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freedom410's review against another edition
4.0
I still like the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy, but this finale spent a bit too much time on the weaker plot threads and resolved some of the more interesting ones too quickly. I was riveted by Leia's political struggles and I like what this book does with that subplot. Unfortunately, the political struggle ends fairly abruptly once the war starts and isn't really revisited.
Meanwhile, the revelations in this book make Luke's journey seem like a bait and switch - although I appreciate that the Fallanassi tied into the broader conflict with the Yevetha. In retrospect, Luke's character arc, while worthwhile on its own merits, didn't carry over into other EU books. Lando's subplot with the Teljkon vagabond seems more like a Star Trek than a Star Wars story and always felt like an intrusion. The revelation at the end was interesting, but I also couldn't help but feel that all of Lando's chapters could have been removed from the trilogy with no impact on the rest of the story.
Kube-McDowell's battle scenes are extremely tense and he does an excellent job depicting the horrors of war. This series provides great world-building for the New Republic and fleshes out several fleet officers. The Yevetha were an interesting and different threat for Star Wars. I do think this third book veered a bit too much into violence and grimdark, stripping the Yevetha of some of the nuance and cultural sophistication they seemed to exhibit in "Before the Storm." The New Jedi Order series would later double-down on this darker take on Star Wars, but also better fleshed out individual Yuuzhan Vong characters.
Meanwhile, the revelations in this book make Luke's journey seem like a bait and switch - although I appreciate that the Fallanassi tied into the broader conflict with the Yevetha. In retrospect, Luke's character arc, while worthwhile on its own merits, didn't carry over into other EU books. Lando's subplot with the Teljkon vagabond seems more like a Star Trek than a Star Wars story and always felt like an intrusion. The revelation at the end was interesting, but I also couldn't help but feel that all of Lando's chapters could have been removed from the trilogy with no impact on the rest of the story.
Kube-McDowell's battle scenes are extremely tense and he does an excellent job depicting the horrors of war. This series provides great world-building for the New Republic and fleshes out several fleet officers. The Yevetha were an interesting and different threat for Star Wars. I do think this third book veered a bit too much into violence and grimdark, stripping the Yevetha of some of the nuance and cultural sophistication they seemed to exhibit in "Before the Storm." The New Jedi Order series would later double-down on this darker take on Star Wars, but also better fleshed out individual Yuuzhan Vong characters.
twilliamson's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tyrant's Test closes out the Black Fleet Crisis, perhaps one of the more underrated Star Wars trilogies from the 1990s. While it's forgivable to overlook the book because of its languid pace and conflicting ideas, this conclusion does posit some very interesting ideas about the nature of power, about how it is to be used or not used, about how we consider conflict and what fair resolution looks like when dealing with wholly alien cultural concepts about power.
The book is really centered on three major conflicts: Leia Organa's fight to control the New Republic after her leadership is called into question; Luke's continued search for his mother's people and his interrogation of their culture; and Lando's dealings with a vagabond starship and its mysteries. Leia's role in the book and the political intrigue she faces while chasing after her kidnapped husband is really the strongest part of the book, and it's where I think the book shines the most. Luke's story is a distant second, hamstrung largely by the seeming disconnect his role has on the central plot of the novel, even if his story is thematically relevant and represents an important character arc for him. Lando's part in the novel is easily the weakest, reminiscent perhaps far too much of L. Neil Smith's adventures from the early '80s. While Lando's story does serve as the bookend to Luke's journey and represents an important, hopeful counterpoint to the story of the Falannassi, I think it's easily the weakest (and frustratingly the longest) part of the whole trilogy.
But aside from its terrible pacing issues, the trilogy has some of the strongest thematic ideas in any of the books I've read through 1996. Kube-McDowell doesn't shy away from really complex and nuanced conversations through all of the book's characters, and it feels like the most philosophical trilogy Star Wars may ever see. While I could have done with a whole lot less Lando and a whole lot more Leia, I think the book has to be seen as part of the whole trilogy, and thus serves as a necessary chapter in the trilogy's overall thesis statement.
I honestly wish more of Star Wars were like this book, albeit perhaps better paced. The Black Fleet Crisis may not shape up as one of the more action-packed episodes in the EU saga, but it is easily the most intellectual and the most serious attempt at giving Star Wars some of the philosophical heft of other sci-fi.
