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.

Book Review: Assassin's Creed: Revelation SPOILERS!

On 29 November 2011, US version, Oliver Bowden published the final book in the Ezio storyline. Synopsis: Older, wiser, and more deadly than ever, Master Assassin Ezio Auditore embarks on an epic journey to find the lost library of Altaïr--a library that may hold the key to defeating the Templars. However, a shocking discovery awaits him. The library holds not only hidden knowledge but also the most unsettling secret the world has ever known, a secret the Templars hope to use to control humankind's destiny. Five keys are needed to access the library--to find them, Ezio must travel to the troubled city of Constantinople, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the Ottoman Empire. Walking in the footsteps of his predecessor, Altaïr, Ezio must defeat the Templars for the final time. The stakes have never been higher, and what started as a pilgrimage has become a race against time. . .

The novel opens with Ezio arriving at Masyaf only to find it occupied by Leandros and an army of Templars. Ezio gets captures, and rethinks on how he undertook this journey: he found a letter to his father and recalled the first Codex and decided to head to Masyaf; he also recalls learning from Machiavelli that Caterina is dead, leaves his sister temporarily in charge, and travels with Bartolomeo to Bari; from there, Ezio travels to Cyprus, then to Greece, and finally to Acre. Once Ezio is done rumenizing, he fights his way free and hunts Leandros down in a town far from Masyaf. Ezio kills Leandros and discovers a book and that the Templars got it in Constantinople. Ezio journeys there and chats with Prince Suleiman; Ezio takes notice of a lovely Italian woman named Sofia Sartor. Once they arrive in the great city, Ezio is spirited away to the Assassin Headquarters by Assassin leader Yusuf Tazim. Ezio also learns of the hookblade and how to use it. Ezio tells Yusuf about his trio and why he's there, but another assassin warns them of an impending two-prong attack on two of the Assassin Dens. Ezio defends one of the dens while Yusuf goes to defend the other, but Ezio arrives to help out once he's done.

Ezio asks Yusuf the location of the old Polo Trading Outpost, and Yusuf directs him to Piri Reis--the two hit it off and Reis points Ezio in the direction of a new book shop. At the bookshop, Ezio discovers that Sofia runs the place and asks to take a look inside. He finds a secret passage that leads into the sewers and promptly tells a curious Sofia that he's "the most interesting man" she will ever meet. He tracks down and the first key and a map of other books; Ezio returns to Sofia and asks her for help in locating the other books. Sofia gladly does this, provided she can republish the books. During a party, Ezio, as a minstril, saves Suleiman's life. Suleiman requests that Ezio eavesdrop on a conversation between him, his uncle Ahmet , and the Janissary captain Tarik Barleti. He tails Tarik and discovers that the Janissary captain has dealings with Manuel Palaiologos; with this knowledge, Suleiman requests that Ezio assassinate Tarik. In his dying moment, Tarik reveals that his forces were to ambush Manuel after gaining his favor. He then entrusts Ezio to continue his plan, and set sail for Cappadocia. During all this, Ezio continues to hunt for the books that will lead him to Altaïr's keys and falling in love with Sofia, who loves him.

In the first one, Ezio experiences Altaïr saving Rashid ad-Din Sinan--Al Mualim--from former assassin Haras. The second key details Altaïr burning Al Mualim on a pyre and Abbas Sofian's failed rebellion through utilizing an Apple of Eden, which Altaïr later retrieved. The third memory details Altaïr's fall from power in 1228; after defeating Genghis Khan's army with his son Darim and wife Maria, Altaïr found out that Abbas had usurped command from Altaïr's appointed proxy Malik Al-Sayf, and that his son Sef was murdered by Swami, Abbas' right hand man. Altaïr confronts Abbas and his loyalists, but was overcome with rage and used the Apple for revenge, which caused the death of both Swami and Maria. In the wake of this incident, Altaïr fled Masyaf with Darim before Abbas could apprehend them. The fourth key shows Altaïr's return to power in 1247, with the help of several Assassins who grew tired of Abbas' iron clad rule; he achieved this through Abbas' death at his hands, where Altaïr used his newly crafted Hidden Gun.

After the death of Tarik, Ezio informs Suleiman of Tarik's allegiance and Ezio apologizes for killing an honorable man; they are interrupted by Ahmet, who assumes his enemies killed Tarik to lose his small favor with the Janissary guard; Ezio leaves with Suleiman's blessing. After destroying Constantinople's Great Chain, Ezio arrives at Cappadocia, then seeks out Tarik's ally, Dilara in the city of Derinkuyu. After freeing her captured friends, Ezio blows up the firearms, which causes Cappadocia to go up in flames and smokes out Manuel. Ezio kills Manuel, then is greeted by Ahmet, who is the Grand Master of the Templar Order. The fifth key plays out with Altaïr, now the Mentor, escorting Niccolò and Maffeo Polo from Masyaf as the invading Mongols drew near the city. Altaïr gave the brothers his Codex as a parting gift, and escorted them out of the city. As the brothers left on their horses, Altaïr gave Niccolò the keys, which he asked to be hidden from others, so that the one who was meant to know the message could seek it out. Ezio races back to Constantinople with Piri Reis and the two arrive in time to find out Ezio's a wanted man.

