#Njo: force heretic I: remnant

[corelliaxdreaming]

Didn’t have antiva/x Saba Sebatyne on my NJO bingo card

[bornitereads]

Force Heretic I: Remnant - Sean Williams & Shane Dix

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order book 15

Reread: Dec 2023

So there are basically three plot lines in this book. What Han, Leia, Jaina, Jag, and Tahiri are doing; what Luke, Mara, Jacen, Saba, and Tekli are doing; and what Nom Anor is doing on Coruscant/Yuuzhan'tar (RIP other Yuuzhan Vong characters but Nom is the only one that is important in this book). It's concise in the way that it didn't feel cumbersome. All three lines have structure and plot momentum.

Han and Leia's feels more worldbuildy and/or nostalgia round-uppy than the other two. Again it didn't feel forced, it flowed and fit the larger narrative, but it also was like let's answer some questions people might have about things that we haven't touched since their original books. For instance the question in this book was, what are the Yevetha doing during all this war and chaos? The answer is suffering genocide, because of course it is. The poor Yevetha, they never got to have the rehabilitation story so common in Star Wars.

Luke and Mara are off on a heroic quest to the Unknown Regions, but first a stop in the Imperial Remnant! Surprise it's under attack! Something I just learned about this story arc is that Ben was originally slated to go with them, but was cut out for some reason. I think it would have made sense to have the two Jedi Masters bring their kid along. Especially if they're heading out of the active war zone, even if that journey may be dangerous. I mean just put him in a capsule like Grogu in The Mandalorian, surely Lando could have built an indestructible one for them. You know since he's manufacturing war droids for the war effort and all.

Lastly Nom Anor is getting up to some shady shit. Basically he becomes involved in the brewing religious revolution that's brewing amongst the lower classes of the Yuuzhan Vong. A matter of pure survival for him, but a much needed influx of brains, strategy, and driving force for the heretic revolutionaries. The cracks have finally started to show up in the Yuuzhan Vong.

Luke's and Nom's plots are the main story for the NJO now. Leia's Galactic Alliance work is only tangentially important to the plot at large. Still all three weave together nicely. I think having both Williams and Dix work on this trilogy was a benefit to it.

Info: Del Rey; 2003

[sweusource]

ESSENTIAL STAR WARS LEGENDS/EXPANDED UNIVERSE BOOKS. 

Many people have asked for that, so I decided to do a list with the essential novels and comics of the EU/Legends. This is my personal opinion and I have a very bad memory too so I guess, I haven’t included many others, so if you think there’s a book or any other EU content that should be on this list too, please, just let me know and I’ll put them on this list.

Obviously, I haven’t read all the books of the EU and tbh I’m not a fan of anything related to Rise of the Empire era, prequels, and The Clone Wars. All my favorite content is from Rebellion Era and post-ROTJ.

Anyway, here it’s my list of the most important novels and comics of the EU.

The EU books are divided into different eras.

Before the Republic Era - 37,000 BBY to 25,000 BBY

Old Republic Era - 5000 BBY (years before the Battle of Yavin to 1000 BBY)

Rise of the Empire Era - 1000 BBY to 22 BBY

Clone Wars Era - 22 BBY to 19 BBY

Imperial Era - 19 BBY to 0 BBY

Rebellion Era - 0 BBY to 4 ABY (4 years after the Battle of Yavin)

New Republic Era - 5.5 ABY to 22 ABY

New Jedi Order Era - 24.5 ABY to 36 ABY

Legacy Era - 40 ABY to 139 ABY

BEFORE THE REPUBLIC ERA

Dawn of the Jedi: Into The Void   

Dawn of the Jedi 

Force Storm

The Prisoner of Bogan

Force War

OLD REPUBLIC ERA

Tales of the Jedi

The Golden Age of the Sith

The Fall of the Sith Empire

Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon

The Saga of Nomi Sunrider

The Freedon Nadd Uprising

Dark Lords of the Sith

The Sith War

Redemption 

Crosscurrent 

 Knights of The Old Republic (Comics)

Crossroads

Commencement

Flashpoint 

Reunion

Days of Fear

Nights of Anger

Daze of Hate

Knights of Suffering

Vector

Exalted

Turnabout

Vindication

Prophet Motive

Faithful Execution

Dueling Ambitions

Masks

The Reaping

Destroyer

Demon 

War

The Old Republic Novels

Fatal Alliance

Deceived

Revan 

Annihilation

Knight Errant

Aflame

Deluge

Escape

Darth Bane Trilogy

Path of Destruction 

Rule of Two

Dynasty of Evil 

RISE OF THE EMPIRE ERA

Legacy of the Jedi 

Part 1 (chapter 1 onward) takes place during 89 BBY. 

