Well, at first this book confused me, i mean this was a big step in the wrong direction, even though i did like the book, Allston just went in the wrong direction... leaving out one of the best characters in the history of Star Wars... Corran Horn, although the book had some great parts, the comedy was a change for the better though, and the romance, i was like HAPPY when i saw what was happening between Wedge and Iella, more happy and surprised when Corran and Mirax got together, the culture of the Audmari and the main country of Adumar was extremely, uhm DIFFERENT lol, i thought it was funny though, the blastswords were a neat idea, good one Allston........ on the other side, the book had great original yet patterned Fights, which is what makes the X-wing series, i hope Allston puts out more great books, hes my favorite author right now, way better than Stackpole

Aaron Allston...the brilliantly creative writer of the X-wing, Wraith Squadron series has done it again. Starfighters of Adumar has taken 4 New Republic pilots and thrown them in for the run of their lives. The point of view of the main pilot (Wedge Antilles) is fantastic. Not only do we get to see more of the inner workings of his mind, but also see how he respondes to varius situations. Like Allston's Wraith Squad series...this book definetly does not lack its humour as well as its seriousness. I found myself cracking up in the very beginings of his book. The antics of maturity level 0, Wes Janson, followed by the mornfull faced, Derek "Hobbie" Klivian make up the most of the humour in this book. But never underestimate Wedge...for he has his own idea of humour as well. The story line covers the major aspects of a great read: humour, love, facinating settings, conflicts (great ones too!), and the most important...great characters in themselves. Trust me, one wont be dissapointed with this book. If you're waiting for a few things to be tied up...Iella fans you know what Im talking about...they get tied up here. This book is a definete recommendation...Just one thing....Can we get more of this?!

This book is much too short. That's the only thing wrong with it. I really wanted more. More dogfights, more interactions between Wedge and the guys, more Rogues dealing with Adumari, more Adumari, and a lot more Wedge and you know who.

Allston's X-wing stories always capture that great Star Wars feeling, and this book is no exception. There are some great insights on the SWU. Ever wonder why Imp ships have such nasty names? Allston gives us Luke's explanation. Every wonder how Wedge and Tycho can fly and fight as well as the Force-filled Luke and Corran? Allston tells us about that too.
Allston skillfully blends the old familiar characters with some great new people. Never enough Wes or Hobbie in the other books? Plenty here. Looking for female characters that are intelligent, tough, and REAL? Allston adds two great new ones and does a splendid job with Iella Wessiri. There are no super weapons, no evil Vader/Palpatine clones for villains. Just four pilots, doing what their leaders ask them to do, using their skills, wit, and intuition (and a little help from some friends).

A well written, well thought out story that every Star Wars fan should read. A great book. But too short! Is there a sequel? There should be.

Be warned: if you fall in love with this book, you'll want to read the 2,000 sequels, and after three or four of them, you'll realise your mistake. They're much, much inferior.

This is by far the best of the Xanth series--a terrific little book, funny, exciting, with a perfect twist of an ending. Anthony's excesses are even somewhat charming when encountered for the first time (sexism, puns, billions of uninteresting supporting characters., etc.). It really is worth the read.

Xanth is a marvellous place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. Everybody has a magical talent of lesser or greater degree, but our hero seems to lack one, and heads for exile and adventure.

Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for really original works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.

I am hooked on Xanth. I read this book January '98, and now in November I am eagerly awaiting #23. I really love the idea that each character has one magic abilility, no more, no less. Anthony does a great job of defining the magic of Xanth via the thoughts and feelings of his wonderful characters, so that even amidst a magical world the story seems very realistic, as if you are in it. Most of the characters are young, but smart, so I, 15, can relate to them. A person's magic talent is very important in Xanth; it is his identity, and affects his character or lack thereof, especially in the case of Magician Trent. After the first five Xanth novels: this,TheSourceOfMagic,CastleRoogna,CentaurAisle, and OgreOgre, Anthony gets lost in the puns and the characters suffer. This one, however, is excellent, along with #'s 3,5,11,and 14.

