Book One of the Black Fleet Crisis, Before the Storm is the first of Michael P. Kube-McDowell's three forays into the Star Wars universe. And let me say this: he makes a great impression. Set twelve years after the death of Darth Vader, the Black Fleet Crisis reveals a new enemy that has always been hidden in the galaxy far, far away: the xenophobic Yevetha.
Viceroy Nil Spaar comes to Coruscant to visit Leia Organa Solo, under the pretense of a peaceful union between the New Republic and the Yevethan Duskhan League. Spaar soon turns aggressive in his negotiations and then leaves Coruscant, blaming Leai for the failed treaty and essentially declaring war on the New Republic.
On other fronts, Luke Skywalker withdraws from the Jedi Academy and goes into a self-imposed exile, feeling that he has lost his way in the force. Kube-McDowell brings back a Luke that had been missing since the original movie trilogy, a whiny, angst-ridden Luke that we all know and love. Luke is later found by Akanah Norand Pell, a member of the Fallanasi and devotee of the White Current, a sub-sect of Force users. Akanah tells Luke that she knew his mother, and that she might still be alive, but Luke has to help her find the Fallanasi first.
Land Calrissian, who at this point is bored and hasn't had a starring role in a book for about ten years (in the SW chronology), confronts New Republic Intelligence seeking a project. He is directed to the Vagabond, a mysterious ship that has been tracked for some time by Intelligence. Lando gathers his old comrade Lobot from Cloud City, and gains use of C-3PO and R2-D2 from the Solos. They journey out to the vagabond, and Calrissian and his team quickly figure out how to access the ship. They gain entry and the ship jumps into hyperspace, leaving the Intelligence team far behind.
Kube-McDowell, like Aaron Allston, is able to maintain humor in his writing, but also a level of seriousness that was missing from the few novels in the timeline before this set. Black Fleet Crisis is perhaps, outside of Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy, one of the best three book sets in the Star Wars universe.
Re-readability: 8.9
Final Grade: B+
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