Obi-Wan Kenobi Books

This is a must get for all prospective Obi-Wan wives. I stareat it everynight before falling asleep. It is chock full of marvoluspics of the cutest guy ever. Like I said, a must for all Obi-Wanfans! (especially the girls! hint hint)

From Obi-Wan Kenobi's faithful Jedi wife

Aur Revoir

Obi Wan is so fine. I can't wait to get this calender of him which should be great.

This is a great calendar for those Ewan McGregor fans. He is a great Obi-Wan. All of you who haven't seen "The Phantom Menace" have to go see it. STAR WARS RULES!!!!!!!!!

Great pictures! Nice variety of shots! Some pictures are publicity stills, others are scenes from the movie. The color and clarity for the most part is impressive. Ewan McGregor is very photogenic! It certainly doesn't hurt your eyes to gaze at that face everyday! Let the guys buy Darth Maul's calendar. This one's for us ladies.

This is a small, portable calendar featuring pictures of the young Obi-Wan Kenobi (as portrayed by Ewan Mcgregor). There is a total of 18 pictures of the Jedi, some of which also include Qui-Gon Jinn (as portrayed by Liam Neeson). This is an outstanding addition to any Star Wars collection, and also a nice touch to McGregor shrines. When the calendar becomes out-dated, the pictures are great for decorating rooms, bullitin-boards, lockers, or even framing. The shots in this calendar are not to be underestimated--they capture memorable events from Episode One (possibly the best Star Wars movie to date) as well as display McGregor's dashing frame. YES, MEN WILL APPRECIATE THIS CALENDAR AS MUCH AS WOMEN DO (what man doesn't enjoy certain Jedi-moments such as the light-saber scenes showed in this product?). Definately an exellent item at a low price!

Good story. Very good for those who wonder what happened with Obi Wan after the Clone Wars.

This book is great donot be fooled this book great for all ages 12 and up. The only thing juvenile is the length of about 160 pages. I am hooked will read the whole series.

i had just finished Darth Bane a while back and was sad that i don't have anything else as exciting. Reading through some of the reviews i took a look at this small series which is intended for younger reader. I really want to point out that this series is amazing and keeps you wanting more. Jude is amazing at telling the story which e are all familiar with. There are even some of the small quarks that u instantly picture the movie in front of u as u read deeper and deeper into the story.

If u r a fan, u will love this.

If I were in Junior high I guess I would have liked it better... but I didn't have a bad time reading it.

My boys, ages 7&3, were looking foward to having mommy read them a chapter a night. It took twice as long as usual because I had to stop and give definition to almost every other word in the story. This factor was distracting and led to the otherwise Star Wars crazed children to become bored and ask me to put them to bed. I, on the other hand, loved it. Good story, wait for Jr. High.

this book arrived quickly but there was no cover. i am buying for collecting so i must purchase again.

I read this novel sometime after viewing ROTS, and I must say, this is one of the greatest Star Wars books I have ever read! The story is action-packed, and would make a great movie in my personal opinion. Plus, the story gives a really good insight into the character General Grievous (my favorite character) and his origins and actions during the end of the wars. The story was fun to read; I had a hard time putting the book down at times. Overall, I would count this as a must-read for all fans of Star Wars. A wonderful read!

"LOE" is a great tie-in to Episode III, "Revenge of the Sith".

The adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker during the latter days of the Clone Wars are exciting and entertaining. The interaction between the two Jedi make the events of "Revenge of the Sith" all the more poignant, as you see the two friends heading for the eventual disaster and heartbreak that Ep. III brings us.

Highly recommended if you've seen Ep. III or read "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith."

Billed as a must-read prequel to Episode III of the movie franchise, "Labyrinth of Evil" by James Luceno weaves together some loose ends and characters that weren't expounded upon in the movie. The title is apt, for the various plotlines read like a maze at times, with some strands seeming more tangential than necessary. With the war between the Separatists and the Republic spinning on without an end in sight, the Jedi order tries to find out the truth about the Sith Lord behind it all.

The story begins with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker setting out to capture an ally of the Sith in an attempt to find out who their leader is. Their trek takes them from planet to planet, escaping traps at every stop, and learning just enough information to create more questions. Meanwhile, other Jedi knights, including Mace Windu, are getting too close to the truth about the Sith Lord and his whereabouts on Coruscant. And when Coruscant is attacked so that Chancellor Palpatine can be kidnapped by General Grievous, the Jedi must once more abandon the search to save the fate of the Republic, and the story ends where Episode III begins.

James Luceno has written several books within the Star Wars series, but "Labyrinth of Evil" is a little too muddled at times. In an effort to enhance his writing, he sometimes winds up with sentences that are convoluted in nature. His descriptions of battles can be a little mechanic, but he offers some insight into the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin that pads their later confrontation. I was looking forward to learning more about General Grievous, and while Luceno does offer some background to this strange creature, it is a meager profile. "Labyrinth of Evil" does offer fans necessary background information between movie episodes, and all in all is a fast-paced, enjoyable read.

After reading several books in the genre, I have come to believe that James Luceno is the best of the Star Wars writers. While some may credit this to the fact that he has better plots to works with, I suspect the fact that he adds depth to the characters from the movies is also a factor. "Labyrinth of Evil" is the perfect set up for "Revenge of the Sith."

