Star Wars Hitchhikers Guide - Expanded Universe

.....A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away......
If you've never journied past the Trilogy or Prequelogy, here is your guide to the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Embracing the Dark Side or Living By The Jedi Code, the Expanded Universe has tales for the Jedi and Sith in every one. And truely learn the Skywalker history, this is my interpretation of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Cat and Mouse - Clone Wars Season 2 - Episode 16


"A wise leader knows when to follow."

Obi-Wan and Anakin must deliver supplies to Christophsis while the planet is under Separatist control. They encounter Separatist Commander Admiral Trench and get more than they bargained for.

An impenetrable defense! Separatist ships blockade the resource-rich planet of Christophsis, trapping senator Bail Organa and his relief Effort. Desperate to aid the esteemed Senator, a Republic task force underthe command of Anakin Skywalker must break the impasse. But time runs short for the Senator and the good citizens of Christophsis....

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I was cheering, smiling, and on the edge of my seat this whole episode, my favorite this year, possibly of the whole Clone Wars entire series. 


The Grand Army of the Republic is under attack in a familiar system, Christophsis.  The starting point of the Clone Wars Movie, where Anakin takes on his apprentice Ahsoka.  Bail and the clones are under siege and in desperate need of supply's on the ground.  Anakin is in the thick of the air battle and is recalled by Obi-Wan for an escort mission for the delivery of ground supplies.  The Republic is facing an enemy that was believed to be killed in battle, Admiral Trench.  A spider like species, Trench is known for his cunning battle tactics and Admirnal Ularin is very familiar with his aggressive battle warfare. 


Obi-Wan sends Anakin with a new fully cloaked ship to deliver the supply's, but Anakin is no "delivery boy", and takes the battle in his own hands.  He takes the "Resolute" on a very clever, action filled adventure and delivers to the end. 

Recently announced too, Boba Fett will be in the last 2 Episodes of the year.  Only 6 left this year.  More Clone Wars to come!

Great Quote from Episode - Like daughter like adopted father

"Help us, General Kenobi! You're our only hope." -- Bail Organa

Star Wars Hitchhiker 

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor - Novel - New Republic

Overthrowing the dark side's empire has made them heroes. But underestimating the fury of the Sith will make them targets.

Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader are dead. The Empire has been toppled by the triumphant Rebel Alliance, and the New Republic is ascendant. But the struggle against the dark side and the Sith order is not over. Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and their faithful comrades have had little time to savor victory before being called on to defend the newly liberated galaxy.

Powerful remnants of the vanquished Empire, hungry for retaliation, are still at large, committing acts of piracy, terrorism, and wholesale slaughter against the worlds of the fledgling Republic. The most deadly of these, a ruthless legion of black-armored stormtroopers, do the brutal bidding of the newly risen warlord Shadowspawn. Striking from a strategically advantageous base at the planet Mindor, they are waging campaigns of plunder and destruction, demolishing order and security across the galaxy—and breeding fears of an Imperial resurgence. And another reign of darkness beneath the boot-heel of Sith despotism is something General Luke Skywalker cannot and will not risk.

Mobilizing the ace fighters of Rogue Squadron—along with the trusty Chewbacca, Threepio, and Artoo-Detoo—Luke, Han, and Leia set out to take the battle to the enemy at the site of its stronghold, and neutralize the threat before it's too late. But their imminent onslaught against Mindor will be playing directly into the hands of their cunning new adversary. Lord Shadowspawn is no freshly anointed Sith Chieftain, but in fact a vicious former Imperial Intelligence officer—and Prophet of the Dark Side. The Emperor's death has paved the way for Shadowspawn's return from exile in the Outer Rim; and mastery of ancient Sith knowledge and modern technology has given him the capability to mount the ultimate power play for galaxy-wide dominion. Dark prophecy has foretold that only one obstacle stands in his way, and he is ready—even eager—for the confrontation.

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All the classic heroes, all the explosive action and adventure, all the unparalleled excitement of Star Wars come breathlessly alive here, as the further adventures of Luke Skywalker continue.

