that love bring them nearer towards the Dark Side? All three vital types of player in this story of rescue, sacrifice, honour and violence are symbiotically affected, for good and for bad, by the nature of said attachment, none more so than the returning popular character of Captain Gilad Pellaeon.

A continued fan favourite from the Zahn Thrawn Trilogy books, Pallaeon’s return will be much welcomed by old league fans. I say returns…well, that should really be enters, the STAR WARS galaxy in this tale set shortly after the events of the first animated movie, with the galaxy still getting over the shock that, after a thousand years of relative peace, its now irrevocably on course towards a new breed of warfare-one far more damaging than they’ve ever faced the possibility of. Though in his mid-thirties, Gilad is still as loveable grumpy and pompous as ever-in this tale he’s very much an old man trapped in a then young man’s body- more than resembling to this author one of the honorable, experienced and veritable stick in the mud types you might find coming out of a Horatio Hornblower novel. He’s such a starched collar commander that he even has Ahsoka cover herself up when, alongside Captain “Let’s scrap some clankers!” Rex and his mostly new group of “shinie” replacement troops, they newly arrive on Pellaeon’s reworked but now top of the line weapon upgraded starship,the Leveler, whilst Anakin Skywalker takes yet another of his “secret breaks” from his Padawan and squad for some quality cuddles time with Padme Amidala-that’s Mrs. Skywalker to us.

Pallaeon believes in the service, believes in the discipline and is determined to make sure that the re-fitted Leveler, with its new weaponry, is up to specs, especially if they have to go into battle… and that’s exactly what happens when, at the same time, the commander’s worries for his intelligence agent girlfriend, Hallena Devis, suddenly come to fruition, when she is sent on a dangerous mission to the planet Janfathal in the Outer Rim, so as to infiltrate a possible Separatists uprising- which suddenly happens, with Devis caught in the middle!! Making matters worse, Pallaeon has the only ship in interception range to get her out of the mess, and its here that the unease of attachment begins- soon finding himself feeling compromised with his crew, Ahsoka and the Clone Troopers when he has to reveal that the spy is his secret lover. Is one person, even if it be the woman he loves, worth the lives of hundreds of shipmates, and innocent civilian workers (deep in the thick of it) unused to any kind of combat, in a battle to retrieve her? And it’s certainly a scenario that Pellaeon can’t afford to lose-the experimental Leveler is something that the Seps would love to get their hands on to dissect.

And apart from his loyal crew-mates, Pallaeon has reservations about working with the Jedi. Even with modesty intact, he is unnerved by the young Togruta Jedi teenager, as he is with the rest of her sect, but knows he will have to trust her incredible abilities and instincts in the tests to come. Fortunately, his previously established, comrades in arms friendship with Captain Rex-quite amazing considering that I’m assuming they’ve only known each other for a few months since the Clone Wars have started (that there have been other stories before this that have chronicled their adventures? (if I’m wrong, please correct me-I’m still a newbie with recent Expanded Universe books, especially the previous CLONE COMMANDER series by Traviss)) – remains intact, despite the mysterious way that the Clone Soldiers have so conveniently arrived to help the Republic in such dire times.

Adding further complexity to the adventure is the arrival of a breakaway fraction of Jedi, who have shunned Master Yoda and the Jedi Council’s leadership- not taking part in the war per se (yet having not abandoned the order as part of the “Lost Twenty”), but generally acting as intergalactic relief workers to those who have suffered dearly from the opening rounds of the escalating conflicts. Unlike any other Jedi Pellaeon has seen before- and led by a charismatic Qui-Gon Jinn substitute-like figure named Djinn Altis- they have been dubbed as heretics by Ahsoka and the rest of the main Jedi body- due to their opposite belief system in the need for emotional attachment as part of their being, not only in order to help the universe but to ultimately get closer to the Force around them-and doing this despite the fears that they may tread too dangerously close to the Dark Side in order to achieve their good natured intentions. Soon, these outcast Jedi offer their assistance to Pallaeon, who badly needs them if they are to complete their rescue mission against superior enemy odds. Will they overall help or hinder the Republic in this rescue mission? Traviss tries to give Altis and his followers more emotional weight as Jedi within the story as well as using them to stir up the drama and see how they clash idealistically with their Jedi brothers-for most parts of the book this aspect succeeds.

