Traitor: Star Wars Legends

The title for the latest Star Wars Extended Universe set of novels, New Jedi Order, has been touched upon within the books themselves once, maybe twice before, but in this amazing, thorough, impossibly revealing chapter of the series, the title of the series finally begins to take on the true extent of its meaning.To summarize, Jacen Solo finds himeself captured by the Yuuzhan Vong, specifically held at the hands of Vergere, a minor character in previous novels. Slowly, through a variety of experiences that change his perspective, Jacen realizes that the current Jedi understanding of the Force is incorrect. To put it simply, Jacen faces the question, "If the Force is life, how can there be life, without the Force?" Referring to the Yuuzhan Vong's seeming non-existence in the Force. To understand that there IS in fact, no life, without the Force, Jacen realizes that the Force is in fact part of a larger power, an absolutely universal collection of dualities that bind things even as opposite as the Yuuzhan Vong and the New Republic, Love and Hate, Light and Dark and all others - they are all combined in a... something (energy, Force, connection, it's never really defined) that holds not only the Jedi and the New Republic in its grasp, but also the Yuuzhan Vong and all other life in the Universe.Because so much of the book is composed of Vergere and Jacen's philosophical discussions, back and forth, one would think the plot and action would suffer, but this is not so, it merely heightens the intensity each action and turn creates. The introduction of Ganner as a main character, a full two thirds through the book, seemed strange at the time, but worked perfectly - highlighting the philosophy Vergere spouts - of dualities becoming one, through love.With captivating descriptions, engaging dialogue, and a change in the very scales of power in the Star Wars Universe, the novel is a definite step in the right direction of a series that hasn't always lived up to its expectations or possibilities. Hopefully the books following this one do not fail to follow in Matthew Stover's path.

Jacen Solo, brother to twin Jaina and younger Anakin.....long thought dead to the New Republic and an underestimated Jedi makes a strong comeback in this 13th installment of the New Jedi Order series.However, this book is slightly different from the 12 that preceded it. I'd say about 85% of this novel takes a direct focus on Jacen and the enigmatic Vergere. It seems that the Vong have had special plans for Jacen all along, not only as a twin to Jaina, but to help capture her as well. Nom Anor and Vergere concoct a plan to turn Jacen...turn him to the Vong cause.Everything Jacen has ever learned as a Jedi is now put to question as Vergere takes the roll of teacher. She challenges Jacen to rethink his role in the universe and his destiny....a destiny without the use or link of the Force. Jacen soon discovers that there is more to the force than just the light and dark sides. He begins to retrain himself, not necessarily as a Jedi, but something else...something bigger than the Force as he learned it from Master Skywalker. Jacen's abilities and sensitivity to telepathic and empathetic thoughts soon exceed even Nom Anor's and Verge's wildest dreams. Jacen becomes something new, and Nom Anor revels in the fact that Jaina Solo will soon be his with the aide of his newest Vong prodigy.But nothing ever ends up the way things are planned in a good Star Wars novel. Jedi Ganner Rhysode has heard the rumors....Rumors that Jacen lives and has returned to the core worlds. His mission is his own, rescue Jacen and bring hope to the losing New Republic and crush the Vong spirits. But Ganner stumbles upon a man once known as Jacen, but someone much different and much more powerful. Soon, Ganner must make a choice and perhaps place his trust in a much darker and powerful Jacen.I can't say enough good things about this novel. Though there is plenty of action and background information given on the Vong, the trial and tribulations of Jacen under the thumb of Nom Anor and Vergere are very powerful for the reader. While there is plenty of action for the reader, author Matthew Stover really gets the reader sucked into the psyche of Jacen. Soon you really are emotionally attached to Jacen's character and feel his confusion and doubt of everything he though he believed. The role of Vergere in this book was pivotal, and even though the reader may find her musings and teaching maddening at times (she speaks a lot in riddles and never gives a straight answer), but does a wonderful job in actually making the reader question everything we have read about the Jedi order and the Force. Is it possible that there in more to the Force than just the light and dark sides? This book will surely make you ponder. Excellent job.

