Average customer rating:
- Sterling work from the Golden Age
- Almost Flawless Work
- Impressions, plus a bit of speculation
- An Important Book
- Solid, not outstanding, and a bit dated
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Starman Jones
Robert A. Heinlein
Manufacturer: Pocket
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Similar Items:
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Citizen of the Galaxy
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Rocket Ship Galileo
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Tunnel in the Sky
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Have Spacesuit, Will Travel
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Double Star
ASIN: 1416505504 |
Book Description
A classic novel from the mind of the storyteller who captures the imagination of readers from around the world, and across two generations
Science Fiction Grand Master
ROBERT A. HEINLEIN
STARMAN JONES
It was a desperate time, when one's next meal and the comforts of home couldn't be taken for granted. Max Jones, a practical, hard-working young man, found his escape in his beloved astronomy books. When reality comes crashing in and his troubled home life forces him out on the road, Max finds himself adrift in a downtrodden land. Until an unexpected, ultimate adventure -- as a stowaway aboard an intergalactic spaceship -- carries him away...but to where? And when? And how could he ever get back? With the ship's pilot dead and his charts and tables are destroyed, Max must call upon all of his untested knowledge and skills in order to survive....
Customer Reviews:
Sterling work from the Golden Age.......2007-07-28
I believe this is the first science fiction novel I ever read -- shortly after it came out, when I was in [...]. It certainly hooked me on adventure stories about space and aliens, and it increased my interest in future technology, . . . as it was understood at that time, with slide rules and printed logarithm tables, and with huge "computing machines" filled with wires and tubes. Max Jones, the hero of the story, is a self-confessed hillbilly who yearns to get into space. (The author seems to feel the animal-powered cultural isolation of the Ozarks in the mid-20th century would continue into a time of extra-solar colonization, in a rather hidebound society run by inherited guild membership.) He comes under the questionable influence of an ex-spaceman and, through forgery and chicanery, gets his wish as a low-ranking steward's mate on a commercial star liner. But Max also has considerable talents as a mathematician -- plus a very handy eidetic memory -- so he's shortly being pulled up the ranks into the ship's control room itself. And as the emergencies begin to stack up, Max, naturally, becomes a hero, even as he confesses to his earlier fraud. It's a better-than-average yarn, with good dialogue, a worthwhile moral, and engaging characters. Even with the lack of "modern" technology, it's still worth recommending to adolescent readers.
Almost Flawless Work.......2007-06-15
Heinlein's work went through a number of different periods almost all tied together by a future history. None are so accessible or entertaining as the series of novels written ostensibly for young adults that finally ended when Heinlein's publisher refused to publish Starship Troopers. These novels present Heinlein views in many forms and are also full of the rich invention that characterized his work. Though these books were written for young people with teens or children as central characters, the stories are not childish. The series of books succeeds so well because Heinlein never talks down to his audience.
The novel cover the adventures of a young teen Max Jones who ought to have become a navigator on a starship but by loses his chance when his beloved uncle dies. He runs away from home and meets a strange man who at first steals from him but later helps him stowaway aboard a starship where he is finally able to live out his dream of becoming a starship navigator until another death plunges the ship into unknown space.
The book has some violent moments. The alien races might be disturbing for very young children but for the intended audience the book should present no problems. The future world is vividly sketched. The only aspect that really dates the book is Heinlein's singular blind spot at the time, computers. Able to envision so much future technology, Heinlein never seemed to be able to see the ramifications of electronic computers. So the human interaction among the navigators in the ship's 'worry hole' may leave contemporary readers scratching their heads and wondering where the computer is.
Despite this flaw, this is Heinlein at his best in a form and style in which he was a clear master.
Impressions, plus a bit of speculation.......2007-03-01
I reread this book recently after nearly thirty years since my first reading, as a high school student. I was amazed at how much I remembered. It must have had quite an impact on my young mind because so much of it came back as I read. Unlike the story's protagonist, my memory for past reading is abysmal.
This story is wonderfully crafted. I had to check the publication date a couple of times, because I've read far less convincing descriptions of FTL travel in more recent novels. The drama and interplay of the crew and officers on the ship is excellent, particularly so for a young man learning his way in society.
In my opinion, the conversations between the protagonist and his female love interest are of a different character. These seem stilted, awkward, and less credible. Heinlein has been taken to task for this in other venues so I won't belabor it here. I have to wonder if my own early lack of success communicating with the opposite sex was influenced by his juveniles, but I suspect the problem is more widespread and genetically based.
Speculation...
Spoiler Warning: The following reveals some plot elements. Stop reading further if you haven't read this book, and plan to.
At the end of this novel, an intelligent species of centaur-like beings bent on the enslavement of humans has examples of our "advanced" technology, plus two complete sets of Astrogation Manuals. These manuals were hidden, but the planet has various species of creatures that excel at spying on humans.