These new Jedi’s attitudes of attachment send the later to arrive Anakin Skywalker into feelings of doubt and anxiety-can this boy never get a break!- shaking him to the core and forcing him to concentrate more on the battles at hand rather than face the problems that will continue to beguile him until he reaches the ultimate dark path. At the same time, the walls cementing his secret marriage to Amidala are just about keeping steady and the pressure is building. The boy’s friendship with the father figure-like Altis is interesting but, as a reader, we know it can obviously never develop beyond a certain point-it can’t, as continuity has to be maintained with what’s to come, and we know that Anakin can never sever his ties with the existing Jedi Order that he is a part of-a story situation/development that’s both a blessing and a curse to any writer trying to bring a strong tale to life within the Prequel Saga- and a trap that also hindered Timothy Zahn’s OUTBOUND FLIGHT adventure...

Traviss must know that the Jedi Knights as characters, with the exception of Anakin, are very hard to write for-that the on screen “Jedi Frown” that Ewan McGregor has talked about for years can easily come to mind when you read about them in the books, too!  There’s only so much they can do and say, so outside contact has to come to them in order to create interest/conflict for the readers – Traviss has to travel a very delicate line here. In addition, these new Jedi also possess some remarkable new abilities that we haven’t seen before-which will obviously have ramifications for future books written by said Author should they re-appear, and it’s at this point that the book fortunately starts to pick up momentum.

Overall, Traviss’s popular writing trademarks are in full swing, as seen in her previous CLONE WARS movie adaptation, like the nicely conceived quotes about personal loss, character, honour, stupidity, bravery, and sacrifices of all kinds in war. And her action sequences on land, on air and in space are equally highly rendered. Also to be commended, the story also tries to present a bit more of the Outer Rim and it’s people’s point of view against the Republic with the beginning of the conflict-how they despise the way their planets have been corrupted, and how they welcome the liberating change being outlined by the Confederacy of Independent Star Systems to get them out of their trap (more of this please future writers). Again there’s more reference to real life situations, of which Traviss uses her experience and knowledge to the full-military strategies and even things like the torture of prisoners are briefly touched upon, continuing her gritty realism within the STAR WARS universe in ways that so many fans adore about her work, in particular her descriptions of Athar, the major city of Janfathal, which combines the harsh desert environments of Iraq with a servitude and work ethic directed towards it’s people that greatly resembles the tyranny and hardship of 1950’s Stalinist Russia-a decidedly dangerous place and a breeding ground for trouble of all kinds-no innocent will ever be able to leave it unscarred. I commend her for the books epilogue- evocatively sad and particularly well written.

Of our main heroes, it’s nice to have Anakin out of the fold for some of the book so as to give some other CLONE WARS heroes the chance to shine, and Captain Rex, in particular, does just that- Traviss has taken him to her heart like a duck to water, making him a soldier capable of giving Clint Eastwood a run for his money with his kick ass bred for war instincts and his “it’s all about the mission” mentality. Yet, at the same time, Rex also shares great compassion for the men and women under his command (his Republic “Dogs of War”, if you want to call them that) and feels the pain whenever someone dies fighting in his leadership-the trio of Rex, Anakin and Ahsoka working together are starting to prove a unique combination in both the books and the TV series.

Three novels in, though, and, despite improvements in developing her character, I’m disappointed that so far no one really knows what to do with Ahsoka. Let’s hope she gets a better shot of the bow with the next book in the series. Additionally, the same bug bear I have, not only with Miss Traviss but other writers, comes to the fore once more-simply that most of the new characters introduced in this Expanded Universe story I simply don’t care much about-their place in the adventure is obviously vital and has to keep the story ticking along, but at the end of the day, someone new to me like Hallena Devis just isn’t compelling or interesting enough to stand out against the main heroics and thoughts of our Lucas established heroes-and when the heroes I’m used to disappear from the story, then I really miss them. Additionally, there’s the worry that these books could start to become formulaic-it’s difficult, but the writers will hopefully try to steer clear of repetition and not become a case of same old, same old...

