Star Wars: Scourge

Star Wars Legends: Novels

by Jeff Grubb

In the heart of crime-ridden Hutt Space, a Jedi Scholar searches for justice.

While trying to obtain the coordinates of a secret, peril-packed, but potentially beneficial trade route, a novice Jedi is killed—and the motive for his murder remains shrouded in mystery. Now his former Master, Jedi archivist Mander Zuma, wants answers, even as he fights to erase doubts about his own abilities as a Jedi. What Mander gets is immersion into the perilous underworld of the Hutts as he struggles to stay one step ahead in a game of smugglers, killers, and crime lords bent on total control.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Novels, Space Opera, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fantasy

302 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

He is an author and game designer.

See more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Grubb

Reviews

[CS · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Size matters not. Inertia, however, is a pain in the butt."

At the death of his apprentice, Toro Irana, Mander Zuma arrives on Makem Te to investigate why his apprentice died under such unusual circumstances and to finish up the mission. It becomes clear that Toro was addicted to a new, dangerous drug called Tempest. As he investigates, he teams up with Toro's sister, Reen, a Bothan named Eddey, and a CSA agent named Angela Krin. Where is the spice coming from--and can Mander, the unconventional Jedi archivist from Yavin 4, stop it?

These days, Star Wars books have been mostly set in the "Fate of the Jedi" era or the long, long ago "The Old Republic" era. This little book, written by Jeff Grubb, Star Wars novelist newbie (though not unfamiliar with the franchise), bucks the trend. It stars all new characters and none of the Big Three. It is set in the "quiet" era between Timothy Zahn's Hand of Thrawn duology and the New Jedi Order series. And it's story is a basic mystery, not a Superweapon of the week. And I think those all make this book as great as it is.

Star Wars is an expansive universe, and while I love stories about Luke, Leia, and Han, I also love it when an author can move away from the Big Three and make his or her own creations. Grubb has done this with his main characters, Mander, Reen, Eddey, and Angela. Firstly, THANK YOU GRUBB for the diversity. Taking a quick peek at the Character List shows that few of the characters are human--out of the 11 listed, only 2 are human (Angela and Mander). This carries true for lesser characters not mentioned in the List. I've complained endlessly about the humancentric stories, and it is SO nice to see such a variety of species.

The characters that Grubb has developed are unique and interesting. Mander Zuma is a Jedi archivist, more at home with "scrolls and books" than with swashbuckling and adventuring. I do feel that his bookishness wasn't as pronounced as it could have been, and we don't get a really good description of what he looks like (apparently, he wears "magna lenses" aka glasses--shame on the cover artist for missing this!!). However, it's nice to have a Jedi that isn't all lightsaber swingin', star-pilotin' rip-roarin' adventure seeker. Reen Irana was Toro's sister and looking to find out why he died. She was competent and capable, not requiring some male to rescue her every two seconds or swooning over whether Mander liked her. Eddey was super amusing; he was the brains of the operation, and while that did get a bit stereotypical, he was a lot of fun, and I felt he bucked the Bothan stereotype. Angela was another competent, capable female; the Hutts really pushed the envelope of what we expect (but I have some complaints...).

I liked the concept of the story; I felt the execution was a bit all over the place. I was kinda hoping that the main character Jedi (Mander) would be the one addicted to the spice; however, that wasn't the case. But, honestly the story idea was interesting; sure, it's a common plot to have book nerdy guy go to solve a really action/adventure case, but Star Wars hasn't done that very much. And I really do like this idea of having mystery stories set in Star Wars (if only we didn't have a 10 page "And this is how I, the Bad Guy, did all this" exposition at the end...).

The thing I found challenging was figuring out where the story was going at any time. It seemed at times the characters were just floating from scene to scene, that they didn't have so much of a focus, that things were happening because A) it was exciting or B) that needed to happen to move the story. Some of the investigating was weak; a lot just falls into Mander's lap. The last half is probably stronger and has more of a focus, but I did find my attention wandering at times or asking myself, "And...why are they here?"

Writing wise, Grubb is very adept. Good pleasing prose, some funny scenes (I love me some humor), a really good understanding of the Star Wars universe. And for a newbie to the Star Wars novels, that is a big plus in my book.

And now for the part you've been clamoring for: NERD NITPICKS!

1. I hate species stereotyping. Bothans are all sneaky spies, Mandalorians are all bounty hunters, all Corellians are gamblers, all Hutts are involved in crime, all Gamorreans are stupid security brutes. And so on. And so forth. While this book is certainly not the worst offender, there are hints of it. The Bomu clan of Rodians, for example, are completely inept at handling the Jedi situation. Most of the Hutts are pretty duplicitous and involved in crime. There were notable exceptions (Mika, and the Hunter Hutt, who NEEDS A BOOK OF HIS OWN), but it was still there.

2. The identity of the Spice Lord was a disappointment. Some serious spoilers follow, so don't read unless you are okay with being spoiled!! It's Mika, the Force User. I was hoping that we could have a Hutt Force User without him (or her) being evil--unlike the Hutt from "Planet of Twilight". I didn't like the other option of Vago, whose family was killed at the hands of Popara. The one I was REALLY hoping for was the Twi'Lek handmaidens. Now THAT would have been AWESOME!!

3. The science geek side of me rebels against the way that the spice is treated to become Tempest. How could they tell, just by looking at Tempest, that it was irradiated by a black hole and a white dwarf? Isn't radiation just radiation? Maybe I am forgetting my physics. And I know this is spice and it's illegal, but the method of creating it seems VERY hazardous. Contact with radiated water and soil? You are just ASKING to be sued.

And that's all we have time for today. Tune in next time for NERD NITPICKS!

So while this wasn't blow me out of the water amazing, I definitely enjoyed myself and will be looking forward to more of Grubb's Star Wars novels in the future. I wouldn't even be opposed to him writing more stories about Mander and gang.

UPDATE: I'm moving, so as I was weeding through books and came across this one. I COULD NOT remember reading this! I had to come here and look it up.

Just sayin'.

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel that does not get talked about a lot among Star Wars readers, and I believe that is because it is so far removed from the rest of the EU books. This book is an adaptation of the Tempest Feud RPG Campaign and as such probably had a much narrower readership.

I did quite enjoy the RPG elements of the book. I could really tell the RPG story structure with action scene followed by information gathering/traveling, but I thought that blended really well with the novel itself. Thankfully, any RPG mechanics were left on the cutting room floor.

