Review: X-Wing: The Krytos Trap - by Michael A. Stackpole - October 1996 (Book 3 of the X-Wing series)
The EU - Jan Dodonna's Appearance - I think the neatest part about this book is the appearance of Jan Dodonna. Who is Jan Dodonna, you ask? He's the old Rebel leader in Star Wars who organizes the starfighter attack on the Death Star and shares worried glances with Princess Leia during the attack. And then in the next movie... well, he's not there.
I'm sure there was probably some very practical and simple reason... if I looked around, I might be able to find it out. However, you have this rebel leader who shows up, and then he's not around anymore. That's okay - all the rebel leaders other than the main characters to that. But Stackpole has Corran Horn find him - and what this does is it just ties the story nicely and neatly back to the movies. And Dodonna's just a minor character - this isn't earth shattering, this isn't something so massive that it alters the main story-line of the Star Wars Universe. But it makes this book seem to fit in so well with the films. It is a nice touch and a neat characterization.
The EU - Head Games There are a lot of neat head games in this one - perhaps a bit much if just taken on its own, but as the series has led to this point, they fit. Between Tycho's trial and Corran getting messed with (and Diric's fall), you get some neat mind play. Mind control ends up being a theme that can easily be a little too "Sci-fi" for my taste - but it is done here respectfully. Also, you see both sides of it - and you get some nice resolution for Tycho, who ends up being one of my favorite characters in the squadron.
The Bad - Super Star Destroyer Highrises Okay, I'll admit that it was a neat twist to have Corran and Isard on Coruscant all the time... but the building is actually a Super Star Destroyer? A 19KM long ship - and it went unnoticed. I mean, I know there are tall buildings... but that wide? And yes, there are lots of buildings, but still, suspension of disbelief. A regular Star Destroyer would have been better - or just a giant lab section that shoots out and then rendezvous with the big ship. A little silly -- and just a touch of the "oooOOOooo neat weapon" problem. Just a touch.
The Grade - B+ This is the X-Wing series being what it is - a fun adventure in the Star Wars universe with the B-list characters doing important things... not the *most* important things, but that second tier of importance. This is something I appreciate -- it opens up the Universe for me to think of my stories; shows me how those stories might fit in. And that is a good thing.
Yeah, totally with you on the hidden SSD. I remember Isard being a seriously evil and cunning character, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'll read anything with Corran Horn in it. He's my favorite Jedi. :)
You know, Isard is an interesting Villain because she is evil and cunning... but by the last book she has collapsed in on herself. She makes an interesting example of moral collapse... but it's this book where she is at her apex. After this it becomes a bit down hill for her. In the Bacta War she kind of goes nuts.
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