I have to wonder if the Grand Master wasn't planning a follow-up novel in which an older Starman Jones (or descendant) is tasked with helping to defend our civilization from these aggressive creatures.
"Hello, Spider Robinson? Ready for the next round?"
An Important Book.......2006-08-18
I have been a fan of Robert A. Heinlein since I was 8 years old. This book is from what many consider his most creative period. The so-called juveniles he wrote for Charles Scribners Sons had an immediate and lasting impact. None of them has ever been out of print. This is despite their awful titles and their original target audience.
Maximilian Jones is from a poor family. The star of the family was his late Uncle Chester who was a member of the Astrogator's Guild. Max runs away from home with his Uncle's astrogation manuals with a vague notion of following in his Uncle's footsteps. Along the way he meets with and is robbed by another tramp, Sam.
In a interesting twist of events, this thief becomes the best friend a man ever had. Between the Max's brilliance and Sam's avarice and cunning,their mutual loyalty, and series of fortunate and unfortunate events, Max achieves his goal.
Obviously a novel written during the fifties has dated technology. The ships computer is two steps above Eniac. There are effectively no female crewmen. But none this detracts from a fine story. Along the way lessons are given, regarding leadership, friendship, responsibility and of all things rule of law.
Having read this as a child, I did not understand everything at the time that I read it. But as I grew older the lessons learned helped me in life.
The book is still an excellent read even if you're an adult. Personally I have gone so far as to track down an old library hardcover with the original illustrations.
Solid, not outstanding, and a bit dated.......2006-04-30
This is one of the classic Heinlein juvenile novels in which a precocious teenage protagonist throws caution to the wind and risks life and limb on adventures in space. Max Jones is a young boy in an unhappy family situation who decides to leave home and jump on a spaceship. Overall, this is a good, but not outstanding novel. There are definitely some dated ideas (Max memorizing tables of logarithms, for example) that would be absurd to the 21st century reader. The story follows the development of Max as he goes from stowaway to valued member of the crew, and ultimately everyone's life depends on him. We watch Max gain confidence, both in himself and of the crew around him. Not Heinlein's best, but worth a look.
Average customer rating:
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Starman Jones (A Puffin book)
Robert A Heinlein
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0007J92F8 |
Book Description
Where were they? In fact, when were they? and how could they get back?
It's easy to stow away on an intergalactic spaceship, if you're a smart lad like Max Jones. But it's quite another thing when the spaceship touches down on an unknown planet after passage through a time warp...perhaps an unknown century. Especially when the spaceship's pilot dies, and his charts and are destroyed. Now survival was up to Max...
Customer Reviews:
Once again after so many years... Starman Jones.......2004-10-29
I happened upon this book quite by accident, and it brought back to life a memory from over 40 years ago of experiencing the distant future first-hand by reading Heinlein's "Tunnel in the Sky." As a thirteen year-old, I lost myself in the futuristic yet believable world he created in that book. The same is true of "Starman." Heinlein is at the top of his craft when he can weave snapshots of incredible technological developments into a personalized storyline that could occur to anyone in any age. Almost as incredible is the offhand way he causes the reader to contemplate a 'reality' that could be just beyond our current understanding of physics - like "Starman's" routine use of discontinuities in space-time to enable travel to distant parts of the galaxy with cruise-ship efficiency. I now view Heinlein's work through the filter of age and way too much education, but I can truly say that getting lost in one of his fictional worlds still holds a certain fascination that lingers long after you finish the book. His work leaves a feeling that the world of tomorrow will be exciting, new and challenging, but ultimately it can be understood and even conquered by ordinary people. This book still seems fresh and plausible, even after all these years. I highly recommend "Starman Jones."
Excellent.......2003-04-09
It is to be regretted that some of the other reviewers on Amazon.com gave away spoilers. It is also unfortunate that Heinlein has received a lot of press for some of the worst things he wrote for an adult audience, such as _Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land_. His genius was in his "juvenile novels" -- the stories he wrote for serialization in boy scout magazines, later published as books.
Max Jones dropped out of high school to support his lazy irresponsible stepmother by working on their farm, which has few amenities that would not have been commonplace in 1850. But he dreams of becoming an astrogator aboard a starship like his late Uncle Chet who instructed him in that profession. When his stepmother marries a man who is uneducated and cannot appreciate his ambition, Max leaves. The world being badly mismanaged, he must hitchhike to the city of Earthport to find out whether he has been appointed his uncle's professional heir.
What happens over the ensuing chapters I will not divulge. Heinlein was a graduate of the Naval Academy, where he learned some of the laws in force aboard ships. While Max is serving aboard a ship that has become lost and set down on an unknown planet, with no realistic hope of finding its way home, the First Officer explains to the passengers and crew certain legal rights and obligations that apply in such an emergency. A passenger objects: "There are no laws HERE." The First Officer corrects him, saying the law goes where the ship goes. That sets the context for a climax several chapters later, involving legal, moral, political, and psychological aspects of leadership in an emergency.