Beginning with Viceroy Gunray's careless blunder in leaving behind a holonet chair in an evacuation, the Jedi find themselves hot on the trail of the idenitity of Darth Sidious. In fact, the path leads them in the unlikely direction of Coruscant. But just as a breakthrough seems eminant, Coruscant fall under a surprise attack by General Grievous and the separatist army. With the abduction of the Palpatine, the dominos are in order for the conversion of Anakin to the Dark Side of the Force.

While adding new dimensions to the charcters, Luceno does an excellent job of leading into Episode 3. Among the factiods that I apreciated was the backstory of General Grievous. Also, the story of the order for the clones is expanded. The Anakin-Padme love story is largely absent, but I am more than willing to accept its omission. Those who love the movies are certain to enjoy this book.

basically this book is lame. why? because it doesn't play by its own rules. no jedi would give c'boath the power to do his mission cuz he's obviously nuts. which makes the book a fan service cash in. yes obi wan and anakin are in the book but they literally dissapear some time before the end having contributed nothing to the resolution of the story. and as for Thrawn.. all i can say is 'whatever'. if you want a minor and rather cryptic spoiler here it is: isn't Thrawn was sposed to be a bad guy?. i give it two stars cuz it was at least good enough that i finished it.

I've been reading the novels in order, re-reading those which I've already read, and I've got to say this one was one of my favorites in that era, though I can't say I didn't enjoy any of them.

You can pretty much gather that there is a lot of back history on Thrawn thrown into this one, and this also provides you with a deeper understanding of the mind and motives of Jorus C'baoth.
In the original Thrawn trilogy, Luke's research reveals to him that Jorus liked to be in the public eye, and we get the idea that perhaps he was a bit cocky and self assured...

...which gives us a better understanding of his clones alter ego considering that the clone was suffering from clone madness.

I was also interested in the fact that even though he was not a member of the Jedi Counsel, he was able to use his weight to get what he wanted.

As for Obi-Wan and Skywalker's presence in this novel...


...well let's pretend you grew up on an island and were reading the novels in order and were not aware of anything that followed in the time line after this novel...

...well I think you would have a sence of "is Obi-Wan and Anakin going to die!??!", but then you see that they are pulled from the mission in order to fulfill there fate in the Star Wars galaxy. I dunno, I liked how they were tossed in there only to be taken off the ship, it only made this suicide mission seem all that much darker in the knowledge that bad things were to come in the events to come, and that Palpatine was behind it all.

took longer than expected to get here but all in all, hubby was happy with his book and said it was in better condition than he expected it to be...worth the wait in my opinion for a quality book like that.
thank you!

Everyone knows Star Wars - and everyone knows that it was created George Lucas. But while Timothy Zahn might not be so universally famous, he enjoys a reputation among many fans of the `Galaxy far, far away' that is second only to that of the Man in Plaid himself.

Fifteen years ago, Zahn's Heir to the Empire trilogy of novels spearheaded the revival of Star Wars - arriving with all the dramatic impact of a Star Destroyer slamming out of hyperspace in front of the reader. It was these books that snared many of the saga's serious fans, hooking us deep into the `wider world' beyond the movies.

A new Zahn book, in short, is an event that for some people is almost comparable to a new Star Wars movie - and we all know what that means. Of course, this also means that there's an immense weight of expectation involved. It might seem simple to say `this is a Star Wars novel', but like the grand exploration mission that gives it its name, Outbound Flight has to fulfil a myriad of different hopes and dreams.

It has to be Star Wars, recapturing the feel of the movies. It has to reflect Zahn's own distinctive style, adding depth to the characters and mysteries that he has been developing through his work in the franchise for fifteen years. It has to tell a good story. And, above all, it has to be fresh - it can't just be a tired re-tread of what we've seen before, it can't just be storytelling-by-numbers.

Taking all this into account, it seems mind-boggling to dare that Outbound Flight will fly at all - and all the more impressive when it soars.

There's an old saying among Star Wars fans: "Space is Big"; and what sends Outbound Flight soaring to success is that it has the majesty and grandeur of a story told on a truly Galactic scale - not a Galaxy in which every planet is simply another nondescript part of the same familiar matrix, but a Galaxy that is vast and mysterious like a cavern or a cathedral, and strewn all across with diamonds...

And in this Galaxy, there are people.

A Corellian smuggler captain, his idealistic co-pilot, and their curious, inexperienced navigator. A young Chiss picket force commander with an insatiable interest in the unknown. A proud Jedi Master and his nervous padawaan. A very different Jedi Master, and his brash young apprentice. A ruthless secret agent working for the Sith.

A Republic that spans a million worlds. An enigmatic alien civilization. A savage nomad race of spacefaring pirates and slavers.

And whereas Zahn's six previous Star Wars novels have all been set after the defeat of the Galactic Empire in Return of the Jedi - largely focused on Luke Skywalker, and chronicling the creation of a new political consensus and a new Jedi Order - Outbound Flight represents his first extended foray into the timeframe of the Prequel movies, before the rise of the Empire.

But, paradoxically, by taking a step backwards, a wider perspective opens up in front of the reader. The reality, the truth, turns out to be much bigger than we realised - and so much more fun!

