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Star Wars: Galaxy of Fear #12
The Hunger
A survey team crash-lands on an unknown planet. The planet is dark, and its fetid swamps are filled with flesh-eating flowers, fearsome swamp slugs, and deadly dragonsnakes. No one hears the survey team's distress signals. They are stranded.
Thirty years later, Zak and Tash Arranda and their uncle Hoole, with Boba Fett in hot pursuit, land on the planet. Descendants of the survey team--half-starved and crazed with strange fevers--are still alive. They call themselves the Children, and how they have survived is a mystery. Does the strange creature named Yoda have the answer?
Thirty years later, Zak and Tash Arranda and their uncle Hoole, with Boba Fett in hot pursuit, land on the planet. Descendants of the survey team--half-starved and crazed with strange fevers--are still alive. They call themselves the Children, and how they have survived is a mystery. Does the strange creature named Yoda have the answer?
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 19, 2021
Pretty good! Definitely the strongest of the second half of the series I think. Some really groan-worthy movie callbacks, but if you were writing a middle grade Star Wars novel in the 90s, you'd probably do the same thing. I actually felt a sense of dread at some points too!
May 24, 2021
Star Wars Legends Project #270
Background: The Hunger was written by John Whitman and published in September 1998. It is the twelfth (and last) in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
The Hunger takes place 1 year after the Battle of Yavin, shortly after Clones (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda and their adoptive Uncle Hoole. There are major appearances by Platt Okeefe, Boba Fett, and Yoda. The story takes place on Koaan and Dagobah.
Summary: Determined to find the perfect place to hide out from the Empire, Hoole returns to the Galactic Research Academy and enlists the help of DV-9 to search the database and then delete his choice from the archive. Unfortunately, as he does so, a smuggler crew with the same idea steals his find. Threatening to expose them to the Empire, Hoole forces the smugglers to bring him and the Arrandas along to this remote planet: a forsaken, swampy place called Dagobah. When the ship crashes on arrival, the crew is at first grateful to receive unexpected help from the descendants of a Republic survey team who were stranded there decades earlier. But the group harbors a dark secret that may doom all of the new arrivals to a fate worse than death.
Review: This ending is a bit bittersweet. Although Galaxy of Fear could be uneven at times and certainly wasn't my favorite series, I have become attached to the characters. And I'm sad to see that, despite ending at a point where they have huge potential for future appearances, no one considered them a resource worth tapping in the remainder of the Expanded Universe. This series was being published concurrently with the Young Jedi Knights series, and it would have been great to see Tash Arranda (in her mid-30s) as a small presence at the Jedi Academy, or failing that, to give her some kind of passing mention during the New Jedi Order. There are definitely shades of what Jaina Solo would later become, and it would have been great to see that developed more. Alas, this is the end of the road.
That aside, this is a very strong conclusion, maybe the closest this series has come to actual genuine horror. There are parts of this book, or at least implications within it, that are legitimately stomach-turning. I like that Tash gets to encounter Yoda, and in general he was used really well here (I was a bit skeptical about that, going in). I wasn't sure for a bit there that this second half of the series really justified its existence, but there are some solid entries in it after all, and this is one. Way to end things on a high-note.
B-
Background: The Hunger was written by John Whitman and published in September 1998. It is the twelfth (and last) in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
The Hunger takes place 1 year after the Battle of Yavin, shortly after Clones (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda and their adoptive Uncle Hoole. There are major appearances by Platt Okeefe, Boba Fett, and Yoda. The story takes place on Koaan and Dagobah.
Summary: Determined to find the perfect place to hide out from the Empire, Hoole returns to the Galactic Research Academy and enlists the help of DV-9 to search the database and then delete his choice from the archive. Unfortunately, as he does so, a smuggler crew with the same idea steals his find. Threatening to expose them to the Empire, Hoole forces the smugglers to bring him and the Arrandas along to this remote planet: a forsaken, swampy place called Dagobah. When the ship crashes on arrival, the crew is at first grateful to receive unexpected help from the descendants of a Republic survey team who were stranded there decades earlier. But the group harbors a dark secret that may doom all of the new arrivals to a fate worse than death.
Review: This ending is a bit bittersweet. Although Galaxy of Fear could be uneven at times and certainly wasn't my favorite series, I have become attached to the characters. And I'm sad to see that, despite ending at a point where they have huge potential for future appearances, no one considered them a resource worth tapping in the remainder of the Expanded Universe. This series was being published concurrently with the Young Jedi Knights series, and it would have been great to see Tash Arranda (in her mid-30s) as a small presence at the Jedi Academy, or failing that, to give her some kind of passing mention during the New Jedi Order. There are definitely shades of what Jaina Solo would later become, and it would have been great to see that developed more. Alas, this is the end of the road.
