Book Review: Star Wars: Master of Evil

 

Master of Evil, by Adam Christopher and published in 2025, is, as of this writing, the newest Star Wars canon novel. The events in the book are set shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith, when Vader is the little-known mysterious enforcer and right-hand of Emperor Palpatine. Despite what you may think from the title and the cover, Darth Vader is not the main character of the book. The main character is actually a member of the Royal Guard (the red-robed masked characters who guard the Emperor) named Halland Goth. When Vader seeks to track down a force-wielding shaman, who reportedly has the power to raise the dead, Goth is tasked by the Emperor to watch Vader and report back on his actions. Of course, Vader is trying to figure out how to bring Padme back to life, but Goth also has a personal interest in Vader's mission, as he is dying from a terminal illness and believes that Vader holds the key to his survival. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 370 pages. It reads quickly, and if you are a fast reader, you can finish it in a few days (or less, depending on how much time you have to devote to reading). While Vader has a significant presence in the book, very little of it is written from his viewpoint. He is still treated like the mysterious Imperial background character, known more by reputation and rumor than by direct interaction. It would have been nice if the book had been written so we could learn more about what Vader was thinking and feeling. That said, the story does have some tie-ins to the Clone Wars, provides some more information about the Sith master-apprentice dynamic (which to me is a bit contradictory with what has come before, or at least would have made Darth Plagueis nearly impossible to kill), and does give some indication of what Vader was feeling after being encased in the suit (just not enough). Ultimately, it is a good book with a good story; it just wasn't as good as it could have been with some tweaks. I would not call it one of the must-read canon novels, but if you pick and choose which books to read, it is worth reading, but probably not worth reading multiple times.     

Book Review: The Road to Dune

 

The Road to Dune, published in 2005, is a book that details the process of making the Dune Saga. It contains a collection of deleted and alternate chapters for the original Dune novel and Dune Messiah. The book also features a collection of letters written by and to Frank Herbert detailing the process of getting the original book published. It concludes with a collection of short stories written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, which are also included in the book Tales of Dune.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages. It reads fairly quickly, especially if you have read the other novels in the series. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the original outline of a portion of the Dune novel, titled Spice Planet, which shows part of the overall story planned out but with less character development. And, many of the characters had totally different names and backgrounds. For example, House Atreides was called House Linkam, and the Harkonnens were called Hoskanner. It also has some elements that were removed from the final version of the book.

Ultimately, I would describe this as an interesting read, but not necessarily a must-read. If you have read the entire saga, then it gets close to must-read territory, as it provides a look into what was changed in the published novels from the original concept and a bit about the process of finding and collecting all the source material that would result in prequel novels and two concluding novels being written.

Book Review: Star Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss

 

The Glass Abyss is a 2024 Star Wars canon novel written by Steven Barnes, set shortly after the events of The Phantom Menace, centered around the character of Mace Windu. In it, Windu receives a posthumous message from Qui-Gon Jinn, asking him to help the inhabitants of an Outer Rim planet called Metagos. Windu travels to the planet where its inhabitants live underground because the surface has been turned to glass as a result of a solar flare, to aid the members of a farming clan called the Sa'ad in dealing with the crime lords, led by a being named Chulok. 

The hardcover version of the book is just under 400 pages long. It is a fine ancillary story, but I believe it would have been better suited as a young adult novel, as it is not closely tied to the main Skywalker saga storyline (although Anakin is mentioned a couple of times and Yoda makes an appearance toward the end of the book). For the most part, the adult canon novels have advanced (or fleshed out) the main storyline of the era in which they are set, and the young adult and junior novels tell the side stories (which the story in this book is). That said, Barnes does a good job fleshing out the character of Mace and providing a backstory for the character that was not seen in the films. What knocks it down a couple of stars for me is that this version of Mace does not feel like the same one that was in the movies. It would be one thing if the version of Mace in the book were a much younger version of the character, but I could not envision Samuel L. Jackson's character from the films in this story. It just seemed like Mace Windu was shoehorned into a story that he did not belong in. Ultimately, it is an okay story, but it is not one of the must-read canon novels.