If there's a theme to Outbound Flight, it's the sheer, untrammellable vastness of reality. Most of the characters in this novel think they have some grasp of the way the Galaxy works, of what's important, and of what direction they're headed in; but the sheer range of different communities who we encounter completely undercuts that, and the individuality of the people who make up those communities makes them seem like absurd illusions in their turn.

Not since 1977 has the bluster of a cynical smuggler deserved such respect; never before has the craven lack of vision of a Neimodian in a silly hat illustrated the beauty and variety of existence.

On another level, of course, there's much that is familiar in Outbound Flight; Obi-Wan Kenobi and young Anakin Skywalker play significant roles that enrich our understanding of their actions in the movies; Palpatine and Mace Windu have well-studied cameos. Several of Zahn's own recurring characters from his earlier novels reappear, most notably the alien military genius Thrawn.

The theme of the Outbound Flight Project itself - a grand mission of exploration into unknown space - originated in a throwaway line early in Zahn's first novel, and has been steadily developed in his work ever since.

But there's a newness, and a freshness here, as well. It helps that the characters are young men and women here, and that Outbound Flight takes place early in the chronology of the Star Wars saga, when Darth Vader is just a fourteen-year-old boy; but that would mean nothing if the author didn't have the vision and skill to let his characters' distinctive voices speak in turn against a vast backdrop of stars and darkness, and to create a grand symphony from the interplay of their differing points of view.

But although this is a novel about differences and distance, about encounters with the unknown, Zahn has always deliberately avoided alien perspectives as foreign and untranslatable. Instead, he tells the story through the eyes of ordinary men and women, creating an unspoken dialogue between foreign civilizations and the very human characters who encounter them.

Of course, there is much in the writing here that is, in a sense, familiar. Brief descriptive motifs echo like the recurring visual and musical phrases of the movies, and like the Star Wars movies, this is a story that aims to be accessible to children and adults alike. The prose is often minimal - but it is assured, too, and the occasional flashes of detail are deft and adept. I suspect there is a deliberate intelligence behind the pattern of omissions - drawing the reader's imagination into the story, asking us to fill in the gaps in our own minds, and make our own voyages of discovery and speculation.

For about three hundred and fifty pages, Outbound Flight is a strange and wonderful novel set in a well-loved Galaxy far, far away... a story with an immediate intimacy and panoramic sweep that are both impossible on the screen.

And then, about a hundred pages from the end, things change. Palpatine intervenes to pull Obi-Wan and Anakin out of the novel, and everything starts to get out of control.

People die; individuals, and tens of thousands... yet somehow, their dreams remain.

The ending is as at once poignant, personal, and heroic. It serves as a fitting cap for the story we've just been told, but it also asks us to reassess everything we thought we knew, giving new levels of meaning to Zahn's previous novels and adding deeper layers of understanding to our appreciation of the story he has told.

At least, that's my reading of it. Other people I've spoken to who've read this book have interpreted the ending in totally different ways. And they enjoyed it just as much as I did. That, too, seems very appropriate.

It's impossible for me to really say how Outbound Flight will work for someone who's new to Zahn. I've read and reread his earlier novels with great pleasure over the years. But I have a hunch that the sense of wonder, fun and mystery will still be there. There's a whole great Galaxy out there to explore in the `wide black' - and all sorts of different ways to get into it.

Just a quick comment here. What was the point of this book? Was it to somehow tie the prequels, the Empire, and Thrawn into that New Jedi Order hogwash? If anything this book only confused me even more about Thrawn's character by trying to make him seem like some noble good guy. Obi-Wan and Anakin did nothing in this book and seemed to have no place in it. In short, there just seemed to be no reason for this book to exist because it really did nothing except fill in details about the Chiss and Outbound Flight, which I doubt many of us were clamoring for. Kind of a disappointment after Zahn's previous efforts. Not recommended unless you really care about this minor footnote in Star Wars continuity.

That is all.

Jedi Quest: The Trail Of The Jedi is an unabridged part of the expanding library audiobooks to the delight of legions of Star Wars fans. Anakin Skywalker was made a padowan (apprentice) to the Jedi Knighthood by Qui-Gon Jinn. But with the death of Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin Skywalker is taken under the tutelage of Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi -- who fears he may not be able to succeed at being as good a Jedi Master for young Anakin Skywalker as was Qui-Gon Jinn. This is the background to an adventure that includes striving to survive a squad ruthless and competitive bounty hunters seeking to ensnare the Jedi's while on a training exercise with their colleagues on a strange planet far from help. Jonathan Davis superbly narrates Jude Watson's original story and provides not only 2 hours and 38 minutes of "theater of the mind" style quality science fiction entertainment, but adds substantially to the growing body of lore and legend that comprises the Star Wars universe. Also enthusiastically recommended is another superbly recorded, fully unabridged, Star Wars audio book written by Jude Watson and narrated by Jonathan Davis: Jedi Quest: The Way Of The Apprentice.

