Book Review: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones SPOILERS!

In April 2002, the novelization of the second edition to the Prequel Trilogy was penned by acclaimed fantasy author R. A. Salvatore, his second entry into the Star Wars universe. Synopsis: There is a great disturbance in the Force…. From the sleek ships of the glimmering Coruscant skyscape to the lush gardens of pastoral Naboo, dissent is roiling. The Republic is failing, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, elected ten years earlier to save the crumbling government. Separatists threaten war, and the Senate is hopelessly divided, unable to determine whether to raise an army for battle or keep the fragile peace. It is a stalemate that, once broken, could lead to galactic chaos. Mischievous and resolved, courageous to the point of recklessness, Anakin Skywalker has come of age in a time of great upheaval. The nineteen-year-old apprentice to Obi-Wan Kenobi is an enigma to the Jedi Council, and a challenge to his Jedi Master. Time has not dulled Anakin’s ambition, nor has his Jedi training tamed his independent streak. When an attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala's life brings them together for the first time in ten years, it is clear that time also has not dulled Anakin's intense feelings for the beautiful diplomat. The attack on Senator Amidala just before a crucial vote thrusts the Republic even closer to the edge of disaster. Masters Yoda and Mace Windu sense enormous unease. The dark side is growing, clouding the Jedi's perception of the events. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, a slow rumble is building into the roar of thousands of soldiers readying for battle. But even as the Republic falters around them, Anakin and Padmé find a connection so intense that all else begins to fall away. Anakin will lose himself—and his way—in emotions a Jedi, sworn to hold allegiance only to the Order, is forbidden to have.


Like my review of The Phantom Menace, I'm going to point out some interesting facts in the story and shed some light into what the Expanded Universe ran with and built up. So, without further ado, here we go.

The novel opens with Anakin dreaming about his mother's death; he and Obi-Wan are on their way to Ansion to settle a dispute--this is shown in better detail in Alan Dean Foster's Star Wars: The Approaching Storm. On Tatooine, Shmi Skywalker-Lars, after talking with her husband[1] Cliegg Lars and his son and his son's girlfriend--Owen Lars and Beru Whitesun--about gathering the farmers to deal with the Tusken Raiders, is kidnapped by the natives of Tatooine. Cliegg and Owen gather the farmers and go after her, but the Tuskens kill a few of them and wound Cliegg. Meanwhile, on Naboo, Senator Padme Amidala leaves for Coruscant, despite Captain Gregar Typho's warnings about her being assassinated; she insists being there to oppose the Military Creation Act is too important. The events of the movie proceed from there, with Palpatine declaring to Yoda, Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Plo Koon that he won't let the Galactic Republic collapse after a thousand years--which is when the New Sith Wars ended after the Seven Battles of Ruusan and the Ruusan Reformations, which break down the Republic having a massive fleet.

Jango Fett--Mand'alor of the Mandalorians--killing Zam Wessel so she won't tell the Jedi about him being hired to kill Padme by Dooku and the Trade Federation. Mace worries about the Sith not having shown themselves in the last ten years, despite the Sith appearing after a few decades in the days of the Old Republic (The Great Hyperspace War, The Great Sith War, The Jedi Civil War, The Dark Wars a.k.a. KOTOR2TSL, the Great Galactic War, the Cold War, the Second Great Galactic War, the New Sith Wars). Anakin is assigned to protect Padme on Naboo; they'll travel as refugees. Obi-Wan is tasked with finding where the poison dart came from. He asks Dexter Jettster, a Besalisk diner owner and chef, where the dart came from, Kamino. He searches the Jedi archives and Master Jocasta Nu tells him that the planet doesn't exist. The bust statues of certain Jedi Masters are the Lost Twenty, those who left the Jedi Order who no longer felt it's call; Dooku was the last, having been subverted by Hego Damask and Palpatine, the events of which are detailed in certain chapters of Star Wars: Darth Plagueis as well as losing Qui-Gon to Maul during the Naboo Incident.

