AFICIONADO CLASSIC REVIEW: 'THE CLONE WARS' MOVIE NOVELISATION (YOUNG READERS VERSION)

THE CLONE WARS: THE YOUNG READERS ADAPTATION OF THE FILM

Written by Tracey West

Published by PUFFIN BOOKS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

From the opening battle within the crystalline streets and cities of Christophsis, to the finale lightsaber duels between Sith and Jedi on the dangerous barren desert world of Tatooine, the STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS YOUNG READERS EDITION adaptation of the first animated film, penned by Tracey West, zings along at a brisk old rate that perfectly captures both the film and its target readership of ages 8-11. Yep, characterization is limited on our favourite heroes and villains of the Saga (though Ahsoka gets the best of what treatment there is, being the new youngster with whom the books readers will hopefully relate to), but the well described action and lean to the bone transfer of the films screenplay (which omits anything that doesn’t keep it’s readership full on to the story of Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahoska) keeps you turning the page (missing sequences cut for pace reasons include the Bounty Hunters heads being delivered to Jabba’s Court, the recon commandoes on Teth, the cute scene with Ahsoka telling Rex and the Clone Troopers about how she saved Anakin in Christophsis, and Ventress choking/manipulating Captain Rex). To maintain said pace in the books second half, several sequences that were spread out in the finished film are also condensed into one period of time (I.E. the majority of Padme’s scenes, sadly showing, even more so, just how brief her character’s contribution actually proves to be to the story).

The book compensates for any missing on screen losses, however, with some intriguing scripted and filmed scenes that would actually be omitted from the final animated movie, like Ahsoka and Anakin, with help from Artoo, facing off against Ventress, whilst taking on a rampaging Rancor at the same time. Also on Teth, a moment where the Jedi pairing go head-to-head against a walking Vulture Droid (which Ahsoka finally brings down). Finally, though proving an un-necessary sequence which deserved to be cut when read, where, to lose weight to achieve an escape orbit from pursuing Vulture Droid fighters, Ahsoka is almost blown out of the Twilight’s cargo bay when she opens the bay doors to loose out its stored containers.

With the adaptation presumably being written whilst the film was still in post-production, there are also a few little differences in the way certain characters are described and what ships are used in combat-Rex doesn’t have the blond/white hair he sports in the film, Threepio is bronze rather than gold, and a Neimoidian spherical cruiser attacks the Republic cruiser in the Teth atmosphere rather than one of the Separatist EPISODE III cruisers that would be led by General Grievous.

Adding to the reading experience the chapter’s introductions are nicely designed with a modern feel, and there is an excellent 16 page colour photo section of high quality stills from the movie including two cut scene images (the aforementioned Anakin and Ahsoka versus Ventress and an excellent shot of the menacing General Grievous).

The book isn’t going to win any awards for literature any time soon, but it is a great read for the kids, and a pleasantly diverting enough one for adults, too, who may want to enjoy some light, but highly exciting action/adventure STAR WARS fun for a couple of hours whilst in the garden, before heading on in to the much darker and violent world of Karen Traviss’s adult adaptation for the film. As a starter to that main course, the junior novelisation works a treat….

AFICIONADO RATING: A fun and lively adventure (but what on earth is a Retail Droid?), with a nice, colourful photos section. The junior version of film adaptations these days may be different animals to the ones that STAR WARS fans from the seventies may have consumed, but it is nonetheless a solid read for the younglings. 7 out of 10

CLASSIC REVIEW: 'STAR WARS - THE CLONE WARS: BREAKOUT SQUAD'

