Jedi Council Forums - Journey Through the EU: Disc. Jedi Quest 6: The Shadow Trap

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Author	Topic: Journey Through the EU: Disc. Jedi Quest 6: The Shadow Trap
Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 5/30/05 8:18pm Subject: Journey Through the EU: Disc. Jedi Quest 6: The Shadow Trap - Date Edited: 10/10 9:14am (71 edits total) Edited By: Rogue1-and-a-half
	So here's the deal. I've read here and there in the EU for a long time, skipping around, etc. Read a lot of it. But I've recently become enamored of the Interlibrary Loan System, so I've come up with a plan: Read the entire thing. In order. Now, granted, that's impossible. Some short stories haven't been reprinted yet in any form that I can get through ILL and with new entries coming out all the time, it'll be sunk before it even starts. However, I'm going to do it. By virtue of being the Official Timeline of TF.N, I'm going to use, well, The Ultimate Timeline of TF.N. It's flawed, yes, and constantly undergoing revisions and such, but it's as good a framework as any. The entire timeline as it stands now has been captured and whatever changes come, I'll ignore them and soldier on with the version I have now. I have only one ground rule: it's got to come to me through the library, free of charge. I'm not buying anything, nor am I paying lending fees. I'll pay a late fee or two if I have too, but more on that as it crops up. I'm a bit ahead of the game, having already read a few in order from the start and a bunch from all over the timeline. I'm not flinching. It's all getting filtered through me: comics, novels, young adults, kids books, short stories, etc. Even the videos of the Ewok movies and such if I can get them (please, God, don't make me be able to get them). Anyway, I'll be commenting on a variety of factors: first of all, how I'm holding up on the trip. It's a big undertaking and pretty freaky, if I do say so myself, so this will take the form of a journal of the road, or, perhaps a better analogy, diary of a war correspondant. I'll be talking about how each work stands on its own, fits in the continuity, prefigures what is to come, contradicts what has come before, etc. It'll be idiosyncratic and probably offensive at times, given my penchant for plain talking and my inability to stomach wasteful art. I should mention I'm a lit fan in general so I'll be musing on connections to the world of literature in general as they pop up. This is the Star Wars EU looked through the eyes of someone who's personal top ten list includes Shakespeare, Hugo, Harper Lee, Frankl, James Jones, C.S. Lewis, Stephen King, T.S. Eliot and more. If that doesn't clue you in, I'll state it explicitly. I'm eclectic and I love a good book of any style. We'll see how the EU stands up to me. Basically, anything, to quote the song, goes, though I won't be baring my arms. (HA!) Perhaps the best way to illustrate the kinds of things I'll be doing is to just do one and let you see it. So, without further ado, the first review and a step into a huge world and a long, long endeavour. 5,000 YEARS BEFORE ANH: The Golden Age of the Sith - Kevin J. Anderson Okay, in order to give some context here and really get the passage of time, I’m going to sort of create analogies to the timeline of the planet earth. If we say that the year 2005 is analogous to the end of the NJO, then, this story would have taken place in . . . 3050 BC. That’s around the time that Adam died, if you’re up on the recent Biblical scholarship. In other words, this is a long, long time ago. Okay, five thousand years?!? Is this trip really necessary? And right out of the box, a work by Kevin J. Anderson. This is not going to be easy. Seriously, the time period is this work's biggest strength. It realistically takes the movies and says, "Now. Let's go back in time a LONG ways. How do things look?" This book definitely gives us a GFFA that looks very different from the films, yet remains recognizeable. *Okay, so our main characters are flighty siblings who map hyperspace routes after their parents die. Needing money fast, they do a quickie that results in the loss of a supply ship. This could just as easily been a passenger freighter or something . . . We're supposed to like these people? It is nice to see a Hutt that isn't greedy and even extends credits. He's the most likeable character in this book. How often can you say that about the Hutt? Why do all female characters in this universe wear evening dresses slit up to their thigh all the time? Okay, so at this point, the lightsaber is powered by a pack that you carry on your belt? Interesting . . . Okay, Odan-Urr is probably the most likeable, if only because he seems a lot like me. For one thing, he'd rather just stay with his books. Naga Sadow: played by Ralph Fiennes. Just once I'd like to read a story where someone takes a blind leap because they have nothing to lose and fails utterly, dying in the process. First Blue Glowing Spectre Alert! Uh, okay, so the dead Sith Lord appears to his fueding students and tells them . . . NOTHING! The scene ends with each of them saying that the cryptic remarks the Sith Lord spewed obviously mean that they are right and the others are wrong. How did this help exactly? And why did they even stop fighting? None of the other characters are that great, but Naga Sadow is an interesting