While the worst romance in the history of movie and book romance, aside from the shitty Twilight crap and the terrible romance later in the Fate of the Jedi saga where a Jedi beats, nearly kills, and rapes his Sith love interest, goes on, Obi-Wan travels to Kamino. Prime Minister Lama Su talks with Obi-Wan about Master Syfo-Dyas creating the clone army--detailed in Star Wars: Darth Plagueis--and how every now and then, the clones develop an issue--a topic that Karen Traviss ran with in her beloved Republic Commando and Imperial Commando books. Obi-Wan talks with Jango, who mentions that a man called Tyrannus hired him on one of the moons of Bogden to serve as the template, which is detailed in the graphic novel Jango Fett: Open Seasons by Haden Blackman. After a fight with Jango, Obi-Wan tracks him to Geonosis and discovers a secret army being built by the Geonosian weaponsmakers; The Trade Federation, Corporate Alliance, Techno Union, InterGalactic Banking Clan, Commerce Guild, and senators Po Nudo and Tikkes join Dooku in creating the Confederacy of Independent Systems; Obi-Wan reports this back to the Jedi Council, via Anakin on Tatooine. Dooku tells Obi-Wan about the Galactic Senate bieng under the control of Darth Sidious--as seen in Star Wars: Darth Plagueis.

Despite being ordered to stay on Tatooine and protect the Naboo Senator, Anakin and Padme rush off and get captured. On Coruscant, Jar Jar Binks becomes the galaxy's biggest unpunished war criminal in the entire galactic history by granting Palpatine the emergency powers to use the clone army. Mace gathers 200 Jedi and leave for Geonosis while Yoda leaves to gather the army. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme are about to be executed by a reek, acklay, and a nexu when Mace Windu and the 200 Jedi show up, some of which are Aalya Secura (from the Repbulic comic series starring Quinlan Vos), Kit Fisto, Luminara Unduli and her apprentice Barriss Offee, Roan Shryne, Nat-Sem, K'Kruhk and Sian Jeisel (both from the Republic comics), and several others. During the fight, Jango Fett is killed, prompting Boba to hate the Jedi forever and his sole reason for becoming the best bounty hunter ever. The First Battle of Geonosis kicks off as does the Clone Wars.

Most of the CIS members escape; Sun Fac is eliminated during the events of the hit Republic Commando game where Delta Squad is tasked with assassinating Sun Fac--this explains why Sun Fac wasn't seen in Revenge of the Sith; Delta Squad also sees Greivous's starfighter escape. Anakin loses an arm to Dooku in a lightsaber duel and Obi-Wan is wounded. Yoda saves them at the cost of Dooku escaping. Dooku ends up on Coruscant, in the Works. That building that Dooku lands is in the alternate ending to the popular Star Wars game Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight when Kyle Katarn kills Jerec and assumes the title of Emperor and tells Sarriss to put down the rebel uprising on Danuta where Katarn stole the Death Star plans from during Operation: Skyhook. Bail Organa watches in dismay as the ships built by Rothana Heavy Engineering, containing 1.2 million clone troopers, depart for the upcoming battles. Anakin and Padme marry in secret on Naboo, an act that is forbidden with Yoda's Order, but not with the Corellian Jedi or Djinn Altis' rogue movement; oh, and despite Master Ki-Adi-Mundi having a couple of wives due to the low birth rate on Cerea--it's funny how Yoda will bend the rules for more favored Masters than for gifted Jedi like Anakin and Vos.

All in all, Attack of the Clones works better as a novel than as a movie. It's not the most revered novel, but it is generally well above such trash that have come out in the wake of Revenge of the Sith, namely, the series set after the New Jedi Order and before the Legacy series.

[1] this is referenced and partly detailed in Tatooine Ghost by Troy Denning.

Review: Star Wars: X-Wing: The Krytos Trap SPOILERS!

In October 1996, revered Star Wars veteran author Michael A. Stackpole completed the third installment in the epic X-Wing saga. This time, Tycho Celchu's on trial for the murder of Corran Horn and only the evidence of a dead man can save him. Synopsis: The Rebels have taken Coruscant. But their problems are far from over. A killer virus called Krytos is wiping out the indigenous population, and a counterrevolution is exploding. At the center of the storm is the highly charged treason trial of Rebel hero Tycho Celchu. While agent provocateurs carry out their acts of terrorism, the fledgling state can be defended only by the blood and courage of the Rogue Squadron. As the X-Wing fighters scramble to save the Rebellion, Corran Horn, given up for dead in Ysanne Isard's inescapable prison, discovers he alone holds the key to freeing Coruscant from the Empire!

