The Clone Wars (Star Wars)
by Karen Traviss
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Book Summary Information
Author: Karen TravissEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-26
ISBN: 034550898X
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: LucasBooks
Book Reviews of The Clone Wars (Star Wars)
Book Review: "If we get chummy with organized crime, and turn a blind eye to our allies...what exactly are we fighting for?"
Summary: 5 Stars
"If we get chummy with organized crime, and turn a blind eye to our allies...what exactly are we fighting for?"
Jabba's son, Rotta, has been kidnapped. The Jedi Council sends Anakin and his new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, to retrieve him, in hopes Jabba will open the Outer Rim hyperspace lanes to the Republic. But the rescue mission smells worse than the baby Hutt...
I Liked:
I wasn't that fond of the movie and really wasn't looking forward to reading this book. Karen Traviss is a good author, no doubts there, but sometimes her anti-Jedi sentiments are a little overwhelming.
Boy, was I surprised when I started reading! This is a superb book, I just couldn't put it down! I haven't enjoyed a Traviss book this much since Hard Contact.
The characters in this book are positively wonderful, unique and exquisitely written. Traviss does a brilliant job portraying Jabba the Hutt, pushing him beyond his mafia stereotype and making him a caring father, a real being. I was astounded at her personification of Dooku. She refuses to lean on the "evil" stereotype for the Sith Lords and makes him, and his Sith assassin Ventress, real believers in the Separatist cause. I loved how clever, skilled, quick-thinking Dooku was and how Ventress was so wounded, she could only extend trust to a spy droid.
For the protagonists, Traviss shows us the viewpoints of Anakin and Rex, a superb choice. While I did miss Obi-Wan's viewpoint, I was relieved at not having to read the annoying Ahsoka's view. However, through Anakin's view of her, I got a deeper appreciation of the Togruta Padawan and actually began to like her a little! Anakin himself is great, conflicted, young, world weary, struggling with his murder of the Tusken Raiders, chafing under the Jedi Council, sympathetic to Ahsoka being unwanted by the Jedi Council, disgusted with the decision to aid the Hutts. All were powerful, powerful additions to his character. Traviss' Rex is much like the clones from her Republic Commando books, brave, honorable, determined. His viewpoint likewise shows how Anakin is a great leader and how his men would die for him in a heartbeat.
Since the story is based on the movie, I won't critique that so much, as Traviss likely had little to do with it. But I will say, that Traviss attempted to make the story make sense (namely, why do the Jedi need the Hutts' access to hyperspace routes?).
Many Star Wars novels have tried to capture the spirit of Star Wars and have failed, mostly because they either focus too much on action or too little. Traviss is not one of these authors, at least not in this book. She is brilliant at the intense character study but never once does she let up in the action. Her descriptions of the surroundings, the military accoutrements is spot-on, realistic and enthralling. I don't think any other author could have written this novel adaptation and done as brilliantly as Traviss has.
I Didn't Like:
Minor, but Traviss continues to avoid balancing her anti-Jedi, anti-Republic mantra with a single, non-corrupt pro-Republic character. All the characters she viewed thought the Republic was corrupt; the ones who might not have (Padme, Yoda, and Obi-Wan) were oddly absent. This wasn't a huge deal, but it was tiring to have characters, even Anakin, rant against the Jedi Council and the Republic. I suppose it was better than having Obi-Wan in the book and have him behave out of character though.
Ventress is a fairly well-done character, but I was a little caught off guard with her huge anti-Jedi basis, which didn't jive with how she was portrayed in other materials. She almost seemed to harp on Rattatack and Mace Windu too much.
Obi-Wan and Padme sequences from the movie are omitted in the book, leading to some oddly wrapped up battles and investigations. I was particularly upset to see Padme on the cutting room floor, as she, unlike her daughter, has become merely a plot device instead of a real person.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Soldiers use "kriffing" as a substitute for swearing.
Ahsoka, in the movie, wears a mid-riff baring tunic.
Most of Anakin's company dies. Rotta is sick. Jabba says he wants Anakin's skull for Rotta to play with.
Overall:
I have been putting this book off for ages because of my feelings for the movie. Now, I wish I hadn't. This is a brilliant book, much, much better than its source, the movie! I highly recommend!
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