Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. By Sean Williams, based on a story by Haden Blackman.

In the dark years after Order 66 saw the fall of the Jedi, and the Grand Chancelor became Emperor Palpatine, there was a period of time when the Sith Lords, Darth Sidious and Darth Vader moved to consolidate their power. It is the way of the Sith that there are always two; a Master and an Apprentice. The Emperor was the master of the Galaxy, and Vader his apprentice. Yet it is also true that betrayal is the way of the Sith as well, and Darth Vader secretly trained an apprentice, knowing that if he were discovered, the Emperor would likely destroy them both.

Taken as an infant, Starkiller was trained by Vader to be the perfect killing machine, strong in the ways of the dark side. Now, he was approaching the time when Vader's carefully laid plans might begin to bear fruit...

Starkiller is given three things to help him. His nanny from childhood, a droid named PROXY, who uses holograms to disguise itself. PROXY's duties include trying to kill his master; it keeps him alert. Second, he is given the Rogue Shadow, a Sith Ship with cloaks and heavy armament. And lastly, Captain Juno Eclipse, a beautiful empirial pilot. Is she really just his chauffer, or is this beautiful woman, so obviously drawn to him, meant as a test from his master? Starkiller does not know.

First, Starkiller needed to be honed and tested. To do this, he sent him after three surviving Jedi. The first, Rahm Kota attacked the ship yards above the Hutt moon Nar Shadda. The next, the insane Kazdan Paratus, Master Jedi, and droid engineer had hidden himself on Raxus Prime, the dumping ground for the sector, and lastly, Master Shaak Ti, the Togruta, was holed up on the fecund world of Felucia.
One by one, he hunted them. Kota fell easily, though not decisively. Kazdan Paratus was protected by a Jedi Temple built of scrap, patrolled by droid duplicates of the Jedi Council. Lastly, Shaak Ti had been busy with a Padawan, Maris Brood, and teaching the Felucians to use their natural link to the Force. All fell before the relentless onslaught of Starkiller. Now he is ready to fulfill his destiny...

Alas, discovered by the Emperor, Vader has no choice about what to do, and Starkiller falls to his master's lightsaber. How can it end this way?

It doesn't. He awakens, reconstructed. Lord Vader still has plans for his apprentice. He must organize a rebellion against the Emperor....
How can a Sith with no social skills unify a fighting force capable of taking on the Emperor?

The Analysis.

This book has a very interesting and fast paced plot. In fact, that is about all it has. The action is trip hammer fast and flows very much like a video game. Okay, now that is fair, since it is based on a video game. But it is so close that you think in video game terms, like, how is he going to get past this boss droid to reach the next level? This level is a junk yard, so the next one will be a jungle. And that is just a wee bit too much, thank you.

Also, the pace leaves little time for real character development. Worse, what little oportunity that exists is wasted. The characters come across as flat and two dimensional. Their dialogue is equally flat, and stilted. And just because we are privy to Starkiller's thoughts and feelings doesn't mean they are interesting. I can see how someone raised to be a mystic killer might have some personality defects, but that does not make them entertaining. Also, William's narrative and descriptive skills are stunted in a similar fashion. The backgrounds are sketched in, and it is the action, and only the action, that takes center stage.

This is sad, because I beleive that this could have been a genuinely interesting book. Instead, it really has the feel of being aimed at the same teenage market that is the primary demographic for the video game.

This is a mistake. One, it is insulting to teenagers. Many of them are under educated, and can't read, but that is not the point; they won't be buying this book anyway. Teenagers with enough interest in a game to read a novel attached to it will probably appreciate a good novel, aimed at an intelligent audience. Dumbing it down does not increase sales; stupid people don't buy books.
At anyrate, if you are a Star Wars fanatic, or just want a fast paced roller coaster ride not requiring any thought on your part, this book is for you. Otherwise, save your time, there are plenty of good Star Wars books on the shelves.

May The Force Be With You.

The New Frontier: Younglings.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season One
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season Two

Check out the other completely different Clone Wars cartoons.
Star Wars Clone Wars Volume One. and
Star Wars Clone Wars Volume Two.

Check out these Star Wars Novels:
Tatooine Ghost
Star Wars Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice
Star Wars Legacy of the Force: Invincible
The Cestus Deception.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
Republic Commando Order 66

Check out these Star Wars Comics:
Tag and Bink Were Here
Jango Fett: Open Season.
Rites of Passage
Star Wars Rebellion: My Brother, My Enemy.

Check out my reviews on Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic.
Commencement
Flashpoint.
Days of Fear, Nights of Anger.

Check out the Future of Star Wars in Legacy:
Star Wars Legacy: Broken.
Star Wars Legacy: Shards
Star Wars Legacy: Claws of the Dragon
Star Wars Legacy: Alliance

The Star Wars Role Playing Game:
Star Wars Role Playing Game
Star Ships of the Galaxy
Threats of the Galaxy
Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide
The Force Unleashed Campaign Guide
Scum and Villainy
The Clone Wars Campaign Guide

Check out all the Star Wars Saga:
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Recommended: No