He races back to Sofia's book shop to find it ransacked and Yusuf dead. Ezio hunts down Ahmet, but Ahmet, after telling Ezio to bring the keys or else he'll kill Sofia, flees; Suleiman witnesses this and tells Ezio to kill his uncle before his Templar fantasy destroys Constantinople. After the funeral, Ezio gathers the assassins and brings Ahmet the keys, then climbs up Galata Tower and frees a dangling Sofia. But it's not Sofia, it is one of the assassin's and Ezio parachutes off the tower to rescue Sofia who's being hanged. Not understanding what's going on, Sofia takes over the horse coach while Ezio picks off Ahmet's guards. Eventually, Ahmet and Ezio crash their carts and they can barely stand. Suleiman's father, Selim I, arrives with his forces and Selim kills his conniving brother. Meeting with Ezio, Selim went on to threaten that Ezio be killed if he returned to Constantinople, sparing him only due to Suleiman's good word. As tensions grew between the two men, Ezio's rage was quelled by Sofia, and as Selim left, so too did Ezio and Sofia, heading for Masyaf.

Once they arrive, Ezio completes his tale of how the Assassin's came to be and the tale of the great mentor Altaïr. Once inside the castle, Ezio places the five keys on the door and it opens to reveal an empty library. Ezio, with a torch, scours the scene and comes across a corpse holding a sixth key. Ezio picks it up and witnesses Altaïr telling Darim to flee for Alexandria, then seals himself in Masyaf castle, places the Apple on the pedestal in the empty library, then sits for a moment to rest. Ezio says "Requiescat in pace" to Altaïr, then looks at the Apple and refuses to do anything with it and Tinian--Jupiter--appears to give a message to Ezio for someone else; it depicts the end of the First Civilization and how it can be averted in some other time. After Ezio receives the message, he and Sofia depart Masyaf castle. After arraigning for Lodovico Ariosto--Lucrezia Borgia's husband--to be the next Mentor, Ezio and Sofia, now his wife, retire to live outside Florence. They produce two children and Ezio, with Machiavelli, watches Leonardo da Vinci succumbs to memory loss; they learn later that he died. Years later, a young Chinese Assassin--Shao Jun--comes to seek guidance from Ezio and he trains her to help her prepare to drive the Templars out of China. Years later, after she's gone, Ezio and Sofia, with the kids, go for a trip to Florence where Ezio dies of old age.

All in all, a well-crafted book that wraps up Ezio's storyline in the series. Hihgly recommended for all fans of the Assassin's Creed series.

And with this last tie-in post comes the end of November for me. I will pick up with four books in December to wrap it up. The list, not in order, follows: Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Last Command, Honor Harrington: Shadow of Saganami, Star Wars: X-Wing: Wraith Squadron.

Book Review: Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade SPOILERS!

On 28 June 2011, Oliver Bowden decided the time was right to compose the novelization of the first Assassin's Creed game. Synopsis: Niccolò Polo, father of Marco, will finally reveal the story he has kept secret all his life--the story of Altaïr, one of the Brotherhood's most extraordinary assassins. Altaïr embarks on a formidable mission - one that takes him throughout the Holy Land and shows him the true meaning of the Assassin's Creed. To demonstrate his commitment, Altaïr must defeat nine deadly enemies, including the Templar leader, Robert de Sable. Altaïr's life story is told here for the first time: a journey that changes the course of history; his ongoing battle with the Templar conspiracy; a family life that is as tragic as it is shocking; and the ultimate betrayal of an old friend.

The novel opens with Ezio reading Niccolò Polo's tale of the great Mentor of the Levantine Assassins Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad as related to him by Altaïr; Niccolò's relating this tale to his brother Maffeo. The story starts with Masyaf being besieged by Salah Al'din's army. Salah Al'din holds Ahmad Sofian--father of Abbas Sofian--hostage, but Umar Ibn-La'Ahad, Altaïr's father, surrenders himself and asks Al Mualim to train his son. Years later, Altaïr, Malik Al-Sayf and Kadar Al-Sayf enter Solomon's Temple and find Robert de Sable and his Templar brothers surrounding the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Altaïr challenges Robert, but the Templar easily defeats him.

Altaïr flees back to Masyaf, but Robert and the Templars are right behind him. Altaïr alerts Al Mualim to his failure, but Malik arrives with the Apple of Eden and blames Altaïr for Kadar's death. Altaïr helps drive the Templars back, but Al Mualim strips Altaïr of his rank. Altaïr is sent to Damas (thought why Bowden doesn't just say Damascus, I have no idea) to assassinate Tamir. Altaïr collects enough information and reports to the Rafiq who grants him permission. Altaïr kills Tamir, who reveals his information to Altaïr. Altaïr, back at Masyaf, is sent to Acre to assassinate Garnier de Naplouse, and receives permission from Jabal once he's collected enough information (look, you get the idea, right? It's just the main game's plot being recycled here). Then he heads to Jerusalem, where Malik now serves and is still angry with Altaïr, to assassinate the slaver Talal. It's after this assassination that Altaïr begins to suspect that something binds these men together.

