Upcoming book reviews for the new year

This year has been one of the craziest, fans, and I expect next year won't be any different. The exception will be not doing that many game tie-ins in November. I'm not doing that again.

The next year will see some series either finished, caught up on, or continuing in some fashion.

The List:
The Honor Harrington Saga by David Weber
The Vorkosigan Saga: Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold
Halo: The Kilo Five Trilogy Book 3: Mortal Dictata by Karen Traviss (January 21, 2014)
Star Wars: X-Wing: Wraith Squadron through Mercy Kill by Aaron Allston and Michael A. Stackpole
Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn duology by Timothy Zahn
The Xanth Saga by Piers Anthony
Assassin's Creed: Forsaken by Oliver Bowden
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag by Oliver Bowden
Murder of the Crows: A Novel of the Others by Anne Bishop (March 2014)
Star Wars: I, Jedi by Michael A. Stackpole
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back by Donal F. Glut
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi by James Kahn
Star Wars: Survivor's Quest by Timothy Zahn
Star Wars: Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn
Star Wars: Allegiance by Timothy Zahn
Star Wars: Choices of One by Timothy Zahn
Star Wars: Scoundrels by Timothy Zahn
The Clockwork Empire series by Steven Harper
The Age of Zeus by James Lovegrove
The Age of Odin by James Lovegrove
The Age of Aztec by James Lovegrove
The Age of Voodoo by James Lovegrove
The Age of Godpunk by James Lovegrove
The Age of Shiva by James Lovegrove (March 25, 2014)

I think that'll keep for the year. Don't you? Enjoy the upcoming book reviews, people. I know I enjoy writing them as much as you enjoy reading them.

Book Review: Star Wars: A New Hope SPOILERS!

On December 1976, the novel to the bestselling movie was published by Del Rey under the name George Lucas, but was really ghostwritten by acclaimed author Alan Dean Foster—his prose is very succinct and easily noted with certain words and phrases. Synopsis: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . . Luke Skywalker lived and worked on his uncle's farm on the remote planet of Tatooine—and he was bored beyond belief. He yearned for adventures out among the stars—adventures that would take him beyond the farthest galaxies to distant and alien worlds. But Luke got more than he bargained for when he intercepted a cryptic message from a beautiful princess being held captive by a dark and powerful warlord. Luke didn't know who she was, but he had to save her—and soon, because time was running out. Armed only with courage and with the lightsaber that had been his father's, Luke was catapulted into the middle of the most savage space war ever…and he was headed straight for a desperate encounter on the enemy battle station known as the Death Star.

The novel opens with a rare two epigraph prologue, one that summarizes the Prequel Trilogy before it was even filmed or written, and the other a quote from Leia. Then it shifts to a brief history of the Tatoo system, particularly that of Tatooine. It then goes to the Tantive IV being captured by Darth Vader; during a battle on the ship, Princess Leia Organa codes a hologram message to General Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi to give to her father on Alderaan, with a set of plans for the Death Star, inside the astromech droid R2-D2. R2-D2 and his protocol droid counterpart C-3PO escape the doomed ship and crash land on Tatooine. Luke, working on a part of the moisture farm, witnesses the battle above and alerts his friends—Camie, Fixer, Deak, and Windy—but they don't believe him; Biggs Darklighter is there and tells Luke that he and a friend plan on deserting the Empire for the Rebellion.

After days of wandering, both get captured by the trader natives, Jawas, and eventually brought to the Lars Homestead, where Owen Lars buys them. When his nephew, Luke Skywalker, cleans R2-D2, a portion of the message plays out, but R2 refuses to play the rest. During dinner, Luke asks his uncle if Obi-Wan is related to Crazy Ben, but Owen refuses to answer. During the night, R2 sneaks off to the Jundland Wastes, but Luke—in the morning—gives chase. C-3PO and Luke catch up to R2 and they are promptly attacked by Tusken Raiders. Luke's wounded and Ben chases them off, then takes R2, Luke, and C-3PO back to his hut and listen to the message. Ben reveals himself to be Obi-Wan, and that he fought in the Clone Wars with Luke's father; they decide to go toward the nearest spaceport, but when Luke learns of Jawas being massacred over the droids, he races back to the farm and finds the remains of his uncle and aunt's corpses. He then sets of toward Mos Eisley Spaceport with Obi-Wan and the droids.

Meanwhile, having been captured by Darth Vader and subsequently interrogated, Leia is brought before Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin who intends to demonstrate that rebellion won't be tolerated and threatens to destroy Alderaan when Leia, breaking down, tells Tarkin that the rebel base is on Dantooine. Tarkin admits that Dantooine is too remote for an effective demonstration and blows up Alderaan. Back on Tatooine, Luke and Obi-Wan encounter Han Solo and his copilot Chewbacca. After a deal is struck for passage off-world, Han tells Jabba Desilijic Tiure that he (Han) will have the money shortly, then flees the planet with the gang when the stormtroopers attempt to arrest them. After fleeing Tatooine, and with Obi-Wan training Luke in the ways of the Jedi Knights, they arrive at the remains of Alderaan and get captured by the Empire. Obi-Wan goes to sabotage the Death Star's tractor beams while Luke, Chewie, and Han rescue Leia. Vader, sensing Obi-Wan through the magical and mystical Force, seeks his former Master and duels him. After a fight through the Death Star, the gang flees when Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to allow Millennium Falcon to escape the battle station.

They arrive in the Yavin system and land at the Great Temple on the fourth moon, where the plans are delivered to the rebels. A briefing is held, during which Wedge Antilles voices concern about the plan; Han and Chewie take their reward and leave. Luke meets up with former childhood friend Biggs and they have a brief reunion. The Death Star arrives and the Battle of Yavin IV begins. During the Battle, Gold Squadron, in Y-Wings, is eliminated, while Red Squadron, in X-Wings, is heavily reduced. Luke, Biggs, and Wedge are left at the end, but Vader destroys Biggs' ship, then damages Wedge's before targeting Luke's. However, Han—having a change of heart—arrives to destroy two of Vader's wing-men, then sends Vader spinning out of the system, giving Luke the shot to destroy the battle station. Tarkin remains unconvinced that it can be destroyed, but is proven wrong when Luke's two proton torpedoes fly down an uncovered thermal exhaust port and blow up the main reactor. Han, Chewie, Luke, Wedge and an unnamed pilot head back to Yavin IV where they are honored for their victory.

All in all, a great novelization of the first film that captures the entirety of the Star Wars galaxy. A pity that Alan's other two entries into the galaxy were terrible. It remains one of the must-read novels in the entire saga.