Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void

Dawn of the Jedi - Into the Void: Off the grid
I can't say what I was expecting from this story, but whatever it was I got something different. This was meant to be the start of a series of novel tie-ins to the comic series Dawn of the Jedi. Like so many other EU promises, this series was shelved by the new story group at Lucasfilm. Honestly, I can't say that this was a bad choice (unlike the Sword of the Jedi series that was also canned). I was hoping for a sense of history in this novel - an origin story of the Jedi. That's how this was billed. There is absolutely nothing about this story that defines a history of the Jedi Order. The solar system that plays host to Into the Void could be any solar system at any time in galactic show more history. I found it to be very similar to reading the Lost Tribe of the Sith stories. The story of this novel is already 10,000 years at the start and that back-story to THIS back-story is never really explained at all. Apparently someone/something dropped off a sampling of galactic species (humans, Twileks, Wookiees, Cathars, etc.) on this Force-infused planet in a secluded system and left them there to develop a society that was at one with the Force (for the most part). That's it. That's the back story provided. Is that a history of the order? No. That's a side-quest. For all the reader knows, there were already Jedi at large in the galaxy when this started. Now perhaps if the series were allowed to continue, we'd see that these "Je'daii" eventually escaped their confinement and started the Order in the larger galaxy. But that's left unresolved by the novel's end.
What we see is a series of worlds in a solar system who's cultures have developed that same age-old mix of awe and resentment of Jedi, their powers, and their assumed authority. Nothing new here. The only real difference is that instead of lightsabers, the Rangers (not Knights) carry a more traditional metal blade. But, like so many other mysteries of this novel, the swords themselves are somehow infused with the Force. That's one of the things that really bugs me about this novel - and really all ancient tales of the EU (like the Old Republic comics) - this idea that the Force is some sort of alchemy that can be physically harnessed and embedded into inanimate objects. It turns the Force that we all know and love into some sort of mystical technology. In addition, the abilities of these Je'daii seem different. There are things that they can do that "modern" Knights can do and vice-versa. This does a good job of severing any familiar ties one might connect between the EU we know and this "history." The protagonist just kept getting schooled again and again by common criminals - despite all of her bluster and confidence in her abilities and assertions of how great a Ranger she is compared to her peers. Another peeve of mine is the technology seen. If this is so many thousands of years in the past, why does the technology in use not look all that much different than what we see in the newer EU stories? Really it seems that the only technology missing from this society is lightsabers and hyperdrives. Are we really expected to believe that society is capable of so little technological growth over the span of millennia? Finally, I don't particularly like the tone of this novel. It has a more vulgar language than what EU readers are used to. Use of words like "ass" and "bitch" just seem unnecessary and sound like they were added merely for the sake of being edgy. It's not needed here and it detracted from what little enjoyment I could draw from reading this novel. show less

I borrowed this as an e-book from my local library. This is part of my "begin reading every E.U. Star Wars novel" to celebrate the arrival of a new Star Wars movie trilogy.

This one took me a while to finish because I started it around the first week of my last semester of college. I tried reading around 2 chapters a night before bedtime, when I could. This is the 3rd book Ive read this month in the Star Wars E.U. (I'm starting at the beginning and working my way up) This was sometimes a bit hard to get through. It didn't grip me very well overall. Sometimes I was into it, other times I could easily pull away from it. Some nights I was so tired that I wouldn't even get through one page and the book wasn't able to convince me to stay up show more past 11:30 on a school night. I thought the character was relatively static for most of the novel, until the end. Even then I didn't feel totally satisfied with it. I enjoyed it here and there and I'm glad I read it, but I won't be reading it a second time. Once is enough. It was adequate, but not stellar. A decent read, nothing to rave about.

I'm relatively happy with this, especially having read one other book by the same author that I found severely lacking. This one was a major step up from that, but it still lacked a bite to force me to get sucked into the pages. show less

Being a bit of a fanboy I enjoyed having a look at the distant past of the Star Wars galaxy. It cleverly kept all the franchise conventions, but dialled them back a few thousand years (you've still got droids, but they're stupid; you've still got cantinas, but they're taverns; you've still got space travel, it just takes ages). And, of course, you've got the super weapons, dogfights and mysticism. Star Wars is one of those franchises that often rhymes with itself, and those familiar elements are the plot equivalents of the leitmotifs in John Williams' score.