That aside, this is a very strong conclusion, maybe the closest this series has come to actual genuine horror. There are parts of this book, or at least implications within it, that are legitimately stomach-turning. I like that Tash gets to encounter Yoda, and in general he was used really well here (I was a bit skeptical about that, going in). I wasn't sure for a bit there that this second half of the series really justified its existence, but there are some solid entries in it after all, and this is one. Way to end things on a high-note.
B-
November 25, 2024
Well here we are, the end of this ripoff round as well as the end of Star Wars Galaxy of Fear. Certainly one of the more interesting undertakings, being a series with its own arcing story, sort of. This latter half has been mostly aimless, with no big goal to reach. But can the finale end things on a strong note?
Zach, Tash and Hoole are still on the run but now Darth Vader has put out a bounty on them after their last encounter. Everyone now wants their head, including Booba Fett. They need to find a planet that is uncharted and with the help of some smugglers, they find out in the swamp planet of Degobah. Yeah, Yoda’s a thing here.
They land there to hide out and discover there are people there. People that crash landed a while ago and some have died due to food being hard to find. Those people had children and they’ve kinda grown up although more so physical due to, ya know, lack of people to truly raise them beyond the first few years. Now our heroes have to survive this dangerous swamp place, get advice from Yoda and see what these Children are up to, if it all.
This was a solid finale. The book itself is just pretty good, one of the better ones out of this latter half. It has the usual formula but something just clicked better here. I think it’s due to the more stripped down feel. There isn’t a big gimmick to this place, at first, beyond being dangerous but that lets them len more into the survival stuff which works well.
And it does it gets its own identity later. See, this directly parallels the first book which is clever. And it gets into similar ideas and goes further with it. Without getting into spoilers, let’s just say we eventually get one of the most messed up ideas I’ve seen in these. Like, jesus….
It creates an interesting, tragic and messed up situation for these Children that does add spice to all this. On the thematic side, Zak has a bit of an arc where he feels a bit left behind since Tash gets all the cool stuff like the Force and he learns he is important too. It’s a bit slight but mostly works. Although spoilers, it seems like he actually learns he is only useful when Tash isn’t around lol.
Yoda’s presence is cool, as he adds some depth and such. As a finale, it’s clear they were unsure if more would be made so they played it safe. It’s not a big blowout but there is closure on the empire front to an extent and some emotional payoff. It leaves the door open for more but isn’t a cliffhanger.
It uses all the right language as far as an ending of this nature goes. The first half had the bigger ending but given where this was, it make sense to do things like this way. Things get a bit too clean but the wrapup is a bit better than I expected, if a tad rushed. Oh and DV returns for a cameo!
This is just a solid one. Nothing outright amazing but not too much to complain about, honestly. It gets started right away and doesn’t get too complicated or filler. Doesn’t go to the big heights some other entries to it but it is rock solid and works as a way to close the series out. This was late 1998 so with monthly paperback stuff dying down there wasn't a chance for this series to go on but I’m glad they made it somewhat of a proper ending.
The contract likely only was for 6 more anyway. So that closes out Galaxy of Fear. There was a online short story in 2009 but until someone at Lucasfilm remembers Tash and Zak enough to bring them back, that’s it for the series.
Overall, the series was pretty good. It hit different due to the whole Star Wars thing and it used that well. It felt more thought out that most, with the books being well constructed and having decent character stuff. That did make them a bit less fun than some other series so it wasn’t my favorite to read. But this feels like the most solid out of these ripoff series.
You can tell they didn’t have as many ideas after the first arc, so the latter half felt mostly same-y and aimless. That first half was pretty solid though, with a good setup and a solid storyline that ended well. It didn’t do anything too amazing, but it has some favorites in there. Even the weakest book was above average for these to an extent.
Tash and Zak were solid leads which helped a lot. It got kinda dull at times but at least it ended well. Overall, Galaxy of Fear was a solid time on both levels, it’s worth a look. I’m no big Star Wars nut but this was a decent addition to it in the end. And it made for a standout Goosebumps-like.
And whew, that ends this round. So good to have two series dun and dusted, so less to go through each round. Don’t worry, another series won’t fall for a while, and there are more that will hopefully be added to archive and the like overtime at least.