I have been reading A Spell For Chameleon for the past couple days and I felt compelled to write what a marvelous book this is. Not only is this the my favorite Xanth novel, but one of my favorite novels ever. This book is brilliant, and the next 6 or so were good too. I don't even know where the puns get to be too much. I look back and think, "How did I get through those books). The brilliance of this book, the first book, got me to read the first 18 or so of the Xanth novels. I bought, Geis of the Gargoyle, or Harpy Thyme in hardcover (I can't remember which), read the first three chapters or so and quit because the puns got WAY too annoying. Some people may like them, but I feel they get in the way of good story telling. Maybe Mr. Anthony should write a seperate pun book and then get back to the Xanth series.

A Spell for Chameleon is AWESOME, and is worth anyone's time. But unless you can put up with puns, stay away from the last 7 or so novels. I even felt like a pervert the more I got into the series because the topics became less adult, but more juvenile in nature. Yes, I mean it. I felt LESS an adult by reading all the panty talk. It got to be ridiculous, and I felt it was a waste of my time. Thank you for your time.

There is a new band of translators who are trying to capture the feel of original cadence and language by applying the cadence and language of modern English. Strict translation is sacrificed for readability; this, in turn, is mitigated by plenty of clear notes and commentary. Elio Zappulla's new iambic pentameter, unrhymed verse translation of "Inferno" by Dante Alighieri succeeds as such a translation. It is a joy to read. Dante's 14th century masterpiece, one of the first major works to be written in the vernacular (of Italy), is appropriately translated into the ordinary and occassionally coarse words of English. The result is anything but ordinary; sometimes reaching the extraordinary clarity afforded by the verse (over the prose). If you enjoyed Rober Fagles' translation of Homer's "Odyssey" or Everett Fox's translation of "The Five Books of Moses", then you will breeze through Zappulla's "Inferno". I hope that Zappulla is already preparing translations of "Purgatorio" and "Paradiso". --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other notes: The book is pleasantly typeset. The paintings by Gregory Gillespie are, unfortunately, an unnecessary distraction. I found the diagrams in a Carlyle-Okey-Wicksteed translation much more illuminating.

Dante Alighieri's three part epic The Divine Comedy ranks highly among the literature of the world. Written in early Italian and rhymed in terza rima, it's 100 cantos display impressive allegory and use of scholastic philosophy. In INFERNO, the first volume, the narrator finds himself "half of our life's way" (around 35 years old) and lost in a forest at night. When day breaks, three savage animals bar his escape. The Roman poet Virgil (best known for his AENEID) appears and tells him that Heaven has sent him to lead Dante through Hell, Purgatory, and finally Heaven to bring him out of his spiritual malaise.

Dante's Hell differs from the traditional view of everyone together amongst flames. Here the dead receive different punishments based on their sins. Thus, the lustful are caught up eternally in a whirlwind, and astrologers and magicians have their heads reversed (so those who tried to fortell the future can only see their past). Nowhere, however, does anything seem wrong. The dead are placed into Hell not by an unjust God, but by their own decisions and actions. INFERNO is a slow beginning, most of the grace and beauty of the Comedy lies in the subsequent volumes, PURGATORIO and PARADISO. However, this first volume has a solid role in the allegorical significance of the Comedy. Dante wrote not just a simple story of quasi-science fiction, but a moving allegory of the soul moving from perdition to salvation, the act which the poet T.S. Eliot called "Mounting the saint's stair". While INFERNO may occasionally lack excitement on the first reading, the next two volumes thrill and upon reading them one can enjoy INFERNO to the fullest.

I believe that the best translation of INFERNO to get is that of Allen Mandelbaum, which is published by Bantam (ISBN: 0553213393). Mandelbaum's verse translation melds a faithful rendering of the Italian with excellent poetry, and has been praised by numerous scholars of Dante, including Irma Brandeis. Here's an example from Canto XIII, where the poet and Virgil enter a forest where the trees are the souls of suicides:

"No green leaves in that forest, only black;
no branches straight and smooth, but knotted, gnarled;
no fruits were there, but briars bearing poison"

Mandelbaum's translation also contains an interesting introduction by Mandelbaum, extensive notes (which are based on the California Lectura Dantis), and two afterwords. The first of these, "Dante in His Age" is an enlightening biography of Dante and how he came to write the Comedy while in exile. The second "Dante as Ancient and Modern" examines Dante both as a wielder of classical knowledge and as a poet working in a new and distinctly late-Medieval style (the "dolce stil nuovo") which broke poetry out of the grip of Latin and made it something for people of every class.

