Star Wars: The Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth Book Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth was written by Karen Miller. This novel is part of the Expanded Universe, a.k.a. Legends. This tale takes place during the Rise of the Empire era, during the clone wars, 21 years before the battle of Yavin.

SUMMARY

General Grievous continues his reign of terror across the galaxy. Republic Forces are hit hard by the separatists in the battle of Kothlis. In the battle, the Republic learns that their warships are infected with a virus, which take over their computers and communications. Such a massive disruption had to have been accomplished at the Republic Shipyards.

Chancellor Palpatine urges the Jedi Order and select members of the senate to place a permanent unit of Jedi and Republic troops on Kothlis. Yoda and Bail Organa aren’t thrilled with this suggestion. Especially when Palpatine asks that the best of the best are sent there; removing them from the frontlines of the war!

Bail Organa comes to Obi-Wan with top-secret news regarding the Separatists. He has a gut feeling that they are harvesting resources on the planet Lanteeb. Further research reveals that the Separatists are very likely developing a bioweapon! Only a handful of folks will know of this, and the secret mission that follows to verify such claims.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

One reason you must always take reviews lightly, is because we all have our own opinions, our own likes and dislikes. I heard that this book was one of the worst. So I went in cautiously, expecting disappointment. Yet, I actually enjoyed this story.

Karen Miller does a really good job expressing the inner emotions of our characters. These Clone Wars books really show us the mental/emotional decline of Anakin Skywalker. We see Anakin act reckless and defiant. He truly is controlled by his emotions and has a hard time with self control. Kenobi is frustrated with his old Padawan, but he knows there isn’t much he can really do, Anakin is a Jedi Knight now, and is trekking his own path.

Kenobi is tired, at least that’s what everyone keeps telling him. Kenobi and Bail Organa have a good conversation, a bond clearly was formed between them through the events of Wild Space. I do like that they have formed a friendship, that Bail truly trusts Kenobi.

Ahsoka is so concerned about her relationship with Anakin. She feels like a shadow, but feels like she’s also a protector of him. She wants his approval, wants to keep the chosen one safe.

Palpatine doesn’t hold back in showing some of his cards in screwing over the Republic. wanting to send the best troops to Kothlis, to remain, out of the fight. Such an obvious move to weaken the Republic on the frontlines.

The relationship between Palpatine and Anakin is strong, Palpatine continues to lure the boy in, acting as a father figure. Palpatine reveals that he knows of Anakin & Padme’s relationship, ensuring that he will keep it a secret. One really good thing that these Clone Wars books reveal, is the building relationship between Palpatine and Anakin.

The story brings Anakin and Kenobi together to work undercover on Lanteeb. They hope to find out the secrets of the Separatists. They stumble upon Dr. Bant’ena Fhernan, who is forced to work for the Separatists. Kenobi and Skywalker meet with her, it’s a strange “rescue attempt.” We get a lot going on in her head, she’s grateful but also very rude. If she dies, many could live, but also die… if she lives, many will die. Kenobi contemplates killing her, which is very out of character. We run through a list of ways he thinks of killing her, including bursting her heart in her chest.

Karen Miller takes liberty with changing character traits. This is aggravating and obnoxious. Yoda tells Kenobi to lie to Dr. Fhernan about her families safety. Anakin and Obi-Wan have a big argument about it. Kenobi had a relationship in his youth with another Jedi that went beyond mere friendship. His old love, Taria Damsin, makes an appearance in this novel, and she’s dying from a terminal illness.

I really feel then Anakin has a hatred for Kenobi, the relationship between them really isn’t a brotherhood, but of tolerance. Nobody is disappointed in his old Padawan, and Anakin is constantly frustrated with his old master.

Do I recommend this book? If you’re a fan of the Clone Wars, I’d have to say yes!

