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Tash Arranda can't believe her eyes. Here, in an abandoned Rebel base on the remote planet Dantooine, she has just seen her parents. Her dead parents. Is she losing her mind?
Then Tash spies the one being in the galaxy she least wants to see--Darth Vader. It seems the Empire has tracked them down at last. But what Tash doesn't know is that this is only the beginning of a terrifying journey into an evil world, where she'll be forced to fight her own brother and uncle...to the death!
Then Tash spies the one being in the galaxy she least wants to see--Darth Vader. It seems the Empire has tracked them down at last. But what Tash doesn't know is that this is only the beginning of a terrifying journey into an evil world, where she'll be forced to fight her own brother and uncle...to the death!
144 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 15, 2022
clone horror star wars was a genre i didn't know i needed
November 28, 2011
Well it took him 11 tries, but he finally put out an alright book.
August 21, 2024
Ripoff round time again and this time we have the penultimate entry in Galaxy of Fear. Yep, we’re almost done. Let’s just jump into it and see how it goes.
Tash, Zak and Hoole are staying on the planet Dantooine. It’s a nice place where there is this nomadic tribe called the Dantari. Things are cool enough but they discover what seems to be an abandoned rebel base. That actually has some people in it and soon another Tash keeps appearing and whatever is going on in this base may explain that. At the same time, Tash is getting more into the force but more fall prey to the dark side.
This one was fairly good, and honestly stands above most of the last few I read. The 2nd half of the series has felt more standard, being hurt by not a big arc it’s building up. But here it does a bit more and even gets to a cliffhanger at the end. To start with flaws, it is a slow burn as it takes a while to get the clones and have fun with that idea.
The formula is clear by now and the planet they get on isn’t quite as high concept as some others but I do like these nomad guys at least. As I said it can have some slow-ness but it makes up for it with the bulk of it. The main draw is Tash dealing with the force. Here she starts to tap into it more and tries to pull it off. We get stuff with her seeming to do it better when angry but trying to not fall prey to that.
Some of the emotional stuff with her parents is tapped into and it’s nice to see. It plays into the clone element by noting that clones don’t have that emotional backbone as it’s hard for a machine to copy that. It doesn't get fully capped off in the ending scene which is a common issue in these but we get payoff at least.
The prologue and epilogue, involving Darth Vader, are a bit longer than usual which shows they wanted to put more into this. It works well although the logic is spotty when we get into why this is all going on. Vader’s role plays into that but he’s cool to see.
It’s one of the simpler ones, with its one word title, and that can hurt it in some ways it helps it in the end. It’s not one of the stronger per say, as others go harder with the horror and action but this was better than I expected. There was solid substance and just a bit more thought put into it.
And with the ending, it seems to be building to something as Vader catches wind of them again. I don’t know what to expect from the finale but I hope it’s solid when we get there come November or so. Until then, this was a basic but effective penultimate entry. Short review but not too much to say here.
Next time, we hit up the russian roulette that is Shivers as we visit the long awaited by me, Your Momma’s a werewolf. See ya then.
Tash, Zak and Hoole are staying on the planet Dantooine. It’s a nice place where there is this nomadic tribe called the Dantari. Things are cool enough but they discover what seems to be an abandoned rebel base. That actually has some people in it and soon another Tash keeps appearing and whatever is going on in this base may explain that. At the same time, Tash is getting more into the force but more fall prey to the dark side.
This one was fairly good, and honestly stands above most of the last few I read. The 2nd half of the series has felt more standard, being hurt by not a big arc it’s building up. But here it does a bit more and even gets to a cliffhanger at the end. To start with flaws, it is a slow burn as it takes a while to get the clones and have fun with that idea.
The formula is clear by now and the planet they get on isn’t quite as high concept as some others but I do like these nomad guys at least. As I said it can have some slow-ness but it makes up for it with the bulk of it. The main draw is Tash dealing with the force. Here she starts to tap into it more and tries to pull it off. We get stuff with her seeming to do it better when angry but trying to not fall prey to that.