Dante's Inferno, the best of the three books of the Divine Comedy, is a revelation. The imagery is powerful, the language wonderful, it description of damnation almost terrifying. It is one of the most vivid religious books ever written, on par with Paradise Lost. Dante does not just recite catholic cannon, however. He has many contemporary references to Italian politics (a subject I knew little about before reading the Divine comedy), to church politics, to classical works such as Homer and Herodotus. To read it is to see the world in the middle ages, long before the reformation. Do not be intimidated by the prospect of reading a 14th century epic poem. After the first page, the style will become familiar and you will revel in the intricate detail of Dante's underworld.

As for this particular edition, it is excellent. Ciardi gives a very good translation and, unlike other translators, preserves Dante's occasional scatalogical references and profanity. In addition, there are several useful maps of the Inferno as well as copious, informative (and necessary) endnotes at the finish of each Canto. The only way the edition could be better is if the notes were at the bottom of the page, but the Cantos are short enough that flipping to the end to read the endnotes is not the finger-breaking maneuver you might find in other editions.

While the writing of this novel strikes my American ear as a bit formal, it is certainly beautiful and clever prose. Maugham writes an interesting portrayal of 6 or 7 very different people as they interact with each other and pursue their differing objectives in their own way. What do you want out of life? How do you think you might attain these goals? Love, happiness, spirituality, money, social standing -- what is important to you? This book won't necessarily help you answer these questions but it will certainly show you several alternatives to consider.

At some point, each of the characters experiences a devastating loss. In the natural course of their lives, each of them has something that they hold most dear taken from them. In their own way, each of them overcomes this devastating loss and perseveres. But their efforts don't come across as heroic. What we see are very natural but no less inspiring examples of the triumph of the human spirit.

Larry's spiritual journey for meaning may be the most interesting thread of the story, and as he grows, he helps several of the others along on their own unique journeys. But, unless you can give it all away and wander the earth in search of answers, the kind of answers Larry comes up with may be instructive, but the stories of the other characters may be more applicable to you.

[This review is based on the 1944 Blakiston Company edition.]

First, a word of warning to the readers of the Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics edition of this book. You may want to hold off on reading the introduction as Mr. Curtis reveals a plot point that might frustrate first-time readers of the book. Now, onto the review.

The plot of The Razor's Edge is quite well-known and can be summed up as the quest of a young man to find himself. I think many, if not most, people can identify with the peripatetic, searching nature of Larry Darrell. Larry is burdened with some of the fundamental questions of life that we all have but, owing to a war-time experience and some independent financial means, he's unwilling to assume his place in a post WWI world until they're answered. Larry interacts with several characters throughout the book over the span of several decades. All of the characters are well-developed and the writing is good on a fairly consistent basis. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, there are a few occasions where the details provided by the author have the effect of slowing down an otherwise brisk pace. The frank depiction of sexuality in the book somewhat surprised me given the publication date of this work.

In the end, I recommend the book as an enjoyable and often funny exploration of clearly defined human archetypes (i.e. the superficial, the introspective, etc.). I've awarded the book 4 stars because of the detail-laden aspects of some of the book and also because the ending seemed somewhat forced to me. While the summation of the characters provided in the conclusion was quite pithy, the overall effect of the last chapter was to leave me with a sense of having been rushed. As such, it didn't live up to the otherwise high standards set by the book. Nonetheless, The Razor's Edge is deserving of your time.

William Somerset Maugham is considered one of the best authors of the 20th century. After reading this book, I can understand why. His grasp of the human condition is simply phenomenal. He is one of those rare authors that can make his characters leap off the page and become living, breathing creatures. The introduction to this Penguin edition spends much time trying to place the fictional characters into the context of Maugham’s life. I’m sure the characters in this story are somewhat based on real people, as any author worth his salt always draws on real experience to create a story. Personally, I couldn’t care less if these characters were based on real people, as it wouldn’t make them any less interesting to me.