RATING

This book receives a 3/5 stars, or a C+.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Novelization Review

by Matthew Wilson

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Novelization Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie novelization was written by New York Times Bestselling Author Karen Traviss. This tale takes place during the Rise of Empire Era, shortly after the events of Attack of the Clones. The story is about 22 years before the battle of Yavin

SUMMARY

Count Dooku, leader of the Separatist Army, made an attempt to lure the Jabba the Huttinto joining the Separatist movement. The end goal was to have Jabba deny outer-rim hyperspace lanes in his territory, to Galactic Republic forces. Dooku has arranged to have Jabba the Hutts infant son, Rotta, kidnapped. Dooku’s apprentice Asajj Ventress and Jabba’s cousin, Zrio the Hutt design a plot that frames the Jedi Order as the culprit of kidnaping Rotta. Anakin Skywalker is assigned a padawan (a 14 year-old Togruta female named Ahsoka), a real surprise to Kenobi and Anakin. Anakin and Ahsoka are then sent on a mission to recover Rotta the Hutt, to maintain neutrality with Jabba. Access to the hyperspace lanes in the outer-rim are an important asset to the Republic’s Clone Army.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

I’ve watched The Clone Wars movie a few years ago, I was not a fan. This novelization, which is based on the screenplay, does a fine job of telling the story in the novel format. I really do not like this story. So many elements are too goofy, unbelievable, and outright annoying. However, Karen Travis did a fine job translating the source material into the novelization. If I had the option to re-watch or re-read The Clone Wars, I would have to re-read the novelization. I enjoyed reading more of the conflict within Anakin. The title of “The Chosen One” really bothers him, but it does boost his ego. The author did a good job of delving into the young man’s struggles. Anakin hasn’t gotten over the loss of mother or the way he handled her death, which was actually sad, yet fascinating to see how he coped with the loss. Anakin’s irritation with authority was authentic. Anakin and his newly appointed padawn have a bumpy start. I feel that Ahsoka is a character designed to both mimic and one-up Anakin. They display the same traits; they’re cocky, powerful, have problems with authority, and are always trying to take the lead, The nicknames they have for each other is annoying, dare I say, cringy.

Do I recommend you pick up Star Wars: The Clone Warsi? I would say, read the book over watching the film.

RATING

I give The Clone Wars novelization 2 out of 5 stars..

The X-Files: Goblins Book Review

by Matthew Wilson

X-Files: Goblins, is book one the X-Files expanded material. The X-Files was a show that first aired in the 90s and up through the 2000s. Goblins was written by Charles Grant and published in 1994 by Harper Collins.

SUMMARY

FBI agents Mulder & Scully are assigned to the X-Files (the odd cases that lean toward the unexplained or supernatural). In this tale, a few murders take place in a small town. Mulder and Scully are assigned to the case along with two other agents. The murders had some similarities, specifically, the murderer was “invisible.”

The FBI agents visit the small town and come to the conclusion that what they are possibly dealing with, is a science project gone wrong. A goblin is running through the town… taking it’s victims in the dark. Mulder is quick to accept the theory of the goblin, but he and the FBI agents refer to the killer as a chameleon.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

First, I’ll cover the positive. Charles Grant does an excellent job setting the atmosphere. I’ve always associated The X-Files with a dreary overcast sky and a cool breeze in the air. I believe the characters are true to who they are on screen. As of now, I’ve only seen the first season and really enjoyed it.

A lot of the story is fleshed out well, but some bits and pieces are confusing. We jump between different characters and locations without a lot of context as to what’s happening. I thought I was missing something somewhere, but it’s just the style of the author for this story.

Fans of the show may appreciate this book, but I must warn you, it’s not rated PG. I was seriously shocked by the amount of foul language used in this book. One would think, as a television tie-in, the novel would reflect more of the show’s tone. However, that’s not the case for X-Files: Goblins. It’s not overly sexual, but the language used was a major disappointment for me.

Do I recommend you read this book? If you’re a big fan of The X-Files, you might like it, but if you have no interest in the 90s television series, don’t waste your time.

RATING

The X-Files: Goblins receives a C,

Star Wars: Darth Maul Shadow Hunter Book Review

by Matthew Wilson

Star Wars: Darth Maul Shadow Hunter Book Review

Star Wars: Darth Maul – Shadow Hunter was written by Michael Reaves. This story belongs to the Expanded Universe/Legends novel timeline. It takes place 32 years before the events of A New Hope.

