Star Wars: Dark Forces, Soldier for the Empire

It is a tricky assignment to write a story based on a game and still be relevant to the rest of the expanded universe. Mr Dietz did a pretty good job here. Kyle Katarn, which is available as an action figure, is the guy that steals the plans to the death star. Considering that I had already read the Han solo trilogy, (My favorite trilogy in the EU) where Hans first love dies leading the decoy team, I thought it worked.The art work was uneven to me. Some of it was sharp and germane to the story. Some of it was soft pastels that I just did not care for. And none of the artwork matches Dorman who does the third and book in this trilogy. I really liked the format for the illustrated novella. I wish there were more.

I'm a huge Star Wars fan and I love the Expanded Universe characters. I first met Kyle Katarn when I played the Playstation game Star Wars: Dark Forces. The game gave you bits and pieces about Katarn's life, but left you wanting to know more. So you can imagine how happy I was to discover that there was a series of novels based on the characters in the game.Kyle Katarn is the son of a farmer / mechanic from a planet in the Outer Rim. His family is not rich and the only way that Kyle will be assured an excellent education is to join the Imperial Academy. Although he doesn't always agree with everything he has learned at the Academy, Kyle has become a loyal officer, willing to risk his life for the Empire. Shortly after graduating the Academy, Katarn learns that his beloved father has been murdered. As Kyle journeys to his homeworld, he makes an amazing discovery - his father was not killed by Rebel agents as he had been told. His father WAS a Rebel agent, killed by the Empire. Bent on avenging his father's death, Katarn joins the Rebel Alliance. HIs first mission, given to him by Mon Mothma herself, is a doozy - get hold of the plans to the Imperial battlestation being built in orbit around Despayre (the Death Star for all you non-Star Wars fanatics out there!)! Can Kyle complete the mission, or will he sell out the Rebellion? Mon Mothma can't be sure, so she sends an opreative to keep an eye on him - and dispose of him if he reveals himself to be a traitor!This book is 126 pages packed with action, adventure and intrigue! Perfectly written by William Dietz, the story will definitely hold your attention. Not only do you get more insight into one of your favorite Expanded Universe characters, you are treated to some guest appearances from the trilogy, such as Mon Mothma and Lando Calrissian. I especially enjoyed the illustrations, which can only adequately be described as works of art, by Dean WIlliams. Soldier for the Empire is part one of a trilogy of Dark Forces novels. I've already read parts one and two, and can't wait to get my hands on the third! A treat for any Star Wars fan, whether you're a fan of the movies, books, or games!

The illustrations and writing style, as in the first two, are excellent. I just have one question about this: why is it so relatively easy for Kyle Katarn to defeat Jerec? I mean, Jerec has a lot of the Valley's power here! It took thousands upon thousands of Jedi to defeat Exar Kun, and the combined Force power of at least 100,000 Jedi - good and evil - are trapped in the Valley of the Jedi! Yet it took only one Jedi's Wall of Light - Kyle's - to defeat Jerec! How does that work? Is Kyle's own power increased temporarily by using the part of the Valley power that Jerec hadn't taken yet? That seems the most probably thing, but I wish Dietz had specified. Oh, well. It's a masterpiece all the same. And one more thing: the "visions of the past" that Kyle receives can be confusing at times, but are really nifty!

Great book, actually, a great trilogy, if you get the hardcover editions they also make a great display for any respectable collection. The writing is down to earth, yet descriptive and complete, leaves you wanting to know more, especially great is the step by step narration Dietz makes of the first Dark Forces level. The illustrations are great, but i found a couple of errors in this book: Acording to JK game, Kyle doesn't get his lightsaber until level three of the game, this book refers to Dark Forces, so why is he painted with a saber in the cover and other 2 illustrations? Also, when he meets Jan, the description tells us he's wearing a Stortrooper armor, yet in the drawing he's not...great book, nevertheless...

I really enjoyed this book AND the illustrations. These beautiful paintings are really imaginative. It is an exciting adventure with new characters and some really amazing images. It made me want to know more and more about Kyle Katarn and the other characters they introduced. Although I don't get into the computer games, if they are anything like the images in the book, I bet they're really cool looking. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in THE DARK FORCES series while I wait for the new film.