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44th out of 231 books
—
413 voters
Dark Apprentice (Star Wars: The Jedi Academy Trilogy #2)
As the New Republic takes devastating losses in the ongoing war with the scattered remnants of the Empire, the galaxy's future depends on three small children–among them the Jedi twins—born to incredible powers and perils, as an extraordinary new Star Wars saga unfolds…
While the New Republic struggles to decide what to do with the deadly Sun Crusher—a new doomsday weapon...more
While the New Republic struggles to decide what to do with the deadly Sun Crusher—a new doomsday weapon...more
Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Published
July 1994
by Spectra
(first published June 1st 1994)
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The second book in Kevin Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy, "Dark Apprentice" continues the story of Luke's search for Jedi knight apprentices. Having set up his new academy on planet Yavin, Luke discovers an evil presence lurking in the shadows. After the mysterious death of one Jedi apprentice, Luke finds out that the spirit of a long-dead Sith Lord haunts the planet. He confronts the evil spirit, only to be subsumed by the Dark Side. Stuck in a coma, Luke's unanchored life-force is forced to wa...more
This book leaves me conflicted. That’ll be the crux of this review, really. In most ways it is a definite step up from Jedi Search, just in terms of pacing and narrative engagment, but at the same time much of what happens doesn’t seem to mesh well with what we’ve been told in the previous book. I think that Kevin J. Anderson wrote it this way to surprise us but it really doesn’t work that way.
I’m speaking of course about the titular dark apprentice who turns to the dark side almost inexplicably...more
I’m speaking of course about the titular dark apprentice who turns to the dark side almost inexplicably...more
Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan's apprentice. *cough* And Luke's too. *cough*
I believe, that it was somewhat better than the first book of the trilogy, but still retains a certain level of mediocrity. It's a good continuation, we get to know the characters better and learn a bit more about what has happen...more
I believe, that it was somewhat better than the first book of the trilogy, but still retains a certain level of mediocrity. It's a good continuation, we get to know the characters better and learn a bit more about what has happen...more
Luke Skywalker has gathered up his troops and headed to Yavin 4 to begin training. Only problem is that his most promising student, Gantoris, is now burned to a crisp and no one is sure why. Meanwhile, a mission fails, causing Ackbar to leave his command in shame, and Daala decides to wreak havoc on the New Republic.
NOTE: I listened to the audio book, and it was abridged so some scenes I may have A) forgotten since I last read the book and B) have not heard because they omitted it from the audio...more
NOTE: I listened to the audio book, and it was abridged so some scenes I may have A) forgotten since I last read the book and B) have not heard because they omitted it from the audio...more
This is the second book in the Jedi Academy trilogy. In it, Luke continues to train Jedi recruits on Yavin 4 and in the process, both loses some earlier recruits and gains new ones. Admiral Daala decides to come out of hiding and stage some quick attacks on the New Republic with mixed success. Admiral Ackbar resigns in disgrace from the Rebellion and hides in shame on his homeworld of Calamari. Han and Lando gamble over the fate of the Millenium Falcon. There is a sense of peril around the Solo...more
The story isn’t a bad one, but the writing is just awful. Anderson repeats already tired phrases such as “the power of the Dark Side” and so on, so not only does the novel seem unoriginal, it seems…I don’t even know. I mean, we already know it’s a Star Wars novel, we don’t need to be reminded – over and over – about “the power of the Dark Side.” At least phrase it differently.
He also repeats his own similes – twice he described blast doors on Calamari as a “diagonal mouth.” What, he can’t come u...more
He also repeats his own similes – twice he described blast doors on Calamari as a “diagonal mouth.” What, he can’t come u...more
Astonishingly bad.
Wouldn't it have been smart for Bantam to make sure Anderson had enough story for a trilogy before comissioning one? Unless Champions of the Force is the most densely-plotted book I've ever read, there's no reason whatsoever this trilogy couldn't and shouldn't have been a single volume.
The thing is, there are missed opportunities here that would have fleshed out the story and the characters in satisfying ways that would have made the novel feel less like padding. Why not a fran...more
Wouldn't it have been smart for Bantam to make sure Anderson had enough story for a trilogy before comissioning one? Unless Champions of the Force is the most densely-plotted book I've ever read, there's no reason whatsoever this trilogy couldn't and shouldn't have been a single volume.