The novel opens with Wedge holding a funeral for Corran. Kirtan Loor, on orders from Isard, leads the counterrevolution. The Provisional Council remains unconvinced of Tycho's innocence, despite Wedge's claims. Warlord Zsinj is causing problems near Thyferra, raiding the New Republic's bacta supply lines. Meanwhile Corran Horn is being tested for betrayal; he fails because he refuses to betray his friends so Isard has him placed with the other prisoners--the most notable of which is General Jan Dodonna, who was captured just after the Battle for Yavin IV (A New Hope) when Vader invaded. Also there is General Evir Derricote, imprisoned for his failure at Borleias. The trial starts and things don't look good for Tycho; Halla Ettyk treats all of Rogue Squadron like they're threats while Nawara Ven insists on proper protocol for questioning the witnesses. Fliry Vorru corners Kirtan and proposes and alliance which Kirtan agrees to. Despite Wedge's attempt to help, the case for Tycho being innocent goes awry. More doubt is placed on him than before. Admiral Ackbar sends Rogue Squadron on a mission to orbital tide-locked Ryloth, while the trial is put on a temporary hold.

Vorru orders Kirtan to target a school of innocent civilian kids; Kirtan cautiously agrees, but is wary of Vorru. Meanwhile, Wedge and the Rogues arrive on Ryloth and Wedge is greeted by Cazne'olan, someone he met a couple years back (X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine a comic done by Stackpole during the almighty rein of Dark Horse comics in the 1990s). Corran tells Dodonna and Urlor Sette that he plans on escaping Lusankya. Twi'lek warrior Tal'dira challenges Wedge to fight like a warrior--Tal'dira chooses the merchant Koh'shak to fight Wedge--but he refuses and points out the gifts he brought were meant for warriors; Tal'dira applauds Wedge for his honor. Corran, despite Derricote's attempt to kill him, manages to escape Lusankya; Derricote ends up dead thanks to Dodonna whom Corran promises to come back and rescue. Back at the trial, Nawara heavily questions Quarren New Republic Intelligence agent Tsillin Wel about the amount of credits the Empire paid into Tycho; they learn that Tycho is of middling importance to them, as was Crix Madine, both of whom had six accounts by the Empire, though neither were aware of them. Nawara speculates that this draws attention to the point of Tycho being innocent, but neither he nor Tycho fully believe things can be easily won.

The Rogues manage to destroy one of Zsinj's war ships above the graveyard of Alderaan. Wedge suspects foul play and orders Nawara back to Coruscant via a long route to Tatooine. Kirtan Loor overcomes his deeds and turns himself into Nawara Ven, saying he has evidence to clear Tycho. Corran somehow wishes for the stormtroopers searching for Derricote to go away and they do. He learns that Tycho wasn't of use to Isard, and neither was Madine; the true spy for Isard shocks Corran. Iella Wessiri goes to bring Kirtan Loor to the trial. Vorru warns Borsk Fey'lya about an attack on a bacta storage cell in one of his (Vorru's) sectors. The Rogues are sent to deal with it. Corran ends up in a desolate museum where holograms of deceased Jedi are set up. Corran learns that his father, Hal Horn was an apprentice to Neeja Halcyon. Stormtroopers invade and Corran takes Neeja's lightsaber and fights his way out. One their way to the trial, Nawara, Kirtan, and Iella are ambushed by Diric Wessiri--Iella's husband. Diric kills Loor thinking he's Derricote; Iella asks him why and Diric, dying, responds "Lusankya." During the fight above the bacta station, a portion of the mountains break loose and a Super Star Destroyer bursts out, the IFF transponder reading Lusankya. Tycho, distraught, demands to represent himself; Emtry and Whistler point out that there is one witness left--Corran bursts into the courtroom and informs them about Tycho's innocence and that the traitor is none other than Erisi Dlarit. Erisi and Vorru flee with Isard on Lusankya. The Rogues are ordered to pursue Zsinj, even though evidence suggests Isard's going to take over the bacta cartels on Thyferra. The Rogues, except for Pash Cracken, resign and leave; Pash retakes command of Cracken's Flight Group.

I swear, it seems like a lot was given away, but a lot wasn't mentioned either. It's hard to sum down a 355 page novel where things are constantly happening and most of Stackpole's plot points from the series are wrapped up here. Nevertheless, The Krytos Trap is one of the best of the Star Wars Expanded Universe novels that deftly weaves starfighter battles with political intrigue and a dash of what the galaxy far, far away's court system is like. I'll be back soon with the conclusion to Stackpole's four-part X-Wing story soon in Star Wars: X-Wing: The Bacta War.

Book Review: The Sharing Knife 1: Beguilement SPOILERS!

