The Official Fate of the Jedi III: Abyss Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

<center>Star Wars
Fate of the Jedi
Abyss

Troy Denning
Hardcover, 352 pages

August 18, 2009

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v332/Rogue_Follower/TFN/abyss.jpg" >
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Following a trail of clues across the galaxy, Luke Skywalker continues his quest to find the reasons behind Jacen Solo?s dark downfall and to win redemption for the Jedi Order. Sojourning among the mysterious Aing-Tii monks has left Luke and his son Ben with no real answers, only the suspicion that the revelations they seek lie in the forbidden reaches of the distant Maw Cluster. There, hidden from the galaxy in a labyrinth of black holes, dwell the Mind Walkers: those whose power to transcend their bodies and be one with the Force is as seductive and intoxicating as it is potentially fatal. But it may be Luke?s only path to the truth.

Meanwhile, on Coruscant, the war of wills between Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala and the Jedi Order is escalating. Outraged over the carbonite freezing of young Jedi Knights Valin and Jysella Horn after their inexplicable mental breakdowns, the Jedi are determined to defy Daala?s martial tactics, override Council Master Kenth Hamner?s wavering leadership, and deal on their own terms with the epidemic of madness preying on their ranks. As Han and Leia Solo, along with their daughter Jaina, join the fight to protect more stricken Knights from arrest, Jedi healers race to find a cure for the rapidly spreading affliction. But none of them realize the blaster barrel is already swinging in their direction?and Chief Daala is about to pull the trigger.

Nor do Luke and Ben, deep in the Maw Cluster and pushing their Force abilities beyond known limits, realize how close they are?to the Sith strike squad bent on exterminating the Skywalkers, to a nexus of dark?side energy unprecedented in its power and its hunger, and to an explosive confrontation between opposing wielders of the Force from which only one Master?good or evil?can emerge alive.

 

First!

... but it won't be like, two weeks 'til I get the book. Rats! ...

...

...

Almost had him eating dog food.

 

If the spoilers at NJOE are right, this is one trippy book.

Denning outdid himself... sounds like death-walking became the new Flow-Walking...

 

It's sad that none of the stores near me get books early.

 

I NEED to stay out of this thread, but for reasons I can't fully explain, I'm compelled to...

Oh well, it's good to know that "Denning really outdid himself" with this one. I'm greatly looking forward to it.

 

Heh... I actually meant, outdid his usual penchant for pushing the limits of the EU bizarre factor. Like invading bugs and Flow-Walking. The latest book sounds like a toned-down Lando Calrissian Adventure. Which actually might be just what the EU needs, I think...

 

It's over 300 pages The type must be larger or something

 

it is definitely trippy! FYI, they refer to it as "mind walking."

Since spoilers are allowed, I'll just get this out of the way....THERE ARE NO MAJOR CHARACTER DEATHS IN ABYSS.

 

Decent length. When Denning does a good book, its really good (SBS, TG, Tempest, Inferno). Lets hope its not like DN or Invincible.

 

yup confirmed. No major characters. But lots of Sith die I can't wait to see Luke and Ben go to town on them I'm hoping for a "wow, we're in way over our heads here! We need to run! Oh wait...I was just sliced in halfffff...." moment. Sort of the combat equivalent of when ship told the tribe that the Sith lost the war and were nearly extinct. Their reaction there was so priceless.

also could we not do "first!" posts no need to turn this place into a typical annoying internet forum/blog where the first 5 posts all start turning into everyone saying "first!" racing to be "first"

 

The Ben/Luke vs. Sith fight is really well done. Te start of it comes out of NOWHERE -- totally unexpected! A few different perspectives on the fight and a mix of grenades, sabers and fists!

 

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! I am so psyched for it lol
I'm glad this will be out soon. That's something I'm really liking about the SW books... I hate having to wait a full year for books to come out

 

I just hope this series is going to end.

 

of course it is. After book 9

 

There is a long way through hell.

 

Hmm, this is interested. Cha Niathal is confirmed as being alive.

I would like to know more about this.

--Adm. Nick

 

well I guess you could always not read them and pretend they don't exist would probably be easier than not judging a series before it's over lol

 

Not much to say -- she is only mentioned a few times, and always as a point of comparison to Tahiri's arrest (since arguably, they both played similar roles in the war). I don't believe she was in a single actual scene.

 

Wait, wait... What 'similar roles'? Admiral Niathal attempted to remove Caedus from power, even engaging in a shooting war against his forces to do so. Tahiri actively supported Caedus by assassinating the head of state of the Galactic Empire when it was obvious that he was going to join Cha Niathal in blasting the Anakin Solo into atoms. I fail to see the similarity between the two characters' roles.

 

Its really from a quote in Abyss from Kyle Katarn: "What about Cha Niathal? She played an equal part in Jacen's coup, and I dont see any charges being filed against her. Daala is only going after Tahiri to make a statement -- a statement directed at us."

Similar quotes during a trial scene from Jag -- "when you put Tahiri on trial, but at the same time leave one of the atchitcts of the coup free to retire in peace."

 

Lets hope its not like DN

i thought DN was great

 

Ah. In that context, it makes sense. Sort of. How did Tahiri help Caedus overthrow Cal Omas?

 

I imagine that Cha Niathal's image was greatly repaired by her actions at Fondor. By opposing Darth Caedus and placing her ships to defend an already battered Fondor, Admiral Niathal probably earned some brownie points with the post-Caedus GA government and the galaxy.

--Adm. Nick

 

Well, she probably repaired her image somewhat. But I doubt she became a hero -- with the events of Invincible, it seems clear she was rather marginalized and remained tainted by her major role in aiding Jacen's rise to power and the fact that she was hardly a saint herself. The fact that her conscience stopped short of Sithdom doesn't mean she still wasn't a brute-force militarist, and I think people remembered that. Niathal obviously got a huge boost by turning around, enough to allow her to live in quiet retirement, but not nearly enough to make her a popular figure.

 

I doubt that being a "brute force militarist" was really the thing that tainted her career... I mean, Natasi Daala is the current CoS, and there doesn't seem to be any real outcry from the public as a result. I think that what we're seeing is sort of a resurgence in the popularity and faith in strong, highly centralized government. The Empire always maintained a strong core group of believers, and it seems that folks are remembering how it was when the Imperial system governed everything. Wasn't there a character reminiscing about the 'good old days' when paps was a stormtrooper and Darth Vader did such a good job of taking care of the troops? I mean, it just seems like public sentiment isn't exactly swelling for a return to the high democratic ideals that birthed the New Republic. Fast forward a hundred and thirty years, and the Galactic Alliance is losing the war against the Empire in no small part because systems are flocking to the Imperial throne out of frustration with the less authoritarian GA.

Wow, that was a long tangent... Anywho, I think it's more Cha Niathal's association with Caedus that's blacklisted her. 'Oh wow, she hung out with a Sith Lord? The HNN says that he totally killed his own people, and she probably knew...' That she was more than willing to instigate a military state seems less like the problematic point. Once again, Natasi Daala...