Fury

By now, we all know what to expect from a Legacy of the Force novel: Jacen-- sorry, Darth Caedus-- will do evil, and the Jedi won't react enough to it. They're going a bit more proactive in this installment of the series, but the metaplot is still only crawling along, even as the stakes heighten. Caedus is a bit of a clumsy villain, too. I feel that Allston is less suited to the grand plots found here and in The New Jedi Order and more to the smaller scale of his X-Wing novels, but he still writes a solid entry; his command of the characters, especially Luke, Ben, Wedge, Jag, and Han/Leia is what really recommends this book. Mostly fluff, but enjoyable, well-written fluff. (originally written January 2008)

Fury brings Legacy of the Force back on track. Fortunately, Allston quickly handwaves away Inferno's characterization rewrites, bringing Ben and Jacen back to much the same place they were at the end of Exile.

This time, Jacen's actions seem like the sane ones they're asserted to be—up until the very end of the book, when he accepts an officer's apology. He's become, in Mace Windu's words, dangerously sane. Jacen sees his family as nothing more than bargaining chips; he kidnaps his own daughter in order to secure Tenel Ka's cooperation.

Even as Luke goes to the rescue of Tenel Ka's daughter and hunts down Jacen, Jaina, Jag, and Zekk clean up the loose ends from Sacrifice—namely, Alema Rar. We see just what's involved in taking down a show more Jedi—a Sith—and get an idea of what's in store for Jaina, Luke, and the Jedi order as they continue the hunt for Jacen. More: Jaina realizes her fatal flaw, one that must be rectified before she can even think about being able to take down Jacen.

It wouldn't be an Allston book without a fleet battle, of course; and here he fails to disappoint. He manages to tie up the Centerpoint plot started back in Betrayal, while cripping the GA fleet to set up the events of Revelation. We also find out the true cost of the war; it's not just the Jedi main characters who are hurting. The men and women on the line are losing family too, something not really focused on in earlier fights.

Allston manages to weave in elements of both Traviss and Denning's books: Alema, Fett and his crushgaunts… The elements of their disparate books and plots come together, leading towards a final confrontation with Jacen with the fate of the galaxy at stake. That is, once Jaina becomes the unexpected… show less

It didn't seem like much happened in this one, though in retrospect there were a number of major events working the series towards its inevitable conclusion. There's nothing spectacular about Allston's prose, but it reads clearly and quickly and moves the story along, which is all I ask of a Star Wars book.

Incredible, it has been nearly a year since I read Inferno. I slipped right back into the Star Wars universe though. Caedus kidnaps Allana. Reveals to her that he is her father. Centerpoint is made operational and subsequently destroyed by the Jedi. The Jedi are preparing themselves to be a third galactic" government of sorts. Luke lets go of Mara. Ben lets go of his hatred of Caedus. While destroying Centerpoint, other Jedi rescue Allana and Han and Leia find out that she is Caedus and Tenel Ka's daughter. Jaina, Zekk and Jag take down Alema Rar. Han and Leia are given new Mando armor. Ends with Jaina heading off to get "extra" training to take down Caedus. You know she is heading to Fett. And since Traviss is writing the next book, it show more is a given. Only 2 more books to go." show less

just fun

+space battles, experiences from x-wing serie
+final act

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13909400