I did enjoy reading about uncovering the mystery of the Jedi murder, as well as the spice storyline and trying to figure out which Hutt was behind it all. I actually had it completely wrong in my guesses.

The main cast was fun to follow, and the story was engaging, but as a whole, the book didn't stand out one way or another. I understand why it's not particularly talked about among readers, because there's just not too much to talk about. It was fun, that's about it.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it's not a standout. Just a fun Star Wars book. 7 out of 10.

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Grubb’s 2012 novel “Scourge” is a part of the Star Wars Expanded Universe (SWEU) that is now considered part of the “old canon” or, more diplomatically, “legends”. Owing to the fact, however, that it does not feature any of the known characters from the original franchise or prequels and does not impinge on any of the established storylines (the novel takes place post-Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and before the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the New Jedi Order series), it can probably still be enjoyed as a decent stand-alone novel set in the SWEU.

Grubb, a game designer and published author of roughly 20 books in the fantasy genre, decided to join the ranks of writers in the SWEU with “Scourge”. It is, to date, the only Star Wars novel he has written, and I wonder why, as Grubb is actually one of the more talented writers I have read in the SWEU old canon.

“Scourge” is, essentially, a murder mystery/ crime drama set in the Star Wars universe and, more specifically, in the section of the galaxy known as Hutt Space. This is an area of space ruled by the Hutts, a species of aliens who are known for being crime lords. (The most familiar Hutt, of course, being Jabba.)

When a young Jedi named Toro Irana dies on the planet Makem Te in mysterious circumstances, his master, Mander Zuma, leaves behind his job as archivist on Coruscant to go play detective. Plagued by guilt and thoughts that he failed his young padawan, Zuma arrives on Makem Te and immediately discovers that Irana was poisoned by a powerful new narcotic known as Tempest.

Teaming up with a team of smugglers led by Reen Irana, Toro’s sister, and a Bothan named Eddey, Mander’s investigation leads him to a planet in Hutt Space that is under quarantine due to a mysterious virus. The virus’s arrival, strangely enough, coincides with the recent rise of Tempest usage.

Throw into the mix a Hutt named Mika Anjiliac, who, unlike others of his species, appears to be above-board and working with authorities to uncover and stop the Tempest drug trade. Mander also begins to suspect that Mika may be even more rare among his kind as he believes the Force is very strong in this Hutt.

Soon, the four of them are embroiled in a Hutt mob war that will lead them to Varl, the original abandoned home-world of the Hutts.

“Scourge” is a fun, exciting Star Wars thriller tat has more in common with noir crime thrillers than its space-opera compatriots, but there is enough lightsaber duels and space battles to satiate the average Star Wars fan.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book because it wasn't trying to be part of a trilogy or multi-part saga, it didn't have cameoes or even mention ANY of the major characters in the Star Wars universe, and it took me places that I've never been to, and I've been following this universe for quite some time, so that's saying something!

A rookie Jedi dies, his Master investigates and before you can say "I have a bad feeling about this" the book is neck deep in gangsters, thugs, assassins, drug dealers, biker gangs, and more scum than you could shake a gimmer stick at. I really enjoyed it, even if the identity of the main antagonist is easy to predict. That said, getting to the reveal was really fun, and the final battle in Chapter Nineteen is worth the price of the book alone.

A nice one-shot story in the Star Wars universe that has me looking for further tales coming from author Jeff Grubb. Perhaps this might be laying groundwork for Lucas' live action Star Wars series "Underworld"? Hmmmm....time will tell.

[Sam Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://bookunderthesun.blogspot.com/2...
The full article is available in the above link.

There is nothing novel in a story which featured a protagonist who was not confident in his abilities, even if he was a Jedi Master. But Mander Zuma was a different breed of Jedi Master - he was an Archivist. In other words, he was a librarian with spectacles to go with (yes, he really had specs).

What made Mander Zuma such an interesting character was his status as an Archivist (again, librarian with specs). I am used to Jedi Masters who put a show of Force and swinging lightsabers as if they were dancers, but the protagonist was just a simple librarian. He was not the best combat expert or tactician, nor was he even familiar with spaceflight, which somehow was something which you came to expect of all Jedi.

But he did not enter the story without bringing with him anything. I loved his particular strength of analysis - a cool head to think through situations and using his knowledge to resolve problems. He would read up manuals, facts and whatever volumes he could about the situation he would face before he face it. As an engineer who did that myself, this was a particular cool way which relate closely to my nature and job.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Nice to read a book set in the older times.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel isn't that bad. I didn't know what to expect of it -- I've never seen it come up in lists of the better Expanded Universe books -- but Grubb does a decent job of telling a Star Wars story without featuring any key franchise players and genuinely expanding the universe.

It's unfortunate that the key twist of the story was obvious, and the story suffers a bit for feeling out of place in the timeline (it feels much more like a Clone Wars-era story than one set after the Thrawn novels), but it surprised me. I have to give it credit for that alone.

[Book Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. It's a complete standalone. There are no characters you know. Not only Luke and Leia. No Tenel Ka, no Kyp Durron, no Tycho Celchu, just a new jedi master in the New Jedi Order era investigating the death of his apprentice.
What I liked most was that it made Hutts into actual characters while still being Hutts.

[DiscoSpacePanther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Wars: Scourge is another late-period Legends continuity novel. However, it is pretty much standalone, and aside from a few side-mentions of Luke’s Jedi academy, this story could be placed anywhere in the Star Wars timeline, in either continuity.

It begins with the death of a young Pantoran Jedi, and follows his master’s investigation into how he died.

For the most part I found this to be an entertaining read. It’s not pretending to be anything more than a minor story about a bunch of characters we’ve never seen before (and will never see again), so it doesn’t try too hard to be epic or groundbreaking.

The plot moves along at an appropriate pace, neither lingering too long on irrelevant details, nor careening headlong without pausing between action scenes.

Mander Zuma, the main character, was a little bland. It is difficult to find something new to say about a Jedi, particularly a human Jedi - one thing the prequels taught us is that the Jedi code was pretty restrictive with regard to appropriate behaviour, so writers have tended to substitute alien characteristics for character depth. We got to know him well enough, and I wouldn’t be opposed to reading other stories with him in - I would just want a little something to make him feel more distinctive.

The supporting cast were also quite vanilla, with nothing strikingly original to make them stand out in such a crowded fictional universe. None felt out of place, but I doubt if any will stay with me like Ton Phanan, Talon Karrde or HK-47.