Book Review: Sandworms of Dune (Dune #23 Chronological Order)

 

Sandworms of Dune, published in 2007, is, as of this writing, the 23rd and final novel in the Dune franchise of novels. It is written by the duo of Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert, the son of the series' original author, Frank Herbert. It both finishes the story told in Frank Herbert's two trilogies and ties into the multitude of prequel novels (numbering 16 as of this writing), especially those set in the Butlerian Jihad era. This is actually the second part of the ending story that Frank Herbert had outlined before his death, the first part of which was told in the novel Hunters of Dune. The two novels tell the story of what happened to the group on the no-ship that Duncan Idaho and Sheeana stole at the end of Chapterhouse Dune during the intervening 25 years as they try to find a new Bene Gesserit homeworld while trying to avoid the mysterious enemy (who are revealed to be the thinking machines Erasmus and Omnius in Hunters of Dune), the face dancers, and the Bene Gesserit/Honored Matres hybrid group who are also hiding from the thinking machines. Omnius, who has a ghola of Paul (named Paulo) being trained by the ghola of Barron Harkonnen, wants to capture the ghola of Paul aboard the Ithaca to determine which is the true Kwisatz Haderach and use him as a weapon and take over the former Empire. 

The hardcover version of the book is approximately 500 pages long. It reads much like the other novels penned by Anderson and Brian Herbert. I am one who actually prefers their books to those written by Frank after the original novel. To me, Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune help make the second trilogy novels make a lot more sense. The story in this one flows well, and ties up both the prequel era storylines and Frank Herbert's original storylines quite well. Many characters are brought back via the ghola/cloning technology. Some are redeemed, others get the happy endings they never received in the original novels, and others get their comeuppance.

Because of the massive time jumps that occurred between novels throughout the series, there is room for other novels to be written to flesh out the earlier portions of the story. Still, Brian Herbert made clear that this will always be the concluding novel in the series, as they will not add onto the end of the story. To follow the story, you do need to have read Frank's original six novels, and at least some of the prequel novels, especially the novels The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, and The Battle of Corrin. While I know there is debate about whether the entire saga is worth reading, and some will only read the original six novels, I personally think that if you are a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, all of the books are worth reading, making this one a must-read to find out how the story ends.

Book Review: Hunters of Dune (#22 Chronological Order)

 

Hunters of Dune, published in 2006, is the first book of a two-part continuation to the Dune series of novels, first created by Frank Herbert and continued by Frank's son Brian, and his co-author Kevin J. Anderson. Brian Herbert and Anderson had written a series of prequel novels that detailed different eras that were mentioned in Frank Herbert's original novels, which essentially set up the story in the original six books. They then discovered notes and an outline detailing Frank's plan to complete the story, which would tie all the eras together. The events of this book begin three years after the cliffhanger in Frank Herbert's final novel in the series, Chapterhouse: Dune, in which the no-ship Ithaca, carrying Duncan Idaho, Miles Teg, Sheeana, Scytale, and the seven sandworms, escaped from Chapterhouse, the Bene Gesserit world that had been taken over by Murbella, who has united the Honored Matres and Bene Gesserit. The no-ship had been in an alternate universe, hiding from the "Great Enemy" from whom the Honored Matres were running when they returned from "The Scattering." When the ship returns from the alternate universe, they are pursued by the Face Dancers, the Honored Matres/Bene Gesserit, and the Great Enemy.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 530 pages. The story flows well and is much easier to follow than any of the novels in the "second trilogy." In fact, it helped me to understand the story in Chapterhouse Dune much better than I did after reading it. The events in the book span 19 years and lay the groundwork for a battle that will tie together all the eras of Dune. It would be too much of a spoiler to explain precisely how, but it involves the identity of the "Great Enemy" and the cloning technology of the Tleilaxu. While some people hate the novels by Brian Herbert and Anderson, I believe that their novels are as good, or better than some of the books that Frank wrote. Regardless of where you fall in that debate, this is worth reading to see how the story will end.