I don’t know what I am reading next but I do want to get the ball rolling on more reading before the year ends. I will do one christmas thing at least, to make up for last year. We’ll see but yeah, more coming. But for now, that’s it for this round and this series. See ya then.’
RANKING:
Planet Plague: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Spore: https://twitter.com/Spongey445/status...
The Swarm: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Clones: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Doomsday Ship: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Nightmare Machine: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Hunger: You Are Here
Eaten Alive https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ghost of the Jedi/Army of Terror https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
City of the Dead:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Brain Spiders: https://spongey444.wordpress.com/2021...
Zach, Tash and Hoole are still on the run but now Darth Vader has put out a bounty on them after their last encounter. Everyone now wants their head, including Booba Fett. They need to find a planet that is uncharted and with the help of some smugglers, they find out in the swamp planet of Degobah. Yeah, Yoda’s a thing here.
They land there to hide out and discover there are people there. People that crash landed a while ago and some have died due to food being hard to find. Those people had children and they’ve kinda grown up although more so physical due to, ya know, lack of people to truly raise them beyond the first few years. Now our heroes have to survive this dangerous swamp place, get advice from Yoda and see what these Children are up to, if it all.
This was a solid finale. The book itself is just pretty good, one of the better ones out of this latter half. It has the usual formula but something just clicked better here. I think it’s due to the more stripped down feel. There isn’t a big gimmick to this place, at first, beyond being dangerous but that lets them len more into the survival stuff which works well.
And it does it gets its own identity later. See, this directly parallels the first book which is clever. And it gets into similar ideas and goes further with it. Without getting into spoilers, let’s just say we eventually get one of the most messed up ideas I’ve seen in these. Like, jesus….
It creates an interesting, tragic and messed up situation for these Children that does add spice to all this. On the thematic side, Zak has a bit of an arc where he feels a bit left behind since Tash gets all the cool stuff like the Force and he learns he is important too. It’s a bit slight but mostly works. Although spoilers, it seems like he actually learns he is only useful when Tash isn’t around lol.
Yoda’s presence is cool, as he adds some depth and such. As a finale, it’s clear they were unsure if more would be made so they played it safe. It’s not a big blowout but there is closure on the empire front to an extent and some emotional payoff. It leaves the door open for more but isn’t a cliffhanger.
It uses all the right language as far as an ending of this nature goes. The first half had the bigger ending but given where this was, it make sense to do things like this way. Things get a bit too clean but the wrapup is a bit better than I expected, if a tad rushed. Oh and DV returns for a cameo!
This is just a solid one. Nothing outright amazing but not too much to complain about, honestly. It gets started right away and doesn’t get too complicated or filler. Doesn’t go to the big heights some other entries to it but it is rock solid and works as a way to close the series out. This was late 1998 so with monthly paperback stuff dying down there wasn't a chance for this series to go on but I’m glad they made it somewhat of a proper ending.
The contract likely only was for 6 more anyway. So that closes out Galaxy of Fear. There was a online short story in 2009 but until someone at Lucasfilm remembers Tash and Zak enough to bring them back, that’s it for the series.
Overall, the series was pretty good. It hit different due to the whole Star Wars thing and it used that well. It felt more thought out that most, with the books being well constructed and having decent character stuff. That did make them a bit less fun than some other series so it wasn’t my favorite to read. But this feels like the most solid out of these ripoff series.
You can tell they didn’t have as many ideas after the first arc, so the latter half felt mostly same-y and aimless. That first half was pretty solid though, with a good setup and a solid storyline that ended well. It didn’t do anything too amazing, but it has some favorites in there. Even the weakest book was above average for these to an extent.
Tash and Zak were solid leads which helped a lot. It got kinda dull at times but at least it ended well. Overall, Galaxy of Fear was a solid time on both levels, it’s worth a look. I’m no big Star Wars nut but this was a decent addition to it in the end. And it made for a standout Goosebumps-like.
And whew, that ends this round. So good to have two series dun and dusted, so less to go through each round. Don’t worry, another series won’t fall for a while, and there are more that will hopefully be added to archive and the like overtime at least.
I don’t know what I am reading next but I do want to get the ball rolling on more reading before the year ends. I will do one christmas thing at least, to make up for last year. We’ll see but yeah, more coming. But for now, that’s it for this round and this series. See ya then.’
RANKING:
Planet Plague: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Spore: https://twitter.com/Spongey445/status...