“The Razor’s Edge” really has a simple message. It asks us to reflect on how we lead our lives. Do we follow the masses or seek inner fulfillment? Is it right or wrong to drop out of society and follow our inner selves? Maugham makes us ponder these questions as he introduces us to his characters ... When I think of the overall plot of the book, even after reading it, it doesn’t really seem that interesting. But when I think all of the little things within the book, I realize how excellent the novel is. Read this book, even if it is the only Maugham book you ever read (which is a pretty pretentious statement on my part, as this is the only one I’ve read). The prose is excellent, and the psychological insights are really amazing. Recommended.

Laura Fairly is the innocent, the young, sheltered, Victorian maiden who abides by her departed father's wishes. On his deathbed, he bids her to marry Sir Percival Glyde. Enter villainy. The grasping, frightened, short-tempered Sir Percival insists on a speedy wedding. He handily dispatches any obstacles thrown up in his path; he is damned and determined to wed Laura--and her fortune. But Laura has a sister, Marian, a strong-willed, independent, fiercely loyal sister who at first champions the marriage and then recoils once she realizes the true nature of Sir Percival. The man is a monster. And Marian will do anything to protect her sister. Heroism, and then some. There is also another, a drawing master named Walter Hartright, commissioned to teach Laura and Marian the fine art of watercolors. He falls in love with Laura, and she with him--before her marriage to Sir Percival. The drama should be obvious.

But what of the title? Who is the Woman in White? Her chance meeting with Walter Hartright on the road to London provides the catalyst upon which the entire narrative turns. She is at once and both the key and the puzzle. She is a victim. She is a harbinger. She scares Sir Percival out of his wits.

This book offers vivid portrayals of Victorian England, its mannerisms, its wardrobe, its inhibitions, its attitude. This book eerily reflects our own time, our own angst, in the 21st century. Once you read it, you'll know what I mean. Deception has no age.

P.S. Whatever you do, don't turn your back on Count Fosco!

Laura Fairly is the innocent, the young, sheltered, Victorian maiden who abides by her departed father's wishes. On his deathbed, he bids her to marry Sir Percival Glyde. Enter villainy. The grasping, frightened, short-tempered Sir Percival insists on a speedy wedding. He handily dispatches any obstacles thrown up in his path; he is damned and determined to wed Laura--and her fortune. But Laura has a sister, Marian, a strong-willed, independent, fiercely loyal sister who at first champions the marriage and then recoils once she realizes the true nature of Sir Percival. The man is a monster. And Marian will do anything to protect her sister. Heroism, and then some. There is also another, a drawing master named Walter Hartright, commissioned to teach Laura and Marian the fine art of watercolors. He falls in love with Laura, and she with him--before her marriage to Sir Percival. The drama should be obvious.

But what of the title? Who is the Woman in White? Her chance meeting with Walter Hartright on the road to London provides the catalyst upon which the entire narrative turns. She is at once and both the key and the puzzle. She is a victim. She is a harbinger. She scares Sir Percival out of his wits.

This book offers vivid portrayals of Victorian England, its mannerisms, its wardrobe, its inhibitions, its attitude. This book eerily reflects our own time, our own angst, in the 21st century. Once you read it, you'll know what I mean. Deception has no age.

P.S. Whatever you do, don't turn your back on Count Fosco!

Laura Fairly is the innocent, the young, sheltered, Victorian maiden who abides by her departed father's wishes. On his deathbed, he bids her to marry Sir Percival Glyde. Enter villainy. The grasping, frightened, short-tempered Sir Percival insists on a speedy wedding. He handily dispatches any obstacles thrown up in his path; he is damned and determined to wed Laura--and her fortune. But Laura has a sister, Marian, a strong-willed, independent, fiercely loyal sister who at first champions the marriage and then recoils once she realizes the true nature of Sir Percival. The man is a monster. And Marian will do anything to protect her sister. Heroism, and then some. There is also another, a drawing master named Walter Hartright, commissioned to teach Laura and Marian the fine art of watercolors. He falls in love with Laura, and she with him--before her marriage to Sir Percival. The drama should be obvious.

