The book we will be covering for the next month (or so) is Allegiance by Timothy Zahn:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Allegiance_%28novel%29
As always, the only thing we ask is that you be courteous to others' opinions. Disagree in a respectful manner. But do feel free to disagree.
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http://tinyurl.com/BC-changes
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Nov 1, 2009 4:53 AM | Report Abuse reply
OK, I'll start with a quote from the book. I really loved the Mara-Vader interactions:
"Lord Vader," she said politely as she stepped past, her eyes flickering automatically to the display screen in front of him.
"Emperor's Hand," he greeted her in return, his voice deep and stiff and darker than usual. "What do you want?"
Nov 2, 2009 4:00 AM | Report Abuse reply
I might just be able to read this and be able to talk about it! Don't quote me on it though. I've still got to finish the book i'm reading at the momment; read True Colours and Order 66; read the Dark Lord Trilogy, i've got Lab of Evil, Revenge and Dark Lord, all in one book, which shouldn't take me long; read The Force Unleashed and Death Star and then read A New Hope. I was planning on reading other books in between but now i think i might have to do some power reading! Oh yeah and then i've actually got to read Allegiance, or atleast read most of it.
Nov 2, 2009 11:25 AM | Report Abuse reply
I am STILL trying to finish CN3 (the completist in me), so I won't read (actually reread) Allegiance...well, maybe I will, but I DO plan on contributing!! Even if it means using my *gasp* memory!
Anyway, I love how Mara and Vader are respectful of each other. They don't have the rivalry that exists between Xizor and Vader. It's nice to see "bad guys" that aren't always clawing at each other to get on top.
Nov 2, 2009 11:45 AM | Report Abuse reply
Not a demand or anything, but if you want to particpate in the book club discussions, why not read the book we're discussing 1st.
With that hefty list, seems pretty unlikely you'll get to read and then discuss Allegiance in time.
Nov 2, 2009 11:45 AM | Report Abuse reply
I'm still catching up on the V marathon that Syfy (or as I like to call it, the Syphillis channel) channel had this weekend, but right after that, I hit Allegiance with a vengeance! Shouldn't take me too long to read. Last time it took me about three days to read.
Nov 2, 2009 2:09 PM | Report Abuse reply
FYI, I never re-read. Attempted to with I, Jedi. Would just rather read new stuff.
So I call, yes I'm like 12, that you have to contribute even if you don't re-read the book...you dam.n overachievers.
Nov 2, 2009 2:26 PM | Report Abuse reply
And think about the irony too between Mara and Vader. They eventually became in-laws, albeit with Big V being dead for a decade and a half.
Nov 2, 2009 3:59 PM | Report Abuse reply
Ha! The Emperor's Hand the Vader daughter-in-law.
Let's not forget Jacen's aunt.
She's racked up quite a Sithly extended family.
Nov 2, 2009 6:24 PM | Report Abuse reply
True. Plus having Luke being a Sith Apprentice and Cade being a shady former Jedi who likes to play with the dark.
Nov 2, 2009 9:22 PM | Report Abuse reply
This is almost sounding like some episode of Jerry Springer -- Sith Edition. LOL!!
Nov 2, 2009 11:33 PM | Report Abuse reply
So...anyone start/has already read the book. Care to discuss?
Nov 3, 2009 4:03 AM | Report Abuse reply
Any thoughts about ex-stormtrooper Larone and the Hand of Judgment ( http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Hand_of_Judgment )?
Lots of people didn't like this subplot, but I happened to really enjoy it. Contrary to popular belief, this was not a book about Mara Jade, although she was a major character in the book.
I think the title, Allegiance, is especially relevant to the group who comprised the Hand of Judgment.
Nov 3, 2009 4:58 AM | Report Abuse reply
Okay, so I was one of those people who thought this was a Mara exclusive book. I was wrong, but I still managed to enjoy it (though I though this was one of Zahn's weaker novels).
