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Star Wars Episode II: The Book Review
Hello, Mr. Salvatore! For the folks who want to get the details on the story without downloading the bootleg version, there's always the novelization based on the screen play, adapted by R. A. Salvatore (the same man behind the many D&D books in the fantasy section of the bookstore).
The last time this happened, Terry Brooks was the captain, guiding us through his interpretation of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It was a good book, filling in the gaps that the movie missed, while telling the story in style. To be honest, I wish we had Mr. Brooks back. It's not that I don't like Mr. Salvatore, but -- well, maybe I don't after reading this book.
It's clear that Salvatore had access to the screen play for the movie, with every move, look, and nuance that was put inside. He also has access to the choreographed scenes, which becomes clear since he feels the need to tell us every single detail of the fights. Thanks to him, I now know that in a fight scene between Obi-Wan and Jango Fett, Obi-Wan "...ducked the blow and did a tight, stationary somersault right under the swinging arm, double-kicking as he came over...", and every other minor detail, blow, kick and jump. A fight scene that probably takes 2 minutes in the movie now takes up 15 pages of text.
It's overkill, and Salvatore does this over and over again. I would say he's wordy, but the definition is too short by at least 30 characters. In another scene, where Anakin goes all Dark Side on us, Salvatore writes it like this (well, not exactly - but it feels that way):
And as the rage raged through Anakin's rage, he raged through his raging rage to rage the rage rage.
I'm not clear here - is Anakin angry? It's a formula that is used over and over again with as much verbage as Salvatore can invent - how much Shmi Skywalker misses her son, or how Padme has chosen professional life over personal life.
You almost want to scream out "We get the point - move on to the story!"
Jedi and Bounty Hunters and Clones, Oh My!
The story itself is predictable sci-fi fiction. We can spot a plot device half a mile away, and in many ways, it emulates Episode I in its setup.
The story involves the attempted assassination of Padme Amidala, who is no longer Queen of Naboo (seems they can only serve 2 terms), but is now Senator of Naboo, fighting to prevent the creation of an army for the Republic to defend it from the Separatists. So the Jedi Council, at the advice of Emperor^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, enlists the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, to protect the young Senator.
While Obi-Wan takes off to chase after the assassins, Anakin is holed up with Padme all alone on her home planet on Naboo. Of course, nobody else seems to notice that Anakin has been Jonesing for Padme since he was 10. Even though Obi-Wan seems to think that Anakin might get himself into trouble, but is overruled by the Jedi Council, who don't seem to realize that a barely 20-year-old man with raging hormones around Natalie Portman might feel a little tempted.
This soon leads to romantic moments between the younglings, boiled down to this:
Anakin: Padme, I love you, and I'm not even vaguely trying to uphold my vows as a would-be Jedi to never marry. Kind of like a Catholic Priest, without the altar boy scandal. Padme: Anakin, we can't be together. You're a Jedi, and are forbidden to marry. (Even though I think those brown robes are so hot on you.) Anakin: What was that? Padme: Oh, nothing. Let's to romp in the meadow and hold hands even though I say we're not going to fall in love. Anakin: Sure. Can I look longingly at you at times? Padme: If you must. (While I undress you with my eyes.) Anakin: What? Padme: Nothing!Gaps in the Universe
So while Padme and Anakin are making goo-goo eyes at each other, Obi-Wan is discovering the creation of a clone army, an army based on the genes of Jango Fett, the best bounty hunter of the galaxy, who's cloned son, Boba Fett, is being trained by his "father" to be even better.
But then the questions come up. Who would want the creation of a clone army to fight the Separatists, when the Senate is still arguing about creating an army in the first place? What is Count Dooku, the former Jedi who is labeled as "the best kick ass lightsaber duelist in the history of the galaxy", doing at the head of the Separatists - and what is his plan? And how long until Anakin and Padme finally give in to their lusts and make the beast of two backs?
The story, in and of itself, isn't that interesting. But the story does a good job at tying up the lines between Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope and the prequels. For the first time, we meet Owen and Beru, and understand how they fit into the Skywalker family. We see how the future Emperor manipulates the public to put himself as the head of the Republic. That alone is enjoyable as you go "Ah...now that makes sense."
But for the cost of the $26.00 book, you might as well just wait a week and pay $11.00 at the movie theaters for the same information - in much less time.
You can purchase Attack of the Clones from bn.com. Want to see your own review here? Just read the book review guidelines, then use Slashdot's handy submission form.
Please excuse any errors in the above. I have never actually seen Attack of the Clones or The Phantom Menace, as I am over the age of fifteen.
Use these facts for whatever purpose you see fit, especially if it involves irritating the hell out of some Lucasdroid.
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Full synopsis (plagiarized from a fanboy, so please forgive the spelling):
Why take the time to read the book when you can just watch the telesync now :)
First of all Dooku left the Jedi Order after the Battle of Naboo. He left because he felt the Jedi betrayed themselves by serving the corrupt republic.
