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Splinter of the Mind's Eye: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker Hardcover – January 1, 1978
- Print length216 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBallantine Books
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 1978
- ISBN-100345275667
- ISBN-13978-0345275660
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Product details
- Publisher : Ballantine Books; First Ballantine Edition (January 1, 1978)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 216 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0345275667
- ISBN-13 : 978-0345275660
- Item Weight : 1 pounds
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,916,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #19,016 in Space Operas
- #31,067 in Science Fiction Adventures
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Alan Dean Foster's work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as "Star Wars", the first three "Alien" films, "Alien Nation", and "The Chronicles of Riddick". Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first "Star Trek" movie. His novel "Shadowkeep" was the first ever book adapation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel "Cyber Way" won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so.
Foster's sometimes humorous, occasionally poignant, but always entertaining short fiction has appeared in all the major SF magazines as well as in original anthologies and several "Best of the Year" compendiums. His published oeuvre includes more than 100 books.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the writing quality awesome and well-written. They also describe the content as interesting and an interesting entry into the Star Wars mythology. Opinions are mixed on the story and plot, with some finding it ok and others saying it's bland. Readers also have mixed feelings about the pacing, with others finding it fast and others finding the tempo too fast.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the writing quality of the book awesome, engaging, and enjoyable. They also say it's a great addition to anyone's collection and a worthy read.
"Excellent seller, great book" Read more
"...This does give the book an adventure feel, where the heroes are put in a tough situation that gets worse and they must work their way to overcome..." Read more
"...The title alone is intriguing and compelling but when you discover it is set just after the cataclysmic events of the legendary Battle of Yavin,..." Read more
"...No, it's not a great novel by any means, but it does provide an intriguing glimpse into what could have been had the first Star Wars movie bombed at..." Read more
Customers find the writing style well-written, fast, and atmospheric. They also describe the novel as great fiction.
"...Battle of Yavin and the destruction of the Death Star, the novel is an atmospheric, almost Indiana Jones-like story pitting Luke and Leia..." Read more
"...Think "The 100". It's a good read worth 3.5-4 stars but the 5 stars is because it's sort of like the missing movie you never knew about and didn't..." Read more
"...The writing of tis novel really is outstanding...." Read more
"...Darth Vader seems as ruthless as ever, but his dialog seems a little off...." Read more
Customers find the book an interesting entry into the Star Wars mythology.
"...and situations helps keep this otherwise planetbound story interesting and lively...." Read more
"...SPLINTER OF THE MIND’S EYE is like this. The title alone is intriguing and compelling but when you discover it is set just after the cataclysmic..." Read more
"...No, it's not a great novel by any means, but it does provide an intriguing glimpse into what could have been had the first Star Wars movie bombed at..." Read more
"...But interesting in a historical canonical way." Read more
Customers are mixed about the story and plot. Some mention that the story elements are ok, the suspense begins to build, and it rekindles excitement for Star Wars. They also appreciate the fast pace, action sequences that virtually never let up, and nice dynamics between Leha and Luke. However, some say that the plot is somewhat bland, with awkward dialogue and nonsensical plot devices.
"...situations helps keep this otherwise planetbound story interesting and lively...." Read more
"...On the surface it’s actually fairly boring, but it’s worth it for some of the stranger moments and interactions that have you saying “that’s not the..." Read more
"...On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate it a 3. It's an interesting take on the Star Wars universe, but I probably won't read it again anytime soon..." Read more
"...The pacing is excellent and even early on, the reader can feel the suspense begin to build and of course long term fans of the saga..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's a really fast read, while others say it'd be better if it was slower.
"...The writing of tis novel really is outstanding. The pacing is excellent and even early on, the reader can feel the suspense begin to build and of..." Read more
"This book's biggest asset is its fast pace; the action sequences virtually never let up, and there's plenty of Imperial skullduggery, cute Ewok-like..." Read more
"...any criticism for SotME, I would point out that the story progression is a little slow and drawn out...." Read more
"...The book is well written, it reads fast and the plot keeps moving steadily, so it makes for a nice piece of literature, just don't expect another..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the characterization in the book. Some find it perfect, while others say the characters are poorly developed.