As a Je'daii Ranger, Lanoree works for the Jedi Order and travels the known world on different assignments and missions. But all of those previous missions seem pale next to her newest one; to hunt down the brother she thought was long dead, and kill him. In the years he's been gone, he's established the Stargazer sect and their belief system. The Stargazers long to leave the Tython system and return to the system their ancestors once immigrated from. They are fanatic in their insistence that there's more to the world than just what's on Tython – and are determined to discover it by any means necessary.

Rumours have it they have gotten their hands on dark matter that will allow them to open an intergalactic gateway that lets them show more return to the world of their ancestors. But this dark matter also threatens to rip the entire Tython galaxy apart if activated. Lanorre's mission is to stop them and with that, save the galaxy. By her side, she has a morally dubious Twi'lek called Tre Sana who seems to have a darker past than he lets on – but also a dream of starting over. But the only way to do that is to help Lanoree; something that isn't always easy. Especially as they keep running into trouble everywhere they go.

The setting of the book is way, way back in the early days of the Jedi Order; then known as the Je'daii. It's during a time when the Je'daii were all trained on the planet of Tython; a place where both the light and the dark sides of the force were present. The Je'daii believe in a balance between the two sides. While the light side is perhaps favoured, they're equally important and true peace can't be achieved without balance between the two different aspects of the Force.

Even though the Je'daii Order is already many thousand years old when Into the Void begin, it's part of the ancient history of the Jedi and their use of the Force – and their strong, loyal belief in it. There is a lot of similarity between the Je'daii and the Jedi but just like with our own real ancestors, there is a lot that is different too. It's a historic study in the early days of the Jedi and their usage of the Force; not just in battle but in their every day life. They live by the Force, let it flow through them. Just as much as the book is about Lanoree and the Stargazers, it is a historic study into what the Jedi started out as.

Lanoree is a pretty standard Star Wars main character; especially when it comes to stand alone books. She is extremely loyal and dedicated to her work; she literally lives in her ship as much as possible. The central thing in her life is and has always been the Force; it is the reason for her whole being and as a Ranger, she considers herself serving the Force in general rather than a worker for the Je'daii Council. But she still remains a bit of a stereotype; not really given her own quirks or any traits and mannerisms that truly lets her develop into a person; not just a character.

Tre Sana, her somewhat reculant companion, is given more of a personality; his opinions and emotions are explored in a way Lanoree's aren't. His are always about him while most of what we discover about Lanoree is linked to her brother during their Great Journey. He was the one I was nervous for whenever they stumbled onto trouble – simply because he was allowed to be a person enough for me to care about him.

The language is quite stiff; it's something I'm quite used to as the Star Wars books usually have a certain kind of scientific language that doesn't flow as well as, like say, a book by Fredrik Backman or Maggie Stiefvater. But there's usually a charm to it. There was not really one to Into the Void's, however. I found it extremely difficult to get through the book; having to start over once or twice. I couldn't find myself interested enough to try very hard, either.

But what I think is the book's biggest flaw is the fact that it should have been made into two books – one about Lanoree and her brother's Great Journey and one about Lanoree's mission to stop the Stargazers. There was too much plot to cover in way too few pages and instead, both stories felt very rushed and were never fleshed out properly. I would've loved that; the characters had been given a chance to be explored enough to feel alive, and the stories would've been given as much attention as they both needed.

Although, as much as I struggled with this book and as much as it currently holds the bottom place when it comes to Star Wars book rankings, it was lovely to read more about the early days of the Jedi. show less

{first of Star Wars Legends chronology; sci-fi, science fiction, Star Wars Legends, Jedi, quest} (2013)

Having watched the Star Wars films I thought I would try reading the books. I started with this one as it's the first chronologically in the Star Wars Legends series (the original Lucasfilm canon, before Disney took over); to be honest, it may have been a handicap to jump in here with no other knowledge about the expanded universe (EU).