Some of the emotional stuff with her parents is tapped into and it’s nice to see. It plays into the clone element by noting that clones don’t have that emotional backbone as it’s hard for a machine to copy that. It doesn't get fully capped off in the ending scene which is a common issue in these but we get payoff at least.
The prologue and epilogue, involving Darth Vader, are a bit longer than usual which shows they wanted to put more into this. It works well although the logic is spotty when we get into why this is all going on. Vader’s role plays into that but he’s cool to see.
It’s one of the simpler ones, with its one word title, and that can hurt it in some ways it helps it in the end. It’s not one of the stronger per say, as others go harder with the horror and action but this was better than I expected. There was solid substance and just a bit more thought put into it.
And with the ending, it seems to be building to something as Vader catches wind of them again. I don’t know what to expect from the finale but I hope it’s solid when we get there come November or so. Until then, this was a basic but effective penultimate entry. Short review but not too much to say here.
Next time, we hit up the russian roulette that is Shivers as we visit the long awaited by me, Your Momma’s a werewolf. See ya then.
May 20, 2021
Star Wars Legends Project #268
Background: Clones was written by John Whitman and published in August of 1998. It is the eleventh in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
Clones takes place 11 months after the Battle of Yavin, beginning soon after the end of The Doomsday Ship (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda and their adoptive Uncle Hoole, along with Darth Vader. The story takes place on Dantooine.
Summary: Hiding out from the Empire, Hoole carries on his anthropological work by embedding himself and the Arrandas with a primitive Dantari tribe on Dantooine. Tash's developing Force powers, and her popularity with the Dantari, have earned her the animosity of the tribe's "Garoo," a sort of witch doctor. That's why she ought to be suspicious when the Garoo guides her and Zak to some mysterious ruins that call out to her. Instead, she ventures inside and finds a group of Rebels who seem to have been left behind when the Rebellion base was abandoned some time in the past. But something seems off about these people, and the "spaceship" they're constructing out of materials that definitely aren't spaceworthy . . . and who is the mysterious leader they defer all decisions to? The answer will shock Tash to her core, if she and her family live long enough to learn them.
Review: There are certain logistics in this series that you have to just learn to ignore if you're going to enjoy it for what it is. Chief among these, as I've mentioned before, is Uncle Hoole's shapeshifting capability, which seems to effectively be a superpower (in the last book he turned into a mynock and flew through hard vacuum). But even by those standards, the plot of this book is just totally self-defeating. It's not that the explanation makes no sense . . . there is no explanation. And that's almost certainly the best way to go when you've come up with a concept that makes absolutely no sense . . . but you're still stuck with a concept that makes absolutely no sense.
I'm being vague to avoid spoilers, but given that the title of this book is Clones and the cover art features two Darth Vaders dueling each other, perhaps it isn't much of one to address the fact that this is a thing that happens in the book because the cloning facility featured in it seems to work like a Xerox machine. Except that the book is careful to say that it doesn't reproduce what the person is wearing (because that would just be silly!), so the clone Vader has constructed in identical outfit out of available materials, except that it doesn't have the same functionality as the real Vader's armor. So . . . does the clone Vader actually look like an adult Anakin Skywalker, undamaged by a dip in a lava pit, since he doesn't need the armor's life support systems? Or did the cloning facility create him with the same scars and missing limbs? If it didn't, the replica armor can't be EXACTLY the same . . . Anyway, none of these questions are even sort of addressed in this story, nor should they be because that wouldn't be a good story. But my point is, an idea that raises this many important questions maybe isn't the best story either, y'know?
Nevertheless, I can't deny that it's a really fun idea. I think that's what it came down to: The concept was too much fun to pass up, so the logistics are secondary. I liked the way this played around with questions of identity, particularly for Tash. It was reminiscent of the film The Prestige (and, come to think of it, I guess the cloning process effectively functions in a similar manner, as well). Very silly, but kind of fun. Your mileage may vary.
