The Approaching Storm - Old Republic Novel - Pre Attack of the Clones

"Master Kenobi and Skywalker have just returned from a border dispute on Ansion." - The Prequal to Attack of the Clones....

While the entire galaxy watches and waits, two Jedi and their apprentices battle impossible odds to protect the Republic….

The Republic is decaying, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who was elected to save the galaxy from collapsing under the forces of discontent. On the tiny but strategic planet of Ansion, a powerful faction is on the verge of joining the growing secessionst movement. At the Chancellor's request, the Jedi Council sends two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, along with their Padawans Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, to stabilize the planet's population. To succeed, the Jedi will have to fulfill near impossible tasks, befriend wary strangers, and influence two great armies, stalked all the while by an enemy sworn to see the negotiations collapse and the mission fail….

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The Approaching Storm is a story in the Star Wars Expanded Universe that really sets the stage for Attack of the Clones and goes a little deeper into the back story between a Jedi and Padawn. It also goes deeper into the beginnings of the Separatists movement at masterminding the secession of worlds from the republic. Jedi Knight Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Learner Barriss Offee are the main characters in our story with Skywalker and Kenobi taking a very predominant role, but second to the female pair in Approaching Storm.

Alan Dean Foster's second piece of work in the Star Wars EU, first being Splinter of Minds Eye, being a big success in my journeys. Foster has created a large elaborate story from such a minor plug in the film. After the attempted assassination of Padme on the Skyhook on Coruscant, Palpatine recommends to the attending Jedi Members to put Padme under their protection. Mace mentions the boarder dispute and our idea is born.

Ansion is a small world but is the center of a treaty within the Republic that will have ripple effects on 18 other systems. The secession of this world would cause so many others to leave or stay in the Republic that the security of keeping this world is of top priority. Luminara and Bariss start the investigation and the negotiation with the Ansionians and are later joined by Obi-Wan and Anakin. Their tale on Ansion takes them to many meetings with the different tribes of Ansion in trying to reach their goal of bringing peace between all the tribes and an agreement to stay in the Republic with the Unity Council. Many villans exist from the Commerce Guild / Separatists, Hutt Cartel on Ansion, and the hostile groups of locals.

Many large and small battles, many new species and characters in the journey on Ansion. The Jedi share their many hidden talents from Light Saber Gymnastics, singing, story telling, and complete mastery of the force as offering to many of the tribes to gain their trust. This is another Gem in the EU that is enjoyed by those who venture deeper than just the movies. Barriss and Luminara are two of my female Jedi, only second to Aayla, and it was very nice to learn more of them. I don't think the Clone Wars cartoon has properly keyed in Barriss's age, because in Approaching Storm Anakin and Barriss have the same equal position as Jedi Padawan. In the Clone Wars Barris is still a padawan and treats Anakin like a master or teacher, unlike the brother sister relationship they share in Approaching Storm.

A very minor inconsistency in the overall scheme of this book. The book created bonds between all four Jedi with the political objections they were burdened with and the physical obstacles, they maintained themselves and persevered against the odds. This book is not one to be missed if you enjoy this era.

~You must have faith that he will take the right path.

Star Wars Hitchhiker

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

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

Darth Maul Saboteur - E Book -

On the distant planet Dorvalla, precious ore is mined by two competing companies: InterGalactic Ore and Lommite Limited. Neither rival suspects that they are central to a sinister plot masterminded by Darth Sidious, Lord of the Sith, himself.

Dispatched by Sidious on his very first solo mission, Darth Maul infiltrates Lommite Limited. There, his unique gifts of deception and subterfuge will set off an explosive chain of events that could destroy both companies, leaving them ripe for takeover by the Trade Federation. But a vengeful Lommite Limited Manager with his own thirst for retaliation against InterGal could blow Maul's cover — and all of Sidious's fiendishly laid plans…

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After I had first listened to the Audio book Shadow Hunter, I was super excited for purchasing Shadow Hunter and reading it again for this bonus E Book included in the mass market paperback.  I figured this would get more into the awesome character that was Darth Maul.  I was grossly disappointed.  Although this book was not terrible, it was short and left much more to be desired.  

James Luceno, awesome author of Cloak of Deception and Rise are the Dark Lord, wrote this 54 page novel which should have been included with Cloak of Deception.  This entire book took place before all the events on Dorvalla, and really set the stage for what would happen at Dorvalla.  This E book was mostly a trade dispute between two Ore companies, with Maul playing the saboteur of each company for the greater good of the Trade Federation, which leads to the beginning of the Cloak of Deception novel.  

