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chaeopteryx's review
3.0
So, I would like to preface this by saying I did not read the description and simply got this book thinking it would be about the construction and eventual destruction of the Death Star and how it operated. Now that was entirely my fault, but nonetheless, my preset expectations may have skewed my opinions, which means this review might not be entirely accurate or foolproof. Still, I will continue.
My main complaint is it’s really fucking boring at first. Like, why should I give a damn about anyone mentioned here??? Not only that, their stories were not very interesting or grasped my attention. I was more just reading it, not really feeling or becoming very immersed with the story.
I will say I like the in it gives on Vader’s psyche and how he thinks. It really doesn’t get interesting till the end, when we reach ANH territory.
There isn’t really anything good or bad I can say more than that. It’s just… incredibly mediocre, in my personal opinion. So is it worth a read? I would say no, but I will say the end is interesting and may catch your interest.
3/5, not very happy but not too upset either.
My main complaint is it’s really fucking boring at first. Like, why should I give a damn about anyone mentioned here??? Not only that, their stories were not very interesting or grasped my attention. I was more just reading it, not really feeling or becoming very immersed with the story.
I will say I like the in it gives on Vader’s psyche and how he thinks. It really doesn’t get interesting till the end, when we reach ANH territory.
There isn’t really anything good or bad I can say more than that. It’s just… incredibly mediocre, in my personal opinion. So is it worth a read? I would say no, but I will say the end is interesting and may catch your interest.
3/5, not very happy but not too upset either.
shirezu's review against another edition
3.0
This book finally sheds some light on the discussion from "Clerks". What about all the innocents on the Death Star? This book follows a selection of people who all end up on the Death Star - civilian contractors, prisoners, conscripted staff, soldiers, etc. - and follows them from the start of building right up to the climactic (but well known) finale.
It wasn't a bad book by any means but it was nothing illuminating either. It was interesting to see what was going on around scenes from "A New Hope" but it needed something more.
The quality of Star Wars novels has really dropped these last couple years.
It wasn't a bad book by any means but it was nothing illuminating either. It was interesting to see what was going on around scenes from "A New Hope" but it needed something more.
The quality of Star Wars novels has really dropped these last couple years.
roblucas's review
3.0
Difficult to follow so many characters, especially when some are not fearured for a few chapers - it's easy to forget who they are by name.
Some of the story is a little forced, especially during the final battles.
OK one-time read. I've read better Star Wars novels.
Some of the story is a little forced, especially during the final battles.
OK one-time read. I've read better Star Wars novels.
bloodravenlib's review
4.0
Finally finished it. It is a pretty quick read. It is also pretty well written. The book is basically the story of the construction of the Death Star. It is divided in two parts: the construction and then the shakedown cruise, which leads to the events in the first Star Wars film most people have seen by now. I usually dislike books where I know the ending beforehand, but this book was actually interesting and engaging. The first part where the station is constructed and the characters are introduced is actually pretty good. Different people from diverse backgrounds come together in constructing the Death Star. In the second part, we see some cameos from characters we knew in the film, but we get a different point of view, and that makes the book a good read as well.
The book features the character of Doctor Divini, which regular readers of Star Wars novels may recognize from the Medstar Duology (by the way, I read those two book, and they are on my list). Another character is a librarian, which for a librarian as me, was kind of cool too. Overall, this was a good and pleasant read.
The book features the character of Doctor Divini, which regular readers of Star Wars novels may recognize from the Medstar Duology (by the way, I read those two book, and they are on my list). Another character is a librarian, which for a librarian as me, was kind of cool too. Overall, this was a good and pleasant read.
librarygirlreads's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
I'll give you two guesses at this book's subject, and that's only if you even need the second one. On the one hand, the book has a dull title that evokes nothing other than its subject; on the other hand, at least it's not as riduculous as The Starcave of ThonBoka. Even the one-word titles -- Kenobi, Tarkin, and Thrawn -- suggest more than this book's title does.
The book is better than its title suggests. Reaves and Perry create a wide, diverse cast of characters, all of whom are involved with the construction of the Death Star. We begin a good way into its construction, and since the book was written after the end of Revenge of the Sith, the story follows from what was established in the prequels, while also tapping into the events from Star Wars. The authors do a good job of placing the story firmly in between, bridging the gap between the two stories.
