A surgeon who covers his despair with wisecracks; another who faces death and misery head-on, venting his emotions through beautiful music. . .A nurse with her heart in her work and her eye on a doctor. . .A Jedi Padawan on a healing mission without her Master. These are the core members of a tiny med unit serving in the jungle world of Drongar, where battle is waged over the control of a priceless native plant.
3rd Clone Wars novel
Era: Republic, 20 years Before the Battle of Yavin/2 years After the Battle of Geonosis
Author: Michael Reaves and Steve Perry
ISBN: 0-345-46310-2 (Del Rey)
Finished: 5 May 2006
This is the kind of Star Wars story I like: character driven, interesting plot, some action, and witty dialog and observations. Since it is a two-part story, much is still left hanging at the end of the book. All that was accomplished in the first book was eliminating the possible spy suspects. The fact that I had not guessed the identity of the spy by the end of the book is a testimony to the authors’ mystery writing abilities.
Cheesy as it may seem, I still like the nod to the real-life USO and Bob Hope’s tours to entertain the troops. The authors choose to honor him by creating a character who travels from world to world, with his variety troupe. His name is ‘Robert Hope’ spelled backwards: Epoh Trebor.
There is another nod to a real-life, and fictional, organization. The medics in this story work in what is called a RMSU, or Rimsoo. It stands for Republic Mobile Surgical Unit, the Expanded Universe counterpart to the real Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals, otherwise known as MASH.
Not a keeper. Second book was a major let-down.
Rating:
Enjoyed it!
When the economically depressed government of Ord Cestus threatens to sell incredibly deadly battle droids to the Separatists, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine dispatches a team led by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi to the planet.
2nd Clone Wars Novel
ERA: The Old Republic/Clone Wars. +1 year ABG/-21 years BBY
Author: Steven Barnes
ISBN: 0-345-45898-2 (Del Rey)
Tossed: 19 April 2006
I usually give SW novels a chance to “hook” me, so I try not to have an opinion before reading. Just because a die hard fan likes/does not like the book, doesn’t mean I will have the same reaction. In two days, I failed to reach page 50. The book was boring me. I decided to read some reviews. I looked at reviewers who gave detailed reasons for their low scores. As usual with the Expanded Universe, it all came down to how the author handled, or presented, the material. I don’t mind action and battles; and I don’t mind books that make me think. I’ve skimmed through the book and I agree that the ARC trooper’s story was interesting, but I just couldn’t make myself read the book.
The jungle planet of Haruun Kal, the homeworld Mace barely remembers, has become a battleground for the Republic and the renegade Separatist movement. The Jedi Council has sent Depa Billaba – Mace’s former Padawan – to the planet to train the local tribesmen as a guerrilla resistance force to fight against the Separatists. But Depa has vanished. The only clue to her disappearance is a cryptic recording that hints of madness and murder.
1st Clone Wars novel
Era: Republic, 21.5 years Before the Battle of Yavin/6 months After the Battle of Geonosis
Author Matthew Woodring Stover
ISBN: 0-345-45574-6 (Del Rey)
Finished: 2 April 2006
First novel, though not the first story, of the Clone Wars Era in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Shatterpoint is the Star Wars version of The Heart of Darkness. Having never read Darkness, or seen Apocalypse Now, I only knew the roughest premise of the story. The first time I read this book, I lent it to someone before I completed it. I had to start over.
I enjoyed Stover’s NJO book, and was expecting to like this one just as much. And on the first attempt to read it, I was. But the second time, I wasn’t nearly so happy with the book. I noticed that I was impatient with the fight scenes, and I was skimming over them. I prefer character and story development, for sure. I don’t mind fight scenes, but I don’t not need a play-by-play. This book had pages of Mace fighting.
I liked Mace in this book. Mace “sees” the downfall of the Republic, the destruction of the Jedi, and the Vong invasion. Stover gave us insight into the Jedi Master’s personality and background. He made it very easy for me to picture Samuel L. Jackson as I read the book. Nick Rostu, Mace’s sidekick and guide is a hoot. Mace wants to strangle him most of the time. Ends up making Nick a major in the Grand Army of the Republic.
Stover also provided plenty of witty dialog, and the book has many of my favorite quotes, mostly spoken by or about Nick Rostu.
Favorite Quotes:
She was the chattiest spy he’d ever me. When she eventually stopped for breath, Mace told her so.
– Mace meets his contact on Haruun Kal.
“We get to be wide awake while we burn to death? Great! How can I ever thank you?”
– Nick Rostu, to Mace
Mace’s level stare was a humor free zone.
“Do you know that I disliked you the instant we met?”
“Is that Jedi-speak for ‘Thank you so much for saving my lightsaber-waving butt’? Shee.”
– Mace Windu, Nick Rostu
“What’s the matter, Windu? Depa says you got a great sense of humor.”
“She must have been joking.”
– Nick Rostu, Mace Windu
It occurred to me, on reflection, that Nick Rostu can be regarded as a test to my moral conviction. A Jedi might conceivably fall to the dark side from the simple desire to smack the snot out of him.
– Mace Windu’s diary entry.
“So: What now? You didn’t dust off the most dangerous man in the Korunnal Highland just to come and have a chat with the president of Rostu Jungle Nannies, Inc. You have a move to make.”
– Nick Rostu, to Mace Windu
“What am I supposed to fight with then? My rapier-like wit?”
– Nick Rostu, to Mace Windu
“Be quiet. Don’t draw attention to yourself.”
“Great idea. Maybe they’ll forget I’m here.”
– Mace Windu, Nick Rostu
Liked A Lot