The book dramatizes the role of intelligent purposefulness in human life. A scene occupying about the first four pages of the second chapter is a beautiful example: Max is alone facing difficulties and using his head.
The book has various readily identifiable flaws, which it would be easy for me to list. Those don't matter at all.
A fun book about growing up.......2002-08-02
Young Jones is a farmer, who hates being a farmer and can think of nothing better than to head out into space. His uncle was an astrogator, and left his books to Jones when he died. After an upheval of his home life(which he wasn't really attached to anyway) he decides it's time to head out on his own, hopefully to become an astrogator.
Being young and nieve, he makes some bad calls in charachters of someone he meets on the way, and finds out the hard way that you can't trust everyone who seems nice. I'd write more, but don't want to give away the storyline. Being one of heinlein's early 'juvies' this book isn't as involved as his later and better known works, and at times I felt it was too predictable. But, Heinlein was a master of portraying people, thier dreams and desires and fears.
This is a fun young adult book about growing up.
Not his best, but still great.......2002-05-27
Many people still maintain - even today - that the legendary Robert A. Heinlein's best works remain his "juvies" - the books he wrote for teenagers during the 1950's. And they definitely do have a point. The books may have been written with that demographic in mind, but they can be enjoyed by anybody. They're universal. Although there is nothing ground-breaking in this novel - and it is even, for Heinlein, arguably formulatic - it is still a fun read. Heinlein's writing style is such that anything - and I mean ANYTHING - he writes is worth reading, and furthermore, will be entertaining. His dialogue is always top-notch - some of the cleverest writing since the heyday of Oscar Wilde - and it makes all of his books breezy and fun to read through. This is no exception. Although I would not say that this is one of his best juvies, it is still quite a good one. I think it IS a good book for a young science fiction fan to start out on, too, especially; it portrays a normal, everyday kid - indeed, a hillbilly - who fulfills his dream of going out into space. It has a good moral, and there's a heart - a solid foundation - to the book. Coupled with Heinlein's always engaging dialogue and sheer narrative drive, this book is a wonderful read for all ages.
What's not to like?.......2001-07-30
I wish I could start off with something suitably self important sounding like "Heinlein is yet to be fully appreciated" or somesuch nonsense that tries to encapsulate someone's career in a few pitiful words. But, alas, Heinlein has mostly received his due over the years and as more and more people discover SF, they realize what the grand majority of us already knew: this Heinlein guy knew what he was doing. Even a novel like this, which Heinlein probably could have churned out in his sleep, stands head and shoulders over just about everything that went on in those days. Even today it remains a solidly entertaining read, with enough elements to keep adults interested while managing to capture the attention of the young adult set. Here we have Max in the "wide eyed naive boy" mode, starting from nothing with only his dream to go into space and become a astrogator. There's nothing utterly ground breaking about this novel but Heinlein keeps everything moving smoothly, mixing his mostly one note characters well, the dialogue breezes along and everyone gets some good lines in. He depicts ship life in a way that Star Trek would be hard pressed to copy fifteen years later and throws in enough other wacky stuff to keep the plot spinning nicely, even the left field stuff doesn't feel as jarring as it can sometimes get. The entire package as a whole is very satisifying and while this is Heinlein treading water a bit and working his formula, it was a formula that worked and if you've run out of truly essential Heinlein books to work through, you can't do worse than this. In fact I would take this any day over I Will Fear No Evil or Friday . . . and I mean that. Don't believe me? Read these and then read this and try to tell me otherwise. A fine example of the master in his prime.
Customer Reviews:
One of Heinlein's Best.......2005-01-12
Starman Jones is one of Heinlein's best, along with Space Cadet, Tunnel in the Sky, Time For The Stars...well it's one of his top ten best. The enthralling account of an orphan escaping abusive step parents by stowing away on a starship kept me reading and thinking and dreaming which continued the second and third time through. It's a well-written coming of age story and precursor to Star Trek combined, and I've never seen it done better than by Heinlein. Recommended for young readers along with any other Heinlein novel written in the 1950s. Rocketship Galileo, Citizen of the Galaxy, Between Planets...
If Max could cut it, so could I..........2004-06-04
This is one of the few books that I read as a boy that stuck with me all the rest of my life. While I never studied to be an "astrogator", this book did inspire me to study astronomy, navigation, physics, and calculus. It gave me a dream to build on. You see, the hero, Max, is a poor, rural kid from a highly dysfunctional and abusive family (actually, white trash is more accurate.) Being lower class, Max has no realistic chance of going to college or entering a profession ( a "guild".) Yet Max not only escapes, he goes on to Captain a starship. He succeeds entirely on his own against incredible odds. Instead of accepting a life of rural idiocy and poverty he literally remakes himself and his destiny from the ground up.
Whenever I was up against it in my own life I inevitably remembered Max. How many modern books provide an example like this for lower class kids? My only regret is that there wasn't an Astrogator's Guild that I could have joined. If Max could cut it, so could I....