I loved Traitor, it was worth every penny.It was also quite unlike any SW book I have read so far, much more philosophical than say the Enemy Lines duology wich was much more action oriented, but that was a good thing I thought.This book also turns a few concepts upside down and introduces new viewpoints, some of this I have noticed has been quietly hinted at in earlier books in the EU too, one is also given some hints as to why the Vong are not seen in the force by the Jedi.All in all, this is a very good book, I read through it very quickly though because of that.I must say that the NJO has gotten alot better now with these latest releases after Star by Star.Let's hope the trend lasts.

This book was, in my opinion, the best NJO book so far. For the non-StarWars fan, that's the New Jedi Order series, the latest in the Star Wars Universe. Jacen Solo is the main character in the book, and Veregre playes probably her biggest role yet, but aside from that there are very few characters represented in the book. Those in the book are portrayed excellently though. For the readers that like action, this book is only for the patient reader. You will not find giant battles either in space or with Jedi flashing lightsabers. The action is there, but what action there is focuses on the philosophy of it. That brings me to the main point of the book. Jedi philosophy takes a hit, and Jacen re-invents himself. The book focuses on the training of Jacen by Veregre and Jacen's growth from a child into a man. The book is written with a purpose and is one of the few Star Wars books I could call literature. It was truely written with the flow and form that rivals some of the best novels I've ever read. When I read the book i was reminded when I was taught exactly how to write in my English classes. Through all this though, I believe the book is written in such a way that less advanced readers would enjoy it too. It is not like "Animal Farm" for instance, as Animal Farm's true point is difficult for the young reader to grasp. The plot of the book is easy to grasp, but the way it was written was what made it rise above many other books I've read. I recommend this book to everyone that has an interest in fiction, young or old.

Let me make two things clear: I am a diehard Star Wars fanboy, and a bigtime Stover groupie. A such, when this novel was announced months ago, it quickly became my most anticipated Star Wars novel ever. As the months wore on, the anxiety grew; I needed this book, and simply couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I trusted that Stover would give me a fantastic novel. My trust was not unfounded.Right from the outset, this book is something special. Stover is a compulsively readable writer, and his prose and writing style are head and shoulders above many of the other authors writing Star Wars novels. He knows how to turn a phrase and shape a paragraph so that it sticks in your mind long after you've finished reading the book.And what a book! From the Holy [cow]! opening (which finally explained Jacen's emanations from Dark Journey) to the stunningly awesome climax (featuring one of the coolest lightsaber fights ever) to the outstanding three-against-the-galaxy ending (and you'll NEVER guess who the third one is), Traitor proved impossible to put down. Literally. I read it in one sitting and have since read it twice more. Jacen's feats in this book put to shame similar conquests by his siblings in the novels focusing on them, and Vergere absolutely blossoms as an interesting, enigmatic character. Jacen's revelations throughout the novel, often spurred by Vergere's observations, are consistently interesting (and pretty consistent with what you'd come to expect from a Stover novel). With Nom Anor it's pretty much just more of the same, which is getting kind of old, but Ganner really shines here. You can expect a cameo or three from a long lost pal, as well as a whole lot of Stover-style philosophizing on the nature of the Force and its Dark Side, as well as what makes a Hero, and what makes a Jedi, and a whole bunch of other questions that haven't, or haven't often, been tackled before in a Star Wars novel. You'll be surprised at the answers offered, when they are offered, which isn't always, considering that, as is said, the question is often more telling than the answer. The action is fantastic, as is to be expected from a Stover novel, and for you skeptics out there - put your fears to rest; there's only one fight scene (out of many) that's described at all graphically or gorily. Do not mistake graphicness for intensity, however - these fights are as intense as anything you've seen in a Star Wars novel. Overall, yes, this is easily my favorite New Jedi Order novel so far; my only real complaint is that there's not more of it. And it could have used a little more humor.If you're a Star Wars fan, or a Stover fan, or just a fan of good Literature (yes, I daresay that this, a Star Wars novel, qualifies as Literature), you can't go wrong with this book. It is, quite simply, the best Star Wars novel yet published.