I, Jedi (Star Wars) (Paperback)

WHAT'S GOOD:
This is a truly unique book for two main reasons; it's the first (and so far only) Star Wars novel to be written in first person and it's the first whose plot runs parallel to that of another Star Wars novel (or in this case three others - the Jedi Academy trilogy). This book genuinely shows the character developing by leaps and bounds as he attempts to balance his life experience against the teachings of the Jedi. I liked the fact that Corran's Force-powers are handicapped, giving the story a little bit of an edge as he has to deal with this issue. I enjoyed the interworking with the JA trilogy, giving a very different perspective on familiar event (I particularly liked his investigation into Exar Kun). My favourite part of the book is where Mara Jade gives Kun a thorough dressing-down, saying how pitiful he is compared to Vader and Palpatine. Another simple plus is that this is a nice long book, not the 300 page stuff that's been churned out since. Look out for plenty of familiar characters from all across the expanded universe, including Leonia Tavira (from the X-Wing comics) and Brakiss (from 'The New Rebellion' and the Young Jedi Knights series), to name just two.

WHAT'S BAD:
To be honest, I've never really liked Corran. He's just a bit too self-righteous and preachy. He goes beyond even himself in this book as he decides to lecture Luke about how to train Jedi, which I thought was frankly ridiculous.

Exar Kun: Who dares!?
Mara Jade: 'Who cares?', more accurately.

I like the way the book focusses on a new character, Corran Horn, sets up a problem for him, and follows him through his training at the Jedi Academy, interacting with the other students.

I totally recommend this book to all Star Wars fans, particularly those keen on the Jedi / Force side of the story.

But later on (about 2 years ago) I thought, hey why not buy it just to complement my huge Star Wars book collection (almost all of them aside from the most recent New Jedi Order books and most of the Rogue Squadron books). I had a half term holiday and so I read the book.

You will not believe how much I love this book.

From near the start, right until the end this book is impossible to stop reading. I finished it in about 5 days which is quite a feat considering how thick it is, because I didn't want to put it down. People say that about a lot of books but I mean it here.

Why is it that good? Firstly it's from the perspective of a character who's not that important (unless you read the Rogue Squadron books, which I didn't. Anyway he becomes more important in later books). Corran Horn is a Republic pilot with the Force, and when his wife is kidnapped, he goes for Jedi training from Luke. This is written in the first-person, which allows us to understand what's going through his head all the time.
The sheer genius of this book can't be done justice to. It's gripping and deep, while at the same time there are absolutely hilarious parts in the book. I love it.

And if you only read one Star Wars book, don't buy one of those film tie-ins (if you must, get Episode I by Terry Brooks because it rocks) and don't just pick anything with a picture of Luke, Han and Leia on it. Get I, Jedi, because it's just brilliant.

Mike Stackpole is undoubtedly the best Star Wars author (yes he's better than Tim Zahn), and this is undoubtedly the best book with the Star Wars name on it, if not the best book I've ever read.