I am of two opinions about the stormtrooper subplot. On one hand, I liked it, seeing someone else do stormtroopers like Karen Traviss. And these stormtroopers were pleasantly different, NOT i.d.i.o.t.s., not dropouts, but guys who try to do the right thing, do something wrong and then realize that the Empire will be out to get them because of a mistake. So they have no choice but to turn on the Empire. I much prefer this subplot to the "the Empire is SO BAD let's run away to the Rebel Alliance" one. (But I'm the one with the "Imperial Domination" shirt...)
Anyway, my second thought is I dislike them because they feel like Zahn read Traviss' books and went, "Oooh, goody! I wanna do that too!" For me to say this about Zahn...it's heart-rending, as he is my all-time favorite author in the whole wide world and my absolute dream is to have him personally sign my hardcover copy of Outbound Flight (the only book in my collection which I have a hardcover AND a paperback).
Also, I find it interesting...about this time, Zahn wrote "Night Train to Rygel", an amazing detective book akin to "Murder on the Orient Express". In that book, Zahn had a fairly complex plot, lots of weaving, betrayal, that sorta thing. What bugged me about "Allegiance" is that Zahn seemed to be in that same thread, of making an overly complex plot, which he didn't quite unravel at the end (in more of a "Oops, I forgot" way, not a "Now YOU figure it out" way).
Nov 3, 2009 10:11 AM | Report Abuse reply
I think a difference that distinguishes the Hand of Judgment from Traviss's clones is that these guys did not choose to leave and they continue to fully beleive in and uphold the ideals of the Empire--although they have to be creative about it.
I hardly think someone of the caliber of Zahn needs to copy anyone, and I didn't get that impression at all. Thy style and tone, for one, is totally different.
I did enjoy seeing a young Mara in action. Her last name is fitting, because she seems to be somewhat jaded--she ends up doing things for the greater good. Almost a pseudo-good guy. Kind of takes away from her redemption in the Thrawn Trilogy.
The least memorable scenes and plotlines to me were those involving the big 3.
Nov 3, 2009 2:32 PM | Report Abuse reply
AGREED! Tim Zahn is so good at being able to do the big three, but honestly, here, I kept wondering, "Why?" You have Mara Jade, you have these stormtroopers, WHY BOTHER bringing in Han, Luke, and Leia? Honestly? While I like seeing them in this era, it is also SO BORING to have them appear in every single stinking novel!! And here, they don't do much and just sort of bumble around (though I did like the part where Leia got a job...that was GRRRRRRRRRRREAT!).
Nov 3, 2009 2:36 PM | Report Abuse reply
Whos knows, they might have been in the book for comic relief purposes and showing that they can be @#$%s too.
Nov 3, 2009 5:27 PM | Report Abuse reply
I liked that part too, She-ra. The darkly respectful tone that Mara and Vader have around each other. And yes, I think Vader would be laughing his a$$ off in his grave over the fact that Mara became his daughter-in-law 15 years after he died.
I think having the big three in the book was QUITE essential to how the Hand of Judgment develops in the second half of the book (spoiler coming)...I mean if it hadnlt been for Luke, Han and Chewie (and Leia to a lesser degree) the boys in the Hand of Judgment wouldn't have been in the right place at the right time to be comandeered by Mara for *HER* mission...or to be given a pardon for the murder of the ISB Major, Drelfin, from Mara... .
Spoiler over!
Nov 5, 2009 11:08 AM | Report Abuse reply
But why the big three? You could have used anyone, but no, authors (NOTE: I am poking at all the authors now) tend to rely on these guys too much. It's like they think that we won't be interested at all in a book that doesn't star these guys in it.
And that WAS true in the Bantam era, e.g. pre X-Wing series. Truce at Bakura, Courtship of Princess Leia, Thrawn Trilogy...all those books had the Big Three (no, not Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt!) in them. Now, at the time, that made sense, there weren't many EU books to begin with, but after awhile, it became lazy writing. Thank God, in many ways, for NJO, for while it killed off some characters I hated to see go, NJO DID expand the character list so it didn't always have to feature Han, Luke, and Leia.
Enough ranting about that!
Here's something that kinda, sorta, not-really bugged me: Could Mara Jade have been that proficient a spy/assassin at that age? She was only 18...
Nov 5, 2009 11:41 AM | Report Abuse reply
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