The book is really centered on three major conflicts: Leia Organa's fight to control the New Republic after her leadership is called into question; Luke's continued search for his mother's people and his interrogation of their culture; and Lando's dealings with a vagabond starship and its mysteries. Leia's role in the book and the political intrigue she faces while chasing after her kidnapped husband is really the strongest part of the book, and it's where I think the book shines the most. Luke's story is a distant second, hamstrung largely by the seeming disconnect his role has on the central plot of the novel, even if his story is thematically relevant and represents an important character arc for him. Lando's part in the novel is easily the weakest, reminiscent perhaps far too much of L. Neil Smith's adventures from the early '80s. While Lando's story does serve as the bookend to Luke's journey and represents an important, hopeful counterpoint to the story of the Falannassi, I think it's easily the weakest (and frustratingly the longest) part of the whole trilogy.
But aside from its terrible pacing issues, the trilogy has some of the strongest thematic ideas in any of the books I've read through 1996. Kube-McDowell doesn't shy away from really complex and nuanced conversations through all of the book's characters, and it feels like the most philosophical trilogy Star Wars may ever see. While I could have done with a whole lot less Lando and a whole lot more Leia, I think the book has to be seen as part of the whole trilogy, and thus serves as a necessary chapter in the trilogy's overall thesis statement.
I honestly wish more of Star Wars were like this book, albeit perhaps better paced. The Black Fleet Crisis may not shape up as one of the more action-packed episodes in the EU saga, but it is easily the most intellectual and the most serious attempt at giving Star Wars some of the philosophical heft of other sci-fi.
mrogows's review against another edition
1.0
This trilogy was probably the worst one thus far.
There was so much that didn't happen, and so much set up for it to take place. This book does an extremely feeble job of tying all the plots from the first two books together. Some get lost entirely. Major cornerstones of the narrative just get forgotten entirely and what we do have left with is so underwhelming that boring only scratches the surface for it.
In the end, nothing happened in this trilogy and you're best to not waste your time with this.
There was so much that didn't happen, and so much set up for it to take place. This book does an extremely feeble job of tying all the plots from the first two books together. Some get lost entirely. Major cornerstones of the narrative just get forgotten entirely and what we do have left with is so underwhelming that boring only scratches the surface for it.
In the end, nothing happened in this trilogy and you're best to not waste your time with this.
brewj1012's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
zulukilo123's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mak506's review against another edition
4.0
I don't like most of the Star Wars extended universe, but this particular trilogy of novels worked for me for whatever reason. Something about the villains actually being scary and one of the main characters realistically nearly dying probably helped.
topdragon's review against another edition
2.0
"Tyrant's Test" is the third book of a Star Wars trilogy written by Michael P. Kube-McDowell. According to the "About the Author" page, this is actually the pen name of Michael Paul McDowell. I understand why authors use different pen names to keep from being typecast with a certain genre but I'm not sure how they came up with the mouthfull for this one. Oh well. This trilogy take place about twelve years after the "Return of the Jedi" and was written in the still early days of the first group of Star Wars fiction. Consequently, it suffers, I believe with having to rely on plot development, filling in the "what happened next" syndrome and just doesn't have to time to really expand on the characters. Most of us know a lot about Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, Lando, etc. but do we really? The plot of this one is fairly straight forward. Each of the main characters I just mentioned plus some bad guys have their own sub plots and that's really too many to fully develop in a 350 page paperback book, especially when all of the sub plots need to be wrapped up. I thought Luke's plot was especially contrived because it turned out he was just being lied to the whole time and nothing came of it. But somehow at the end, that experience had substantially changed him and his outlook. Hmmm... Han didn't play a big role throughout the trilogy, just uncharacteristically being captured and having to be rescued. Didn't ring true.
All in all, this trilogy has some of the worst reviews I've seen for SW books. It wasn't that bad in my opinion but still, I am glad to see it come to an end.
All in all, this trilogy has some of the worst reviews I've seen for SW books. It wasn't that bad in my opinion but still, I am glad to see it come to an end.
crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
1.0
"What has this all been about?"
The crisis with the Koornacht cluster is on the brink of war. Leia's position as president is in turmoil and Han has been captured. Meanwhile, Lando and team are on the cusp of discovery and Luke is growing closer to finding the Fallanassi.
I Liked:
Kube-McDowell saves this series with the political machinations between the New Republic and the Yevetha. Leia is forced to choose between her tenure as president and her husband. This decision is tough and ugly, but it is realistic, and I appreciate an author who isn't afraid of putting an unhappy solution in a novel.