Book Review: Star Wars: Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear

 

The Mask of Fear, published in 2025, is the first in a new trilogy of canon novels by Alexander Freed, detailing the early years of the Empire and the Rebellion. This novel is set in the year after the creation of the Empire (its events begin weeks after the Battle of Coruscant/ The Revenge of the Sith), and follows Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera's early efforts to resist Palpatine. Their storylines are mostly separate, but do intersect at different points in the book. We learn that Mon and Bail did not see eye-to-eye on their approaches, and did not particularly like one another or agree with the other's approach to resistance or overall agenda. And, as was detailed in Andor and Rogue One, Saw was always an outsider on the fringes of the Rebellion.

The hardcover version of the book is moderately long, at just over 460 pages. Since most of the primary characters are likely well-known to the book's target audience, it reads fairly quickly. There are a handful of new characters, but not so many that it is hard to keep track of them. Palpatine is mentioned, but does not actually appear, and Darth Vader neither appears nor is mentioned. Hopefully, they will in the later novels. Ultimately, the book tells a compelling story that expands on the storylines from the live-action and animated movies and series, filling in details that have not been explored to this point. I wouldn't say it is a must-read, but if you enjoy the expanded stories in the novels, this one is worth your time.

Book Review: The Second Great Dune Trilogy

 

This is a 2022 hardcover printing of the books of the second trilogy of Dune novels written by Frank Herbert: 1981's God Emperor of Dune, 1984's Heretics of Dune, and 1985's Chapterhouse Dune. The first novel tells the story of Leto II's reign over the empire, and the last two involve the Bene Gesserit versus another clan of powerful women called the Honored Matres. The stories in these novels are very far removed from those told in the original Dune novel and its first two sequel novels. Although characters like Paul and Jessica are mentioned, the massive time jumps used by Herbert mean they are long dead and not actively involved in the events of any of the books in this trilogy.

The hardcover version of the trilogy is just under 1000 pages. I found none of them easy to read, mainly because many new characters were introduced without much setup, and the storylines became increasingly convoluted with each book. So, none of the storylines were all that easy to follow. And, not much action happened in any of the books until the last handful of chapters. Ultimately, if you are a fan of the Dune series and have invested the time to read all the other novels, this set is worth reading, if nothing else, to see where the story goes. However, if you are only a casual fan or a fan primarily because of one or more of the live-action adaptations of the original novel, you may not like this trilogy, as none of the novels in this trilogy are as good as the original Dune novel or the prequel novels that were written by Frank's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson.

Book Review: Tales of Dune

 

Tales of Dune, published in 2011, is a collection of short stories set during the various Eras of Dune. The stores were written by Brian Herbert (the son of Frank Herbert, the author of the original Dune novel and the five follow-up novels) and Kevin J. Anderson. There are eight stories in all. Four of them are set during the Butlerian Period, which is the time frame in which most of the novels written by Brian Herbert and Anderson are set, thousands of years before the events of the original novel. A couple of stores are set in the Dune Period. One is set just before Paul, Leto, and Jessica go to Dune, and one is set during the events of the original novel. The final two stories are set during the second trilogy, after what is called The Scattering. 

The hardcover version of the book is relatively short, coming in at just under 170 pages. The first story is the longest (a little under 40 pages), and the others are about 10-20 pages, give or take. They are all relatively quick and easy to read. The stories in the book are ancillary to the main novels, and usually involve secondary characters (or characters who do not appear in the regular novels). However, one of the stories does focus on Paul and Duncan Idaho. Ultimately, if you are a fan of the various Dune novels, especially the prequel novels, this is worth reading. If you are only a fan of the original Dune novel, or that part of the story, this one may not appeal to you. 

Book Review: Chapterhouse Dune (Dune #21 Chronological Order, #6 Publication Order)

 

Chapterhouse Dune is the final book in the second "Great Dune Trilogy" and a direct sequel to Heretics of Dune. It was published in 1985 and was the sixth and final book in the Dune series, penned by the original author, Frank Herbert. To say the storyline is convoluted is an understatement. It boils down to the war between the Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres. The Matres are trying to take control of the Universe, and have almost completely taken over the Old Empire. They are now trying to take control of the Bene Gesserit so they can combine the technological and superhuman abilities of the Bene Gesserit with their own. 