This would not be a bad introduction to Cloak of Deception and should have been the included in that novel.  Not completely terrible, but bad placement to read with Shadow Hunter.  Fatal Alliance releases this week, prepare for some awesome Sith madness.

"Tell me what you regard as your greatest strength, so I will know how best to undermine you; tell me of your greatest fear, so I will know which I must force you to face; tell me what you cherish most, so I will know what to take from you; and tell me what you crave, so that I might deny you…"

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Darth Maul Shadow Hunter - Novel - Old Republic

After years of waiting in the shadows, Darth Sidious is taking the first step in his master plan to bring the Republic to its knees. Key to his scheme are the Neimoidians of the Trade Federation. Then one of his Neimoidian contacts disappears, and Sidious does not need his Force-honed instincts to suspect betrayal. He orders his apprentice, Darth Maul, to hunt the traitor down.


But he is too late. The secret has already passed into the hands of information broker Lorn Pavan, which places him right at the top of Darth Maul's hit list. Then, in the labyrinthine alleyways and sewers of Coruscant, capital city of the Republic, Lorn crosses paths with Darsha Assant, a Jedi Padawan on a mission to earn her Knighthood. Now the future of the Republic depends on Darsha and Lorn. But how can an untried Jedi and an ordinary man, stranger to the powerful ways of the Force, hope to triumph over one of the deadliest killers in the galaxy?

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Shadow Hunter is an extremely exciting novel that gives birth to the Episode 1.  It continues on the timeline of exactly where Cloak of Deception left of with the Trade Federations beginnings of the Blockade of Naboo.  Hath Monchar, Nemodian assistant of Nute Gunray, power hungery and driven by deceiving the Sith and his fellow Nemodians.  He plans to sell the plans of the upcoming Blockade of Naboo for his financial benefits.  When Sidious checks on his plans for the blockade, he fears the worst as one of the four Nemodians are missing from their meeting, and sends his Jedi hungry apprentice, Darth Maul, to stop the information from being released, and to "handle" the situation.

Lorn Pavan (previously blogged his legacy) and his droid counterpart I5YQ, or short I-Five are information brokers and in search of their next big score.  They end up mixing up with the Hath Monchar, and are setting up to purchase his holocron with the information regarding the Trade Federations plot over Naboo.  Their intentions are to sell the plans to Yantha the Hutt.

Darsha Assant (left), human female Jedi Padawan to Master Anoon Bondara, Twi-lek male (right), is on the verge of earning her title as Jedi Knight and has one task to earn that role after her many years of training.  She has to go into the Crimson Corridor, in the depths of Coruscants underworld to safely escort a witness in protection in an upcoming trial.  Darsha engages a journey where she doubts her force ability and her role as a Jedi.


Obi-Wan Kenobi also has a large part in this story although he is always a few steps behind the main story line and never quite catches up to Darsha, Lorn, or Maul; As Kenobi is sent to investigate the disappearance of Darsha and her Master.

Michael Reaves is genius with his portrayal of this story.  In Mauls pursuit for destroying Hath Monchar and the holocron, he is out witted by the unlikely Lorn Pavan and I-Five many times.  Lorn and I-Five have a relationship that is similar to if Han Solo was partnered with a Wookie / C-3PO combo.  But I-Five is no prissy protocol droid, removed of his creativity dampers and equipped with firearms, he is almost as deadly as a human assassin. Darsha and the human droid pair team up to elude the Sith through the bowels of Coruscant.  They serve as an unlikely pair due to Lorn's discuss for the Jedi Order.  This book has many turns and digs deep into the red and black tattooed Zabrak that is Darth Maul.  A ruthless, Jedi hating, failure not even an option, Sith apprentice is really bad ass through the entire book.  This book also includes the bonus, only previously available in E-Book format, Darth Maul - Saboteur, by James Luceno. 

There is no death; There is only the Force.

Star Wars Hitchhiker

Cloak of Deception - Novel - Old Republic

After a thousand generations of peace, the

Galactic Republic is crumbling. On Coruscant,

at the center of civilized space, greed and

corruption riddle the Senate, beyond even

the abilities of Supreme Chancellor Valorum

to remedy. And in the outlying systems, the

Trade Federation dominates the hyperlanes

with its gargantuan vessels.

But now even the Trade Federation finds

itself assailed from all quarters, preyed

upon by pirates and raiders, and victimized

by terrorists, who demand an end to the

Federation's tyrannical practices.

It is a time that tests the mettle of all

those who strive to hold the Republic

together—none more than the Jedi

Knights, who have long been the

Republic's best hope for preserving peace

and justice…

Mired in greed and corruption, tangled in bureaucracy, the Galactic Republic is crumbling. In the outlying systems, where the Trade Federation maintains a stranglehold on shipping routes, tensions are boiling over—and now even the comfort of Coruscant is being invaded, as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi foil an assassination attempt on Supreme Chancellor Valorum.


