Before the Storm, Part One of The Black Fleet Crisis trilogy

What an utter piece of crap!!! Sorry about that little outburst, but it had to be said. Michael P. Kube-McDowell's contribution to the Star Wars EU is the absolute worst book I've ever read from the whole of the Star Wars series. And if it wasn't for the fact that I promised myself that I'd read and review every book written for the EU, I probably wouldn't waste my time with the rest of the trilogy.

Essentially the story takes us to a time of relative peace; where the Empire has been left in ruins. The Jedis have risen again - and the one time rebels are now the many leaders that make up the New Republic (is it really new any more?) But of course the peace will not last, and it doesn't. Luke has become a lost soul and emarks on a journey to find his mother's homeworld - and find her people. Lando is sent on an adventure that has him chasing a mysterious ship that possesses weapons of considerable power. And Leia is caught in dealings with a ruthless and arrogant Yevetha from the Duskan League - whose actions could greatly disrupt the fragile unit of the fledgling republic.

OK, well that's all well and good - but it really doesn't make for an interesting story. Though I'm sure the author has some final point where he intends to connect all of these disparate events - this book certainly doesn't seem to hint at any connections at all. The story progresses as though it's being told by a hyperactive child with attention problems - it simply doesn't work well as one whole novel. In fact this book would have probably been better if it had been written as a series of short stories.... then again maye not. Perhaps this book would be better suited if it were just a tale of the life and times of Lando, seeing as how the story seems to revolve around him the most.... on second though, the Lando Calrissian adventures are bad enough without this trash being added into the chronicles of his life. And Leia and Han, these two are married with children right? I just wanted to check, because the author seems to have no clue as to how to commmunicate their close relationship. And the deal with Luke travelling around in search for his mother's homeworld - well this just dates this book and officially makes it totla trash in the consideration for its placement in the Star Wars EU timeline.

What don't I like??? Well the book reads slow. It's full of Star wars cliches. The author, who claims to have been a Star Wars fan since 1977 (the first author I've seen to admit that), seems to have no grasp on how the characters from the Star Wars Universe are supposed to act. Perhaps this is why he spends so much time on peripheral characters like Lando and Lobot. So, in sum, I don't recommend this book. If you don't desire to read all of the EU literature then I urge you not to waste you time and just pass over "Before the Storm" by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.

Sean's Rating