I found the villains to be a little flat as well. The small amont of misdirection to place another character under suspicion of being the big bad was appreciated, but the eventual reveal was simply a reversion to type. And, to be honest, the evil Force wielding Hutt was done before in Barbara Hambly’s Planet of Twilight, so it comes off again as some Science Fiction ethnic stereotyping.

Thematically, there is the notion that it is wrong to make assumptions about an individual based upon their species, as exemplified by Popara and Mika, though they are Hutts. We are constantly reminded that Hutts are untrustworthy, and then provided with apparent evidence to the contrary. This is all very laudable, but not really extended to the other alien species.

We have lazy xenostereotyping of Rodians (violent criminals) and Bothans (talented intelligence-gatherers), something that never sits right with me. Additionally, although I’d only encountered the Sokes Swokes as background characters in The Phantom Menace (they are the fang-mouthed puppetlike creatures from one of whom Jar Jar steals a barbecued frog, and there are also some visible in the Senate chamber), the author immediately erects a stereotype of them as violent psychpaths and never tries to add any further nuance. I dislike speciesist essentialism in fantasy and science fiction. Also, in the prologue and first chapter the author is very keen to make sure that we the reader are aware that Pantorans are blue-skinned, as if this is a critical piece of information vital to the understanding of the character.

Back to discussion of the antagonists. The other, minor, villains were the Rodian Bomu clan. As mentioned above, they were stereotyped as criminal, like all Rodians, as well as incompetent, like Greedo. Frustrating—it would be nice to see some cultural complexity. It’s kind of like writing all Irish people as drunken layabouts, or all English people as effete and ineffectual aristocrats.

There was a pretty good selection of locations. I liked the portrayal of Varl, the ancient Hutt homeworld. Being familiar with Nar Shaddaa and Nal Hutta, it was good to get a glimpse of where Hutt-kind originated from. We also get to see a bit more of the Corporate Sector, with some Authority IRD starfighter action reminiscent of the Han Solo adventures, as well as X-Wing Alliance.

The detective elements of the story worked fairly well—they didn’t dominate, but they fit together fairly logically. Nevertheless, this is an action adventure first and foremost, and if you keep that in mind, it will meet your expectations.

The odd grammar gaffe such as “laying low”, and some questionable writing choices (in the section where Mander is fighting a swoop gang the author writes about some Niktos, “but now about three others had taken up positions among the wreckage”, and a little later about the swoop gang themselves, “Only about four had fallen.” With numbers like these an author writing from an omniscient point of view should really give precise numbers. This is sloppy writing that the editor should really have picked up upon.

Also, the author has no understanding of biochemistry, yet seeks to convince the reader with sentences like, “Is that hard-radiation scarring in those molecules?” Each of those words has a meaning. Yet, put them together in that particular configuration, and they lose all coherence and collapse into a meaningless jumble of vaguely sciencey sounding froth. This irks my pedantic soul in the same way that the very worst modern episode of Doctor Who (Kill the Moon) did when it described large, complex, clearly multicellular animals with evident musculatures, sense organs and nervous systems as ‘prokaryotes’. It is laughable in the same way as asserting that Vienna is one of the largest cities in Italy. To quote Eddey the Bothan, “The science here seems pretty interesting.” Indeed.

Despite all the negatives, I found myself mostly enjoying this book. If it was a miniseries or a low-budget Star Wars detective movie, I’d definitely want to see it. As such, I would recommend it to Star Wars fans who don’t demand stories involving movie heroes only.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rating is bumped up relative to others of this genre.

A refreshing change of pace from most Expanded Universe fare. Cast features none of the "usual suspects" and partly because of that major characters could grow during the story. And yet the history, racial types and geography of Star Wars are well represented. An amazingly subtle, well-plotted storyline.

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Star Wars novel was apparently adapted from a role playing game. Books adapted from video games are usually mediocre; is the same true of RPG's? It also was written by a novice on the series, Jeff Grubb, not an auspicious sign. Nonetheless, despite lowered expectations based on the facts above, I found this novel more entertaining than many of the other late-Legends-era books, perhaps in part because it was doing its own thing, and not trying to be anything other than a noir-esque mystery set in the Star Wars universe.

The tale starts with the death of Toro Irana, a young Pantoran Jedi Knight, whose demise is deemed accidental. However, the circumstances surrounding his death are suspicious (he jumped out a 40th floor window to his death, without apparent provocation) and his former Master, a Jedi Archivist named Mander Zuma, is dispatched to investigate. Once Zuma discovers foul play, he teams up with Toro's sister, a smuggler named Reen Irana, and her partner, a quippy Bothan mechanic named Eddey Be'ray. The mystery will take the trio to the darkest corners of Nar Shadda (and beyond) where they uncover a nasty and deadly drug trade wrapped in a simmering internecine conflict between Hutt crime lords.

Zuma proves to be an intriguing creation. His connection to the Force is not as strong as many Jedi, and his strengths lie not in combat or field work, but in research and study. He frequently mentions that his lightsaber skills are subpar, and his inner monologue suggests that he wonders whether he is a real Jedi or not - he certainly doesn't fit our stereotypes of the Order. Thus, as he follows clues and wanders through the Hutt underworld, he is fighting not only criminal elements, but his own doubts. The other characters feel more standard, but are well written enough to not be annoying. Grubb even includes the idea of a Force-sensitive Hutt in the character of Mika. The youngest scion of the Anjiliac Hutt clan, Mika struggles to identify with both their family and their species. Hutts are not supposed to be Force users - in fact they are usually antagonistic to the Jedi - so what does that mean for Mika?

If Scourge has a weakness, it could be its relentless pace. Some might find that a benefit, and its almost certainly a side effect of the story's origins in a game; the need to move from one set piece to another feels forced at times. I wished that Grubb had given his characters a little more time to breathe, talk, think, and be. But most people don't come to Star Wars novels for the character development, and I am confident that Grubb's editor told him to keep the action moving.

The novel drives to a confrontation over the manufacture of a deadly form of spice known as Tempest, and the final scenes offer some exciting action. Grubb hints at larger questions about whether one can break the chains of destiny, or whether certain behaviors and actions are programmed into us. Is a Jedi who is not a fighter still a Jedi? Does a Hutt always have to be a criminal? There are intriguing questions briefly poked at in the novel, and probably deserving of more time and space than the author gave them (or was allowed to give them).

