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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
How many???, 11 Nov 2003
Having read the entire series in order (not a mean if i do say so myself), i pre-ordered the Unifying Force as soon as i could. Suffice to say, i was somewhat unimpressed with the postal strike!!
Anyway, once it had arrived, i got stuck in, and was thrilled with almost every page!
Luke at last does his Jedi thing, having spent most of the previous 20 books or so worrying about too aggressive, but here the story of Luke, Jaina and Jacens fight into the Yuuzhan Vong stronghold makes for an enthralling story, with the final battle equalling anything in the films. The only gripe i had with the combat is the understated aspect of the second space battle of Coruscant. With 15 million Alliance casualities alone, it is only when you hear the figures you realise just how huge and desperate the struggle is. The First Battle, detailed in Star by Star seems far more brutal.
Another thing was the introduction of the slayers, genetically engineered Vong warriors, supposedly the equal of the Jedi. Nevertheless, three jedi overwhelm 20 of them. I thought maybe the introduction a few books previously, and maybe claiming a few Jedi scalps, like the Voxyn, would make them more effective uber baddies!That said, I found TUF an excellent finish to the series, with an entirely plausible completion to the bitter five year war (which cost the galaxy 365 TRILLION dead). I now have to find the previous books to read through from start to finish!!
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
The end of an era. And a good end, at that!, 11 Jan 2004
THE STORY:
The war with the Yuuzhan Vong hangs in the balance as the two forces gather strength. Meanwhile, the arrival of Zonama Sekot in the sky of Coruscant sends shockwaves through Vong society (literally and figuratively). Can the Jedi bring the war to an end without apocalyptic casualties on both sides?WHAT'S GOOD:
Where to start? I enjoyed the fact that the story seems at first to be just another episode in the series and then, with the confrontation at Coruscant, it suddenly becomes clear that this is the final part of the series and that one way or another it all ends here. That feeling of knowing that soon you'll see what final surprises are in order and discover just how the devastating war pans out. It's all well written and Luceno doesn't skimp on description where most necessary, such as on Selvaris and Caluula. Ultimately, however, this book's strongest factor (and the reason that all Star Wars EU fans should read it) is the way in which Luceno uses his particular talent for drawing on other sources to tie the entire Star Wars fiction franchise together. There's a Rothana transport from 'Attack of the Clones' in the assault on Coruscant, Boba Fett is present, Rogue and Wraith squadrons are in action again, the painting from 'Tatooine Ghost' turns up, the Smugglers Alliance plays a part, there are familiar characters among the Jedi such as Keyan Farlander (from the 'X-Wing' PC game), Kyle Katarn (from the 'Dark Forces' series) and several others, plus there's more of characters specific to the NJO such as Danni Quee, Tresina Lobi, Harrar, Nas Choka, Traest Kre'fey and more. In all the books of the Star Wars EU, never have I encountered one so crammed with cameos and yet still so plausible. Finally, I'd like to complement the NJO team on actually bring Nom Anor to an end in keeping with his character and not some cheezy Bond-villain-style death. WHAT'S BAD:
Not enough to put you off, I should imagine. Sometimes the number of events going on one after the other makes parts seem a bit rushed. The only other problem I had was the betrayal of Boba Fett's character. I don't mean in his formation of a new Mandalorian army (I can believe that he'd do so in honour of Jango), but what I mean is his assertion that his personal conflict was always with the Jedi. I see where Luceno got that, with Jango's death at Mace Windu's hands, but the point of Boba was that he exceeded Jango's renown by being with out personal agendas of any kind, being almost machine-like in his pursuit of his prey without passion. If he had a personal vendetta against the Jedi, then his part in the Young Jedi Knights series would be way off, seeing as how he rescues the Jedi when payed to do so. By this book or I shall give you a dovin basal disguised as a hat and make a moon fall on your head!
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