Anakin is 7 yrs old. He is back on his home planet of Tatooine. He was still a slave and as the day ends he hangs out with his friend. As they were having a picnic together all of a sudden a slave trader was taking a few slaves away from their home. That was all a memory of what happened. Now he is 13 yrs old. He is having problems with his mind. He remembered what happened, and of all these evil forces that are trapped in his mind. They go to Ilum. Anakin builds his lightsaber. As he does some evil thoughts and dark forces disturb him during this process. He and his master were assigned a mission to find out about this slave trader and destroy his idea of world domination in the spice trade. They try to kill the mission but then, Anakin gets captured by the slave trader and now Obi-Wan has to get him back. They have a helper already trying to find out the answer. She was undercover as a antagonist. She and Anakin team up to destroy the spice trader's mission. Finally Obi-wan shows up, and together they destroy the slave trader and his mission.

Have you watched the Star Wars movies but left the printed word behind? Many of the Star Wars-related books attempt to fill in the blanks between episodes, and to flesh out the characters. This book is about some of Anakin's adventures at age 13, between Episodes I and II. It may involve the first time he kills a man (a slave trader) with a lightsaber, since he builds his first lightsaber in this book. Could it be that these experiences give you a better insight into why Anakin resists the total obedience required by the Jedi Council?

A book for YA, and a fast read. Have fun with this. Other reviews state that this material is covered in large part by other books in the Apprentice series. Since I haven't read any of them, it was new to me!

The Path to Truth

As Anakin fights vision of fear in the caves of Ilum, a planet where the Jedi create their own lightsabre, he is terrified by the vision of a slave raider attacking his mother on Tatooine. Later, a memory from long ago is recalled, and Anakin has an overwhelming urge to kill the slave raider who harmed his mother. His mission with his master could expose that urge.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, his master, also has a troubling feeling to face. His childhood, Jedi friend has turned away from the Jedi and joined Krayn, the slave raider, and his cronies. As Obi-Wan and Siri face each other, Anakin gets captured and forced again into slavery.

Will Anakin be forced to live and die as a slave, or will there be a little help on the inside? I greatly recomend you to read this greatly written book to find out!

This was a great book, and I liked how it tells what happens between Episode 1 and 2, but some parts might be confusing for smaller kids...
I recommend it for kids ages 9-13.

Greg Bear is supposedly an accomplished science fiction writer with such popular novels as "Eon" and "Darwin's Radio". However, I will never get a chance to find out. After reading Bear's foray into the Star Wars Universe with "Rogue Planet", I'm not inclined to try any of his other material.

I won't say the book was a total bomb like "Shield of Lies" or even a ponderous bore like the Barbra Hambly novels, but "Rogue Planet" clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding about the Star Wars Universe. More importantly, it shows a lack of understanding of the characters from this universe.

This book deals with an inter-prequel story (between Episodes I and II) where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker have an adventure on the titular planet, Zonoma Sekot, and come in contact with Grand Moff Tarkin and New Jedi Order mainstay, Vergere. For how important a role Zonoma Sekot and Vergere played in the New Jedi Order, they are not very interesting characters in this book. The same holds true for the characterizations of Obi-Wan and Anakin. I couldn't be less interested in their story.

The worst is how Bear portrays Grand Moff Tarkin. It's as if he never watched the first Star Wars movie. Tarkin comes off as an overt, scenery chewing despot, as opposed to his more nuanced menacing portrayal in the film.

Bottom line is that I could not get through this book fast enough, and it wasn't because it was so good. I just wanted to be able to move on to my next book.

I am in the process of reading it now and am enjoying it very much. I like the hard bound books. it came in very good shape.

I purchased the audio cassette because it was cheap. I listened to it and listened again and again. This book is one of the best in the Star Wars series. You wouldn't think it would be, but it is. It takes place on a living planet called Zonoma Sekot (which plays a huge role down the road in the Vong war). The description of the planet and the seeds that make the ships are awesome. Once you get past the oddities of it, it truly is genious. It is different and excellent. Not only do we see the very beginnings of Anakin's turn to the dark side, but we also get confusion and concern from Obi wan and an intro to the future Moff Tarkin and the designer of the first Death Star Seinar. There is even a reference to Darth Sidious. This book is exciting, original and entertaining. It can be had cheap right here on Amazon in any format (though the one penny CD might be your best value). If you love Star Wars, this is one to read or listen to right away

This novel has a little action in the beginning, a long boring middle, and a little more action at the end. The middle was mostly composed of great details about the process of growing a living starship. You read that right, living starships. Now, I'm sure Greg Bear is a great sci-fi author. But the problem here is that Star Wars is NOT sci-fi! It is space opera, a very different genre. I feel the whole premise of this story was way out of place in the Star Wars universe. This book also lacked that galactic feel as it concentrated on this one, starship-growing planet.

Another issue is that parts of this story were contradictory to things established in Episode II, like the fact that Jedi are forbidden to get married and have children. The Coda felt tacked on and was also proven untrue by Attack of the Clones anyway. Now we know the TRUE origin of the Death Star project (Geonosians). And Episode II implies that Anakin's slaughter of the Tuskan Camp is the first time he has killed in rage. (It definitely makes more sense that way.)

The only nice touch in this book is that Anakin talks to the spirit of a planet, reminiscent of an earth goddess.