Post destruction of the second Death Star, Luke and company find themselves in harms way and in the grasps of one of Palpatines old minions Cronal, know as Black hole and Shadowspawn (the evil image above with the black storm troopers).  Majority of the adventure takes place on Mindor, in the Tespan System on verge of self destruction.  Shadowspawn controlled the planet, its main component meltmassif, a black crystal like rock that could be formed into shapes, liquids, and people at the controllers (Cronal) command.  Cronal was more intune with Sith Alchemy and Spells, and controlled what is referred to as Darksight, and believed he was in control of the Sith.  His only mission from Emporer Palpatine, bring the rightful heir to the Empires Thrown.  Luke Skywalker.  No matter where Luke goes, somebody wants to turn him to the dark side!

Where alot of the EU post Episode 6 novels cling to power hungry warlords and tyrants as the villains, Matthew Stover brings back the remnants of the Empire thru the Sith.  He has wowed me with his novelization of Episode 3, a little disappointed in his novel Shatterpoint, but was not let down with his adventures with Shadows of Mindor.  He brings back a few characters that I though had died during the clone wars, a few close friends and enemies of Mace.  Kar Vastor (left), prior enemy of Mace Windu, and Nick Rostu, all native's of Mace's home world of Haruun Kal, home of the Korunni Species who were all force sensative.  Kar and Mace were the last remaining members of the Ghôsh Windu (clan) and were commonly referred to as each others dỏshalo (clan brother). 

Kar was controlled primarily by Cronal thru this novel and was one of Luke's major hurtles.  Nick Rostu was a prisoner of Cronal and is thought to be the image on the back of the novel's image, controlled thru one of Cronal's half moon black helmets. 

Kar had told Luke that he was the greatest Jedi, ever greater than the "Jedi of the Old"

Why?

"Luke Skywalker......you are not affriad of the Dark"

Embrace the Darkside!

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Friday, March 19, 2010

Senate Murders - Clone Wars Season 2 - Episode 15


"Searching for the truth is easy. Accepting the truth is hard."


When Senator Onaconda Farr dies under suspicious circumstances, Padmé sets out to find the person responsible for the death of her favorite "uncle."



War on many fronts! While battles are fought by clones in the field, a different war is waged in the Galactic Senate. As heavy losses add up, a group of Senators led by Halle Burtoni of Kamino, propose an escalation of troop production. 
Senator Padmé Amidala, recognizing that more troops will only prolong the fighting, works tirelessly with her allies to introduce a bill to cut military spending and stop the creation of more clone troopers....


Another more political episode, the Clone Wars delivers a police like crime drama with a Star Wars twist.  After Padmé's fellow senators mysteriously death, she and other senators Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, to name a few, are under investigation as potential traitors staging his death.  After an elaborate plan, Bail and Padmé uncover the deception within the senate to uncover the traitor.  Padmé ends this episode with a strong punch, a right hook to be exact, showing she's learned a few things from Anakin during the Clone Wars.  After the 4 weeks of waiting for a new episode, I was most pleased......next episode with Anakin and Obi-Wan looks classic!


Thanks for reading, pick up a book and enter a new Star Wars adventure.

Star Wars Hitchhiker






Friday, March 12, 2010

Order 66 - Republic Commando Novel - Old Republic / Clone Wars

The Clone Wars rage to their bloody climax. Treachery reigns. Treason takes courage. Commandos, Jedi, and the entire Galactic Republic must face the end of life as they know it…and the dreaded dawn of a new empire.

After the fierce combat of Hard Contact, Triple Zero, and True Colors comes the spectacular culmination of New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss's gripping Republic Commando series. As a battle-scarred era nears its end, a shattering power play is about to stun the entire galaxy…and set in motion events that will alter destinies and resound throughout history.

Even as the Clone Wars are about to reach an explosive climax, no one knows if victory will favor the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) or the Separatists. But no matter who wins, the stakes are highest for elite Special Ops clones like the Republic Commandos in Omega and Delta squads—and the notorious renegade Advance Recon Commando troopers known as Null ARCs.

With Republic forces stretched to the max and casualties mounting, the last thing these beleaguered warriors need to hear is that Chancellor Palpatine is keeping vast armies of secret clone troops in reserve. Sergeant Skirata, a mentor to the clone commandos, has no intention of standing idly by while Palpatine sends them into battle like lambs to the slaughter. Skirata begins to plan the clones' escape from the GAR, but his heroic effort will be in vain unless he can reverse the clones' accelerated aging process.

