Eoghann Mill Irving reviewed Crucible Star Wars by Troy Denning
Review of 'Crucible Star Wars' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This is the latest book in the expansive "Expanded Universe" of Star Wars. That is stuff which is not movie canon but generally stays consistent within it's own existence. The EU has been around for a long time and it's built up a pretty complex continuity at this point which can be a problem.
So the core audience for this book is pretty specific. People who not only love the movies, but also have at least somewhat kept up with the expanded universe. And it shows because this book reads like a bridge novel between a bunch of adventures and the next adventure. Which is exactly what it is.
Allowing for that, how does it do? Well it does give us a high action, comparatively stand alone story for the majority of the novel. And while it does rely on what's come before, there's plenty of recap built into the …
This is the latest book in the expansive "Expanded Universe" of Star Wars. That is stuff which is not movie canon but generally stays consistent within it's own existence. The EU has been around for a long time and it's built up a pretty complex continuity at this point which can be a problem.
So the core audience for this book is pretty specific. People who not only love the movies, but also have at least somewhat kept up with the expanded universe. And it shows because this book reads like a bridge novel between a bunch of adventures and the next adventure. Which is exactly what it is.
Allowing for that, how does it do? Well it does give us a high action, comparatively stand alone story for the majority of the novel. And while it does rely on what's come before, there's plenty of recap built into the novel so you don't get lost.
If anything it's guilty of over-recapping and in particular there are far too many movie references. Right from the beginning when we're told a bar reminds them of Mos Eisley. Let it go. We know it's Star Wars. You don't need to hit us over the head with it.
Still we get Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Princess Leia and of course Luke Skywalker all back together again, along with some of the new blood the novels have introduced over the years. And it definitely has the swashbuckling Star Wars feel to it. Plenty of action, plenty of danger, just a hint of spirituality in The Force.
Speaking of which... did we have to be told it was Force lightning every time, or that Luke sensed it in the Force, or that they Force jumped, or that they were using the Force in their words? I know they're Jedi, I get how it works.
The writing in the book is functional, even a little pedestrian really. It does what it needs to do. It delivers the sort of plot a Star Wars fan is going to want. It just doesn't bring much in the way of style with it.
Bottom line, if you enjoy the Expanded Universe and the "new adventures of Luke Skywalker" you're probably going to like this. If you like Star Wars you'd be better starting off earlier in the series really, but if you want to jump in, you'll likely enjoy yourself.
