Children of the Jedi (Star Wars)
by Barbara Hambly
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Book Summary Information
Author: Barbara HamblyEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1996-06-01
ISBN: 0553572938
Number of pages: 432
Publisher: Spectra
Book Reviews of Children of the Jedi (Star Wars)
Book Review: Dark, haunting, intelligent, do I see jealous Mara-lovers reviewing here?
Summary: 5 Stars
As one of my most-loved books of all time, I'm surprised at the reviews on Amazon. Hambly's writing is more complex and atmospheric than any of the other SW writers I have read (with the possible exception of Zahn, who nevertheless is a very masculine, plot-driven writer). She may not be a thriller writer, but her chilling evocation of the inhuman menace of the Eye of Palpatine is spot-on; and her investigation into the nature of Nichos' being (and his haunting relationship with Cray) deals poignantly with one of the most central questions of our lives - what does it mean to be human?
I see much complaint at the amount of description or complexity in this book, and all I can say is that it is simply more LITERARY than most of the other SW novels, and therefore not as easy (or mindless). Another issue seems to be the over-mention of Luke's injury. SW writers find it hard to deal with Luke's Force talents without making him an unsympathetic superman. Hambly cleverly escapes this trap in a way that, personally, made me feel the wrench and burning weakness with his every step. This is a book where you are forced to feel the pain of the characters, but why else read a book?
In the sinister loneliness of the Eye, Luke's comfort in the presence of Callista is only natural, and if it is not true love (which could be argued both ways) it is nonetheless a form of attachment that is common between people alone and under stress, and is also sweetly intimate and poignant, with none of the homicidal-angst of his later relationship with Mara. Callista's history, her knowing sacrifice after the betrayal of her previous lover, and her long cold vigil over the dispassionate Eye, is a work of understated yet tragic art. I am astonished to see that readers feel she is a pointless character, as it seems obvious to me that Callista was intended (by the estate and publishers as well as by Hambly) to be Luke's partner, and it was only after Children of the Jedi that it was decided Zahn's hinted love interest between Luke and Mara would be more appropriate. The only thing I find disappointing about Callista is that she was written out in this fashion. Children of the Jedi promises something on the Callista story that the later books do not deliver - obviously not Hambly's fault at all.
I have seen other attacks on the book as unrealistic - but when has the SW universe been entirely realistic? Laser bolts making noise in space? Laser bolts full stop? This novel is emotionally realistic and that is what should matter to any half-intelligent and empathetic reader.
I suspect that much of the prejudice towards this book stems from the fact that a) it is not of the wham-bam, disengage brain, engage tractor beam ilk, and b) that people do not like to see anything threatening the Mara-Luke relationship. This is obviously ridiculous - the book is not a worse book because it is an alternative to either of the above. Hating Callista (and therefore this book) because she is not Mara is not exactly a decent and fair bit of reviewing.
Summary of Children of the Jedi (Star Wars)
In Children of the Jedi, Barbara Hambly introduces a new character: Callista, a brave Jedi warrior of long ago who gave her life to foil one of the Empire's darkest plans, a plot to destroy a stronghold that was sanctuary for the wives and children of the Jedi knights. Suddenly, the dreadnought is rearming itself, intent on destruction. Only Luke Skywalker can feel its evil presence as well as the mysterious influence of that powerful woman who should have died decades ago.As Children of the Jedi opens, a crazed, drug-addled ex-smuggler named Drub McKumb lunges at Han Solo in the middle of his and Leia's state visit to Ithor. (Long after the destruction of the second Death Star, Leia is now the New Republic's work-weary head of state.) Han, Leia, and Luke soon surmise that this isn't just another of Han's drinking buddies but rather a weirdly altered man carrying a terrible secret. Piecing together clues from McKumb's glossolaliac rants, Han and Leia set off in search of the ancient hiding place of the Children of the Jedi, while Luke--using the Force and his former-pupil-and-pal-turned-droid Nichos as a random number generator--decides to head off to a set of coordinates halfway across the galaxy.
They all end up finding more than they bargained for: Han and Leia's search for the Jedi ends on icy, isolated Belsavis; while Luke stumbles onto a humongous but dormant Imperial death machine- -which, not coincidentally, has stirred to life the intent to utterly annihilate Belsavis. Can he possibly stop it in time? Star Wars authors tend to be either you-love-'em-or-you-hate-'em types, but veteran writer Hambly makes a good go at falling into the former camp in this outing, along with the likes of Michael Stackpole and Kevin J. Anderson. --Paul Hughes
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