Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages. How to participate: Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading. Don’t forget to include the title and the author so others will what you’re reading. Optional: Share your thoughts about the lines (did you like them?). Post your link on the hostess’s blog.

Darth Plagueis (James Luceno)

Forty-seven years before the harrowing reign of Emperor Palpatine, Bal’demnic was nothing more than an embryonic world in the Outer Rim’s Auril sector, populated by reptilian sentients who expressed as little tolerance for outsiders as they did for one another. — Darth Plagueis (James Luceno)

Comment: From the first chapter — the book has a prologue but of the two starting points, I liked this one better. It lets the reader know that the story begins 47 years before the events in the movie, Revenge of the Sith. In the Star Wars Universe, zero date is the destruction of the first Death Star (Star Wars – A New Hope), so this book takes place 67 years before that event.

~ & ~ & ~

Hosted by Freda (Freda’s Voice)
Rules:
? Grab a book, any book.
? Turn to page 56.
? Find any sentence that grabs you.
? Post it.
? Link it here.

The Munns were said to abhor literature and to loathe keeping records of anything other than loan notices, actuarial tables, and legal writs, and yet Plagueis was guardian of one of the finest libraries to be found anywhere outside Obroa-skai or the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. — pg 56, (Darth Plagueis ~ James Luceno)

Note: In the book, there is a mistake that wasn’t caught when it was edited. I didn’t choose the sentence because of the mistake. In fact, I didn’t realize there was one when I read the page in the course of reading the book, or when I was scanning the paragraph for a likely quote. I only realized it as I was typing the sentence, making sure I was getting all the words. When the sentence sounded odd, I realized what was wrong. The quote: “. . .Plagueis was guardian of the one of the finest. . .”  I could be wrong and the quote could be “. . .guardian of the finest. . .”, but I doubt it: libraries is plural, meaning more than one library is equal to the one he maintains.

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Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page. You also need to share the name of the author and the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

Darth Plagueis (James Luceno)

The teaser:

Hego was not yet five years old when he began to sense that he was somehow different.  Not only was he more astute than his playmates, but he could often manipulate them, arousing laughter when he wished to, or just as often tears; comfort just as often as anxiety.
– from page 81, Darth Plagueis (James Luceno)

Why I picked this book: One of my most anticipated books of 2012.

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Darth Plagueis (James Luceno)

Title: Star Wars: Darth Plagueis
Author: James Luceno
Release Date: January 10, 2012 (LucasBooks)
ISBN: 978-0-345-51128-7
Series: Star Wars Expanded Universe
Genre: Science Fiction

From Goodreads.com: Darth Plagueis: one of the most brilliant Sith Lords who ever lived. Possessing power is all he desires. Losing it is the only thing he fears. As an apprentice, he embraces the ruthless ways of the Sith. And when the time is right, he destroys his Master—but vows never to suffer the same fate. For like no other disciple of the dark side, Darth Plagueis learns to command the ultimate power . . . over life and death.

Darth Sidious: Plagueis’s chosen apprentice. Under the guidance of his Master, he secretly studies the ways of the Sith, while publicly rising to power in the galactic government, first as Senator, then as Chancellor, and eventually as Emperor.

Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious, Master and acolyte, target the galaxy for domination—and the Jedi Order for annihilation. But can they defy the merciless Sith tradition? Or will the desire of one to rule supreme, and the dream of the other to live forever, sow the seeds of their destruction?

Comments: I have a rule when it comes to hardbacks, especially adult fiction in general — wait for the paperback. I’m so far behind on reading, and hardbacks are expensive. There have been times in the past where the paperback has come out and I’m still not ready to read the book. There are exceptions to this rule.  The Harry Potter series, for instance. This is another one.

Darth Plagueis is a long time coming.  It was slated to be released years ago, then pulled from the publishing line-up.  When I saw that it was due to be released, I knew I’d be buying it in hardcover and read it when I got it in hand.  I love the way this author writes Darth Sidious/Palpatine.  Cloak of Deception and Labyrinth of Evil are two of my all-time favorites.

What book are you eagerly waiting for?

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.

The year’s not over with yet, but with the holidays coming up and a list of things I still want to do (top ten list, challenge wrap-ups, goals for 2012, etc.), I thought I’d post this now and do a follow-up later, if needed. Plus, if I never get around to writing all the reviews, at least I have one post I can refer to.  The books are listed in the order in which they were read.