AFICIONADO RATING: Though not a classic tale, NO PRISONERS blend of fantasy STAR WARS adventure and realistic military action should continue to appeal to Miss Traviss’s highly devoted fan base. 7 out of 10

AFICIONADO CLASSIC REVIEW (2009) - 'STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS - WILD SPACE' NOVEL

STAR WARS - THE CLONE WARS: “WILD SPACE”

An original novel by Karen Miller

Available now in hardback from CENTURY PUBLISHING (UK)

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Warning: this review contains possible plot spoilers.

“DIE JEDI, DIE JEDI, DIE JEDI”

Karen Traviss set the benchmark high with her highly successful first book of the new THE CLONE WARS series –the task of adapting a movie into a successful novel would be a challenge to any writer, new or already distinguished, and she met that goal well, but then getting a second writer to follow on from that...well, that was always going to be an even greater challenge. So it’s a pleasant surprise to me that Canadian born/Australian raised STAR WARS novel newcomer Karen Miller has provided such a strong all new original adventure that follows on well from it’s predecessor.

Though low on the typical STAR WARS trademarks of action and high excitement, WILD SPACE is instead more of a character adventure, and essentially a book of two halves, the first builds on the relationship triangle between Anakin, Padme and Obi-Wan on Coruscant after the events of EPISODE II, whilst the second, which is really the core of the story, involves the destined pairing of Obi-Wan and Bail Organa as they embark on a perilous mission to stop a dreaded Sith attack on the Jedi by finding the Dark Side world of Zigoola, unaware that they are heading into a killing trap initiated by Darth's Sidious and Dooku.

Like THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK did for STAR WARS, WILD SPACE builds on a prior success and adds further depth, bringing a nice amount of humanity and some emotion within it’s pages-not an easy task when applied to the more chiseled, emotionally reserved Jedi characters of the Prequel Trilogy- and especially to the love between Anakin and Padme (creating a firm bridge to their relationship in further additional set up material for both the future animated series installments and EPISODE III), as well as, most importantly as the book continues, Obi-Wan, of which there’s some nicely written and quite touching moments between him and Anakin taking place directly after EPISODE II linking into EPISODE III, too (as Ewan McGregor stated in one of his interviews in 2005, it was vital that the film-makers of EPISODE III created a sense that the pair had a strong friendship/brotherhood before the final conflict that turns them into enemies-WILD SPACE builds into this). A fan of Ewan McGregor as Obi, Miller has done well in making the reader think of the actor in the part for the duration of the book’s reading. Though in her treatment of her favourite hero, I think she must have a very dark and wicked side-he certainly gets injured enough in this book (how many more times could she possibly wound him??)-having more fractures and bouts with the Jedi Healers than Humpty Dumpty ever could!

There’s also a very nice early on sequence/ conversation between Obi-Wan and Padme in which Yoda has forced him to end the Senator's attachment to Anakin before the war starts (which, obviously, Padme unwillingly says she will do, but, being the Padme we all know and love, doesn’t, leading to their marriage as soon as her and Anakin have arrived back on Naboo!). The sequence in part, and the way it as written, I felt, had some similarities to a deleted scene from EPISODE III where Obi talks to Padme about her relationship with Anakin and how he knows the pair are in love, only in the EPISODE III scene he tells her he will keep this forbidden union a secret from the Jedi Council and asks him to look after his ex-Padawan whilst he’s on Utapau. The tone of Miller's scene might be different but it does feel as if she were trying to do something in the same vein and spirit, showing the often uneasy way the pair of them has to adapt in their relationship with Anakin.