Lando's mission reaches an interesting climax when Lobot interfaces with the Vagabond, though I would be lying if I said I enjoyed the resolution of this plot line.
In the previous two reviews, I have been exceedingly critical of MKM, but I think he deserves credit for elevating Chewbacca above the sidekick role. Here, we get to see his family, how he behaves with his son, and his rescue of Han, one of the best things Chewbacca has ever done in the series.
I Didn't Like:
I can't help but echo Luke's thoughts: What has this [trilogy:] all been about? Why do we care about these missions, these crisis, these journeys? They bear no relevance on later books, they have no lasting impact. To illustrate, let me take the major plot lines:
Lando: So Lando learns the secret of the ship, but he and Luke, who comes whizzing to the rescue at the end in the only plausible tie-in to the rest of the trilogy, won't see any results of this three book long quest, because it takes 100 years for their efforts to "bloom". Wow, and why again was this mission so important that we needed to shoe horn it in with the Yevetha crisis?
Leia: So Leia's presidency is challenged and she declares war on the Yevetha. This could be the beginning of an amazing series...but it is promptly wrapped up with the appearance of Luke and the Omnipotent, Amazing, Peaceful, Wonderful, Godly Fallanassi. Thanks, MKM, for destroying a good story. You put us through one book that barely begins the conflict (I guess that's why it was called Before the Storm, yuk, yuk), another book that steadily rises the conflict to the next level, then rapidly, and hastily wraps it up in the last one. Talk about a waste of effort!
Luke: His whole reason for leaving Yavin 4 was supposed to be because he needed to be a hermit. But that lasted all of one chapter, for he spent the rest of the trilogy with Akanah, the worst girlfriend he has ever had (and proof positive that he is a diehard submissive). The most distrusting, untrustworthy, dishonest, deceitful, manipulative, oppressive, and demanding woman that supposedly was a "good guy" (Uh, huh, yeah, you really bought me on that one--not) proves her integrity by lying with Luke to get him to tag along with her. And I really don't know why. She found all the "clues" (i.e. big, huge, obvious arrow signs) and refused to listen to any of Luke's advise, resting solely on her "vastly superior" knowledge of this previously unknown force, the White Current. It is my personal belief that she is on drugs and what she sees during her psychedelic mind trips is the White Current. So, we (and Luke) trudge through this, supposedly to learn more about Luke's mom (which, those of us who have seen the prequels, know won't happen) only to come out with absolutely nothing. Luke returns to Leia with the always insightful knowledge that he ought to spend time with family. God, and we had to read three books with the worst chemistry, the worst female character ever to come out with this gem???
All in all, the only things we've come out through this tripe are the following:
1) Tie-ins with the most derided SW EU media, the Star Wars holiday special
2) Luke learning the value of family (cue sappy music)
3) Lumpawarrump becoming a man and killing his parents for giving him such a God-awful name.
Wow, I so couldn't live without that.
I've lambasted the plot and the characters (specifically Leia, Luke, and Akanah) to no end, but there is one thing I've forgot to mention in my reviews to the previous two books: Nil Spaar and the Yevetha. While there were some good aspects, I felt on a whole, they were just an excuse for an enemy, one that had absolutely no redeeming value (to human morality), so they could be wholesale slaughtered and no one would bat an eye. I never once sympathized with the villains or felt anything beyond disgust and revulsion. Even the Yuuzhan Vong from the New Jedi Order were better done. I could feel sympathy for Nen Yim and Mezhan Kwad, even for Tsvong Lah.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Little to none.
Akanah and Luke share a room.
The violence in this one is pretty darn heavy. Nil Spaar kills someone so violently, his head is severed. Han is brutally beat to a pulp and people think he is dead. The entire Yevetha society considers murder only a crime if a lower-caste member kills an upper-class member.
Overall:
Political intrigue aside, there really is no reason to read this series. Want a real threat to the New Republic that doesn't deal with the Empire? Go to the New Jedi Order. Want political intrigue? Try Cloak of Deception or Specter of the Past. Want to see Luke learn about his family? Er, guess you will have to keep waiting (Leia finds out about her dad, though, in Tatooine Ghost. Follow Obi-Wan's advice and just "Move along. Move along."
The crisis with the Koornacht cluster is on the brink of war. Leia's position as president is in turmoil and Han has been captured. Meanwhile, Lando and team are on the cusp of discovery and Luke is growing closer to finding the Fallanassi.