Caught in the treacherous dealings of their lears, and locked in the battles of their lives, the disillusioned Null ARCs and Commandos nonetheless fight with everything they've got, determined to wrest victory from the Seps and save the galaxy.

But even the deadliest weapons may not be powerful enough to defeat the real menace. And nothing will stop the apocalyptic horror unleashed when Palpatine utters the chilling words The time has come. Execute Order 66. Translation: Kill all Jedi.

With their faith in the Republic and their loyalty to their Jedi allies put to the ultimate test, how will the men of Omega and Delta squads react to the most infamous command in galactic history? All the breathtaking action, suspense, and intrigue of Karen Traviss's Republic Commando series comes alive in Star Wars: Order 66.

I was most impress with how Karen Traviss kept so many of the Clone's story's so separate, dramatic, and personal.  In the movies and Clone Wars TV show you only really know of maybe 2 clones, Rex and Cody.  This novel gives such a personal look at the commando's and how they are really taught on Kamino and a big insight on their heritage.  This is actually the 4th book in the Republic Commando Series but leaves the door open for many of the new characters developed in the novel, I'm most curious to see if the love child between a female jedi and Commando has a story later in the time line.  I didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did but Karen Traviss work in the Star Wars Legacy has been amazing, and she has even been integrating her own Mandalore language in these novels, referred to as Mando'a.

Can't live without death, can't die without life.

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Monday, March 8, 2010

Dark Force Rising - Thrawn Trilogy - Book 2 - Novel - New Republic

The number-one New York Times bestselling Heir to the Empire was the publishing event of the year, the first novel to continue the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, beyond the events of the most popular trilogy in movie history. Now comes Dark Force Rising, the second volume of a three-book cycle authorized by Lucasfilm Ltd. and written by Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn.


Five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the fragile Republic that was born with the defeat of Darth Vader, the Emperor, and the infamous Death Star stands threatened from within and without. The dying Empire's most cunning and ruthless warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn has taken command of the remnants of the Imperial fleet and launched a massive campaign aimed at the Republic's destruction. With the aid of unimaginable weapons long hidden away by the Emperor on a backwater planet, Thrawn plans to turn the tide of the battle, overwhelm the New Republic, and impose his iron rule throughout the galaxy.

Meanwhile, dissension and personal ambition threaten to tear the Republic apart. As Princess Leia pregnant with Jedi twins risks her life to bring a proud and lethal alien race into alliance with the Republic, Han and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Republic Council only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies.

But most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness and thoroughly, utterly insane. Now he schemes to use his awesome mastery of the Force to summon young Skywalker, allay his misgivings, cunningly enthrall him, and ultimately corrupt him to the Dark Side.

A tale of brilliant spectacle, startling revelations, and tumultuous action, Dark Force Rising moves with the speed of light across a dazzling epic landscape of galactic proportions, from world to world, from adventure to adventure, as Good and Evil clash across the vastness of space "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away."

Dark Force Rising delivered for me where the original fell short. Zahn kept me very interested, from the political hidden agenda's of the Bothan (right) Borsk Fey'lya's imprisonment of Admiral Ackbar, the discovery of Admiral Thrawn's new clones for the Empire and more deception that was planted by Empire to turn more worlds against the rebels and the new republic, this novel does not leave you unfulfilled.

I think one of my favorite new relationships was Leia's with the Noghri (left). Referred to as Lady Vader, she was an iconic part of their society, the Mal'ary'ush, meaning daughter of the savior. The savior in question was Darth Vader, whom the Noghri people revered. Years earlier, a starship carrying noxious chemicals crashed on Honoghr and threatened to destroy the entire planet. They believed Emperor Palpatine sent Vader to the planet to help them, but in reality Palpatine was responsible for the devastation of Honoghr, as a way to bend their allegiance to the Galactic Empire.

The book was primarily revolving around the capture of the Katana Fleet, or what is referred to as the Dark Force. It ends in a dramatic climatic battle for what could change the war in either direction for the capturer. I would highly recommend not listening to this in audio book format (27 hours) but picking it up and reading it. Still not a fan of Admiral Thrawn but he is a worth predecessor of the Empire

Until next adventure, the brightest lights, cast the darkest shadow.

Star Wars Hitchhiker