Of the other main characters, the Anakin Skywalker of this book stills feels more in the angst teenager model rather than the adventurous hero of the Clone Wars animated movie, even though this story is set after that first adventure. There are touches of the animated Skywalker’s personality present but not as much as I thought there would be-I think the time has come now to cut down on the angst of the character that has been in every CLONE WARS related comic/book over the last four or five years and have some fun with him and the action he gets involved in, and to start developing his relationship with Ahsoka more. That’s not to say that the future side of him shouldn’t be developed, though-referencing to Vader always works, and Miller gets the chance to inject small bits of darkness into Anakin-the way she describes certain moments, the clenching of his fist in anger, etc, ala THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, so full credit to her for continuing to do that.

With the story set three months after the battle of Geonosis-the next conflict of Christophsis has recently taken place, with the books second half beginning leading into the series first officially made episode DOWNFALL OF A DROID, and the subsequent DUEL OF THE DROIDS-it’s here that Anakin’s involvement in the book pretty much ends, with the beginning of that episode’s search for the missing Artoo unit, whilst the Organa/Kenobi plot takes front and center. It is on the latter mission that Miller works hard at developing the friendship between Bail Organa and Obi-Wan.

WILD SPACE presents the first of the great opportunities with this new book series to additionally expand on the popular supporting characters we’ve enjoyed over the years-one of my favourites of the Prequels being Bail Organa (so brilliantly played by Jimmy Smits). Pairing Organa and Obi-Wan for their first time works well for the most part, and in the beginning they are kinda the intergalactic odd couple of sorts, soon at loggerheads in their differing ideals and beliefs, but by the dramatic and dangerous events of the books finale, they have become the greatest of friends against the Sith. This situation also gives Miller the chance to explore Organa as a character and his feelings as a man- a member of Royal nobility and his duties to his world and the Republic. In fact, despite a lack of any kind of Jedi powers, Bail becomes almost like a surrogate Anakin to Obi-Wan and has some further character development in his working relationship/friendship to Padme Amidala-they are almost like brother and sister. Miller does a pretty good job at bringing Organa to life and it felt right to imagine Smits saying her created lines. I’d now really like to see a proper adventure on Alderaan. James Luceno’s DARK LORD book had a sizable section there to good dramatic effect but I’d like more. Perhaps there’s potential for a series of books to come?

With Kenobi, Miller shows a side to him at this point that’s warmer, more akin to what the character will become when played by Sir Alec Guinness, though still keeping the Prequel Obi-Wan’s feelings of loyalty and duty to his Jedi brethren that are sometimes at odds with his thoughts and beliefs regarding Anakin. Kenobi also feels the burden of guilt and responsibility for events over the last ten years in the build up to the Clone Wars, which his enemies will soon use against him on Zigoola.

Despite the strength and positive news of pairing Bail and Obi for the book, it was ultimately in this section, however, that I lost a little bit of interest slightly-I felt that their travel and arrival on Zigoola dragged a little bit, and that some events and dialogue there could perhaps have been shortened. Things do pick up more successfully in the book’s last few chapters, by the time of their arrival at the Sith Temple and the unusual danger it holds within.

As well as Bail, another equally fave EPISODE II character, the “Ernest Borgnine-like” alien Dexter Jettster, appears briefly, providing vital information to Obi-Wan abut an upcoming attack by General Grievous on the Bothans, though coming across as a little bit more serious now that the Clone War has begun.

Of the new characters introduced from the animated series and the previous book, Ahsoka Tano suffers the most. As the story starts, it’s quite early days still in the relationship between the Togrutan and her master. She’s still the young and craving for adventure personality we saw at the end of the animated movie, wanting to live up to Anakin’s expectations. Having had that previous strong intro she sadly has very little to do in this book except run around by his side, basically acting as the reader in asking what’s going on now, which is a bit of a shame. This may be due to the fact that Karen Traviss had so rigorously introduced her in the first book, or, with this second book possibly being done as the series was about to enter production, not much info may have been available to Miller at the time of writing for her to use. The Clone Soldiers are not as heavily involved in the book either, as the author continues her focus on the main Prequel characters.

