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"Star by Star," by Troy Denning [Del Ray, 2001]

Discussion in 'Archive: Literature Review Forum' started by Errant_Venture, Apr 10, 2005.

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"Star by Star," by Troy Denning [Del Ray, 2001]

Poll closed Mar 25, 2012.
  1. 10 (Excellent)

    69.6%
  2. 9

    12.5%
  3. 8

    5.4%
  4. 7

    1.8%
  5. 6 (Average)

    0.9%
  6. 5 (Average)

    3.6%
  7. 4

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. 3

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  9. 2

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. 1 (Poor)

    6.3%
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  1. Errant_Venture

    Errant_Venture Manager Emeritus star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Feb 21, 2002
  2. Errant_Venture

    Errant_Venture Manager Emeritus star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Feb 21, 2002
    <b><i><font color=red>Star by Star</b></i></font> by Troy Denning

    <img src=http://www.theforce.net/books/images/star-by-star.jpg>



    <b><font color=green>Synoposis</b></font>

    <i>The New York Times bestselling Star Wars series The New Jedi Order enthralls readers with its epic drama and thrilling adventure. Now readers will pierce the very heart of darkness, as those fascinating figures in that galaxy far, far away--Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo, as well as their children--spring to vivid life to battle their deadliest adversaries.

    It is a solemn time for the New Republic, as the merciless Yuuzhan Vong continue their ruthless campaign of terror and destruction. The brutal enemy has unleashed a savage creature capable of finding--and killing--Jedi Knights. And now Leia Organa Solo faces a terrible ultimatum from the mighty alien foe determined to conquer the galaxy. If the location of the secret Jedi base is not revealed within one week, the Yuuzhan Vong will blast millions of refugee ships into oblivion.

    As the battered but still unbroken Jedi scramble to deal with the newest onslaught, Leia's son Anakin lays out a daring plan. A Jedi strike force will allow itself to be "captured" by the Yuuzhan Vong and taken to their stronghold in the realm of darkness, where the Jedi will sabotage the evil empire's deadliest weapons. The leaders of the force are the three Solo siblings. The risks are tremendous. Can the Jedi fight a ruthless enemy without becoming ruthless themselves and falling victim to the dark side?
    </i>
     
  3. LukeSkiwalker

    LukeSkiwalker Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Apr 3, 2004
    It was sweet I love long books. Anakin dying was a misfortune but I never really got to like him very much.
     
  4. skyra

    skyra Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Dec 9, 2001
    One of my favorite NJO books. The first time I read it, I cried and was so emotionally drained after I shut the book, I couldn't function for like an hour. Being a mother, the loss of a child, even a fictional one, was like I had been punched in the gut. I went back and read it again a few months later, since I enjoyed it so much.
     
  5. PalpShouldLive

    PalpShouldLive Jedi Master star 2

    Registered:
    Jun 13, 2005
    Loved it. Hardcore Sci-fi space battle scences and commando-like jedi operations. Just what I want in a star wars novel.
     
  6. P_F_A_F_F

    P_F_A_F_F Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    May 26, 2005
    10! My favortie Star Wars book, both in and out of the NJO. For me, the death of Anakin was actually more emotional than the death of Chewie in Vector Prime, since Anakin's death was actually for something. Also, another good thing about this book, it made me actually respect Borsk Fey'lla. Until Star by Star I HATED him...but his death was a really good part.
     
  7. GRAND_MOFF_KEVIN

    GRAND_MOFF_KEVIN Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2004
    10, there is no better Star Wars book period.
     
  8. Jaina_Rocks160

    Jaina_Rocks160 Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Oct 18, 2003
    ~~*JESUS LOVES YOU*~~

    The ending, I agree, was amazing and emotionally draining.
    The rest of the book I wasn't very fond of. I'm sure hardcore YJK fans loved it more. I liked the scenes when they were all in Yuuzhan Vong custody and were being tortured and were sticking together and helping each other. That was sweet. Overall, I'd say, a pretty good book. 8.

    ~*~*~
     
  9. sisyphusrocks

    sisyphusrocks Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Jul 10, 2005
    Great book.

    Did anyone else get a little lost in the worldship though?
     
  10. NorCalBirdz

    NorCalBirdz Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 28, 2004
    Alright, I gotta admit, I just gave up on this one yesterday, which is ironic because for the entire NJO I couldn't wait to get to this one.