As it stands though, Scourge plays out a bit like a gritty cop drama on TV, with Zuma as the hard-boiled (but secretly nerdy) detective, working his way through the mean streets to track down the person who killed his partner. He then stumbles on a bigger problem, the Tempest trade, and to avenge his Padawan's death, he vows to take down the entire drug syndicate. It's a clever idea to set such a motif in the Star Wars universe and, for the most part, Grubb succeeds in making this a fun and unique stand-alone tale.

[Jesse Fleet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting as a palate cleanser for my chronological read-through. There are some issues with anachronisms occasionally, as well as the plot being a little slow, but other than that I didn't think it was bad. The twist at the end was good, didn't see that coming, but also liked the expansion of lore and a bit of world building, as well as mentions of well-known species like Nemoidians, Chiss, Rodians and Twi'leks. Made for a fairly fun read. Not certain I'd read it again, but it was fairly sweet while it lasted.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a pleasant surprise. A fairly bog standard "Star Wars" adventure, elevated by a cast of original characters that are Skywalker-free, and a use of the Hutts (my least favourite Lucas universe creation) that actually interested me and held my attention. One day, I would particularly enjoy seeing petulant & drunk Wookies on the big screen...

[Benjamin Looby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure of this was really a five-star book, or if it just right me the right way. I will say that the previous book I read was Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron: Shadow Fall and it was a slower read, so this book was a great change of pace.

The story flowed well, the characters were interesting and the plot had lots of good twists.

I actually read the second half in one sitting, finishing it pretty late at night.

[John Keegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I certainly enjoy the long-form series of Star Wars novels, such as the recently concluded "Fate of the Jedi", I do think there needs to be a balance. Much like the Star Trek novels, there's room for continuity-laden continuations of the main timeline/narrative, and stand-alone novels set during a particular period or time. When there are massive events taking place in the galaxy, one would expect that the consequences and shifts in the status quo will have a ripple effect on the smaller scale.

The recent novels by Paul Kemp have shown that the smaller scale approach has its place, and this stand-alone effort by Jeff Grubb follows a similar strategy. In keeping with the recent releases spinning out of the Old Republic MMO, this novel is based on a role-playing module centered on the Hutts and an unusual Jedi named Mander Zuma.

Unlike many of the typical Jedi heroes, Zuma is primarily an archivist. In other words, a glorified librarian. An archivist who has undergone Jedi combat training, to be sure, but still, not one of the front line Jedi that we're used to seeing. And since this is set between the founding of the Jedi Academy and the arrival of the Yuuzhan Vong, it's not a period when every Jedi would be tasked with preparing for civilization-ending conflicts. Zuma definitely comes across as the kind of Jedi that has heard a lot about the galaxy, but hasn't quite experienced it for himself yet.

Zuma's apprentice dies under questionable circumstances, which leads Zuma on a hunt for the truth behind a particularly nasty kind of potent spice and the Hutts that produce and distribute it. Very quickly, the novel turns into the Star Wars version of "The Godfather", which is far more interesting than one would initially think. Hutt family politics are far from cordial, and Zuma finds himself in hot water time and again.

The plot never stalls, and the character interactions are top notch. Zuma is a fully fledged character with a solid support team in Reen (his apprentice's sister) and Eddey (a deceptively quiet Bothan). The Hutts are surprisingly unique, despite being saddled with the typical Star Wars homogenous species stereotype.

Grubb includes a character from the Corporate Sector Authority, which I barely remember from those early Brian Daley novels. While the character added a nice bit of complication to the story, in terms of the challenges that Zuma had to overcome to resolve the Tempest situation, I couldn't help but wonder if I was forgetting details of those earlier appearances of the CSA that might have added another layer to the story. I don't believe so, since the author placed the organization in context, but the thought did occur.

I was also a bit disappointed in the resolution of the central mystery. Perhaps it's just from reading/watching too many stories of this type over the years, but I figured out who the Spice Lord was relatively early in the proceedings. It didn't necessarily take away from the ending very much, since events flow very quickly towards the end, but like any mystery, certain things seem perfunctory once you've figured out what the characters still don't know.

All told, though, it was a very quick and pleasant read. For a tale that features none of the characters familiar to most Star Wars fans, takes place in a very small subset of the overall Star Wars universe, and focuses on implementation of a specific fictional sub-genre, it is very accessible.

Anyone picking this up should be prepared to accept that the size of the book is not indicative of the size of the story; as per the current PR push, there is a substantial amount of preview/sampler material in the back of the book. My digital version ended at a little over 60%, so adjust expectations accordingly.

[Gabriel Vidrine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm familiar with this author from his gaming works, though admittedly I don't think I've ever read any of his fiction. I hope there are better examples than this book out there.

I liked the premise: something a little different in the Star Wars universe, something that wasn't Saving The Galaxy (...galaxy...galaxy...galaxy...). I like that there were a good number of female characters.

But...oh, but...

The characters were flat and predictable (not surprising...I've discovered that most books that come based off of an actual roleplaying game are weak in the character department), the story is predictable, the ending is predictable... The dialogue was lame, even down to the stereotypical villain's stereotypically cheesy lines.

The writing style also left something to be desired. "Mika's satchel made the sound of a baby chick in distress." What? (Couldn't we just go with the satchel chirped?) "The two drawings seemed as widely different as a puppy and a droid." It seems the author was going for a bit of humor, maybe? I don't know, but I found it annoying. Not to mention that the author didn't really seem to know what Jedi are capable of (twice I found myself in the role of Obi-Wan telling the Jedi to "Use the Force!"). And if you are going to make your main character a librarian (hey, nothing wrong with being a librarian), don't beat us over the head with the other characters constantly saying how unlike other Jedi he is. Rookie mistake. Show, don't tell.

While this book wasn't awful, it wasn't that great either. Thankfully, it's not a "required read" in the Star Wars Universe.

[Michael Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it wasn't your typical Star Wars novel. You won't see any of the big established characters of the Expanded Universe, while a few may be mentioned here and there the cast is all new. The main character Mander Zuma is not your typical Jedi Knight. He spends most of his time in the archives and is essentially a Jedi Librarian. It was interesting to see a Jedi who isn't a complete unstoppable force in combat. Finally, there are some Hutts in the novel that are about as far from a typical Hutt as you can possibly get. I won't say anymore for fear of spoilers. A fun read overall.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the idea of a Jedi not being like Anakin, Obi-Wan, & Luke an interesting concept. A Jedi that was not this swash buckling character would be a good change from the rest of the Star Wars stories. It started out that way, but in the end went back to what Jedi's are warriors. The story line is OK but I knew who the Spice Lord was just past half way through the book. So it was no real surprise to me. Overall an OK story and good short easy read. I read it while I was on a long weekend.

