The Center Network

    Prince Xizor hatches a cunning plot to earn favour with the Emperor by destroying the Bounty Hunters Guild, leaving only the strongest hunters alive to be used by the Empire against the Rebellion.

    Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars Trilogy Book 1: The Mandalorian Armor by K.W. Jeter had the potential to start off an interesting concept with a bang. Instead, it started off with more of a long-winded conversation. This was a very cerebral book, with much plotting, counter-plotting, intrigue and detailed explanations. While this can work with the Star Wars setting, Mandalorian Armor focuses too much on the cerebral and neglects the space opera. For a book that holds the promise of Bounty Hunters warring there is very little combat. The style also seems to override established characteristics. One example is an extended 30 page discussion between Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader and Prince Xizor. Emperor Palpatine allowed too much leeway in being questioned. Darth Vader was too long winded in his speech when his characteristic is to be short and to the point. There was an even a moment that seemed contradictory during the exchange when the Emperor openly acknowledged the rivalry between the two, while in Shadows of the Empire he only threateningly hinted at it. The long-winded conversation also plagues Boba Fett more than in usual in his written appearances and characteristics of the other Bounty Hunters established in Tales of the Bounty Hunters are ignored and re-imagined. There were some interesting concepts, such as the living space station entity that served as neutral ground for the Bounty Hunters Guild, and an especially vicious being introduced later in the book. Still, for a book that held the promise of Bounty Hunters duking it out, The Mandalorian Armor ended up not following through while simultaneously losing the characters in the process.