Average customer rating:
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Starman Jones
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GZLSXM |
Average customer rating:
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Starman Jones
Robert Heinlein
Manufacturer: Nel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Science Fiction
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ASIN: 0450030407 |
Average customer rating:
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Starman Jones
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000AQKD4M |
Book Description
Raine: The Reckless One...there was sin in his smile and wildness in his soul....
Raine Merrick's wild, reckless spirit had earned him time in a French prison. When a mysterious beauty gains his freedom only to betray him, Raine Merrick sets out for his father's castle on McClairen's Isle, seeking the treasure hidden within. But strange surprises await him in the Highlands. He never expected to find his deceitful angel masquerading as an honored guest. Or to want her with all the searing passion in his sinner's soul.
Watch for the crowning volume in the spellbinding McClairen's Isle trilogy,
The Ravishing One, coming soon. And don't miss the first book in the trilogy,
The Passionate One, available from Dell.
Customer Reviews:
Hoping book 3 is better..........2007-02-07
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, McClairen's Isle: The Passionate One, but The Reckless One was a big disappointment! First of all, like other reviewers have stated, I had a hard time buying Raine as "reckless." He was far too gentlemanly to ever be considered reckless. I, too, was disappointed that his older brother, Ash, from the previous book, was only mentioned in tiny snippets; I thought that at some point the brothers would reunite. I also felt that the heroine, Favor, was a big wimp! She spent the entire book letting everyone tell her what to do and I kept waiting for her to stand up for herself and give Muira a good slap across the face! Throughout the story, I kept waiting for that pivotal moment when Favor would realize her true worth and become her own person, but it never happened! In the first book, Lord Carr was a much more complex character and we got to see his evil, ruthless nature, but if I hadn't read that book, I'd have wondered why everyone was so intimidated by him here. I had to finish the book and see how it ended, which I thought left too many loose ends. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I read the book because it was a nice escape for me, but I think the third in this trilogy will be much better-I HOPE!
vague and disappointing.......2006-03-19
There are a few problems with "The Reckless One" -
#1 - Raine is not really reckless at all. He's calculating, disciplined, and, as one other reviewer noted - considerate and dependable.
#2 - Brockway makes poor use of Wanton's Blush - in "The Passionate One" she throws Ash & Rhiannon into the lion's den; both of them are dealing with the evil, the scheming, the dissipation of the Earl of Carr's pleasure palace. But in "The Reckless One" Wanton's Blush is bizarrely incidental, although the whole book is set there. Raine is in hiding and Favor's problems come from a different direction entirely. So there's this great setting for all sorts of drama and conflict, but both the main characters avoid it.
#3 - Raine and Favor are too good at keeping their secrets. Raine doesn't tell Favor who he is; Favor doesn't tell Raine why she wants to marry Carr. And then, by the time the revelations do start pouring out, the book is almost over and there's no time to fuss over them. This means that Raine and Favor spend some quality time together, but their relationship lacks a certain trust, the bonds that come from struggling through difficult issues or cooperating.
#4 - Favor is so busy being told what to do that she never develops much of a personality. And Raine is so totally not what he is described as (i.e., he's called reckless but doesn't behave recklessly; he's called nasty and mean, but he is closer to being funny and sweet) that his personality is a big muddle.
#5 - Carr, who makes a really great enemy in "The Passionate One" is a pretty lame opponent in "The Reckless One" - deluded and delusional. Not an ounce of the cleverness or wit or ruthlessness that he displays in such abundance in "The Passionate One."
I am really looking forward to Fia's story - Fia is, by far, the most interesting character in "The Reckless One" and the only one who has any kind of consistency or definition. Hopefully it will be back up to the quality of the first in the trilogy.
Never got going!.......2004-01-04
This book was sort of a ho-hum for me. I never got into the characters. THey seemed sort of flat. Raine was okay, but Favor just didn't click. Maybe it was the mood I was in when I read it, but it was sort of boring.
Dark and Riveting.......2003-08-25
Raine Merrick is every bit as wild and passionate as his older brother Ash (see The Passionate One)! In The Reckless One Connie Brockway continues the fascinating saga of the Merrick family that has brutally stolen McClairen's Isle from its Scottish owners after their massacre at Culloden in 1746.
Ronald Merrick, Lord Carr, was responsible for their deaths, and his estranged son Raine falls in love with Favor, not realizing that she is a McClairen. He then has to keep from her that he is a Merrick.
But this is much better than Romeo and Juliet. The plot twists, emotional depths and complex characters keep the reader on the edge of her seat. Raine is particularly fascinating as is his father, one of the cleverest and most entertaining evil characters you're likely to meet. Don't miss this dark but riveting series!
a big let down, boring.......2002-01-04
I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Passionate One, and I never like to not finish a series so I bought the other two. Well I was very disappointed by this book. The story dragged, the plot was dull and the characters never really came alive for me. I hope the third book is better.