5 Stars

Buffalo West Wing (Hyzy, Julie) {16 Jan 11}
Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil (Karpyshyn, Drew) {6 Feb 11}
Unchained (Ashwood, Sharon) {26 Feb 11}
Queen of Shadows (Sylvan, Dianne) {14 Mar 11}
Song of Scarabaeus (Creasy, Sara) {23 Mar 11}
The Hunger Games (Collins, Suzanne) {6 Apr 11}
Visions of Heat (Singh, Nalini) {12 May 11}
Magic Lost Trouble Found (Shearin, Lisa) {21 May 11}
Caressed by Ice (Singh, Nalini) {22 May 11}
Mine to Possess (Singh, Nalini) {24 May 11}
Magic Slays (Andrews, Ilona) {1 Jun 11}
Renegade Angel (Castle, Kendra Leigh) {6 Jun 11}
Frostbound (Ashwood, Sharon) {13 Jun 11}
Red Heat (Bruhns, Nina) {22 Jun 11}}
Touched by an Alien (Koch, Gini) {30 Jun 11}
Dragon Bound (Harrison, Thea) {2 Jul 11}
Storm’s Heart (Harrison, Thea) {5 Aug 11}
Branded by Fire (Singh, Nalini) {15 Aug 11}
Tiger Eye (Liu, Marjorie M.) {4 Sep 11}
Blaze of Memory (Singh, Nalina) {18 Sep 11}
Bonds of Justice (Singh, Nalini) {23 Oct 11}

4 Stars

Black Wings (Henry, Christina) {4 Jan 11}
Blood Spells (Andersen, Jessica) {20 Feb 11}
Whisper Kiss (Cooke, Deborah {28 Feb 11}
Paying the Virgin’s Price (Merrill, Christine) {12 Mar 11}
Kitty and the Midnight Hour (Vaughn, Carrie) {19 Mar 11}
A Taste of Magic (Madison, Tracy) {31 Mar 11}
Bound by Shadow (Windsor, Anna) {11 Apr 11}
Darkness Dawns (Duvall, Dianne) {17 Apr 11}
Visions of Magic (Hastings, Regan) {24 Apr 11}
Beyond the Night (Ware, Joss) {29 Apr 11}
Secret Society Girl (Peterfreund, Diana) {1 May 11}
Halfway to the Grave (Frost, Jeaniene) {9 May 11}
Just the Sexiest Man Alive (James, Julie) {2 Jun 11}
Master of None (Bateman, Sonya) {5 Jun 11}
Stormwalker (James, Allyson) {11 June 11}
Cold as Ice (Stuart, Anne) {4 Jul 11}
Sylvester (Heyer, Georgette) {10 Jul 11}
Kiss of Midnight (Adrian, Lara) {25 Jul 11}
Marked (Naughton, Elisabeth) {31 Jul 11}
Hostage to Pleasure (Singh, Nalini) {8 Aug 11}
Blood Bound (Briggs, Patricia) {13 Aug 11}
Heiress in Love (Brooke, Christina) {20 Aug 11}
A Regimental Murder (Gardner, Ashley) {27 Aug 11}
Kindling the Moon (Bennett, Jenn) {2 Sep 11}
Kiss of Crimson (Adrian, Lara) {8 Sep 11}
His Majesty’s Dragon (Novik, Naomi) {17 Sep 11}
Murder with Puffins (Andrews, Donna) {20 Sep 11}
Sins of the Angels (Poitevin, Linda) {30 Sep 11}
The Brain and the Beauty (Eliot, Betsy) {6 Oct 11}
Shadow Kin (Scott, M. J.) {8 Oct 11}
Flying Blind (Cooke, Deborah) {11 Oct 11}
Black Night (Henry, Christina) {29 Oct 11}

