Edge of Victory I: Conquest (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, #7) in The Expanded Universe

Dec 05, 2009 Keith rated it liked it

Shelves: star-wars

Stars: 3.5
Re-read: Yes
Recommend to: I'd say include it if you are reading the New Jedi Order. It wouldn't be the worst idea to read summaries of books 3-6 if book 2 didn't thrill you.

This was a pretty good book, definitely better than most of the previous books in the series, albeit with some significant shortcomings. I didn't fixate on these problems, and I was still able to enjoy this book a decent amount.

The good:

Certain aspects of the plot were great. (view spoiler) Stars: 3.5
Re-read: Yes
Recommend to: I'd say include it if you are reading the New Jedi Order. It wouldn't be the worst idea to read summaries of books 3-6 if book 2 didn't thrill you.

This was a pretty good book, definitely better than most of the previous books in the series, albeit with some significant shortcomings. I didn't fixate on these problems, and I was still able to enjoy this book a decent amount.

The good:

Certain aspects of the plot were great. (view spoiler)
- We are finally, FINALLY, getting glimpses of Yuuzhan Vong culture. The first five books, 2-6 in particular, were woefully lacking in this. We finally start to understand how their culture works.

The Bad:
-The Jedi continue the dumbest argument in the galaxy that they've been having for this entire series. The position they argue is that, if you take an action that in any way can be described as offensive, then that is of the dark side. So if an alien species invades your galaxy, destroys planets, and kills or enslaves your people, you are evil if you fight back. You can passively sit around and defend a planet, but you could not seek out the invaders to fight them. You cannot help retake a planet or a system. The previous book insanely had Jacen accuse someone of being "aggressively defensive." Luke fully repudiates his actions from the OT in this book. He doesn't explicitly say this, but by their argument the attack and destruction at Endor on the second Death Star was of the Dark Side because they attacked. Pure stupidity. Anakin joins in this moral debate in this book. (view spoiler)

- The plot: It's hard to feel that the stakes are high when the danger was completely avoidable. Every character in the book has to act out of character to allow the events to happen. (view spoiler)

- Anakin's charcterization is a mixed bag. He was largely interesting and likeable, but Keyes would randomly have him act like a total idiot for no reason. I get that he's a teenager, but he is also a battle-hardened warrior. Most of this stupidity just doesn't fit. (view spoiler)
- (view spoiler)

Other things:
- Why can Anakin (view spoiler)
- It seems a shame they (view spoiler)
- Karrde's character seems strange to me. (view spoiler)
- There is a scene early in the book where (view spoiler)
- Karrde is supposed to be this brilliant guy, but why does he spill the beans (view spoiler)
- The sudden relationship between Anakin and Tahiri felt weird. I looked it up and saw she was a character from the Junior Jedi Knights, so it's cool that they are including her in the story in such a major way. It just felt very weird that this is apparently Anakin's best friend and we've never had her mentioned before. I looked up another previously developed character, Ikrit, because it was clear he was not a new creation. Somehow, I didn't pick up when reading the book that Ikrit apparently looks like a large rabbit (if the pictures on the internet can be trusted).

First Reads: 3 Stars (2003/2006) ...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Jeff Diamond rated it it was amazing

Shelves: star-wars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 30, 2007 Jonathan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: star-wars

I remember from my first run through the Yuuzhan Vong story arc that this was my favourite book. Now rereading the series it still stands as the highlight, so far anyways.

The interaction between Anakin and the Shamed Ones, Vua Rapuung and Uunu, are very well written. Several of Vua and Anakin's conversations are hilarious simply due to a lack of understanding. We are shown life as it is behind enemy lines and it makes the aliens less monstrous. As Anakin leaves the Yuuzhan Vong compound you are ...more

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