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Let's talk about the EU, shall we?
May. 1st, 2007 06:33 pmFair warning - I am in a grumpy mood today. So grumpy, in fact, that I have a whole stack of fic open in tabs that I am resolutely not reading, since I don't want my lousy mood to pollute my enjoyment of the stories.
So, with that in mind, I decided now was a good time to post my feelings about Allegiance, by Timothy Zahn. Yes, I was disappointed - TZ is one of the very few SW EU authors I like, and this book, while not a bad read, completely failed to live up to it's potential. Forget any thought of this actually being about Luke, Leia or Han (despite the blurb) - it's basically the Amazing Adventures of Mara Jade and The Good Imperial.
Note to Timothy Zahn - just because you 'bookend' the novel with scenes of L, L & H doesn't mean the book was in any way about them. If their section of the story finishes 50 pages* before the climax, chances are they aren't being used in a way that is particularly central to the plot.
Ok, that may be a little snide, but you really could remove L, L &H from the story without any effect on the plot. ( More character-related musings underneath )
My other major dislike in this book involved Mara, but possibly not the way you think. I think I've finally figured out why I have such a knee-jerk dislike of her when I'm actually reading TZ's books, but don't mind her when considered objectively, or when reading L/M fanfic. ( How writing style can really impact how you view a character )
After all that - the book really wasn't too bad. It just wasn't what it was advertised as, and not as good as I was expecting from TZ, so I felt a bit miffed at paying $55 for it. Ironically, this weekend I borrowed The New Rebellion from a friend and enjoyed it more - very unusual for me, given the era it was set in.
* this is an estimate - no, I didn't actually count.
So, with that in mind, I decided now was a good time to post my feelings about Allegiance, by Timothy Zahn. Yes, I was disappointed - TZ is one of the very few SW EU authors I like, and this book, while not a bad read, completely failed to live up to it's potential. Forget any thought of this actually being about Luke, Leia or Han (despite the blurb) - it's basically the Amazing Adventures of Mara Jade and The Good Imperial.
Note to Timothy Zahn - just because you 'bookend' the novel with scenes of L, L & H doesn't mean the book was in any way about them. If their section of the story finishes 50 pages* before the climax, chances are they aren't being used in a way that is particularly central to the plot.
Ok, that may be a little snide, but you really could remove L, L &H from the story without any effect on the plot. ( More character-related musings underneath )
My other major dislike in this book involved Mara, but possibly not the way you think. I think I've finally figured out why I have such a knee-jerk dislike of her when I'm actually reading TZ's books, but don't mind her when considered objectively, or when reading L/M fanfic. ( How writing style can really impact how you view a character )
After all that - the book really wasn't too bad. It just wasn't what it was advertised as, and not as good as I was expecting from TZ, so I felt a bit miffed at paying $55 for it. Ironically, this weekend I borrowed The New Rebellion from a friend and enjoyed it more - very unusual for me, given the era it was set in.
* this is an estimate - no, I didn't actually count.