C+
Background: Clones was written by John Whitman and published in August of 1998. It is the eleventh in the Galaxy of Fear series, all written by Whitman.
Clones takes place 11 months after the Battle of Yavin, beginning soon after the end of The Doomsday Ship (my review). The main characters are Tash and Zak Arranda and their adoptive Uncle Hoole, along with Darth Vader. The story takes place on Dantooine.
Summary: Hiding out from the Empire, Hoole carries on his anthropological work by embedding himself and the Arrandas with a primitive Dantari tribe on Dantooine. Tash's developing Force powers, and her popularity with the Dantari, have earned her the animosity of the tribe's "Garoo," a sort of witch doctor. That's why she ought to be suspicious when the Garoo guides her and Zak to some mysterious ruins that call out to her. Instead, she ventures inside and finds a group of Rebels who seem to have been left behind when the Rebellion base was abandoned some time in the past. But something seems off about these people, and the "spaceship" they're constructing out of materials that definitely aren't spaceworthy . . . and who is the mysterious leader they defer all decisions to? The answer will shock Tash to her core, if she and her family live long enough to learn them.
Review: There are certain logistics in this series that you have to just learn to ignore if you're going to enjoy it for what it is. Chief among these, as I've mentioned before, is Uncle Hoole's shapeshifting capability, which seems to effectively be a superpower (in the last book he turned into a mynock and flew through hard vacuum). But even by those standards, the plot of this book is just totally self-defeating. It's not that the explanation makes no sense . . . there is no explanation. And that's almost certainly the best way to go when you've come up with a concept that makes absolutely no sense . . . but you're still stuck with a concept that makes absolutely no sense.
I'm being vague to avoid spoilers, but given that the title of this book is Clones and the cover art features two Darth Vaders dueling each other, perhaps it isn't much of one to address the fact that this is a thing that happens in the book because the cloning facility featured in it seems to work like a Xerox machine. Except that the book is careful to say that it doesn't reproduce what the person is wearing (because that would just be silly!), so the clone Vader has constructed in identical outfit out of available materials, except that it doesn't have the same functionality as the real Vader's armor. So . . . does the clone Vader actually look like an adult Anakin Skywalker, undamaged by a dip in a lava pit, since he doesn't need the armor's life support systems? Or did the cloning facility create him with the same scars and missing limbs? If it didn't, the replica armor can't be EXACTLY the same . . . Anyway, none of these questions are even sort of addressed in this story, nor should they be because that wouldn't be a good story. But my point is, an idea that raises this many important questions maybe isn't the best story either, y'know?
Nevertheless, I can't deny that it's a really fun idea. I think that's what it came down to: The concept was too much fun to pass up, so the logistics are secondary. I liked the way this played around with questions of identity, particularly for Tash. It was reminiscent of the film The Prestige (and, come to think of it, I guess the cloning process effectively functions in a similar manner, as well). Very silly, but kind of fun. Your mileage may vary.
C+
January 7, 2018
It's everyone's favorite Star Wars trope: clones! This time, Zak and Tash find themselves on Dantooine at the abandoned Rebel base we all remember from the first movie, but everyone is encountering people from their past. For Zak and Tash, those people are their parents, who died when Alderaan was destroyed. They have to dig to discover the truth, but the title of the book should give you a clue, even if they don't get it.
The story feels the most convoluted out of the entire series, but it also feels like it's the best book so far. I'm not sure how Whitman manages that, but the plot does feel more complex than the others he's created for the series. Tash and Zak both have to come to terms with the death of their parents, which helps give the story some gravity, since they have to come to terms with their own identities, as well. Their relationship with Hoole develops over the course of the series, too, which has been fun to watch, and it comes together nicely in this book.
The stories continue to be solid adventure stories, which is just what the Expanded Universe needs. The cameos here are less obvious and more natural to the story, which helps them feel less like fan service. I'm hoping Whitman will bring the series to a close with a strong conclusion in the next book.