Dooku joined the separatists, because, in a nutshell, the Republic is dead. The bureaucrats rule, not the voters. So Dooku wants to secede from the Republic and create the Confederacy of Indepnedent Systems.
Here's where Darth Sidious comes in: He (as Palpatine) creates the clone army to counter the Separatists' droid army (secretly), and later, to eliminate the Jedi. Also, the separatists are kind of a conglomeration of guilds and unions like the Trade Federation, Techno Union, and others.
Finally, Dooku is described as a fencer, and he uses a lightsaber with a curved handle. And he can use Sith lightning. And yes, I bought the book on April 23.
For the same plot information even quicker, simply read the Children's Movie Storybook. :)
Thanks Lucas for making spoilers readily available before the film is even released.
-Evan
"SHOW, don't TELL" isn't just an admonishment against "meaningless exposition". It also applies to how one describes a character's emotional reactions, perceptions of the environment, etc.
My homegrown example goes thus:
TELLING: When I heard what he'd done, I was so angry, I've never been madder in my life, and I wanted to choke him to death!
SHOWING: When I heard what he'd done, the room went red around me, and my hands longed to feel his neck turning to pulp.
~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
As far as Salvatores description of the fight scenes, some of us enjoy them. My girlfriend bought me this book for my birhtday, and having been a previous fan of Salvatores work the first thing I thought was 'I cant wait to see how he writes the sabre battles.' He did the same thing throughout the Dark Elf trilogy, and it has certainly sold well.
the relationship between Luke Skywalker and Biggs (who is jarring in the movie because they greet like old friends in Yavin-4 but viewers don't know *why*)
That was in the movie. It was in the first theater run of Star Wars. But the scene was cut out in additional runs, TV, VHS, DVD and the new digitally destroyed version.
It was the first scene where we saw Luke. He was saying goodbye to Biggs, who was going off to join the rebellion.
A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
This will probably get flagged as offtopic, but here goes anyway:
If you do want some really excellent fight scenes in a novel, (and no, I don't consider "In a blinding flash of steel it was over" to be a good fight), then you should check out Joel Rosenberg's Guardian's of the Flame series.
The series list is as follows:
The Sleeping Dragon
The Sword and the Chain
The Silver Crown
The Heir Apparent
The Warrior Lives
The Road to Ehvenor
The Road Home
Not Exactly the Three Musketeers
I've read through The Road to Ehvenor and felt that some of the strength of the novels had petered out around that point (Ehvenor was still good, just in a different way), but the first five books are phenomenal. The story is slick, the magic is interesting, the world and characters's grow over time and it definitely has a depth of humanity, but with all that, I think it was the fight's that did it for me.
Anyway, if you have the money and the time, give them a chance, it's a wothwhile read.
Another galaxy, another time. The Old Republic was the Republic of legend, greater than distance or time. No need to note where it was or whence it came, only to know that... it was the Republic.
Once, under the wise rule of the Senate and the protection of the Jedi Knights, the Republic throve and grew. But as often happens when wealth and power pass beyond the admirable and attain the awesome, then appear those evil ones who have greed to match.
So it was with the Republic at its height. Like the greatest of trees, able to withstand any external attack, the Republic rotted from within though the danger was not visible from outside.
Aided and abetted by restless, power-hungry individuals within the government, and the massive organs of commerce, the ambitious Senator Palpatine caused himself to be elected President of the Republic. He promised to reunite the disaffected among the people and to restore the remembered glory of the Republic.
Once secure in office he declared himself Emperor, shutting himself away from the populace. Soon he was controlled by the very assistants and boot-lickers he had appointed to high office, and the cries of the people for justice did not reach his ears.
Having exterminated through treachery and deception the Jedi Knights, guardians of justice in the galaxy, the Imperial governors and bureaucrats prepared to institute a reign of terror among the disheartened worlds of the galaxy. Many used the imperial forces and the name of the increasingly isolated Emperor to further their own personal ambitions.
But a small number of systems rebelled at these new outrages. Declaring themselves opposed to the New Order they began the great battle to restore the Old Republic.
From the beginning they were vastly outnumbered by the systems held in thrall by the Emperor. In those first dark days it seemed certain the bright flame of resistance would be extinguished before it could cast the light of new truth across a galaxy of oppressed and beaten peoples...
From the First Saga Journal of the WhiIls
It's sad that they forbid him to do stuff like that, and then let RA Salvatore kill of Chewbacca in that idiotic New Jedi Order series.
At any rate, to see Zahn close out the original set of Star Wars novels in style, check out Spectre from the Past and Vision of the Future. In a mature manner if FINALLY wraps up the story arc that continued from Return of the Jedi, and it's full of permanent changes to the original characters, so that should make you happy.
It is also missing the hellishly annoying Solo children who pervade the New Jedi Order novels. Thank god!