3 Stars

The Painted Lady (Metzger, Barbara) {10 Jan 11}
Not Without Her Family (Andrews, Beth) {24 Jan 11}
The Lord and Wayward Lady (Allen, Louise) {30 Jan 11}
Persecuted (Childs, Lisa) {27 Mar 11}
Hot Mama (Estep, Jennifer) {15 Apr 11}
Darkfire Kiss (Cooke, Deborah) {29 May 11}
Jedi Twilight (Reaves, Michael) {17 Jul 11}
Pride Mates (Ashley, Jennifer) {24 Aug 11}
Passions of a Wicked Earl (Heath, Lorraine) {24 Sep 11}
Viper Moon (Roland, Lee) {29 Sep 11}
Serpent’s Kiss (Harrison, Thea) {6 Nov 11}

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Dynasty of Evil (Drew Karpyshyn)

Title: Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil
Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Copyright: 2010 (Del Rey); 306 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-345-51157-7
Series: Star Wars Expanded Universe
Sensuality: None
Genre: Science Fiction
ERA:  Sith/Republic – 1,020 years before the Battle of Yavin (Star Wars: A New Hope)

Ten years have passed since the events in Rule of Two. Bane and Zannah, posing as his sister, live on Ciutric IV. They have kept their true identities hidden, all the while gathering knowledge and wealth, building their strength for the time when the Sith will reveal themselves and eliminate the Jedi. Bane has accepted the fact that the destruction of the Jedi might not occur in his lifetime. The long-term effects of wearing the orbalisk armor has weaken him and time is taking its toll. Had he been a Jedi, he could have lessen the effects, but the dark side of the Force is too destructive to be used for healing and repair.

Though Bane has tried to conceal the effects from Zannah, he is sure she has noticed his weakness. It bothers him that she has yet to take advantage of his weakening body to challenge him. He is worried that she is waiting until he is so feeble that little or no effort will be needed to strike him down. He believes, for the Sith order to remain powerful enough to eventually destroy the Jedi, an apprentice must defeat her master while he’s still strong, thereby proving the apprentice has earned the right to be the Master. Her inaction convinces Bane that she lacks the ambition. She is unworthy to be Sith. With time no longer on his side, Bane must find a way to extend his life so he can train a new apprentice, and he must do so without drawing Zannah’s attention to his actions. He sends Zannah on a mission to find out who killed a Jedi on Doan, and to find out why he was there in the first place.

Zannah has noticed the signs of weakness in Bane. However, she also knows that Bane is a master manipulator. It is possible that he is trying to trick her into attacking him before she is ready, proving she hasn’t learned the lesson of patience he has drilled into her for years. Zannah has been actively looking for an apprentice of her own, an apprentice that will take her place when she defeats Bane and becomes the Master. So far, Zannah hasn’t found any potential candidates and until then, she will bide her time. Her mission to Doan might lead her a likely candidate. Zannah is wary enough of Bane to wonder if the mission is also another of his tests and shrewd enough to consider the possibility that Bane intends to replace her with whoever defeated the Jedi.

With Zannah out of the way. Bane sets out to track down the knowledge he needs to extend his life, not knowing his past is about to come back to haunt him and that he has underestimated his apprentice.

Comments: I loved this book. It was so much better than Rule of Two. I’ve enjoyed reading the Darth Bane trilogy, having a Sith as the main character and rooting for someone who would ordinarily be considered the villain.

In Dynasty of Evil, Bane is the bad guy and I found myself sympathizing with Zannah. Bane believes her unworthy, forgetting that sometimes biding one’s time is the right course of action, even for the Sith. In fact, patience is more important than ever — acting rash could jeopardize all their plans. The time isn’t right for the Sith to overthrow the Republic and only those who learn the value of being patient are going to make the order stronger.

Besides the hunt for new apprentices and the quest for immortality, the plot involves a young woman bent on revenge. I liked Serra and Lucia were tied to Bane’s past. I couldn’t help rooting for them, even though I knew — in the back of my mind — that they were no match for a Sith Lord and things would not end well for them.

I loved the ending. Though not a cliffhanger by any means, the epilogue gives me the impression that at least one story thread was left hanging, just in case. I would like to see the Sith deal with that ex-Jedi.

Start: 1 February 2011
Finished: 6 February

Rating:

Loved It!

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Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

And this over at Beyond the New Jedi Order:

Twenty years.  Back before it came out, there was less than a dozen novels in the Star Wars library (three movie novelizations, three Lando adventures, three Han Solo adventures, and Splinter of the Mind’s Eye by Alan Dean Foster).  Nothing’s been the same since.

