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Book Review: Phasma

On September 19, 2018

In Book Review, Science Fiction, Star Wars

Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson
My rating: [rating=4]

Captain Phasma is the Boba Fett of the sequel trilogy. Mysterious. Ruthless. The stomp of her chrome boots and her clipped Imperial accent makes her both menacing and intriguing. There is clearly a story to tell and Delilah Dawson is here to tell it.

Vi Moradi is a Resistance spy, often given tasks by General Organa herself. On her recent mission she is captured by Captain Cardinal, a stormtrooper of the First Order. Instead of turning her over to his superiors, he secretly interrogates her for evidence against his rival, Captain Phasma. Since the day Brendol Hux brought Phasma on board the Absolution all his hard work has been marginalized and his pupils reprogrammed to be heartless killers. He believes that she is responsible for murdering his mentor. He wants Phasma gone and he’ll do what needs to be done to see to it that she is removed from command.

Biggs Review

I really enjoyed this book. I love the austere and ruthlessness of Phasma in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. The thing that I enjoyed most was that the author didn’t just give us a full origin story. We learn about the kind of person Phasma is by second-hand stories. I didn’t want all the secrets revealed to maintain the elusiveness of the character. The use of interrogation of a spy, and friend of someone from Phasma’s past, is a great mechanism for maintaining the enigma.

I like the fact that throughout the whole book you’re never really “rooting” for Phasma but you do develop some revere for the character. You begin to understand the character more from what she has endured before joining the First Order. You even learn why she doesn’t wear the typical plastoid composite stormtrooper armor and where the chrome armor comes from.

Finally, much like Boba Fett in the sarlacc, I do not think she is dead after she is bested by Finn in The Last Jedi. Phasma knows exactly what she needs to do to survive and I think we will see her again in Episode IX.

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

Book Review – Star Wars: Ahsoka

By Biggs

On June 20, 2018

In Book Review, Science Fiction, Star Wars

Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston
My rating: [rating=4]

The description of this book states “Fans have long wondered what happened to Ahsoka…” and I am one of those fans. Ahsoka Tano is one of my favorite Jedi from the Clone Wars series. Ashley Eckstein brings such wonderful life to the character and her contributions to the Star Wars universe are extraordinary.

Order 66 has been issued and Ahsoka survived. As with most Jedi that escaped the slaughter, she is in exile, hiding who she is to stay alive. She finds herself on the distant moon of Raada, trying to live a quiet life, away from the Empire. However, hiding from the Empire is easier said than done when a detachment shows up and begins enslaving the farmers of the planet. Ahsoka may have to remember who she is and why she became a Jedi to help free the people.

This is a fairly short book and, therefore, a quick read. We all know that Ahsoka is a bad ass Jedi, Anakin Skywalker was her Master after all. After what she has seen during the Clone Wars and the eradication of the Jedi, her mental state seems accurately depicted in this book. I love how the author gives us glimpses of more Force sensitive users, despite the fact that the Jedi are “all but extinct”. I also love how the author shows us more about Jedi teachings, including how a Jedi chooses their lightsaber crystals; this book, in particular, provides an interesting twist.

If you love Ahsoka as much as I do, I definitely recommend this book. It’s a great filler story between the end of Clone Wars and Rebels.

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

Book Review: Executed (Extracted Trilogy, #2)

By Biggs

On May 28, 2018

In Book Review, Science Fiction

Executed by R.R. Haywood
My rating: [rating=4]

The first thing I learned from reading the second book is that I waited too long to read it after finishing the first. It’s also possible I read too many books between the two. I don’t want to get into too many details about this book because I don’t want to inadvertently spoil anything from Extracted.

Executed really starts getting into the time travel aspect. In other words, book two delves much deeper into the science of science fiction. Our time traveling heroes will go to extreme lengths to avert the end of the world. New team members will aid in the mission and world governments will find themselves thrust into the middle of a power struggle.

The end of the book is quite intense and the most interesting use of time travel. I was not expecting the book to end the way it did. It leaves me wondering what the third book will entail. Ultimately, at the end, it might leave you saying “Mother ….!”

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

Book Review: Dark Disciple

By Biggs

On May 12, 2018

In Book Review, Science Fiction, Star Wars

Dark Disciple by Christie Golden
My rating: [rating=4]
(Read this review on Goodreads)

I am a big fan of Christie Golden‘s work; in the past it’s mostly been her Warcraft novels. I kept hearing a lot of good things about this book so I was excited to finally read it. Suffice it to say, I was not disappointed. If you are not familiar with the nefarious Sith-gone-bounty-hunter Asajj Ventress, then you’re not reading enough canon. You also, clearly, haven’t watched enough of the animated series Clone Wars. Ventress is one bad ass bounty hunter, Force sensitive chick.

