Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Unifying Force
James Luceno
Del Rey, Nov 2003, $26.95, 464 pp.
ISBN: 0345428528

The Galactic Alliance reels under the assault of the Yuuzhan Vong horde. Even when an important moral boost occurs by temporarily slowing the advance, the enemy fails to blink as they continue their unstoppable assault. The vanquishers subjugate world after world as they defeat the Jedi and its allies stepping closer to dictatorial galaxy ascendancy.

Coruscant falls in a crushing defeat with numerous prisoners to be sacrificed to the Gods of the Yuuzhan Vong. Desperate Luke Skywalker pleads with the living world, Zonama Sekot, to join the final stand, which appears to be a space station already under ferocious attack. Allies consider using weaponry so deadly that not only will it eliminate the Yuuzhan Vong, it will devastate the galaxy in a pandemic devastation. Still there is no turning back for either side.

Book nineteen is the final novel in the long running "New Jedi Order" series. Thus the pressure on James Luceno must have been immense because the author was expected to tie loose ends up yet provide a thrilling finale to a strong collection. Mr. Luceno accomplishes that and more. The story line is hyperspace speed fast yet enables the reader to understand the enemy horde and keep key players like Luke and Han consistent to Mr. Lucas' original intentions. Star War fans will take immense delight with this powerful saga in a far away galaxy, but newcomers would be better suited to search fro the previous books (as momentous of a feat as defeating the Yuuzhan Vong).

Harriet Klausner