It really does seem like just yesterday I got the call from my agent about doing three books in a nine-book Star Wars saga. Wow, was I excited…and I still am! Just reminding everyone that we are at the halfway point now in Fate of the Jedi! My novel ALLIES comes out in bookstores tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to hearing what you, my readers, have to say about it. It’s a nice big book, with lots of plot threads and huge twists.
May the Force be with you all, and thank you for your support so far.
Only because I’m completely obsessive am I compelled to slightly decry your editor, or whoever it was that misspelled Kyp DurrOn’s name more than once in “Allies.”
However, I can only say that now because I have just finished reading the novel, which was released only today and which I didn’t put down once I picked up. This book is by FAR my favorite out of the Fate of the Jedi series thus far, and it’s ridiculously frustrating that I have to wait until November to read the next one! You’re not kidding about the plot threads and twists; the truth about Abeloth came as a huge surprise, and I had to contain my reaction because there were other people around and they would have given me funny looks.
GREAT JOB!!!
Whoops. Typos are the bane of an author’s existence! Apologies about that, but wow, thank you for the kind words! I’m delighted you enjoyed the book so much. That’s not a short book to read in a single sitting.
I’m very proud of this book and was really hoping the readers would enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Thanks for letting me know that you did. And I can assure you that VORTEX will be worth the wait (I’ve had a chance to read the first draft and I loved it.)
Just finished Allies, and I liked the interesting interaction between the Skywalkers and the lost tribe. Liked how you didn’t get too involved with discribing action scenes, as that sort of gets very old after about 100 Star Wars novels. For me, character development and insight is a lot more interesting then knowing a new way for Luke Skywalker to vanquish an oponent.
If I were to voice one concern then it would be Ben’s development as a heroic character. Inevitble it is an hard act to follow Luke, but even so I feel Ben struggles under the briliant light that his father emit. There isn’t much oppertunity to shine when you are sitting next to the biggest hero of the ages.
That said I like the cyclical use of the romance theme with Ben and Vess. If he where to save her from the dark side it would mirror not just his father and mother’s romance, but also his father’s redemtion of his own father, Anakin Skywalker. Admitedlly it can be a hard sell to pull Vess away from the dark side, but a hero needs a good challange.
One thing I do feel a bit puzzling is the similarities between Hamner and Daala as characters. They both are in a sense fish out of water, ill suited for the role that have been thrust upon them. That they also seem to think so very much alike one would think they could get to some kind of working relationship, but that wouldn’t make for an interesting read, so fair enough.
I also like how you are building tention, the insidious slide toward tyranny, this only underlines the feeling that Daala isn’t up to the challange, and by sqeezing harder more systems will slipp through her fingers. Also it begs the question what will now that the Jedi aren’t going mad any more. Will they reengage or isolate themselves.
Two people we saw very little of this time around were our favorit outragously handsome schoundrel and the “coolest badass” of a grandmother, in any galaxy. I will venture a guess that “Vortex” will focus more on the dynamic duo?
Which brings me to Abeloth, she went down a little bit too easy, which rock has she slipped under? Anyway, I want to end this ramble on the note that you are a valued addition to the ranks of EU authors Mrs Golden, this old EU war horse likes the chevauchée you are taking him on.
Just finished listening to the audio version. Marc Thompson does an awesome job portraying the story and I love that they are now unabridged audio versions.
The story itself was great! Thanks for bringing closure to the C (spoiler) issue so that the issue is resolved now after far too long.
I’m hoping that after Fate of the Jedi is finished, that you get to continue writing for Star Wars.
Really enjoyed your writing style, and you did a great job making the story come alive. I’ll be checking out your other work and after reading your blog a bit, will be checking out the Book View Cafe too!
Thanks for a great story!
I really enjoyed your latest Star Wars novel, You paint a picture of the Star Wars universe that is quite refreshing.