On 10th Octorber 2006, Lois McMaster Bujold published a new fantasy novel called The Sharing Knife: Beguilement. It is the first novel in a (so far) four part story staring a Lakewalker called Dag (I can't recall his full name, nor do I feel inclined to look it up) and a farmer called Dawn. Synopsis: Troubled young Fawn Bluefield seeks a life beyond her family’s farm. But on the way to the city, she encounters a patrol of Lakewalkers, nomadic soldier-sorcerers from the northern woodlands. Feared necromancers armed with mysterious knives made of human bone, they wage a secret on-going war against the scourge of the “malices,” immortal entities that draw the life out of their victims, enslaving human and animal alike. It is Dag—a Lakewalker patroller weighed down by past sorrows and present responsibilities—who must come to Fawn’s aid when she is taken captive by a malice. They prevail at a devastating cost—unexpectedly binding their fates together as they embark upon a remarkable journey into danger and delight, prejudice and partnership . . . and perhaps even love.

The novel opens with a young woman named Fawn Bluefield walking. Seems Bujold has a thing for starting the first book of her fantasy series with the main character walking (The Curse of Challion). Fawn's left her family behind because some idiot named Sunny Sawman (yeah, sounds like an arsehole) got her pregnant; she's going to the city called Glassforge. A group of Lakewalkers passes by a farm when she's picking apples. The lead Lakewalker, Dag, suspects a malice in the area. During a brief fight with bandits, Dag chases after a fleeing mud-man. Two mud-men attempt to rape Fawn but Dag kills them and both recognize each other from the apple farm. Dag tells Fawn what the mud-men are and Fawn accidentally reveals that she's pregnant. They come across a raided farm and house: Fawn stays while Dag goes hunting; three mud-men recapture her. Dag attempts to rescue her, but mud-men block his path to the malice--which has killed Fawn's unborn baby. Dag tosses his sharing knives to Fawn. She stabs the malice with an unprimed knife, then with the primed one. the malice dies upon being stabbed with the primed knife. Dag, after touching the unprimed knife and taking Fawn away from the decomposing malice realizes that the unprimed knife is now primed via Fawn stabbing the malice, but he wants to have that confirmed. Back at the farm house, Dag attempts to explain groundsense, malices, and sharing knives to Fawn. They talk about why Fawn left her place and about Sunny Sawman knocking her up and his refusal to acknowledge what he'd done and how Fawn's folks and brothers think she's stupid; Dag talks about his youth.

The farmers return and fix their place and the wife accuses Dag of messing with Fawn's mind. Dag and Fawn leave for Glassforge. They arrive and discover that Dag's patrol leader, Mari, went looking for him with the whole patrol except wounded Saun and Reela. Mari comes back and Dag and Fawn tell her what happened. As Mari checks to make sure Fawn's healing, Mari tells her about Kauneo--Dag's dead wife--and how he lost his hand and why the unprimed knife is special to Dag. Dag gets his arm brace fixed and goes back on patrols while Fawn rests up; Dag tells Fawn about the history of the Lakewalkers, or some of it. (You want to know more, read the book, cos I'm not telling.) Mari lectures Dag about his feelings so much that it reminds me of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Jedi harping about no attachment. He tries to rebuff the idea that he loves Fawn, but doesn't convince anybody. After a party, Fawn and Dag make out--she invited him, as is proper in Lakewalker society. Eventually, Fawn and Dag leave for Hickory Lake via Lumpton Market and West Blue. Every member of Fawn's family except Aunt Nattie demands to know why she left to find work in Glassforge. her family doesn't believe her story, except Nattie. Sunny tries to make threats but Dag puts him in his place.

Over a couple of days, they get to know Dag. He asks to marry Fawn and they greet him with silence. Sorrel--Fawn's father--tries to take a glass bowl that Fawn bought for her mother away from Rush--Fawn's brother--and it smashes on the floor. Dag's missing arm's ground--ghost hand, as I call it--puts the bowl back together; he's not a maker, something he and the camp determined when he was younger. Nattie makes the Lakewalker bracelets cos of her awesome backstory which you shall know when you read the book. She tells the family to shut it. Rush and Reed try and split Fawn and Dag up. Rush leads Dag into a trap with Sunny and three of Sunny's friends. Dag sics wasps on Sunny and company. Dag and Sorrel give Rush a good talking-to, then Dag lets Sorrel rip (verbally) into Reed. Fawn and Dag marry, then leave for Hickory Lake.

All in all, a good start to an interesting series (for me, I liked books three and four more than one and two). Great characterizations and story that leave you wanting more.