[Dan Graziotto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always here for a Star Wars noir mystery. Makes me want to dig up the RPG module it was based on

[Kaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scourge is one of those novels that were needed in the EU, stories of new and unknown characters having adventures were something that I needed to see more. A fantastic novel where we do not have the participation or even mention of any character like Luke, Han, Leia, or any other from the EU. An independent story that stands on its own with original characters, just incredible.

Pantoran Jedi Toro Irana found himself waiting weeks for a contact for a mission he was undertaking for the Jedi Order. At the restaurant, Toro was losing patience from waiting so long when he is attacked by a Swokes Swokes, which he repels with his lightsaber for a while until on impulse he ends up jumping out of the restaurant window to his death.

Learning of the death of his apprentice, Master Mander Zuma leaves to investigate this tragedy. Knowing his apprentice's behavior, Mander is surprised that he could have caused his apprentice to act in such an aggressive manner before his death. Knowing that Toro's mission was to acquire navigation coordinates for a station on Indrexu, Mander Zuma considers the possibility of a saboteur poisoning Toro to make him lose his mind. In a warehouse, he meets a Pantorana, who turns out to be Toro's sister named Reen Irana. Toro's sister blames Mander for her brother's death, but to find out who was responsible for poisoning Toro, they decide to work together. Escaping from some Rodians and Swokes Swokes they meet a Bothan ally of Reen, with whom they manage to flee from their pursuers.

A Rodian named Dejarro hands over Toro's lightsaber to a Klatoonian and reports on everything that happened in the restaurant and how he drugged Toro. Reporting that there was another Jedi on Makem Te who discovered the warehouse, Dejarro is killed by the Klatoonian to protect his master's identity.
In a tapcaf, Mander Zuma, Reen Irana, and Bothan Eddey Be'ray discuss more of Toro's death. Reen discovers that Toro was drugged with a spice called 'Tempest', leading Mander to consider his apprentice to be an addict. Willing to finish Toro's mission to get to Indrexu's spiral. The trio team up to find out more about the Tempest, a mysterious spice that has become popular in the past year. Knowing that their apprentice's contact was the Hutts, they meet with Popara Anjiliac, a Hutt who had the navigation codes that Toro was looking for.

Meeting with a subordinate of Popara, they negotiate a deal for the information. Boarding Popara's ship, they meet with the Hutt, who accepts the Jedi Order's offer, but not before asking Mander to go on a mission to oversee the delivery of medical supplies to a planet suffering from a plague outbreak and rescue Popara's son. Chatting with another Hutt who serves Popara, they learn more about his family and his two children: Mika and Zonnos. Meeting with Zonnos, Mander warns him of the danger he is running by going to rescue Mika from Endregaad and that he had no problem if they failed to save his sister.

Contacting the matriarch of the Rodian clan who murdered Mander Zuma along with Reen and Eddey, the Klatoonian gives them the location of those responsible to take revenge. Agreeing not to attack the Hutts they were with, they decide to mount an attack on the New Ambition ship.
Having a dream where he sees the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Mander Zuma feels more and more guilty about everything that happened. Despite their mistrust, the coordinates given by the Hutts lead them to Endregaad, a world where crystals known as geodes are traded. Taking six hyperspace jumps, they reach Endregaad but are attacked in space by Rodians of the Bomu clan, whom they elude with the help of CSA starships. Being greeted on the planet by a CSA security squad, they are interrogated by the officers to find out why they are on Endregaad if there is a deadly plague ravaging the world. The Krin Lieutenant Commander chats with Mander Zuma, and they agree to help in the search for Mika in exchange for the spice they are carrying and for their not being able to land on the planet. Informing his two companions of this, Mander Zuma argues with them upon learning that they are spice smugglers and refuses to attend a dinner with Commander Krin so that she will allow them to go to the planet. After three days, Mander has not been able to convince the commander to break the quarantine, Lieutenant Angela Krin tells him that Zonnos offered him the medicines before they arrived via the New Ambition crew. Seeing that Krin will not relent, the New Ambition heads for Endregaad as they are attacked by CSA ships. Landing in Tel Bollin, Mander is reflecting more about the reason that led his apprentice to become addicted to 'Tempest'. Blending into the population, Mander reveals that he is a Jedi archivist who served as an apprentice to historian Tionne Solusar and they witness how the plague affected people and that non-humans brought the plague. In a cantina, they contact a Nikto to get the location of Mika the Hutt, but realizing that the Nikto is under the effects of 'Tempest', they have a fight that ends when Mander pulls out his lightsaber and causes everyone to think about whether they want to face a Jedi. The Nikto leads the group to Temple Valley and they meet with Mika the Hutt, who reveals that they are at ground zero of the plague.

The Hutt tells them that he got stuck on the planet when he was negotiating a shipment of geodes. Mika also tells them that the ship of the infected that brought the plague crashed and when they searched they found nothing except some dust which turns out to be the spice 'Tempest'. Reasoning that the ship's crew were under the effects of 'Tempest', Mander asks Mika if anyone else might be interested in the coordinates of the Indrexu system, to which the Hutt tells him that it is not possible. From one moment to the next, they are attacked by swoop motorcycle riders, whom Mander is forced to kill with the help of Mika. This confrontation draws the attention of the CSA, who upon arriving at the place end up arresting the entire group. While imprisoned, Mander recalls the lightsaber training he had with his apprentice and as Toro attempted to control his master's mind. Feeling bad for how he scolded Toro that time, Mander feels responsible for the tragic fate of his apprentice.

Lieutenant Commander Angela Krin talks to Mander and questions his decision to infiltrate a planet infected with a deadly plague. They also discuss the 'Tempest' spice found on the ship that brought the plague and the Krin Lieutenant Commander lets them go so Mander can take Mika to Nar Shaddaa where Popara was waiting for them. On Nar Shaddaa, a sniper attempts to attack Mika but only ends up damaging a droid. Agreeing to meet at the party to celebrate Mika's return, Reen and Eddey tell Mnader of their decision to join the CSA.

Contact with his master, the Lord of the Spices, the Klatoonian Loax informs him of everything that has happened so far. His boss asks him to go to Nar Shaddaa, where he intends to unleash the wrath of the Rodians on Mander and his friends.

