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lefthandedmatt's review against another edition
2.0
Ultimately a fairly uninteresting diversion from the big story of the Star Wars universe, it's well written and light hearted, but quite forgettable. Taking place right before Episode II, it doesn't tie into that film in any notable way and is a self contained small scale story. We get some interesting moments with Anakin and Obi-Wan, there's some exciting action and it borders on a charming little tale at times, but it's not enough to leave an impression.
waden34's review against another edition
1.0
This was a very hard book to get through.
The story was uninteresting. The Jedi are supposed to go meet some people to broker a truce. But the story isn't about that, it's about all the completely absurd mishaps that they encounter on the way. One near death experience with an alien animal to another, and another, and another...
The point of view character would randomly change from one paragraph to the next. This made following who was thinking what even more difficult.
And to top it off, apparently lightsabers work underwater now too, even though Phantom Menace showed that water will short them out.
The story was uninteresting. The Jedi are supposed to go meet some people to broker a truce. But the story isn't about that, it's about all the completely absurd mishaps that they encounter on the way. One near death experience with an alien animal to another, and another, and another...
The point of view character would randomly change from one paragraph to the next. This made following who was thinking what even more difficult.
And to top it off, apparently lightsabers work underwater now too, even though Phantom Menace showed that water will short them out.
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
I was as eager to read The Approaching Storm as I was to read Rogue Planet, because Alan Dean Foster is an established author. I know he wrote the novelizations for Star Wars and The Force Awakens, but in those cases, he was writing based on someone else's story. Here, he was creating his own story from scratch, and I wanted to see what he could do with the material.
The story here is about Ansion, a small planet in the Republic that is threatening to withdraw. Small as it is, the planet is a linchpin for other, neighboring worlds, and if it withdraws from the Republic, the others will, too. Given the fragility of the Republic at the time of this book (just before Attack of the Clones), the Jedi Council sends Obi-Wan, Luminara, and their Padawans to Ansion to convince them to stay in the Republic. Of course, forces are working against the four of them, as some characters behind the scenes (gosh, I wonder who they could be?) are working toward a collapse of the Republic. Thus begins The Approaching Storm.
Summed up that way, the book sounds very much like a Star Wars book, but ultimately it has a very different feel from other books in the Expanded Universe. Foster's style focuses more on discovery than action. What action does take place happens quickly, and sometimes is summed up in a single paragraph or a few sentences, which makes it feel unlike anything else in the universe. The book is all about the world-building, which I understand is Foster's forte, and I won't deny that I enjoyed what world-building he did. The book just feels like it was an older idea that Foster had held on to for a long time before realizing he could fit it into the Star Wars universe with a few tweaks.
Foster's narrative is stilted, enough so that there were times when I had to stop and parse his sentences to understand what he was trying to say. They were correct, but awkwardly constructed, and I couldn't help but think there was an easier way to get his point across. I noticed it less and less the more I read of the book, but it was difficult getting used to his style.
Obi-Wan and Anakin are two of the central characters in the book, but Foster doesn't capture their voices very well. They feel realized, but they don't feel like the characters as the movies (and other authors) capture them. I've seen other reviews that talk about how the two characters feel forced into the story, and while I don't feel that way, I do feel like Foster had different characters in mind for the story, and decided to call them Obi-Wan and Anakin for the sake of continuity.
I did enjoy this book, despite it being an anomaly among the Expanded Universe books I've read so far. Readers who like books about world-building should eat this up, though, as Foster creates a whole new planet from scratch, including its wildlife, races, ecology, and society. I think readers who are expecting another action-packed novel set in the universe, though, should look elsewhere.
The story here is about Ansion, a small planet in the Republic that is threatening to withdraw. Small as it is, the planet is a linchpin for other, neighboring worlds, and if it withdraws from the Republic, the others will, too. Given the fragility of the Republic at the time of this book (just before Attack of the Clones), the Jedi Council sends Obi-Wan, Luminara, and their Padawans to Ansion to convince them to stay in the Republic. Of course, forces are working against the four of them, as some characters behind the scenes (gosh, I wonder who they could be?) are working toward a collapse of the Republic. Thus begins The Approaching Storm.
