Elusion Illusion: A Tale of the Clone Wars(Spoilers!)

This short story was featured in the latest Star Wars Insider issue (Issue #66).
Author: Michael A. Stackpole
Length: 9 pages
Main Characters:
Ayala Secura & Ylenic It'kla
Secondary Characters:
Neeja Halcyon, Rostek Horn, Mace Windu & Lorfo (a Toydarian)
Setting: Coruscant & Corellia

Yeah, so basically I just wanted to hear/read your opinions on this short story, since it's the first one I read in the Insider magazine. If you'd like, you can give it a rating out of 10, and just include some of your thoughts.

Since I've never read a SW short story before, my rating isn't really credible, but I still give it a 9/10. I liked the way Stackpole handled Ayala's character, and I found the somewhat philosophical discussions between her and Ylenic quite interesting. Almost as good as a piece of Stover's work.

I thought the cantina scene and warehous scene in Coronet were really cool, and the subplot, the one we didn't see coming, was a shock. The lightsaber fights were well written, as was the dialogue and descriptions. The only thing I didn't like about it is how it ended so shortly and suddenly. I thought MAS could've done it a bit smoother.

Anyways, great story, and great introduction to Horn's and Halcyon's friendship!

 

I thought it was a good story. I loved reading about Rostek's, Neeja's and Ylennic's friendship that is evidenced in I, Jedi.

I found the very ending a bit confusing, but everything else was really supurb, and I liked seeing a Toydarian that was working with law enforcement. I think the most important element in the story would be the background of Coronet, CorSec and of course Rostek, Neeja and Ylennic and how they interacted together. The conversations between Aayla and Ylennic was interesting to say the least, and finding out why a Caamsi became a Jedi in the first place.

 

I thought it was very good, IMO. It was a bit of a shock reading about Neeja Halcoyn and Rostek Horn, since I've only read about them in the NEGTC. I'm also a big Aayla fan. I'd give it a 9/10.

 

Hey...i just remembered something! Do you guys think Ylenic is the Caamasi Corran Horn saw in his dream standing next to Neeja? Because that's so cool if MAS tied everything in like that....real cool....

What did you find confusing about the end, Errant Venture? I just found the story to stop short, that's all. Oh, and I don't remember reading about them in the NEGTC, Whitey. But then again, I read 3 weeks ago, which is a long time....

 

I do believe he is, and that name sounds familiar ...

Anyhoo, Neeja Halcyon was in it. 'Nuff said. I marked out big time when it was reveiled that it was him

 

Uh, yes, he's the Caamasi Jedi from I, Jedi. Ylenic is also a relative of Elegos A'Kla.

EDIT: Oops. A'Kla, not Ak'La.

 

Hehe...I thought something sounded familiar about the name It'kla. Or do all Caamasi have last names that end in 'kla?

 

The confusing part was when Aayla chased the Merc. in the end. I thought it was a vision that the merc had, and it was not. To me it was confusing to the end, and like others have stated, it did end abrubtly in my opinion.

I don't think that all Caamsi have the same 'kla at the end of their name. It probably represents their clan or family, kinda like how the Bothan's the 'lar, 'fey, etc.

 

As explained in I, Jedi, Elegos A'Kla comes from the "A" and "Kla" clans.

 

....Or like the Twi'lek have a clan name, but lose the "'" after they leave the clan...

Yeah, the only thing I didn't understand, Errant Venture[/i], is how the mercenary "Blue" had amnesia. Did any of the Jedi use the Force to wipe his memory? Because wouldn't that be of the dark side?

But I got the rest of it. What Ayala and Lorfo did in the spacport was make it seem to "Blue" like Ylenic was dead, and he had thrown Ayala off course by tossing Lorfo into her. Remember, Blue had amnesia then, and didn't remember anythign that happened in the warehouse. So when he goes to Count Dook, and when the Seperatist leader sifts through Blue's memories, all he'll see is the mercenary learning Ylenic died, him thinking he shot "Tane" ( ), and that he got Ayala off his trail. Do you understand now?

 

Ylenic It'kla is the Caamasi Jedi that was with Nejaa when he died. He is the uncle of Elegos A'Kla. Caamasi naming conventions are discussed in I, Jedi. The first part of the name, in Elegos's case the A, came from his father's clan. The latter part, kla, comes from the mother's side. Hence, Ylenic is Elegos's uncle through his mother's side of the clan.

Unfortunately, the NJO authors and/or editors failed to catch this tidbit from I, Jedi, hence Releqy having the same last name as her father.

 

I had no idea Aayla was that much of a newbie.

~PAd

 

Aayla first appeared in Star Wars #19 - Twilight pt. 1 on June 28 2000.

[image=http://209.95.35.130/covers/s/swon19.jpg]

The picture of her on the cover of Star Wars #33 - Darkness pt. 2 from August 22, 2001 is what inspired GL to include her in AotC as a background character.

[image=http://209.95.35.130/covers/00/00464.jpg]

And just for comparison, here's what she looks like in the flesh:

[image=http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/aaylasecura/img/eu_bg.jpg]

[image=http://www.starwars.com/databank/character/aaylasecura/img/movie_bg.jpg]

 

Blues are quite the fashion in Star Wars, aren't they?

Chiss . . . Omwati . . . Ferus Olin . . . Secura.

 

Where does it say that Ferus Olin is blue? I got the strong impression that he was a human. But then again, I haven't read JQ5.

 

I thought that the story rocked. It was good to see Stackpole back in the EU, as well as his characters.

 

Oh well, see, it's been a long time since I've read I, Jedi. Almost four months. Anyways, I love the colour blue and I don't mind so many species having that colour skin. Cuz blue is cool.

 

4 months is a long time for reading a book? Wow!


I'd give it a 10/10. Good story.

 

Oh, and BTW, folks...it's "Nejaa" Halcyon, not "Neeja."

 

Next you're going to tell me it's Rouge, not Rogue

 

lightsaber wielder, though I don't have that Jedi Quest book, the cover shows this Ferus Olin boy blue skinned, as does the review. That's why I included him among the Chiss and Omwati.

Repetitive cliche, I reckon. Can't anyone have other skin textures besides ubiquitous blue?

 

Well, I do a lot in a month's time, so you can imagine what four months is like to me.

How about green then, Excellence? Some Twi'leks are, Rodians & Falleen.