In another dream where he is in the library of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Mander has a dream about Mika. Waking up, he discovers that Mika had something to do with his apprentice's death. At dinner, all the guests celebrate Mika's return while Mander discovers from Popara that the Endregaad plague is linked to a new species that has been circulating. With this information, Mander investigates by orders of Popara the origin of this especially when the Hutt ends up exploding, shocking everyone present who accuses Mander, Reen, and Eddey of being responsible.
Managing to flee the scene, the trio is pursued by Hutt's mercenaries. Being sure, they question who could have killed Popara and concealed the existence of the Tempest. At a Tapcaf, they receive more information about the Tempest and discover that one of the buyers was Zonnos. On the street, they are confronted by a Hutt in armor made of Mandalorian iron, which Mander confronts while his two companions go looking for more information on the Tempest in the other Tapcafs. Having defeated the Hutt, they go to a contact who has information on Zonnos, but upon reaching the location, they are attacked by Rodians of the Bomu clan. Being outnumbered by their attackers, they are saved by CSA Lieutenant Commander Angela Krin. Recovering from a Rodian assault, Mander and the others escape as Angela Krin reveals that the ship that brought the plague belonged to the Anjiliac clan. Meeting with Mika, they all conclude that Zonnos is responsible for the plague, but Mika still doesn't believe that Zonnos is responsible for Popara's death. Heading to a CSA headquarters, they are attacked but manage to defeat their enemies before receiving a message from Zonnos where he threatens and accuses Mika of being a traitor. Heading to meet with Popara's Hutt aide, the group is cornered by Rodians and Wookiees who manage to wound Mika before a detonator is detonated, resulting in the capture of Mika and Reen.

Planning to go to Reen's rescue, the group decides to go to her aid, so they come up with a plan. Meanwhile, Reen is portrayed in the news as the one responsible for Popara's murder and is about to be executed when an explosion caused by her friends occurs. Holding Reen hostage, Mander shoots him with a blaster to Zonnos' surprise, then they engage in a duel that ends with the Hutt being killed by the Jedi's lightsaber. The confrontation ends when Mika uses her Force Sensitivity to convince everyone that Zonnos is truly responsible for Popara's death. Surprised at this, Mander agrees to keep the secret from Mika, because a Force-sensitive Hutt is not well regarded within his entourage.

Contacting his master once more, Koax is ordered to send more Rodians to attack Mander Zuma. As he is given his new task, Koax watches as his master comes into possession of Toro's lightsaber.
With the matter resolved, the group continues their search for the origin of the Tempest and its relationship to the plague. Seeing that this search will take away from the investigation related to Toro's death, Reen decides to separate to go in search of the person responsible for the death of her brother. Upset at being shot by Mander Zuma, Reen is finally convinced to continue helping.

The last member of the Bomu clan in Makem Te named Rolan was out walking when he was ambushed by Mander, Reen, and Eddey. Forcing the Rodian to tell them where to find a Tempest vendor, they are directed to Threnda, who is forced to deliver a message that Mander Zuma wants to meet with the Lord of the Kinds. Reporting that Mander and his friends are attacking Tempest's distribution centers, Koax receives further orders to maintain the loyalty of the Bomu clan.

Meeting with a Tempest dealer named Morgan, Mander and his friends try to convince him to give up his illicit businesses, but he instead unleashes a group of mercenaries against the trio, but before anything can happen, CSA reinforcements convince Morgan that he is trapped. Receiving a message from Mika, they discover the location of Popara's helper, Vago.

Koax meets with the Matriarch of the Bomu clan seeking to negotiate a deal so that they will not do anything against Mander Zuma in exchange for receiving protection from the Spice Lord when they are attacked by Mander and his friends. Wanting to prevent any more of his master's secrets from being revealed, Koax kills the matriarch before being captured by Reen and committing suicide with a dagger. Despite this, they discover a lot of information, but they still don't know the location of the spice lord. Concluding that the information was leaked by the spice lord and they head to the Hutts' home planet of Varl, suspecting that it may be the location of their enemy.

Heading for Varl, the group lands on the planet while being escorted by CSA reinforcements. In a crater, they find a manufacturing plant which turns out to be where the Tempest is made. Inside the plant, they see what the Tempest production process is like when they are confronted by Vago and his security guards. Discovering that Vago is a prisoner, his bodyguards turn on him and attack him. Facing droids and plant guards, the group emerges victorious and Angela Krin is forced to stun Vago to end his suffering. Realizing that someone was forced to control Vago, Mander decides to go confront this mysterious enemy while sending Angela and Reen back to save Vago. Infiltrating further into the plant, Mander manages to reach the spice lord, who turns out to be none other than Mika the Hutt.

Revealing that he is responsible for everything that happened, Mika explains how he turned Varl into the manufacturing site for the Tempest. Attempting to control Mander with force, Mika the Hutt reveals how he was trained by Toro into becoming addicted to Tempest. Trying to convince Mander to join him, Mika ends up attacking Mander by mind-controlling his servants into fighting the Jedi using Toro's lightsaber. Seeing how the ship where his friends were going was attacked on Mika's orders, Mander manages to defeat the Twi'lek with whom he was fighting and have Mika at his mercy. While attempting to finish off the Hutt, Mika controls the factory by causing it to take off and destroying Mander's lightsaber with an electric lance. About to be attacked by Mika, Mander summons his apprentice's lightsaber to fend off the Hutt. Despite disarming Mika, Mander ends up being knocked down by a telekinetic attack from the Hutt and before he is struck down by Toro's lightsaber, Reen comes to Mander's aid by shooting the Hutt and giving him enough time for Mander to finish off the Hutt with the electro-lance.

Fleeing from the plant, they are surprised that Mika is still alive and that he is trying to influence Mander's mind, but he manages to resist the mind control. On the way they meet Angela Krin and Eddey, and together they run away from Varl.

With Vago's confirmation that the Tempest trade has stopped, Mander calls his mission over and with his apprentice's lightsaber retrieved by Reen, returns to Yavin IV where the Jedi Academy is located.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3
Re-read: Leaning yes.
Recommend to: It doesn't require a ton of prior reading in the EU to know what is going on and it's a stand-alone. It's decent if you want to read a Star Wars book but not top of the line.