If you like sci-fi, like the idea of growing living starships, don't mind a sci-fi Star Wars story and don't mind all the contradictions to the movies, then you might like this novel. But I think it sucked and I don't recommend this book. The only book worse than this is one is Crystal Star. Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are much more relevant to the film series:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

Generally reviews are on the mark as a whole. I should have followed the trend for this book because the negative leanings are there for a reason. Any Star Wars novel will be read with a critical eye and is certain to have flaws. The weaknesses of "Rogue Planet" are much more profound than the strengths.

While Star Wars novels are far from fine literature, I was immediately aggravated by the structure of the chapters. Many chapter are literally less than a page in length and add little to the story. The story would have flowed better if some of the shorter chapters were combined. In terms of the plot, I found it humorous that certain elements of the story seemed to be similar to other movies. A powerful leader ruling from behind a mask of deception reminded me of "The Wizard of Oz". A planet where everything is alive reminded me of an episode of Star Trek gone horribly wrong.

There are some positive aspects of the story. The theme of Anakin's struggle with fear and anger is developed. Also, the young Anakin character is not nearly as annoying as he is in the movies. "Rogue Planet" also furthers the theme of Qui-Gon Gin being a rebel Jedi and having a negative impact on young Anakin is brought to light.

This is the first Star Wars novel that I really did not like. At times, the pace made it painful to read. A better plot would have also helped to develop the Anakin character. The living planet theme seems terribly out of place as a vehicle for developing Anakin.

The Truce at Bakura literally picks up where we left off with our intrepid heros at the end of Return of the Jedi. Hours after the Second Death Star blows up, we find Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, and the droids heading off to Bakura to answer a distress call.

I found this a very entertaining novel and true to the characters from the films. The problems they deal with are very real and beleivable in the context of the films. The precarious status of the Alliance at this stage of the game is an important factor in this novel. They are not the New Republic yet. The realization that just because the Emperor is dead the war isn't over is a large one for our friends and it's a problem the Alliance will be dealing with for years to come.

The regular cast is true to their characters, far more so than some of the SW universe books I have read. I happen to have a hard time with dialogue that I can't hear coming from the mouths of the characters from the films. Just me, I know some people are more lenient on that point than others. but if you feel the way I do, you will not be disapointed in this book as the characters are quite true to the ones we know from the films.

The other characters in the book are equally well written. The Imperial commander who called for help in battling the aliens is very well portrayed. (Sorry I don't have the book in front of me and can't remember his name for the life of me.) You never can decide which way he is going to jump, because he doesn't know yet himself. I found him a very fascinating character. I did think the aliens were a bit cookie-cutter in their total evilness, there wasn't a lot of character development there.

In other subplots, the Han-Leia romance is gently pushed ahead; meanwhile once again Luke loses the girl but this time she has some spunk behind her and seems to be destined for better things. I also found Leia's struggle to accept the news about Vader being her father to be very natural given that she just got this tidbit dumped on her a few hours ago.

All in all the various narratives that wind through this novel are all good and keep you intersted. I recommend this book.

The Truce at Bakura is hands-down the best place to start reading the novels if you're looking to pick up right after Return of the Jedi. The book starts the very next day after Vader kills the Emperor. Luke and Leia team up with an unlikely ally to defeat a common enemy. Follow this book up with The Courtship of Princess Leia.

The Truce at Bakura is one of the very early Star Wars novels. Just for
a change, here we have evil lizard men, who were of course on the side
of The Empire. What else would evil lizard men do?

Bakura is a planet in the way of the scaly aliens and their plans for a good healthy game of conquer lots of galaxy.

Luke and Leia must therefore go for a trip, and Luke gets a bit of advice from the dead Obi-Wan before setting off.

There are no vacation days for the heroes of the Rebellion. Finally, the Emperor's reign of terror has been ended, the Empire is in disarray, and the Rebellion is suddenly in a position to start laying the groundwork of a new galactic government. Unfortunately, mere hours after these tumultuous events a distress call from the remote system of Bakura arrives at Endor and it's back in the proverbial saddle for Luke Skywalker and his buddies. The Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyers tells the story of an alien invasion of the Bakura system, a place "protected" by the Empire but in desperate need of aid. The Rebels must find a way to help the Bakurans while maintaining an uneasy alliance with Imperial Governor Wilek Nereus and his forces.

The alien invaders are an extra-galactic reptilian species named the Ssi-ruuk. Total enslavement of all other life is the Ssi-ruuk reason for their assault on Bakura and other systems. The most unusual aspect of these creatures is the method they use to power their fleet. It is called entechment and involves draining living beings of life to power the vessels and droid fighter with their energy, essentially like transferring their soul to a mechanical device. It is a grotesque concept and certainly serves to underscore the pure unadulterated evil that Tyers' Ssi-ruuk characters represent.

Dev Sibwarra is a Force-sensitive human slave aboard the Ssi-ruuk vessel Shriwirr. Dev is able to soothe prisoners with his Force powers while they are enteched, making for a more efficient process. Spurred by their knowledge of Dev's special abilities, the Ssi-ruuk hope to find a more powerful Force user, one who will be able to facilitate mass-scale entechment of entire worlds. Inexorably their paths and that of Luke Skywalker intersect and Luke becomes the keystone of the Ssi-ruuk scheme for complete galactic domination.

