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.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Jedi Search - Jedi Academy Trilogy Book 1 - New Republic Novel

As the war between the Republic and the scattered remnants of the Empire continues, two children the - Jedi twins - will come into their powers in a universe on the brink of vast changes and challenges. In this time of turmoil and discovery, an extraordinary new Star Wars saga begins.


While Luke Skywalker takes the first step toward setting up an academy to train a new order of Jedi Knights, Han Solo and Chewbacca are taken prisoner on the planet Kessel and forced to work in the fathomless depths of a spice mine.

But when Han and Chewie break away, they flee desperately to a secret Imperial research laboratory surrounded by a cluster of black holes and go from one danger to a far greater one.

On Kessel, Luke picks up the trail of his two friends, only to come face-to-face with a weapon so awesome, it can wipe out an entire solar system. It is a death ship called the Sun Crusher, invented by a reclusive genius and piloted by none other than Han himself...

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Jedi Search lives right up to its name.  For the first time, Luke is actually starting his journey in rebuilding the Jedi.  After receiving permission from the New Republic to start his academy, he starts his search for potential Jedi students.  Luke's journey takes him to the volcanic world of Eol Sha, very similar to Mustafar, to investigate a potential new student, Gantoris.  Gantoris and the people of Eol Sha put Luke thru a series of trials to prove his intentions with Gantoris.  Luke and Leia also assist in the relocation of the Eol Sha people to save them from their currently unstable planet.

After going back to Coruscant after a failed business venture, Lando is dispatched by Leia to investigate another potential Jedi for the New Republic.

Han and Chewie's adventure as diplomatic adversaries to the Spice Mines of Kessel and find themselves in the hands of an old enemy during the days of the Empire.  The are taken hostage and are working in the Spice Mines, and meet up with a young man with extreme potential as a Jedi.

The adventures in this book takes us to many familiar and new places.  Han and his gang end up in the Maw, a cluster of black holes, in one of their escapes and find themselves cornered by Imperial Forces that have lost contact with the Empire since the creation of the first Death Star.  Another weapon of mass destruction is unveiled, while Han is taken captive by the Imperials that believe they are still under Governor Tarkin's orders.  There are many turns and new faces forming the New Republic in this novel; while we still never lose track of the victors over Endor. 

Luke is beginning to lead the way to creating the Jedi Knights of the New Republic and establishing his Jedi Praxium over none other that the forth moon over Yavin, Dxun.  Much darkness resides in the history of Dxun, such as the exile of Dark Lord of the Sith, Exar Kuun, from over 3,500 years before and is much alive in the Force.

"This is the beginning Leia, I feel it. Great things are coming. The Jedi Knights will rise again."

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Friday, August 6, 2010

Fatal Alliance - An Old Republic Novel -

Tassaa Bareesh, a matriarch in the Hutt crime cartel, is holding an auction that’s drawing attention from across the galaxy. Representatives of both the Republic and the Sith Empire are present, along with a Jedi Padawan sent to investigate, a disenfranchised trooper drummed out of the Republic’s elite Blackstar Squad, and a mysterious Mandalorian with a private agenda. But the Republic’s envoy is not what he seems. The Empire’s delegate is a ruthless Sith apprentice. The Jedi Padawan is determined to do the right thing and terrified that he can’t. The trooper hopes to redeem her reputation. And the Mandalorian is somehow managing to keep one step ahead of everyone.


None of these guests—invited or uninvited—have any intention of participating in the auction. Instead they plan to steal the prize, which is locked inside an impregnable vault, two burned chunks of an exploded star cruiser, one of which may hold the key to the wealth of an entire world.

But the truth about the treasure is dangerous and deadly. And in the end, Sith and Jedi, Republic and Empire, must do something they’ve never done before, something that all the agents of good and evil could never make them do: join together to stop a powerful threat that could destroy the galaxy...

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After months of anticipation and watching numerous trailers leading up to the new era in Star Wars, Fatal Alliance delivered a story that is one apart from any story told in the EU. Since all the hype of the Star Wars, the Old Republic MMORPG that I have bought into, I wanted more on those characters we are being introduced to. Fatal Alliance let us peak into some, but created new story lines to follow and potentially new events to look forward to in their stories.

The events of Fatal Alliance take place approximately 3 years after the Sacking of Coruscant (a little of that can be seen in the Deceived Trailer), and reference important events leading to the beginning, like the Sacking of Coruscant, Cold War, and Annexation of Kiffu which, after reading this story, make me look forward to much more in this era.

Sean Williams created this book with an extreme depth of detail and a lot of story lines running at the same time. It was extremely easy to follow with all these intertwining story lines. My two favorites where what we would consider potentially the light and dark side of the story, Jedi and Sith, although this was full of smuggler / politician / Mandalorian / Hutt Drama, in addition to the battle of the two sides of the Force.

All parties are lured to Hutta for an auction of a glorious find by the Smuggler Jet Nebula that could lead to the discovery of a completely new planet and a world full of new resources. The Kiffar Jedi Padawan Shigar Konshi is mixed in the middle of this struggle for the jewel that has the interest of the Republic and Empire and is acting as an ambassador of the Republic. Apprentice to the Grand Master Satele Shan, long descendant of Bastilla Shan from Knights of the Old Republic, her Padawan is struggling to earn his Knighthood and this is also a story about his journey. Shigar meets up with another Kiffar female that assists in his journey.

The Eldon Ax, Sith apprentice to Darth Chratis, she too is in a struggle for her own identity as well as a power struggle with her master. She will be faced with decisions that question her loyalties and values when faced with ghosts from her past. The Sith story line is very dark and very good!

The piece of technology and planet Sebbadon that everyone is after is nothing like anything in Star Wars to date. The droid technology is self reproducing and defending it self, as well as changing with the threats presented and the preservation of their selves. Empire, Republic, and the Mandalorians unite to battle an enemy that is set to destroy the Republic. I was fascinated by the story from beginning to end and look forward to more of The Old Republic

Like Obi-Wan said in Dexters Dinner, “Well, if droids could think, there'd be none of us here would there?”

Star Wars Hitchhiker