Back in the past, it's revealed that Ahmad, after having fled Masyaf years ago, returned and slit his throat in front of Altaïr, but Al Mualim forbids Altaïr from telling Abbas. Back in the main event of the story, Al Mualin tells Altaïr to set these thoughts aside. Altaïr travels back to Acre, Damascus, and Jerusalem to assassinate William de Montferrat, Abu'l Nuqoud, and Majd Addin, each of whom confesses to something about 'the new world'. Altaïr relates this to Al Mualim, who again tells Altaïr to ignore it and reveals what the Templars are after: the Apple. He relates certain historical figures and biblical figures to it and states that it has a great power to force men to do the users bidding. Next, Altaïr is sent to Sibrand and Jubair al Hakim.

Back in the past, Altaïr tells Abbas the truth, but Abbas refuses to believe him and beats Altaïr up, but Al Mualim intervenes. Back in the main story line, Altaïr, in Damascus, assassinates Jubair, then leaves for Acre to kill in insane Sibrand. After learning their reasons for doing what they did, Altaïr comes to the conclusion that the Templars seek the same thing as the Assassin's: peace. But Al Mualim states that their intentions are more harmful than helpful. Back in the past, Altaïr notes that Abbas refuses to do anything with him anymore. Back in the main story line, Altaïr is sent to kill Robert de Sable. He arrives in Jerusalem and reports to Malik. Altaïr apologizes to Malik for his former arrogance, but Malik refuses to accept, stating that Altaïr isn't the same person anymore. At the funeral of Majd, Altaïr is caught unaware as the Templars ambush him. He fights them and defeats the leader, who reveals herself to be Maria Thorpe, de Sable's most trusted assistant.

Altaïr spares her life and reports to Malik and tells him that de Sable plans to have King Richard the Lionheart and Salah Al'din join forces to wipe out the Assassins. Altaïr arrives and begs Richard to listen to reason, but Richard leaves it up to God, stating that who ever wins in a fight is the right one. Altaïr, after a duel with several Crusader Templars, kills de Sable. The truth is revealed that there are ten Templars, the last being Al Mualim, and King Richard decides to talk peace with Salah Al'din while Altaïr races back to Masyaf to confront the Mentor. Al Mualim uses the Apple to bring up ghost images of each of Altaïr's recent kills, but Altaïr easily beats them, then duels and kills Al Mualim.

Here, Niccolò speeds over events, and relates Altaïr's travels to Cyprus to kill the Templar Grand Master Armand Bouchart; Altaïr's accompanies by Maria, even though she attempts to betray him several times, but eventually, after killing many Templars and an Assassin who was converted, Altaïr and Maria succeed in killing Bouchart. During this, Altaïr wrote the Codex that Ezio would later find and read. Altaïr and Maria head to the east to stop the advance of Genghis Khan and the Mongols. After they come back with their eldest son Darim Ibn-La'Ahad, they learn that Sef Ibn-La'Ahad, their youngest son, was killed by Malik. Altaïr breaks Malik out of prison and learns that Abbas had his son killed, then Altaïr and Maria confront Abbas. Abbas still bears hatred for what Altaïr said years ago about his father killing himself, then reveals that he killed Malik. Altaïr, angered, attempts to kill Abbas, but ends up fleeing with Darim when Abbas' corrupt Assassins kill Maria. (Note: this differs heavily from Revelation, but Bowden rewrites it to Revelation's setting in the next book, proving that Bowden makes some of this up as he goes along.)

Years later, and elderly Altaïr returns to Masyaf and gathers the poorly trained Assassin's together to confront Abbas and stop him from his power-hungry quest, but Abbas is surrounded by his loayal Assassins. Altaïr uses his newly fashioned hidden gun to kill Abbas, then Altaïr takes over the Assassins. This is where the events catch up to Niccolò and Maffeo as Altaïr gives them certain disks and the Codex to hide. They flee Masyaf as the Mongols attack and Altaïr rallies his Assassins to defend the city. The Polos lose the Codex, but still held on to the artifacts. They decide to hide them in Constantinople for an Assassin of the future to find. They also spread word of the Creed and set up an Assassins guild there, in Constantinople. At the end, Ezio closes the book and looks over the cityscape of Constantinople as the ship he's on pulls into the harbor.


All in all, a wel-paced novel that captures the spirit of the original game, even with the liberties to cut off the information gathering that the game replies upon. Recommended for every Assassin's Creed fan.

Up next, and last for November, Assassin's Creed: Revelation by Oliver Bowden.