On Bakura, an unbalanced system of government exists where the Imperial Governor holds the real power but the Bakurans are allowed nominal control under his oversight. This system seems to be what the Emperor has envisioned when it is mentioned in A New Hope that the Senate has been totally dissolved and regional governors will hold direct control over their populations. On Bakura, it required a nasty purge to establish Imperial power but things have been relatively peaceful since. Initially the Rebels have difficulty establishing trust with the native leaders, but as the severity of the Ssi-ruuk threat makes itself clear, rapid progress is made toward a new alliance.

One Bakuran Senator is particularly interesting to Luke. Her name is Gaerial Captison and her intelligence and beauty captivate him from the moment they meet. Through the book they develop a strong affinity for one another, but both are at a point in their lives where their careers are going to destroy any serious chance for a relationship. In the novels, Gaerial is Luke's first love interest (well, excepting Leia), although other sources indicate there were women before Gaeri. I found this plotline to be a good attempt at developing Luke further but there were no real sparks between the two.

Plans are forming in Luke's head to find other Force-sensitive individuals in the galaxy and take them under his wing for protection and training. He does everything within his power to bring Dev to his side and help eradicate the damage the years of Ssi-ruuk abuse have done to the boy. This development in Luke's character feels quite natural and a logical extension of his unshakeable belief that there is good in everyone, including his father, Darth Vader.

Tyers does a great job of conveying the after-effects of Luke's electrocution via Force lightning on the second Death Star. His exhaustion and hindered abilities drive home the feel of this story taking place right after Return of the Jedi. I also enjoyed the exploration of Leia's emotions towards her newly-revealed father. While Luke has had time to digest his troubled heritage, Leia has just had the news dumped on her at Endor and is quite understandably extremely resentful.

The other main characters assume fairly typical roles in this story. Chewbacca and Han run around Bakura stirring up trouble and doing some great flying, the droids help out to the best of their ability, and supporting favorites such as Wedge Antilles, Mon Mothma, and Admiral Ackbar make appearances.

The strongest aspects of The Truce at Bakura are the insights into the long road ahead of the Rebellion in building a new government and in dealing with the substantial remnants of the Empire. The Ssi-ruuk themselves are memorable but fit uneasily with the larger Star Wars universe. Entechment feels more like a hard sci-fi than a Star Wars plot device, and the Ssi-ruuk's complete lack of redeeming characteristics make them into one-sided villains. Their unpleasant role as shallow antagonists counterweights the intriguing Imperial/Rebel dynamics to make a solid if not extremely memorable novel.

The Truce at Bakura picks up with the Star Wars saga just after Return of the Jedi. After reading the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy and various collections of tales in the preceding books from the Expanded Universe, a return to our familiar heroes is welcome indeed for me. In this book we are back with Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, R2, and Threepio as they head to the far-flung Imperial outpost of Bakura in response to an Imperial drone ship that carried a message to the late Emperor Palpatine. The message stated that Bakura was under attack by an alien force and needed help urgently. The leadership of the Rebel Alliance decided that Luke should lead a relatively small fleet of ships to Bakura to see what help could be provided. Leia is responsible for trying to forge an alliance with the Bakurans despite the control there of an Imperial Governor named Wilek Nereus.

The attack on Bakura was by the Ssi-ruuk, a species of warm-blooded saurians who were engaged in a campaign of conquest. Their fearsome technology called entechment could transfer the life-energy of a human prisoner into the circuits of a battle droid. Their goal was to entech the population of Bakura to give them enough mechanical warriors to pose a threat to the entire galaxy.

The Alliance fleet arrives in Bakuran in the middle of a Ssi-ruuk attack and provides valuable assistance to the Imperials to win the day. The Ssi-ruuk fleets backs away but does not leave. From that point the story moves to diplomatic maneuvers by Leia to obtain Bakuran support for the Alliance. Her efforts are offset by the devious maneuvering by Governor Nereus who clearly cannot be trusted.

The Ssi-ruuks have a young human boy named Dev Sibwarra in the fleet. Dev has been brainwashed to the point where he willingly helps his alien masters with their entechment process. Dev also has some Force presence, and he senses the presence in the opposing fleet of Luke Skywalker. The Ssi-ruuk then adjust their plans to focus on capturing Luke with the idea of enteching his Force skills and creating an even more powerful force of battle droids. Governor Nereus agrees to give Skywalker to the aliens while at the same time placing a lethal parasite in Luke's food. Things look bad for a while, but in the end our heroes come through in a battle with many ups and downs.

The tale also has a number of interesting side stories which occur along the way. Leia has a visit from the spirit of her father Anakin Skywalker, and she does not welcome him with love. Luke becomes extremely interested in Gariel Captison, the niece of the Bakuran Prime Minister. She returns the interest, but in the end duty pulls them in opposite directions. However, we do get to understand Luke's feelings of loneliness and his wondering of where he might end up in the future. Wife? Family? Kids? The farm boy from Tatooine is growing up. We also get a great scene late in the book where Threepio, wearing a stormtrooper suit, tries to get back on the Millennium Falcon and is not warmly welcomed by Chewie.

Ms Tyers has written an extremely entertaining book covering a very important period in the Star Wars saga. Well worth reading.

This story takes place in the Clone Wars. The Clone Wars was my favorite era in Star Wars, so I thought I would like it, like Shatterpoint, which I liked.I have to be honest in saying that I hated it. The author dragged everything out, and I wish he would have just shortened it and taken out all the drecriptions of everything. It seemed to go on and on about small details that really didn't need to be mentioned. Don't read it if you don't have to.

