Star Wars: The Mandalorian Armor (The Bounty Hunter Wars, #1) in The Expanded Universe

Dec 21, 2010 Tony rated it did not like it

Shelves: star-wars

I read this book around the time it was released in 1998 and didn't really like it. I wanted to like it but I just couldn't. It's 14 years later (holy crap) and I decided to give it another try since my brain has evolved quite a lot since then. Maybe this time I would like it. The storyline revolves around Boba Fett, my favorite Star Wars character, and a bunch of bounty hunters. How can that not be good!?

14 years later and I still don't like this book.

First, let's start with the cover. Looks pr I read this book around the time it was released in 1998 and didn't really like it. I wanted to like it but I just couldn't. It's 14 years later (holy crap) and I decided to give it another try since my brain has evolved quite a lot since then. Maybe this time I would like it. The storyline revolves around Boba Fett, my favorite Star Wars character, and a bunch of bounty hunters. How can that not be good!?

14 years later and I still don't like this book.

First, let's start with the cover. Looks pretty cool, right? Darth Vader and Boba Fett together on the cover. Is Vader going to hire Fett for some nefarious task? Or are they going to fight again like they did in the comic series Star Wars: Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire? Or is Vader just going to be a supporting character for one chapter that takes place entirely in the Emperor's throne room? Unfortunately it's the latter. And is Fett in that chapter at all? Nope. You may notice that Vader's TIE Advance fighter is also featured on the cover. Couldn't tell you why as it isn't in the book at all.

And the title of this book The Mandalorian Armor is inexplicable as Boba Fett isn't wearing his armor for 90% of the book. Nor does it come into play in some other manner.

Now, I actually don't mind the storyline of this book. There is a lot of mystery involved, which I love. But the writer fills the book with repetition and unnecessary over-description of meaningless details. Here's an example:

One of the inspectors lay crumpled in pieces, a few lights still forlornly blinking, on the thrust-scarred landing dock. That one had been a little too brusque in frisking the Trandoshan Bossk for any concealed weapons, and had paid the price in quick, bolt-snapping disassembly...

...The inspectors spider-legged their way toward the waiting bounty hunters. A couple of the droids lagged behind and began picking up the scattered wreckage of their forcibly disassembled companion, the broken circuits of its main sensory input/ output box still buzzing and moaning...

...The lead inspector extended one of its optic stalks straight up and swiveled its small lens around to see how the others were coming along with the bits and pieces of the one that Bossk had taken apart. A few last segments were being tucked into an inert-mesh sack, from which the droid's muffled complaints were barely audible...

...A dark oil stain and a couple of glittering, broken transistors were all that were left on the surface of the dock...

...Zuckuss was glad to see the customs-inspection droids leave, stalking their way delicately across the landing dock, dragging their bagged comrade behind themselves.

I find it ridiculous how much was written about that disassembled droid when it has nothing to do with the plot. This is just one of many occurrences of pointless writing. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it were a lot shorter.

I had other problems with this book but I just don't feel like wasting any more time writing about it. Unfortunately for me this is only the first part in a trilogy. Sigh. ...more

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Apr 06, 2008 Keith rated it liked it

Shelves: star-wars, favorites

Stars: 3.5
Re-read: Leaning no after finishing the trilogy.
Recommend to: This is one of the better trilogies and it is good for the casual fan because it doesn't require any knowledge from reading a whole series of books. After finishing the trilogy again, this is not one of the better trilogies.

This book didn't quite live up to my memory from my two previous readings. I'll have to evaluate it again once I finish the trilogy, but the plot was pretty slow and it was plagued by silliness. It wasn't ...more

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