World Famous Comics: The Unseen Queen (Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 2)
The Unseen Queen (Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 2)
By: Troy Denning Publisher: Del Rey Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Del Rey Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 368 Publication Date: September 27, 2005 Release Date: September 27, 2005
Product Description: The epic Star Wars odyssey enters a new frontier as the heroes of the New Jedi Order confront a monstrous evil–insidious, unseen, and insatiable. . . .
Despite being given new worlds to populate, the insectoid Killiks have not found peace. An unknown enemy has been attacking the new nests–and the Killiks hold the Jedi responsible. Traveling back to the Unknown Regions to unravel the mystery, the Skywalkers and Solos discover an evil far more familiar than they ever expected . . . and even more terrifying. Why does the Dark Nest want to kill Mara? Will Jacen’s apocalyptic vision trigger another galactic war or prevent one? And perhaps most ominous of all, what deadly secret are the Killiks hiding?
To find out, Luke, Mara, Han, and Leia mustembark on a perilous journey into the uncharted void between right and wrong. The ferocious Unknown Terrors are only the beginning of the awesome challenges that lie ahead in their quest to fathom the unfathomable. For an obscure dispute is about to explode into chaos, pitting Jedi against Jedi–and threatening the very galaxy itself.
Dark Nest II Having taken a large break from the SW EU (Expanded Universe) novels due to the extensive NJO/Yuuzhan Vong War story arc, I have gotten around to continuing the adventures of the SW EU. Troy Denning has the reins in this trilogy dubbed the Dark Nest which attempts to bring forth the new antagonists in the palindromic bug alien race of the Killik, attempting to build on the general revulsion of bugs amongst most people. This book takes place one year after the events of The Joiner King (Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 1).
The Killik have been relocated to the Utegetu Nebula (more palindromes ensue) only to find the habitable planets have an ancient defense mechanism and sickness breaks out amongst the killik' nests. UnuThul, nee Raynor Thul, accuses the Galactic Alliance of knowing this and takes Luke & Han captive. The majority of this story splits between Luke's and Han's captivity, Leia's & Saba's Jedi training, and then additive stories of Jacen's new development, Jaina & Zekk becoming even more annoying, and the split of the Jedi as to what their first purpose should be - the Force or are they servants of the already troubled Galactic Alliance.
This book was, for me, slightly better than Joiner King. I'm enjoying the new character of Jae Junn and even Ewok sidekick Tarfang. The action sequences were generally better and the climax of hunting presumed Dark Nest queen Lomi Plo was a bit unsatisfying in its non-conclusion. The comaraderie of the original characters is portrayed well enough but the Solo kids have taken a backward step (three steps back for Jaina/Zekk). Jacen has a new surprise from Tenel Ka and Ben Skywalker (Luke & Mara's child) is a whiny twit. The best action takes place at the Murgo Choke aboard the "Ackbar" between Leia and the Fifth Fleet admiral.
Overall, I enjoyed it better than the Joiner King with less clunky time jump scene cuts; but the series is still lower down on my desirable EU list. I just can't take the bugs as a serious threat to the Galactic Alliance or the Jedi Order. The technobabble is unnecessary and the author never explains the absence of the non-Jedi members of the Jedi Council.
joiner king trilogy how can ANYONE say that the joiner king trilogy is anything other than disappointing?? obviously, most readers of these books have never read most or all of the previous novels, like i have. i've read them all. these books were gross, and the bugs were gross, and the authors have made jaina out to be an idiot. i gave this final book one star because i had to put in something. the whole set of three are not really any good.
Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 2 It is a Star Wars novel. If you are just starting reading the novels, I would not start here, otherwise, read on. If you are srarting, I would go with Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn and go form there. You will here the score in the background, it is that good.
Another terrific storyline I love this continuation of the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and their offspring. I like they are starting to link these characters to Anakin, Padme, and Obi Wan in Episodes I-III. I look forward to reading about these characters as they reach old age.
Good sequel If you liked The Joiner King, you'll like The Unseen Queen. Similar in quality to The Joiner King (see my review), it continues to have some of the same benefits (ie. good sense of mystery/intrigue) and some of the same problems (ie. less than satisfying treatment of the "foundation" characters).
On plot points, the development of Leia as a Jedi is an "about-time" for many Star Wars fans. And the interaction between Jacen Solo and Queen Mother Tenel Ka is compelling.
This trilogy is a must read for Star Wars fans, who are getting the first opportunities to see Luke & Leia reactions (and their friends and family) to new information on the fate of their parents, which we discovered in the recent Episode 3 movie, and is only now being revealed to the OT characters by R2-D2.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