Because the story butts up against Star Wars, we have a few characters who are already familiar to us -- Darth Vader and Wilhuff Tarkin being the biggest. It's impossible to escape having them be a part of the story, and the authors do a good job of characterizing them appropriately (Tarkin comes across as even more ruthless), but there seemed to be a strong vein of fan service, too.
I was all set to give the book four stars, because the book succeeds in telling a decent story while giving us additional background into the Expanded Universe, but then the authors had to go and make the ending melodramatic and pat at the same time. There were also moments in the story where you could have put money on who wasn't going to make it out alive. I've started to notice that when an author creates a character who has so much to lose, there's a good chance they're goners.
Death Star is a good read. If the authors had handled the ending differently, I would recommend it as one of the stronger EU novels, but as it is, it merely rises to the top of the mediocre books.
The book is better than its title suggests. Reaves and Perry create a wide, diverse cast of characters, all of whom are involved with the construction of the Death Star. We begin a good way into its construction, and since the book was written after the end of Revenge of the Sith, the story follows from what was established in the prequels, while also tapping into the events from Star Wars. The authors do a good job of placing the story firmly in between, bridging the gap between the two stories.
Because the story butts up against Star Wars, we have a few characters who are already familiar to us -- Darth Vader and Wilhuff Tarkin being the biggest. It's impossible to escape having them be a part of the story, and the authors do a good job of characterizing them appropriately (Tarkin comes across as even more ruthless), but there seemed to be a strong vein of fan service, too.
I was all set to give the book four stars, because the book succeeds in telling a decent story while giving us additional background into the Expanded Universe, but then the authors had to go and make the ending melodramatic and pat at the same time. There were also moments in the story where you could have put money on who wasn't going to make it out alive. I've started to notice that when an author creates a character who has so much to lose, there's a good chance they're goners.
Death Star is a good read. If the authors had handled the ending differently, I would recommend it as one of the stronger EU novels, but as it is, it merely rises to the top of the mediocre books.
ehsjaysaunders's review
4.0
A fun, classic-era Star Wars romp that offers insight and compelling characters from the Imperial side of events surrounding the maiden voyage of the Death Star. Building on Dark Forces and the Han Solo Trilogy, this helps define the sordid tale of the Empire's ultimate machine of destruction. Reaves and Perry prove their love of the galaxy once again!
skywalker07's review
3.0
This was a good read, I liked it. It wasn't amazing, certainly. But it was nice to see a slice of life story about Imperial citizens. Of course they all joined the Rebellion at the end. That's always how these Imperial centric books go, it's a shame, but at least it made sense in this one. I liked the bouncer and the force sensitive martial artist characters. It's a shame they both ended up dead.
For a story about a bartender, a librarian, an imperial gunner, a guard, a doctor, and a smuggler, it wasn't bad. I liked the brief portions with Vader and Tarkin as well. Admiral Daala showing up to get laid was odd, but her having a head injury and amnesia explains why she's so nutty during the New Republic Era, at least.
One weird spot in the book had a Lucrehulk battleship randomly show up and start attacking the Death Star with 500 X-Wings. It didn't even feel like it fit in with the rest of the book. 500 X-Wings? That's an absurd number of ships for the small Rebellion at this point and it was hinted there was more on board. Very strange scene overall. Still, a solid book from near the end of the Legends era.
For a story about a bartender, a librarian, an imperial gunner, a guard, a doctor, and a smuggler, it wasn't bad. I liked the brief portions with Vader and Tarkin as well. Admiral Daala showing up to get laid was odd, but her having a head injury and amnesia explains why she's so nutty during the New Republic Era, at least.
One weird spot in the book had a Lucrehulk battleship randomly show up and start attacking the Death Star with 500 X-Wings. It didn't even feel like it fit in with the rest of the book. 500 X-Wings? That's an absurd number of ships for the small Rebellion at this point and it was hinted there was more on board. Very strange scene overall. Still, a solid book from near the end of the Legends era.
lydiapopthof's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0