Unlike the earlier Traviss book, however, there is more of a return to the politics and dark machinations by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the film Prequels, with the vines of terrorism and bombing stretching out towards Coruscant itself. The author brings some additional wily humour to Palpatine (we even discover that he’s a very nifty speeder pod pilot!) and she gives his alter ego, Darth Sidious, continued maliciousness, yet builds on his sly aspects too, as he enjoys looking at the chaos he has created all around him. The books second half also has the chance to explore some of the instruments of the Sith, but to find out more about this you’ll have to read the book.

As well as keeping our heroes in character, a difficult puzzle for any new THE CLONE WARS author has to be deciphering and working out the timeline for the events of the animated movie/beginning of the series in relation to where they occur after EPISODE II and before EPISODE III, and it is here that Miller admirably succeeds in working it all out, especially taking in parts of the still superb Genndy Tartakovsky 2003/2005 animated segments as well. To her credit, it’s all done convincingly. Miller also importantly expands on what happened between the events of Geonosis, before the full declaration of war, and the disembarking of the Clone soldiers out into the galaxy, as well as what happened with the return of the injured Anakin and Obi-Wan to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Miller does an equally great job of filling in some vital back story moments we were all wondering about and helping to reveal some unanswered questions/plot holes about both the Prequel Trilogy as a whole and the emotional state of the triad of friendship between Padme, Anakin and Obi-Wan. And let’s not forget some nice links to upcoming episodes of THE CLONE WARS, too, after what took place in the movie (on Christophsis, Teth and Tatooine) –which aforementioned have now become one of the earliest battles of the wars. Miller also tantalizingly reveals through Obi-Wan some further early conflicts involving Jedi like Ki-Adi Mundi that I hope we may one day see or read more about. And even the planet Mimban, from the first original novel ever, SPLINTER OF THE MIND’S EYE by Alan Dean Foster, gets a mention-FAB!

But enough of the pleasantries, I hear you ask-are there any other niggles? Well, one very minor complaint about the cover. The Clones of the title aren’t seen all that much in the book yet they are the cover stars. Yes, it’s about the Clone Wars but so much of it centers on Obi-Wan that I think he and Bail should have been on it primarily, with the Clones lurking in the background. I’m assuming the Clones photo artworks are the new uniform design style for every book, however, rather than the main characters. This quibble isn’t, and won’t, stop fans from buying the book if they really want to, but I just feel they could have done more with such an important buying aspect for non-fans who want to sample the book range, that’s all…

From the way the future release schedules are being honed by LUCAS BOOKS I assume this new series will be done on a rotating basis by the two Karen’s, with Traviss providing the action adventure type Clone heavy novels, whilst Miller will be adding more meat to the bone character-wise with her stuff- a good idea by LUCAS BOOKS that will stop the series from becoming stale. It seems that the two Karen’s will soon form an indomitable duo, much like Anakin and Obi-Wan!

AFICIONADO RATING: Though I enjoyed the first half of the book more than it’s second, WILD SPACE is still a very positive addition to the STAR WARS/THE CLONE WARS book range, and Miss Miller shows great promise for future books-I’d like to see her show her mettle on an Original Trilogy book now. If you’re a fan of the Prequel movies, and especially of Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of Obi-Wan Kenobi, WILD SPACE will prove to be an irresistible purchase. 7.5 out of 10.

'STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC - ANNIHILATION' - OUT NOW IN UK HARDBACK

Out now in UK hardback from CENTURY PUBLISHING, for all fans of THE OLD REPUBLIC series to savour: ANNIHILATION, by Drew Karpyshyn.

Here's the cover line plot synopsis:

The Sith Empire is in flux. The Emperor is missing, presumed dead, and an ambitious Sith Lord's attempt to seize the throne has ended fatally. Still, Darth Karrid, commander of the fearsome Imperial battle cruiser Ascendant Spear, continues her relentless efforts to achieve total Sith domination of the galaxy.

But Karrid’s ruthless determination is more than matched in the steely resolve of Theron Shan, whose unfinished business with the Empire could change the course of the war for good. Though the son of a Jedi Master, Theron does not wield the Force - but like his renowned mother, the spirit of rebellion is in his blood. As a top covert again again for the Republic, he struck a crucial blow against the Empire by exposing and destroying a Sith superweapon arsenal - which makes him the ideal operative for a daring and dangerous mission to end Ascendant Spear’s reign of terror.