The length of the book will vary depending on which version you get, but the hardcover version comes in at around 450 pages. The overall storyline is not bad, but the execution of the story could be much better. There are a ton of characters in the book, making it hard to keep track of all their various roles. Like all the novels in the second trilogy, while characters from the original trilogy of novels are referred to, Duncan Idaho (or a version of him) is the only character from the original books that appears in this one. The vast majority of the book is set up, jumping back and forth between the points of view of members of the Bene Gesserit and the Honour Matres. Most of the action occurs in the last 75 pages or so (which is another thing that made it hard to get through), and it ends in a cliffhanger. Herbert would pass away the year after the book was published, leaving the result of the storyline in doubt; however, his son Brian and Kevin J. Anderson would write two follow-up novels based on Frank's notes for a seventh book to finish the story. 

Ultimately, the storyline in this book diverges significantly from the original Dune novel. It has very little to do with the storyline involving Paul, Jessica, the Harkkonens, etc. It also gets a bit weird. It is not as good as the original novel or any of the multiple prequel novels that were written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to set up the events of the original novel. I think it is worth reading, if nothing else, to see where Frank Herbert took the story, but I wouldn't call it a must-read, especially if you were primarily invested in characters like Paul, Jessica, Chani, and Irulan. 

Book Review: Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Light

 

Into the Light, published in 2025, is (as of this writing) one of the newest entries in the High Republic era of Star Wars novels. It was written by Claudia Gray, who has penned several of the books in the series. This is a young adult novel set in Phase III of the High Republic era. It follows the events of the novel, Tears of the Nameless, in which Nihil leader Marchion Ro indicated that he could cure the mysterious blight that has been destroying various worlds. The Jedi are still working towards finding their own cure for the blight and how to counteract the effects of the creatures that the Nihil use to kill the Jedi, the Nameless/Levelers. Much of the story in this novel is set on the Wookie homeworld of Kashyyyk. Characters such as Reath Silas, Bell Zettifar, and Burryaga play significant roles in the story. Yoda makes an appearance as well, but is not integral to the storyline. The novel also reintroduces several ancillary characters, including Nan, Azlin Rell, and Avon Starros. While dealing with the blight is the primary storyline element, the Drengir are significant antagonists in the story.

The hardcover version of the novel is moderately long, coming in at 360 pages. The story flows pretty well, but there are a lot of characters that you need to keep track of, and if you have not read the other novels in a while, you may need to reacquaint yourself with who is who. While this is a young adult novel, it can also be enjoyed by adults. It is partially a standalone story, but it does tie back to earlier novels and introduces some story elements that may connect to the subsequent books. So, while I do not think it is the best novel set in the High Republic era, it is worth reading, especially if you have enjoyed the overall storyline told in the various books.

Book Review: Star Wars: Tears of the Nameless

 

Tears of the Nameless, published in 2024, is a young-adult novel by George Mann. It is set in the third phase of The High Republic after the destruction of the Starlight Beacon and the Nihil setting up the Stormwall. There are a few different intertwined plotlines that intersect at different times throughout the novel, each of them involving the Jedi trying to figure out a way to fight The Nameless creatures/Levelers and The Blight. Reath Silas is working with a Padawan named Amadeo Azzazzo to determine if there is a connection between The Nameless and The Blight, which have similarities in how they affect what they touch. Each seems to be controlled by the Nihil. Another storyline involves one of the Nihil Jedi hunters who is using three of The Nameless to hunt down Jedi. 

The hardcover version of the book is 500 pages long and could have easily been included as one of the adult canon novels. It does a lot to advance the High Republic storyline, including revealing the origin of the Nameless and a civilization of force users who eventually figured out how to control them. It does not close what to me seems like a giant plot hole in that the Nameless were used against the Jedi by the Path of the Open Hand in the early High Republic era when at least Yoda and Yaddle were around, and the Jedi still knew relatively little about them (and were totally blindsided by their use) in the later High Republic era 150 years later. Hopefully, later novels will shed some light on why that is the case, but this one does not. Even so, this tells a decent story and advances the overall plot. So, if you like the High Republic storyline, this is worth the time to read.

