Techtite's Hardcopy: Book Reviews

"This latter plot branch [of Anakin's infatuation with Padme/Amidala] is the most important to the overall story, because it is forbidden for a Jedi to fall for passion; such emotions are too unpredictable, and a Jedi's powers make such lack of control a serious danger..."

---from the review

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Also reviewed Elsewhere: Star Wars Episide 2: Attack of the Clones (the film). 

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I've never been able to figure out George Lucas' publicity strategy. It's not like suspense isn't a major factor to his films' appeal, and yet you can often read about such films long in advance!  I remember being able to read the whole story to Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, in no less than half a dozen forms (graphic novel, novel, official-art-book that included the full script, etc.), 2 weeks before the film had even hit theaters. So, you can imagine how perplexing it is, reading the hardcover novel of Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones, a whole month before it even hits theaters. However, would I dare miss the chance to read the story ASAP? Nope.

I'll be good, and not post too many spoilers here. However, if you're reading this book review, and don't want to know anything, you're in the wrong place, my friend. After all, book review or not, this is a review about the film's story; how am I suppose to type such a review, without "spoiling" the first or second chapter, at least? If you want no spoilers at all, and are ready to send a Techtite.com letter griping about how a review of the story spoiled parts of the story; you're a bit of a ninny, aren't you? Go away, and let the rest of us have our fun...

The story, as we already know, takes up ten years after the first film. It has been a decade since the Senate was placed under the new control of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (soon to be Emperor Palpatine; remember the first film trilogy?), and he's not doing that good of a job (on purpose...?). A group of planets --so called "separatists"-- have risen to make their own unions, defying the Senate's rule altogether. It is the wish of many Senators to create a grand army, to defend the Republic from these separatist groups. So enters Senator Amidala (formerly Queen Amidala), who is travelling to Coruscant to voice her opposition to such a violent solution to the problem. This opposition, however, may pose a problem to her health, as her ship blows up just seconds before it lands, with proof of a hired assassin hot on her trail! It is up to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker (now a young adult, padawan Jedi) to protect Amidala, track down the assassins, and discover their employers.

This all leads to many gripping plot branches, as Obi-Wan tracks down the assassins, while  Anakin stays behind to protect Amidala...and fall in love with her. This latter plot branch is the most important to the overall story, because it is forbidden for a Jedi to fall for passion; such emotions are too unpredictable, and a Jedi's powers make such lack of control a serious danger. This, along with a return to Tatooine to learn what happened to his mother, is an effective pair of stepping stones as to how and why Anakin is seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. Shades of Vader are definitely apparent by now, and Obi-Wan is not as oblivious to it as he is distracted by the new threat of the clone factory he discovers...

Of course, the coolest part of this story, for Star Wars fans, is the final revelation of who or what is behind the masks of all those stormtroopers. This plot can, of course, have only been conceived by Darth Sidious, and includes a new character called Cpount Dooku, as well as Jango Fett, the father of Boba Fett (from the first film trilogy). Of course, such a clone war requires the help of all Jedi, and we finally get to read why Yoda is indeed the supreme Jedi master. Not since he pulled Luke Skywalker's whole X-wing from the swamp in Empire Strikes Back, have we seen such a pivotal role in Yoda; this is fun to read, and I can imagine, will be fun to see in the final film.

Sadly for some readers, Lucas is a big fan of making the middle of all trilogies with cliffhangers galore, and this story --based very tightly on the film, from what I hear-- is no exception. While the finale is far more acceptable then the very abruptly ended The Empire Strikes Back, let's just say it will leave many fans with many more questions, most of which cannot be answered until 2005 (when the finale of the trilogy is released). Reading between the lines, however, one can sense that there could be some visual answers to some questions, that will only be revealed in the film itself. Will a first glance at Darth Sidius' face finally reveal to the layman moviegoer, that he, Emperor Palpatine, and Senator Palpatine are one in the same...? Early reviews for the film imply this question is answered, no matter how subtly; in the book, it is not...at least, not yet.

Of course, cliffhangers notwithstanding, this is an excellent novelized version, of an equally excellent story. While Episode 1's story, in 1999, proved to be mere fodder for special FX visuals (making the book, quite frankly, more than a bit dragging), this story is a pleasure to read, with or without the million-dollar supercomputer to add all those clones in the background. The scenes involving Amidala & Anakin's growing love for each other are effective, and portray their characters in a far more three-dimensional light than the prior film/book could convey. I particularly liked how Amidala is now pained as being rather daring and spunky, much like her daughter Princess Leia was in the original films. Meanwhile, Anakin is played as an amalgam of all the best qualities of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo; a Jedi with a rebellious streak he tries to control. The outlook for Attack of the Clones looks very bright, and if the film itself follow this story thoroughly enough, I'll have no complaints.