Books Aftermath: Life Debt (Book 2 of 3) by Chuck Wendig on July 12, 2016

Mostly it's fett 4 trying to make that case though . There's plenty of people out there who like, for example, Scoundrels, or even Choices of One.

 

ill give you scoundrels

 

Lol It was Allegiance that I really can't stand.
Choices of One was actually kind of enjoyable, albeit with some eye rolling moments, like Luke not having a Blaster and literally stopping and staring in awe at Mara's awesomeness or Vader being compared and led by the nose by Thrawn and his awesomeness. That aside though it was ok if nothing great.
Scoundrels was meh.

 

see I liked Allegiance much more the CoO. I loved Mara and the rogue troopers

 

The idea of Darth Vader losing a fight and being outsmarted and being jealous of Zahns OC just made my blood boil

 

I don't remember Darth Vader losing a fight In allegiance . I thought Maras was the only imperial operative active in that book. Yes they verbally sparred some.

 

In his version, Mara's successful evasion and tricking of Vader to stay alive till he'd calmed down, counts as "winning" - because if Mara had actually attacked in Vader's vulnerable moment, she could have harmed him.


"I'm here on an important mission, and I need some assurance your presence here isn't going to get in the way."
“That my presence won't get in your way?" Vader demanded, his voice dropping half an octave. "Walk softly, Emperor's Hand."
"I don't walk softly where treason is involved," Mara countered. "I'm on the trail—"
"No!" Vader boomed, his voice slamming across the room and straight through Mara's skull. He took a long step around the end of the table toward her, his black cloak billowing, his gloved hand dropping to his lightsaber. "She is the key to finding him. She is mine!"
"What?" Mara managed, her own simmering anger vanishing in the realization that she was suddenly in big trouble. "No, I—"
But it was too late. Vader pulled the lightsaber from his belt, and with a snap-hiss the blazing red blade appeared. Holding the weapon in attack position, he strode toward her.
Mara took a step backward, snatching out her own lightsaber but leaving it closed down. The last thing she wanted to do was try to match blades with a Sith Lord. She threw a quick look at the door, shifting her weight in preparation for a dash for freedom.
But Vader either spotted the glance or read her body language. Shifting direction, he angled toward the door, blocking any chance of escape.
Grimacing, Mara shifted her weight in the other direction and threw herself sideways onto the conference table. A quick kick-and-roll off her left shoulder, and she had landed in a crouch on the floor on the far side. "Take it easy," she called as soothingly as she could. "What's Governor Choard to you, anyway?"
Raising his lightsaber high, Vader slashed the blade straight through the table. Mara took a quick step back as the two sections of the bisected table crashed to the floor. With the wall at her back, and Vader between her and the door, there was only one option left. "You want trouble?" she demanded, finally igniting her lightsaber and lifting it to blocking position in front of her. "Fine. Come and get it."
Vader's only reply was to shift his own weapon again into attack position as he stepped into the gap between the two sections of table. Stretching out to the Force, Mara reached to the wall behind him and switched off the lights.
It was a trick she would never have tried with a normal opponent. Their two lightsabers didn't give off a lot of light, but there was more than enough for biological eyes to work with while they adjusted to the gloom.
But Vader's helmet was equipped with optical sensors for use in dim light, with all the strengths and weaknesses inherent in such equipment. There was a chance that for the first crucial second before the contrast adjusted itself all he would see was her glowing lightsaber blade floating in a field of otherwise total darkness.
She was right. With a bellow, the Sith Lord angled his lightsaber and slashed it viciously in a horizontal arc through the air half a meter beneath the glowing magenta blade.
Only Mara wasn't there anymore. Using the Force to hold her lightsaber floating in place, she had dropped to the floor the instant the lights went out and rolled out of sight beneath one of the angled sections of the broken table.
Vader stopped in his tracks, and for a long moment the room was silent except for the hum of the lightsabers. Mara listened carefully, but the steadiness of the sound indicated that he was holding the weapon motionless. Was he finally coming to his senses? And then, to her relief, she heard the familiar sizzle as he closed down the weapon. A moment later, the room's lights came back on. "What were you saying about Governor Choard?" Vader asked, his voice calm again.
Cautiously, Mara emerged from cover, alert for any last-minute tricks. But Vader had taken a step back from the table, and his lightsaber was again hooked onto his belt. The brief madness was over.

 

Or, she had to outsmart him because she was scared pantless of him, otherwise he would kill her without even exerting himself.

