Betrayal

Brilliant entry to the final Star Wars series featuring the Classic Trilogy line-up! Allston creates one of the best Star Wars adventures, one that never loses the "feel" of the films (particularly due to his successful use of humor throughout the narrative) but at the same time sets up a dark and intriguing premise for the following books to come. Civil war threatens to disrupt the galaxy. Han and Leia find themselves on opposing sides of the battlefield from their children, Luke and the Jedi. Each side has a strong view of how to avoid the conflict, but despite their efforts (or because of them) the galaxy plunges deeper into war... Is someone manipulating events from behind the scenes and if so, to what end? Who is the ominous man in the visions Luke keeps having? While events play out, Han and Leia's son Jacen (now a full-fledged Jedi Knight) and his apprentice Ben (Luke and Mara's 13 year old son) investigate a mystery surrounding an unusual artifact, a lure set to lead them to a disturbing revelation about the Dark Side... Allston weaves an exciting, mysterious and enjoyable Star Wars tale that merges aspects of both SW trilogies, the psychological depth of the Prequel trilogy with the characters and Flash Gordonesque tone of the Classic trilogy. More importantly, he keeps things fresh. Something different is occuring here... One of the major upheavals (which occurs at the climax of the book) is the cause of great consternation among fans. Yet it's appropriate and the signs have been there for a long time now... Regardless, the ending still comes a shocker! My favorite aspect of the books is the fact that Allston brings back one of the great villains from the old Marvel Star Wars series (recently reprinted in Dark Horse's seven-volume series "A Long Time Ago") who hasn't been seen for quite some time. Lumiya, apprentice of Darth Vader, is an old nemesis of Luke's, as well as a former love-interest! And despite the intervening years, she is as deadly than ever! Kudos to Allston and LFL for utilizing this character, as Lumiya is the masterstroke of this title! That said, you don't need to know thirty years of continuity to enjoy this book. While it rewards long-time readers, Allston has made sure to write the story in a way that never alienates new fans who might want to jump on board at this point. Definitely looking forward to the next chapter in the series!

Betrayal is easily the best star wars story in quite some time! The characters are not shallow, the ethical dillemas they face are clearly articulated and there is significant movement in the long-term story line. For fans of the Star Wars novels, this one is well worth the cost and is much better written than most of the previous ones. Strongly recommended!

I've been a fan of the Star Wars Universe for quite some time, but I have been dissapointed by many of the novels to come out. Too much of the major novels have been Star Trek style fluff. The heroes are never in actual danger, there's always some ridiculous Imperial super weapon or the other and in the end, only the bad guys die. I was beginning to think that Star Wars was resembling more of a kids series than anything else...then the New Jedi Order came along. Finally, an adult sci-fi series set in the Star Wars setting. Now for this series...GOOD!!!!!!!! It's about time they stuck with the serious tome set way back in Vector Prime. No more childish storylines, no more "no actual danger". This is written much more like real life events. About time. I can't help but think that this whole thing with Corellia and Center Point and the breaking up of the GA is like the beginnings of the War Between the States in 1861. Pretty serious stuff, and unlike what some may say, I'm glad. Now If only they'd go back and write the Dark Empire trilogy as novels and flesh out the very dissapointing CLone Wars novel series, then I'd be really happy.

Great book. Betrayal completely lived up to my expectations. The book couldn't have a better title. Five years after Dark Nest it starts out with Luke having a vision of an enemy who doesn't exist. Jacen and Ben off on a mission to discover what's going on in a factory. G.A. is having negotations with Corella. Corella wants be independent of the G.A. because it feels the G.A. is too unstable and unreliable and that the Galaxy often has to turn to Corella for help. The Galactic Allience is still working on putting the galaxy back together. The last thing they need is planetary systems declaring independence. Neither side is wrong on their points and that'll makes for an interesting war. The Skywalker-Solo family are immediately on opposite sides of the issue. Han supports Corella Leia supports Han and Luke supports G.A. All head off to Corella to support their side and do what they each think is right without letting each other know it. That makes things a lot more interesting. It was fun to return to Corella. If there was any doubt in which direction Jacen was heading in this book takes care of it.I can't wait for the next one.

Peace finally seems the way of the galaxy as the Skywalker-Solo bloodlines are developing a legacy of harmony. Everyone appears to welcome the respite from the wars while Jedi Master Luke Skywalker organizes the New Order of Jedi Knights into a force for the better good. Nothing could be better yet on Coruscant Luke senses a return to the darkness is imminent, as he tells his wife Mara that the enemy, "he doesn't exist", yet but will. On Adumar, Jacen Solo and Ben Skywalker smell the odor of death from the Dammant Killers factory beneath the planet's surface. However, they misjudge the cowardly fears of the firm's officials who plan to prevent them from informing their superiors of the missile plant. As an ambush is set up on Adumar, planet Corellia leads a so far peaceful insurrection against the strict binding rules of the Galactic Alliance. To end thoughts of succession, the Galactic Alliance decides on a presumptive first strike doctrine with Corellia being the target. This destroys the Skywalker-Solo alliance as Corellia is the homeworld of the legendary Hans. Civil war seems forthcoming yet worse than the split between allies, Luke's enemy still does not exist. This is a terrific entry in the long running series as Aaron Allston starts a new arc with a fresh outlook in which the Skywalker-Solo extended intertwined families are at odds with each other over what to do with Corellia and other similar leaning planets. Luke's appearances bring an eerie feel thought the exciting story line as the real enemy has not surfaced but is coming at a time when civil war is looming. As always the aliens seem genuine and the relatives of Hans and Luke make for a fine tale as the force moves on towards a new schism. Harriet Klausner