The Swarm: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Clones: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Doomsday Ship: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Nightmare Machine: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Hunger: You Are Here
Eaten Alive https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ghost of the Jedi/Army of Terror https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
City of the Dead:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Brain Spiders: https://spongey444.wordpress.com/2021...
March 16, 2015
A disappointing end to the series. The Galaxy of Fear series has been pretty good considering they are youth novels, but I'm not sure how this story made it past the editors. While it was written just as well as the others, the topic was simply disgusting. The epilogue at the end was a bit of a let down as well, since there's no real closure as to what happens to these characters in the long term.
May 17, 2024
Zak comes into his own in this tale of Boba Fett, Yoda and cannibals. There's not much that's new here, since it's a standard Galaxy of Fear book, but it is the last one and still manages to serves up thrills and entertainment. I often find myself thinking about this plot even when I haven't gone near my Legends books in months. I'm glad the series ends here. It's a good spot for it... though I wish we had seen Tash and Zak at Luke's Jedi Academy. Alas.
Obviously, this book was released before AOTC told us that Boba Fett had to have heard about Yoda (and likely knew what he looked like), but I don't really mind this inconsistency because the pre-1999 Star Wars books were my early childhood and that era seemed to go on forever (as time does when you're a kid). I'm very fond of this stuff. Sure, I was still growing up through the prequel era, but Star Wars media became almost too easy to find after TPM was released. These earlier Legends books I had to hunt for in the back of K-Mart. I almost never managed to buy them in order.
I can confidently say that my pocket money was not wasted on Galaxy of Fear. This series has given me nearly three decades of joy.
Obviously, this book was released before AOTC told us that Boba Fett had to have heard about Yoda (and likely knew what he looked like), but I don't really mind this inconsistency because the pre-1999 Star Wars books were my early childhood and that era seemed to go on forever (as time does when you're a kid). I'm very fond of this stuff. Sure, I was still growing up through the prequel era, but Star Wars media became almost too easy to find after TPM was released. These earlier Legends books I had to hunt for in the back of K-Mart. I almost never managed to buy them in order.
I can confidently say that my pocket money was not wasted on Galaxy of Fear. This series has given me nearly three decades of joy.
October 4, 2025
This is the first one that really felt like horror as opposed to adventure with scary elements in it. The series doesn't quite get closure but also isn't really a cliffhanger... but I guess they went all in for the last book.
I was happy to see Boba Fett back, cause I like how Whitman writes him.
I really wish they had left Yoda out of the book. If you stop to think about it, it turns the Jedi Master into a complete a*******. I think they could have utilized the setting of Dagobah and left Yoda out of it... It is a whole planet.
Vader's in it for an eye blink, but not enough to annoy me.
Platt Okeefe is probably the best cameo here. I do like it when they use the less well-known characters. Platt seemed familiar but I couldn't quite place her. She mainly appeared in the Star Wars Adventure Journals, which I'm still trying to collect a complete set of.
The mystery element of this book, I think plays out fairly well. The clues are there for you to put together. Yoda feels rather tacked on.
I was happy to see Boba Fett back, cause I like how Whitman writes him.
I really wish they had left Yoda out of the book. If you stop to think about it, it turns the Jedi Master into a complete a*******. I think they could have utilized the setting of Dagobah and left Yoda out of it... It is a whole planet.
Vader's in it for an eye blink, but not enough to annoy me.
Platt Okeefe is probably the best cameo here. I do like it when they use the less well-known characters. Platt seemed familiar but I couldn't quite place her. She mainly appeared in the Star Wars Adventure Journals, which I'm still trying to collect a complete set of.
The mystery element of this book, I think plays out fairly well. The clues are there for you to put together. Yoda feels rather tacked on.
January 7, 2018
Well, my hope for the series to end on a strong note was dashed. This final book takes us to Dagobah, where we (of course) meet Yoda, and even have a run-in with Boba Fett while we're at it. I don't think that's a spoiler, though, since the two characters are featured on the cover of the book. This time around, Zak and Tash have to survive in the harsh jungle setting of Dagobah, while Tash finally gets a chance to understand her Force sensitivity.
I've like the way the books go back and forth between Zak and Tash being the heroes of the books. They even work together in some books to solve the mysteries, and I like that the stories give readers different people with whom to identify. Plus, it was nice to see DV-9 return, since his character development was interesting in the first six books. I'm not quite sure why Whitman decided to take him out of the story, but if anything indicated this was the last book in the series, Deevee's return was it.
