Scott Rhee's Reviews > Star Wars: Children of the Jedi

Of the many Star Wars Expanded Universe novels I have read, Barbara Hambly's "Children of the Jedi" ranks somewhere in the middle. I've certainly read much better books in the series, but I've also read worse. Coming off the heels of reading Dave Wolverton's horribly cheesy "The Courtship of Princess Leia", this book was superb.

Hambly is a talented writer who clearly has a knack for developing character depth. In this book, in particular, she gives the character of Princess Leia much more characterization and play within the story than other books I have read in the series. Hambly delves deeper into Leia's emotional life, especially in regards to her grief and mourning over the loss of her entire home planet, Alderaan, an aspect of her character that I have never adequately seen displayed in either the films or other novels prior to this.

Set several years after the events of "Return of the Jedi", "Children of the Jedi" sees Han and Leia married, with three children. Leia is President of the New Republic. Luke has set up the Jedi Academy on Yavin, and has been scouring the galaxy searching for young recruits. They are all on a diplomatic mission to the planet Belsavis when one of Han's old smuggler buddies shows up with a strange warning. His message is almost indecipherable, as he has clearly gone mad, but he manages to elicit a few understandable words: "children of the Jedi" being the most clear.

Apparently, long ago, several Jedi, after the Purge, brought their children to this planet to escape the Jedi Massacre that was led by Emperor Palpatine. Rumors of their settlement persist, but no one has any memory of them.

Luke, in his separate investigation in another part of the galaxy, has discovered an Imperial Dreadnaught called the Eye of Palpatine, left to rot in a forgotten corner of space. Unfortunately, no one remembered to give the abort orders to the ship's computer, which seems to have developed into a powerful Artificial Intelligence calling itself the Will, that has a telekinetic control over the remaining life forms on board the ship. It is still intent on its original mission, which is the destruction of Belsavis.

Meanwhile, Han and Leia's investigation uncovers the existence of a former spy of the Emperor's living amongst the people of Belsavis. They, unfortunately, aren't sure who the spy is. All the while, weird inexplicable mechanical "accidents" are occurring all over the planet.

Overall, this was a decent and very readable Star Wars adventure.