Oooh, Jedi Noir!

Oooh, Jedi Noir!

“Jedi Twilight” by Michael Reaves had its good points and its bad points, averaging out to a fairly average novel.

Centered around newly knighted Jedi, Pavan Jax, and set on the lower levels of the city-planet Coruscant shortly after the fall of the Jedi and beginning of the Empire, the plot mainly revolved around Jax trying to survive with new Sith Lord, Darth Vader, attempting to find him and capture him alive. Unfortunately we don’t get any explanation for why, unlike other Jedi that Darth Vader wants to kill, he wants Jax alive.

It’s not clear exactly when it takes place. Near the beginning we’re told it’s very soon after the rise of the Empire, but then in later narration it seems like some of the characters have been living with the Empire for quite a bit longer.

Jax is joined by another Jedi, Laranth whose a member of the Gray Paladins, Jedi who use the force less and rely on blasters and hand-to-hand combat instead of lightsabers. They meet up with Nick Rostu, a grand army officer with very minor force abilities, the pair of reporters, Den and I-5, a droid with unusual capabilities and personality. Near the end they also run into two high ranking members of the Black Sun criminal organization to battle feral droids.

I had a little trouble following things when switching points of view in the middle of chapters, which often left me confused until I reread the characters’ names a few paragraphs before. Some of the action was good, some was just over too quickly. I didn’t feel like Laranth really got a whole lot of action to work with.

I’ve read other Reaves fantasy novels back in the 80’s when I was a teenager and was particularly fond of “The Shattered World”. When I’m in the mood for more Star Wars, though, I quite likely will look for another Michael Reaves, or even the sequel to this one. ( )

A interesting revival of many of the "lesser" (but interesting) characters from many star wars novels. From the cast of the Medstar set to the Shadows of the Empire series. If it were a movie it would have the caption of "with guest appearances by Darth Vader". This made for quite a fun adventure through the Courscant underworld just after the infamous Order 66 was given. ( )

Den and I-Five, from the Med-Star duology show up trying to find Pavan's son[from Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter]. Jax is his name and he is/was a jedi. Takes place after Revenge of the Sith, so the Jedi are being hunted. Jax is a whiner and a loser and I didn't like him at all. I was more interested in Den and I-Five. Also has a big Xizor tie-in[prequel info for Shadows of the Empire].

This book could go either way with fans. Either like it for the tie-in info or dislike it for its complete mediocrity. While I enjoyed the Med-Star duology, I didn't care for this at all. It does, however, show how the remaining Jedi felt after Revenge of the Sith. ( )