Book Review: Children of Dune (Dune #18)

 

Children of Dune, published in 1976, is the 18th overall book in the Dune series of novels (when read chronologically) and the third in the original trilogy of novels written by Frank Herbert. So, it is the third book if you read them in publication order. The events in the book are set nine years after Dune Messiah. Paul has gone off into the desert and is presumed dead. Alia is ruling Dune but is becoming more erratic, having established an autocratic government, and Paul's children, Leto and Ghanima, who both have the preborn traits of Alia and some of Paul's abilities, discover that terraforming Dune will kill all the sandworms and destroy the source of the spice. Jessica and Gurney Halleck return to Arrakis, and a power struggle ensues between Alia and Jessica. To further complicate things on Arrakis, a mysterious blind preacher who holds sway over some of the Fremen begins railing against Alia's government. 

The hardcover deluxe edition of the book is moderately long at 475 pages. Even though it is shorter than the first novel, it is more challenging to read. There are several plotlines that all go in different directions and have twists. The crux of the story is about the fall of Alia and the ascension of Leto II to the throne, but the story is not exactly streamlined in getting to the conclusion. It very much feels like the middle part of a story, and since Frank Herbert wrote three additional novels, that is very much what it is. Ultimately, if you have read the prequel novels by Frank's son, Brian and Kevin J. Anderson, and the two original novels by Frank Herbert, this has the weakest story and is the most challenging to finish. That said, it is worth reading to see how the saga plays out. 

Book Review: Star Wars: The High Republic: Beware the Nameless

 

Beware the Nameless is one of the Star Wars junior novels set during Phase 3 of the High Republic era. It was written by Zoraida Cordova and published in 2024. It is set after the events of the junior novel Escape from Valo. In it, a group of Jedi set out to capture one of the force-eating creatures that the Jedi refer to as The Nameless and that the Nihil call Levelers, that the Nihil has used to kill multiple Jedi. A group of younglings (who stow away aboard one of the ships embarking on the mission) end up teaming with a young Hutt named Churo, who has been sent by his sister to recover a Leveler egg to bring back to his clan. 

The hardcover version of the book is moderately long, just under 325 pages. Unlike some junior novels, which tell ancillary one-off stories, this one advances the overall plot of the High-Republic era quite a bit. In this book, we learn more about the Levelers, including how they can affect non-force users. The characters in the book are mostly new, although Ram Jomaram (who has been in a few of the junior novels) does appear, and Yoda appears at the very end of the book. Because it is a junior novel, it reads very quickly. It includes a handful of comic illustrations, giving us an actual look at the Levelers, which have been described in very vague terms in the prior novels (and we learn why that is in this book). Even though it is written for a younger audience and some of the dialogue can be a bit silly, it is good enough for adults to enjoy. If you are a fan of the High Republic stories but do not get all the books, this one is worth reading. 

Book Review: The Winds of Dune (Dune #17)

 

The Winds of Dune, published in 2009, is the 17th book in the Dune saga (if you read them chronologically) and the second in the Heroes of Dune trilogy of novels. It is one of several novels written by the duo of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The events in the story are set mostly between books 2 and 3 of the original Dune trilogy, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. As the novel Paul of Dune (set between the original Dune novel and Dune Messiah) did, this one jumps time periods. Most of the events are set after the end of Paul's reign after he walks off into the desert at a time when Alia is trying to hold the government together. Paul's former friend, Bronso if Ix (Bronso Vernius), has begun criticizing Paul and his rule. The story flashes back to events that occurred earlier during Paul's rule when we discover the plot against Paul and who was involved. 

