Survivor's Quest

Let me start off by saying that I may have spoiled Timothy Zahn's Survivor's Quest for myself by reading Outbound Flight first (my review).  Even though Survivor's Quest comes later chronologically, it poses many questions that Outbound Flight answers.  Any sense of mystery I would have felt reading this book was replaced by a sense of frustration, as I watched its characters stumble around looking for answers I already knew.

That said, Survivor's Quest is a standalone book centered around the discovery of the Outbound Flight crash site deep in territory controlled by the Chiss Ascendancy.  A call goes out and a motley crew is formed consisting of Luke and Mara (now married), a Stormtrooper squad from the Empire of the Hand led by the son of Baron Fel, a technician masquerading as a New Republic ambassador, a diplomatic contingent from an alien species, and the Chiss military..



The majority of the book is told from a mixed Luke and Mara point of view.  Now 3 years into the heavenly bond of matrimony, they fight and think as one with the Force as their ally.  Unfortunately, this is about all they do.  They risk life and limb almost lightheartedly, and for no apparent reason other than that they've got nothing better to do.  You'd think that in a book centered around a married Jedi couple that there might be some conflict and resolution within that relationship, but everything is just peachy.  Nothing is risked here, and nothing is learned.  Luke and Mara finish this book exactly the same as they enter it - curious, but detached.  Sometimes Jedi are so boring.

The lack of anything interesting happening between Mara and Luke doesn't keep them from filling up significant portions of the book with expository dialogue, though.  This is where we learn that Outbound Flight was a massive Jedi-led expedition to explore what lies beyond the galactic rim, and that Thrawn was Chiss but his people don't like him very much because he destroyed Outbound Flight.  They hash out everything ad nauseum and, especially aboard the Chiss vessel before arriving at the crash site, it is absolutely nauseating.

The story moves on when they arrive at Outbound Flight and - gasp - there are Survivors aboard.  Our crew gets separated, there are some threats made, and conflict arises.  The survivors aren't gracious hosts, and after awhile one of factions in our motley crew reveals their true nature by turning on everyone else and attempting to make off with the goods.  Action ensues, and its up to Luke and Mara to save the day.  After doing so, they reflect on the day and let the reader know what they should have learned.

I will say that it was cool getting a chance to see what a Jedi couple in their prime can do.  I also enjoyed Zahn's depiction of the Stormtrooper squad from the Emperor of the Hand.  I was excited going in to get a chance to see Outbound Flight again, but I found Zahn's description of the derelict confusing, and halfway through I gave up trying to envision where everyone was.

There are a lot of places here where I think Zahn could have deepened the story to its benefit.  The survivors of Outbound Flight hate Jedi and, when they find them among them, lock them away in an improvised prison.  Though we do meet a young girl actively disguising her Force sensitivity, Luke and Mara aren't all that interested and we never get to meet the prisoners.  We're tempted with the prospect of Jedi insight from onboard records, but it never happens and Luke doesn't learn anything.  Chak Fel and his Stormtroopers are cool, but we don't get to know much about them or their motivations.

Most of all though, I was just disappointed at the central conflict of the story.  The fellows who ended up being the villains went mostly undeveloped.  Their burning desire for red revenge just existed; we know its factual source but not much about any of the players involved.  In the stead of a compelling nemesis I wouldn't have minded something like a relationship conflict between Luke and Mara, something that grows their relationship as a result of having worked through it during the adventure.  But maybe this is asking too much from my Star Wars.

To summarize, I enjoyed Survivor's Quest.  I just couldn't help but ask for more and deeper at every turn the story took.  You hear me Mr. Zahn?

I think I'll let my reviews stand on their own without quantifiable ratings, and mention that for my next book I'm debating between Shatterpoint and Dark Tide: Onslaught.  I've started both, thoughts so far are that I can't read Mace Windu without hearing Samuel Jackson in my head, and that Stackpole's New Jedi Order continuation has one of those infuriatingly flat obstinate politician scenes at the very start, which turns me off a bit.  Back soon with my next review!