I still have my original hardback copy and a paperback copy, but there’s no doubt I will get this book. It’s been a long time since I read a Star Wars novel. I still enjoy them, but I kept passing over them for other shiny, new stuff. I made it a goal to read some this year, and I recently decided to read one in February.  Since I’m so behind on reading SW books, I’m hesitant to do a re-read, though can see myself reading the Thrawn novella.

Star Wars Saga Blu-Ray

I didn’t even know it was available for pre-order. Amazon, how could you fail me so? I would have expected a huge ad, heralding the event, right on the front page. But no, it’s the Kindle (phfft). I don’t care about the Kindle!! I care about Star Wars! On Blu-Ray!

It’s due in September. So, I’ll put a little money aside each month and it will be paid for when the bill comes due.  Too easy.  I ordered it from Amazon, of course. That’s a lot of points towards a $25 Amazon gift certificate and I have to fund my book habit somehow.

May the Force Be With You,

The rules are very simple: spotlight a book written by an author whose first or last name begins with the featured letter. Include the book cover, title and author, a synopsis, and link(s) to retailer(s). If it’s a book you’ve already reviewed, link to the review. Return to Reading at the Beach and leave a link in the comments.

This week’s letter is: L

This week pick: Luceno, James — Cloak of Deception

Star Wars: Cloak of Deception by James Luceno

From the back: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi track a terrorist working for the Nebula Front, an organization that is targeting the Trade Federation. Things are not as them seem when the terrorist, Captain Arwen Cohl, steals valuable ingots from the Neimoidians, yet lets the cargo drift off into space. The plot continues to twist as Supreme Chancellor Valorum attempts to salvage the situation in the out-lying regions, without alienating the Trade Federation or the Outer Rim. In a bid to seem fair, Valorum agrees to hold a trade summit, even after an assignation attempt is made on his life. As the Jedi rush to uncover the plots and conspiracies, Darth Sidious sets his plans into motion, one that will ensure the Neimoidians gain complete control of the Trade Federation, and weaken Valorum’s ability to govern.

From my review: I enjoyed this book very much. It was filled with plot twists and hints of things to come, not only in The Phantom Menace, but in later episodes and books. Luceno never lets you forget that Palpatine cannot be trusted. He is shown, time and again, supporting Valorum; yet you know that he is plotting the man’s downfall, both as the simple senator of Naboo and as the Dark Lord of the Sith. (READ MORE).

Comments:  In case you didn’t know, I’ve been a fan of Star Wars for a long time.  The book I chose for today’s entry is set before The Phantom Menace (Episode I), and is one of my favorite books.  I love the way Luceno wrote Palpatine/Sidious, and I think he did a really good job with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon as well (this is the only adult novel, set pre-Episode I, featuring these two).   In my original entry, I started the post off by mentioning the lack adult novels featuring them (there are young adult, young reader, and comics).  If you click through to read the entry, you’ll have to scroll down to read my thoughts about the book (the blog was less than a month old at the time, so it’s one of my earliest entries).

Note: The link below is to Fantastic Fiction, which has a variety of purchase options (including on-line secondary markets) for the US and UK.

Cloak of Deception (Luceno, James) at Fantastic Fiction.

Darth Bane: Rule of Two

Title: Darth Bane: Rule of Two
Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Copyright: 2008 (Del Rey); 320 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-345-47749-1
Series: Star Wars Expanded Universe
Sensuality: None
Genre: Science Fiction
ERA: Sith/Republic – 1,020 years before the Battle of Yavin (Star Wars: A New Hope)

Spoilers for Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Rule of Two picks up where Path of Destruction left off. The Brotherhood of Darkness is no more, completely destroyed by a thought bomb. The Army of Light has suffered huge losses, including its general, Jedi Master Lord Hoth. They are under the impression that no Sith survived. However, there is a lone survivor, Darth Bane, and he wants the Jedi to keep believing the Sith are extinct.