The hardcover version is just under 450 pages. If you have read the prior novels (which is necessary to understand the story in this one), especially those written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, this one has a similar style and tone and reads as quickly or slowly as the others. The story is intriguing and fills in the gaps between the original novels. I will not spoil the story for those who have not read it, but we discover that not everything is as it seemed with Paul's rule and the events that led to his downfall. We also get more insight into Alia, who is now a teenager but has all the memories of the prior Reverand Mothers of the Bene Gesserit. The story also shows the cracks that develop in the relationships between Alia, Lady Jessica, Duncan Idaho, and Gurney Halleck and the widening rift between Jessica and the members of the Bene Gesserit. If you are a fan of the Dune saga, it is absolutely worth reading.

Book Review: Capture or Kill (Mitch Rapp Series #13 Chronological Order; #23 Publication Order)

 

Capture or Kill, published in 2024, is the newest entry in the Mitch Rapp series of novels created by the late author Vince Flynn. It was written by Don Bentley, who took over the series from Kyle Mills, who, of course, took it over after Vince Flynn's death. The book is set back in 2011, between the events of the last two novels that Vince Flynn finished, Pursuit of Honor and The Last Man. Therefore, the book is now the 13th book in the series if you read the books in chronological order. The plot initially involves Rapp going after more of the terrorists who had captured and tortured Irene Kennedy. That mission is interrupted when he discovers that a bunch of shoulder-fired missiles have been stolen and are to be used against American targets. As Flynn and Mills often did in their novels, Bentley also weaves the fictional storyline with real-world events. Here, while in the process of trying to track down the missiles, Rapp learns of and assists in the lead-up to the mission that would kill Osama Bin Laden.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 470 pages. Ultimately, the book is an excellent action thriller. Bentley, a long-time fan of the Mitch Rapp series, was able to emulate the style and tone of the prior novels yet make it his own. And because the events are set in the past, Bentley could incorporate characters (some directly and some by name) who had not been in the more recent novels. If you enjoy the series, this is an excellent addition. Bentley does an outstanding job with the characters and honors and preserves the work done by Flynn and (to a lesser extent) Mills. It is a great first outing for Bentley. It will be interesting to see if he does more stories set between prior novels or returns the storyline to the present. It is definitely worth the time to read.

Book Review: Holly

 

Holly is a 2023 thriller by Stephen King. It is centered around the character of Holly Gibney, introduced in the novel Mr. Mercedes. The bulk of the story is set in 2021, during the COVID pandemic. Holly, who is running the Finders Keepers detective agency, is contacted by a woman named Penny Dahl, whose daughter Bonnie has mysteriously disappeared. The investigation reveals multiple disappearances that seem to point to a serial killer and the involvement of a pair of retired professors. While you do not need to have read the earlier books in which Holly Gibney appeared to follow what is going on in this book, you will get more of the character's evolution as King lets those earlier works serve as the character development for Holly.

The hardcover version of the book is just under 450 pages. King writes it so that the readers know more than the characters in the book. He uses flashbacks to tell part of the story so the readers know who is responsible for the disappearances but do not know the motive until the last act. Even though the readers know more than the character of Holly does early in the book, King still manages to make the story very suspenseful. King does, as he has in his more recent books, include some social commentary (this time, the reaction to COVID and the vaccines) into the story and takes some shots at the orange genital wart (which will, of course, freak out the lickspittle MAGATs). Still, neither of those things dominates the story. Ultimately, it is a very well-written thriller. If you are a fan of King's novels, especially his recent ones, this one is worth reading. 

Book Review: Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate

 

A Crash of Fate is a young-adult Star Wars canon novel published in 2019 and written by Zoraida Cordova. It is not part of the main storyline (not part of the Skywalker saga). Thus, it tells a story about characters who live tangentially in the Star Wars universe but are not the main characters or part of the main storylines of the movies, TV shows, or novels involving those characters. It is set on the planet of Batuu, which has been referenced in the Clone Wars and Rebels series, as well as multiple books. The main characters are two childhood friends, Izzy and Jules, who have a crush on each other as kids when Izzy's parents take her away without warning. Thirteen years later, between the events of The Force Awakens/The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, she returns to Batuu as a smuggler to be unwittingly reunited with Jules who remained on Batuu as a farmer.