The Jedi Council has devised a plan to take out Count Dooku. Obi-Wan knows a Jedi with the resources and talent for the mission, Quinlin Vos. Much to the Council’s chagrin, they must also work with Ventress, Dooku’s former apprentice. Now Quinlin must earn her trust, despite her rules to always work alone. Is her hatred for Dooku enough to convince her to work with the Jedi? Will Quinlin’s dedication to his mission compromise his Jedi teachings?

Ventress is one of my favorite bounty hunters so I was very excited to read a book with her among the protagonists. What I wasn’t expecting was seeing a completely different side of her. I am so used to the bald, ruthless Nightsister from Dathomir, the blonde hair threw me off. Then the love story is a very unexpected twist. I’ll admit that I am not much for love stories, but there are very few in Star Wars. Coincidentally the love stories always seem to involve Jedi thus challenging the Jedi mantra. I really enjoyed the book. The duels with Count Dooku are gripping! The end, however, I did not see coming!

Also, a quick post script, after you read the main story, you should check out the short story at the end. It’s just an extra 10 pages or so but it’s more Ventress ?

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

Olympus Union: Jovian Wars: Omnibus [Book Review]

By Biggs

On March 18, 2018

In Book Review, Science Fiction

Olympus Union: Jovian Wars: Omnibus by Gary Bloom
My rating: [rating=5]
(Click here to go to Goodreads)

This book is Science Fiction at its best. It’s an interesting blend of Tom Clancy and George R. R. Martin (GRRM). I feel like Bloom captures the essence of Clancy in that he brings the political depth and tumult to the science fiction genre. He also brings quite a cast of characters, like GRRM, (without murdering every character to which you have become endeared). Olympus Union Jovian Wars begins by describing the political landscape of Earth’s solar system. The Jovian Moons (aka Jupiter’s moons) have been populated by man and each has a minister, a ruling representative from the overall governing body, the Olympus Union. As robust as the system seems, rumors begin to circulate about a group wanting to secede.

War is Visceral

Conflicts involving emancipation inevitably lead to war. Those hidden members of the Jovian Free League emerge and announce their declaration of independence from the OU. Now the mercenaries of the JFL face off against the Ares Elite, the well-trained guerrillas of the Olympus Union.

The first half of the book sets up the conflict, so that is where you are going to get a lot of your politics. I know sometimes politics can feel like it slows a book down, but I did not feel that way. Besides, war is visceral and when you reach that half way point, you will become fully engaged. Bloom does well to keep you guessing whose side a character might be loyal to but there are a lot of characters to keep straight. The Olympus Union website is a great companion to help you keep characters sorted out (a lesson GRRM should have learned), so make good use of it.

I would definitely recommend this book especially to Sci-Fi fans and if you enjoy books similar to Tom Clancy. This is a book I will re-read, mostly so I can revisit the politics leading up to the conflict. I think this will be especially useful because I don’t think this is the end of the conflict between the OU and the JFL. I will also be adding more of Gary Bloom’s book to my “want-to-read” list.

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

Book Review: Thrawn

By Biggs

On February 21, 2018

In Book Review, Science Fiction

Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
My rating: [rating=5]
(Click here to see this review on Goodreads)

It has been a long since I have read a book written by Timothy Zahn; far too long in fact. The last books I read would have been the first time Grand Admiral Thrawn was introduced to the Star Wars Universe. Sadly those books are now considered “legends”, as they are part of the defunct post-Jedi canon. So it is quite the understatement to say I was excited to see a new Thrawn book by Timothy Zahn. What makes this book even more exciting is that it’s an origin story that also positions Thrawn to be apart of the new “Disney canon”.

Brief Synopsis

As I already mentioned, this book is an origin story of our favorite Chiss Imperial Grand Admiral. It’s the origin story of his rise to power, it does not take us through his childhood. It begins on a desolate Outer Rim planet where Mitth’raw’nuruodo has been exiled. He finds his way onto an Imperial Star Destroyer where he is taken to Coruscant and becomes the Emperor’s new pet. His military successes causes him to climb the ranks quickly.

Biggs’ Review

So this book has two big positives; it’s written by Timothy Zahn and its about Grand Admiral Thrawn. The Chiss is one of my favorite, under appreciated, species in the Star Wars universe. If you are looking for the classic confrontation with Jedi and the Rebellion, that is not in this book. The premise covers a lot more of military strategy and Imperial politics. Trust me, it is not as boring as it sounds. Zahn does an excellent job keeping you engaged. In fact you forget that you are reading about the “bad guys” of the Star Wars universe. You will become invested with characters of the Empire.

Each chapter begins with Thrawn sharing some of his military philosophy, which is a really cool story mechanic; easily one of my favorite things about this book. The only caveat I would have to provide to the reader is that the book does often jump forward in time. The leaps in time are not always immediately obvious so pay attention to each chapter to better understand how much time has passed. For a book that never includes a single Jedi or Force moment, it’s a really fun read. I’m excited for the next book in the series!

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

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