 

yeah Mara was always smart and quick witted. but I can see why some may feel he is emasculated over this. I thought he was in much bigger danger of that in "Rebels". Glad he was not in it much. this is no longer canon anyway

 

Her and Lucieno seem to just WRITE Star Wars instead of trying to write Star Wars...That's key for any writer. Zahn does that as well, though he focuses more on the Sci-Fi angle than the fantasy perspective. Which works depending on the story you wish to tell.

Just not a fan of the X-Wing books or the style of Stockpole and Zahn?

 

An escort from Vader's own elite 501st Stormtrooper Legion was waiting, and after a short walk they arrived at a small conference room.
Vader was waiting, standing like a brooding storm cloud near the head of the table. "I understand you demanded to see me," he said without preamble.

"I apologize for my earlier tone," Mara said, inclining her head toward him in a gesture of humility.

"There is only one person in the Empire who can demand my presence," Vader continued, his voice stiff. Apparently,

he wasn't in the mood to accept apologies. "That person is not you. And never will be," he added ominously.

'Then let me make this as brief as possible," Mara said. She wasn't exactly in the best of moods herself. "I'm here on an

important mission, and I need some assurance your presence here isn't going to get in the way."

“That my presence won't get in your way?" Vader demanded, his voice dropping half an octave. "Walk softly,

Emperor's Hand."

"I don't walk softly where treason is involved," Mara countered. "I'm on the trail—"

"No!" Vader boomed, his voice slamming across the room and straight through Mara's skull. He took a long step

around the end of the table toward her, his black cloak billowing, his gloved hand dropping to his lightsaber. "She is

the key to finding him. She is mine!"

"What?" Mara managed, her own simmering anger vanishing in the realization that she was suddenly in big trouble.

"No, I—"

But it was too late. Vader pulled the lightsaber from his belt, and with a snap-hiss the blazing red blade appeared.

Holding the weapon in attack position, he strode toward her.

Mara took a step backward, snatching out her own lightsaber but leaving it closed down. The last thing she wanted to

do was try to match blades with a Sith Lord. She threw a quick look at the door, shifting her weight in preparation for

a dash for freedom.

But Vader either spotted the glance or read her body language. Shifting direction, he angled toward the door, blocking

any chance of escape.

Grimacing, Mara shifted her weight in the other direction and threw herself sideways onto the conference table. A

quick kick-and-roll off her left shoulder, and she had landed in a crouch on the floor on the far side. "Take it easy,"

she called as soothingly as she could. "What's Governor Choard to you, anyway?"

Raising his lightsaber high, Vader slashed the blade straight through the table.

Mara took a quick step back as the two sections of the bisected table crashed to the floor. With the wall at her back,

and Vader between her and the door, there was only one option left. "You want trouble?" she demanded, finally

igniting her lightsaber and lifting it to blocking position in front of her. "Fine. Come and get it."

Vader's only reply was to shift his own weapon again into attack position as he stepped into the gap between the two

sections of table. Stretching out to the Force, Mara reached to the wall behind him and switched off the lights.

It was a trick she would never have tried with a normal opponent. Their two lightsabers didn't give off a lot of light,

but there was more than enough for biological eyes to work with while they adjusted to the gloom.

But Vader's helmet was equipped with optical sensors for use in dim light, with all the strengths and weaknesses

inherent in such equipment. There was a chance that for the first crucial second before the contrast adjusted itself all he

would see was her glowing lightsaber blade floating in a field of otherwise total darkness.

She was right. With a bellow, the Sith Lord angled his lightsaber and slashed it viciously in a horizontal arc through

the air half a meter beneath the glowing magenta blade.

Only Mara wasn't there anymore. Using the Force to hold her lightsaber floating in place, she had dropped to the floor

the instant the lights went out and rolled out of sight beneath one of the angled sections of the broken table.

Vader stopped in his tracks, and for a long moment the room was silent except for the hum of the lightsabers. Mara

listened carefully, but the steadiness of the sound indicated that he was holding the weapon motionless. Was he finally

coming to his senses? And then, to her relief, she heard the familiar sizzle as he closed down the weapon. A moment

later, the room's lights came back on. "What were you saying about Governor Choard?" Vader asked, his voice calm again.
Cautiously, Mara emerged from cover, alert for any last-minute tricks. But Vader had taken a step back from the

table, and his lightsaber was again hooked onto his belt. The brief madness was over. "Choard has been recruiting

pirate gangs to attack military shipments," she said, calling her own lightsaber back to her hand and closing it down.

"A few days ago he sent the Reprisal to destroy their base and cover his tracks. They also nearly killed me in the

process."

"That would have been unfortunate," Vader said. Mara could hear no actual sarcasm in his voice, but she had no doubt

it was there. "Still, your information matches my own." Mara stared at him. "You mean you already knew?" "The

knowledge is recent," Vader assured her. "But it is of no interest to me," he added, his voice darkening.

"As he denounced his governor, Chief Administrator

Disra also claimed that Leia Organa is in Makrin City.

“That is who I seek tonight." "Really," Mara said, the word obsession flashing through her mind as she finally

understood the Dark Lord's earlier outburst. She might have guessed it would have had something to do with the
former Alderaanian princess and the Rebellion. "What's she doing here?"
"Disra claims she was consulting with local Rebel leaders," Vader said. "He assures me he can supply names."
"Handy," Mara said. "Do we know where this Disra is right now?"
"He has gone to the palace to collect surveillance records that might be of use in our search."
Or perhaps he was there to destroy other, more incriminating records? "I need to get down there right away," Mara said.
"Is someone stopping you?"
Mara felt her lip twist. Even when Vader wasn't being homicidal, he was never pleasant to deal with. "Not at all," she
said. "Enjoy your hunt." Nodding to him, she headed for the door.
"Emperor's Hand?"
She turned back, finding his black faceplate turned toward her. "Yes?" she said.
"As you dispense your justice to Governor Choard," he said softly, "take care not to get in my way."

 

Already quoted earlier in the thread.

Going back to Life Debt - it's interesting to see just how easily destroyed or captured, Super Star Destroyers seem to be - even pirates do it. Undermanning might have contributed though.

 

Lol I only saw after I posted and mine was more detailed. Mara ends the fight after outsmarting Vader (who bellows apparently) it's clearly shown as her being the better of the 2. You also have Vader on Google scene earlier with his jealousy, which is presented OOC . Meh it's not good.

anakinfansince1983 I agree, not only do I think Solo Command is the best of the books. But Zinsji (who Allston turned from Lead into Gold as a villain anyway) and is a far better villain than Isard. Also the Wraith Squad made more sense as both Commandos and Pilots rather than just Pilots. There characters were more fun and less obnoxious than Corran, who I just wished would lose or be beaten in something, and he never was.

 

Not a fan of Coran overall or just in specific books?

 

FWIW, it's absolutely not just fett 4 arguing that Zahn has gone downhill with some of his recent works. The recurring "does he have pet characters and is he worse about it than usual" arguments should be proof of that.

 

CHUCK REPLIED MY EMAIL!
"Thank you so much for writing! I appreciate the email — it’s nice to get mails like this from time to time. (And no worries about your English — reads great to me!)"

HE IS SO NICE

 

When "recent works" means "everything after Dark Force Rising" though, it seems a bit too wide a definition.

 

It's been awhile since I read them but I think it was specific books rather than in general

Iron_lord Are you talking about me because as I have said to you (countless times) ,
I loved the TTT, even today as a story I still think it holds up, albeit with some noticeable eyebrow cocking and people saying Point a lot.
The HoT was Zahn's book version of RTJ with a mix of both good and bad, though with an ending I agreed with.
SQ's was ok but the best moments were with Mara rather than the actual Quest itself.
OBF is my favourite Zahn book and I think his best written.
The others you know about.
As for the short stories:
Not read Mist Encounter.
Side Trip was fun, though I could have done without Darth Homer at the end.
By the Emperors Hand, Light side experiment .... nuff said ,
The other Mara story (forget the name) where grief stricken over Palpatines death, she teams up with the Rebels is just dumb .
Interlude at Draknell was fun but forgettable.
The short story (again forget the name) where Mara meets up with Karrade, was meh, more because I have never really cared for Karrade as a character.
The one where Mara get's her ship Jade Sabre was fun but forgettable.
The Valentines Day short he did was good.
Tales From Jabba's Palace story makes no sense with all the retcons and was laugh out loud then. Mara does as Jabba tells her too basically.
Tales from Mos Eisley was fun albeit the Amazon women in space did have huge character shields.

That was all. Did I forget any ?

 

"Portraying Vader as incompetent" seems to be your most common complaint about the later ones - but that's very much a theme in TTT as well.

 

He wasn't alive and it seemed more that people thought he was poor. That I could believe as it's common to blame/scapegoat someone. So Pelleoan wishing Thrawn rather than Vader was in charge at Endor would make sense as he wouldn't have known what actually happened. While the whole point of Mara by Last Command was discovering all what she thought was a lie. So yeah that I have no problem with.

 

Smuggler (Clynngun): "Thrawn is not Vader. He would not waste troops in a deliberately failed attack".


(Also, By The Emperor's Hand is Stackpole, not Zahn - Zahn merely consulted on it).

 

so finished reading this and aftermath back to back for the first time enjoyed both. though i could see the twist with brentin coming from a mile away