Traitor, by Matthew Stover, falls in the middle of the New Jedi Order series and is perhaps one of the most pivotal book in the entire Star Wars Saga. The central villain of the New Jedi Order, the Yuuzhan Vong species, has invaded our familiar galaxy far, far away, and done considerable damage, killing Han and Leia's youngest son Anakin and capturing their oldest son Jacen. The Jedi Order is essentially in ruins, and the Yuuzhan Vong have taken Coruscant, the capital of the Republic.
Stover, though, takes you away from the events of the series, and plants you in the middle of the Vong Fleet, where Jacen Solo is being held. He is captive of Vergere, a former Jedi turned, not ironically traitor. Or at least, that's what we think. Traitor is almost a guidebook to the Force as it is presented in the Star Wars series. Jacen progresses under the tutelage of Vergere and finds his mind opened to new understandings of the Force. Star Wars fans have debated before the use of the Force. Is there a light side? A dark side? Or is the Force just a tool, at which point the good or evil is based on the intents of the user?
Stover delves into these myriad thoughts. His journey takes Jacen from a Yuuzhan Vong ship to Coruscant itself, now overgrown with alien vegetation from the Vong takeover. Jacen, in the process, joins with a Yuuzhan Vong worldbrain, becoming its sole protector and friend, and causing the slow, gradual decay of Coruscant. He eventually escapes Coruscant, but his view of the Force is forever changed, and the change becomes increasingly apparent through the Dark Nest Trilogy and the Legacy of the Force series.
Stover brings a different style to Star Wars. Usually the heroes are invincible, but Stover's style makes you feel like anything can happen at any time. His writing is unpredictable, and that's a good thing.
Re-readability: 9.8
Final Grade: A+
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