Joined by hot-headedmuggler Teff'ith, with whom he has an inexplicable bond, and wise Jedi warrior Gnost-Dural, Darth Karrid’s former master, Theron must match wits and weapons with a battle-tested crew of the most cold-blooded dark side disciples. But time is brutally short. And if they don’t seize their one chance to succeed, they will surely have countless opportunities to die...

AFICIONADO CLASSIC REVIEW: 'MILLENNIUM FALCON' - A NOVEL

STAR WARS: MILLENNIUM FALCON

A novel by James Luceno

Published in the UK by CENTURY PUBLISHING

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Please note: this review contains mild plot spoilers.

“You came in that thing?? Your braver than I thought!”

She may have been described as a “piece of junk” by Luke on his first view of it, or a “buckets of bolts” by Leia, who also congratulated it’s Captain, Han Solo for being so brave as fly in it. She may also have a computer system that even a protocol droid would find difficult to relate to, and have asteroid potholes and blaster scorching all around her hull, but everyone’s favourite flying pizza deserves it’s place as one of the grand iconic sci-fi spaceships of all time, and probably the single most important character in the STAR WARS saga, whose appearances even stretch back over the series past, in film terms, to the Prequel Trilogy, so I was intrigued and delighted to read the news that there was going to be a novel exclusively about the vessel, delving into it’s long history, and past owners… the storytelling scope, presumably weaved into to a adventure with my favourite heroes, seemed grand and looked set to be a winner. Even better, one of my favourite modern STAR WARS authors, James Luceno, who I had previously trusted reading books such as CLOAK OF DECEPTION, made the prospect of a good read, his eighth for the series, even better.

Set two years after the Legacy of the Force series, the book opens in an origin point, with the initial construction of the YT-1300 ship causing trouble in the production line, with it suffering long term damage which will continue to trouble the ship and its future occupants.  We then follow the Falcon from owner to owner until we learn the vessel was both owned and used secretly by members of the Senate and Jedi, as part of an organisation known as the Republic Group, who reveal they had agents working for the Jedi shortly before the Emperor’s initiated Order 66 eliminates so many of the Jedi as witnessed in EPISODE III. 

In the segment set in the modern day, after Allana Solo, the granddaughter of Han Solo, discovers a strange device aboard the ship, Han and Leia are convinced to begin an investigation into the space ship's past owners (something that, though initially reluctant, Han has always intended to look into, though often sidetracked by the many incidents of war and smuggling that he has become embroiled in) and battles to find out the significance of the artifact.


Having originally won the ship from him in a Sabaac game, the ever resourceful Lando Calrissian is the starting point for Han, and then the intrepid threesome work backwards, eventually crossing paths with an agent who was working for the Jedi and was in stasis for almost 60 years while he healed from severe injuries sustained on his final mission.  Once they all agree to team up we discover just what the mission was that was supposed to restore the Republic’s honor and how everyone knows only a portion of the story. 

Additionally, as the story unfolds, we learn more of the different names the Falcon had been called over the many years, including Corell's Pride, Fickle Flyer, Gone to Pieces,Hardwired, High Hopes, Meetyl's Misery, Second Chance,Stellar Envoy, and Wayward Son, as well as the history of it’s many modifications, like who put in the hologame table and how the various owners came to own and lose the Falcon, over the course of time and roles that the vessel would adopt and serve in the STAR WARS timeline, from dodgy smuggling runs to diplomatic missions, to even being part of a travelling circus at one point!! Finally, we even discover the origin of the name Millennium Falcon.

Sadly, despite it’s promise to be one of the best books of the series, on such a beloved vehicle with such a fascinating history to be explored, amidst what should have been some very interesting scenarios described by the Falcon’s previous owners, the books main plot is simply not that exciting or involving, with no real interesting support characters and often failing to maintain my interest (which is pretty criminal for a STAR WARS novel), really acting more as just as filler piece - a bridge to the Legacy of the Force series and setting up events to come in the Fate of the Jedi series. 