The book is only 300 pages and I was moderately interested, so I'm surprised that it felt like this book was really long. The characters were good in theory, but Grubb dropped the ball on Mander. The main character is a great idea. He's a Jedi archivist out in the field. The problem is Grubb repeatedly would mess up the premise. I like the idea of a non-martial Jedi. He'd have weaknesses we don't normally see, and he'd have to make up for that with unique strengths. So you'd think Mander would be highly knowledgeable right? Not really. He apparently didn't know that Hutts are generally untrustworthy. He even speaks the Hutt language. Grubb shows Mander being incompetent for much of the novel by having him hold his lightsaber facing the wrong way, but partway through the novel he becomes a tank. He's just suddenly whipping around and kicking butt. I can sort of buy that he found a new connection with the Force he didn't previously have, but he shouldn't go from being a joke to being highly competent in an instant.

I also am very lost at where this story fits in with the rest of the universe. The only real hints we get are brief comments about the status of the Jedi Academy. I know that this is officially after Vision of the Future, but it seems like there are way too many Jedi. Yavin has put out a Jedi Master who has trained another Jedi who can go out on his own as a Jedi Knight? I just looked it up, and we are about 8 years after the founding of the Jedi Academy. So Luke trained Tionne from Padawan, to Jedi Knight, to Jedi Master. She then trained Mander from padawan to Jedi Knight to Master. Mander then took on a padawan who has become a Jedi Knight. I get they'd want to expedite things but that seems like a bit much. It seems like you'd sign up as a padawan and be a Master within two years.

It seems like I should've enjoyed this book more than I did, because a lot of it is interesting. I like Hutt space. I generally enjoy murder mysteries. A Hutt is poisoned and blows up. There is a fully armored bounty hunter Hutt. There is a Hutt that can at least somewhat use the Force. I think the reason I thought this book was so-so is a combination of Reen being annoying and Mander's varying knowledge and skills. Mander needed to use his unique skills to solve problems instead of suddenly being a highly talented fighter.

- A ship can easily outrun a concussion missile in atmosphere. This doesn't seem likely.
- They just casually spot some Chiss in a cantina. Are they really so common now? Seems highly doubtful that this incredibly secretive society just has people hanging out in bars now.
- There's some drama towards the end that was really annoying. Reen is being held captive as a shield. Mander stuns her with his blaster and saves her life. She gets really angry that he shot her and we have to slog through this manufactured drama because he didn't save her life the right way. This same character earlier tried to murder Mander because she stupidly blamed him for her brother's death even though she knew he wasn't responsible.
- I'm kind of laughing at the concept that there are highly valuable hidden pathways through obstructions in space. It's laughable that they wouldn't be able to just send in 10 drones one after the other and find a safe path. It isn't the Maw where you are likely to die in a black hole.
- A few parts were ridiculous in terms of knowledge and skills characters would have. The one that stands out the most is how the Bothan pilot Eddey is for some reason more knowledgable than actual scientists at investigating the structural makeup of the new spice. Why not have Mander, the archivist, be the one who has some random knowledge? It would actually fit his character.

[Colin McEvoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't have high expectations when I started Scourge. This is partially because it's the novelization of a roleplaying game sourcebook and, although Star Wars are my "guilty pleasure" reading and I don't necessarily expect great literature for them, the idea of that still didn't appeal to me. (I also have to admit that the cheap-looking book cover turned me off a bit too; it literally looks like something off of the package of a knockoff Star Wars Halloween costume package.) But I was pleasantly surprised to find that Scourge was a quite enjoyable read. It's perhaps not the greatest Star Wars books out there, but it's well-written, fast-paced, and maintained my interest from beginning to end. In fact, you can tell it's adapted from an RPG sourcebook because of the many action sequences throughout the book. Nearly as soon as one ends, another one starts, and so the book certainly never gets boring.

None of the main heroes from the films like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Princess Leia are present for this one, but fans of Star Wars books already know that novels set in this fictional universe can be very enjoyable even with completely new characters, and Scourge is no exception. In fact, the characters were one of the book's biggest strengths. The trio of Jedi Knight Mander Zuma, blue-skinned spacer Reen Irana, and Bothan mechanic Eddey Be'ray were strong protagonists with a good dynamic with each other. Zuma in particular is a Jedi Knight quite unlike the ones we're used to seeing (as the other characters in the book constantly point out to him). At least at the start of the story, his combat skills are quite limited; he has little connection with his lightsaber, a weapon that most Jedi feel as if it were an extension of themselves. But his experience as an "archivist" (or a "librarian," as Irana repeatedly calls him) gives him unique approach to the Force. He thinks outside the box, is able to process and analyze dangerous situations in creative ways, and it made Zuma a more enjoyable character than your straightforward Jedi would have been.

Plus, I personally love Star Wars stories involving Hutts (I was a huge Jabba fan back in my childhood) and the fact that Hutts were so central to this story meant a lot of interesting secondary characters as well. I mean, this book actually gives us Force sensitive Hutts, and a Hutt wearing body armor and engaging in hand-to-hand combat. How cool is that?! A particularly strong character (perhaps the strongest) is Mika the Hutt, the youngest son of a minor crime lord, who is unlike any Hutt character we've ever seen in a Star Wars story before, and who is constantly full of surprises throughout the entire progression of the book.

If I weren't such a completionist when it comes to Star Wars novels, I probably would have skipped Scourge, particularly because it's a standalone novel with little connection to the franchise's major characters and storyline. But I'm ultimately glad I read it, and I imagine most Star Wars fans would find it to be a quick, enjoyable read.

[Darryl Dobbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the early portion of the novel. It's nice to deviate from the main SW characters and follow along with another Jedi. Mander Zuma investigates the death of his apprentice, Toro Irana, and discovers that a new (and dangerous) drug is at the heart of it. Mander, along with Toro's sister and a Bothan pilot, dig deeper and find that the drug ring leads to a lesser clan of Hutts. This is where things went off the rails a little and never could get back on them.

Rather than rehash the story, I'll delve into the problems that I couldn't wrap my head around. First of all, I have an issue with a Hutt being Force-sensitive. I've noted this before when the SWU had a Force-sensitive Hutt character, but they are Force-resistant, not sensitive. It also smears the Hutt characters and the idea and history of Hutts by showing them weak and stupid. Addicted to drugs? The Hutts came to power by being savvy and surrounding themselves with powerful, but stupid, minions. They didn't wield weapons themselves (light saber? Huh?), they were Force-resistant, and they were very resilient against conventional weapons. Hard to kill. I think a similar story could have been written that better used those traits instead of ignoring them and creating new ones.

