[Jason Vines]

Troy Denning, the author of the fantastic books Star by Star and Tattooine Ghost, returns to the Star Wars universe with The Joiner King. This is the first book of his Dark Nest trilogy.

The novel's story is interesting, and it's exciting in many places, though it plods along in others. Also, the Jedi are too powerful and Machiavellian for my tastes. Typos abound, too.

Still, I liked The Joiner King.

Grade: B

Further commentary:

Spoiler

Let's start with Denning's "modern Jedi," as Luke refers to the New Jedi Order. I don't like them. They aren't the shining heroes crusading against injustice that Jedi Knights are supposed to be. After their experiences in the war against the Yuuzhan Vong, the Jedi are not defenders of the weak, helpers of the helpless, and maintainers of civilization. Instead, they claim to serve the Force, as its balancers.

To achieve balance, the modern Jedi embrace both the darkness and the light. They accept torture and death for the advancement of Jedi goals. And the Force, as well as their own murky interests, are the only controlling authorities they recognize. The legitimate democratic government of most of the galaxy need not apply.

Can you say, "Sith"?

To Luke Skywalker's credit, he begins to recognize the folly of the Jedi's new path toward the end of the book. I hope this realization motivates him to correct the Jedi's path, because reading about a bunch of rubes who resemble the arrogant, capricious Jedi from Knights of the Old Republic isn't my idea of fun.

Aside from the problems with Denning's portrayal of the Jedi, The Joiner King offers a pleasing experience. Denning masterfully crafts a fascinating yet creepy insect society in the form of the Killiks. (Remember the painting Leia acquired in Tattooine Ghost, named Killik Twilight? ) And he deftly incorporates elements of the familiar into the insect hives, with the Unu having absorbed the Jedi Raynar Thul, and the Gorog--the Dark Nest--having assimilated two Dark Jedi. The lightsaber fights we all love can, therefore, erupt.

Speaking of "assimilated," the Killiks are similar to Star Trek's Borg, in that they have a collective consciousness, and they can incorporate beings from other societies into their groupthink. Alien individuals, a.k.a. Joiners, do retain their personalities at some level, though. Luke says Joiners have a "double presence" in their minds, that of the Killik hive and that of the being in question.

One other alien whom Denning includes warrants special mention: Tarfang, the foul-mouthed, quick-tempered smuggler. Who, by the way, is an Ewok.

Anyway, The Joiner King, which I suppose refers to Raynar Thul, is a worthy addition to the Star Wars saga. I just hope that, in the next two books of the Dark Nest triology, the Jedi change their ways.

[Jason Vines]

Spoiler

Take a look at the cover for the third Dark Nest book, Swarm War:



Doesn't Luke look like someone else who's familiar? Maybe, say, Palpatine?

Reinforces my point about the dark turn the Jedi have taken...

[ren]

I for one did not like the book and felt that Denning was pulling ideas out of his . First off how can his "modern jedi" just ignore years of training in the blink of an eye and be willing to torture, and lie to get what they want. Also how can the jedi from the myker(sp error) be so easily dooped into joining the Killicks and become "joiners" so easily, Jedi training should have kicked in, but aparanlty Denning only gives people super powers when they are about to die.

Second he named some major places in the SW universe and linked them to the Killicks, namely Alderan and Center Point Station and then leaves that plot point hanging in mid air with no explanation. Also at the end of The Unifying Force, Jaina and Jag were in love with each other. One was thinking about becoming a Diplomat, the other was the chiss representative of Chiss forces in the Galatic Alliance, what happened to make them go they'er seperate ways? Denning nevre explained that part and just had them as enemies.

Though the story was interesting, he never fully explained the back story... So readers like myself were confused as to what happened and to why Zekk and Jaina are so close all of a sudden. And Leia, Dennign made Leia powerless even after in Star by Star, she took out 3 vong assassines, and in other books the authors described her using her jedi abilities confidently. In the Joiner King Leia was portrayed as having no force powers what so ever, needing to concentrating to do alot of things that in other novels they have her doing easily.

Bottom line is that Denning negleted to go back and read about the characters he was righting about, and negated what other authors have written.....Book Rating: D-

[Steve Lay]

I am about half way through this novel, and I am really into it so far. I do agree that the Jedi are going down a dangerous path with this new found philisophy. I did not like how they portrayed Luke as being or looking like Palpatine. Talk about killing a hero. And that next cover disturbes me. I look forward to seeing where this trilogy goes.