Customer Reviews

Traitor: Star Wars (The New Jedi Order)

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

As someone who read MANY Star Wars books, this has to be in the top 5 of all. I recommend it and the whole New Jedi Order (NJO) series

The title for the latest Star Wars Extended Universe set of novels, New Jedi Order, has been touched upon within the books themselves once, maybe twice before, but in this amazing, thorough, impossibly revealing chapter of the series, the title of the series finally begins to take on the true extent of its meaning.

To summarize, Jacen Solo finds himeself captured by the Yuuzhan Vong, specifically held at the hands of Vergere, a minor character in previous novels. Slowly, through a variety of experiences that change his perspective, Jacen realizes that the current Jedi understanding of the Force is incorrect. To put it simply, Jacen faces the question, "If the Force is life, how can there be life, without the Force?" Referring to the Yuuzhan Vong's seeming non-existence in the Force. To understand that there IS in fact, no life, without the Force, Jacen realizes that the Force is in fact part of a larger power, an absolutely universal collection of dualities that bind things even as opposite as the Yuuzhan Vong and the New Republic, Love and Hate, Light and Dark and all others - they are all combined in a... something (energy, Force, connection, it's never really defined) that holds not only the Jedi and the New Republic in its grasp, but also the Yuuzhan Vong and all other life in the Universe.

Because so much of the book is composed of Vergere and Jacen's philosophical discussions, back and forth, one would think the plot and action would suffer, but this is not so, it merely heightens the intensity each action and turn creates. The introduction of Ganner as a main character, a full two thirds through the book, seemed strange at the time, but worked perfectly - highlighting the philosophy Vergere spouts - of dualities becoming one, through love.

With captivating descriptions, engaging dialogue, and a change in the very scales of power in the Star Wars Universe, the novel is a definite step in the right direction of a series that hasn't always lived up to its expectations or possibilities. Hopefully the books following this one do not fail to follow in Matthew Stover's path.

Perhaps more than any other book, this paperback shakes the foundations of many people's notions of Star Wars. We learn that, rather being completely absent from the Force, the yuuzhan Vong exist in a part of the force jedi cannot (yet) touch. The biggest shocker: a dramatic reinterpretation of the nature of the force. Rather than having defined light and dark sides, the force is more like a prism that reflects all colors, viewpoints,etc. It is the user who determines the Force's purpose. Some, including myself, may question whether or this conflicts with Lucas' views, but in my opinion it is a breath of fresh air. As for the characters: Jacen gains some needed depth, Nom Anor is as cunning as ever and even more stylish, Vergere forces Jacen and the reader to answer hard questions about what tehy believe, and Ganner, well...all i can say is NONE SHALL PASS!

Probably the most phenomanal Star Wars book I've ever read that wasn't written by Timothy Zahn. It was absolutely one of the best ever. That's how it will go down in history. I saw an earlier review saying it was too much on "meditation and philosphy." How stupid are you? That's the idea of the whole book! If you are too immature to understand that it's your fault! As it is this book was absolutely incredible. I reccomend this to ANYONE. And I especially recommend it to the NJO fans.

Traitor just adds more and more to this great series and, with the help of Alston's Duology, has saved the series.

This book is the thirteenth addition to the New Jedi Order series in the Star Wars Extended Universe. Devoted mainly to Jacen Solo and a cast of five other characters, this story is not only intriguing but perplex. Fluid and omniscient, the author, Matthew Woodring Stover, demonstrates an acute knowledge of the Star Wars Universe as well as the ability to entertain and mortify concurrently.

Matthew Woodring Stover handles many subplots converging onto one another creatively with passion and detail unrivaled in the Extended Universe. A strong psychological thriller as well as science fiction novel, Traitor did not leave the reader confused. Rather, the reader becomes infatuated with every turn of the page and is committed to reading the entire book instantly.

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For the last three New Jedi Order books you did not know if Jacen Solo was alive or dead. Now he is back, but changed. He is captured on Curascant. The Vong bosses Warmaster Tsavong Lah and Nom Anor) want the mysterious Vergere to shape Jacen Solo into a Warrior of the Vong. He is on a huge Vong worldship and he has many lessons with Vergere. Eventually Vergere helps Jacen escapes into Curascant. But then he is captured again. The Jedi Ganner Rhysode is searching for Jacen, but Jacen finds him and captures him for the Vong (he has been shaped). But then when they take Ganner to be sacrificed, Jacen decides to help him escape. Vergere tells Jacen and Ganner about a way escape, the Vong do not know that Vergere is a traitor until she puts a lightsaber to Nom Anor's neck and flees with Jacen (who is now good) . But Ganner dies protecting Jacen, killing hundreds of Vong. Nom Anor is left behind to get the wrath of Tsavong Lah. In the end Vergere and Jacen escape off in the main Vong Worldship off to the New Republic and Jacen's family. This is a great book and should be read by every Star Wars fan.

This is my favorite book of the NJO series, no question. Stover is a master of building up believable and deep characters, and of making both these characters and the reader grow and learn. Traitor is thought-provoking and fun to read. It's a hard act to follow. I have only two regrets about it: 1) that it wasn't several times longer, and 2) that the fascinating character that Stover has made of Jacen Solo will fade back to a sort of dull normalcy in the succeeding books.
Stover's got to be the best author penning Star Wars books. Please, Lucasfilm, keep hiring him!

Well Jacen is alive and kicking and he is ready to take down the Yuzan Vong single handedly. Now with Vergee as his mentor Jacen has learned to embrace his abilities and stop questioning himself. He is faced with a life changing course as to what he will do with himself and even to Vergee his future is clouded. But Jacen is no longer the whimp that he used to be and now he is ready to destroy anything in his path with a new understanding of the force. An excellent book for any reader and i love the change of personaliy that Jacen has taken

Though many would not agree with me, Jacen Solo is one of my favorite characters from this series. Taking that into account, I looked forward to this book from the time I found out who was the main character and let me say this: I was not disappointed. This book lived up to everything I though it would and more. I barely put it down, finishing it in no time at all.
Before this book, Jacen could be considered a bit of a wimp as far as Jedi goes. He didn't use his powers and questioned everything about his life and his beliefs. However, when this book started, I knew that was all left behind. Yes, he did do some questioning, but at least he got his answers. And Vergere was there to help him along. She was a cruel little avian creature and did horrible things to Jacen, but she made him learn and she was exactly the kind of teacher he needed to get his life on track.
Despite my love for this book, I was disappointed by the whole Ganner situation. He was another one of my favorite characters from the time he first showed up until even now after I have finished the book. And (spoiler) I did not want to see his life end. In other words, I didn't like the fact that he died. However, going back on my words, his death scene was by far the best I have read thus far in the series and in many other books outside the SW universe. His "decline" was interesting as well and, though he made a complete turn around from his original arrogant self, the old Ganner could still be seen ("At least I look good"). Go Ganner.
All in all, this was the BEST NJO book so far and definitly worth the read. In fact, I would even read it again.

The whiny, over-thinking Jacen is dead. I was a little wary of this book because I usually hate Jacen, but the Embrace of Pain really straightened him out.
Vergere could kick all the Jedi's butts. As the other reviews said, this book is much different from the previous ones in the series - not even one of those predictable X-Wing battles!
I think the best part of the book was Vergere's explanation of the Dark Side. In reading the series, you definitely do not want to skip this book. This is one of the few books I would consider rereading.