The story is, in part, a love story and in part an adventure involving The Black Spire, smugglers, and the First Order and Resistance acting in the background. It is basically a one-off story that does not really tie into the larger "Skywalker Saga" (i.e., the events of the movies). Even though it is a young-adult novel, it is enjoyable enough for adults too. The love story part of the book is not too sappy (for the most part), and it has some twists to it. The book is just over 300 pages, but it reads fairly quickly with a reasonable amount of characters to keep track of, and the chapters are fairly short (about 20 pages or less per chapter, with some only a couple of pages). So, depending on how fast you read, and how much time you have to do so, you can get through it fairly fast. While it is not a must-read novel, it is enjoyable and worth checking out for those who get some, but not all, of the novels.

Book Review: Dune Messiah (Dune #16)

 

Dune Messiah is the second book in Frank Herbert's original Dune Trilogy (and the second book in publication order). It is the 16th book in the saga of novels if you read them chronologically. It was first published in 1968, and this deluxe edition, which features an introduction by Frank's son, Brian, and new artwork, was published in 2023. The story jumps nine years after the events that ended the original novel. Paul is now the Emperor, having conquered hundreds of worlds, and his warriors have killed billions of people in his name. This book deals with the backlash against Paul's rule, with the remaining members of the various political houses he conquered plotting against him.

The hardcover version of the book is short at just under 270 pages. Even though it is short, it does take some time to get through as it jumps between a few different storylines and introduces a handful of new characters. It very much has the feel and tone of the middle part of a trilogy. It does advance the overall storyline, but there are stretches where not much seems to be happening. If you just compare it against the original novel, it is definitely not as good, especially not as good as the last third of the original novel. But, in the context of it setting up another book, it makes more sense and is worth reading.

Book Review: Star Wars: Queen's Shadow

 

Queen's Shadow is one of the "ancillary" canon novels in the Star Wars universe. It was written by one of the regular Star Wars authors, E.K. Johnston, and published in 2019. As many of the young adult novels are, it is adjacent to the main storyline (which is printed in the front of the Del-ray series of novels) but is still considered part of the official canon, as everything put out under the Disney flagship is.

The bulk of the story is set between Episodes I and II as Padme transitioned from Queen of Naboo to a senator. It has much of the political tone of the Phantom Menace, which may turn off some people, but it also incorporates the relationship between Padme and the handmaidens and how they switch out for one another depending on the situation they find themselves in, and the great lengths and planning they go to in order to pull the switches off. Palpatine makes a couple of appearances both in his role as Chancellor and as Darth Sidious, as does Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, setting up their alliance which, of course, eventually spawns the Rebel Alliance.

For me, the best part of the novel is actually the epilogue, set just after the events of Episode III, with the "main" handmaiden, Sabe, vowing to find out what really happened to Padme. This definitely sets up material for another novel set during the early days of the Empire.

Overall, the novel is a pretty easy read, especially if you are a fast reader. While it is a young adult novel, it is one that people of all ages can enjoy. It does a good job adding to, and filling in, the period between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones which has been lacking in material since the novels written before the Disney buyout of Lucasfilm were relegated to Legends status. I definitely recommend it.

Book Review: Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Spark of the Resistance

 

Spark of the Resistance is a 2019 Star Wars story by Justina Ireland. It is a short, one-off, young-adult story set between the events of The Last Jedi (a few months after the battle of Crait) and The Rise of Skywalker. While out on a supply run, Rey, Poe, and Rose receive a distress call from a planet called Minfar. They discover The First Order is enslaving the locals and helping to fight them off.

This is a novel that is ancillary to the "main" storyline novels but is still considered canon, like everything that gets put out under the Star Wars banner post-Disney's buyout of Lucasfilm. It is a short book, just over a couple hundred pages, and an easy read. The story is pretty basic, which is not all that surprising given that it is a children's novel, but it is enjoyable enough for adults. It does not really have any obvious tie-ins to The Rise of Skywalker but does give readers a bit of an idea of what the characters were up to between the movies.

Chances are, if you collect the books, you are going to get this. If you get just some of the novels and not others, I would not say it is a must-read, but it is enjoyable.