Part 2, "Dooku and Qui-Gon Jinn" (chapter 7 onward) takes place during 76 BBY. 

Part 3 "Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi" (chapter 14 onward) takes place during 44 BBY. 

Part 4 "Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker" (chapter 20 onward) takes place during 22 BBY

Darth Plagueis 

 Jedi: The Dark Side

Jedi Apprentice

The Rising Force

The Dark Rival

The Hidden Past

The Mark of the Crown

The Defenders of the Dead

The Uncertain Path

The Captive Temple

The Day of Reckoning

The Fight for Truth

The Shattered Peace

The Deadly Hunter

The Evil Experiment

The Dangerous Rescue

The Ties That Bind

The Death of Hope

The Call to Vengeance

The Only Witness

The Threat Within

Secrets of the Jedi

The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader

Cloak of Deception

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Novelization)

Republic

Prelude to Rebellion

Vow of Justice

Outlander

Emissaries to Malastare

Twilight

Infinity's End

The Hunt for Aurra Sing

Darkness

The Stark Hyperspace War

The Devaronian Version

Rite of Passage

Honor and Duty

The New Face of War

The Battle of Jabiim

Show of Force

Dreadnaughts of Rendili

Trackdown

Siege of Saleucami

Into the Unknown

Hidden Enemy

Jedi Quest

Path to Truth

The Way of the Apprentice

The Trail of the Jedi

The Dangerous Games

The Master of Disguise

The School of Fear

The Shadow Trap

The Moment of Truth

The Changing of the Guard

The False Peace

The Final Showdown

Outbound Flight 

The Approaching Storm

Episode II Attack of the Clones (Novelization)

The Cestus Deception

Jedi Trial

Episode III Revenge of the Sith  (Novelization)

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Kenobi

The Cestus Deception

Darth Vader and the Lost Command

Coruscant Nights

Mace Windu

Shaak Ti 

Aayla Secura  

Count Dooku 

Yoda

Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin

Jedi 

Jedi Twilight

Street of Shadows

Patterns of Force

 The Last of the Jedi

The Desperate Mission

Dark Warning

Underworld

Death on Naboo

A Tangled Web

Return of the Dark Side

Secret Weapon

Against the Empire

Master of Deception

Reckoning

The Last Jedi 

Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows

A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker

Rebel Dawn

Death Star

The Han Solo Adventures

Han Solo at Stars' End

Han Solo's Revenge

Han Solo and the Lost Legacy

Dark Forces (Novellas)  

Soldier for the Empire

Rebel Agent

Jedi Knight

Han Solo Trilogy

The Paradise Snare 

The Hutt Gambit

Rebel Dawn

The Lando Calrissian Adventures

Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu

Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon

Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka

REBELLION ERA

Episode IV: A New Hope  (Novelization)

The Fight for Justice

Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina

Scoundrels

Rebel Force 

Target

Hostage

Renegade

Firefight

Trapped

Uprising 

Allegiance 

Choices of One

Empire and Rebellion

Razor's Edge

Honor Among Thieves

Splinter of the Mind's Eye (The first Expanded Universe novel)

Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (Novelization)

Shadows of the Empire 

Mara Jade. By The Emperor’s Hand

Mara Jade: A Night on the Town

Tales from Jabba's Palace

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Novelization)

The Truce at Bakura

NEW REPUBLIC ERA

Jedi Prince

The Glove of Darth Vader

The Lost City of the Jedi

Zorba the Hutt's Revenge

Mission from Mount Yoda

Queen of the Empire

Prophets of the Dark Side

Tales from the New Republic

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor 

X-Wing (Different eras and timelines) (from 6.5 ABY to 44  ABY)

Rogue Squadron

Wedge's Gamble

The Krytos Trap

The Bacta War

Wraith Squadron

Iron Fist

Solo Command

Isard's Revenge

Starfighters of Adumar

Mercy Kill

The Courtship of Princess Leia

Tatooine Ghost 

The Thrawn Trilogy (Novels and Comics)

