Star Wars: Dark Force Rising! Part 2 of the Zahn Trilogy Rises to the Challenge!
Written: Jul 18 '00 (Updated Sep 28 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Strong characterization and plot development
Cons: Slightly slower than the other two books
The Bottom Line: If you buy no other Star Wars series, this is the series to buy.
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| brentp256's Full Review: Timothy Zahn - Dark Force Rising: Star Wars |
A Long Time Ago
In a Galaxy Far, Far Away…
Crisis! Grand admiral Thrawn of the imperial navy has returned from the outer rim territories to reclaim and rebuild the empire. Pulling together the remains of the imperial fleet, he has begun a campaign designed to destroy the New Republic. Setting up base on the planet of Wayland, he seeks some of former Emperor Palpatine’s greatest secrets!
Joruus C’baoth, clone of the Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth, continues his mad desire to kidnap Luke Skywalker and the princess Leia Organa-Solo in order to take her unborn children and create his new dark disciples while Mara Jade, the Emperor’s Hand, continues her quest to kill Luke Skywalker…
Five years after Return of the Jedi...
and the enjoyment never stops!
With its genesis in the same serials that captivated audiences and George Lucas alike, the title of Hugo award winning author Timothy Zahn's Dark Force Rising evokes the promise of an exciting adventure, powerful villain, and heart-pounding cliff-hangers!
Zahn does not disappoint!
Dark Force Rising is the second of three volumes in the first post-Return of the Jedi official Star Wars series. Continuing where the #1 best-selling Heir to the Empire ended, Zahn promises more intrigue, more drama, more Thrawn; and never ceases to deliver.
***Spoiler Warning*** Some plot details are discussed below
Following the lead of George Lucas, this book bounces between three main plots:
Leia must visit the home world of the Noghri who have tried to assassinate her in order to try to win their influence away from Thrawn. While there, she learns of how Lord Vader tricked the Noghri into servitude, of which they are still compelled, and is determined to expose the treachery and gain powerful allies. While back on Coruscant, Borsk Fey'lya's accusations born of political ambition cause Admiral Ackbar to be imprisoned
Luke must learn from Joruus C'baoth, the mad Jedi who wants to control the universe; while Mara Jade’s loyalty to the smuggler Talon Karrde is tested by her former loyalty and allegiance to the Empire. Mara is also plagued with the voice of Emperor Palapatine in her head giving urging her to kill Luke Skywalker, yet the force seems to continue to make her have to work with him, while Joruus C’baoth tells Mara of her future via the force: that she will kneel before him.
Han Solo, Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian must race against Grand Admiral Thrawn and Talon Karrde (who has remained neutral, and is trying to play both sides of this game) to find the legendary lost Katana fleet or the New Republic is doomed!. The Katana fleet is "Dark Force" of the title consisting of 200 dreadnaught starships lost since the time of the Old Republic. These ships are slave-circuited together and were abandoned deep in space when the crew died of a virus. With his plans to make clones from the Emperor’s hidden cloning facility on the planet Wayland at Mount Tantiss, Thrawn believes he will have enough crew members and fire-power to conquer the New Republic.
***End Spoiler Warning***
The most interesting character development comes not from the heroes of the rebellion, but from the seemingly flawless Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn, while making the most logical deductions as has always benefited him, begins to underestimate his opponents. What seemed like an almost mystical power of deduction, is shown to be what it is, as good or flawed as the one doing the deduction. The same logic and intuition are applied to Thrawn’s deduction, but we now realize that he is not perfect. But, Thrawn’s mind will never give up, and he has the uncanny ability to turn bad situations around to his favor, even if he must betray his own.
Timothy Zahn's brilliant Star Wars-esque style continues through this, the second act, and helps propel this story to its third, and final act, The Last Command. Zahn masterfully slows the pace down for this middle act to add more to the story, and then throws it into what promises to be an exciting grand finale in the third book!
Dark Force Rising was first published in hardcover and a limited edition in June of 1992, with a paperback version the following year. Later, audio-cassette and comic-book graphic novel formats would also be released.
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Details
Author: Timothy Zahn
Cover Artist: Tom Jung
Star Wars chronology: 9 yrs after the battle of Yavin
Further Reading:
Dark Force Rising comics graphic novel from Dark Horse comics
Dark Force Rising Sourcebook for the now-defunct West-End Games Star Wars role-playing game
The Corellian Trilogy:
Ambush at Corellia
Assault at Selonia
Showdown at Centerpoint
The Jedi Academy Trilogy
Zahn's Hand of Thrawn Duology
The Courtship of Princess Leia
The X-wing series
I, Jedi
The New Jedi Order series.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
brentp256
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Member: B. Austin Price
Location: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Reviews written: 218
Trusted by: 62 members
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