After reading probably 95% of the Star Wars adult novels in existence, I would have to say that this one is the worst Star Wars novels to date that I have read. The only one that surpasses it is Jedi Trial (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel) (and The Black Fleet Crisis is in the running in case you were wondering).
To give you an idea of how bad this is, I will number each point (in no particular order).
1. I feel that, in general, the author threw information about the characters at you--such as how scary or courageous or dangerous these people are supposed to be (their actions never justify such a narration, however)--and expects you to believe it. No actions are used to actually prove the author's claims. For instance, the rulers are supposed to be so brave, but they certainly never give me the impression they actually are.
2. The 'love' story between Nate and Sheeka is so stupid and corny I just wanted to laugh (it is obvious when reading how Sheeka talks that a man wrote this novel). The author forces the chemistry between the two and doesn't spend enough time to cement their relationship. I still wonder how Sheeka got pregnant--the auther never even hints at any intimacy (other than a kiss) between the two (I would like a hint of their intimacy, not a full-blown steamy sex scene).
3. Kit Fisto, whom I had hoped to learn more about, drifts into the background and is so unimportant (fades behind Nate), I wonder why Steve even bothered to include him in here. This point is probably the most annoying point in the book besides, maybe the next...
4. Asajj Ventress was NOT scary in the least. All she did was boast about how she would kill Obi-Wan and how much smarter she was than anybody else. Oh...I forgot! She also stalked Obi-Wan (real scary, huh?). I had so hoped, after seeing her in the Clone Wars animated shorts, that the author would use her to her fullest. I was wrong.
5. The battle sequences were too short. Typically I get tired of long battle sequences and wish the author would cut some material out but not this time. The author glosses over the lightsaber battles as if they are just fillers. I want to know some of the dynamics, not a blow-by-blow and not a summary either.
6. I can't believe that Obi-Wan (who seems to be a big whiny know-it-all in this book--I half expect to see a line similary to the infamous 'I want to go to Toshee Station to pick up some power converters') would stoop to deception to trick the Cestians to turning to the Republic. It just seems out of character to me. Obi-Wan is very traditional, by-the-book. Qui-Gon (and maybe Anakin) would stoop to deception; not Obi-Wan.
7. The story's ending was way too pat. It's like all of a sudden--boom!
8. Snoil, the Snail. I mean, come on! Are you that desperate for a new species? Why can't authors reuse at least one alien from another book?
There were a few bright points in the book: the aliens were cool, and I also liked how the author showed the point of view of a clone bred for war (but Karen Traviss does a much better job in Hard Contact). Also, the author writes a superb short story inclueded in the paperback version (I don't know why the short story was better than the novel but it was). But, overall, I would not recommend buying this book (unless in paperback or used or free) unless you are like me and trying to read all the Star Wars books. I would suggest that you check it out at the library or skip it. You won't miss any important developments.

Recommended Reads: Jedi Apprentice Series, Thrawn Trilogy (absolute BEST!), some of the New Jedi Order (most notably Traitor (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 13)), Shatterpoint (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel), the MedStar duology (ER, anyone?), Yoda - Dark Rendezvous (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel), Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, anything by Timothy Zahn

This novel works excellent in the on-going stories of Anakin. I really liked the way the author delved into Anakin's pshyche. A must read for a true Star Wars Fan!

This book has one huge flaw. The over-the-top humanising of a clone-trooper. The author kept building on this theme until the nauseating Chapter 67, which had me reaching for a vom-bucket.

There should be a warning sticker on this book - "chick-lit", because it is literature for chicks. Whoever gave this guy the keys to the "Star Wars books" kingdom should snatch them right back from him. He has abused the privilege bestowed upon him.

The Cestus Deception is a story of Obi-Wan Kenobi's efforts on the planet of Ord Cestus to bring a halt to the manufacture of killer battle droids that are difficult for even Jedi to defeat. The story is rife with political machinations because the droid production has to be stopped without destroying the economy of Ord Cestus. Obi-Wan is joined in his efforts by fellow Jedi Master Kit Fisto and a team of ARC clone troopers led by A-98, otherwise known as Nate for most of the story. The efforts are also helped by Doob Snoila, a brilliant barrister from the planet of Nal Hutta.

Obi-Wan focuses on negotiations with G'Mai Duris, the official ruler of Ord Cestus. As the story progresses we realize that true power on the planet is held by the Five Families, descendants of one-time business tycoons who were held in the penal colonies of Ord Cestus generations earlier. The Five Families are under the amazing control of Asajj Ventress, the representative of Count Dooku and a long-time enemy of Obi-Wan. Asajj works behind the scenes to counter all of the moves made by the Jedi and has a memorable battle with Obi-Wan near the end of the book.

The story in The Cestus Deception is interesting, and we are introduced to a number of new characters. That aspect of the book is fine. It lost favor with me due to an excessive amount of time introducing us to the feelings of Nate, the ARC trooper as he struggles to follow the rules of life by which he was brought up and balance that strict code of conduct against more human feelings that are encouraged in him by Sheeka Tull, a local pilot on Ord Cestus. That part of the story could have been edited. Nate is an admirable character and performs valiant deeds, but I ended up knowing more about his internal struggles than I cared to know. I also tired of all of the political maneuverings in the tale.