Heir to the Empire

Dark Force Rising 

The Last Command

Dark Empire 

Vol I

Vol II

Empire’s End 

The Jedi Academy Trilogy 

Jedi Search

Dark Apprentice

Champions of the Force

I, Jedi

Children of the Jedi

Darksaber 

Planet of Twilight 

The Crystal Star

The Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy 

Before the Storm

Shield of Lies

Tyrant’s Test

The New Rebellion

The Corellian Trilogy 

Ambush at Corellia

Assault at Selonia

Showdown at Centerpoint

The Hand of Thrawn Duology

Specter of the Past

Vision of the Future

Union 

Judge's Call (Short Story)

Scourge

Junior Jedi Knights

The Golden Globe

Lyric's World

Promises

Anakin's Quest

Vader's Fortress

Kenobi's Blade

Survivor’s Quest

Young Jedi Knights

The Rise of the Shadow Academy

Heirs of the Force 

Shadow Academy

The Lost Ones

Lightsabers

Darkest Knight

Jedi Under Siege

The Fall of the Diversity Alliance

Shards of Alderaan

Diversity Alliance

Delusions of Grandeur

Jedi Bounty

The Emperor's Plague

Under Black Sun

Return to Ord Mantell

Trouble on Cloud City

Crisis at Crystal Reef

NEW JEDI ORDER ERA

The New Jedi Order (NJO)

Vector Prime

Dark Tide Duology (Onslaught and Ruin)

Agents of Chaos Duology (Hero's Trial and Jedi Eclipse)

Balance Point 

Recovery

Edge of Victory Duology (Conquest and Rebirth)

Star by Star

Dark Journey

Enemy Lines Duology (Rebel Dream and Rebel Stand)

Traitor

Destiny's Way

Ylesia

Force Heretic Trilogy (Remnant, Refugee and Reunion)

The Final Prophecy

The Unifying Force 

Dark Nest

The Joiner King

The Unseen Queen

The Swarm War

LEGACY ERA

Legacy Of The Force

Betrayal

Bloodlines

Tempest

Exile

Sacrifice

Inferno 

Fury 

Revelation 

Invincible

Fate Of The Jedi

Outcast 

Omen

Abyss 

Backlash

Allies

Vortex

Conviction

Ascension

Apocalypse

Crucible

Legacy (Comics) (50 Issues/10 Volumes)

Book I

Book II

Book III

[ladyxanatos]

NJO: Force Heretic I: Remnant - Page count 81/413

Jaina Solo arrives on Mon Cal and meets up with Kyp Durron. Jaina expects to see Tahiri Veila upon arriving after having received a distressed message from her, but Kyp informs her that no one currently knows where Tahiri is and she didn’t respond to Luke’s summons for a Jedi meeting.

Kyp takes Jaina to meet with her parents, an intelligence agent, and Jag Fel. Jag and Jaina do some unsubtle nonverbal flirting while Han and Leia’s mission is explained to Jaina. For herself, Jaina isn’t thrilled about getting this assignment since it feels like coddling to her.

Throughout this scene Jaina also observes that Leia has been more affectionate since Anakin died and she suspects it’s because her mother is always relieved to find her remaining children are still alive. MY HEART!

Then Jaina receives a call on her comlink. It’s a very distraught Tahiri who believes that the deceased Anakin Solo wants her dead. They are able to trace the transmission and find a wounded and unconscious Tahiri. She awakens briefly and Jaina senses an intense hatred from her before she is sedated by the medics.

There’s also a bit where Jaina feels Jacen reaching out to her through the Force and asking what’s wrong. SOLO TWINS, MY HEARRRT! I have missed my babies.

Then we have a weird bit with an as yet unnamed female character coming upon a massive ritual sacrifice. Body parts are being thrown into fire pits before graven images of gods. One “new” god in particular terrifies her. It’s lizard-like and has red eyes. Then she realizes that the body parts are not being destroyed but reassembled into a body. This body emerges and beseeches the red-eyed god for life. The female character flees in a terror because the thing that emerged has her face.

Meanwhile Saba is in a meeting with Luke, who is trying to get Danni Quee on board with his mission to find (shocker) the living planet Zonama Sekot. Danni has a healthy skepticism around the existence of Zonama Sekot but agrees to come along anyway. Luke also tries to enlist Cilghal but she declines, recommending her apprentice Tekli for the mission instead as Cilghal feels that she is more needed on her home world.

Saba is hesitant to join the search as well, still emotionally and mentally scarred from being complicit in the destruction of her own people. And Luke utters a particularly quotable line here that is just begging to be highlighted and underlined: “Wounds do not heal by ignoring them.”

