Posts Tagged ‘Unseen’
September 12th, 2010 | 
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Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
Chapter 9
It must be stated that I love an element of cheesiness to my Sci-Fi. In fact it needs a little cheese for me to enjoy it. The reason I could not get into the newer Battlestar Galactica was their efforts to remove the cheese from their Sci-Fi show. I need goofy lines. I need goofy scenes. Whoever moves the cheese from Sci-Fi should be fired.
This chapter is filled with wonderful cheese that did nothing but make me smile. That is UnuThull gives to Han and Luke miniature models of their famous space vehicles. They are number 1 of 1,000,000,000. I loved this. Star Wars was built on merchandising and merchandise. George Lucas built Lucas Films and all of its various divisions largely on the sale of merchandise, and not movie sales. Star Wars fans are huge collectors, and merchandise has played such a huge role in the development of Star Wars, so I loved seeing collectables and merchandise being brought into a novel. UnuThull was pulling a George Lucas saying I am going to make money of Luke and Han’s fame. It was great, and I am smiling while I am typing this.
I cannot tell you anything else that happens in this chapter because I was so thrilled to see collectables make the pages of a novel, and wouldn’t you love to see the chaos and brawl that would ensue if these two ships number 1 out of a billion were thrown into the floor at a CVI?
It was incredibly cheesy, but who doesn’t love cheese.
Chapter 10
Leah and Saba in the Millennium Falcon and a team of Jedi in Stealth Xs are travelling to get Han and Luke, and they are pulled out of hyperspace by the Alliance blockade against the Killiks. Nice little game of chase ensues with the Millennium Falcon ensues before it is captured by a tractor beam and Leah and Saba are captured by the Alliance.
The only real special note is that Saba quotes Darth Vader telling Leah that she finds her lack of faith disturbing…I was waiting for Tarkin to pop up and say that’s enough release her, but that did not happen.
Chapter 11
Han and Luke are now in prison on Woteba. They are not really afraid, but they do muse about how they miss their wives, which was a nice look into the love they have for Leah and Mara.
This chapter then became kind of slow until Han offers to sign some of the miniatures of the Millennium Falcon as a distraction to the Killik guards. I laughed out loud. The addition of these collectables was great by Denning. Of course they want them signed, that would triple their value. I love it, and I want one for my desk at work.
R2-D2 then plays another of these mysterious holos, and this one shows Anakin Skywalker killing the younglings. Luke has a typical Lukan under-reaction. He is saddened, but does not show much emotion.
Then our old buddies Juun and Tarfang come to negotiate the deal to get Han and Luke to autograph the collectables…have I mentioned how much I love the collectable angle of this story? Han then shows Juun and Tarfang, who have already delivered a shipment of collectables to the 5th Fleet of the Alliance, that there are dark nest assassin Killiks inside the statues. Juun and Tarfang being afraid of going to jail in the Alliance for this are persuaded by Han and Luke that there only hope of escaping punishment is to help them escape.
A lot happened in this chapter, and I was disappointed with the scene where Luke sees the holo of the youngling slaughter. It shouldn’t have had all this other stuff going on around it.
Chapter 12
Things have begun to slow down, and this novel has not had the action it did in the earlier chapters. This entire chapter was Leah and Saba trying to negotiate their release with Gavin Darklighter and Admiral Bwua’tu…since when has a Bothan ever listened to Leah? Of course they refuse to let Leah, Saba, and the gang past the blockade, and we learn that the Stealh Xs are out hiding in space relying on force hibernation to survive.
Chapter 13
This chapter begins with a nice little bang. Cal Omas is visiting the temple to discuss the situation, and you see a man who really wants to support the Jedi because of their years of service, but just cannot figure out a way to support them in this Killik crisis. I like this conflict in Omas, and this inner conflict shows us that Omas has a good heart and is just trying to do what is right, and I always find it interesting when good guys debate what to do with other good guys. I enjoy reading good people arguing over what is right because it shows just exactly how messy the situation is, and I enjoy this struggle over right and wrong decisions.
Omas visits the temple, but when they are coming to visit Omas in the room he is in, Omas’ aide Salla introduces them and Omas says they very polite line of “Send them in, Salla. I am just a guest in their temple.” While I am reading that, I am thinking that Omas is such a good hearted guy not like other chief’s of state particularly Fey’lya, and Kyp, in classic Kyp style, when Salla says I am sure you heard Chief Omas, Kyp states, “I am sure he meant for us to.” Kyp not trusting authority and politicians is classic Kyp and was written very well. I give Denning credit for getting to know and writing Kyp perfectly here.
Omas opens us about his disappointment over the Jedi hiding Luke’s absence from him. I thought wow that was very honest, and then Katarn replied, we kept it a secret from you because we were afraid you would take advantage of the situation. That earned a double wow for being open and honest. This conversation was so honest. I enjoyed both sides not trying to play one another.