On the whole, the book is a good effort but not one of the highlights of the tales of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Too say this book is bad would be wrong. It's a fun ride with obi-wan and company on a somewhat western adventure. My only real complaint is whether it is really necessary. Again, its not bad, but its not really necessary either. At 350 plus pages, this book is definitely overblown. Maybe an ebook would have been a better format. That being said, this is not a bad read its just a huge diversion from the rest of the books up to this point chronologically speaking.

First and foremost, it's great to see one of the founding fathers of the Expanded Universe returning to the fold. When Foster wrote Splinter of the Mind's Eye in 1978, there was little for him to worry about. Jump twenty-four years into the future to 2002 and you have a completely different story. The Star Wars universe has become a vast and mighty organism, one that no single person fully grasps. Foster is a master of playing in other peoples' universes, Star Wars being one of them.

It was also enjoyable to see two background characters, Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee, take a leading role in a novel. Foster does an excellent job building these characters and their relationship, something that will increase the enjoyment of the upcoming Clone Wars Medstar duology, in which Barriss will play a major role. Through these two characters we are given a glimpse of the deep relationship between master and apprentice.

The relationship between Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker provides an interesting juxtaposition to the calm and patient relationship between Luminara and Barriss. Obi-wan is a rather unorthodox teacher and Anakin an unorthodox student. It is interesting to see how the others react to Anakin, as he is the only one among them with any memory of his mother. As we witnessed in Attack of the Clones, these memories have been torturing Anakin for some time. Foster does a talented job portraying this troubling problem, as well as Anakin's predisposition towards brash actions and authoritarian political leanings. One scene in particular reminded me of the waterfall scene in Attack of the Clones during which Anakin and Padmé debate the nature of government.

Another aspect of notable praise is the vivid setting Foster has created in the planet Ansion. This is not just another planet to add to the ever-growing Star Wars galaxy, but one described in rich sensory detail. We witness entire ecosystems in their natural state, oblivious to those that intrude upon the land.

I liked this book although it was hard to follow at times. While reading more about Obi-Wan was good, I had a hard time really getting into Luminara's character. Bariss was a good character, yet there needs to be more about her. If you want to read Star Wars in order, this a good read!

The Approaching Storm was written by Alan Dean Foster, the ghost author of the A New Hope novelization and writer of the first Star Wars spin-off novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye. This book takes place immediately before Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

This novel was released a few months before Attack of the Clones and billed as a "prologue" to the movie. I was so excited because I thought this book would set up the events of the movie while not revealing too much. Well, it definitely didn't reveal too much! Count Dooku is only mentioned once in the novel. Obi-Wan and Anakin's mission to the planet Ansion is mentioned in Episode II. The two other Jedi, which are the true main characters in the novel, are background characters in the movie. The novel mentions Anakin's issue with his mother. (And it was even intriguing to hear Anakin reflect on Watto as being the closest thing he had to a father figure before the Jedi came into his life.)

Overall, the portrayal of Obi-Wan and Anakin were fairly true to the movie, but we don't really get any insight to the character of Anakin that is not in the movie. And like Rogue Planet, this novel lacked the galactic feel that I love about Star Wars and this time it is even worse because the protagonists' adventures are set exclusively on a backwater planet. In this book, there is not a single mention of Padme, but in the movie Anakin says he has thought about her every day for the last ten years! While incorporating the Secessionist Movement into the basic plot of the novel, it really did nothing to enhance Star Wars II like Cloak of Deception did for Star Wars I.

In the movies, Jedi are portrayed as being able to sense danger right before it happens. One flat-out contradiction in this book is that the Jedi fall for the old smell-the-perfume-with-paralyzing-effects trick that I saw coming a parsec away without the powers of two Jedi Masters and their padawans. Other than that, I can consider this novel to be a part of continuity, just not a very exciting part.

And the movies did have the arena creatures, mynocks, the space slug and the rancor, but this book had countless encounters with wildlife which got old quick.

Instead of this book, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels that are more relevant to the film series:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

It seems the books in the "Expanded Universe" are either hit or miss. The title of this review should insinuate where this book stands. Rather than engaging in conflict, it seems the Jedi and Padawans spend most of this book wandering the desert while engaging exotic creatures. If this excitement is not enough, the C-Span like political negotiations that are the climax should make readers label this book a "miss".

The Jedi are the peacekeepers of the universe and seem to spend many books in the "Expanded Universe" on strange and new planets brokering peace. The twist that may set this book apart is that the Jedi are attempting to keep the planet Ansion from leaving the empire to join the Separatists. With Soergg of the Hutts economically motivated to prevent the Jedi from accomplishing their mission, several devious plots are hatched. Of these plots, all seem to be different just for that sake of being different rather than actually succeeding.

If you found yourself annoyed by Jar Jar Binks, you are certain to be annoyed by the rodent-like character Tooqui. Just like Jar Jar, he speaks strangely and stupidly stumbles into saving the Jedi. In terms of sequence, this book is near Episode I. In terms of plot, it is also very close to Episode I. The three star average on this book should suggest that readers have had trouble liking this book. There is a good reason for most readers not liking it.