The thing is, there are missed opportunities here that would have fleshed out the story and the characters in satisfying ways that would have made the novel feel less like padding. Why not a fran...more
Aug 04, 2011
Jason
added it
It's great this book continues the Jedi Academy storyline, but this book just didn't do it for me. I sort of got lost and bored with the new characters and there wasn't enough action for a Star Wars book. I could have cared less for the chapters in Mon Calamari and the actual Jedi students didn't have enough page time each to get flesh out enough to even want to begin the care about them (or the Jedi students we were introduced to in detail like Gantoris and Streen weren't further fleshed out in...more
Great story. I didn't like it at first, everything seemd to be working for the bad guys. Han loosing the Falcon and the refugees of Eol Sha being completely wiped out was disappointing... depressing even. But it definately got better. Lando trying to win over Mara is so funny :p. Maybe if I didn't already know she ends up with Luke I could picture that, but nah.
I was disappointed that Admiral Daala was killed off. Would have liked to see more of her, even though I'm not big on the Empire excell...more
I was disappointed that Admiral Daala was killed off. Would have liked to see more of her, even though I'm not big on the Empire excell...more
This is the second book in the Jedi Academy Trilogy. The first book Jedi Search was decent. Nothing amazing, but still made me curious enough to find out what happens next. But this book was not good, and it took me a long time to get through. The reason it took so long to get through was a) his writing isn't that good, and b) I found the story to be lacking.
Any time there wasn't any dialogue I found myself getting easily distracted. And usually when I read something, but realize I don't know wh
...more
I read a lot of crap spin offs from Star Wars when I was in middle school. I barely remember this series, except that it tied in with the Tales of the Jedi comic series, and the Thrawn Trilogy.
I admired Kevin J. Anderson's commitment to consistency. Even though it is a losing battle against a swirling storm of crap ideas and subpar writing, fueled by the money of maladjusted tween boys.
Also, this trilogy contains a really lame way of "one upping the death star."
I admired Kevin J. Anderson's commitment to consistency. Even though it is a losing battle against a swirling storm of crap ideas and subpar writing, fueled by the money of maladjusted tween boys.
Also, this trilogy contains a really lame way of "one upping the death star."
I could not be more disappointed with this book—it sucked ass. Characterization: terrible. Plot: boring. Action: non-existent. The exposition, if you want to call it that, built to no notable climax, and the story itself just wasn’t that great. I’m so bummed, because the first volume was so excellent. Luke did not come off as a Jedi Master, just a fledgling teacher who didn’t know what the hell he was doing. Subplots with Wedge hooking up with the alien scientist made no sense, and neither did “...more
This books was kind of a letdown from the first in the series "Jedi Search." I was hoping for a great story arc and was letdown. I was hoping to see more or Gantoris and his "Dark Man" although we do meet him and see him together I think it was a waste of what Gantoris could of been. Very disappointed.
As for the Sun Crusher, a new doomsday weapon stolen from the Empire by Han Solo and Kyp Durron. I thought that Mr. Anderson uses this weapon terribly wrong. First of I believe no government would...more
As for the Sun Crusher, a new doomsday weapon stolen from the Empire by Han Solo and Kyp Durron. I thought that Mr. Anderson uses this weapon terribly wrong. First of I believe no government would...more
For the most part, all of the renegade Imperials feel like cheap knockoffs of Grand Admiral Thrawn. The fanatical Admiral Daala at least holds her own ground, although I don't know why. Maybe because her insular origin of being stuck in the Maw and not even knowing about the fall of the Empire. But anyway, she is loose in the galaxy and that sucks for a lot of people.
Also, Kyp Durron takes a walk down the dark side. All the cool Jedi have done it at some point, so it's okay. But I never liked Ky...more
Also, Kyp Durron takes a walk down the dark side. All the cool Jedi have done it at some point, so it's okay. But I never liked Ky...more
This book, and the trilogy it's a part of, is basically a crime against the Star Wars expanded universe. Characterizations are all wrong, the author's handling of the Force is completely wrong (and in some cases approaches straight out plagiarism of Robert Jordan's One Power), and the writing in general is just plain bad. There's lots of good Star Wars out there to read - anything with Timothy Zahn's name on it, for instance. Avoid Anderson's "work" and save yourself so e grief.
