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"The Unifying Force," by James Luceno [Del Ray, 2003]

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

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"The Unifying Force," by James Luceno [Del Ray, 2003]

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

    46.9%
  2. 9

    13.6%
  3. 8

    18.5%
  4. 7

    6.2%
  5. 6 (Average)

    3.7%
  6. 5 (Average)

    4.9%
  7. 4

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  8. 3

    2.5%
  9. 2

    2.5%
  10. 1 (Poor)

    1.2%
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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>The Unifying Force</b></i></font> by James Luceno

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



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

    <i>The Galactic Alliance?s hard-won success in countering the Yuuzhan Vong onslaught has proven all too brief?and the tide has turned once more to the invaders? advantage. Having overcome the sabotage strategies of the Jedi and their allies, the marauding aliens have pushed deeper into the galaxy and subjugated more worlds in their ruthless quest for domination. Coruscant has been remade into a Yuuzhan Vong stronghold. The remnants of the resistance are struggling to form a united front. Luke, Mara, and Jacen are missing in action. Clearly the stage is set for endgame.

    Now, as Han and Leia receive the chilling news that hundreds of high-ranking Galactic Alliance prisoners face slaughter in a sacrifice to the enemy?s bloodthirsty gods, Luke and his team try desperately to convince the living world of Zonama Sekot to join the Jedi?s final campaign against the Yuuzhan Vong. Yet even as they speak, a lone space station is all that stands between Alliance headquarters on Mon Calamari . . . and wave after wave of ferocious enemy forces waging their most decisive assault.

    At the same time, the Jedi?s alliances throughout the galaxy are being tested?and the chances of victory jeopardized?by rogue factions determined to deploy the lethal weapon that will exterminate the Yuuzhan Vong . . . and perhaps countless other species. And among the Yuuzhan Vong themselves, the threat of revolt has reached a boiling point?as the oppressed underclass and powerful officials alike fear their Supreme Overlord?s mad actions will provoke the wrath of the gods.

    Ultimately, for both the forces of invasion and resistance, too much has been sacrificed ?and too much is at stake?to ever turn back. And now, nothing can stand in the way of seizing victory . . . or facing annihilation.</i>
     
  3. LukeSkiwalker

    LukeSkiwalker Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Apr 3, 2004
    The book was awesome. Although they should have tied up the loose ends like Jaina and Jag And Jacen and Danni.
    But I'm not a romantic type of guy so I don't really care
     
  4. sidious618

    sidious618 Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    Apr 20, 2003
    An almost perfect novel. 10/10
     
  5. Dark-Vador

    Dark-Vador Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Oct 16, 2001
    The book was great. Always room for tiny bits of improvement like what LukeSkiwalker said... other than that, pretty much perfect ;)
     
  6. Guy DuBlanc

    Guy DuBlanc Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Apr 12, 2000
    Great ending to a great series. Luceno did a brilliant job concluding the NJO. He was the perfect author to write this book. 10/10.
     
  7. master_organa

    master_organa Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jun 5, 2004
    9. Pretty good, but not quite perfect.
     
  8. lightsaber_wielder

    lightsaber_wielder Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jan 24, 2002
    "The Unifying Force" gets a 10 from me. It really was the explosive ending that Walter Jon Williams promised it would be. While Luceno's style can, at times, be quite bland, and although I liked "Cloak of Deception," which displayed some of that blandness, I feel that TUF was probably his most expressive "Star Wars" book. It was a satisfying conclusion to a satisfying series, and I absolutely love the final paragraphs. If only they had been the final ones of the entire saga...

    Thanks a lot for making post-NJO books, Del Rey! :mad: :p
     
  9. Prequel_Dreamer

    Prequel_Dreamer Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Mar 28, 2004
    5- It gets the highest rating that I can give a NJO book. It gets that rating because it put the OT characters back on top at the expense of the EU characters and Luceno clearly tried to evoke some of the sense of adventure and fun of the SW movies.

    However the fact that it is a NJO book means that the quality is by nature poor and thusly it gets a mere 5.
     
