Crucible: Star Wars Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B00DGCF7U2 | Format: EPUB
Crucible: Star Wars Description
Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, and Luke Skywalker return in an all-new Star Wars adventure, which will challenge them in ways they never expected - and forever alter their understanding of life and the Force.
When Han and Leia Solo arrive at Lando Calrissian's Outer Rim mining operation to help him thwart a hostile takeover, their aim is just to even up the odds and lay down the law. Then monstrous aliens arrive with a message, and mere threats escalate into violent sabotage with mass fatalities. When the dust settles, what began as corporate warfare becomes a battle with much higher stakes - and far deadlier consequences.
Now Han, Leia, and Luke team up once again in a quest to defeat a dangerous adversary bent on galaxy-wide domination. Only this time, the Empire is not the enemy. It is a pair of ruthless geniuses with a lethal ally and a lifelong vendetta against Han Solo. And when the murderous duo gets the drop on Han, he finds himself outgunned in the fight of his life. To save him, and the galaxy, Luke and Leia must brave a gauntlet of treachery, terrorism, and the untold power of an enigmatic artifact capable of bending space, time, and even the Force itself into an apocalyptic nightmare.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 12 hours and 8 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Random House Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: July 9, 2013
- Whispersync for Voice: Ready
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00DGCF7U2
Crucible is a hard book for me to rate. I'm not the biggest fan of Troy Denning's Star Wars books. There's a lot to this book that I didn't like. However, there is a great payoff at the end so I definitely recommend reading it. I will try to keep this review spoiler-free, but with the recognition that I can't properly explain exactly what I liked about the book without at least mentioning the ending.
THE PLOT
At first glance, it's not very interesting. A pair of businessmen, the Columi brothers Marvid and Craitheus Qreph, have an evil plan to take over the galaxy. And unfortunately the actual plot itself never becomes very interesting. Crucible is really about the journey Han, Luke, and Leia take (especially Han). We see a few other characters, including Ben Skywalker, Tahiri, and Vestara Khai, but they're really ancillary.
TROPES
I've been critical of tropes in Star Wars writing for a while and Denning is one of the leading culprits. My Trope Rader went on high alert right on page one, when Crucible opens with a scene in a bar and we learn it reminds Han of that bar in Mos Eisley. The first half is filled with more tropes, including a high-stakes Sabacc game in order to obtain information about the villain, a big bar fight that descends into chaos, etc.
I was pleased that the second half of the book steers away from the common tropes and actually has some original and even interesting elements. We do see another Sabacc game, but unlike any other ever played. Denning also introduces some hard-sci-fi concepts into the book, although he doesn't develop these as much as I would have liked. Finally, the ending is just literally and figuratively out of this world.
***spoilers possible amid my ramblings ***
Overview: This book features a lot of Han and Leia Solo, Luke Skywalker, and two of the most annoying villains I've heard Marc Thompson voice in a very long time. It's got minor appearances by Lando C. and Ben Skywalker. Vestara's (knock-off darkside Mara light) back too, big surprise there. I skipped the end of the last series of Star Wars books, so I think I missed a few big pts like the umpteenth hostile takeover of Coruscant. I think I missed Jaina and Jag's wedding too, unless that was covered in a comic or something. Omad's kind of a useless add-on character.
Good: I'd say 3/4 of the book are action-packed and reminiscent of other great star wars EU stories. I was listening to this CD while also reading Razor's Edge, so it provided a nice contrast in terms of the character relationships. Leia and Luke actually fight the bad guys together. There's a well-described space battle. The Mandalorians are back and suitably merc-like, though I must say I find Merta's reason for hiring her Clan out to the Creths shaky at best.
Han's torture session actually brought up some interesting questions.
Bad: Since when did the term "bugged out" become common star wars lingo? I think Denning used the phrase or something similar at least 4 times. The last CD where our heroes features about a half hour of a high pitched background noise that's supposed to emphasize the alternate place the heroes entered. While I get why they would want some sound effect, the one they chose just set my teeth on edge.
The Creths are super annoying. It's made worse by Thompson's voice for Marvid Creth, but I'm fairly certain I'd still be annoyed with him as a character if I was reading the story.
Crucible: Star Wars Preview
Link
Please Wait...