History YMMV / TheTruceAtBakura

* OlderThanTheyThink: Probably the first novel to feature [[Literature/NewJediOrder mysterious alien invaders]] from beyond the known galaxy. Though even so, there were prior ones in the licensed comics and [=RPGs=].

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Gaeriel follows a religion called the Cosmic Balance, which believes in balance in all things. When you suffer, an unknown other in the galaxy is elevated, and vice versa. One aspect of her religion teaches that Jedi are abhorrent, as they accumulate massive personal power, weakening their unknown counterparts. She even wonders, briefly, if Luke could be so powerful that the Cosmos had to send in the Ssi-ruuk, reducing hundreds of sentients to mere droid batteries, to balance his power. Gaeriel's good friend Eppie Belden suffers from very severe dementia, and Luke, upon meeting her, realizes that this is not a natural result of old age for her, and that Eppie has untapped Force potential of her own. He shows her how to use a Jedi healing trance, and a few days later, Eppie is back to her old, fiery, lucid self. Gaeriel tries to explain that Luke is "dangerous, one of ''them''," to which Eppie scoffs, and replies, "Our teachers have taught us a lot of wisdom down the years, but also a load of guff." A most succinct criticism (notably, not condemnation) of religion in general, and religious intolerance in particular.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Gaeriel follows a religion called the Cosmic Balance, which believes in balance in all things. When you suffer, an unknown other in the galaxy is elevated, and vice versa. One aspect of her religion teaches that Jedi are abhorrent, as they accumulate massive personal power, weakening their unknown counterparts. She even wonders, briefly, if Luke could be so powerful that the Cosmos had to send in the Ssi-Ruuk, reducing hundreds of sentients to mere droid batteries, to balance his power. Gaeriel's good friend Eppie Belden suffers from very severe dementia, and Luke, upon meeting her, realizes that this is not a natural result of old age for her, and that Eppie has untapped Force potential of her own. He shows her how to use a Jedi healing trance, and a few days later, Eppie is back to her old, fiery, lucid self. Gaeriel tries to explain that Luke is "dangerous, one of ''them''," to which Eppie scoffs, and replies "Our teachers have taught us a lot of wisdom down the years, but also a load of guff." A most succinct criticism (notably, not condemnation) of religion in general, and religious intolerance in particular.
* TearJerker: The entire last chapter, basically. Dev dies, but finally cleansed of Ssi-Ruuvi taint, having focused on healing his spirit instead of his body. Luke feels him AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence through the Force. Gaeriel comforts Luke over the loss, but then the two part ways, Gaeriel feeling her place is to stay with Bakura, and Luke is (naturally) needed elsewhere.

* OlderThanTheyThink: Probably the first novel to feature [[Literature/NewJediOrder mysterious alien invaders]] from beyond the known galaxy.

* RootingForTheEmpire: This is the eventual result: Heroic Imperials (except for [[SmugSnake Governor Nereus]], anyway).

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: Of all Luke's potential love interests in the EU, Gaeriel is closest in character to Leia. Both young, headstrong politicians with very firm beliefs that they don't stray from easily, though Gaeriel is a little more flexible than Leia and lacks most of Leia's ActionGirl qualities. She could thus be seen as Luke's "rebound girl" after he realizes [[BrotherSisterIncest that there's absolutely no chance of a relationship between him and Leia.]]

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Gaeriel follows a religion called the Cosmic Balance, which believes in balance in all things. When you suffer, an unknown other in the galaxy is elevated, and vice versa. One aspect of her religion teaches that Jedi are abhorrent, as they accumulate massive personal power, weakening their unknown counterparts. She even wonders, briefly, if Luke could be so powerful that the Cosmos had to send in the Ssi-Ruuk, reducing hundreds of sentients to mere droid batteries, to balance his power. Gaeriel's good friend Eppie Belden suffers from very severe dementia, and Luke, upon meeting her, realizes that this is not a natural result of old age for her, and that Eppie has untapped Force potential of her own. He shows her how to use a Jedi healing trance, and a few days later, Eppie is back to her old, fiery, lucid self. Gaeriel tries to explain that Luke is "dangerous, one of ''them'', to which Eppie scoffs, and replies "Our teachers have taught us a lot of wisdom down the years, but also a load of guff." A most succinct criticism (notably, not condemnation) of religion in general, and religious intolerance in particular.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The Ssi-Ruuk are beaten back from Bakura, but this was only one of their fleets, they're still out there, still aware of the galaxy at large, and the deal Palpatine made with them to keep them out of the galaxy is still void (since Palpatine is, you know, dead). They are never heard from again until ''very'' late in the New Jedi Order series.

** Gaeriel follows a religion called the Cosmic Balance, which believes in balance in all things. When you suffer, an unknown other in the galaxy is elevated, and vice versa. One aspect of her religion teaches that Jedi are abhorrent, as they accumulate massive personal power, weakening their unknown counterparts. She even wonders, briefly, if Luke could be so powerful that the Cosmos had to send in the Ssi-Ruuk, reducing hundreds of sentients to mere droid batteries, to balance his power. Gaeriel's good friend Eppie Belden suffers from very severe dementia, and Luke, upon meeting her, realizes that this is not a natural result of old age for her, and that Eppie has untapped Force potential of her own. He shows her how to use a Jedi healing trance, and a few days later, Eppie is back to her old, fiery, lucid self. Gaeriel tries to explain that Luke is "dangerous, one of ''them'', to which Eppie scoffs, and replies "Our teachers have taught us a lot of wisdom down the years, but also a load of guff." A most succinct criticism (notably, not condemnation) of religion in general, and religious intolerance in particular.

* RootingForTheEmpire: This is the eventual result: Heroic Imperials (except for [[SmugSnake Governor Nereus]], anyway).

* OlderThanTheyThink: Probably the first novel to feature [[NewJediOrder mysterious alien invaders]] from beyond the known galaxy.

* CompleteMonster: Governor Wilek Nereus is one of the more infamously ObviouslyEvil Imperial characters in the expanded universe. As if his [[SoftspokenSadist professional fascination]] with infecting his political enemies with [[NightmareFuel rare parasitical diseases]] was not enough, out of work he [[PastimesProvePersonality collects complete sets of teeth]], and is [[DepravedDentist none too ethical about acquiring them]]. It's also hinted about as strongly as can be done in a PG-rated book that he [[ScarpiaUltimatum extorts sexual favors from his secretaries by threatening their families]].

* CompleteMonster: Governor Wilek Nereus is one of the more infamously ObviouslyEvil Imperial characters in the expanded universe. As if his [[SoftspokenSadist professional fascination]] with infecting his political enemies with [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel rare parasitical diseases]] was not enough, out of work he [[PastimesProvePersonality collects complete sets of teeth]], and is [[DepravedDentist none too ethical about acquiring them]]. It's also hinted about as strongly as can be done in a PG-rated book that he [[ScarpiaUltimatum extorts sexual favors from his secretaries by threatening their families]]. Did we mention this guy is a CompleteMonster already?