I Liked:
Kube-McDowell saves this series with the political machinations between the New Republic and the Yevetha. Leia is forced to choose between her tenure as president and her husband. This decision is tough and ugly, but it is realistic, and I appreciate an author who isn't afraid of putting an unhappy solution in a novel.
Lando's mission reaches an interesting climax when Lobot interfaces with the Vagabond, though I would be lying if I said I enjoyed the resolution of this plot line.
In the previous two reviews, I have been exceedingly critical of MKM, but I think he deserves credit for elevating Chewbacca above the sidekick role. Here, we get to see his family, how he behaves with his son, and his rescue of Han, one of the best things Chewbacca has ever done in the series.
I Didn't Like:
I can't help but echo Luke's thoughts: What has this [trilogy:] all been about? Why do we care about these missions, these crisis, these journeys? They bear no relevance on later books, they have no lasting impact. To illustrate, let me take the major plot lines:
Lando: So Lando learns the secret of the ship, but he and Luke, who comes whizzing to the rescue at the end in the only plausible tie-in to the rest of the trilogy, won't see any results of this three book long quest, because it takes 100 years for their efforts to "bloom". Wow, and why again was this mission so important that we needed to shoe horn it in with the Yevetha crisis?
Leia: So Leia's presidency is challenged and she declares war on the Yevetha. This could be the beginning of an amazing series...but it is promptly wrapped up with the appearance of Luke and the Omnipotent, Amazing, Peaceful, Wonderful, Godly Fallanassi. Thanks, MKM, for destroying a good story. You put us through one book that barely begins the conflict (I guess that's why it was called Before the Storm, yuk, yuk), another book that steadily rises the conflict to the next level, then rapidly, and hastily wraps it up in the last one. Talk about a waste of effort!
Luke: His whole reason for leaving Yavin 4 was supposed to be because he needed to be a hermit. But that lasted all of one chapter, for he spent the rest of the trilogy with Akanah, the worst girlfriend he has ever had (and proof positive that he is a diehard submissive). The most distrusting, untrustworthy, dishonest, deceitful, manipulative, oppressive, and demanding woman that supposedly was a "good guy" (Uh, huh, yeah, you really bought me on that one--not) proves her integrity by lying with Luke to get him to tag along with her. And I really don't know why. She found all the "clues" (i.e. big, huge, obvious arrow signs) and refused to listen to any of Luke's advise, resting solely on her "vastly superior" knowledge of this previously unknown force, the White Current. It is my personal belief that she is on drugs and what she sees during her psychedelic mind trips is the White Current. So, we (and Luke) trudge through this, supposedly to learn more about Luke's mom (which, those of us who have seen the prequels, know won't happen) only to come out with absolutely nothing. Luke returns to Leia with the always insightful knowledge that he ought to spend time with family. God, and we had to read three books with the worst chemistry, the worst female character ever to come out with this gem???
All in all, the only things we've come out through this tripe are the following:
1) Tie-ins with the most derided SW EU media, the Star Wars holiday special
2) Luke learning the value of family (cue sappy music)
3) Lumpawarrump becoming a man and killing his parents for giving him such a God-awful name.
Wow, I so couldn't live without that.
I've lambasted the plot and the characters (specifically Leia, Luke, and Akanah) to no end, but there is one thing I've forgot to mention in my reviews to the previous two books: Nil Spaar and the Yevetha. While there were some good aspects, I felt on a whole, they were just an excuse for an enemy, one that had absolutely no redeeming value (to human morality), so they could be wholesale slaughtered and no one would bat an eye. I never once sympathized with the villains or felt anything beyond disgust and revulsion. Even the Yuuzhan Vong from the New Jedi Order were better done. I could feel sympathy for Nen Yim and Mezhan Kwad, even for Tsvong Lah.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Little to none.
Akanah and Luke share a room.
The violence in this one is pretty darn heavy. Nil Spaar kills someone so violently, his head is severed. Han is brutally beat to a pulp and people think he is dead. The entire Yevetha society considers murder only a crime if a lower-caste member kills an upper-class member.
Overall:
Political intrigue aside, there really is no reason to read this series. Want a real threat to the New Republic that doesn't deal with the Empire? Go to the New Jedi Order. Want political intrigue? Try Cloak of Deception or Specter of the Past. Want to see Luke learn about his family? Er, guess you will have to keep waiting (Leia finds out about her dad, though, in Tatooine Ghost. Follow Obi-Wan's advice and just "Move along. Move along."