Warning: Minor SPOILERS from Revelation. I will be discussing topics that are big spoilers from the previous novels.



Revelation is my favorite of Karen Traviss's contributions to the series. I feel this could also be my favorite book of the entire series, but I will hold off on that decision until I read Invincible. Ms. Traviss's previous books followed separate plot lines that involved Boba Fett and his granddaughter Mirta Gev and the rise of Darth Caedus. In Revelation the plot lines finally converge and both become central to the story. As I read the book I felt everything flow together very nicely, unlike in her previous books where I was reading a little Fett, a little GA, some more Fett, some more GA, and so on. I am not complaining about the previous books Traviss wrote, but it was a nice change to have the pieces all fit together.

Traviss is pretty well known for drawing strong comparisons between the Jedi and the Mandalorians. Her ability use a warrior culture to explore an order devoted to peace and justice makes for very compelling and thought provoking discussions. In Revelation Ms Traviss went a step further - she explored the Jedi Order and the Mandalorians as powerful forces with very different views of what is best for the GFFA but still showed both groups to be composed of sympathetic individuals with a desire to help those in need. She took the comparisons I followed with great interest in the Republic Commando series to a whole new level in Revelation.

The story itself is magnificent, in my opinion she does a fantastic job of making the biggest battle very suspenseful and exciting. The action is easily on the level of excitement that took place in Fury. I will also give her credit for presenting Darth Caedus as an interesting Sith Lord. Caedus is finally taking on an identity that sets him apart from his whiny tree hugging roots. When I thought about it some of Caedus's characteristics were introduced earlier books. I think these characteristics, like his stance on droids, got lost in the details. For whatever reason these characteristics finally stick. Believe or not I am starting to like Darth Caedus as more and more of Jacen Solo gets stripped away, despite the character's fascist stance on government. I would love to get into more of the details that make me love this book, but its next to impossible without taking a trip into spoiler country, so I will have to save it for another day.

While I have given the book a strong positive review some fans are not going to share my opinions. I know there are some people who feel that Traviss casts a negative view on the Jedi. I know there are some people who feel her development of Boba Fett is not true to the character's roots. Personally I think Traviss loves the Jedi and the Mandalorians, but what she truly loves is the motivations of the individuals and how the smallest things can put people on totally opposite sides. Sometimes you have to break down big philosophies and look at the pieces to understand where you fit in the bigger picture. For example, most of us probably love democracy, we can all recognize where there are weaknesses, and where the idea of democracy is used to justify things that just do not fit. You cannot blindly follow an idea without scrutiny.

As many bloggers have written, Karen Traviss is very underrated, this is her best Star Wars book (that I have read). When I compare it to her Republic Commando novels its more sophisticated and more balanced, a nice blend of action and character development. Revelation is very well balanced - great story telling, things that make you think, things that make you laugh, and a lot of action.