Summed up that way, the book sounds very much like a Star Wars book, but ultimately it has a very different feel from other books in the Expanded Universe. Foster's style focuses more on discovery than action. What action does take place happens quickly, and sometimes is summed up in a single paragraph or a few sentences, which makes it feel unlike anything else in the universe. The book is all about the world-building, which I understand is Foster's forte, and I won't deny that I enjoyed what world-building he did. The book just feels like it was an older idea that Foster had held on to for a long time before realizing he could fit it into the Star Wars universe with a few tweaks.
Foster's narrative is stilted, enough so that there were times when I had to stop and parse his sentences to understand what he was trying to say. They were correct, but awkwardly constructed, and I couldn't help but think there was an easier way to get his point across. I noticed it less and less the more I read of the book, but it was difficult getting used to his style.
Obi-Wan and Anakin are two of the central characters in the book, but Foster doesn't capture their voices very well. They feel realized, but they don't feel like the characters as the movies (and other authors) capture them. I've seen other reviews that talk about how the two characters feel forced into the story, and while I don't feel that way, I do feel like Foster had different characters in mind for the story, and decided to call them Obi-Wan and Anakin for the sake of continuity.
I did enjoy this book, despite it being an anomaly among the Expanded Universe books I've read so far. Readers who like books about world-building should eat this up, though, as Foster creates a whole new planet from scratch, including its wildlife, races, ecology, and society. I think readers who are expecting another action-packed novel set in the universe, though, should look elsewhere.
elizalavenza's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
baileychadwick's review against another edition
1.0
I know Alan Dean Foster is considered Star Wars novel royalty, but damn do I hate his style. I haven't liked a single book he's written and this one may just be the worst. I listened to this as an audio book which had the added bonus of a terrible narrator. The plot lagged, the characters were annoying (especially Tookie), and if I hear the word "subitar" ever again in my life, I may pour gasoline in my ear canals.
jmanchester0's review against another edition
3.0
Crap. I didn't realize this was abridged. Why would anyone do that?
Other than that, it was ok - I always like back stories about the characters I know, and this is a prequel to the second movie in the new trilogy (Attack of the Clones).
But there wasn't a lot of action, there was a lot of politics, and...I don't know. It was just ok.
Other than that, it was ok - I always like back stories about the characters I know, and this is a prequel to the second movie in the new trilogy (Attack of the Clones).
But there wasn't a lot of action, there was a lot of politics, and...I don't know. It was just ok.
irasobrietate's review against another edition
3.0
More of a 2.5⭐ but I'm being generous. I really liked this intro to Barriss and especially her loghtsaber dance which sounded amazing. There were a couple of good moments developing Anakin's character and where his head is at pre-AotC. But damn if this book wasn't super ableist. Like they literally said that people with mental illnesses are so addled that Jedi can't detect anything from them? And then had Barriss heal two aliens whose physiology she knew nothing about with no repercussions whatsoever? First the dismissal and then the amazing cure just rubbed me the wrong way. And the fact that Luminara and Barriss were introduced by having Luminara intimidate away attemped rapists? Fucking must you??? I don't know why I ever expected better from the dude who wrote Splinter of the Mind's Eye, though. He was a sexist, racist trash pile then, too. Apparently it was too much to hope that 25 years allowed him some growth.
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
— Stimată Shu Mai, mi se pare că planeta mea devine foarte importantă.
Președinta Ghildei Comerciale surâse scurt.
— Cheile mici pot descuia porți foarte mari, senator Mousul. În timp ce discuta, cvartetul respectabil se plimba fără grabă prin galaxie. Desigur, nu era vorba despre galaxia reală, ci despre un model complet tridimensional imens și complex, care umplea în întregime apartamentul privat. Stelele străluceau de jur împrejurul lor, învăluindu-i într-o pâclă strălucitoare și multicoloră de tonuri pastelate. Întinzând brațul și atingând un sistem planetar oarecare, oricine putea apela descrierea detaliată, enciclopedică a sistemului respectiv și a planetelor care-l alcătuiau – de la specii și populații, până la caracteristici minuțioase ale florei și faunei, statistici de natură economică și extrapolări privind viitorul.