  10. DaRonin

    DaRonin Jedi Master star 1

    Registered:
    Jan 3, 2005
    The unifying force is a overall great novel, it does so much, explains so much, and gives so much action, character development, and exposition that it is sometimes hard to believe that this is a single novel. It also rights some wrongs that alot of EU critics have listed. Some complain that luke has been shown to be either stupid, weak willed, or just weak in the extended universe. Here he shows all haters that he is unquestionably the baddest and most skilled of all the jedi. Succeeding against four times the odds that the mighty Kyp Duroon floundered was humbled. Han and leia get sufficent and fitting roles, and Jacen Finall blossoms and becomes arguably THE hero of the NJO's tale. Nom Anor FINALLY recieves a sound beating, Omega Red is used, The Vong and Republic finally enter into a final bloody struggle. Zenoma Sekot and all its secrets are explored. And almost the entire EU cast gets in on the action, including a certain Mandalorian warrior flying it with wrist lasers and rocket backpack to... save the day? The fetts do show up at the strangest times dont they.

    This series has been a long and somewhat inconsistant one. The Dark and gripping star by star being followed by the intriguing yet poorly written Dark Journey and then followed by the superb Rebel Stand duology. The Force Heretic was slow and often plodding, only to give way to a heart-poundingly faced final two stories. While the NJO may have its detractors, I for one believe this series has been a tremendous shot in the arm for Star wars as a whole, and has brought the EU back to life.

    Now if only they will let Zahn write for Whatever hapends after Dark Nest.
     
  11. kfel33

    kfel33 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    May 5, 2005
    What's next after Unifying Force? I loved reading every single book in the NJO series, but now I want more.

    Has anyone heard of new series to the NJO collection?

     
  12. Dark-Vador

    Dark-Vador Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Oct 16, 2001
    I'm sorry kfel33, but that was the last book in the NJO (if I'm not mistake), it being book 21. The books/storyline to follow the NJO is called the Dark Nest Trilogy. :D
     
  13. kfel33

    kfel33 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    May 5, 2005
    At the end. When Jacen is talking with Jaina and what they plan to do Jacen brings up Jaina'a possible interest in Kyp. Did I miss something? I went back to Dark Journey and then to Rebel Dream and Rebel Stand. Why would Jacen have brought that up? Yes in Rebel Dream there could have been something but it all went down hill from there, meaning not a lot of time together like her and Jag.

    I would hope they mite put together a story like the courtship of Leia with Jaina's possible suiters.

    That's me the romantic, but I really enjoyed Han and Chewy's run in Lando belt run.(Vector Prime) I laughed so hard people in the store (where I work) couldn't figure me out.
     
  14. Sniper_Wolf

    Sniper_Wolf Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Nov 26, 2002
    7/10. I gave my big review in the JC lit review thread. Would have been better if a superior author tackled the subject.
     
  15. Dinner_Squadron

    Dinner_Squadron Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Oct 16, 2004
    What was reedeemable about The Unifying Force? Nom Anor rejoining the rebel heretics. Anything else? Well, there was Luke kicking some ass... only to have Jacen kill the real bad guy.... Who hadn't really done that many villanous things throughout the whole series.

    Oh well, the aformentioned Anor part makes it not completely irredeemable. Everything else is worthless, irrelevent, or painful to read. Typical Luceno fare.

    I'll give it a 2, just because it was better then the Force Heretics trilogy, and I need to reserve a lower rating for them.
     
  16. Jacen-Vader

    Jacen-Vader Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2005
    This is a super book, the best of NJO, with Traitor. 10
     
  17. TheDimSide

    TheDimSide Jedi Master

    Registered:
    Jul 4, 2005
    6.

    I don't hate this book, but I do have a certain dislike for it. I was expecting Luke, Leia, or Han to have a certain degree of importance in this book, but..eh. I can definitely sympathize with Prequel Dreamer there.

    Besides those nitpicks though, it did wrap up the NJO saga in satisfying fashion. I guess that's what keeps the score from being a little lower. Good job, Mr. Luceno.
     
  18. tal0nkarrde

    tal0nkarrde Jedi Knight star 2

    Registered:
    Dec 1, 2005
    Okay folks - you may have guessed when I posted in the Welcome Board that I like to write. I wrote a review of this novel for my site, but I don't want to bore you, so I'll just give you the juicy part:

    "As the final novel in this series, The Unifying Force, makes every effort to tie up loose ends. It took thirteen novels to get to this point and James Luceno does his absolute best to make certain that it was well worth the wait. The entire New Jedi Order series has been one long journey of unexpected twists and turns beginning with the death of a favorite long-standing character in Chewbacca. Unlike in past novels where the heroes were always expected face their challenges valiantly, come out victorious and live on to fight another day, The New Jedi Order series taught readers to expect the unexpected from this new era of Star Wars. And like the very first novel Vector Prime, The Unifying Force brings readers on a tumultuous journey filled with twists and turns that culminates in a jaw-dropping surprise ending. Will the Galactic Alliance prevail? Will the Yuuzhan Vong rule the entire galaxy? What is the secret of Zonama Sekot? All of these questions and more are answered in The Unifying Force.

