eBook Shatterpoint (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel) ePub

THE FURTHER YOU get into this scintillating, compelling, fascinating, totally unique and absolutely enthralling member of the beloved Expanded Universe, the better it gets. There’s no doubt, however, that it starts off with a bang. We learn many things in SHATTERPOINT about the wonder that is Jedi Master Mace Windu, not the least of which what a ’shatter point’ actually is. But we also learn the number of combat techniques (there are six) that are available to a Jedi and their Padawan. We also learn of a mystical, mythical and magical seventh which is extremely difficult to learn, damn near impossible to master and incredibly dangerous to use. This final technique, it turns out, was developed by Master Windu. Which should be of no surprise to anyone. Mace Windu is the personifcation of everything good, and cool, about the force, and of being a Jedi.

SHATTERPOINT is also about a search. Windu’s Padawan (Depa Billaba) has gone missing on his home jungle planet of Haruun Kal, and Mace has put his heroic hand up to rescue her. The things is, the planet is so strong in the force (literally as well as metaphorically) that even placing one’s foot on the planet’s surface is enough to push even a mild force user over to the Dark Side. So just imagine the powers of determination and concentration a powerful Jedi will have to use to save his own soul from this fate.

The concern is, of course, that Depa herself has faced this same test, and failed. The few items of evidence presented to the Jedi Council on Coruscant certainly point in this direction. And of course there is a war going on, too, both on the planet’s surface and right across the galaxy. So not only does Mace have to fight the separatists to stay alive, he has to fight these same forces of evil in order to save his Padawan from herself. And from the very aspect of her existence which brought her to the planet in the first place.

So this book is really about war. But it is so much more than that. It talks about self doubt, torture, cowardice, and even how to break a human being. It talks about unbelievable courage, and bravery, friendship, love, revenge, and everything else both your standard human and Jedi deal out to the universe every spare moment of their lives.

SHATTERPPOINT is an extraordinary book. It is certainly the most realistic, exciting, fist-pumping and confronting expanded universe novel i have ever read. I won’t say it is a realistic novel about war, since (thank God) I have not found myself in that theatre of human existence. But every Star Wars fan in the galaxy should read this book. Every science fiction fan should read this book. Every war aficionado should read this book, and I would hope, close the cover at it’s end a changed person. I know I am.

Full marks for a truly extraordinary and amazing reading experience.

Star Wars just got serious.

Bye for now.

Spoiler free:

I never read Shatterpoint when it originally came out, but decided to give it a look when the events of the Kanan comic book seemed to imply that the story in Shatterpoint happened. Thus, while this story is technically part of the "Legends" series and not canon, aspects of it help us understand things that are in the current canon. I'm really, really happy I picked this up as I'd rank it at the top of all Star Wars books, right alongside Darth Plagueis.

Shatterpoint explores the darker side of the Force. How dark can a Jedi go and still be a Jedi? What acts are acceptable for Jedi during a time of war? This book explores the ethical decisions the Jedi had to make during The Clone Wars in a Vietnam War type of setting. You don't have to be a Star Wars fan to appreciate the dark story and great storytelling. I couldn't put it down.

The Jedi philosophy provided in this book is more than you could ask for. It's the only fictional book I ever taken the time to highlight as many exerts from. The action and intensity stays consistantly captivating like no book I've read in 36 years of living. Never had to read the same sentance twice, it kept me totally engaged. It is also worthy of pointing out, in terms of geographics and economics, this planet "Haruun Kal" was clearly based on Africa; and that the writer has legitimate understanding of Special Forces and unconventional warfare. I speak from experience as a Soldier in the military. I loved this book so much I leather bound it myself. I will most likely read it many, many times!

Ever since watching Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace, I've always found it a bit difficult to take Mace Windu's character seriously. Nothing with the acting so much as seeing a noted celebrity like Samuel L. Jackson in Jedi robes. I found I could accept him a bit more as Windu played an increasingly prominent role in Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, but he was still always the "Hollywood" Jedi.

Matthew Stover's Shatterpoint is perhaps the first real in-depth look at Mace Windu's character, and it turns out he's one of the more interest prequel characters. Shatterpoint is a retake on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, but starring Mace Windu, and like that novel it explores the depths and darkness of the human character. In this case, Mace Windu goes to his homeworld, Haruun Kal, to track down a rouge Jedi, and former padawan, Depa Billaba. During his quest, he becomes embroiled in a nasty civil war.

There are few points I really like about the book. First, Stover goes to great lengths to explain Mace Windu's Force powers and how he uses them. Usually, the Force is almost treated like mysticism or magic, but Stover makes it a bit more tangible. In particular, Mace can identify "shatterpoints," or the breaking point of opponents or the center of gravity of certain situations. For example, he (correctly it turns out) identifies Palpatine as a man of central importance to the future of the Republic.

Second, Shatterpoint takes Star Wars to a darker place, almost as dark as Heart of Darkness itself. The civil war resembles the kinds of ethnic conflicts found in central Africa rather than the good-versus-evil sterilized conflicts of much of Star Wars. Mace Windu often finds himself preaching restraint and for humane treatment of the enemy, only to have his morals questioned. The "Truth" he discovers in the jungle is both disturbing and turns out to be profoundly accurate.

One of my favorite features of Stover's Star Wars novels is how he incorporates "ordinary people" and their views into what are usually epic plots. For example, in Star Wars: Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor, Luke vents his frustration with holodramas (essentially tabloid films). In Shatterpoint, Mace Windu meets kids who argue over whether Jango Fett was the greatest bounty hunter ever and whether he was actually dead - just the sort of hero worship sports stars or politicians might receive today.

Furthermore, Stover writes some sections of the book as entries in Mace Windu's private journal, giving us a glimpse into his mind. I love some of the subtle detail about Mace's personality, such as his claim that he hadn't smiled in 10 years. Not surprisingly, it turns out Mace Windu is not dissimilar from Samuel L. Jackson's other tough-guy roles, but wit a few twists.

The only aspect of the book I didn't like was the abundance of "impossible situations." It seems like Mace Windu encounters a situation he can't possibly escape from every 50 pages, but of course he usually manages to find a shatterpoint. I think if the earlier battle scenes had been toned down a bit, the later ones would have felt all the more intense. The final quarter of the book reverts to the more typical Star Wars fare of massive battles and constant action. It's well done and takes interesting turns, but isn't nearly as interesting as the earlier portions.

At the end of the day, Shatterpoint brings Mace Windu out of Samuel L. Jackson's Hollywood shadow and reveals a deep, sophisticated, and occasionally dark character. It's certainly one of the better Star Wars novels and will force readers to think deeply on the nature of the Force, morality, and war.