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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I absolutely loved it. As a big fan of the X-Wing books, Corran Horn, and the Jedi, this was a treat for me. There are a few things that are keeping me from giving this five starts, but overall I was so happy with I, Jedi. It makes up for the Jedi Academy Trilogy in a lot of ways, but I definitely wouldn't say that it should act as a replacement for it. It's a great supplement, but I'm glad I read the trilogy first.
Here we get to see actual Jedi training taking place instead of Luke saying "practice on your own and meditate on what you have learned" like in JAT.
Though it's unusual for Star Wars, I liked the first-person perspective. Being able to be inside Corran's head while he trains and investigates was very interesting. I've seen some describe Corran as a Gary Stu, but I just don't see how that's the case. He has weaknesses, he makes the wrong decisions, he questions himself and seeks advice. He's very competent, but he has a well-written background to support that competence, and the character development throughout is very well-done. The scenes where he actually becomes a Jedi were fantastic. As good as Michael Stackpole is at writing starfighter battles and espionage plots, I wasn't expecting him to have such a good take on the Force as well.
It's certainly not a perfect book, but the complaints I do have are on a small scale. I didn't appreciate seeing Corran taking a holier-than-though approach to a legendary character like Luke Skywalker. That's an easy way to annoy fans, even if I agreed with some of the points made. There's maybe 1-2 too many dog fight sequences that concern things that just aren't important to the overall plot, and that made things drag around the 3/4 mark. Another small complaint is that there's certainly some fridging taking place here with Mirax being kidnapped, but it's to no extreme extent and doesn't really taint the book in my eyes, it's just a little disappointing that that's how she was used, is all.
This is another one of those Star Wars books that I'll return to if I'm looking for something light and fun. I'm very glad Stackpole was able to write a hardcover release, because he absolutely deserved it.
Here we get to see actual Jedi training taking place instead of Luke saying "practice on your own and meditate on what you have learned" like in JAT.
Though it's unusual for Star Wars, I liked the first-person perspective. Being able to be inside Corran's head while he trains and investigates was very interesting. I've seen some describe Corran as a Gary Stu, but I just don't see how that's the case. He has weaknesses, he makes the wrong decisions, he questions himself and seeks advice. He's very competent, but he has a well-written background to support that competence, and the character development throughout is very well-done. The scenes where he actually becomes a Jedi were fantastic. As good as Michael Stackpole is at writing starfighter battles and espionage plots, I wasn't expecting him to have such a good take on the Force as well.
It's certainly not a perfect book, but the complaints I do have are on a small scale. I didn't appreciate seeing Corran taking a holier-than-though approach to a legendary character like Luke Skywalker. That's an easy way to annoy fans, even if I agreed with some of the points made. There's maybe 1-2 too many dog fight sequences that concern things that just aren't important to the overall plot, and that made things drag around the 3/4 mark. Another small complaint is that there's certainly some fridging taking place here with Mirax being kidnapped, but it's to no extreme extent and doesn't really taint the book in my eyes, it's just a little disappointing that that's how she was used, is all.
This is another one of those Star Wars books that I'll return to if I'm looking for something light and fun. I'm very glad Stackpole was able to write a hardcover release, because he absolutely deserved it.
Based solely on plot, I thought this book had potential. The general idea was well thought-out and the events in the story exciting. However, none of that could redeem the terrible characterization--I spent a portion of my middle school years reading fanfiction and the main character, Corran/Keiran reeks of self-insert Sue.
Where do I begin? Perhaps the fact that Stackpole finds the need to make Corran the special one. Super rare energy-absorbing Jedi abilities? Check. Special silver lightsaber that can extend to twice its length? Check. Superiority complex that's written off as totally justified? Check. Every time Corran takes a disliking to someone (e.g. Kyp, Remart, Gantoris...) they're the ones who end up betraying him or who turn out to be evil. And where does he feel like he fits in? In a high class bar looking down on the city.
Stackpole also seems to love making every other supposedly competent character suddenly incompetent, but only if it gives Corran an opportunity to show how smart or insightful he is. Booster Terrik is supposedly great at what he does, but Corran ends up saving him from his own stupidity. The great Luke Skywalker who we all have come to love is reduced to an emotional and useless wreck (at one point in the novel, literally so) who fawns over Corran and who oohs and ahhs at all his ideas (which obviously all end up working). Luke, who's supposed to be the instructor, always ends up being lectured by Corran.
Corran is also apparently morally superior to everyone else; he is the only one who shows mercy in a firefight and then acts high-and-mighty about it (then gets promoted even though he's the newbie), and yet he complains that everyone on his side is useless and says that his squadron members who had died were just horrible marksmen. Later on, he beats up someone he doesn't like, even though they're supposedly on the same side. Yes, he was insulted, and yes, they were rivals, but there was really no need for that sort of disproportionate retribution, which ended up with the victim being killed.
As a final note about my hatred of the main character, I really disliked his promiscuity. Perhaps I don't understand his situation, but what I know is this: Corran is married. He spends the entire book trying to find his wife. And along the way, he ogles nearly every "attractive" woman he comes across, even considering sleeping with one.
The worst part is that Stackpole goes on trying to justify all of these shortcomings. This leads to a lot of boring, wordy explanations that really aren't needed and only make me hate the writing.