Though I’m a fan of Luceno’s work, I only really enjoyed the parts of the book pertaining to what was established by the Classic Trilogy-those things that were official Lucas cannon or at least approved by Lucas. If the “Great Maker” had been involved in certain aspects of the story and in outlining the ships creation, then I would have been more enthused and satisfied. As usual, Luceno’s writing style is fine and he’s better than most at story structure, but this is probably not a book I’ll re-read with zeal like I have his previous Prequel era novels. MILLENNNIUM FALCON is sadly not the tribute novel that I personally was hoping it would be, and as mentioned, is merely a filler introduction to the FATE OF THE JEDI series instead (with everything you need to know about what’s coming up being located in this books last two pages!), which was not what this important book should have been about. Despite Luceno’s and LUCAS BOOKS’s best intentions for fans/readers, it’s the not the must buy read or anniversary-type tribute it should have been. A wasted opportunity.

AFICIONADO RATING: Despite Luceno's previous excellent STAR WARS writing pedigree, this is his first real disappointment for me. 6 out of 10.

AFICIONADO CLASSIC REVIEW: 'ALLEGIANCE' - A NOVEL BY TIMOTHY ZAHN

STAR WARS -ALLEGIANCE

A NOVEL BY TIMOTHY ZAHN

Paperback published by ARROW BOOKS (2007)

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Timothy Zahn’s work on the STAR WARS books are right at the top of the saga’s literary tree, of which his three THRAWN trilogy adventures would, in their own right, completely re-energize that non-film fiction universe in 1995-these were the first litmus tests papers to see if there was a market for both new STAR WARS book fiction and more merchandise in the build up to the saga’s then upcoming Twentieth Anniversary. And the books were brilliant-quickly lapped up by an eager audience all over the world. In fact, nothing has really topped these books since, either by Zahn or other authors following on. With such success comes the need for more of such quality, and there’s an old saying- once you’ve reached the top the only step after is to plummet downwards. Thankfully, this hasn’t quite happened with any of Zahn’s books since that mighty first trilogy, but none have since quite matched them for storytelling, characterization and, above all, that STAR WARS feel that he re-created and ushered in-it was due to his work on those three books that our re-energized love for the saga began all over again. SURVIVORS QUEST, OUTBOND FLIGHT, and numerous other stories, as well as two later Thrawn flavoured Duology books, have all been enthusiastically created reads, but still not quite up to par with his 1995 work. Sadly, Zahn’s newest book, ALLEGIANCE, does not fully break that trend, either…

Starting off with the movies, and Zahn’s normal trademark- a Star Destroyer in the blackness of space- the core idea of the book- five renegade Stormtroopers calling themselves The Hand of Judgment break away and escape to the outer world systems dispensing justice on behalf of the Emperor as they see fit, feeling that their Superiors within the Imperial Navy are getting out of control, against a backdrop between EPISODEs IV and V, with the story soon involving our favourite Rebel heroes- is a great premise, of which Zahn’s attempts to make the Stormies more efficient, believable as a fighting force, and interesting, proves good in parts (it also reminds me of a day in the life of a Stormtrooper-esque DARK HORSE comic book short story a few years back), but by the story’s end, I still felt it could all have been bigger in concept and scope than it actually was.