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS

BREAKOUT SQUAD

A novel by Ryder Windham

Published by PUFFIN BOOKS UK

Reviewed by Scott Weller

It takes all sorts to win a war. And in the STAR WARS universe that saying has never been more true than during the epic three year reign of the Clone Wars conflict. In George Lucas’s diversified universe, humans, aliens and droids mix with tremendous ease, and, as the Republic and Separatists forces begin to tear the universe apart with their war of words and weaponry, all of the people caught in between have to choose a side to fight with, to believe in, to die for. So far, through the films and TV series, we have been at the very forefront of the fighting through the eyes and battle experiences of the main Jedi Council, primarily their Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker, and via his Clone Troopers that serve and die for them, and the political system, for better or worse, of which they all serve believing in the greater good. Beyond that, though, are the periphery tales of the Clone Wars battles-of the other not so well known Jedi, Padawan and Master, who number in their thousands, battalions of created new soldiers who join the conflict each day, civilians caught in the middle of it all whether they like it or not (or capitalizing on it all for their own greedy desires and ambitions), spies coming in and out of the dark on hundreds of planets and Separatists enemies believing their way is the right way-also partaking in the galaxy spanning conflict that, only now, are starting to have their own unique tales revealed through the popular and, at times, creatively inspired world of the STAR WARS Expanded Universe of LUCASFILM books, comics, computer games and other avenues. BREAKOUT-the first of a new young readers novel series from Ryder Windham- highlights a diverse group of these new characters caught in the struggle between good and evil, as part of this exciting and still ripe for exploring storytelling environment.

Opening a short time into the start of the Clone Wars, just after the events of the animated TV episode Destroy Malevolence, Clone Trooper “Shinies”, led by Captain Lock, discover a connection from the ruins of the destroyed enemy vessel to that of a possible new Separatist ally-the previously isolationist Kynachi race-a planet that has connections to the Jedi-one in particular, Jedi Master Ring-Sol Ambase, who, having been born there, makes him the perfect choice, alongside the aforementioned “Shinies”, to find out what is going on at this mysterious world, and where his people’s true loyalties lie. Ambase, however, won’t be the only Jedi on this danger-ridden journey. Accompanying him is his very young Padawan learner, Nuru Kungurama (a name very fitting for a Jedi and also very Samurai sounding-perhaps a tribute to the Akira Kurosawa films that George Lucas and Gary Kurtz enjoyed in their USC days?). Adopted by Ambase after his original master was killed at the battle of Geonosis, Nuru’s partaking in the Kynachi mission soon proves essential. Only there’s more to it with this young Padawan- a member of the distant, totally alien, Chiss race (one of whom would later become the skilled Empire tactician Grand Admiral Thrawn from the still resonating 1990’s HEIR TO THE EMPIRE book trilogy), whose unique history has yet to be revealed, and, being strong in resourcefulness and Jedi power, has shown abilities which will soon receive interest from the Dark Side…

Right from the start, BREAKOUT spins a carefully built web through its main story of intrigues, lies, deceptions, and sabotage tied in with bravery, loyalty and action. It moves at a fair old pace, too-after years of writing STAR WARS adventures, Windham knows his stuff and effectively keeps the reader wanting to turn the page, and, most importantly, keeps the spirit of THE CLONE WARS animated series intact within his adventure writing…

This motley collection of new characters assembled by books end (including “Shinies” stand outs like Breaker, Knuckles and Chatterbox-to find out how they get these names you’ll have to read the book!!- and freighter captain Lola Gunn and her trusty navigation droid Teejay) are a likeable bunch with lots of promise, and the set-up reminds me a bit of Dave Filoni and Henry Gilroy’s original series plans for THE CLONE WARS animated series when it was conceived with a group of all new, but familiar STAR WARS universe-type figures, rather than using any of Lucas’s own creations. We assume that Windhamhas created this new series as a kind of tribute to that intriguing early idea. To maintain the continuity, and to keep the faithful happy, familiar friends and foes appear from time to time in this first book, too. Cad Bane adds some villainy to the mission-presumably the first of many encounters to come-as do Yoda, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Count Dooku.

The Breakout Squad look set to have many exciting new adventures with Ryder Windham enjoyably at the helm to control their destinies. The adventure closes with a whole host of further book plot lines to be explored before what will likely be a grand, explosive finale. How far into the Clone Wars story-or beyond it-these characters will eventually go, however, is so far unknown.

With its great eye catching action cover by artist Wayne Lo, this is a promising start to the series, and opens new avenues within the ever expanding framework of THE CLONE WARS.

AFICIONADO RATING: A solid adventure yarn for its young target readership. 8 out of 10

AFICIONADO REVIEW: "CURSE OF THE BLACK HOLE PIRATES"

STAR WARS: BREAKOUT SQUAD

BOOK II: CURSE OF THE BLACK HOLE PIRATES

By Ryder Windham

Published in the UK by PUFFIN BOOKS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

On his first true assignment/ mission as a representative of the Republic- sent on his way by that kindly protectorate of the galaxy, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine!- young Jedi Padawan Nuru Kungurama, whose search for his missing Jedi Master- Ring-Sol Ambase- has currently stalled, heads for the largely unexplored and dangerous Outer Regions to partake in a delicate diplomatic meeting with the secretive and isolationist race who also just happen to be a part of his birthright: theChiss.

Accompanied by his newly formed Breakout Squad of Clone Troopers to a world in the Csilla system, things don’t go according to plan from the outset, with incorrect co-ordinates leading to an uneasy arrival at their ultimate destination, followed by a first encounter with the female Chiss representative, Veeren, that promises little for any kind of future pact between the two civilizations. Soon caught up in a new battle against attacking Separatist forces, the would-be retreating allies-to-be find themselves unwittingly caught in an unknown region of space, and facing off against a brigand of desperate and dangerous space pirates.

Beyond those conflicts, frightening plans are also under fruition in another corner of the galaxy, as Nuru’s aforementioned missing Jedi Master, Ring-Sol Ambase, previously captured by Cad Bane, is ultimately delivered to Count Dooku, who has his own special and manipulative agenda to commence against his once friend and the Republic he serves...

Old pirate clichés get the revisionist STAR WARS treatment, and there’s even a few nods to other films like Disney’s classic THE BLACK HOLE from 1979.

Add to the mix a little bit of STARGATE and TOTAL RECALL, as well as a whiff of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION’s second season episode Contagion, and you've got another lively adventure from longtime EU scribe Ryder Windham that younger readers will enjoy. And, as ever, there's some fun references and dialogue quotes linked to previous STAR WARS films.

The author carefully develops his recently introduced characters a little bit further, and obviously has bold plans ahead for them. Jedi Padawan Nuru, despite early hesitancy and anxiety about his new mission and what it entails, becomes a more confident Jedi, hopefully learning something about his mysterious identity along the way, whilst new antagonist/heroine Veeren is another fine addition to the roll call of Expanded Universe women: young but an experienced ambassador and warrior. Efficiently trained as a protector of the Chiss people, her first encounter with Nuru is cold to say the least, but will presumably soften to either Han/Leia proportions at some point in the future or, at worst, they’ll end being brother and sister!

Adding some enjoyable invention to the tale, the Hasty Harpy‘s eccentric smuggling vessel Captain, Lalo Gunn, has to use all of her knowledge and experience to outwit the trapped space pirates, operating at the edge of an unknown system containing a black hole, whilst the Clone Troopers of Breakout Squad have to adapt to an intriguing kind of servitude!

There’s also more mixing and matching of guest star aliens from across the two trilogies, which works better in novel form than in any of the revisions added to the Blu-ray movies!, including the return of the scaly Trandoshan bounty hunter with the lisp problem: Bossk, who, as part of the motley band of rag tag pirates, makes a welcome reptilian re-appearance and proves as slippery and aggressive a customer as ever!

Meanwhile, the dark forces of the Sith may remain in the background, but their manipulating presence continues to be felt, as the books final chapter, with the deceptive Count Dooku, gives the tale an enjoyable To Be Continued… flavor.  

AFICIONADO RATING: Though its not my personal favourite of the three Breakout Squad books so far- it doesn’t feel quite as well constructed story-wise as the other adventures it bridges- it's all still highly readable stuff. 3 out of 5