villain. He's a slightly more liberal Sith than the others and he's pushing for expansion. The debates are nicely rendered and are probably the best scenes in the book. Okay, one brain like creature floating in jar. One severed head resting in jar. Both still alive by calling on the Force. Two too many floating upper body parts living on their own for one story, thanks. I don't particularly like the designs of the Sith. They're too obviously Satanic, if you ask me. Okay, Naga Sadow's plan is actually a good one. Snatch Gav and Jori, seperate them, pretend that they were rescued by the Republic, dispatch Jori to the Republic with a tracker, while the Sith prepare to mobilize. It's workable. I don't know. If a head had managed to survive being severed from its body, I think you'd have to do substantially more than shoot it to kill it. I mean, at that point, all bets are off, right, cause the heart isn't even in play any more. So, what the hell? Wouldn't shooting it, just cause trauma to the brian and make the head stupid? Which would actually be kind of humorous. The battle scenes are drawn nicely. Okay, Gav is going to "accidentally" fall to the Dark Side. How does that work exactly? And a perfect cliffhanger ending. All in all, interesting mainly for its historic sections, showing us a galaxy very different from the films. The characters are mostly cliched and only Naga Sadow is really interesting. ½ out of **** stars. Distinctly average. I encourage response, if you think I'm an idiot or disagree or whatever. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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RK_Striker_JK_5 Registered: Jul '03	Date Posted: 5/30/05 8:23pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	I don't disagree with this... but didn't you try this in the EUC? -----signature----- E-married to the wonderful DarthIshtar. Now also her Padawan. Member of the Y.J.K. Revolution Staring into the Darkness http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/27537567/p1/?23
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Darth_Kevin Registered: Aug '01	Date Posted: 5/30/05 8:34pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	You shoudl create a blog for this project and update it when appropriate. -----signature----- The Hard-to-Find Comic Book List Thread http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=6102495 The Unofficial and Parody Comics List Thread http://boards.theforce.net/message.asp?topic=6307340
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Rogue_Ten Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 5/30/05 8:39pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	Whenever someone says they're gonna do something like this, they always disappear within a month or two. I'm just saying... -----signature----- Hey. It's been two months. Whutdupwitdat. Send the above request? No_______Yes
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Darth_Guy Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 5/30/05 8:43pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project - Date Edited: 5/30/05 8:57pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Darth_Guy
	The vast array of EU material will drive even the sanest into worshipping Waru (see: Jello). -----signature----- Perhaps I'll breed some sort of albino shouting gorilla.
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Rogue_Ten Registered: Aug '02	Date Posted: 5/30/05 8:59pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	Didn't you get the memo, Guy? Waru is no longer the villian to make fun of. Pors Tonith has surpassed everyone's favorite quivering lump of gold flesh as the worst Star Wars villian. Yes, Dan Cragg, he has purple teeth. We get it. -----signature----- Hey. It's been two months. Whutdupwitdat. Send the above request? No_______Yes
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Charlemagne19 Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 5/30/05 9:04pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	Was this actually by KJA? My problem with the Sith was hardly they're Satanic (the Sith are Satanic in the movies. They wear black cloaks, work black magic, and sacrifice stuff) The Sith are a bunch of arrogant Egyptians who are also MORONS in that book.
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The2ndQuest Title: Manager: -Literature -LACWAC -Games Registered: Jan '00	Date Posted: 5/30/05 9:23pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project - Date Edited: 7/29 8:53pm (3 edits total) Edited By: The2ndQuest
	*Naga Sadow: played by Ralph Fiennes. This was good- it was done differently than past attempts at this have, a good change of pace. You touched on the apsects I recall from the series as well- the highlights being the depictio of the age (such as with the saber tech), Odan-Urr, the nice Hutt, Naga Sadow, etc. I wish you luck in your effort- hopefully you'll finish where otehrs have failed And if you want a simplified timeline that shaves off some of the more obscure RPG material and such, check out the timeline link in the forum header ::) And Excellence will arrive here to bash GAOTS in 5, 4, 3, 2... -----signature----- "When your future self tells you to do something, YOU DO IT." K'Kruhk, 140 ABY:"Why haven't I come forth earlier to share my Jedi knowledge with Skywalker? Well, it's kinda a long story, see, I had this freaking sweet hat..."
