Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Building on the foundations of Episode I, this book threatens all-out war, reveals that the Chosen One has feet of clay, and gives us a fantastic fight scene at the end.
For a long time I have been suffering under a misconception. I had always thought of Anakin Skywalker as a stereotypical hero: strong, brave, noble etc. This idea was troubling me because, if Anakin was indeed all these, then how do I explain what I know of the history of the Star Wars universe? This history cannot be explained by a hero-type at the center of it all.
Thankfully, reading "Episode II: Attack of the Clones" has cleared up the misconception. To wit: Anakin Skywalker is a doofus. Granted, he is the most gifted Jedi of them all. Take away these natural gifts though, Anakin is an impulsive, undisciplined person who is a struggle to teach under training and a loose cannon when left to himself. Now the greater Star Wars history makes sense.
The book has two "eye-candy" segments that really capture the imagination. The first is the planet Kamino. I can see it now, in my mind's eye, a planet completely encased in water and under a perpetual storm with those beautifully formed and extremely tough Kaminoan cities. The second is the battle at the end which has everything one could ever want: Jedi, Mandalorian battle armor, monsters, clone troopers, the Sith. Wow.
A big part of this book is the courtship of Padme Amidala, something that made me wince when I saw it in the big screen. Not so in the book. R.A. Salvatore handles it deftly.
The backdrop of the book is the slow collapse of the Republic. The Jedi are very reactive here and pretty much clueless. The only strong initiative is from Obi-Wan Kenobi, who really impresses in this book. In the meantime, the Sith look to be irresistible and in strong control of the situation. The droid army is definitely a Sith initiative, the clones might also be a Sith initiative although this is not confirmed in the book.
I've never read an R.A. Salvatore book before. I'm happy to note that he has a well-deserved reputation. The prose flows and paints pictures in my mind - a really good, smooth read. And, from the point of view of my interest in the world of Star Wars, a thoroughly enjoyable read.