Reviews

This latest installment from the producers of Star WarsR Original Radio Dramas (Audio Reviews, LJ 8/95) is the second in a series of three stories based on the Star WarsR: Dark ForcesTM and Jedi KnightTM interactive games. As the title suggests, the plot centers around a rebel agent named Kyle Katarn, son of Morgan Katarn of the rebel alliance. With the help of his love interest/rebel alliance partner, self-taught Jedi Kyle launches a mission to find the legendary Valley of the Jedi, overthrow the evil Dark Jedi Jerek, avenge his father's death, and complete his training to become a fully realized Jedi knight. The original musical production, combined with sound effects and full dramatization, helps to move the tale along nicely; but as an audio adaptation, this novel clearly loses something in the translation. This "rebel agent" finds himself unaccompanied throughout three quarters of the story; consequently, the listener spends much of the plot with a protagonist who is constantly and obsessively "talking himself through" much of the action. However, as is often the case with these installments and their loyal readers/listeners, who really cares about such minutiae? The Star WarsR saga returns with special guest appearances by old favorites Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa-Solo. Recommended for all sf audio collections.‘Charlie Weiss, formerly with "Library Journal"