I Can See Clearly,
Now
Review by Gini McDonagh
The man who started the ball rolling again shows us his
"Vision".
Well, did they or didn't
they?!
Vision of the Future
by Timothy Zahn
published by Bantam Spectra
This is the book that wraps up the Bantam book contract for Star Wars (the remaining X-Wing books excepted), and it serves as a bookend for the tale of the New Republic's battle against the Empire as well.
Timothy Zahn has constructed an intricate, intelligent story to finish the decade (in the Star Wars galaxy) of tales he began with Heir to the Empire. He also turns our eyes toward the future of our heroes - and of Star Wars books.
WHEN LAST WE LEFT OUR
HEROES...
The New Republic balances on the edge of civil war. The
Bothan involvement in the destruction of Camaas has
planets and peoples drawing their lines in the sand,
either in the defense of the Camaasi or of the Bothans.
Ships gather in a standoff over Bothawui, which waits
tense under the shelter of its city shields. But those
shields are under attack by Imperial saboteurs, who are
themselves being sought out by Wedge Antilles and Corran
Horn, with the help of an old smuggler in the employ of
Talon Karrde.
All this Imperial subterfuge is under the control of a trio of nasty fellows: Grand Moff Disra, a former Imperial Guard named Tierce and a con man known to these two as Flim but to all others who see him as Grand Admiral Thrawn. Disra and Tierce are determined to rally Imperial forces under the flag of this false Thrawn, and they are making good progress in doing precisely that. Planets that have left their Imperial ways behind them are now leaving behind the New Republic and jumping back into the Empire's fold. But this Imperial presence, shepherded by the false Thrawn, is only a small portion of the dwindling Imperial forces.
Most of the remnants of the Empire are under the leadership of Admiral Pellaeon, an intelligent, insightful gentleman who can read the writing on the wall and is attempting to meet with New Republic General Garm Bel Iblis in order to reach a peace accord. His envoy has been kidnapped by Disra's faction, though, and Pellaeon waits in vain for the appearance of the General - keeping him conveniently out of Disra's way.
Talon Karrde himself is on a search for the Camaas Document, which reveals which Bothan clans were responsible for the betrayal of Camaas. Accompanying him is Shada D'ukal, a disgraced member of the mysterious Mystral, bodyguards extraordinaire for hire. Her disobedience has earned her a death sentence and she is hunted by her best friend. Karrde himself has old ghosts to face and surprises along the search.
FAMILIAR FACES...
Let's see. Who am I forgetting?
Oh, yes, the usual star attractions to this show: Han, Leia and Luke!
In reality, the plot is so interwoven and intricate that Han and Leia's contributions border on secondary. They almost get kidnapped, meet with a group of clone TIE pilots, almost get kidnapped again, and are instrumental in stopping the war before it begins. But their roles are certainly not central to the plot this time around.
Luke, however is another story, and it's the story that so many of us have been expecting and looking forward to. He rescues Mara and their relationship grows into something more than verbal sparring.
In many ways, this is the most interesting thread in the book. Luke and Mara find their way into a mysterious fortress, assisted by Force-sensitive creatures called Qom Jha and Qom Qae. These flying creatures may be of primitive intelligence, but they have a lot more nobility than Ewoks. Their invaluable assistance bring Luke and Mara into the heart of the impregnable fortress, and what they find on this journey is by far the most unexpected and interesting group of beings assembled in any Star Wars book.
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Amazingly, all these thread eventually tie themselves back together in a resolution that wraps up old animosities but turns our thoughts to new challenges ahead - a perfect start for the Del Rey contract of Star Wars books.
One of Zahn's strengths in this book is his ability to change our perceptions of characters. Expected bad guys turn out to be good guys, and the good guys have some stains on their lapels. Even staying within the scope and expectations of a Star Wars book, Zahn succeeds in making us think.
A book of this scope cannot, of course, be completely without flaws. The most pronounced is the total absence of Chewbacca from the adventures. Left to baby-sitting duty, he only makes a small cameo at the end. Additionally, the resolution of the Luke and Mara story disappoints. There is a definite feeling of anticlimax to it.
There are, however, some great surprises and the hints of new possibilities in the future. If there is some feeling of the book as a teaser for things to come, then so be it. Far better to feel there are places and characters left to explore than to wonder how in stars they can go on from here. This is a page-turner of a book. Just plan on giving it a weekend, because you won't want to put it down.
(Gini McDonagh truly believes she's still going to have time to write articles now that she's taken over as Editor of the EMag. Try not to hurt yourself as badly as we did while laughing.)