Luke décide de fonder son académie Jedi sur la lune de la planète Yavin, où a eu lieu la destruction de la première Étoile de la Mort. Ce que Luke ne sait pas c'est que les temples de cette lune sont des anciens temples Sith ou vit l'esprit de Exar Kun, un ancien Dark Lord. Exar Kun s'attaquera donc aux étudiants de Luke allant même jusqu'à en tuer un et influencer négativement le jeune Kyp Durron. Pendant ce temps, l'Amirale Daala et ses comparses de l'empire échafaudent un plan pour Kidnapper...more
I liked that this book used minor characters from the movies and created more depth to them.
It wasn't as exciting as the first book in this series. My favorite story line was with Han. I did not like the part about the twins getting lost and meeting up with the people living under the city. Unless that comes up in the 3rd book I don't see the relevance of it. Plus the twins seemed to act like 3 year olds and not 2 year olds.
It wasn't as exciting as the first book in this series. My favorite story line was with Han. I did not like the part about the twins getting lost and meeting up with the people living under the city. Unless that comes up in the 3rd book I don't see the relevance of it. Plus the twins seemed to act like 3 year olds and not 2 year olds.
The continuation of the series, in this installment things become complicated by a rogue Imperial force that is attacking planets in the new republic. Also, as Luke continues his training of the new Jedi, things get scary when one of his students is seduced by the dark side and unleashes power beyond his control.
After reading Timothy Zahn's initial trilogy that kicked off the age of Star Wars novels, I stayed clear. Zahn’s novels were fine, but lacked the magic I’d felt in the original three movies. I just doubt any of these books can recapture how those films made me feel as a kid in the early 80s. And I’d rather imagine for myself what the Star Wars universe was like pre- and post- movies than let other writers dictate it for me.
That being said, I did decide to try out this trilogy. And I enjoyed it....more
That being said, I did decide to try out this trilogy. And I enjoyed it....more
I am surprised that Anderson has been able to find publishers for so many books. I found Dark Apprentice to be poorly written, plot disjointed combination of unrelated events & characters, the ending was disappointing without resolution. I guess this is one of Anderson's earliest works-> maybe his books get better?
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This books was beeing given away by a local trift store so I picked it up and finished it in a few hours, it was supriseingly much better than I thought it would be. Even if I acctually read the Swedish translation which was horrendous
The spirit of a long-dead Jedi returns to haunt the newly formed Jedi Academy--and unfortunately, the Jedi is totally Dark Sided. By the end of the book, former-slave Kyp has become consumed by revenge, and Luke is in a coma. Woops!
I read a lot of Star Wars novels in Jr. High. It took a few dozen books before I realized many of them just weren't all that stellar. Ah, well, I'll squirrel away the memories on the internet and free up a book shelf.
Jul 30, 2011
Luke
added it
Really great continuation of the story. The Exar Kun storyline was really cool, especially if you've read the tales of the Jedi comics, where hid history is fleshed out.
Great stuff
Great stuff
2.7 stars. Probably Anderson's worst yet.
Several illogical sub-plots thrown in just to trigger necessary plot development. A lot read like filler to bring up the page count. Nice cliff-hanger ending, requiring the reader to read the next book.
Several illogical sub-plots thrown in just to trigger necessary plot development. A lot read like filler to bring up the page count. Nice cliff-hanger ending, requiring the reader to read the next book.
I really liked this one. Anderson is a great writer and I have enjoyed all of his work so far.
This is the second book of the Jedi Search series and it really keeps you on your toes. It was dark and suspenseful which made for a more dramatic reading experience. Can't wait to start the third one!
This is the second book of the Jedi Search series and it really keeps you on your toes. It was dark and suspenseful which made for a more dramatic reading experience. Can't wait to start the third one!
Has the usual problems of most middle books of a trilogy, but I like Luke's class of Jedi trainees and Anderson does a decent job of keeping the action moving and giving everybody something to do.
A decent series and one of the first written in the "expanded" universe. Lays the foundation for most books after this time with the new Jedi Order.
Meh. This was, I think, too many stories wrapped into one novel. Also, damn Kyp, jumped the shark a bit, didn't cha?
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Pseudonyms: Gabriel Mesta, K.J. Anderson
He has written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and is the co-author of the Dune prequels. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. He has also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in coll...more
More about Kevin J. Anderson...
He has written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and is the co-author of the Dune prequels. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. He has also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in coll...more
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Jan 04, 2012 10:07am