So I finished Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast Aaron Allston today. While not the flat out disappointment that the last few have been, it wasn’t nearly as good as it could have been. I mean, the premise for a great book was all there. The Galactic (I originally wrote Galactica, oh BSG how I miss you!) Alliance holds the Jedi Order responsible for the turning of Jacen Solo and all the destruction he caused, so Luke Skywalker is exiled and each of the Jedi are now shadowed by government officials. Interesting! Luke and Ben Skywalker use their exiled time to track down the places Jacen visited for the five years he went exploring before turning to the Dark Side. Also interesting!
But did all of this amount to an interesting read? Heck no. Luke and Ben spend most of their time on the boringest planet imaginable, investigating a mystery that I couldn’t care less about, that leads up to absolutely nothing. Han and Leia are given the most obscure (and boring!) side story for the sole reason of having nothing else for them to do. Hey writers, if you have nothing for your characters to do, don’t include them! Your readers could handle a Star Wars book without Han and Leia. They haven’t been interesting since the Yuuzhan Vong invasion anyway! The only interesting storyline (which was only interesting because it was the only one that included some action) was about Jaina and Jag (the only two interesting characters left in the series since they insist on killing off all the good ones for emotional impact) trying to break out a prisoner from Galactic Alliance custody.
The problem that I’m having with the Star Wars Expanded Universe lately is that the writers are so insistent upon giving Luke, Han, and Leia starring roles. And while as a non-reader, you may think that statement is blasphemous, if you read The New Jedi Order series, you would know how right I was. It was the NEW JEDI ORDER series. It passed the Star Wars torch onto a new generation of interesting and exciting characters. But with the Legacy of the Force series, they reverted back to the same characters who have run their course. They need to leave the older generation back at the Jedi Temple and let the new characters grow and expand the way they did in The New Jedi Order. Otherwise they’re gonna end up with a series full of stale 80 year old characters, and no readers.
Next up is the graphic novel Star Trek: Countdown, which connects the events of Star Trek: Nemesis with the latest Star Trek movie.
I’ve posted this awhile back…but just wondering, since you enjoy graphic novelz, have you ever heard of “City of Glass” by Paul Auster? I read it in a Contemporary Literaturez course in college. Es very good! checkz it out!
Sorry it consisted of so much suckage. Oh well, maybe Star Trek will be better.
I get really angry when a book is almost good. Bad books I usually don’t even get through [or, if I do, it's with no expectations], but ones that have enough potential that I slog through, and then they don’t deliver, really make me want to demand all that time back.
I got the Star Trek countdown when it came out as individual issues prior to the release of the movie. honest to God, i don’t remember anything about it. But that’s not a negative review, its just not as possible positive as it could be. I should go back and reread them. maybe it makes a more lasting impression if they’re read one right after the other.
HUGS…
Maybe the next book in the series will be better, I think it just came out a few days ago.
Totally off-post topic, but someone posted a link to an on-line comic strip and I ran across this one and in light of the hanky/fisting (they call it flagging) discussions we’re had on Puntabulous I had to post it.
Capitol Hillbillies
The whole site is a blog/comic strip. You can see it HERE
From a review of the next book:
“As the second in the projected nine book series, Omen is slower paced than the first volume, Outcast (2009), and more devoted to developing the series arc.”
Slower paced = Bad!
Developing the series arc = Good!
I haven’t followed the Star Wars books since I, Jedi, but I can see how the same characters hogging the spotlight would get old. The other mega-series of books that I followed was Dragonlance, and at least it followed a plethora of new characters and killed of the original characters from time to time.
Tam: I Loved that site, added it to my favs.
And I’ll make a confession that will prob get me kicked off Puntabulous……I’ve never seen more than 5 minutes of any of the Star Wars moving pictures. Borin…(snoring)!!!
I know this is going to get me into all kinds of trouble, but I haven’t read any Star Wars or Star Trek novels. I know, I know, blasphamy, constant effect -20 geek points, yada, yada, yada… I just have problems reading any series that is not written by a single author. I mean, at least that way you can have an expectation as to the quality of the book by the previous ones. But when every book is written by someon different you never know what you are going to get, plus you have to read the bad ones just so you can get to the next (and hopefully better) one.
Tam: That was awesome!
Mark: I will pretend I didn’t read that so I don’t have to track you down and tie you to a chair and have a marathon of the original Star Wars movies (the supreme court ruled the forced viewing of ep. I, II, and III constitutes cruel and unusual punishment)
I prefer books and movies that are more grounded in reality, Like Star Trek.
Nico: Would you Please waterboard me first?
Mark: Sorry, I am not into water sports
M. Nico.: Multiple authors writing in the same universe isn’t necessarily bad. If they work on separate plot lines, you can ignore the bad.