Product Description
Exclusive 2-in-1 Club Edition featuring The Passionate One and The Reckless One
Average customer rating:
- The Best of the Jedi
- A Great Star Wars Comic
- A great book!
- ok
- I THINK I CAN
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Dark Lords of the Sith (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, Volume Two)
Tom Veitch ,
Kevin J. Anderson ,
Chris Gossett , and
Art Wetherell
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
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Similar Items:
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Knights of the Old Republic (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, Volume One)
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The Sith War (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, Volume Three)
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The Golden Age of the Sith (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi)
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Fall of the Sith Empire (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi)
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Star Wars: Jedi Vs. Sith
ASIN: 1569710953 |
Book Description
In the depths of galactic space, a foolish and arrogant young Jedi awakes an ancient, deadly power. This seductive evil will lead him down a path that will make him a Dark Lord of the Sith, and his darkling power will make the very galaxies tremble.
Customer Reviews:
The Best of the Jedi.......2007-09-06
This is the best of the Tales of the Jedi series. Before you read it, you should at least read the first volume, titled simply Tales of the Jedi (sometimes with the subtitle Knights of the Old Republic, but that name now belongs to a video game series and a new monthly comic). It would also be good to read the short TotJ: The Freedon Nadd Uprising. The Golden Age of the Sith and the Fall of the Sith Empire predate this volume in the story chronology, but aren't necessary for understanding Dark Lords. (In fact, they should probably be avoided.)
Why is this the best? Veitch and Anderson's writing plays off each other, presenting the best of each and compensating for their weaknesses. The art in the first five chapters is fantastic, as are Dave Dorman's covers. The early TotJ stories have just enough implied backstory to hint at the larger world but it never leaves the reader confused. Korriban is one of my favorite Star Wars locations, and it was created here in crisp detail with millennia of history only hinted at.
What is lacking? The art in the sixth chapter is not so hot. The narration can be a bit comic-booky. Veitch was not involved in the subsequent volumes of TotJ, which are hit-and-miss. The Sith War is ultimately disappointing, but the Redemption of Ulic Qel-Droma was a fine coda to the series.
A Great Star Wars Comic.......2006-12-23
Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith is the best Star Wars comic. It details how Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma join the Dark Side. My favorite parts are when Exar battled Master Vodo, Sylvar, Crado and Ulic. The writing and art in issue 6 are terrible. Cay Qel-Droma talks like a hillbilly in issue 6. He says things like, "Me an' Toq are usin' the Force to hold him." The art detierorated as the story progessed. The first issues had great art. Those are the only flaws. I recommend all the Tales of the Jedi series.
A great book!.......2005-11-08
This interesting book is the second book in the Knights of the Old Republic series. The series is a collection of graphic novels that takes the reader to the Old Republic, thousands of years before the events of The Phantom Menace.
In this graphic novel we are introduced to Exar Kun, a Jedi whose fascination with the ancient Sith teachings is leading him towards the dark-side. Also, with the ascension of a pair of Sith magicians to the throne of The Empress Teta system, the Republic is moving towards war. Ulic Qel-Droma thinks that he can destroy the menace single-handed, and avoid a bloody showdown between the Sith and the Republic, but what will be the cost?
My twelve-year-old son is a big Star Wars fan, and he picked up this series so that he could keep on learning about the Star Wars universe. Overall, we found this to be a great book. The illustration work is very good, and the story is gripping. We enjoyed the action and the many different creatures and races that are the hallmark of Star Wars.
Yep, we both enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to you. We highly recommend the entire Tales of the Jedi series!
ok.......2005-05-18
probably the best of the tales of the jedi dark horse comics. exar kun makes this series, but the art is terrible and the story in all the TOTJ bland as a whole.
I THINK I CAN.......2003-07-22
I am reviewing Tales of the Jedi Dark Lords of the Sith, ISBN: 1569710953 A TPB comic published Feb 1996 covering individuals issues 1 through 6 of the Dark Horse comic series Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith written by Tom Veitch and KJA. It has the same Hugh Fleming cover as the comic shown in Amazon as Titan books ISBN 1840231297 published nov 1999.
The Art and coloring are still the older style and get about 2.5. the story, as Tom Veitch tells us is intended to reflect what was revealed in Holocrons that are discovered 1,000's of years later. In particular, they foreshadow what happens to Luke Skywalker in dark empire. This is an intense and serious contribution to the star wars Galaxy, and my version is over 100 pages. I think it is worthwhile, and I did like it better the second time I read it, especially if you later read the Jedi Academy Book Trilogy by Kevin J Anderson, I Jedi and Dark Empire by Dark Horse.
There is also an audio tape version of this comic that is a complete dramatization, rather than just a reading; I am reviewing Audio book ISBN: 1565111990 - In short, the dramatization format can be hard to follow at times, but I thought that overall they did a good job - 3 stars.