Then there was a hammer dropped. When discussing who or what the Jedi serve, Kyp states the Jedi serve the entire galaxy, and Corran Horn quickly corrects Kyp and states that Jedi serve the force…Now, I am a huge Coran Horn fan, and Corran has been the staunchest defender of the fact that the Jedi should serve the Galactic Alliance as the Old Republic Jedi served the Old Republic, so to hear Corran Horn say this was amazing to me. I think it was pretty cool to see Corran defend the Jedi, for unifications sake, in front of the Chief of State instead of sharing his feelings on the subject. Corran may disagree with Luke’s order and we saw this in Dark Nest I, but he will support Luke publically. It was also cool to see Corran put Kyp in his place.
Chapter 14
The earlier chapter may have been a tad slow, but not this one. Kyp and Corran’s spat from the previous chapter comes to a head here. Where Kyp wants to go to Utegetu Nebula while Corran, who was appointed leader of the Order in Luke’s absence did not authorize this mission, and light sabers are drawn. Now, no all out fight breaks out, but it is one of the most heated Jedi discussions I have read.
During this argument between Masters, Jacen discusses with the Jedi knights about a vision he had about a never ending war…I wonder if it would have Luck Dragons?…And they need to go to the Chiss Ascendancy to stop it, and they plan to sneak out in the Stealth Xs marked to be used by Kyp for his now defunct mission.
So this set of chapters had some slow parts, but overall it had a great moment of cheese with the collectables, autographs, and assassin bugs inside, and had some great action that pitted Master against Master. It was a fun read that made me yawn, laugh, and gasp, and that is your Star Wars Book Report.
As always send us your thoughts and comments to jesse@starwarsbookreport.com or leave us a voice message for our podcast at 706-760-5782. Have a great day, and thanks for reading.
Exploring the galaxy one page at a time, Jesse
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Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
Chapter 5
Saba and Leah race to get the Fizz sample to Cilghal’s lab for analysis at the Jedi Academy, and we get a glance into the Jedi training that Leah is receiving from Saba. I loved it. Leah was in a hurry to get the Fizz to Cilghal, and as she is running to the lab, Saba reminds her of the rule to meditate upon entering the Academy grounds. Leah was in a hurry and tried reasoning with Saba about the well being of Luke and Han who are stuck on Woteba, but Saba quickly establishes who is in control putting Leah in her place with her quite yet stern Barabel ways. Leah then finds herself meditating and being corrected later when she calls Corran Horn, Corran instead of Master Horn even though they have known each other for decades.
I enjoyed watching Leah not be fast tracked through the Jedi program because of her service to the New Republic and then the Galactic Alliance and her relationship with the Grand Master. I like watching Leah who has been so skilled at bossing people around and leading others and sometimes manipulating others to do what she wants them to do, I enjoyed watching her get ordered around and shown that she is not a special case.
My favorite part of this chapter was Saba not even letting Leah question Corran…I mean Master Horn on his decision. By the way, have I stated lately that Corran Horn is my favorite Jedi?
I love that Corran is still working from the Old Republic model of what the Jedi Order is suppose to be…a supportive arm to the rightful governing body. Corran fights for Cal Omas the chief of state and a clear and open relationship between him and the Jedi. I cannot stand this unifying Force garbage, and I hope the order falls back in line with Corran who is my favorite Jedi by the way.
Chapter 6
This chapter frustrates me a little. I love Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, and I especially love them together, but this chapter, I want to hit them in the head with a sack of oranges for being so dense.
Han and Luke discover that the Dark Nest are stock piling reactor fuel and hyper drive coolant, and they sit and wonder why they are collecting this stuff for…Well they want to leave the Utegetu Nebula…Duh. They should have been speculating on where the Dark Nest wants to go: the Chiss Ascendancy, Hapan Cluster, Galactic Alliance Space, joy riding, conquering, but instead they wonder what they are collecting reactor fuel for. It was not Han and Luke’s finest hour.
One important note, they do discover what the Fizz is attacking, and that was quite important.
My favorite part of this chapter was Han Solo quoting Toucan Sam stating, “I’ll follow my nose”…I hope he found those Fruit Loops.
Chapter 7
Wow, Wow, Wubzy this was an amazing chapter. It did not take long for Jacen’s attachment to his daughter to turn him on a path at least toward the dark side. Jacen confronts Ta’a Chume about the attack on his daughter’s life, and Jacen gives us some of the best one liners I have ever read.
“I promised Tenal Ka that wouldn’t kill you, and I’ll be very angry if you make me break my word.”
“Had Tenal Ka lacked courage, you would have died never knowing I was here.”
“That would be me…And I am very determined to protect my daughter.”
“I’d like some answers and we don’t have long before the security team arrives.”
