Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory III: The Final Prophecy (Mass Market Paperback)

My review is based on the abridged Audio CD. Based on the other reviews here, it would seem that this book is even better when read. I know that seems obvious but I generally read the book AND then listen to the audio book. I have found that the audio books tend to edit out the uninteresting stuff I didn't care for anyway. But with this book, I hardly recognize the book described in other reviews based on only having listen to the audio. The audio leaves out most of the cool stuff about Wedge and the battle of Bilbringi and focuses primarily on the Corran Horn - Tahiri - Harrar - NomAnor part of the story. Secondarily on the Luke -Jacen storyline.

For example the Force Heretic trilogy is much better on abridged audio because most of what made those books bad was deleted. What was left wasn't so bad. Here it seems that a lot of good stuff had to be sacrificed by the audio editors and I look forward to reading the book soon!

At long last, this bitter episode of the star wars expanded universe is almost over. The editors asked us to trust them but that trust was misplaced. A sentient planet? Writers were permitted to go off on uninteresting tangents, characters were dumbed down and hero favorites were killed. Many thought that it was cool to kill favorite characters. The compassionate among us said - get over it!!. But for most long time fans that had come to this universe for the fun it provided, well the fun was diminished at best for some and ruined for others.

On a brighter note.. So far the prequel stuff is going well. The novels, movies and Dark Horse comics are intermixing very well. Shatterpoint was amazing. At least here we know well that the heroes we are enjoying in the prequel books and comics will all be killed. A favorite of mine is Quinlan Vos. I have no expectation that he will ultimately save the day and will likely die in battle. So I can enjoy his character for the moment with no expectation of greatness. Anakin Solo on the other hand is a different story. The youngest son of Han and Leia, the youngster who was a hero in the Corellian trilogy, the youngster in the Young Jedi Knights tales, the youngster that Chewy gave his life for.. to end all the hope and promise with his death was a cruel, unnecessary act.

Addition point. - I have seen speculation of some why the NJO was so mediocre. One answer is expressed at the bottom of the paperback page 96 in a scene and conversation between the shamed one warrior Kunra, Tahiri and Corran:
The Warriors eyes widened. One who was shaped!
Then his eyes switched to Corran, and he returned to Basic..
The slayer of Shedao Shai! We expected Jeedai, but not the most august of them.
Ah, there are still a few higher on the ladder than us,
Corran said. Luke Skywalker, for instance.

But he does not figures in our sacred tales! Kunra replied.

Even a shamed one knew that the writers were ordered to write Luke and Mara out of the main parts of the story. The characters are acknowledging that Luke was written out of the way of the main story, action and heroism. To many of us, this was a huge failing of the NJO. The consequence of writing Luke so he was out of the way was to make him appear as stupid and impotent.

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