    It was staring to wear a bit thin on me at about page 450. Right about then Harry Potter 6 came out so I went and read that and went back to Star by Star. After Leia and Han's reaction of Anakin's death, I quit reading. For one, Denning's descriptions weren't cutting it for me. I could not visualize what was happening in the worldship. Second, his space battles are dull and far too long, and a huge one was coming up.

    There were still some incredible scenes in this one though, particularly the torture scene onboard the Yuzhhan Vong ship which was probably the most dramatic scene of the NJO thus far.

    Still, it was the first book in the series that I couldn't finish and that has to count against it. I give it a 6.
     
  11. ProA

    ProA Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Oct 6, 2003
    The best book of the NJO saga is, not surprisingly, the Empire of the series. A very strong tragedy with Denning pulling out all the stops for the sake of entertaining, shocking, and even moving us. Anakin's death is a catalyst and it is the third major U-Turn in the series (Chewie and Ithor being one and two). The book does lose momentum in the characterizations in the final hundred pages and the ending is a little awkward, but this is a tour de force that can be enjoyed by all sci-fi fans, provided they are prepared for what Denning has in store for them. It is not surprising that Denning is proving to be the best of the new batch of SW writers. This book is ample proof.
     
  12. darthmohican

    darthmohican Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    May 5, 2005
    This book was good...not great....got boring after awhile but i still recomend it...maybe alil too long?...idk but still a good book
     
  13. Siolo_Anoon

    Siolo_Anoon Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    Nov 22, 2005
    Love this book, LOVE IT! I love how long it is, when I'd read about 300 pages and got that, 'aw, the story's almost over' feeling, I was rejuvinated to realize I was only halfway!

    Thanks Troy Denning for one of my top five favorite books. Oh, and also; I hate you. My son's name is Anakin, Darth's fall and later his death were one thing, but I had all my SW hopes and dreams pinned on the Solo kid, he had become my very favorite character. I cried like a baby. I think I even had to stop reading for a day or two.

    The barabels were awesome, so were the Twi'lek infiltrators.

    "Vergere, are you...?" "Yes. I'm crying for you Jacen." AH MAN!!! That just gets me again and again.
     
  14. boady22

    boady22 Jedi Master star 2

    Registered:
    Mar 24, 2003
    A good book. Solid read. However I did get a little lost as to what happened after Anakin died.

    I like that we got to see the return of a few Jedi from the Academy and Anderson's earlier exploits (Lowbacca Zek...)
    Denning did great things for the NJO things here. Kudos
     
  15. Genimay

    Genimay Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 2, 2005
    GREAT book. I cried and not just when Anakin died. I cried when they were toutured and when Jacen had to pull Jaina away and when they all fight and when...I cried alot.

    Denning has my vote any day. Great read and very emotional.
     
  16. JediMaster011

    JediMaster011 Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    Dec 6, 2005
    This book ROCKED.

    I've read most all the Star Wars books out there (I'm a major fan, I only own about 65 of them, definitely not enough but still!) and this book was heartbreaking but so good! I did cry, I admit, when Anakin died cuz he's the most powerful Jedi (even better than original Ani?) and pretty much perfected the balance of aggressiveness and peacefulness...

    GREAT book, loved the descriptions--they were perfect, not too in depth enough to confuse but enough to let me picture everything in my head-- and was touching...

    10!!!!!
     
  17. FloppyMaN

    FloppyMaN Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 8, 2005
    GREAT BOOK. Loved it, I am a huge Anakin Solo fan, and I feel like if you are going to go out, might as well be like that
     
  18. Corellian_Cutie

    Corellian_Cutie Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 13, 2005
    It was a great book, but the whole anakin's death thing was a big turn-off
     
  19. Jacen-Vader

    Jacen-Vader Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2005
    Yes, SbS, is a great novel, the battle of Coruscant is impresive. About the death of Anakin Solo I think that is good and bad. Anakin Solo is a great character to develop but his death is real, the heroes arent inmortal.
     
  20. ConservativeSoldier

    ConservativeSoldier Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Oct 1, 2005
    Another 10. Blows most of the other EU out of the water.
     
