SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Backlash - Aaron Allston

Release Date: 10/03/11

SYNOPSIS:

Three major storylines run through the Fate of the Jedi series. One is the odyssey of Jedi Grand-Master-in-Exile Luke Skywalker and his son Ben, as they travel from one world of non-Jedi Force-users to the next in search of clues as to what might have turned Jacen Solo to embrace the evil ways of the Sith Lords. The second is the attempts of Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala to break the power of the Jedi Order, while young Jedi Knights on a variety of worlds are inexplicably going insane. And the third is the tale of a previously unknown lost tribe of Sith as they rejoin the known galaxy determined to kill Luke Skywalker, destroy all the Jedi, and reinstate the Sith as supreme rulers. In Backlash, Luke and Ben will visit the deadly world of Dathomir, home to the Night Sisters, otherwise known as the Dathomiri Witches, as an ancient evil, released from its prison, stretches its hungry tendrils ever farther through the galaxy...


REVIEW:

Whilst I’m a huge fan of Star Wars, I always worry about each new title, not that I don’t expect a good story but because its such a huge franchise that the name alone will sell any project containing its name.

Each series has something special to offer and to be honest I’m more at home with the Skywalker/Solo’s than at any other point in the Universes vast history. As such it made this title too tempting to resist which I suppose means I’m damned to the darkside. LOL

Unfortunately whilst the plot is gripping, the characters have lost a lot of their lustre, whether this is due to poor planning or lack of understanding of the characters I’m not sure but what really annoyed me was the clunkiness of the language used by the author. Add to this poor story direction and forcing (if you’ll pardon the pun) the characters into situations that clearly they didn’t want to enter made this all in a rather annoying read. With luck this will improve in future titles however at the moment if you want some good Star Wars writing then perhaps I can suggest Troy Denning or Sean Williams.