Unul dintre membrii cvartetului era o femelă twi’lek cu piele albastră, tăcută și mai degrabă contemplativă. O însoțea un industriaș corellian important și lesne de recunoscut. Președinta Ghildei Comerciale era scundă și zveltă, cu piele verde și coama înaltă, pieptănată peste cap, ce constituia coafura tipică femelelor din rasa gossam. Al patrulea membru al grupului era senatorul de Ansion, înveșmântat într-o mantie largă și complicat țesută din cele mai exotice materiale de pe planeta sa natală. În ciuda rangului său important, părea agitat, aidoma cuiva care se teme să nu fie urmărit. Cât despre femela twi’lek și corellianul, ei erau cu certitudine simpli solicitanți... deși corellianul avea foarte multă influență.
Președinta Ghildei Comerciale se opri și, cu un gest larg, indică punctulețele de lumină tremurătoare ce reprezentau peste o mie de planete. Era incredibil, gândi ea, felul în care trilioane de ființe raționale și civilizații întregi puteau fi reduse la simple firicele care pluteau într-o singură odaie. Ar fi fost minunat dacă și realitatea ar fi putut să fie la fel de simplu de organizat și gestionat ca și modelul acela luminos și eficient.
„Avea să fie”, reflectă ea încrezător, „cu condiția de a beneficia de timp și de ajutorul unor alianțe întreținute cu grijă”.
Președinta Ghildei Comerciale surâse scurt.
— Cheile mici pot descuia porți foarte mari, senator Mousul. În timp ce discuta, cvartetul respectabil se plimba fără grabă prin galaxie. Desigur, nu era vorba despre galaxia reală, ci despre un model complet tridimensional imens și complex, care umplea în întregime apartamentul privat. Stelele străluceau de jur împrejurul lor, învăluindu-i într-o pâclă strălucitoare și multicoloră de tonuri pastelate. Întinzând brațul și atingând un sistem planetar oarecare, oricine putea apela descrierea detaliată, enciclopedică a sistemului respectiv și a planetelor care-l alcătuiau – de la specii și populații, până la caracteristici minuțioase ale florei și faunei, statistici de natură economică și extrapolări privind viitorul.
Unul dintre membrii cvartetului era o femelă twi’lek cu piele albastră, tăcută și mai degrabă contemplativă. O însoțea un industriaș corellian important și lesne de recunoscut. Președinta Ghildei Comerciale era scundă și zveltă, cu piele verde și coama înaltă, pieptănată peste cap, ce constituia coafura tipică femelelor din rasa gossam. Al patrulea membru al grupului era senatorul de Ansion, înveșmântat într-o mantie largă și complicat țesută din cele mai exotice materiale de pe planeta sa natală. În ciuda rangului său important, părea agitat, aidoma cuiva care se teme să nu fie urmărit. Cât despre femela twi’lek și corellianul, ei erau cu certitudine simpli solicitanți... deși corellianul avea foarte multă influență.
Președinta Ghildei Comerciale se opri și, cu un gest larg, indică punctulețele de lumină tremurătoare ce reprezentau peste o mie de planete. Era incredibil, gândi ea, felul în care trilioane de ființe raționale și civilizații întregi puteau fi reduse la simple firicele care pluteau într-o singură odaie. Ar fi fost minunat dacă și realitatea ar fi putut să fie la fel de simplu de organizat și gestionat ca și modelul acela luminos și eficient.
„Avea să fie”, reflectă ea încrezător, „cu condiția de a beneficia de timp și de ajutorul unor alianțe întreținute cu grijă”.
birdmanseven's review against another edition
2.0
I'm a big Alan Dean Foster fan, so I was surprised to find myself not enjoying this. This was pretty light on action and very heavy on Star Wars politics. I would have liked more of Luminar and Barriss too. Sadly, I think this is one to pass on.
We discus it in depth on a special episode of the All the Books Show:
https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-245-star-wars-day-book-club
You can find my interview with the author here:
https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-225-interview-with-alan-dean-foster
We discus it in depth on a special episode of the All the Books Show:
https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-245-star-wars-day-book-club
You can find my interview with the author here:
https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-225-interview-with-alan-dean-foster
aliendaydreamer's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.75
The only thing that kept me interested was descriptions of animals and cultural practices. Otherwise meh