Speaking of the writing--have you heard of "show, don't tell"? Well, Stackpole hasn't. When he's not trying to beat a description to death, he's putting out forced, nonsensical similes like "dueling crescent moons." Then there's "got good," strange appearances of present tense, and "/" in the middle of dialogue.
In the end, the bad writing and worse characterization of the main character vastly overshadowed what could have been an interesting story. The first person viewpoint didn't help any, either. Honestly, I'd say skip this installment of the Star Wars expanded universe.
Where do I begin? Perhaps the fact that Stackpole finds the need to make Corran the special one. Super rare energy-absorbing Jedi abilities? Check. Special silver lightsaber that can extend to twice its length? Check. Superiority complex that's written off as totally justified? Check. Every time Corran takes a disliking to someone (e.g. Kyp, Remart, Gantoris...) they're the ones who end up betraying him or who turn out to be evil. And where does he feel like he fits in? In a high class bar looking down on the city.
Stackpole also seems to love making every other supposedly competent character suddenly incompetent, but only if it gives Corran an opportunity to show how smart or insightful he is. Booster Terrik is supposedly great at what he does, but Corran ends up saving him from his own stupidity. The great Luke Skywalker who we all have come to love is reduced to an emotional and useless wreck (at one point in the novel, literally so) who fawns over Corran and who oohs and ahhs at all his ideas (which obviously all end up working). Luke, who's supposed to be the instructor, always ends up being lectured by Corran.
Corran is also apparently morally superior to everyone else; he is the only one who shows mercy in a firefight and then acts high-and-mighty about it (then gets promoted even though he's the newbie), and yet he complains that everyone on his side is useless and says that his squadron members who had died were just horrible marksmen. Later on, he beats up someone he doesn't like
Spoiler
(Remart)As a final note about my hatred of the main character, I really disliked his promiscuity. Perhaps I don't understand his situation, but what I know is this: Corran is married. He spends the entire book trying to find his wife. And along the way, he ogles nearly every "attractive" woman he comes across, even considering sleeping with one.
The worst part is that Stackpole goes on trying to justify all of these shortcomings. This leads to a lot of boring, wordy explanations that really aren't needed and only make me hate the writing.
Speaking of the writing--have you heard of "show, don't tell"? Well, Stackpole hasn't. When he's not trying to beat a description to death, he's putting out forced, nonsensical similes like "dueling crescent moons." Then there's "got good," strange appearances of present tense, and "/" in the middle of dialogue.
In the end, the bad writing and worse characterization of the main character vastly overshadowed what could have been an interesting story. The first person viewpoint didn't help any, either. Honestly, I'd say skip this installment of the Star Wars expanded universe.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love Stackpole’s X-Wing series and Corran Horn is one of my favorite characters. I, Jedi relates the events that take place at the Jedi Academy – the same events in Kevin J. Anderson’s Jedi Academy Trilogy - from Horn’s point of view. So save yourself from lazy writing by ignoring Anderson’s trilogy and just reading Stackpole’s novel. But I, Jedi is more than just a rehash – albeit a much better retelling – of the JAT; it centers around Horn’s search for his missing wife.
This is the first, and I believe only novel in the Star Wars Expanded Universe told in first person, which is an interesting choice on Stackpole’s part. It made me like Horn a little less because he comes off as pretty arrogant, but that seems to be part of his fighter pilot ego/mentality. He’s also condescending, most notably to Luke, which was off-putting.
The novel seemed to drag towards the end, but it was OK. Did I say that it’s much better than the JAT?
This is the first, and I believe only novel in the Star Wars Expanded Universe told in first person, which is an interesting choice on Stackpole’s part. It made me like Horn a little less because he comes off as pretty arrogant, but that seems to be part of his fighter pilot ego/mentality. He’s also condescending, most notably to Luke, which was off-putting.
The novel seemed to drag towards the end, but it was OK. Did I say that it’s much better than the JAT?
I liked this book. As I read it, I remembered parts of this from other SW books. I liked that it added to the story, at least it did for me.
I can’t get through it, even for Rogue Podron. This is like a totally different book to the one I remember reading and loving when I was a kid.
So I read this years ago when I was 12 and I really liked it. Maybe it’s bc I was so young and it was one of the first Star Wars books I read but I think it’s really well written . I’m gonna be rereading it soon so I’ll post an updated review then 👍🏻
This book was pretty hard to get through - in the first few chapters, I was bored. Then when the main character starts to interact with our old friends Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, etc... and goes to jedi training, it became more interesting. Then it grew very tiresome again. I would move from chapter to chapter and suddenly someone had died randomly or became evil and I thought, did I miss a chapter? But no, that was just the writing. If you are looking for better SW books, I suggest the Thrawn series.
Corran Horn of Rogue Squadron is convinced to train his Jedi powers.
A succinct book review, so you have more time left for reading books!
A fountain of detailed Star Wars lore about how the galaxy and the Force work, feel, and effect individual people? Yes. A well-arranged story with effective prose and believable dialogue? No.
(I highly recommend that you read Kevin J. Anderson's "Jedi Academy" trilogy before this book, because they take place at the exact same time, and Mr. Anderson describes the shared events much more effectively.)
A fountain of detailed Star Wars lore about how the galaxy and the Force work, feel, and effect individual people? Yes. A well-arranged story with effective prose and believable dialogue? No.
(I highly recommend that you read Kevin J. Anderson's "Jedi Academy" trilogy before this book, because they take place at the exact same time, and Mr. Anderson describes the shared events much more effectively.)