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![[The Dark Times]](images/banner.jpg) |
| Events that occur between 19 and 2
years before the Battle of Yavin. |
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| Death Star |
| BOOK STORY |
| Michael Reaves and Steve
Perry |
| Del Rey [US]; Arrow
Books [UK] |
Story published as:
Hardback Novel (2007)
Paperback Novel (2008) |
| Average review
score: 3.75 / 5 |
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Synopsis:
The Death Star's name says it all, with bone-chilling
accuracy. It is a virtual world unto itself, equipped
with uncanny power for a singularly brutal purpose: to
obliterate entire planets in the blink of an eye. Its
annihilation of the planet Alderaan lives in infamy. And
its own ultimate destruction, at the hands of Luke
Skywalker, is the stuff of legend. But what is the whole
story, and who are the players, behind the creation of
this world-killing satellite of doom?
The near extermination of the Jedi order cleared the way
for Palpatine, power-hungry Senator and Sith Lord, to
seize control of the Republic, declare himself Emperor,
and usher in a fearsome, totalitarian regime. But even
with the dreaded Darth Vader to enforce his sinister
will, the threat of rebellion still looms. And the
Emperor knows that only abject fear and the ability to
punish dissent with devastating consequences can ensure
his unchallenged control of the galaxy. Enter ambitious
and ruthless government official Wilhuff Tarkin,
architect of the Emperor's terrifying dream come true.
But from inception to completion, construction of the
unprecedented Death Star is awash in the intrigues,
hidden agendas, unexpected revelations, and daring
gambits of those involved on every level. The brightest
minds and boldest egos, the most ambitious and corrupt,
the desperate and the devious, all have a stake in the
Death Star and its potential to control the fate of the
galaxy.
Soldiers and slaves, loyalists and Rebels, spies and
avengers, the innocent and the evil. All their paths and
fates will cross and intertwine as the Death Star moves
from its maiden voyage to its final showdown.
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Chronology:
This story occurs begins approximately 19 years before
the Battle of Yavin and ends at the Battle of Yavin. |
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Related Stories (in
chronological order):
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| Story Reviews: |
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Review
by Bones, UK, 2010:
"Death Star is the latest collaboration between Michael
Reaves and Steve Perry, both of whom have written together and solo
for the EU. Here they chronicle some of the ins and outs of the
construction of the iconic Death Star.
"My response to this book was two-fold. First, as a die-hard
Star Wars geek, it was fascinating to learn about the history of one
of the most symbolic elements of the original Star Wars film, as
such an undertaking must have been massively complicated and
time-consuming. A sense of this definitely comes through the book
and we're introduced to several characters who contribute to the
construction of the behemoth in one way or another. Getting down to
a more intimate level when dealing with such a monstrosity is also
interesting, and I did glean some sense of scale from the writing.
"However, this book is a first for me: 400 pages without a
plot. How the two of them managed to keep up any sort of momentum is
beyond me. Very little actually happens in this book, at least very
little of any significance. The ending of the book left me feeling
slightly cheated. I didn't really empathise particularly strongly
with any of the characters, who all seemed to be a little
stereo-typed. There was nothing meaty to this book and given that it
is a book about a 120km wide space station, I expected more
substance.
"In general, the some of the back story was very interesting
but I was not particularly over-awed by this one. Only really for
true blue Star Wars nerds."
Rating: 2.5
/ 5 |
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Review
by Gianfranco Grillo, Chile, 2008:
"Excellent novel written by two of the best authors the EU has
to offer, with an excellent characterization and a story that is
able to clear most of the doubts one as a Star Wars fan has of the
Death Star. Personally, I like how the authors are able to show that
the Death Star was a terrible weapon, but many of the beings that
were aboard were not evil beings, but were just following orders.
The book provides a deeper look onto the character of Darth Vader
and Grand Moff Tarkin, as well as the back stories of some of the
important officers that commanded the battle station. Although a
little slow at the beginning, when the story begins to develop it
transforms into one of those books that are almost impossible to
stop reading."
Rating: 5
/ 5 |
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