Anyway, I was able to ignore that, but was then certain of the outcome and surprise twist about halfway through the book. So there goes any sudden climactic excitement.

Scourge never explains when exactly this takes place, but on the Legends timeline it says 19 years after A New Hope. In fact, my guess is that this is closer to 30 years later, given that there is a long-time Jedi and his recently graduated apprentice.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new era of Star Wars novels under Del Rey chronologically kicks off in Star Wars: Scourge. A standalone novel in the very sense of the word, it's the characters' only appearances and it's a strength and a weakness as we get to depart from the standards of the legends novels for a brief spell, but only for a short period of time in a short novel. Based upon a roleplaying supplement, Scourge pans out like its source material in a rollicking adventure of go-here, fight that boss, interrogate this person, rinse and repeat. The lead Jedi, an archivist named Mander Zuma, is not only an interesting addition to the Jedi Praxeum's manifest of New Jedi Order warriors, but also to the Star Wars canon and it's a shame that he won't be seen again.

The untimely death of his Padawan drives Mander to unravel the mysteries of an illegal spice trade, plunder the depths of a web of Hutt politics, and rediscover his own confidence in his abilities. Jeff Grubb's handling of the prose is superior in the fact that he's never written a Star Wars novel before despite being previously versed in the universe; he manages to make it a fun, enjoyable, easy digestible read. Read the summary of the novel and you'll understand exactly what you're in for, for better or worse. If you think you'll like it, you probably will, if you think you won't, you probably won't. Seven out of ten exploded Hutts.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good premise, executed poorly. Overall I really wanted to like this book. A low stakes adventure with little to no connection to the wider EU. A story about essentially a Jedi librarian looking into the drug trade.

But the problem is that the book is just too boring. The characters can just be boiled down to 2-3 key words with no depth, the twist (?) Is so obvious I'm having a hard time telling if it was meant to be a twist, and plot armor was so thick that I'm surprised anyone could move.

Special mention goes to Mander Zuma, the protagonist. A Jedi archivist, he spends most of his time longing to return to his library and questioning himself, as he's not made to be a combatant. Except none of that is really conveyed. From the beginning he's exceptionally talented with the force and has no issues using it (until the finale when the plot says he does) he handles the people and politics of the underworld perfectly well, and he ends up being a powerful Jedi who can talk his way for the entire book, and spouts cheesy one liners like James Bond more than the timid character we're told he is.

What's obviously a TTRPG story turned into a book fails at being interesting. I recommend just reading a Wikipedia plot summary, less time, but just as engaging

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread Dec 2020 (and seeing as it is the last day of the year, this will stand as my last finished book of 2020)

I have no idea how or why I didn't review this when it first came out but I was a bit torn on how to rate it this time around. Typically, when I reread books I leave the original rating. In this case, there was no original rating, though... I remember absolutely loving this book when I first read it so I went one star higher than I probably would have upon reread.

It is a really fun read (only slightly less so in a reread when you know all of the twists and surprises coming ahead of time...) and I love that it stars absolutely no one from the films or shows (or even other books, I think...). This is such a huge galaxy and I think that stories outside of the main saga often do a poor job of showing that as they strive to connect everything and everyone.

If you don't care about canon and enjoy the idea of a jedi murder mystery with some fun twists, you could definitely do worse than this book. I wish Grubb could write in this galaxy again.

[Gary Varga · Rating 2 out of 5]

If feels like a clichéd film noir story shoehorned into the Star Wars universe. It never quite feels like Star Wars and never steps beyond the clichés.

The inevitable twist was predictable - I guessed it so early on I grew impatient for me to be proven right or wrong (either way would have sufficed). Spoiler alert: I was right (and I am not that smart). The characters were never really developed beyond their two dimensional stereotypes.

In addition to all this, occasionally jarring and out of place words were used. It wasn't clever as they didn't quite fit and totally suspended disbelief.

The good news? If you are not desperate in completing this then you will be glad that there is no crossover in plot nor in characters with the rest of Legends (Expanded Universe). Therefore this book is totally skippable both due to its lack of interdependency and its entertainment value.

BTW It is two stars if you are a major Star Wars fan, maybe. If you are not and after something to read then definitely look elsewhere.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scourge is one of those Star Wars novels that seems to fly under the radar. For whatever reason, it’s not one of the more well known books in the legends line and while that might be because it’s not really an amazing book, it’s still kind of shame because Grubb deserves credit for doing something quite a bit different in the general scope and sequence of Star Wars.

The story is dark, set in a weird timeframe (somewhere after the fall of the Empire but before the ensuing Yuzhan Vong invasion and 2nd galactic civil war), and doesn’t contain a single legacy character aside from a throwaway reference to Palpatine. Because of that, this does feel a bit more authentic since Luke or C-3PO or some remnant of the imperials aren’t shoehorned in and we don’t have to rely on them to inevitably save the day.

A weak-ish Jedi as the main character and a pretty dark tale of addictive space make this one a bit more unique in the legacy timeline.

It’s just too bad it’s slow and feels far longer than it’s 282 pages.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a standalone Star Wars novel from what is now called the "Legends" canon, which is set 19 years ABY, just before the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. It focuses on a Jedi archivist who is drawn away from holocrons and texts to investigate the death of his former Padawan. I enjoyed the fact that this adventure introduces completely new characters and does not try to shoehorn in appearances by Luke, Leia etc. We delve into the history of the Hutts as well as exploring the relationship between Master and Padawan - and the differing paths one might take in the Jedi Order.

It is an engrossing story and I very much enjoyed it. One small nitpick would be that the author occasionally uses Earth measurements such as kilometres where you would normally expect in-universe equivalents such as klicks. But apart from that, it's a good, interesting tale. It's also a fairly short read and I would recommend it.

[Malcolm Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although set during the era of the New Republic in the Expanded Universe, this story - base off of a Star Wars roleplaying game - has the benefit of fitting into either the traditional EU or the rubbish Disney timelines. It's about as stand-alone as you can get, and has no effect on anything else Star Wars. This aspect was quite refreshing (much like some of the Mandalorian TV series).
The story itself was of a murder mystery with further intrigue going on and the main character was a Jedi who skills are more in the academical than physical. This again was quite refreshing as we had a character who couldn't just use the Force every time to get out of a situation.
The big reveal was kind of obvious, but the journey getting there was enjoyable. A satisfying tale with characters I would be happy to see again.