I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am always fascinated at how the mind works, and how recent history can soon fade into a homogeneous idea. And so I think has happened - for me at least - with the events of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I recall being very angry about it at the time, but as the years progressed, and I moved on in my life, I somehow lost that same passion and anger.
Jenkins' book is a literal walk down memory lane, stretching through a history of Western intervention - particularly focussing on America and Great Britain - in conflicts across the world such as Kosovo in the 1990s through to the Arab Spring, and ongoing conflicts in Syria.
Jenkins writes in a very relatable, understandable style, and I never felt as though I was being talked down to, but rather felt like I was reliving many of the same thoughts I had at the time.
The book was thought-provoking as well, asking questions such as why we choose to intervene in some conflicts, and not others. Ignoring atrocities in south-east Asia, and parts of Africa while choosing to intervene when it is politically convenient.
Mission Accomplished? is an engaging and thought-provoking read.
5/5 stars.
Saturday 26 September 2015
Monday 21 September 2015
Review - Aftermath by Chuck Wendig
This ain't your mama's Expanded Universe, that's for sure.
Being a fan of Chuck Wendig's previous work, I was definitely interested to see what he would do with the Star Wars universe, and was definitely interested to see how Lucasfilm would transition to the new film series.
I suppose that books must be read as products of their time, and this is a very modern take on the Star Wars universe, bringing a great deal of the modern experience of war into a semi-allegorical tale in parts. That did get me a little worried that it was going to be more about real world politics than just a good old Star Wars tale, but I found that it settled down after a while.
The book is largely unlike pretty much most of the other Star Wars books I have ever read, and I have read most of the EU books set after the battle of Yavin. Instead of focussing on a few "big" people - such as Han and Leia, it stars some smaller people who are dealing with the aftermath of the fall of the Emperor at Endor. Admiral Ackbar, and Mon Mothma are the main big names in the book, although Han Solo makes a very random appearance near the end, whose sole purpose seems to be to set up the next book.
The novel centers around a series of events on the planet Akiva - following an Imperial Pow-Wow to decide on the future of the Empire. There are former rebels, former imperials, smugglers, bounty hunters, kids with dreams who build droids, droids who know martial arts... All of the ingredients are there for an interesting story, but... somehow much of the novel is devoted to the kind of nonsense Lucas inflicted on us with the Trade Federation and Old Republic Senate discussions in the prequel movies.
Every now and then the story is littered with "interludes" which are basically excerpts from occasionally more interesting people and storylines the novel could be following. There are brief flashes of violence and action, but it quickly reverts to a bit of a gabfest.
I guess it is probably a more realistic look at the aftermath of the downfall of the emperor, which would inevitably create a power vacuum, like Iraq after the fall of Saddam. My recollection of the early post-Endor novels from the previous canon were pretty bad, and probably unrealistic looking back. Kathy Tyers' Truce at Bakura involves the Empire and the Rebels teaming up with each other to take on an existential threat for instance. Probably unrealistic.
What I would say is that the novel does a good job of looking at the broader consequences for the galaxy, and that there is more to the story than the story of the movies.
I am looking forward to the rest of this series, hoping that the characters and story pick up soon. There have been some really ordinary Star Wars novels before, and in fairness the other "official canon" novels released so far are not all that great, but I am willing to give this author and series little latitude.
3.5 stars.
Being a fan of Chuck Wendig's previous work, I was definitely interested to see what he would do with the Star Wars universe, and was definitely interested to see how Lucasfilm would transition to the new film series.
I suppose that books must be read as products of their time, and this is a very modern take on the Star Wars universe, bringing a great deal of the modern experience of war into a semi-allegorical tale in parts. That did get me a little worried that it was going to be more about real world politics than just a good old Star Wars tale, but I found that it settled down after a while.
The book is largely unlike pretty much most of the other Star Wars books I have ever read, and I have read most of the EU books set after the battle of Yavin. Instead of focussing on a few "big" people - such as Han and Leia, it stars some smaller people who are dealing with the aftermath of the fall of the Emperor at Endor. Admiral Ackbar, and Mon Mothma are the main big names in the book, although Han Solo makes a very random appearance near the end, whose sole purpose seems to be to set up the next book.
The novel centers around a series of events on the planet Akiva - following an Imperial Pow-Wow to decide on the future of the Empire. There are former rebels, former imperials, smugglers, bounty hunters, kids with dreams who build droids, droids who know martial arts... All of the ingredients are there for an interesting story, but... somehow much of the novel is devoted to the kind of nonsense Lucas inflicted on us with the Trade Federation and Old Republic Senate discussions in the prequel movies.
Every now and then the story is littered with "interludes" which are basically excerpts from occasionally more interesting people and storylines the novel could be following. There are brief flashes of violence and action, but it quickly reverts to a bit of a gabfest.
I guess it is probably a more realistic look at the aftermath of the downfall of the emperor, which would inevitably create a power vacuum, like Iraq after the fall of Saddam. My recollection of the early post-Endor novels from the previous canon were pretty bad, and probably unrealistic looking back. Kathy Tyers' Truce at Bakura involves the Empire and the Rebels teaming up with each other to take on an existential threat for instance. Probably unrealistic.
What I would say is that the novel does a good job of looking at the broader consequences for the galaxy, and that there is more to the story than the story of the movies.
I am looking forward to the rest of this series, hoping that the characters and story pick up soon. There have been some really ordinary Star Wars novels before, and in fairness the other "official canon" novels released so far are not all that great, but I am willing to give this author and series little latitude.
3.5 stars.
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