  21. F0RSAK3N

    F0RSAK3N Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Jan 26, 2006
    overall, id give it a 10, considering the other books ive read in the njo series (vector prime to star by star).

    i didnt like how vergere was helping, hurting, helping, hurting. i asked this question in another thread, but according the greg bear's rogue planet, she's a damn jedi. so the fact that she couldve helped put an end to this nom anor gheyness, yet delivered jacen solo aggrivated me. then again, neither of them are dead yet, so we'll see whats up in dark journey, and those that follow. overall, a great addition to the story.

    anakin going was totally unexpected, though there were times it really started to look likely with all the reconciliations between him and jacen, him and jaina, and the tahiri thing. i agree the worldship lost me. in fact, i thought they were still running around the outside of the compound, and in my mind saw them in the open in the slave yard, quite like the yavin 4 base the vong had, then all of the sudden they were in the ship.

    anakin went out like a hoss, though. considering he was easily the most gifted of the non-masters, it was definitely a shock, as i said earlier. jaina going darkside with the lightening gives an added twist. i was wondering how long they were gonna let her just sit on the backburner with no real contribution to the plot throughout njo.

    no one's seemed top mention it, but the struggle that tsavong lah is facing with his arm, and with overlord shimmra, as well as the gods helps a lot. some of the earlier books just kind of focused on nom anor, and then shedao shai, but basically painted the vong as random creatures. the more layers they give them, the better. i also found myself wondering if mezhan kwaad's old apprentice would make an appearance.

    and the voxyn were freaking CRAZY!

     
  22. hyouriittai

    hyouriittai Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    May 20, 2005
    Unfortunately I can't stay away from rumor mills, and I was far behind on the NJO series when Star By Star came out. When I finally read it, I already knew the disheartening twist. I only read a few Young Jedi Knight books, but because it was a continuation of my favorite movies and the characters were young enough for me to relate to them, I became a huge fan of the Solo kids. So, as you can imagine, I was really bummed when Anakin was killed.

    I did enjoy this book, though. Whomever mentioned that the space battles were boring has a point; I did, though, receive the other stuff well. It was a suspenseful plot, and the illusive nature of the voxyn in the beginning of the novel was, I thought, hair raising. It played out very much like a sci-fi horror, especially with the graphic descriptions of those character unlucky enough to fall victim to the Yuuzhan Vong's new abominations.

    This revisitation to Myrkr is one of the better regressions in the NJO series. Despite Myrkr's appearance in other EU books, Denning didn't beat old plot references to death, ala Dark Journey later in the series.

    Over all, I enjoyed this book. While I may not think of it as the "best" NJO novel, it is among the few that broke through or used the relatively eccentric plotlines of the NJO and gave it its appeal.
     
  23. skywalkerlover00

    skywalkerlover00 Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    May 7, 2005
    this was an amazing book.. the only bad part was that anakin died...
     
  24. SithGirl132

    SithGirl132 Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 6, 2005
    THis book is without a doubt, a 10. It is one of my favorite books ever!
    However, Han and Leia's reaction to Anakin's death seemed a bit melodramatic.
    I really liked how Vergere was portrayed. WE don't know whose side she's on, and at this point in the series, we don't need to know.
    THis really is a high point in the whole series. Since I read the Guide to Characters beforehand, I knew that Anakin would die, but his death was far more dramatic than I'd expected.
     
  25. Monopoker

    Monopoker Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    Feb 25, 2006
    Very Very good:
    ~Tear jerker.
    ~Some amazing quotes. (Leia's speech, "I'll cry at home, Anakin.", "No - for that you have to come back.", Barabel comic relief, what Vergere says to Jacen at the end, also anything Vergere says or does is either creepy, hilarious, or both.)
    ~The part-of-the-overarching-story-where-everything-goes-wrong factor that makes Empire Strikes Back the favorite of the OT. People like to be depressed =D.
    ~Hard core violence. And not just graphic violence either. The whole 'war is hell' idea that this book oozed was dark and fun to read. The torture, graphic violence, Raynar going MIA, betrayal of Lomi and Welk, suspension of normative ethics, death of a major character who we thought invincible, and general feeling of despair and hopelessness.

    Bad:
    Not enough character development with Tahiri. Character development in general was somewhat compromised by the constant action. (cool action though.)
    Sometimes unclear where the characters were, but I could follow along.
    Some space battles just a pinch too long.
     
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