‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force’ (2009) (Book review)
Following two solid lead-ins, “Patterns of Force” (2009) is a satisfying final chapter in Michael Reaves’ “Coruscant Nights” trilogy. It’s definitely pulpy (mostly in a good way) and it gets bizarrely untethered at times, but Reaves provides lots of juicy writing about core “Star Wars” concepts in a book that is perhaps used as source material for
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows’ (2008) (Book review)
Michael Reaves steps up his game in “Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows” (2008), which has more of a true mystery plot than the trilogy’s first book and even better tie-ins to the wider Expanded Universe. While there are continuity oddities and plot conveniences, it’s a compulsive page-turner and Jax Pavan’s gang of renegades is more engaging
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight’ (2008) (Book review)
If you’re following the EU in chronological order, Michael Reaves’ “Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight” (2008) is an oddity for a couple reasons. First, rather than trying to track down Obi-Wan and Yoda, as one might expect, Vader becomes obsessed with finding Jax Pavan. This feels like equal parts “inexplicable shift in the plotline” and “compelling mystery
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader’ (2005) (Book review)
We knew Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader were the same person since 1980, but it wasn’t until after “Revenge of the Sith” came out that we learned how Anakin feels being Vader. For that reason, “Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader” (2005) was one of the most anticipated Expanded Universe novels, and — along with his
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Jedi Trial’ (2004) (Book review)
“Jedi Trial” (2004) isn’t on anyone’s list of the great EU novels, and indeed, I did put off my re-read for a while, recalling it to be a slog. However, it was a pretty easy read this time. Written by one-time-only “Star Wars” scribes David Sherman and Dan Cragg, it lacks the smooth prose and deep
‘Labyrinth of Evil’ (2005) goes to brink of ‘Revenge of the Sith’
‘Star Wars’ flashback (Book review): James Luceno takes us right up to “Revenge of the Sith” in this thrilling prequel that tells Grievous’ backstory.
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The Clone Wars’ (2008) launches in a small way on the big screen (Movie review)
Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is getting a lot of buzz, an odd contrast to the last time a “Star Wars” film outside of the numbered episodes premiered. In August 2008, I mentioned “The Clone Wars” movie to friends, and they responded with “There’s a new ‘Star Wars’ movie out?” Although it was a wide-release
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The Clone Wars’ movie novelization (2008) (Book review)
Having just read Karen Traviss’ first four “Republic Commando” novels, it’s abundantly clear that she’s handcuffed on “The Clone Wars” movie novelization (2008). She tries to do what Matthew Stover did for “Revenge of the Sith” three years earlier and get into the characters’ heads more, putting more meat on the bones of the story, but this
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel’ (2008) (Book review)
“Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel” (2008), the meaty fourth book in Karen Traviss’ five-book “Commando” saga, is an example of a story that was wiped out because of a later addition to the saga by George Lucas. The clones here receive Palpatine’s Order 66 as a military order, then carry it out (or not) because
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Republic Commando: True Colors’ (2007) (Book review)
Karen Traviss entered the ranks of “Star Wars” authors despite lacking a deep knowledge of the saga, but by her third book, “Republic Commando: True Colors” (2007), her newcomer status begins to serve her well. Like an obsessive kid asking questions about an exciting discovery, she digs into details about the nature of the Clone Wars that