Book Description
Ten years after the Sith War, the Dark Lord of the Sith's chief lieutenant, Ulic Qel-Droma has been stripped of his Force powers and has isolated himself in a distant corner of the galaxy, trying to escape from a life he would rather forget. But his past is about to catch up with him as he is tracked down by Vima, the daughter of Nomi Sunrider, the woman who blinded Ulic to the Force. Vima seeks a teacher and Ulic sees in her a chance at redemption. Unfortunately, Vima's disappearance draws attention, and the search party sent to look for her includes a vicious Jedi seeking revenge upon Ulic for killing her mate.
Customer Reviews:
Artwork's Better, Story's Okay, But Overall: Still Lacking.......2006-08-14
This out of print and ultra-rare graphic novel, 'Tales of the Jedi: Redemption', is in my opinion a step forward from the previous 'Tales of the Jedi' (TOTJ from here on) storylines/graphic novels in terms of artwork. Actually, a step forward is incorrect: the artwork has progressed by leaps and bounds! However, as is usual with Star Wars, the storyline is the same ol', same ol' with little to offer readers and newcomers (although SW nuts and fanatics would eat this up, or anything George Lucas does for that matter).
One of my grumblings with this one is the writing style of the plot via Kevin Anderson. For some reason, Anderson's dialogue always feels rushed to me. While comics are not real life, a good creative team is able to force the reader to suspend their disbelief through an intriguing storyline, lucid dialogue, and beautiful colors. From panel to panel, a good artist knows which poses and facial expressions to put in each one to give the mind the illusion of continuous movement on, what are otherwise, stagnant frames on a page.
Normally, in terms of dialogue, the transition from panel A to panel B is a fluid motion; however under Anderson's writing, the action expressed via dialogue from panel A to panel B feels more like panels A, B, C, and D squeezed into two, A and B, thus giving the impression of a "rushed" feeling gleaned from Anderson's too fast-paced writing. The story in 'Redemption' literally goes by in one big blur, not ever really giving you a chance to focus on any one situation, develop any characters, or become situated with one area. (The latter, "planet-hopping", has always been a staple of Star Wars and while the oodles of worlds makes the SW Universe seem eternally vast, a negative side to this is you never really get to take in everything of one particular place because everyone's always moving around.)
As I mentioned earlier, the storyline found in 'Redemption' is the same old SW formula: a talented but arrogant and overzealous Jedi falls to the dark side (this time, Ulic Qel-Droma), commits evil acts, and later has the internal desire to redeem themselves. The Jedi archetype - a basically good person does evil but becomes good again - worked once, but any more than that and it becomes boring, stale, and...well...dumb. (SEE: The overuse of the `twin archetype' in Star Wars, e.g. Luke/Leia, Jacen/Jaina, Gav/Jori, etc.) If you're a Star Wars junkie, you'll eat this tasteless, drab, substanceless drivel up, but truly, if you've seen/read one SW movie/comic/novel, you've seen/read `em all really. How many ways can you flip the same formula without it getting monotonous?
While the story isn't great, it's slightly enjoyable if you have about half an hour to kill (the graphic novel is five issues long). However, some parts are laughingly far-fetched and unrealistic. For instance, the Jedi knight Nomi Sunrider (yes another cheesy SW archetype: the legendary surname; e.g. Sun-Rider/Sky-Walker...it worked once guys, not again.) fails to train her only daughter Vima because she's so caught up in politics (ooo exciting). Hmmm...okay, what about all the other Jedi knights that could've trained her, including the weird Jedi rhino-ankylosaurus Thon (who is supposed be close to Nomi because her husaband Andur was supposed to train under Thon)? And I just shook my head at the way Nomi and Cathar let the space pirate Hoggon get away at the end...weren't you guys going to chase him down or something??!?!?
While I thought Nomi sucked, Tott Doneeta's character was flat, Vima was basically an Anakin prototype in the form of a girl, and Ulic's flat dialogue got boring at times, I did think the cameo made by the Arkanian Jedi Master Arca was nice; actually, I think Arca's pretty darn cool (he looks like a character from WarCraft or something).
Like I said, if you have time to kill or are between graphic novels, this one'll serve as "filler reading". It's not very good but enjoyable under average circumstances. This is the only TOTJ graphic novel that had artwork worth paying attention to which probably makes up a small percentage of what the overall plot lacks. As this title is rare and out of print, it's not cheap, so in my opinion, I don't think it's worth spending your hard earned dollars on. Luckily, I found it in the comic section of my local library and saved some money.
A great book and a fitting end to a great series!.......2006-02-17
This interesting book is the final book in the Knights of the Old Republic series. The series is a collection of graphic novels that takes the reader to the Old Republic, thousands of years before the events of The Phantom Menace.
