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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.