In case it’s not obvious, I am a huge STAR WARS fan. As such, every so often I am compelled to make a post about my beloved SFF series, or at least use a lengthy comparison for one thing likened to something in the STAR WARS universe. With that, I’m excited to review the first book in the new STAR WARS series.
The Fate of the Jedi series takes place two years after the chaos and destruction caused by Darth Caedus. Chief of State Natasi Daala brings charges against Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker amounting to him failing to recognize one of his Jedi Knights was turning to the Dark Side. If Luke could have prevented the turn, then the Second Galactic Civil War could have been prevented. Within a few days, Luke Skywalker is exiled from the New Jedi Order and the Galactic Alliance for ten years, and subsequently the Jedi are each assigned a GA observer to watch and study the Jedi’s actions.
Luke and his son Ben decide to spend their exile studying what caused the rise of Darth Caedus. Their path leads to Dorin, the home world of the Old Republic Jedi Master Plo Koon.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Order is forced to cope with the departure of their beloved and famed Grand Master, in addition to those pesky GA observers. The Jedi cannot go anywhere outside the Temple without their observers (unless they’re really sneaky), and this makes their jobs a bit more difficult to accomplish, especially when trying to capture and understand two rogue Jedi.
Like the Legacy of the Force series, the Fate of the Jedi series looks to be filled with STAR WARS philosophy and the delicate relationship between politics and justice. It’s these things that make the Expanded Universe of STAR WARS fun to read and experience. I’ve read many of the EU books, and the philosophy of the Force keeps getting murkier and grey as the years pass. All in all, if you like the STAR WARS universe and you’ve read many of the EU books, then I can easily recommend this book. It was fast-paced and entertaining and a rather quick read. On the other hand, if you’ve not read much (or any) of the EU, then I would not recommend starting with this book.
