Reviews Books The JC Lit Reviews Special: REBEL STAND (Spoilers for RS *only*)

I'll give it an 8/10.

I liked it much more than Rebel Dream, it had more action and less of a focus on the respective Jaina and Tam storylines. I liked the closing of the Ismaren loose end by Del Rey, I always wondered what happened to them. Like all other Allston books, the humor is great, as can be seen in the quotes of some peoples sig's around here.

My only complaint is that I wanted more of a focus on some of the non-Solo Star by Star mission survivors. I enjoyed Tahiri's screen time, but I thought one or two more Jedi could have gone on the mission to Coruscant.

And whats up with Zekk in the NJO. First he loses his girl, and now he sucks as pilot?Sucks to be him in the GFFA.

 

Counting 26 votes.

JC Lit Average Rating of RS = 226.55/26 ~ 8.71/10

 

8.8 ( )/10. 4th in my list, behind Vector Prime, Conquest, and Rebel Dream.

 

Rating: 9.0

A pleasure to read. There were very few pages that didn't entertain, the writing style made it very easy to read and absorb, the characters and plot were well-developed, and it left me almost beside myself with anticipation for the next novel. Much of what was happening on Coruscant was left unresolved, and it appears I'm not alone in thinking that we'll be seeing a lot of this expanded on in Traitor. July 30th can't come soon enough.

For comparison:

EL I: 8.5
DJ: 8.0
SbS: 9.5
EoV II: 9.5
EoV I: 8.5
BP: 9.0
AoC II: 7.0
AoC I: 7.0

 

This was one of the funniest star wars books i have read. i loved the Droid scene with 3PO, i also liked that paragraph that was ELSEWHERE and it jumped into other Jedi lives.

I needed more of others in this book, half the charcters that get introduced seem to fall into a black hole thats not cool.

Also i was once again hit with the fact that Anakin did not wake up with that big Force blast and was dissapointed.

overall 8/10

 

I'm more interested in the Jacen Solo storyline, so I'll have to wait for Traitor to come out next month. *sigh*

You and me both.


My Rebel Stand Review

Rating: 6/10

{ For comparison:
Vector Prime 8
DT I: Onslaught 3
DT II: Ruin 7
AoC I: Hero's Trial 10
AoC II: Jedi Eclipse 7
Balance Point 9
EoV I: Conquest 8
EoV II: Rebirth 5
Star by Star 9
Dark Journey 4
Rebel Dream 7 }

The best part about this whole book was Wedge's bit at the end. A real page-turner and unbelievably entertaining. Fearing for Wedge's life actually enhanced the reading experience for myself. And boy, does Wedge deliver. Wedge's feats meant so much more at the end of the day because of his impending mortality.

I also enjoyed Tam Elgrin's characterization. Here is a guy afraid to take the initiative and branded as a traitor by some, yet seizing the opportunity to redeem himself and overcoming his character faults despite himself.

The other parts, well... well, let's just say that humor carried them rather than engaging plotting or characterization. It's like watching a bad teen movie which prompts laughter at parts but at the end of the day, doesn't really amount to much. The worst part about it was, at times, this book felt like a chore to read rather than a recreation.

When Han tries to coax Leia into submission by noting that it was fun, admit it, I felt he was talking to the reader and trying to convince the reader that it was fun. That despite the inane H & L storyline in this book existing solely to replicate their magic from the movies, it was fun. I'm not so sure. Even the politics on the planet Vannix seemed extremely juvenile and all too convenient.

I won't even go into the storyline at Coruscant. One point though: I had hoped to see Viqi Shesh survive longer. After Borsk, she was the only politician that I liked to hate. Pwoe assumes that role now I suppose, but the NJO developed Shesh so much more.

Does Allston always use the same approach with battles towards the end of books? That is, keeping the reader in the dark yet assuring them with strategic clues that things will play out the way the good guys want them to? It worked for Rebel Dream but not here.

Finally, I found the book just too choppy, too insignificant on its own right and too variegated. I always appreciate a more of a narrowed focus.

 

I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed some of the banter even if it seemed a little too "light" for the NJO. I especiallly enjoyed Tam's character and I hope they continue to use him as a civilian perspective on the war against the Yuuzhan Vong. Despite discoveries on Coruscant and Viqi's suicide and the destruction of the Luksankya and the funny prison scene, for some reason, it felt like nothing important happened. For some reason, things felt insignificant. It's probably just me, but that odd feeling, plus Nyax, which I didn't really like all that much, lead me to give this book a 6.5/10. (5 being the average star wars novel) as opposed to RD's 9/10

 

9/10

I didn't really like the Nyax storyline. It was built up then crushed in what seemed to be too small of a space to make it very interesting.
My favourite books before the NJO were the Xwing ones so seeing the Wraiths and Wedge in action some more was great. I liked how they let Tahiri shine a little more, and the however short reappearance of Wes Janson.
Not as good as Rebel Dream, but still pretty good.
Gavin saying something Wedge might say to Wedge at the end was amusing. I'd like to have seen what Gavin did when he found out who he was talking with.

 

Counting 32 votes.

JC Lit Average Rating of RS = 273.85/32 ~ 8.56/10

 

This has to be one of my favourites. I give it 9.5/10

 

RS was a 4 to me, not the best SW book i've read. I liked Dark Journey the best becuase i am a Jaina and Jag fan and they only got two pages in rebel stand. I liked the action on Corouscant.

 

I give RS a 9. I liked the book all together but I didn't like Lord Nyax but I did like what happened on Coruscant in general. The Wraith were hilarious and the space battles were good.

For comparison:
VP - 6
EoV Conquest - 9
EoV Rebirth - 8
SBS - 10
DJ - 8
RD - 9

 

Counting 35 votes.

JC Lit Average Rating of RS = 296.35/35 ~ 8.47/10

 

THE GOOD

Wes Janson
Tam, especially his interactions with Tarc
Philosophy with 3P0 and 11A
Vong humour
Droids written great
Han discussing types of war
Han planning to complain to the Vong. He just gets better
Kyp talking to Piggy and Jaina/Jag had humouress moments
Blackmoon Squadron's lead getting moody
Ganner nearly crashing
Temple on a force well, makes sense
Look Nyax, a very fun and interesting enemy
Kyp being understanding of what happened on Coruscant. Allston writes him very IC


THE BAD

A minor thing, but to me, Janson NOT in an X-Wing is sacrilige
Jag's changing character.
The picnic scene. It felt misplaced. Jaina notices Kyp cuts from the connection ASAP, and Jag suggests they talk, and goes with them. WHat I didnt like though, was the lack of preparation for this. All of a sudden, there is a problem and Jag is telling Jaina what to do?


THE UGLY

Stutter fire on Vong Warriors!







Soooo, a score. Not as good as RD, which wasnt as good as DJ. DJ got a 10, RD a 9.5. Sooooooooooooo:


FINAL SCORE: 9.0






But you dont just get a number in my posts, oh no! For now, I latch on like a parasite, THE KYPOMETER!!!!! My little score chart of how Kyp is written in the NJO. an italic 6 indicates that he wasnt in, or not in any way I can score. Here we go:

VP: 7
DT:C: 6
DTR: 5
HT: 6
JE: 8.5
BP: 4.5
EOVC: 9
EOVR: 9
SBS: 2
DJ: 10
RD: 9.5
RS: 8.5

 

Counting 36 votes.

JC Lit Average Rating of RS = 305.35/36 ~ 8.48/10

 

[ Bump ]

 

[ Bumped again ]

 

9.1 - I have to go home now from Work (yay!), but it wasn't PERFECT, but I did enjoy the





****SPOILER*****





Han and Leia escaping from prison, with the droids help








***END***


So 9.1

 

Counting 37 votes.

JC Lit Average Rating of RS = 314.45/37 ~ 8.50/10

 

I'll give it 8/10. It was pretty enjoyable, like all of Allston's books, but it wasn't as good as Rebel Dream. I didn't care for the Lord Nyax storyline at all, but I liked the way the book explained two loose ends, the fates of Roganda and Irek Ismaren. It was great to see wedge holding his own against a horde of skips, if I hadn't already been spoiled, I would probably believe that he was a goner.
The most dissapointing thing for me in the book was Czulkang Lah's death. I was very excited about him in Rebel Dream, he was such an interesting, three dimensional and cool Yuuzhan Vong character; much better than his son. I would like to read more about him as one of the main villains...

 

Uhm, up

Man, I'm always late

 

9.3/10 thought that the book was pretty darn good. I felt that the humour was pretty impressive. most impressive.

 

Better late than never, peregrine I liked Czulkang Lah too. In a society where death is honored, it's hard to imagine an older Yuuzhan Vong, much less a former Warmaster.

Counting 39 votes.

JC Lit Average Rating of RS = 331.75/39 ~ 8.51/10

 

I give it a 8 of 10.

I was funny, for once, and I loved the Han and Leia scenes, and the Wriaths.

I didn't care for the Coruscant teamplot too much, but thought Luke being buck naked was hilarious. For those who want to know.........I know this is a spoiler thread, but.....


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Luke discovers an entrace to a secret passage, but the vlave to open it is underneath a vat of carnivorous microorganisms. It's a waste tank, but it makes the room breathable because the creatures breathe out oxygen. Luke goes into the vat sending the force message, I'm not food... and the creatures ignore him. He opens the valve and the panel opens. Then M
Mara tells him (trying not to laugh), that "in the future to please have respect for those you aren't married to and be presentable". The things ate all Luke's clothes off, and he's standing there in the buff, cheerily telling what's going on and Tahiri and Danni are dying of embarrassment. Face grins.

It's really funny.

 

That was one of my favorite parts in Rebel Stand, Tiershon Fett.