    Though many may find fault with the way the novel ends ? many Star Wars fans have found fault with anything and everything about The New Jedi Order series altogether ? the fact still remains that there is one annoying factor present throughout The Unifying Force. Readers are plagued with numerous typos that should have been rooted out and corrected before the novel went to print. Much can be taken away from the content with the existence of too many typographical errors and Star Wars editors should be a tad more careful about rooting out these evils.

    The hardcover edition of this novel comes with a bonus feature ? a CD-ROM. The bonus CD can be accessed by Windows or Mac users and sports a readable version of the novel that started it all, Vector Prime. Also included is a highly informative New Jedi Order Round Robin Interview with Del Rey Books Editorial Director Shelly Shapiro, Lucasfilm Managing Editor Sue Rostini, Lucasfilm Director of Publishing Lucy Wilson, and author James Luceno. This interview gives readers insights into the behind-the-scenes planning that went into The New Jedi Order. Did you know that the makers of the series had originally planned to kill off Jacen Solo, but that George Lucas changed their minds? Did you know that the powers that be had considered killing off Luke Skywalker, but George Lucas had been adamant about his survival? In fact, the search for a major character to kill off became an extremely difficult one until someone suggested that they ?kill the family dog?, otherwise known as Chewbacca. The reaction of the staff members, who were all visibly upset by the idea, is what made the theory a reality. If the staff could become undone at the loss of this character, imagine the fan reaction! Also included on the CD is the ?bible? of The New Jedi Order series. This served as an ongoing reference source for all authors and editors working on the series and included information on all things Yuuzhan Vong, from their religion to their living creations to their hierarchy. There?s also a list of the novels of the series and pictures of Yuuzhan Vong ships, the Millenium Falcon, and Jade?s Shadow, complete with technical readouts. This is a must have for any fan of The New Jedi Order Series, just as The Unifying Force is a must have for any fan of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

     
  19. Corellian_Cutie

    Corellian_Cutie Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Dec 13, 2005
    I was dissapointed on Jaina and Jag's parting...
     
  20. Jacen-Vader

    Jacen-Vader Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Nov 6, 2005
    10. The novel is perfect, all the events, the apear of Boba, Zonama, the final battle, all is good.
     
  21. tal0nkarrde

    tal0nkarrde Jedi Knight star 2

    Registered:
    Dec 1, 2005
    I was dissapointed on Jaina and Jag's parting...

    I think it had to end that way. I actually was never a fan of the Jag / Jaina match-up. Not that I'm a Zekk fan either. Jag was a better match than Zekk, but I dunno. My only disappointment really was about how they left Danni's character. I really liked her, but it doesn't seem promising that she will return in later novels.
     
  22. ConservativeSoldier

    ConservativeSoldier Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Oct 1, 2005
    10. It doesn't get much better than this.
     
  23. Boga-the-Magnificent

    Boga-the-Magnificent Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 13, 2005
    I just finished re-reading this book and I have to say that the second time around is much better than the first. I rushed through the book a few years ago and was left feeling like I'd read a 19 book series to be left out in the cold so to speak.

    Now, re-reading it I find it is a much better book than I remembered. I liked the gathering of the smugglers at the end to kind of recap some things.

     
  24. emperorjones

    emperorjones Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    Apr 18, 2006
    I enjoyed this book. It dragged in a couple of spots, particularly at the beginning. But it ended in strong fashion.

    Plus I was amazed at the grasp Luceno displayed in tying all of the elements together. A very good end to the NJO IMO.
     
  25. Daaron_Fahl

    Daaron_Fahl Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    Apr 20, 2006
    I liked this book, but I didn't give it as high a rating as some like Star by Star, for instance. It was good, but not that good. Sort of on par with A New Rebellion. Having just read Traitor, Jacen's battle with Onimi seemed kind of a repitition of his battles in Traitor. Cracken was cool in it, though. OVerall it was a good book, so I'd give it an 8/10.
     
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