It's funny to think that I started reading this series three days ago, and have finished all twelve of them in that time. I guess it helps that I was on vacation at the time, and the stories were short and easy to read. I wouldn't be opposed to reading more of Whitman's work in the Expanded Universe, but it looks like these are the only books he wrote for the license. Oh, well.
I've like the way the books go back and forth between Zak and Tash being the heroes of the books. They even work together in some books to solve the mysteries, and I like that the stories give readers different people with whom to identify. Plus, it was nice to see DV-9 return, since his character development was interesting in the first six books. I'm not quite sure why Whitman decided to take him out of the story, but if anything indicated this was the last book in the series, Deevee's return was it.
It's funny to think that I started reading this series three days ago, and have finished all twelve of them in that time. I guess it helps that I was on vacation at the time, and the stories were short and easy to read. I wouldn't be opposed to reading more of Whitman's work in the Expanded Universe, but it looks like these are the only books he wrote for the license. Oh, well.
November 30, 2020
The final entry in Galaxy of Fear isn't awful, but I found it immensely underwhelming. Maybe that's on me, as the various loose threads at the end of previous books had me convinced that Whitman was going to pull everything together in an intricate, dazzling finale. What we got is...fine. Business as usual for the Arrandas, but no grand sendoff. Spooky times on Dagobah.
At least, as a Game Master, all the loose ends give me some potential plot hooks...
At least, as a Game Master, all the loose ends give me some potential plot hooks...
April 10, 2022
A rather good and surprisingly peaceful conclusion to the entire Galaxy of Fear series. Even though one can already guess what is happening in the story already in the middle of it, there is still a good level of mystery and suspense regarding how would it all play out in the end. And although there is no proper conclusion to the overall journey of the protagonists, the author has hinted to a more or less satisfactory fate for the adventurous children and their uncle.
May 8, 2020
The Galaxy of Fear series may no longer be canon as of the 2014 reboot, but I think the stories are still worthwhile (and could more easily be reintegrated than most). Galaxy of Fear is good children's horror, I think. This particular book has some interesting ideas, and uses the concept of toxic nostalgia to great effect.
I was in second grade when I first read this book.
I was in second grade when I first read this book.
October 6, 2022
Hate the twist ending. Star Wars (especially Disney canon, which I realize this is obviously not) has a huge problem with acknowledging that characters can be smart, capable, talented, and interesting without every damn one needing to be Force-sensitive, and this is unfortunately a great example of that.
November 27, 2021
And so the series ends. Im sad to see them go. I wish we had more of these characters in future books, but unfortunately that just didn't happen. This is perhaps not the most exciting book in the series but it's a fun pleasurable red none the less.
December 10, 2024
Quick little read. This is a fun little adventure novel set in the Star Wars universe. It is a pretty good book.
I blasted through it quickly and it was nice to get back into the world of fiction after reading plenty of other nonfiction books.
I blasted through it quickly and it was nice to get back into the world of fiction after reading plenty of other nonfiction books.
August 24, 2025
I honestly think its a shame these characters never got into the canon universe, this series took me like 30 years to finish as I didn't know 7 onwards even existed until recently, but I'm definitely glad I read them all
August 2, 2017
Better than the previous version, but again the same recipe. Good for an easy read.
August 15, 2024
I think this would be good for a small child to read. It's not so great for an adult. I read it for a podcast appearance, and liked being on the podcast, so I guess that's something?
December 17, 2016
This was a mediocre end to the GOF subseries. Its saving grace was that it really showed how we are all shaped by our past circumstances and that teaching others (instead of fearing or hating them) is the only way in which we can all be stronger (and healthier) denizens of the world. Of the galaxy.
Tash, Zak, and Hoole hope to find an uninhabited planet, discovered by surveyors but not really known. Then some smugglers break into records and take the trio with them. That was utterly ridiculous. Fett follows them to Dagobah, there are cannibal youngsters, and Yoda teaches both children different (yet similar) lessons.
Fett was the best written, IMO.
Tash, Zak, and Hoole hope to find an uninhabited planet, discovered by surveyors but not really known. Then some smugglers break into records and take the trio with them. That was utterly ridiculous. Fett follows them to Dagobah, there are cannibal youngsters, and Yoda teaches both children different (yet similar) lessons.
Fett was the best written, IMO.
February 26, 2016
This, the last of the Galaxy of Fear novels, has always been my favorite. I remember how horrified I was the first time I realized what the Children were hungry for. Excellent stuff. I wish the series hadn't ended here.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews