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jaredkwheeler 's review for:
Soldier for the Empire
by William C. Dietz
Star Wars Legends Project #217
Background: Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire was written by [a:William C. Dietz|78736|William C. Dietz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550676046p2/78736.jpg] as the first of three tie-in novellas to the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight video games. It was published in February of 1997. Dietz wrote all three novellas in the series.
Soldier for the Empire takes place 1 year before the battle of Yavin. The main character is Kyle Katarn, along with Jan Ors and the Dark Jedi Jerec. There are appearances by Lando Calrissian and Thrawn. The novel takes place on various planets including Alderaan, Carida, and Sullust.
Summary: Kyle Katarn is already a decorated veteran by the time he graduates from the Imperial Military Academy. But he is troubled by the memory of a woman, a Rebel, whose life he spared for reasons he can't quite explain. After a personal tragedy for which he blames the Rebellion, he comes to regret his act of mercy. But there are larger forces, dark ones, at work. Will Kyle recognize the truth in time?
Review: Maybe it was because this was one of the first pockets of the Expanded Universe that I was aware of, but this feels like really early days for the EU, in a good way. It's short and straightforward, involves very few characters from any of the movies (and only in passing), and introduces and develops several compelling new faces who would go on to become beloved figures.
It's probably a little too simple, in the end. But I really appreciate how much time it spends just building characters and establishing their world. This isn't great, maybe, but I wish a lot more of the EU followed this model, and for that reason alone it's worth taking a look at. I have really fond memories of the games that this ties in with. It's weird, actually, how close the template of this story is to the template of Force Unleashed, except this isn't written like a deranged wish-fulfillment fanfic. Starkiller is basically the JJ Abrams version of Kyle Katarn. It's pretty clear which kind of storytelling is more successful.
B-
Background: Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire was written by [a:William C. Dietz|78736|William C. Dietz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1550676046p2/78736.jpg] as the first of three tie-in novellas to the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight video games. It was published in February of 1997. Dietz wrote all three novellas in the series.
Soldier for the Empire takes place 1 year before the battle of Yavin. The main character is Kyle Katarn, along with Jan Ors and the Dark Jedi Jerec. There are appearances by Lando Calrissian and Thrawn. The novel takes place on various planets including Alderaan, Carida, and Sullust.
Summary: Kyle Katarn is already a decorated veteran by the time he graduates from the Imperial Military Academy. But he is troubled by the memory of a woman, a Rebel, whose life he spared for reasons he can't quite explain. After a personal tragedy for which he blames the Rebellion, he comes to regret his act of mercy. But there are larger forces, dark ones, at work. Will Kyle recognize the truth in time?
Review: Maybe it was because this was one of the first pockets of the Expanded Universe that I was aware of, but this feels like really early days for the EU, in a good way. It's short and straightforward, involves very few characters from any of the movies (and only in passing), and introduces and develops several compelling new faces who would go on to become beloved figures.
It's probably a little too simple, in the end. But I really appreciate how much time it spends just building characters and establishing their world. This isn't great, maybe, but I wish a lot more of the EU followed this model, and for that reason alone it's worth taking a look at. I have really fond memories of the games that this ties in with. It's weird, actually, how close the template of this story is to the template of Force Unleashed, except this isn't written like a deranged wish-fulfillment fanfic. Starkiller is basically the JJ Abrams version of Kyle Katarn. It's pretty clear which kind of storytelling is more successful.
B-