SUMMARY

Darth Sidious, the dark lord of the Sith is getting so close to accomplishing his order’s goal – conquering the galaxy. One of the first major steps to throw the galaxy into chaos is at risk! A delegate of the the Trade Federation with knowledge of the planned blockade has gone on the run. Sidious sends out his apprentice, Darth Maul, to hunt down the deserter and traitor. The trail leads Maul to the Republic political world, of Coruscant.

Darsha Assamt, a Jedi Padawan, is sent on her first solo mission; to retrieve a known former member of the Black Sun crime organization. Darsha is to transport him to the Jedi temple unharmed, where he will trade information for safety. This mission takes Darsha to the underbelly of Coruscant, a dark dingy place overrun with crime and degenerates. The mission spirals out of control, and Darsha must tap into all that she’s trained for.

Lorn Pavan, a mildly depressed Information broker, gets himself caught up in a dangerous game when he purchases valuable information from a Namodian – a Holocron! Pavan knows he can earn a pretty penny selling the Holocron to the right buyer. He and his droid business parter, I-Five, would be able to leave Coruscant and start a new life. This “Sith Holocron” actually contains Sidious’s plans of taking out the Jedi Order and conquering the Galaxy. Darth Maul must find the Holocron before it falls into Jedi Hands.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

With so much going on, many paths being crossed with multiple characters, it’s surprisingly a very smooth read. With the first couple chapters I was a bit concerned that the book was going to be derailed or I’d get lost with the multiple stories going on all at once. That concern quickly faded as the stories came together rather seamlessly. So it turned out, that I was delighted with the flow of the story and the setting. The deep dive into the nasty underworld of Coruscant was highly entertaining.

It was interesting to follow a Jedi character that struggled so much. Not that I want to see the Jedi fail, but to see that such a powerful character-type can struggle. Throwing Darsha in the lower levels of Coruscant on her first mission was a fantastic story element. It takes her out of her comfort zone, being so close to home, yet seeming so far away and foreign.

Michael Reeves did a fine job giving us new characters such as Darsha, Lorn Pavan and his droid partner, I-Five. I was slightly irritated that a few characters were so quick to label the Sith. The Sith were thought dead and gone for so long, why would their existence/presence be at the forefront of multiple people’s minds? I think some of the story points could have been altered so that folks would think that a Jedi had gone rogue, and the Jedi are trying to figure out who it would be.

Speaking of the Sith, following Maul on his mission gave us a great look at the character’s inner thoughts, his control and lack there of with his actions. His quest for death and irradiation of the Jedi gets the better of him.

So, do I recommend that you read Darth Maul – Shadow Hunter? Yes! a fun story in a contained environment, easy to follow.

RATING

I will give this book an A.

The Writing Can’t Wait.

by Matthew Wilson

Writing is something I really like to do. I’ve got this website… TheGeeksAttic.com, a place to post whatever I could possibly imagine – yet I hesitate. One of my biggest dreams is to become an author; to write an epic fantasy, a science fiction, or even a lovely children’s book. I’ve got notebooks full of wonderful ideas. Believe it or not, many of the ideas I wrote several years ago have actually found their way to greater minds; coming to fruition through other author’s books and even movies. I kick myself when these things come about. It means my idea was wonderful, that someone else managed to come up with it too and actually put the adventures and names to paper.

I’m tired of not committing to my writing – tired of dedicating my free time to reading or watching art produced by someone else. The time to create should be now, not tomorrow, for there is no guarantee that tomorrow will come. If you are like me, stop wasting your time and get to work.

black and red typewriter — Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

This Blog

Maybe a big step to getting myself back into the swing of writing, I should start posting here more often. I’ve felt a major shift in my life recently; it has nothing to do with any specific event. The website may be seeing some changes… it must change. In my videos posted on YouTube, I’m always trying to send you here. After looking the site over I’ve come to realize there really isn’t anything interesting here. I plan to change that.

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