Dammit!!!
Mark: Didn’t you notice my argyle hanky?
M. Nico: Wow, an argyle hanky, don’t tell Craig, he might stick it in the wrong pocket.
What does a chartreuse hanky mean?
Okay, that freaking hanky code is getting more and more complex. I’m going for silver lame. Craig so inspired the argyle one. Or a doily. HAHAHAHA That’s funny.
I havent read any Star Wars books since the mid-90′s. I did enjoy the series with Mara Jade in it…can’t remember the names now. I do enjoy Star Trek books more….and I hope this doesn’t get things thrown at me either.
HUGS…
Tam: I never figured you for a Starf**ker. I always figure you were Medium Blue.
As in “Mounties”
Ohhh, I missed that one. Yeah, I’d do a Mountie.
Who wouldn’t?
Mark: I was thinking about what the results of that poll would be.
Puntabulous is heavily dominated by those who would love to do a male Mountie.
Cupcake: Come on, they are called “Mounties,” they are just asking for it in my opinion.
M. Nico.: I am a firm believer in truth in advertising.
Mark: “Who wouldn’t?” You made me laugh out loud.
Cupcake: I think we all have a little Silver Lame and Medium Blue in us.
OK, I lied a few days ago and didn’t stay silent till next Wed. But I just love talkin to you guys. I’m going to bed and I’ll try to be better…..Till Wednesday!
Nite Nite!
Night night Mark. Have a wonderful weekend. We love talking with you too.
Mark: G’night, sweet dreams (filled with hanky wearing Mounties)
I’ve actually SEEN a few Mountie in real life in Toronot, and please allow to assure you they emminently mountable!
HUGS…
Stoned Wallabies.
Geek Dads
Ryan: Holy crap. I’m trying to stifle my laughter. The comments are HILARIOUS!!! I am so sending this to my friend Kris in Australia. I’m dying here. Dingos with a ghettoblaster. Bwahahahaha!
I totally know what caltrops are and I love “Birdhouse In Your Soul”.
john: Caltrops are an extreme and inhumane method of snagging a Mountie.
Damn, now you’re going to make me click on that caltrop link because living in the land of the Mountie (HQ of Mountieville even) I need to know how to snag one, inhumane or not.
Huh, that’s not going to work and will get me arrested. And I don’t mean that in the kinky lets play cops and robbers way. I’ll keep searching out the ultimate method.
John: Birdhouse in Your Soul is a great song! I need to pull out my old They Might be Giants tapes, it’s been a long time since I have listened to them.
I have a bone to pick with the hanky code… wouldn’t simply owning an argyle hanky be enough to establish that you are a geek? It seems like fussing about which pocket you hang it from when wearing it out in public only increases your level of geekitude.
That said, the only hanky I own and carry around with me (usually in my left pocket because my right pocket holds my wallet) is primarily Kelly Green. I’m disappointed at the lack of offers.
M. Nico: Tapes? I got a CD player for Christmas in 6th grade or so, so all of my adult music is in CD form.
Cupcake: *sigh* yes, I was a little behind the times and did not get a CD player until I was forced to by the lack of new music available on tape.
Nico: Casette or 8-track?
Cupcake beat me to it. TAPES?!? I actually have a bunch of tapes too, but I’m not sure I have a tape player that works…
Cupcake: What do I know of mounting Mounties never mind snagging them. I would assume, however, a Mountie would be more easily snagged after falling to the ground from a horse.
Jere: Kelly Green ‘eh? By virtue of my name, I should get one and put it in my right pocket.
M. Nico: TMBG are fantastic! “Flood” is probably my overall favorite, but Mink Car is really good too.
John: There are girl Mounties too. Although I know you’re off the market.
Tam: Oooo, girl Mounties. Excellent. Yup, off the market, but not dead. I can still look.
I personally like that Constaniople song myself.
HUGS…
And back to the hankies, honest to God I own three of them a red one, a navy blue on and a purple one (bought the three pack just for the purple one). The only time I use them is when I’m gonna be sweating, and I stuff them in my front pocket until I need to wipe my face.
SO….what does a red/navy blue/purple hanky mean if kept in the FRONT pocket and wet with sweat?????
HUGS…
Craig: sorry that the book was not better.
TMBG is performing at a free music festival near me! I really want to go. I have never seen them live. I hear that they are doing two sets. One for their kids songs, and one for adults.
I will be marching in the NYC Pride Parade this Sunday with the NJ Pride Center. FDot and I will be meeting up afterward. Any one else from Puntabuland want to join us? Craig? (has hell frozen over yet?
). If anyone is up for it let he or I know. Meeting Puntabupeople is fun!