As humans and aliens gather for an emergency trade summit, conspiracies sealed with large sums of money run rampant, and no one is entirely above suspicion. But the greatest threat of all remains unknown to everyone except three members of the Trade Federation who have entered into a shadowy alliance with a dark overlord. While the trio will be content with more money and fewer problems, Darth Sidious has grander, far more terrifying plans.

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My second attempt at Cloak of Deception proved all the worthiness as James Luceno's prior novels.  Luceno brings depth to the apprenticeship of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the brilliance and wisdom of Qui-Gon Jinn.  Set prior to the events of the Trade Blockade of Naboo, this novel brings curiosity again to watch Phantom Menace and see the repercussions of these events.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are set investigating actions of the Nebula Front terrorist group around Outer Rim world Dorvalla.  Neimoidian Daultay Dofine Captain of the ship Revenue's mining actions on Dorvalla was unaware of the stown away Jedi.  After the invasion of the Revenue by Captain Cohl's Nebula Front, the Jedi are quick on the tail of Cohl, but eludes the Jedi after the Revenue explodes.

This novel politically plants the seeds for the birth of the Separatists.  Also including multiple assassination attempts on the Super Chancellor Valorum's life.  Senator Palpatine is also sowing the seeds of the ultimate destruction of the Old Republic, and is using Valorum as a puppet for his own interests.  There is much depth to the story and we journey with so many Jedi that are so untouched in the movies: Vergere (bird like humanoid), Yaddle (female of yoda's species), Oppo Ranscis (snake creature) and Even Piell (pink version of yoda).  We also witness the beginnings of Govenor Tarkin, and the beginning of the reigning Queen of Naboo.  If you are biased to the movie Phatom Menace, the adventure that is Cloak of Deception may change your views on the movie.

I know Phantom Menace is probably the most criticized Star Wars movie, but this novel made me appreciate a lot the movie and enjoy it in its entirety. 

"Qui-Gon Jinn was perhaps the greatest Jedi alive, a commanding presence at Council, a strong and brave warrior who refused to be intimidated by even the most daunting challenge, and a good and kind man."


Star Wars Hitchhiker

Crimson Empire - Audio Drama - New Republic

The explosive Star Wars saga continues! Crimson Empire introduces you to a new generation of space heroes and thrilling adventures!  This Audio Drama is an adaptation of the popular Crimson Empire comic book series.

As the story opens, the Empire's in turmoil; Luke Skywalker has destroyed the last of Emperor Palpatine's clones, and the Dark Lord Carnor Jax plans to seize the throne. But he has a formidable opponent to contend with: the brave Kir Kanos. The only survivor of the elite Crimson Guard, he alone stands between Jax and universal domination.

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Kir Kanos (right) a former Emperor's Red Guard is out for vengeance against the empire and former guard Carnor Jax.  Kanos started as a storm trooper but was recognized for his abilities and was brought to train with the elite to become an Emperor's Guard.  Kanos earned his position in a dual of fates against another guardsman.  He was permanently marked by Darth Vader, Kanos carries the scar a crossed his right eye from Vader's light saber.  Kanos is united with the New Republic on the Planet Phaeda, in his hunt for revenge.  He is offered sanctuary by Mirith Sinn who hopes to turn Kanos to the New Republic, but Kanos wants nothing of their rebellion.  Kanos and the New Republic are united by their common enemy but he is only after avenging the wrongful death of the Emperor he was sworn to serve.

Ruling in place of the recently killed Palpatine, Carnor Jax is establishing his new empire and one person stands in his way.  The sole living being that knows Jax's true secret is Kanos.  Kir Kanos is the only guardsman that witnessed Jax's treachery by sabotaging the remainder of Palpatines clones to destroy is chances of finding a new body after death.  This is Kanos's driving force to live and breathe, to avenge the death of the Emperor.

This audio drama completely follows the events of the ending of the Dark Empire Series.  Although lacking the main Star Wars characters, Crimson Empire introduces new members of the Star Wars EU.  This tale ventures deep in the history of the two Red Guards and their journey through the ranks of storm troopers to arch enemies.  The audio drama adaptation is shorter than any of the 6 movies and is an exciting adventure in the New Republic, with a few new faces (Sish Sadeet - Trandoshan - Left) and Mirith Sinn (Female on Right). 

"You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now… until now, you have become the very thing you swore to destroy!"

Star Wars Hitchhiker