Dark Tide I: Onslaught

Another novel done!

This one was up and down for me.

Sometimes, Stackpole writes exciting action pieces with brilliant characterisation. Then sometimes, I find myself a little bored and skimming through a chapter, and finding certain moments odd.

For some context, I have zero interest in the spaceships, dogfighting, speeder stuff of Star Wars! Probably because I have an absolute lack of interest in cars, bikes, planes, or pretty much any vehicle in real life. I feel the same about Star Wars.

When first getting into these novels, I brushed off the X-Wing series as a little series for kids or something. I heard a lot of good things over time, and a month or two ago, I tried to listen to the audiobook of Rogue Squadron narrated by Marc Thompson.

And I just couldn't finish it.

Then I tried I, Jedi, and continued to like Corran as I did with the audiobook, but just found it retelling a story I already like, and I couldn't be bothered to finish it.

So it's safe to say I'm hardly a big Stackpole fan, or the biggest fan of Corran. But I do really like him.

I do think Stackpole seems to treat him as like a self-insert. He views him as really perfect, and it often feels like Corran is just so great and friends with everyone (even Mara!) and it does rub me the wrong way a bit. But then I like him too?

I gained incredible respect for Stackpole when Corran sacrificed himself. I loved his sacrifice. I adored it. Then it was a fake out. What? Are you kidding me? That was so good. I was really, really annoyed by that. So annoyed. I thought it was so bold, and so impressive to have killed off your own beloved character like that, I was thinking, “Holy shit. This guy has balls.” Then it was a dumb fake out. Come on...

But then... he just GOT the original trilogy characters. It was a shame to have Han pretty much out of the book. However, Leia was so good, Luke and Mara were maybe at their best here(?), Lando was really solid, and Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin just get better and better.

This novel is fucking brutal. The whole final battle around Dantooine is so violent and horrific at times, and it is so hopeless! The idea that the Yuuzhan Vong are still just testing them, that this is nothing yet, is fucking terrifying.

There were some incredible moments in this novel. Luke and Mara had so many lovely romantic moments that warmed my heart like a stereotypical young teenage girl with a crush (I'm pathetic for Luke x Mara)!

Luke taking Jacen's lightsaber, and using two sabers to fight three Yuuzhan Vong warriors was amazing. The fight was written really well, so gripping and entertaining, and just such a cool moment. Man I LOVE Luke!

So basically... it's a mixed bag. I love so many parts, find many boring, and there is a major element I disliked. But the good outweighs the bad. By far.

7.5/10

I just finished rereading Star Wars – The New Jedi Order: Onslaught. I don't know if it's because I've read this book several times in the past, but it definitely brings a warmth in the heart. I really like the way [a:Michael Stackpole 19077986 Michael Stackpole https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] writes and makes us feel at home. I really like the way he approaches the main characters and makes the reader feel connected with the Solo brothers.It is worth saying that, despite being a small book, a lot happens! There are several scenes and adventures and all equally important. [a:Michael Stackpole 19077986 Michael Stackpole https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] has always known how to balance and tell the narrative in an agile way. It's no surprise that he's one of the big names in the Expanded Universe, mainly due to the books in the X-Wing series.One of the main points of the book is about the political tension involving the New Republic. Despite having lived alongside the great heroes of the Rebel Alliance, the current politicians presented in this story seem much more concerned with personal agendas than with the political stability and security of the new government. Apparently, pettiness and smallness still haunt the world enough for people to forget the atrocities done by the Empire (it's a very current issue in our real world, considering I'm writing this in the beginning of the XXI century).I really liked Luke Skywalker's initiative in creating reconnaissance missions led by cells of Jedi Knights. Each group has its own adventures and series of difficulties, but gathering information that will be important in the end. Of these, I really like Luke's trip with Jacen Solo to Belkadan, when they really begin to realize the size of the problem and the threat that the Vong are. Bioengineering was one of the major themes of Science Fiction in the 1990s and is very well represented here.It is a book that has no philosophical depth. Despite touching on sensitive topics (environmental issues, our current relationship with technology, recurring family issues, etc.), it does not promote any deeper discussion about any of it. That is not and has never been the goal of any Star Wars movie/comic/book, but it is a fun book after all.