This graphic novel brings the story to its conclusion. Ulic Qel-Droma is a broken man, blinded to the Force, and exiled from everything he has known or loved. But, Ulic's past is catching up with him. Nomi Sunrider's daughter, Vima, is looking for something missing in her life, and thinks that Ulic might just have it. And, Sylvar, mate of Crado, is looking for Ulic to gain the revenge that will allow her to release her hate. Ulic has walked a long hard road, and he has learned a thing or two...
My twelve-year-old son is a big Star Wars fan, and he picked up this series so that he could keep on learning about the Star Wars universe. Overall, we found this to be a great book, and a fitting end to a great series. The illustration work is very good, and the story is gripping. We enjoyed the action and the many different creatures and races that are the hallmark of Star Wars.
Yep, we both enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it to you. We highly recommend the entire Tales of the Jedi series!
Finally!!!!, A great story on Audio CD.......2005-06-22
Star Wars Tales of the Jedi is finally out on audio CD it tells the story of the jedi knights 4000 years before Star Wars Episode 4. Star Wars Tales of the Jedi & Star Wars Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith are a must read. These stories are heavily referred to when playing Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic & Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords. This is a great story to listen to and sounds even better on audio CD, I'm glad the publisher released it to audio CD this no doubt is a timeless classic.
good art.......2005-05-18
this features the best looking art in the tales of the jedi dark horse books, but like the others the story isn't really that great. blah
Redemption is something Anderson will never find........2003-10-10
I am a person that loved the old Tales of the Jedi Saga. Originally Started by Tom Veitch, It was a Series ripe with Character, heart, action, and the certain charm that the jedi mythology is known for, all writtem magnificently well. In the Beginning tales of the Jedi was Dark Horses Flagship Star Wars Series. It was a Golden Age.
Then Tom Veitch made a horrible mistake. That mistake was Working with Kevin J Anderson, to create a Villan that would Appear in Andersons Novels, and in the TOTJ Series; Exar Kun. The Villan was one of the favorites in Star Wars expanded universe, but working with anderson meant that Veitch would have to allow Anderson to write the later half of the 12 issue series revolving around Exar Kuns rise to power from Jedi student to Sith Lord. From that Point onward, Thanks to Andersons horrid writing and complete dirth of talent, the TOTJ series started a downward spiral. Andersons Assault and the TOTJ series started with the Sith war, a lackluster story compared to the magnificent Dark Lord Of the Sith Prequal that set it up... Then Anderson Continued to obliterate this once grand series with Golden Age Of the Sith, and Fall Of The Sith Empire. This, was Andersons last chance to revive the series, why they didnt just ask Veitch to write it, I dont know. But this is the last TOTJ story that has been, and likely will ever be published. The Breathtaking and grand saga that Tom Veitch Began, was destroyed by a force darker then any Sith Lord or Dark Jedi; Kevin J Anderson has MUCH to answer for.
In all honesty, for most of this story, it seemed as though Anderson was on the right track. Ulic Found that during a near death experiance, in which he was welcoming death, he had a jedi vision from his dead master. Which should have been impossible, seeing as how his jedi powers were supposed to be sealed. This gave Ulic hope, and purpose to continue living, later... The daughter of the woman he once loved, Vima, showed up asking him to train her in the Jedi arts. Why him, well its a contrived plot point, but Nomi was supposedly too busy As a Jedi to train her daughter, and the other 5000 jedi that were around at the time were busy doing stuff to, or so would Anderson have you beleive. But despite the hideous amount of Plot Contrivance, including Andersons most hideous attempt at a romantic pairing yet, he did manage to create some decent story telling for once... Ulic finds peace with the force, forgive for his crimes, a place back amongst his former comrades, and potentially a way to feel the force once again... Until in the last pages he is shot in the back and killed by a smuggler wanting to be known as the man who killed Ulic Qel Droma, and runs back to the bar to tell his friends. *IM NOT KIDDING*
I dont know what Anderson was smoking at the time, but the thought that this is a suitable way to end Ulics tale of Redemption was just plain Idiocy. In the prior Stories, Ulic had been poisoned by Sith Chemicals, been driven mad by the murder of his master, Disowned the jedi and his lover in his madness, fought and murdered his own brother, and had his Jedi powers sealed by the very woman that once loved him. If he was meant to die, there could have been a thousand more suitable deaths then just to be shot in the back by a unnamed piece of Bar Trash. In the Ten years since he was punished by Nomi Sunrider, his life was one of isolation, and dedication. such a death, is as pointless and meaningless as it is contrived, and a slap in the face of the fans that were looking for The Tales of the Jedi Series to return to its former greatness.
Anderson I doubt will ever write for Star Wars Again, as it is a popular rumor that Lucas himself asked anderson not to write any further tales set in his Universe. Unforutnately the damage is done, and one of my favorite series, is no more. The Title of the story is named redemption, But in the eyes of lucas and casual Fans of the Expanded universe such as myself, Redemption is something Anderson has yet to find.