But what of the title? Who is the Woman in White? Her chance meeting with Walter Hartright on the road to London provides the catalyst upon which the entire narrative turns. She is at once and both the key and the puzzle. She is a victim. She is a harbinger. She scares Sir Percival out of his wits.

This book offers vivid portrayals of Victorian England, its mannerisms, its wardrobe, its inhibitions, its attitude. This book eerily reflects our own time, our own angst, in the 21st century. Once you read it, you'll know what I mean. Deception has no age.

P.S. Whatever you do, don't turn your back on Count Fosco!

When I read this book, I have to say that it reminded me of the first book in this trilogy. Like the first book, it was one of the best books I have ever read. The author held the true personalities of the characters while adding new characters, ships, and aliens that almost every other Star Wars author used at least one thing that Timothy Zahn added{Does not include original trilogy or Splintor of the Mind's eye.} The authors don't relate to other Star Wars books except Barbara Hambly and Kevin J. Anderson. And Timothey Zahn and Michael Stackpole. Most of the people who did not like this book had to say something about how small the Imperial Fleet was. Any leader knows that the main bulk of your force should be to defending your territory. Zahn does not need to paint a picture for us about that. It is obvious that those 5 Destroyers are Thrawn's personal fleet for the most important missions. Like the Executer, the Super Star Destroyer was to Darth Vader. And by now, the Empire is broken up in fractions, with most of the Imperial fleet with individual warlords. I kind of remember that after Thrawn lost a Destroyer in Dark Force Rising, that he still had 5 destroyer in the Last Command. A great read for Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans!

Dark Force Rising is the second book in the Thrawn trilogy. Rumors once circulated that the Thrawn trilogy was Star Wars Episodes 7, 8, and 9. Well, if the rumors weren't true, then they should have been. Though I believe Empire Strikes Back to be the ultimate Star Wars film, Dark Force Rising could easily be comparable in character, plot, pace, mood, and overall quality.

Through the voice of the narrative, the rich design of the worlds, and the intensity of the characters, Timothy Zahn recreates the Star Wars universe to absolute perfection. The character of the evil Grand Admiral Thrawn is drawn to show that he is quite distinct from Darth Vader, and could even possible rival Vader as a leader. Where Vader ruled with fear, Thrawn ruled with intellect.

Besides Thrawn, two of the best characters in Dark Force Rising are Talon Karde and Mara Jade. Talon Karde's struggle to escape the clutches of the Empire is shown right at the very beginning of the novel. With Mara Jade at his side, they watched his home in Heir to the Empire be taken away. Mara Jade continues to contain her inner struggle with wanting to kill Luke Skywalker. But, it seems she becomes more of a transitional character, as she begins to look to Luke for help to free Karde from Thrawn. The struggle to free Karde would remind anyone of the scenes in A New Hope when Luke tried to save Leia from the Death Star.

Dark Force Rising is the darkest of the trilogy. The term 'Dark Force' has two meanings. The first meaning represents the fleet of 200 abandoned Clone Wars Destroyers out in the middle of the universe, and the one who possesses the fleet has the chance to win the overall war. The second meaning is Thrawn's power rising in the universe.

The book carries three separate storylines. The first storyline deals with the moral conflicts of Luke and the insane Master C'baoth. The second deals with Leia trying to convince the loyal imperial Noghri to turn away from the Empire and join the new republic. Finally, the third storyline deals with Han and Lando, as they deal with the internal political uprising led by Councilor Fey'lya.

The end of the book contains a surprise that would compell the reader to grab for the last book in the series as soon as the second book is complete.

While this book isn't as exciting as Heir to the Empire, and not as immensly well written as The Last Command, it's still an excellent book that is essential to understanding the whole trilogy. Since I consider this trilogy to be the cornerstone of Star Wars fiction, I would therefor recommend it to anyone, even the casual fan who would just kind of like to know what happened next. I would defenitely also recommend reading Heir to the Empire first, since otherwise this book will make no sense what so ever. For those of you just getting into Star Wars fiction, this is a very good place to start. In fact, I would even recommend reading this series before the ones set before it, since that way it will give a better general perspective of the overall story. Several important things happen in this series that have a profound effect on everything that comes after it, Han and Leia have their first children, Jacen and Jaina, the New Republic meets it's match (once again) and for that matter so does Luke. Anyway, the story of this book in particular basically revolved around a bunch of space battles in which everyone is fighting over the Katana Fleet, or the Dark Force, which is a fleet of dreadknots (or however that's spelled) that was lost some time ago. The smuggler Talon Karrde and his second in command Mara Jade know where it is, and promise to give it to the New Republic, something that makes Mara Jade (a former imperial assasin/spy with an intense hatred of Luke, and also happens to be highly force sensitive) very displeased. Meanwhile, a pregnant Leia is on Honoghor trying to consolidate the Noghri into joining the New Republic. Though, while this book is full to the brim with vivid battles of all kinds, there is plenty of character stuff to satisfy also. Original and new characters alike are portrayed magnificently, both in their personalities and in their interactions with the other characters. Another excellent thing about this series is that it is the official introduction of Mara Jade, who is possibly the coolest and most interesting character in Star Wars. Her interactions with Luke especially were superb, very fun and interesting. When I read this book for the first time I found it hard to believe those two were going to end up together, even if it does happen ten years later, but now the second time around I can see the subtle attraction developing between them. I think this will be a relationship I will enjoy for once, much better than Luke's other relationships (Gaeriel, Callista(gagging noises)) Anyway, this is an excellent book that I would definitely recommend to any Star Wars fan, child or adult.

I must say, Stackpole is one of the top three writers of Star Wars novels. There were several aspects of the book that I liked, such as his development of the Vong culture. Before, we didn't have a clue what made them tick, but now we know more about them as a people. As usual, the battles will keep you on the edge of your seat. One thing that I didn't like about the storyline is that the Vong seem easier to defeat. In Vector Prime, they were portrayed as a super-race that could beat the Jedi Knights. They were shown as a race in which the individual didn't care about his own political status, but only for the dominance of the galaxy. Now, they are no better than the bureaucrats of the New Republic. And they seen much easier to defeat in battle. The Jedi only lost a few in the last battle, and none in the first. One thing that I didn't expect was the way the story ended. You won't believe the way things turn out. I look forward to the release of Agents of Chaos 1: Hero's Trial this fall.

Of Michael Stackpole, I can really say only one thing - the force is strong with him. Stackpole has almost singlehandedly recharged my interest in the post-Return of the Jedi string of Star Wars novels. The man knows Star Wars, and he seems to have a great passion for telling the stories.

"Ruin" picks up where the previous novel, "Onslaught," left off. For those not following along, the universe has been invaded by evil, brutal, slave- taking, anti-technology warriors who exist outside the force. Our aging but still potent friends from the Star Wars movies must save the day. We actually get very little of Han Solo and the droids, but plenty of Leia, her children, Luke, and Luke's Jedi students. That's fine, for the most part. I rather like the Jedi, but there are points where I started to miss the irreverent Solo.

As with past Stackpole novels, the action is fast and furious, though this is not simply a battle-only novel. Stackpole explores some of the more interesting questions of being a Jedi. Luke and his students repeatedly argue about the role of the Jedi in the war, and whether aggressively attacking the enemy is the dark side. Interesting sidebar, but the novel cuts back into the action before it gets too philosophical.

The bad guys in this novel are quite fascinating, and I enjoyed the scenes told from the perspective of the invasion leader who believes pain is the one constant in the universe. He obviously was forced to watch NBC's "Must See T.V.". These are interesting villains and ominous in their single-minded violence.

While not quite as well-paced as Stackpole's earlier novel, "Ruin" is a strong effort and should appeal to Star Wars fans and keep them anxious for more.

I just finished reading the "Dark Tide" novels and I haven't been more pleased with a Star Wars novelist. I've stayed away from Star Wars fiction for the most part because of bad experiences I've had with it in the past (the over-rated Timothy Zhan trilogy), but the "New Jedi Order" books rock! In particular, I found the way Stackpole connected his own novels together with the criminally under-appreciated "Vector Prime" to be exceptionally noteworthy. He picked up right where Salvatore left off and upped the adrenaline.

Corran Horn, whom I know nothing about, was tremendous! What an awsome character Stackpole has here; clever, deadly, cocky, and humble, we was the perfect embodiment of the post-Skywalker Jedi Knight. With 20-something novels left to round out this series, I'm sure he'll be back.

I also found the character developement outstanding; Luke Skywalker certainly demonstrates why he is the Master...

One passage in particular, was incredible!...I had goosebumps....Speaking of, Anakin "The Vong Killing Machine" Solo is also handled nicely, as he come to grips with Chewbacca's death and grows as a warrior and into a man. His future's so bright, I gots to wear shades. Jacen's a conceited dweeb, but Jaina kicks coral tail as part of Rogue Squadron! The flight passages were extrordinary! I could actually visualize the action in my mind's eye while I read of Jaina and Gavin Darklighter (who is also excellent) deftly manuvering their X-wings through the action.

Overall, it's oustanding! As someone who is not a fan of Star Wars fiction at all, I found a smile on my face as I tore through both books in just four sittings (and paid the price at work following each). The Yuuzhan Vong are a truly formidable adversary, with a certain dignity in their beliefs and ferocity with which they defend them. I'm 27 years old, and I found myself wishing they'd come out with Vong action figures. What's up with that?! Salvatore put the hook in me, but Stackpole has reeled me in for the entire series.

Now, I wonder what a certain grieving ex-smuggler is up to...

If you are the type of person who doesn't like books that are not "realistic", then you shouldn't read this book, as the whole thing is really over the top. However, if you enjoy a ballistic plot, highly original characters and lots of fun and laughs along the way, then you should definitely read it. Chet is just an "ordinary" guy who gets accidentaly mixed up in a life and death struggle against the Cineese mafia, putting himself and his friends at risk. What follows is some fast and furious action that is fun but borders an the absurd at times. Eventually the battle moves to cyberspace, and another foe - MP Phred joins the mix. Somewhere along the line the plot gets muddled with too many bad guys and too much going on, but plows forward on sheer adrenalin. The characters are very original and there are lots of funny exchanges between them throughout. The writing style is very fresh and enthusiastic adding to the fun. So yes, it does have its flaws, many courtesy of its over-enthusiasum but it is also that same enthusiasum that makes for an exciting, fun, original experience.

This was a solid bit of thriller audio-fare. The main character is a hacking-addicted roller-blader who was caught when he was a Jeuvie, and now faces life without a machine. But the ache to hack is rising in him.

When he roller-blades as a courier, Chet Griffin is handed some really harsh information, and when something goes wrong, he, the girl he's falling for, and pretty much anyone he contacts is marked for death. Corrupt cops, internet-police, and the mafia all come racing after Chet, who might just have found "the Ultimate Rush" after all - if only he can survive it.

Anthony Rapp's voice is familiar to anyone who has heard the "Rent" CDs from the musical - he's Mark. So his voice took a little getting used to as a hip, anti-establishment roller-hacker phone phreak. It did carry well, and his slight accents for other characters didn't dissolve into terrible stereotype. Like many abridged audios, this one was really hectic in pace, and I'm tempted to go grab the book itself now.

'Nathan

Oh my god, what a ride! The genius of what "Joe Quirk" has done is all the more amazing when you consider the fact that this book actually got published. I was beginning to think it was impossible to find a book by a contemporary author about characters other than the disillusioned middle and upper classes. As far as I know there has never been a book about this particular iteration of the nihilist fringe element in our society. The author doesn't let up on those of us who are unschooled in the jargon of "badass" bladers, skate boarders, etc. and I couldn't have been happier. READ it for its originality and for the love the author put into it even if you don't think you have anything in common with people with blue hair and pierced bodies. It has been a revelation. I could go on and on, this book excites me so, but I'll just try to chill and wait for Mr. Quirk's next book.

After Allston's three-book cycle, Stackpole returns with another X-Wing book to tie up the loose ends from his previous novel, The Bacta War. While Isard's Revenge is an excellent read, I have to say that it's biggest strength is Stackpole's excellent writing style. His plot threads for this one are slightly lacking.

Isard's Revenge covers everything Stackpole has ever written on Rogue Squadron. This includes the novels AND the comics, for those who think Krennel was a one-shot character. While it's not really necessary to read the comics, they do supplement the book rather nicely. In fact, halfway through I actually went out and picked up the comics. The book picks up at the very end of Zahn's novel "The Last Command" (in fact, Tycho's dialogue is pulled word-for-word.) After the battle, the New Republic decides to go after the remaining Imperials, and choose Krennel as their target. Through a series of plot twists, Rogue Squadron is assumed dead, and teams up with Isard to destroy Krennel.

Stackpole's biggest problem has always been character development. He gets Corran, Gavin, and Wedge down just fine, but long-standing characters such as Inryi Forge and Ooryl are still releatively underdeveloped. Especially lacking is Hobbie; one would think that after been left out of seven X-Wing books, he would finally get some decent dialogue. Also, you can immediately pick out from the Dramatis Personne who dies and who lives. Stackpole has written himself into a corner in that he doesn't have any characters he's willing to sacrifice.

The plot and various sub-plots don't really kick in till halfway through the novel when Isard shows up. With that said, there's some really good stuff here, including Asyr and Borsk, the mini-adventure the droids have, and seeing Wedge finally get promoted to general. Stackpole has also learned to tighten his dogfight scenes, though the amount of description he puts into each and every exploding TIE Fighter can be overkill. There are times when simply stating "the TIE Fighter exploded in his viewport" will sufficed.

Isard's Revenge comes recommended because of Stackpole's writing style and the fact that it ties up the X-Wing series nicely. It may not quite be up to the standards of the previous books in the X-Wing series, especially when compared to the character development of Allston, but it is still superior to most Star Wars novels.

When I started reading this book I was really excited that it was about Rogue Squadron again instead of Wraith Squadron. Don't get me wrong the Wraith Squadron books were good, but Corran Horn is my favorite character.

If you've read any of the other X-Wing books it is written the same way (which can be a good or bad thing depending on whether or not you liked the other X-Wing books). It starts off with a quick interesting battle. Something bad happenns, about 100 pages of the good guys looking for the bad guys, and its all followed up with a big long battle.

There is only one thing I didn't like about the book: Isard is supposed to be dead. I mean they already killed her in book 4 or something. This is the only thing that I don't like about the Star Wars books: no one seems to ever really die. If you can live with that, and you liked the other 7 X-Wing books then this one is a deffinate must.

First things first. Read the X-wing comics. I don't care what you think of the idea of comics in general, but half the plot is dependent on the X-wing comics. At the very least read 'Mandatory Retirement'. not only is it quite good, but its essentially the partner story to 'Isard's Revenge'. If you ask yourself where the clone came from ,apy attention to the second-last scene in MR. If you want Krennel's background, you'll get it in MR. (You'll also know why both Isard and the Republic hate him so, considering how he humiliated them both.) Like most of Stackpole's works, it simply can't be viewed as a single piece. Its all history, and history doesn't get told in one book.

That said, its a pretty good book. Nice combat, as usual. An overall strong plot (if you know the background, of course.) Nice to see good ol' Nrin, too. He was one of my favorite Rogues from the comics, and its nice to see him after his experiecnes in MR. I liked the tie-in with 'The Last Command' on the Zahn novels, adding a bit more of that perspective I love so much in the SW universe. (The Bantham books anyway. Check my 'Vector Prime' review if you want to see me moan about the NJO series.) Nice to see little things like the Lusankya in there again. (Granted, an SSD isn't little, but that's beside the point.) Granted, the 'coming back from the dead' complaint has validity, although what's so bad about Janson or Asyr surviving? Just because their ship gets his doesn't mean they get killed. That's why they give X-wing pilots vac suits and ejection seats, after all.

In any case, its another logical piece of history, filling in the gaps, so to speak. While it's not the best X-wing novel, its a good read nonetheless, as long as you know the background. Provided the previous requierments are fulfilled, it is reccomended. Even then, buy it for the simple pleasure of having Booster Terrik slam Borsk Fey'lyas up against the wall and yell at him. That was a long time coming.