However, there is one thing I find a little disappointing, the lack of diversity among the human characters. One of the good things about Mr. Lucas’ vision of the Star War prequels was, how he showed that humans came in a rainbow of colors.
I hope that as the Fate of the Jedi series continues, we can hear character descriptions that better reflect human diversity. Anyway, Thank You for the enjoyable read!
Hi Christie! I literally just finished the book less than an hour ago and I just wanted to pass along how much I loved it. Definitely my fave in the series so far. If you want to you can read my review on my website (http://tinyurl.com/3xz9g55). Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Christie I just want to say that I really enjoyed your book. Sure it had its continuency issues, but I think that is to be expected when you have several writers working on a project. Each writer approaches the story, and characters in a different way and that is to be expected. It isn’t something that I mind. I actually enjoyed the budding friendship/romance between vestara and Ben. She is one of my all time favorite characters. My only concern was that she didn’t seem sith enough in this book. I mean in all the novels she has a softer side, but she comes across far more vicious, cunning, and cruel in abyss and backlash. In abyss she relishes cutting luke and even carries his blood with her. In your book, and I did thoroughly enjoy it, she just didn’t seem to be enough of a sith. Basically she didn’t come across as very dark. I hope in the future her darker side comes out, and she has to find a balance between that and her feelings for Ben. I would love to see a relationship develop that is more morally ambiguous and conflicted for both jedi and sith. I think it would be cool if Ben came to love, and care for her despite what she is. What if he cared for her even if she never turned to the light, and even if he could never trust her? I guess I am just hoping that this romance evolves into something more complex and layered. Then again I am sure whatever you, and the rest of the writers due with the characters will be great. I read the book practically in one sitting so its not like I am complaining. That is my rant for you. I was wondering though why the next book isn’t going to be coming out until december. Does troy do alot of drafts? anyway I am sure I will enjoy the rest of the series as well.
Hello there!
I just started Chapter 20 of this book, and spotted what I think is a second Indiana Jones reference, a character named “Belok,” which I assume is a tip of the hat to Rene Belloq. Chapter 14 started with a scene that was quite reminiscent of Marion’s drinking challenge in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Am I right? Are you an Indy fan who slipped these in, or are they coincidences?
Tee hee! Yes, they are nods to the Indiana Jones movies. You are the first person who’s let me know you caught them. I hope they amused you.
I also really got a chuckle out of you bringing Bea Arthur’s character into the Expanded Universe
.
Excellent! I shall alert the IndyCast! Ed Dolista may be mentioning your book on a podcast in the near future.
Are those the only two? If not, did I miss any or are they later in the book?
LOL, yes, why reinvent the wheel when I could bring back a known character for the bartender at the Cantina?
And those are the only two references. Conscious anyway. 
well i do know that i am a little past the day the book was put on shelves,but i had to leave a comment somewhere………. i am not very good at this computer blogging and whatnot unless its on facebook =) but anywho i just wanted to say that i am starting allies tonight, actually after i send this blog….and i just thought i would let you know that you last book omen ment alot to me……..my better half and myself are having a child….i was going to name the boy anakin, because i am a huge star wars nerd, but we are having a girl and not a boy……long story short my better half isnt much of a fan so i had to do some digging to find a name she would go along with….. so we chose the middle name to be Vestra….if not for you and your contribution to the star wars world i would of never been able to talk her into such a beautiful name……..so thank you for helping me chose my daughters name =)…. also i have plan for a star wars series myself…any tips, and yes i know i have bad writing and spelling skills so skip that tip lol…..best of luck on your future books and goodnight
Oh my goodness! I like the shortening of “Vestara” to “Vestra” too. What a lovely thing to say. While Vestara belongs to all of the writers who work on the series, I was lucky enough to develop her and name her, so this is very special to me. Just…you know, make sure she stays on the light side of the Force as she grows up! Best of luck to you, Vestra’s mom, and the little one herself. Thank you for sharing that.
My little brothers name is Anakin! lol