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GrandAdmiralJello Title: Emperor • EUC • JCC Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 5/30/05 9:31pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	I like this idea very much, and look forward to future installments. With regards to the Sith: my bigget problem with them is that both Sadow and Kressh decide on their respective courses with only the very limited intelligence provided by two 'trailblazers'. That's rather inconceiveable. Guy: -----signature----- SPQR Vates Jυλιαδις Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virisque - Ennius Tu regere imperio populos, Romanæ, memento; hæ tibi erunt artes; pascisque imponere morem, parcere subjectis et debellare superbos - Virgil
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Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 5/31/05 2:08pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	I did post this in EUC but no one responded, so I thought I'd try it again. I also did some editing. This isn't quite the same thing I posted in EUC. I'm quite a ways ahead . . . I've written reviews up to the first few books of the JA series, so I probably won't disappear tomorrow . . . Thanks for all the comments. Try to post another one tonight. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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Valin__Kenobi Title: Author: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 5/31/05 3:45pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	My problem with the Sith was hardly they're Satanic (the Sith are Satanic in the movies. They wear black cloaks, work black magic, and sacrifice stuff) I don't mean to put words in Rogue's mouth (or keyboard, I guess) so correct me if I'm way off, but I suspect he was referring to the racial characteristics -- red skin, tusks, etc. If so, I agree; I would have preferred something a little more subtle. -----signature----- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Fanboy: http://blogs.starwars.com/valinkenobi Generation Bantam/KJA/WEG "Before the "Oprah effect" bookstores were like monasteries. Now it's like going to Best Buy." -- Arawn_Fenn
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Charlemagne19 Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 5/31/05 4:17pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	I thought they were too EGYPTIAN. I thought KJA was making them a race of Scarabs.
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Valin__Kenobi Title: Author: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Praji Registered: Mar '04	Date Posted: 5/31/05 4:25pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	I thought the resemblance to ancient Earth civilizations (in both the Sith and Republic factions) was a good choice -- it gave an archaic, "old-timey" feel, instead of being basically identical to the movie era (coughKOTORcough) -----signature----- Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Fanboy: http://blogs.starwars.com/valinkenobi Generation Bantam/KJA/WEG "Before the "Oprah effect" bookstores were like monasteries. Now it's like going to Best Buy." -- Arawn_Fenn
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Mastadge Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Jun '99	Date Posted: 5/31/05 5:16pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	Interesting project. I've been considering doing a similar thing, though I haven't been able to decide whether it would be more interesting to go chronologically, or in order of publication. I thought that Golden Age and Fall Of are some of the worst EU out there, and they didn't even have the even longer ago interest value for me, because they were written after most of the other TotJ stuff, so we'd already seen 4000 years ago, so already had the ancient universe, and this frankly just didn't seem all that different. The characters, the writing, this duology was just very, very weak. -----signature----- "This will be our reply to violence: To make music more intensely, More beautifully, More devotedly than ever before." - Leonard Bernstein
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Mavrick889 Registered: Feb '99	Date Posted: 5/31/05 5:28pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	I was inspired to read through TotJ as well, and made it up to Dark Lords of the Sith since yesterday. GaotS and FotSE are both pretty bad, but the artists did a pretty good job of making the technology look even more ancient than the 4000 BBY era. -----signature----- http://blogs.starwars.com/clibretto2/ A Member of the Star Wars Fanboy Association. http://www.myuselessknowledge.com/swfa
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rogue_wookiee Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 5/31/05 5:37pm Subject: RE: Journey Through the EU: A Retrospective Project
	I just got done reading everything I had access to in order a few months ago. It took me 8 (or was it 9?) months. Good luck. -----signature----- “You’re probably the biggest taxer in the country, even bigger than the Congress,” - Ron Paul on the Federal Reserve. Be aware of inflation and how it affects our daily life. http://mises.org/story/2914 -What You Should Know About Inflation
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