Additionally, our Original Trilogy heroes (and villains, more on this later..), though written highly in character for the period the story is set (Luke is still the naive farm boy adventure, Leia is the serious Rebellion leader, Solo is cantankerous and a reluctant part of the Rebellion-and he is really beginning to fancy Leia!), are severely shortchanged in favour of EXPANDED UNIVERSE favourite-the Zahn created Mara Jade- and these new Hand of Judgment  troops who will probably be working with the character in future Zahn stories.  Jade, naturally being the authors own creation, has all the best moments in the book (include her taking on a pirateer army, a duel against an AT-ST, and a brief but intriguing moment where she almost comes to blows with Darth Vader), acting as the Emperor’s Hand, a hybrid Jedi/female James Bond type figure on pursuit of enemies of the Empire-which I’m sure her character’s devoted fans will lap up but which was a plot line I thought quite dull at times, whilst our Lucas created heroes continue contributing very little indeed-they don’t even really need to be in the story, shoe-horned in presumably because they have to be-like Anakin and Obi-Wan’s presence in Zahn’s previous OUTBOUND FLIGHT adventure. My hopes for my favourite characters, in this time frame of the Saga, to shine under Zahn’s pen sadly never materialise. Luke, in particular, suffers the most and has barely anything worthwhile to do-he comes across almost like the whiny kid in THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY and I got the feeling he was kept out of the way so that his character never damaged established future continuity. You could argue that Zahn has written for his character the most in his previous books but this story is still part of the saga called THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE SKYWALKER. Perhaps Zahn felt he would be limited in what he would do with them all between the established movies, which is a bit of a shame as I thought a writer of his caliber would be able to think a bit more outside the box and have them in a story that was more deserving and epic of them. Joining Luke, but on the unused villain’s side, is Darth Vader. Zahn hasn’t really written for Vader in his books and I was hoping we’d get some real meat out of his dialogue and action for everyone’s favourite Sith Lord. Instead, Mara steals his thunder, too. A shame, as, for what we do get, Zahn writes for Vader well, fleetingly in the story as a bookend (starting with his literally looking at a computer information terminal about Skywalker-hardly an amazing intro for such a supreme villain). I’d like to see Zahn write a book on Vader during EPISODEs III and IV –now that would be a worthy read and an even bigger seller. Fortunately, Allegiance picks up the pace by its end, though, as I mentioned earlier, it is sadly not a real page turner to keep you up into the night, whilst Mara Jade’s character has never set me on fire (though she was good in that first trilogy). The use of space pirates in the STAR WARS saga is also now getting a bit boring; they have been done to death as a story device-time to find something more interesting. Also missing on the hero’s side: no Threepio and Artoo-it seems to me that Zahn always had trouble putting these beloved characters into his novels and in this case that fact is more than obvious.

On the positive side, however, the book takes the effort to try and tie up loose ends of the saga regarding which Imperial Stormtroopers are clones and which are conscripted, coming in from the Imperial Academy. There are also nice cameos appearances from General Reikaan and Mon Mothma, and Admiral Ozzel, with Zahn creating a plausible explanation as to why the latter is with Darth Vader on the Executor in the lead-up to EMPIRE. Also, let’s not forget the mentions of organizations like the Black Sun, the 501^st (those fan guys must be smiling!), as well as the usual necessary tie-in’s to other novels and the original films.

Even Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi’s ghostly voice gets a chance to be heard, though sadly more as a convenient plot contrivance than anything else, and he says more to Luke in this book than he ever did in EMPIRE. Obviously using the techniques he learnt from the spirit of Qui-Gon and Yoda, Ben talks to Luke a lot in ways I thought were out of key. I always got the feeling that there wasn’t much communication between Luke and Obi-Wan in the three year gap between STAR WARS and EMPIRE, and only in the truly gravest of circumstances. As in the comics, I always felt that his communication with Luke was more subtle... a feeling of his presence guiding Luke rather than actually talking to him. In ALLEGIANCE, Ben, in my mind, was starting to resemble old Herbert from the FAMILY GUY spoof!

As the book comes to its finale, all the pieces are back on the board in their original places after being moved around a bit, of which the only real developments are with Zahn’s own characters. Let us hope that any future Zahn books set within the Original Trilogy universe will see a bigger and better emphasis on our cinematic heroes - AND MORE VADER TOO!

AFICIONADO REVIEW RATING: Though Zahn is ever the professional science fiction/ STAR WARS writer, what would have been a fine short story is sadly a bit of a dull read. The book may seem more relevant to readers in the light of the individual Clone Trooper-like personalities of THE CLONE WARS TV series, but, in honesty, there's nothing truly special here-though there's hope for better future books in the series… 7/10