The story is set when all the Je'daii - the ancestors of the Jedi - lived in the Tythan galaxy. The protagonist is Lanoree Brock who is chasing her brother Dal who, though born a Je'daii, was always antagonistic to the Force; he may be involved in something that could put the entire galaxy at risk. This show more is told partly in flashbacks to their childhoods and partly now, as Lanoree follows Dal's trail across the galaxy.

Although the story is told from a Je'daii point of view, and they're supposed to be in balance with the Force, you can see that they seem to ride rough shod over other people's/ nations feelings - for their own good, of course 😉 - but they don't even notice that they're being arrogant and you can understand why they're not always welcome

The Je'daii say, “There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.” But they are ignorant of your lives, your struggles, and their superiority blinds them. They say, “There is no fear; there is power.” Yet in their power they are smug. And I will make them fear me.
—Despot Queen Hadiya, 10,658 TYA

I don't see how the events in this story are significant to the story of the Jedi, nor could I tell how the Je'daii differed from the Jedi but understanding may come the further into the series I read.

(April 2023) show less

I’m giving this 5 stars for the overall production of this as an audiobook. The story was interesting and makes me want to continue learning about Lanoree and the Je’daii and how we get to the movies. What really sets this audiobook apart from others is there are accompanying sound effects and John Williams playing intermittently throughout the story really solidifying it being Star Wars.
This being the first Star Wars book I’ve read I have questions about where the Je’daii come from and more about the previous war etc. I don’t know if this gets expanded on in future books but my curiosity is peaked and I’ll be reading and googling more.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the back and forth between present show more time and Lanoree’s dreams/memories; that was a little confusing at times. show less

Thousands of year before the Jedi were the guardians of peace throughout the galaxy, they were the Je’daii, a caste of warrior monks based on the planet Tython and confined to just one solar system. Not unlike Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, they roamed the system, keeping order among the disparate peoples that call the Tython System home.

Lanoree is a Je’daii Ranger, preferring the quiet of the stars and the meaning of serving a greater cause than herself, but when she is called in by the Je’daii Council to investigate a fanatical cult that appears to have ties to her long believed dead brother, she finds her peace shattered. The quest to hunt down her brother, and stop him from making a terrible mistake, will take Lanoree show more through the underworld and into the homes of the wealthy and will force her to evaluate who is a friend and who is a foe.

So, naturally, it's a fun read. [a:Tim Lebbon|59165|Tim Lebbon|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66-e07624dc012f2cce49c7d9aa6500c6c0.jpg] follows the tried and true method of wisking his heroes from one exotic locale to another, and each time the danger heightens and the plot thickens. I especially liked his careful character development of Lanoree and her brother, Dal, as they rise from young initiates to separate paths as they develop their abilities in the Force.

Because this is also very early in the history of the Jedi, Into the Void is as much an origin story for the Jedi as it is for Lanoree. We get to see how the Force, and the Je’daii/Jedi philosophy of the Force, began. It is not a light side/dark side type of a thing, especially since the story happens long before the Sith rise, but rather effective use of the Force is about balance between the opposing halves, not unlike ying and yang of eastern philosophy. Further, we also get glimpses into the deep past to the discovery of the Force, the real origin of it all.

Into the Void is an interesting story, but it struggles to bring in the reader. Lebbon structures the tale in the present but intersperses it with flashbacks. It allows the reader to stay in suspense about the relationship between Lanoree and Dal, but interrupts the story flow, not allowing the reader to really get into either plot with much depth before being yanked out of it and sent into another flashback. As a result, I felt like I was almost a quarter through the book before I was interested in the story. It just took too long to get going with repeated, long flashbacks in the midst of the emerging action.

With all the build up and effort to develop Lanoree's relationship with Dal, I found the ending to be climatic, but somewhat disappointing. I agree that a story should end as fast as feasible after the central problem is resolved, but the book ended so fast that I found myself wondering about unresolved questions that had emerged along the way.

Into the Void is an interesting and creative look at the Dawn of the Jedi, and I think that Star Wars fans, among which I count myself, will find it a useful addition to the canon. show less