Star Wars Episode II: The Book Review

Dark Paladin writes: "Why wait a week when you can go read the novelization of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and know what happens before you view it on the big screen? Then again, if the book is any indication, you might as well wait for the Big Screen version instead." Read on for the rest of his review to see why. Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones author R. A. Salvatore pages 336 publisher Ballantine Publishing Group rating 6 reviewer Dark Paladin ISBN 0345428811 summary It's written from the screen-play -- how much more do you need to know?

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.

Comments

Re:Is it any suprise?

[kryonD]

Pick up the books out of the trash, and look at their binding. They're published by either TSR or Wizards of the Coast--not a publishing house of any credulity, but rather a niche publisher that does an amazing job catering to the low-brow fantasy market.

Or rather, a credible publishing house that owns the rights to the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Hence why no one else publishes the stories. They aren't allowed to. TSR was purchased by Wizards of the Coast and so they are inherrently the same entity when it comes to publishing. I'm not sure what you deem as credible, or what you deem as quality, but the simple fact is that D&D books, including Salvatore's, have been around for years. And the popular ones, some of Salvatore's included, continue to be reprinted because people continue to read, and re-read them.

As far as the movie quality sucking, Two things:

#1 We've built our hopes up for years over these films and quite possibly built them too high.

#2 The whole reason why the films are being made is because someone with a rudimentary grasp of economics realized the baby-boomer generation would line up like little kids to pay for the hope of more childhood magic. (which they were when the original movies came out, and as we have seen so far for both movies, they have) The sad truth is that even if the second movie sucks as bad as everyone is saying, the same lines will be formed for Episode 3. Sure, they might be a little shorter, but lines they will be with cash in hand.

Just a note on the verbose fight scenes in the book. The reviewer is clearly unfamiliar with Salvatore's writing style. In depth fight scenes are what made Drizzt a legend in the Forgotten Realms world and it's not suprise to see Salvatore sticking with what worked in the past.