The story feels the most convoluted out of the entire series, but it also feels like it's the best book so far. I'm not sure how Whitman manages that, but the plot does feel more complex than the others he's created for the series. Tash and Zak both have to come to terms with the death of their parents, which helps give the story some gravity, since they have to come to terms with their own identities, as well. Their relationship with Hoole develops over the course of the series, too, which has been fun to watch, and it comes together nicely in this book.
The stories continue to be solid adventure stories, which is just what the Expanded Universe needs. The cameos here are less obvious and more natural to the story, which helps them feel less like fan service. I'm hoping Whitman will bring the series to a close with a strong conclusion in the next book.
May 17, 2024
Clones generally cause mayhem and this is no exception! I really enjoyed exploring Dantooine through this book when I was younger. Unsurprisingly, I still enjoy it. Tash's realisation that she should not be using the Force in anger is an important one. She's always been my favourite character of the series and I fancied myself a Jedi just as she does, so I will always be invested in her journey with the Force. Perhaps this book - like the others - is flawed, but it's a firm favourite.
April 3, 2022
A bit confusing, but still an enjoyable read. Even though the author tried to wrap the plot into a mystery, there was not much of a mystery there, since judging by the title of the novel one could already guess what is happening in the story. However, that did not take much pleasure from reading the novel.
August 10, 2017
Ok this one is above average (which means that after 10+ books the author is getting a grip on things :D ).
Nice idea about the clones to bad that there is no reference to the Zahn trilogy.
Not so many cliffhangers which is very nice, and a smooth reading overall.
Nice idea about the clones to bad that there is no reference to the Zahn trilogy.
Not so many cliffhangers which is very nice, and a smooth reading overall.
November 30, 2020
Yeah, this one throws a real wrench in the lore. I do like the Dantooine setting, though, and the actual incorporation of the Dantari into the story.
Loootta clone cliches going on here.
Loootta clone cliches going on here.
November 26, 2021
a fun fantastic and spooky adventure. I really loved the story in this one, and the creepy vibes throughout. Possibly the best of a good series.
December 11, 2022
This one is pretty good. Shane the cover and title give so much away.
July 31, 2023
learn to see ,and learn to fell.. only maga fate was left uknown in the end..the first darth vader exyp there..but i know the difference..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2023
Legends books had so much moments of wildness and this one is no different. The family are having a fun restful time when they stumble across an ancient Jedi temple and Darth Vader!
December 17, 2024
Another neat little mystery novel in this series. I've really enjoyed these books; they are very suspenseful and I usually can't put them down until I've finished them.
September 24, 2016
Not the best; not the worst.
Tash learns more of her Force abilities and the dangers of the Dark Side in the calm (or really, not-so-calm) ruins of Dantooine.
Jedi ruins lay near an abandoned Rebel base where the nomad natives, the Dantari, don't go near. (as a side note, I felt quite sad that Tash & Zak didn't expect the nomads from the start).
There are clones in the ruins, which wouldn't be so ba if they weren't supposed to be actual clones. There is no way a clone of Vader would actually look like him. And the fact that Vader is behind the scheme doesn't make any sense at all, even in this pre-TPM written book. What DID make sense was that the clones were essentially visual copies of people, and didn't realize that cloned beings or items weren't good replicas.
Tash learns more of her Force abilities and the dangers of the Dark Side in the calm (or really, not-so-calm) ruins of Dantooine.
Jedi ruins lay near an abandoned Rebel base where the nomad natives, the Dantari, don't go near. (as a side note, I felt quite sad that Tash & Zak didn't expect the nomads from the start).
There are clones in the ruins, which wouldn't be so ba if they weren't supposed to be actual clones. There is no way a clone of Vader would actually look like him. And the fact that Vader is behind the scheme doesn't make any sense at all, even in this pre-TPM written book. What DID make sense was that the clones were essentially visual copies of people, and didn't realize that cloned beings or items weren't good replicas.
October 26, 2013
This was a fun adventure story that left alot of questions unanswered.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews