Author: Kat
Date posted: 8/7/2001 5:48:21 AM
Kat's Comments:

A mixture of the serious and sublime, a heart-wrenching and gut-wrenching story. How do you do both?

Author: Saria
Date posted: 8/7/2001 11:48:23 AM
Saria's Comments:

A great story... sure it changes the original storyline...but a lot of the great ones do.

Author: Darth Hoss
Date posted: 8/11/2001 12:15:10 PM
Darth Hoss's Comments:

I like this story, I lkike it a lot. The only beef I have is that there was far, far to much snorting going on. At times it seemed as if every other line, a character was snorting. Other than that, I enjoyed this emensly.

Author: Aiden Quinn  (signed)
Date posted: 8/15/2001 6:21:25 AM
Aiden Quinn's Comments:

Excellent story, very surprising though at the end. Would love to see where this would go from there...

Author: Adiana
Date posted: 8/17/2001 12:36:02 AM
Adiana's Comments:

Wonderfully written, detailed and flowing. Kept me reading, to the very end. Feelings for all the characters were conveyed fantastically. Bravo!

Author: Jedi-2B  (signed)
Date posted: 8/17/2001 12:40:59 PM
Jedi-2B's Comments:

A pretty good AU story, if you set your mind to accepting that this could actually happen. Leia is definately the star of the story, and apparently more prone to being injured than anyone else.
The ending leaves the field wide open for a sequel, which I would like to see. Hopefully we would get to see more of Mara then, too (before Luke kills her, that is.)

Author: FernWithy  (signed)
Date posted: 8/17/2001 7:24:45 PM
FernWithy's Comments:

I think this a really plausible AU... one slip would have been all it really took. And that high profile, I'd bet the Empire would want a circus of a trial. And of course, I love trials. :) Good job, D.I.

Author: X-Imperial
Date posted: 8/22/2001 8:49:23 PM
X-Imperial's Comments:

The only part I don't really like is how Luke goes to the Dark Side. It is a trilogy though so I'm sure we'll discover more about his choice and learn more about Vader's inner-workings.

Bravo!

Author: DarthIshtar
Date posted: 8/28/2001 11:39:37 AM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

I don't know if this is conventional, but response
to comments.

Jedi-2B: I'm not sure you'll like Mara for what
she does in the next two parts as well as her vital
signs at the end. And there's a sequel to the entire
trilogy.

FernWithy: Glad you liked the trial, since you seem
to be the mistress of evil courtroom scenes.

DarthHoss: ::snorts:: thanks for pointing that out.
I didn't realize it. I have a few things I do way
too much and that's one of them.

X-Imperial: It'll be explained, justified, etc. in
parts 2 and 3. I don't know about part 3, but as soon
as I clean up part 2, it'll be up here as well.

Author: Darth Harsh
Date posted: 9/21/2001 4:36:42 PM
Darth Harsh's Comments:

It was great! Gives Vader realy a realy good character plot. I allways wanted it to happen like this. You know Vader turn back to the light. Wait He din't yet. But I think he will. Don't let this influence you writing. Can't wait for 2-3. Please get them done soon!!!!!!

Author: Princess
Date posted: 10/20/2001 3:02:38 AM
Princess's Comments:

I would love to see a sequal. that was amazing the way the charecters were portrayed. Love the way you suprised me at the end!

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 10/22/2001 3:01:21 AM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

The two sequels (this is part 1 of a trilogy) are in process; I have to tweak certain things before our illustrious leaders will let me have the honor of having them posted here. Thanks for reading!

Author: mara
Date posted: 10/22/2001 3:09:51 AM
mara's Comments:

I think that this is one of the best fanfic's I've ever read! At the end I wondered if mara and luke will fall in love like they did invision of the future and spector of the past

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 10/22/2001 9:52:08 PM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

Not in the foreseeable future. The trilogy's over, the midquel is half-over, and no sign of romantic involvement because I personally think they could be friends, but never anything plausibly more.

Author: lukepadawan  (signed)
Date posted: 11/2/2001 3:26:25 PM
lukepadawan's Comments:

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! I really enjoyed this, can't wait for the next instalments. I've never liked them bringing Mara Jade onto the scene, i'm glad you don't see a romance there. The only relationship i'm interested is between Vader and his son(not incest!). I've read a lot of SW fic and you are a top quality writer. Well done!

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 11/12/2001 9:02:21 AM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

Thanks, lukespadawan! We have over 2000 hits on this story now!

Author: Commander Gadget
Date posted: 12/11/2001 7:29:01 PM
Commander Gadget's Comments:

This is boring. Don't quit your day job.

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 12/12/2001 9:06:56 AM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

The discussion of the fic's high and low points is boring or the fic is boring? You're boring me with your vague answer. And I am a collegiate; I have no day job to quit.

Author: skyra  (signed)
Date posted: 1/1/2002 3:43:16 PM
skyra's Comments:

Man, what a great story! I don't normally read long fanfics, (my time is too limited), but once I started I couldn't stop. Bravo!!

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 1/5/2002 7:05:47 PM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

For all who read this, thanks! Part 2 is coming soon. I hope ::looks meaningfully at JG and others:: that it'll be up before I leave. The cover is awesome.

Author: Rori Firehawk
Date posted: 1/13/2002 9:43:05 PM
Rori Firehawk's Comments:

Holy bantha cheese, long story! I liked it a lot! :-) Interesting what you did with Vader... hehe.

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 1/15/2002 7:23:34 PM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

Thanks to everyone who has read it and will read it while I'm gone (I leave tomorrow). Hope you all enjoy(ed) it!

Author: dave
Date posted: 2/3/2002 9:56:35 PM
dave's Comments:

Man i like it a lot!! good fan fics like this are hard to find and i hope you write more.

Author: syw10129  (signed)
Date posted: 4/14/2002 6:48:03 PM
syw10129's Comments:

This is an amazing story! And it's long too. The next two sections will be very interesting to read. Please keep on writing! It's awesome.

Author: Cosmic  (signed)
Date posted: 5/16/2002 6:07:55 AM
Cosmic's Comments:

An absolutely amazing story! I like having Leia as the front-character. The story is long, involved and great. Looking forward to reading the next two parts...

Author: Darklord
Date posted: 6/27/2002 2:32:47 AM
Darklord's Comments:

Sorry, didn't like it. I can't see Vader lying on the stand and then everyone having a family dinner afterwards.

Why would there be holos of Luke and Leia in Padmes trunk that was sent to Vader.

The story to me had to many holes in it.

A defent A for effort on it thou it felt like a rough
draft to me.

I should say that I will read the sequels.

Author: Deanna
Date posted: 8/12/2002 12:00:59 PM
Deanna's Comments:

My one complaint about this fic is the dialogue. The way you write it is often not appropriate to the setting (too formal, for example), or not appropriate for the character (Han speaks much too stiffly and Vader much too informally, even if he IS trying to be Nice Daddy). But beyond that, DAMN do you write a good Leia.

Author: Jedi Emily Naberrie
Date posted: 12/28/2002 4:10:07 PM
Jedi Emily Naberrie's Comments:

Plain to be put, amazing story. I give you a Jedi's bow to your skills, a little rough in a few places but otherwise excellent. Most of the time I find these kinds of stories a little boring but not so in this case, can't wait to read what happens next!

May the Force be with you always!

Author: Lady Skywalker
Date posted: 1/21/2003 1:01:32 PM
Lady Skywalker's Comments:

You are one of the most talented people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Love the friendship between Luke and Leia. For those of you who loved this story, wait until you get your socks knocked off by Part 2!

Author: Thorne
Date posted: 2/5/2003 1:51:22 AM
Thorne's Comments:

An excellent and well-written story. I love the detail you bring to the characters, something which is sadly lacking especially in the prequels (take a hint Mr. Lucas please). It is great to see how Leia deals with pain or how Vader experiences remorse. Yes, motion pictures are a visual medium and with only two hours there is only so much character development you can include but there is plenty that can be done to make Episode III the movie we want it to be. Burden of Choice highlights some of the personality traits and emotions that many of us would like to see in a SW film. We know you do great special effects and that a CGI Yoda can be done but please give your actors something more to work with this time around!

Back to the book, as much as I liked it I did feel at times that it was getting a little too gushy and sentimental. Lots of hands being squeezed and hugs and feel good moments. I do appreciate them and they contribute to the story but towards the last third it seemed to be happening all the time, especially betweem Luke, Leia and Han (not all at the same time mind you).

It sometimes also felt too much like...well like earth. The nod to John Grisham about the novelist was a bit too close to home. Moreover, a jury with twelve members, ‘Objection’, ‘Sustained’, ‘Overruled’, journalists looking for a hot story and even a discussion on which actress should play Leia all felt a bit too familiar. Star Wars meets The Client.

Saying that, I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters with Luke and Leia having to deal with issues of forgiveness. I look forward to the next two parts! I am keen to see the path Luke will take. Very well done!

Author: Nemesis
Date posted: 2/23/2003 4:26:46 AM
Nemesis's Comments:

Absolutely brilliant. Heartbreaking ending - must read the next part! All right, you changed the story, but all the best fics are the ones that start off with "What if ...?" Keep writing, DarthIshtar!

Author: jedilittlebee
Date posted: 4/30/2003 9:48:04 AM
jedilittlebee's Comments:

I enjoyed this a great deal. You did a good job fleshing out Vader's character into a multidimensional one-like we all really have. Very believable and dramatic!

Author: Sith_slayer
Date posted: 4/17/2004 11:38:53 AM
Sith_slayer's Comments:

Preety good! definitely one of the better uns but kinda unbelievable. C'mon Vader getting blasted by a lawyer! and the entire fact that the emporor wants a fair hearing for rebels! kinda far fetched. i dont expect eh emperor is that understanding or cares about galactic impression about his system of justice after he disbands the senate. heres hoping 2 and 3 are better!

Author: DarthIshtar
Date posted: 4/17/2004 12:05:11 PM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

Well, thanks for the input anyway. Yeah, there are some things that you have to stretch your imagination about, that's why it's AU. Thanks for r/ring.

Author: isola_jedi_padawan
Date posted: 4/21/2005 4:53:51 AM
isola_jedi_padawan's Comments:

That was sich a cool story! Is there a sequel? If there isn't, write one!

Author: isola_jedi_padawan
Date posted: 4/21/2005 4:54:00 AM
isola_jedi_padawan's Comments:

That was such a cool story! Is there a sequel? If there isn't, write one!

Author: Sithspawn
Date posted: 5/27/2005 7:43:40 AM
Sithspawn's Comments:

It had promise, but there are several items of complaint, many of which have been addressed (Vader getting blasted by a lawyer), but one that I feel hasn't been addressed too well.

Luke falling to the Dark Side. Simply put, the very thought of Luke falling after his emphatic 'Never' in ROTJ and his preference to falling an impossibly long way down to joining his father in ESB, is nothing short of improbable; his fall here after they had ******* ESCAPED is downright laughable.

Of course, because it is so improbable, most AU Darkside stories of Luke usually do have that awkward moment of transition, so I'll reserve judgement until I have read the other stories; just wanted to get this comment out before I did.


Edit: Sorry that word isn't allowed.

MariahJade2
Editor

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 5/27/2005 7:47:08 AM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

Thanks for reading, even though you found the turn to be improbable. I tried to set it up with the threats from Palpatine, but sometimes, it doesn't work.

Author: Kalabus
Date posted: 10/28/2005 9:28:14 AM
Kalabus's Comments:

<edit> Not sure what everyone else saw in this, but to each his own. <edit> dialogue really didn't fit any of the characters.

I can forgive the fact that the continuity wasn't really there (after all, it was written in 01 before we know what we know now), but even so. It just felt...wrong. I've read some of the other fanfics and have enjoyed them. <removed reference to another fan fic, no need for comparisons>

This just felt...hollow. Sorry if it sounds harsh, but that's just my take on it. Interesting premise though.


Editor note: While we encourage readers to leave feedback no matter what one feels about a particular story, we would appreciate more diplomatic and constructive comments in the future. Thanks.

MariahJade2
Editor

Author: Nudafu
Date posted: 1/25/2013 5:35:51 AM
Nudafu's Comments:

DarthIshtar, only really well written fanfics move me to comment.

Obviously, yours is one of them :).

I like how well you get into the psyche of the characters and express it into words that are believable and moving.

I don't find many writers write to character with finesse and subtlety, but you do.

I don't care if things are AU or not. I care about good writing. This fanfiction is good writing.

My one little itch, is that I don't think Vader would've been so articulate and open about his feelings. I would accept him to conclude those feelings in his own head, but for Vader to say them to his children and Han - considering their past - I wonder. It still integrates wonderfully well with the overall story.

To the Bored One: this fanfic is considerably lengthy. It must've been somewhat engaging if it maintained your attention - so I don't get the bored comment. If, the fanfic was not completely read, then one cannot justifiably conclude the quality based on limited information. Perhaps the boredom was momentary mood rather than the result of reading the fanfic? Adieu :p

DarthIshtar, I look forward to reading the rest of your trilogy.