Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #346716 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 320 pages

Customer Reviews

Now this is the Star Wars I've always loved!
With Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream, Aaron Allston joins the pack of Star Wars authors for the New Jedi Order, and he gives us a rip-roaring adventure with a lot of what drew me to the Star Wars universe to begin with. Known (at least where this universe is concerned) for contributing to the X-Wing series, as well as introducing Wraith Squadron, he's definitely the master of exciting spaceship combat, and this book is no different. If you've found the New Jedi Order too depressing recently, that won't completely change here, but Allston does give us a lot more of what we all know and love as well. An excellent first book.

After the fall of Coruscant, the homeworld of the New Republic, the remaining members of the Council are frantic. The New Republic manages to capture the Vong base at Borleias, but General Wedge Antilles and the rest of the garrison there know that they can't hold it. That would seem to suit the Council just fine, adding even more political intrigue to an already horrendous situation. Wedge, his followers in the army, and the Jedi decide that the New Republic is dead, and that they must return to their rebellion roots to keep as many planets as possible from negotiating with the Vong. To this end, they send Han and Leia Organa Solo on a mission to various planets to begin this operation. Meanwhile, Luke senses a horribly dark presence back on Coruscant, and embarks on a seemingly foolhardy plan to go back and investigate, along with a team from Republic Intelligence hoping to set up a Resistance cell there. What Luke finds there may be the end of him, and the last hope of the New Republic could fall to the huge Vong invasion force determined to re-take Borleias.

Rebel Dream has a lot of stuff in it that I have been missing from the Star Wars books up to now. The characterization of all the regulars is fabulous. Wedge Antilles really comes into his own here, now that we have somebody who is very skilled in writing him contributing to the books (I believe Michael Stackpole also utilized him well in his two books, but I can't remember for sure). He's older, wiser, more seasoned, but he remembers what it was like to be a young, hot-shot pilot and the byplay between him and the rest of the cast is excellent.

Even better, however, and truly the saving grace of the book, is Han and Leia. They are sent out to set up resistance cells on planets whose governments may not be willing to help against the Vong, and they are the Han and Leia that I have missed since this series started. The banter between them is marvelous, the teasing with the deep love that is underneath, flowing between them like a bond that will never be broken, is back in full force. Don't get me wrong. This is not "reset button" characterization. Everything that has happened to them and their family still affects them, and they both have their wistful moments thinking of Anakin and Jacen, and their doubts about Jaina. The teasing between the two of them has often served to cover their insecurities, so it's logical that it's even more pronounced here. Literally every scene they have in the book is wonderful, at least where they are concerned.

In fact, that's the best part about this book. Despite the heavy content, the book is fun. That's something that I couldn't have said about many of the New Jedi Order books, and it's a refreshing change. Luke and Mara have a serious mission to Coruscant, but they have time for humorous asides as well. The Wraith squadron, which Allston created many years ago, comes back (or at least some members do) and their senses of humour are a shining beacon after so much darkness.

The only problem with this much humour is that Jaina's dalliance with the Dark Side of the Force is shunted aside a bit. Yes, at the end of Dark Journey, Jaina was on her way to dealing with it, but it seemed that there would still be a tough road ahead of her. In Rebel Dream, it didn't seem like it was that hard. That being said, everything she's gone through has led to some wonderful scenes in this book with both Jag and Kyp, as well as a wonderfully touching scene with her mother. Allston hits the right notes on all of these, whether it's darkness, light stuff, or some emotional scenes, everything is good.

That's not to say the book is perfect, though it is definitely a 5-star effort. The storyline involving the human spy that is under the control of the Vong is very predictable, and thus quite dull. One thing Allston is not is subtle. Tricky, yes, as he keeps Wedge's ultimate plan hidden from even the reader. But he's not subtle. The spy story is right there in the reader's face, very obvious to anybody who's paying attention. Unfortunately, that also makes the resolution seem too easy, and there's no real tension involved. It does lead into something nice for the next book, but in this one, it's just tedious.

Rebel Dream is a return to form for the Star Wars books. Yes, I have liked most of the New Jedi Order series, but there's always been a "but this isn't really the series I grew up with" feeling behind it. Allston succeeds in marrying what I have always liked about the series to what I like about the recent books, and making a perfect match. He should be commended, and this book should be read despite not really having much to do with the overall storyline. It's not an "important" book for the series, but it is definitely worth the side trip.

David Roy

Allston brings back the best!
Finally the NJO series is getting serious. Up until now the series has laboured with the internal divsions amongst the Jedi, the infighting within the Solo household and Jaina's flirtation with the Dark Side. Allston has remembered that there were other characters in the Star Wars novels other than newly created NJO characters and the Solo/Skywalker families. He uses his previous Star Wars writing experience to bring back much loved charaters such as Iella & Wraith Squadron (though much changed.) You also get to see the return of the real Wedge Antilles and the much welcomed comic relief from Han Solo. Once again, thanks to A.Allston, Rogue Squadron seems to be the undefeatable force we all know and love.
Just like in the X-Wing series Allston describes some great battle scenes and the close relationships of the starfighter pilots to great effect. But perhaps the best and most telling thing about this novel is that it is not all doom and gloom and it is the New Republic (well the important bits) finally getting their act together and dishing out some punishment.
...if you love NJO this book is a must, if you haven't seen the light yet start at the begining with Vector Prime then work your way through to really appreciate this novel. If you want more Aaron Allston stuff look up the X-Wing series he co-wrote with Michael A. Stackpole. The series starts with Rogue Squadron by Stackpole.

It's about Time!
It's about time the New Republic started winning. It's about time Jaina solo got to grips with her anger. It's about time we had a happy ending. In short, I've been waiting for this book for a while. It's a great book and Allston has captured the spirit of Star Wars once again. It was good to see Wraith Squadron again, though I was a bit disapointed with the changes made in it's roster. All in all this book is a must read for anyone who has been closely following the New Jedi Order series. Buy it now.