We’re out of time…Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you now, or”
It is official, I am afraid of Jacen Solo. Each line, each question sent chills up my spine, and I was very grateful to not be Ta’a Chume.
His questioning of Ta’a Chume was just plain scary and awesome. This has been the best chapter of this book, and one of the best I have read ever. As a dad of a three year old and a four month old, I can totally understand Jacen’s reaction, so I loved Jacen’s response to the threat on his daughter’s life. Parenting makes you act a little crazy when it comes to your kids.
Chapter 8
This was another really nice chapter. It does not have the spine tingling scene of the previous chapter, but it is one of the chapters that just I like. It is a Jedi Master’s debate over how to handle the Killik situation. First, I enjoy a good debate where the correct course of action is difficult to discern. Second, the New Jedi Order spread the Jedi Masters all over the galaxy, and you rarely had more than one or two together at one time. I liked this meeting with so many masters. You have Kyp, Corran, Kenth, Mara, and you also have the young Jedi knights we have read growing up before our eyes stand toe to toe with the Master in this debate like Jaina, Zekk, Lowbacca, Tesar, and of course, Leah makes any debate more fun. Nothing drastic happens in this chapter except they decide it is the Jedi’s responsibility to handle Raynar Thull since he was a Jedi, but it was fun reading.
And that is what I am reading.
As always send us your thoughts and comments to jesse@starwarsbookreport.com or leave us a voice message for our podcast at 706-760-5782. Have a great day, and thanks for reading.
Exploring the galaxy one page at a time, Jesse
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Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
Chapter 2
This chapter begins as a digestion chapter. Han, Leah, Mara, and Luke discuss how to handle the problems that arose from chapter 1. Mainly Luke’s promise to help UnuThul with the Fizz that is eating away at their planet. Luke and Han decide to remain on the planet with the Killik to build trust wit UnuThul and investigate the dark nest issue. Mara leaves because of the dark nest’s desire to kill her. The rest of the gang takes a sample of the Fizz to Ossus and Cilghal.
This chapter is pretty slow until Alema shows up and the fireworks begin. Alema and Luke discuss the Killik situation esspecially the dark nest, Welk and Lomi Plo’s role in it, the batlle on Kr, and during this debat, Han stuns Alema.
After Alema comes to, the excitement grows. The dark nest absorbed the famed droid brain designer that designed the brain used by R2-D2. Alema uses the knowledge of the desighner to allow Luke to view a holo trapped inside R2 to build Luke’s trust in her. They watch a holo of Anakin and Padme talking. Anakin is whining about his role in the Jedi and reinforces his determination to stop her from what happens in his nightmares of her death.
Luke after being so interested in this knowledge completely blows off Alema’s offer to show him the rest of the holos if he would leave the dark nest alone. Luke basically says I would never place my wants above the Jedi and the will of the Force.
I would have expected Luke to make that decision, but I was surprised that there was not more internal conflict going on in Luke.
When the chapter closes, Luke declares that Alema is not fit to carry a lightsaber. This was the coolest part of this chapter for me because this is so unlike Luke. He defends the Jedi so much and their freedom inside the order, so for Luke to take and keep her lightsaber shows just how far gone Alema is to the dark nest. Then, there comes the line that gave me chiils. Alema declares that she will just build another one, and Luke says, “I know. And I’ll take that one away too.”
What an awesome line! A calm and cool threat from Luke. He basically told Alema you can build another lightsaber, but you CANNOT stop me from taking the, from you. Luke told Aleman that she was no Luke Skywalker. A great way to end this chapter.
Chapter 3
This chapter just made me mad and not in a good way. There are times where anger in the reader is good. For example, when Borsk Fey’lya would work against Leah or the Jedi…you would get mad, but that was ok becuase Fey’lya always worked against them because he truly believed they were bad for the Galactic Alliance. This chapter makes no sense.
Before I get to the making no sense part, it is important to know that this chapter takes place at Sien Sovv’s funeral who died in a speeder crash that may or may not have been an accident.
Now to the not making sense part…Cal Omas is angry at Luke for not being at the funeral and for not working against the Killiks. This is while Luke is with the Killiks trying to solve the issue before a war breaks out. I just can’t believe that Omas has turned on Luke and doesn’t trust Luke to work for what is right and good. This is after Luke helped Omas get elected Chief of State, and after Luke gave the government places in the Jedi Council. I just did not like Omas’ lack of loyalty here at all. Daala’s working against the Jedi makes much more sense in Fate of the Jedi, but that’s another blog.
One thing I loved from this chapter is that Jedi Corran Horn does not think Sovv’s death was an accident and is investigating. I loves Horn’s loyalty to the Galactic Alliance and to his investigative roots from his Cor-Sec days.
Overall I was glad this was a short chapter because I did not like Omas at all.
Chapter 4
You can’t go long in a Denning story without a bombshell being dropped and a fight breaking out and this has both.
Jacen and Ben travel to see Tenal Ka in the Hapan Consortium, where Tenal Ka tells Jacen that he is the father of her baby girl and heir to the Hapan throne. We also discover the one Jedi power I don’t think any woman would ever use, and that is the ability to slow down a pregnancy. Ka was pregnant for a year to hide the identity of the father of the Chume Da.
I loved Ben’s reaction of telling Jacen that he was in so much trouble. It was the exact reaction of a real nine year old boy. It also added a little levity to a Star Wars story that did not involve a droid or an akward non-humanoid species, which I enjoyed.
Then comes the action. Killik assains come by the hundreds to kill the child, and Jacen and Ka fight them off with the help of a defender droid. It was a nice fight scene, but what made is really good was that Jacen chokes Ben out because of Ben’s connection to the dark nest cultivated in Dark Nest I: The Joiner King, and Jacen uses his fear to call on the Force, which foreshadow some dark sideness in Jacen, which was fun to read.
Then Tenal Ka declares that her grandmother is behind the attack because the Killiks used a secret tunnel that on Tenal Ka, her mother, and grandmother know about.
The best line is from this chapter is Tenal Ka goes to question Jacen on choking out Ben, and Jacen acts like it was no big deal just something that had to be done, and Tenal Ka could not follow up on her question because they had to move. It reminded me of the Padme and Anakin Skywalker conversations that always seem to be cut short before they mentioned the dark side. I liked it.
And that is your Star Wars Book Report. Thanks for reading.
Exploring the galaxy one page at a time, Jesse
Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen – Part 1
I received an e-mail recently asking me how to keep up with what I am currently reading, so to help out I came with the idea of the DRU or the Daily Reading Report to share my thought on what I recently read. They will be brief summaries of my thoughts of what I have read that day. I hope you will follow allong and enjoy.
Currently I am reading Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen by Troy Denning.
Prologue
Have I mentioned that Denning is a master of action? The prologue of most book sequels briefly remind you of what took place in book one…Denning does not. You must read Dark Nest I to know what in the world is going on; otherwise you with think Jaina and Zekk are back in puppy love finishing each other sentences. I am not sure which is creepier joiners or people in love finishing each other’s sentences?
The prologue begins with a bang…you discover a year has past since Dark Nest I, and there are people stealing and smuggling tibianna gas, which is used in weapons, out of Bespin, and Jaina and Zekk are trying to catch the culprits. They find a group of theives in the act of stealing the gas, and are led through a wild chase through the wild atmosphere.
During this chase while experiencing a good action scene, you learn some important facts. The most important is the fact that Jaina and Zekk are still Killik joiners because they are finishing each other’s sentences. This is somewhat surprising for a couple of reasons: one, they were kicked out by UnuThull, and two the Jedi trust them to hunt down these gas theives. Makes me wonder what the Jedi are thinking since they know a joiner’s mind has been greatly tampered with, or is Jaina and Zekk hiding their connection with the Taat nest. After this cool cloud car chase scene, where the culprits do escape the clutches of Jaina and Zekk, they discover Black Membrosia, which is a potent liquid manufactured by the Dark Gorog Nest. This leads you to believe that the Gorog are behind the gas syphoning, and that they are stockpiling weapons for some threatening action.
Great action that left you wondering why the Dark Nest wants weapons? Also, left me creeped out by Jaina and Zekk.
Chapter 1
There are no fight scenes or cloud car chases in this chapter, but there are some very good dialogue between Han, Leah, and the UnuThul. We discover that the Galactic Alliance and the Killiks each have serious problems that they blame on each other. The Killiks are facing a plague that is literally eating away at their society, and killing them, for which they blame Han and Leah for giving them this planet. They believe the Galactic Alliance poisoned the planet prior to their arrival, and the Galactic Alliance have a problem with Black Membrosia which is plaguing it like an illicit drug, for which they blame all Killiks. Of course each side protests it’s innocent, so let the verbal gymnastics begin.
Leah is written well…at one time she bluffs at leaving the talks, and UnuThul buys it shares information with her to keep her in the talks. UnuThul drops a bombshell about why the Gorog is hunting Mara. It is because of a mission way back when she was the emperor’s hand. This was a nice tie into some of the older novels, which I appreciate.
Han continues his hate filled speech and antics toward the bugs, and at one point insults the bugs so thoroughly that they wonder if he very brave or just dumb…that is good ole’ Han Solo.
This first taste of Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen shows me why my respect for Troy Denning grows with each novel I read of his. He can write a great action scene that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and he can write back and forth dialogue with no blasterfire that can do the same.
Looking forward to chapter 2.
That is you star wars book report.
Exploring the galaxy one page at a time, Jesse