4 3/4 out of 5 Shovels
This book is the thirteenth addition to the New Jedi Order series in the Star Wars Extended Universe. Devoted mainly to Jacen Solo and a cast of five other characters, this story is not only intriguing but perplex. Fluid and omniscient, the author, Matthew Woodring Stover, demonstrates an acute knowledge of the Star Wars Universe as well as the ability to entertain and mortify concurrently.
From the first page, the book entices the reader to learn more about Yuuzhan Vong culture, religion, and politics. We learn that the Yuuzhan Vong are a highly religious people whose main goal is to suffer. Pain intensive activities are especially pious for the Yuuzhan Vong; the aliens believe suffering brings them closer to their gods.
However, this belief system not only suppresses original thought and creativity, the religion has manifested itself into a severe controlling entity producing a strict caste system and oligarchic regime of priests, shapers, and warlords. Unfortunately, those Yuuzhan Vong who are not worthy of glory by failure or physicality become members of the lowest caste called the Shamed Ones. These lowly subjects are the slaves of the society leaving some Shamed Ones to resent their upper caste contemporaries.
One ally to the aliens is a strange avian-like creature and Jedi Knight, named Vergere. Throughout the story this mysterious and treacherous being tortures Jacen Solo, so that he may exceed his current comprehension of the Force. Either physically or philosophically, Vergere employs her unique and devious means of instructing the young Jedi Knight. Albeit, the Yuuzhan Vong believe Vergere is teaching Jacen their True Path; she is-just not the path he expected to take, but the path Jacen must take to fulfill his destiny.
As he grows more mature by the hour, the young Solo son learns about the strange alien species that has declared war on his galaxy. Even though many unforgivable and heinous experiences have entered his life, he finds he does not hate the Yuuzhan Vong nor does he resent his tormentor, Vergere. In the midst of his torture and refinement, Jacen Solo begins to understand the nature of himself. With his lessons learned, Jacen and Vergere escape to the New Republic.
Matthew Woodring Stover handles many subplots converging onto one another creatively with passion and detail unrivaled in the Extended Universe. A strong psychological thriller as well as science fiction novel, Traitor did not leave the reader confused. Rather, the reader becomes infatuated with every turn of the page and is committed to reading the entire book instantly.
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