Book Description
Darth Vader was a Dark Lord of the Sith—now discover the terror of the Dark Lords who preceded him in this stunning sequel to Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi. Ulic Qel-Dromoa and Nomi Sunrider are young Jedi Knights drawn into a battle for the survival of the Old Republic. But as the power of the evil Sith spreads across the galaxy, it threatens the existence of the Jedi themselves, and draws one of their greatest allies over to the dark side!
Customer Reviews:
YOU CAN FIND THIS UNDER A DIFFERENT NUMBER.......2003-06-26
Some Times Dark horse makes it tough to figure out which comic is which. If you are looking for the early sith - Jedi comics try this one: Paperback: 160 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.34 x 10.18 x 6.67
* Publisher: Dark Horse Comics; (April 1996)
* ISBN: 1569710953
Book Description
"God Is Not . . ." takes on today's prevailing misconceptions about who God is by boldly stating who God is not. Rodney Clapp critiques pop culture's anthem to a slobby, ineffective ''God like us,'' while D. Stephen Long, in ''God Is Not Nice,'' questions our therapy-fed longing for a useful, nonthreatening deity. If God is not an American or a capitalist or ''religious,'' as contributors Michael Baxter, Mike Budde, and William T. Cavanaugh go on to argue, then who is God? Laytham concludes with a stirring essay on who God is, calling the church to visibly demonstrate where its primary allegiance lies. Audacious without being rude, God Is Not . . . is a lively, necessary, and intelligently reverent read.
Customer Reviews:
Written by a committee of apologists for God.......2007-08-10
don't bother with this pablum. It is so lightweight, you won't get past page three.
Great book with great thoughts.......2007-03-05
I would have never found myself disagreeing with the statement that God is not: One of us, Nice, American, Capitalist, or Relgious. In fact many of those things are they very problems I see with Christianity. However this book showed me some ways than even I think those things. No matter where you are in life be prepared for this book to challenge you and face that challenge head on. I highly recoommend this book for anybody ready for a challenge and a serious contemplation about who God is by first examining who God is not.
God is Not..........2007-01-24
Laytham's book is very represenative of the ekklesia project and her mission. This book was one of the first to help me understand how blasphemous it is to describe God in our pop-culture language. For those who believe Jesus is your "homeboy" and for those who think God wears an American flag for a cape.... think again. God is above all that we try to impose on him.
We need a new language to speak of God. The image we are forming of him is consistent with the spirit of the age but inconsistent with the Spirit of Christ. Laytham's book is an attempt to throw off all of those things which make God out to be less than the divine creator of the universe. The way we speak of God should reflect that our allegiance lies with the King and his Kingdom!
A thought provoking collection of essays.......2005-02-08
These essays were compiled to counter some common misconceptions about God. They do so by stating what God is not. The essays are at least thought provoking and at most inflammatory. Then again, the authors never claimed to not be controversial.
In the book there are six essays, five of which speak to something God is not. The first claims that God is not a passive participant in creation. The second argues that God is not nice in the way that culture has claimed God to be. The third reminds that God is not American and this nation is not truly "under God." The fourth describes God's economics in contrast to capitalism, telling us that God is not capitalist. The fifth says that God is not religious becuase that term has come to stand for a generic faith and a generic god. The final essay speaks about God's being one, holy, catholic, and apostolic.
I found these essays a quick read. That is because I have read and heard most of the arguments before. I found the essay on economics to be most useful.
This book is great for undergrads or folks interested in exmining their view of God. It challenges many commonly held beliefs, ones that truly need to be challeneged. Highly recommended.
An important book meant to be discussed........2004-12-26
This book challenges the Christianity that is practised by many American Christians today. The basis of this book is that by negations - defining what God is not - we can better understand the true God. Separate articles address different faulty views of God and Dr. Laytham concludes the book but outlining what God is, and what the Church should be. An important aspect that should be noted, though there is no chapter dedicated to the myth of a 'masculine god', the gender neutral language throughout the book is appreciated and supports the over-arching theme of the book, that of dispelling faulty views of God.
All of the articles are relatively easy to read and should be read with an open mind and heart. The opening article confronts the pop culture notion portrayed in a Joan Osborne song that 'God is one of us'. The following article, and my personal favorite, is titles "God is not nice". The blasphemous 'nice god' comes from cultural pressures "of late modernity where self-esteem and passion rule" and from theological pressures in favor of a "tolerant god who makes you feel good" (45,48). The books continues with articles that dispel the myths of an 'american god' a 'capitalist god' and a 'religious god'. Dr. Laytham concludes the book by writing that "God is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic"; but I don't want to give away the ending.
I recommend this book to everyone who is tired and frustrated by the Christian god that has been misrepresented and understood and is seeking to reconnect with the true God.
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- The Battle of the Golden Spurs (Courtrai, 11 July 1302): A Contribution to the History of Flanders' War of Liberation, 1297-1305 (Warfare in History)
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