Balance Point (Star Wars, The New Jedi Order #6)

Kathy's Truce was one of the earlier EU books, published the same year as the final Thrawn volume, I think. And in that book Tyers demonstrated her ability to create a new and weird alien species while deftly handling multiple plotlines. Her worldbuilding and descriptive power proved excellent in that book, and it was a great single entry in the EU. Subsequent authors were lackluster, in my opinion, creating rather status quo ante trilogies padded with lots of filler and losing focus of the epic scope of Star Wars.As we entered the New Jedi Order period, R A Salvatore revolutionized literary Star Wars fare with his Vector Prime. Similar to his Drow creations in his Forgotten Realms novels, he, like Tyers, excels when it comes to inventing strange new creatures. So it is only fitting that Tyers penned the second hardcover novel in the NJO series (which have been advertised as the major plotlines), since she carries her experience inventing the Ssi-Ruu easily into writing comfortably with the Vong.Even better, she also grapples with the Jedi. Other, lesser authors generally seem scared of truly harnessing the Jedi and invent ways to weaken them (ysalamiri, injury, or an irrelevant side mission). Tyers however places Force use, the nature of the Force, and the calling of a Jedi at the heart of this novel. At first, I thought she was lapsing into this same disappointment with Jacen's annoying decision to refrain from using the Force, but Tyers totally delivers by the end of the novel.The novel also starts off rather slowly, once again dealing with the annoying Ryn species that unfortunately dominated Luceno's novels, but the pace quickly picks up and those space gypsies definitely take back seat to the main characters and the Vong themselves.Thankfully, like Salvatore, but unlike Stackpole and Luceno, Tyers is focused on narrative development, and does not waste time bragging about the fact that she has read all the Bantam-era books. Indeed, humbly, Tyers refers only once to her own Ssi-Ruu creations in this book. Pretty much every other reference is to other books in the NJO, which is excellent and admirable. Her book even starts out with a recap that tells us everything that happened before in the NJO plotline. The result is that the book is almost self-contained, a great example I wish other Star Wars novels followed.Tyers is in general a capable author. The narrative progresses at a brisk pace (I finished the book in two days happily). She is able to coordinate different plotlines seemlessly and without distraction (something that takes skill to do, as often these POV transitions are jarring and annoying to me, yet she handles it deftly).The only wanting element I could detect is that of description. In Truce, if you took your time to savor them, Tyer's descriptions of her constructed world of Bakura were extremely immersive and picturesque and you could easily see the world being painted by her words. Here, that's harder to do. Frequently, Star Wars authors describe unfamiliar, fictional vehicles and structural constructs that are just foreign enough, and their descriptions of such things just shy enough, that I struggle to picture them. Thus, while I picture most of this book happening in polluted, domed structures, it's sometimes hard to keep track of which structure everyone is in, what Leia's office looks like, what the marsh grasses look like Han swims in, etc.So it's that lack of descriptive excellence that makes the book less than totally amazing. But overall, this is a perfectly worthy submission into both the NJO series and Star Wars books overall -- leaps and bounds better than Luceno's preceding works -- and it's quite a shame this and Truce were the only books this skillful author provided us.

Kathy Tyers returns to the Star Wars Expanded Universe with Balance Point, the second hardcover and sixth novel overall in the New Jedi Order. I call out that it was published as a hardcover first for this reason: Del Rey indicated at the time that the key events of the New Jedi Order would take place in the hardcovers, and that if one only wanted to read them, they would be sufficiently knowledgeable to enjoy the overall story. On one level, I agree with that: I see no major issues in picking this up after reading Vector Prime. Of course, much of the color and detail would be lost, but the core of the story would be intact. On another level, I find it interesting, because Balance Point doesn't stand out to me as any more meaningful than the four paperbacks before it. The war grinds on. We learn a little more about the Vong. Jacen debates. There is one major development for Luke and Mara but that alone doesn't seem to warrant a hardcover.Balance Point is primarily set on the devastated factory world of Duros. There are multiple refugee camps on the surface in sheltered domes. The Duros themselves live in space facilities surrounding the planet. The setting is evocative enough but I was as happy as the characters were to put it behind me at the end of the book. Like various species before them, the Duros attempt to make a deal with the Vong, a deal we know the whole time will go horribly awry. The payoff at the end to this storyline is sufficient but unsurprising.Spoiling one detail, Mara Jade is surprised to realize she is pregnant. Ms. Tyers nicely depicts Mara and Luke's feelings over this development: their joy at the prospect of a child but their fears of bringing a new life into such a troubled galaxy. Mara being who she is, her mother-to-be status does not stop her from actively continuing in her role as a Jedi and in fact deepens her commitment, as she has even more worth fighting for. I found Luke and Mara's story to be the most rewarding part of the book.The Solo family has a needed reunion as all three children along with Han and Leia are placed together on Duros. Han and Leia finally reconcile after all the bitterness of the prior four novels and it is good to see. Anakin is growing rapidly into his persona and beliefs, while Jaina struggles to recover from an injury and a blow to her self-confidence. Jacen debates his relationship to the Force at length. His meditations are interesting yet wearisome all at once.Balance Point is an adequate continuation of the New Jedi Order but at this point the storyline needs to advance in more unexpected ways. There's a feeling of dots being connected as the various authors offer their entries and then step aside.

Everyone in the Skywalker/Solo clan comes out for this installment of the New Jedi Order. The refugees relocate to a new planet only to find the Yuuzhan Vong are after them again. Nom Anor returns, along with their most powerful leader yet, Tsavong Lah.Luke and Mara have something new to think about. Han and Leia work on their relationship, as much as they can during a crisis. Anakin helps his aunt and uncle.Jaina works on her brother, Jacen, who picks the worst time to become an idealistic youth. This is really his story, his struggles with the Jedis' place in the galaxy. His refusal to use the Force means danger to himself and his family. At times, I admit to wanting to reach through the pages to Force-slap some sense into him, but even Luke sadly let him make his choice. If you want to read a good Jacen story, "Balance Point" is it.

Great

I can see the reality in this. Politicians jockey for position and more power as those of noble spirit FIGHT and die. This is good continuation the enemy has made it clear their intent and the republic still can't get it together planets loss the core systems only care about themselves. Even the Jedi need to be more old republic warriors. But overall worth reading and progresses the story

I am enjoying this series. Each book builds on the last. I am enjoying the portrayal of Jacen's inner struggle with his role. I recommend this series to all Star Wars fans.

A good story for building up to the oncoming adventures in this series although a bit slow at times it was still enjoyable.

This is the 6th book in the New Jedi Order series. It takes place 3 months after Agents Of Chaos II. After the destruction of the Hapan battlefleet (introduced in The Courtship Of Princess Leia) Jaina Solo is on a mission. Written by Kathy Tyers, author of Star Wars Truce at Bakura. An excellent book in the series.

I wish this was the basis for the new Star Wars movies. Much more intriguing story.

I'm really sorry but this is definately one of the most boring Star Wars books I've ever read. I do know that there're times where you need to describe the feelings of some characters to make a book more interesting and dense but an entire book long????Real Star Wars fans have to read it because of the facts but for every one else...hands off!