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A review by nukehavoc
Star Wars Omnibus: Tales of the Jedi, Volume 1 by Kevin J. Anderson
3.0
Volume #1 consists of three stories: The Golden Age of the Sith, Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon, and The Saga of Nomi Sunrider set 3000-4000 years before the Battle of Yavin.
The "Golden Age" is an overwrought story that tells of the invasion of the republic by the Sith empire; the dialogue is stiff, the story jumps unevenly from scene to scene, and the plot twists feel too contrived. Ultimately, they're trying to tell too big of a story in too few pages (even though the war itself consumes 2/3rd of the book). The best parts detail the scheming of the Sith Lords, but unfortunately these conflicts are kludged onto the larger Sith invasion storyline. The whole thing fails as a cohesive story, even though it has entertaining elements.
The Beast Wars of Onderon is a far stronger story, following three Jedi apprentices as they are sent to the world of Onderon to attempt to negotiate an end to its centuries-old conflict between its dominant city state, and the beast lords living outside its walls. I think it works better because it's painting on a smaller canvas, and focusing on the trials of the three apprentices. Good stuff.
The Saga of Nomi Sunrider is an even more intimate story, showing the training of its namesake character at the feet of Jedi Master Thon. Sunrider sees her husband, a Jedi Knight, cut down by thugs, but is urged to take up his mantle by his Force ghost by training with Thon. Over the course of the story she's forced to confront her own fears to save herself, her master and the life of her child.
All in all, the book's worth picking up, particularly for those (like me) who are running Knights of the Old Republic RPG campaigns. "The Golden Age" may be weak, but the other two stories make up for it.
The "Golden Age" is an overwrought story that tells of the invasion of the republic by the Sith empire; the dialogue is stiff, the story jumps unevenly from scene to scene, and the plot twists feel too contrived. Ultimately, they're trying to tell too big of a story in too few pages (even though the war itself consumes 2/3rd of the book). The best parts detail the scheming of the Sith Lords, but unfortunately these conflicts are kludged onto the larger Sith invasion storyline. The whole thing fails as a cohesive story, even though it has entertaining elements.
The Beast Wars of Onderon is a far stronger story, following three Jedi apprentices as they are sent to the world of Onderon to attempt to negotiate an end to its centuries-old conflict between its dominant city state, and the beast lords living outside its walls. I think it works better because it's painting on a smaller canvas, and focusing on the trials of the three apprentices. Good stuff.
The Saga of Nomi Sunrider is an even more intimate story, showing the training of its namesake character at the feet of Jedi Master Thon. Sunrider sees her husband, a Jedi Knight, cut down by thugs, but is urged to take up his mantle by his Force ghost by training with Thon. Over the course of the story she's forced to confront her own fears to save herself, her master and the life of her child.
All in all, the book's worth picking up, particularly for those (like me) who are running Knights of the Old Republic RPG campaigns. "The Golden Age" may be weak, but the other two stories make up for it.