Thanks, Luke. I’m going to go cry now.

Saba is eventually talked into coming with them. Since she accidentally fired on a ship filled with her own people, Saba’s ability to sense life has increased (which is a definite trauma response to the fact that she did not sense her own people on that Yuuzhan Vong ship due to her mind being clouded by the need for vengeance), so they will need her sensitivity to help them find the living planet.

The scene ends with Cilghal receiving a call that Tahiri is being brought in for medical attention just moments after Luke, apparently, senses something wrong in the Force.

Then we hop skip over to Yuuzhan’tar, aka Yuuzhan Vong occupied and Vongformed Coruscant, where we catch up with Nom Anor who is on the run for his life and making his way through the lower levels of Coruscant.

There he encounters a Shamed One named Vuurok I’pan. Vuurok I’pan tries to lie to Nom Anor about why he is in the lower levels but Nom Anor doesn’t believe him and commends him to take him to the “others.” While en route, Nom Anor loses his sh*t when Vuurok I’pan asks him if he is also a Shamed One and beats Vuurok I’pan half to death. Then Nom Anor collects himself and they continue on. Charming being, that Nom Anor. :/

Back on Mon Cal, Cilghal can’t find much physically wrong with Tahiri that could have caused her behavior and collapse. Luke asks Saba to examine Tahiri more closely since her particular sensitivities might be able to point them to an answer. Although Saba can see something “burning” through Tahiri, she’s unsure what it is. With the missions getting ready to launch, Luke regretfully observes that, though the answers are no doubt there, there isn’t enough time to find them.

Then it switches to another nightmare sequence with the as yet unnamed female character who is being pursued by “the thing with her face” and the lizard god. She finds herself in a dark space where she encounters voxyn. She begins to climb a ladder to escape but her pursuers follow her up. Eventually she realizes that the god is shrieking something; a name. “Tahiri...Tahiri...” it cries.

Tahiri wakes up screaming to find herself being restrained by Jacen Solo. The reader learns that Tahiri has been self-injuring and that “something” is happening inside her that she is terrified to admit.

Jacen catches her up on current events and Tahiri realizes with sadness that she can’t quite remember when she saw Jacen last, that the war is warping her experiences, basically.

Jacen tells Tahiri about Zonama Sekot and the mission to find it, saying that finding it is the key to the war effort. Jacen also shares that he feels that if the war ends with the genocide of the Yuuzhan Vong that it would be “the worst thing.” Tahiri observes that Jacen’s experiences on Coruscant have changed him.

The scene ends with Jacen saying that Tahiri needs sleep and asking her to close her eyes. He places his hands on her forehead, saying he wants to try something, and then “that was all she knew for an endless, timeless moment.”

Also in this scene, Tahiri makes the observation that Jacen smells like Anakin and my heart literally SHATTERED.

I really, really love this scene with Jacen and Tahiri. For so many reasons.

Again, we’re dealing with this question of wartime ethics. I really like that so far this book is just hammering on that particular nail ‘cause it’s a very important one and shouldn’t be glossed over.

Also, the revelation that Tahiri is self-injuring hit me hard. Just. Somebody please help this girl. Honestly, she deserves nothing but good warm fluffy things from now until the end of time and I am Upset that that isn’t in the cards for her.

Honestly, Tahiri Veila means the world to me and I so wish that I had had these books when I was a teenager because I know I would have taken so much solace in her story in NJO. She is truly one of my all time favorite characters and she needs so much more love (both in the narrative and in fandom).

[girlbossk]

library’s website is finally working again so i can begin planning out my njo reading. so the library doesn’t have dark journey, enemy lines ii: rebel stand, traitor, and force heretic i: remnant. i’m..... fairly certain i can get rebel stand at the used bookstore (but i could be getting it mixed up with rebel dream?), as well as traitor. i’m no sure about force heretic i (again, might be confusing with ii or iii) and dark journey. obviously i’d prefer to own the books because i like owning books but i hope there’s no overlap between what’s missing at the library and the used bookstore bc used bookstore is two bucks per book and buying online is. more than that. 

anyways i should stop procrastinating reading a different book right now 

[corelliaxdreaming]

Why am I listening to Pellaeon convincing the mods to join the GFFA (and I will hate *that* name forever) when I’d much rather see the coup in Galactic Alliance space when the human lead characters tell all the non-humans in the galaxy the only chance for the future is to make peace with the xenophobic fascists? Like, aren’t we supposed gonna have standards in our member states??