"...Characterisation is perfect. Reading is book really is like having a bonus episode of the saga to enjoy...." Read more
"...The personalities of the characters also seem a little wonky, with Leia sometimes falling into the "snooty rich girl out of her element" trope, and..." Read more
"...The character developments are in line and consistent with the knowledge of the first movie." Read more
"...Wars literature, with its focus on unimportant planets, unimportant minor characters, all B-plots that don't really advance the grand story of the..." Read more
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Alan Dean Foster, the uncredited ghostwriter for Lucas' novelization of Star Wars, followed the further adventures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in Splinter of the Mind's Eye. Set shortly after the Battle of Yavin and the destruction of the Death Star, the novel is an atmospheric, almost Indiana Jones-like story pitting Luke and Leia (accompanied by R2-D2 and C-3PO) against Imperial forces in a desperate race to find the mystical Kaiburr Crystal, a gem which has the ability to focus and enhance the power of the Force.
Although Splinter of the Mind's Eye is more character-driven than action-oriented (space battle fans will be disappointed), the novel is true to its heritage and has its share of cliffhanger situations, a new cast of rogues, outlaws, aliens, and villains (Captain-Supervisor Grammel is one of the vilest servants of the Emperor). There is even a climactic lightsaber duel between the very untrained Luke and the evil Lord Darth Vader.
Foster's familiarity with Lucas' characters and situations helps keep this otherwise planetbound story interesting and lively. Although Han and Chewbacca are absent from Splinter (Luke only makes a passing reference to the Corellian when he asks Leia what Governor Tarkin had done to her before her rescue from the Death Star), Luke and Leia's characters get a chance to shine on stage. Luke is still a bit of a farmboy-turned-Alliance pilot with latent Jedi powers here, and the Princess is still as fast with her biting wit as she is with a blaster. Foster also emphasizes Luke's conflicting feelings toward Leia...he loves her, but knows (or suspects) he has to protect her at all costs, even from himself. (If this sounds weird, keep in mind that in 1978 nobody knew that Luke and Leia were twins!)
Readers of Laurent Bouzerau's The Annotated Screenplays will recognize that Foster's plot is actually based on a discarded plot for what would become A New Hope. Part of the original story revolved around the quest for "a Kyber Crystal" -- a gem that a Force-user could utilize to enhance his or her powers; Luke was supposed to have used this "Kyber Crystal" to help him make that "one-in-a-million" shot to destroy the Death Star.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you go into this book thinking “I just want a typical Star Wars book with all my familiar characters” you will probably be disappointed because the plot is honestly kinda dull, but if you view this book more like some kinda lost anthropological relic you will enjoy it. On the surface it’s actually fairly boring, but it’s worth it for some of the stranger moments and interactions that have you saying “that’s not the Star Wars I know!”
An interesting thing to note about SotME is that it was written before the release of the movie, The Empire Strikes Back. That is significant because as the author was writing the book, he did not know that Leia is Luke Skywalker's twin sister and a force user (revealed in Return of the Jedi), and most importantly, that Darth Vader is Luke's father. This lack of knowledge gave this book a very unique feel to it, even awkward at times given the way the Star Wars story played out in episodes 5 and 6 of the movies. For instance, the interactions between Luke and Leia at times are like those of two people discovering the romantic feelings they may have for each other. Sometimes, it's a little too much, but it works for this book given the fact that the author was building upon what little information he had concerning the Star Wars universe.
SotME follows a single plot line, which is contrast to nearly all other Star Wars books I have read. The only exception that I know of is I, Jedi. Typically, when you read a Star Wars book, you follow two or three different plot lines that eventually come together or provide a segue to a sequel book. This book almost exclusively follows Luke and Leia from start to finish. I wasn't too fond of the single plot line in I, Jedi, but it worked out pretty well in SotME.
If I could provide any criticism for SotME, I would point out that the story progression is a little slow and drawn out. The book spans 12 chapters, but doesn't get to the main point to the plot until the 12th chapter. Then, the book quickly winds down to the resolution. This does give the book an adventure feel, where the heroes are put in a tough situation that gets worse and they must work their way to overcome their dilemma, but the story could have had more substance. For instance, the story could have had a parallel plot line that showed how Darth Vader was made aware of the events going on in the story, rather than just have him show up at the end with only Luke and Leia's speculation as to how he knew where they were going. Perhaps if the story followed Darth Vader, it would have provided a little more suspense in the race to the main object of the story's conflict.
The author of SotME certainly had his challenges with the lack of a Star Wars expanded universe from which to form the story of this book. However, I do feel that he did a relatively decent job because there is some good storytelling in this book. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's at least worth a check-out at the library, if it's available. On a scale of 1 to 5, I would rate it a 3. It's an interesting take on the Star Wars universe, but I probably won't read it again anytime soon because it just seems a little too disconnected from the entire Star Wars story line.
Top reviews from other countries
Found it here.
Relived a little of my youth rereading this