The book started off slow for me. Bane and Zannah, his newly acquired apprentice, spend much of the first nine chapters still on Ruusan, or trying to get off it. To be fair, the author had to set both Johun Othone — Hoth’s former padawan — and Tomcat — Rain’s cousin — on their respective paths before the main story could move forward. Johun is convinced that at least one Sith survived. He wants to pursue this, but the new leader of the Jedi — Jedi Master Farfalla — finds no credible evidence to suggest there were survivors. Instead, he gives Johun a different mission. As for Tomcat, having failed both as a Jedi and a Sith, he has no idea what to do with himself. He survives a run-in with Zannah and Bane and is left to make his own way on Ruusan. Both young men will encounter the Sith years later, with tragic results.

The story jumps ahead ten years. Bane has Zannah carrying out missions while he works on creating a Sith Holocron. On his orders, Zannah infiltrates separatist groups and convince them to strike out against the Republic before they are ready, thereby ensuring that they fail, but still draw the attention of the Senate and the Jedi. Zannah’s current mission is on Serenno, a planet known for its radical separatist groups. Though she carries out her tasks, Zannah questions the logic behind them. Bane has assured her that the time isn’t right:

“The Republic keeps the Jedi in check. It maintains control and imposes order across thousands of worlds. But if the Republic falls, a score of new interstellar governments and galactic organizations will rise. It is far easier to manipulate and control a single enemy than twenty.

That is why we must seek out radical separatist groups, identify the ones that have the potential to become true threats, then encourage them to strike before they are ready. We must exploit them, playing them off against the Republic. We must let our enemies weaken one another while we stay hidden and grow strong.

“One day the Republic will fall and the Jedi will be wiped out,” he assured her. “But it will not happen until we are ready to seize that power for ourselves.”

Even so, Zannah is still concerned. Ten years ago, when Bane first set out to learn the mysteries of the Sith Holocron, he became infested with a parasite. The orbalisk, as they are called, seemed to be a boon initially, giving Bane enhanced healing abilities and strength, and a body armor that blocks even lightsabers. But Zannah feels that the long exposure to them is taking its toll on Bane’s judgment. He’s failed several times to create a Holocron and he’s gone into destructive rages. Bane has much yet to teach her, and if dies before she’s reach her full potential, the Sith may truly be lost. Eventually, Bane agrees with her and Zannah’s new mission is to find a way to remove the parasites without killing the host.

I really enjoyed the story once it made the ten-year jump; it really pick up for me. Zannah is smart, but not overconfident as her future “descendants” (Maul, Dooku, Anakin). In fact, it was kind of refreshing to read about a Sith apprentice that knows she has a lot to learn, isn’t arrogant to the point of stupidity, and is patient. She can think on her feet — a couple of times she finds herself in less-than-ideal situations that she has to turn to her advantage and hope that Bane doesn’t think she’s betraying him. Her final dealings with her cousin are chilling. Even so, I actually liked her — but not as much as I liked Bane in the first book.

Started: 25 March 2010
Finished: 10 April 2010

Rating:

Enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book.

The meme is hosted by Reading at the Beach.

The rules are very simple: spotlight a book that begins with the featured letter. Include the book cover, title and author, a synopsis, and link(s) to retailer(s). If it’s a book you’ve already reviewed, link to the review. Return to Reading at the Beach and leave a link in the comments.

This week’s letter is: J

This week pick: Jedi Twilight (Coruscant Nights I) by Michael Reaves

From the back: Jax Pavan is one of the few Jedi Knights who miraculously survived the slaughter that followed Palpatine’s ruthless Order 66. Now, deep in Coruscant’s Blackpit Slums, Jax ekes out a living as a private investigator, trying to help people in need while concealing his Jedi identity and staying one step ahead of the killers out for Jedi blood. And they’re not the only ones in search of the elusive Jax.

Jedi Twilight

Comment: I’ve long been a fan of the Star Wars Expanded Universe — the officially licensed books, comics, etc. that build on the movies — however, I’ve been slacking lately. The year is almost over and I haven’t read a single book. I chose to feature this one to make myself feel guilty about breaking the promise I made to myself, that I would read at least four Star Wars books this year.

As for the book itself, it takes place after Revenge of the Sith and features characters from other books written by the author. Go here or click on the “SWEU” tab at the top of blog to see which books I’ve already reviewed. The Expanded Universe is one of the few series of books that I will write a DNF review, instead of just mentioning it, if I don’t complete the book for whatever reason.

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This is a re-post, due to data loss. (Oct 09)

14 Oct – Vicki – “My son would love this book! Thanks for playing this week!”