Cons: Reads like a scholastic book; material is mostly filler.
The Bottom Line: If you want to know the prelude to Episode II: Attack of the Clones, this leads you within days of it. But as a Star Wars story, it falls short.
martytdx's Full Review: Alan Dean Foster - Star Wars: The Approaching Stor...
There are only 68 days left until Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, a movie that I am EAGERLY anticipating. To hold the fans over, Uncle George authorized An Approaching Storm to tell the tale of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi (and the rest of the supporting cast) just before AOTC opens.
The premise of this book is good - the small, seemingly insignificant world of Ansion is about to vote to secede from the increasingly corrupt and crumbling Republic. In and of itself, this act doesn't seem to warrant much notice - which is what those behind the plot want. However, unknown to most of the Republic, the myriad of treaties, deals and partnerships between Ansion and other worlds could lead to a cascade effect. If they leave, a hundred other worlds could follow quickly.
The Republic has already sent its diplomats, to no avail. So now the Jedi Council has sent 2 Jedi and their padawans (students) to help negotiate to keep Ansion in the Republic. To do so, they must make the city dwelling Unity group and the nomadic Alwari both agree to a treaty which will protect the rights of each on a new Ansion.
Sounds easy, right? Well, add the workings of the underworld including a Hutt, the Commerce Guild (the newer, smarter version of the Trade Federation) and a mysterious benefactor, and the job gets that much harder.
Okay, jacket synopsis aside, this book is one of the weaker Star Wars novels to come around in a while. The characters -- with the notable exception of Luminari Unduli, the female Jedi Knight -- are one-dimensional almost the whole way through the book. Anakin is a whiny brat whose only thought is "Why do I have to this, Obi-Wan ... but I want to do that, Master". Think Dennis the Menace meets McCauley Caulkin in "Home Alone". Barriss Offee, the other padawan is letter better, with the descriptions of her merely making her the antithesis of Anakin so he can whine.
Obi-wan's character does have a bit of interest, if only because it allows you to understand more about the character that Alec Guinness would play later in the movies. But that doesn't do much for the overall story.
As for the story itself, although it does offer some tantalizing tidbits which will probably show up in the movie, it could also have been completely skipped without missing much. The Jedi are attacked, they win. They are kidnapped, they fight their way out. They get attacked by native wildlife (3x) and manage to survive amazing odds. It's all pretty basic.
I wonder how much of the failings of this book are because of Alan Dean Foster. I have never been a fan of his books, mostly because he seems to take the 'write it and they will read' approach, knowing that the rabid fans of Star Wars will buy this book regardless of how well it is written (or not well-written, as the case may be). Foster has always struck me as a somewhat boring writer, and he exemplifies this here.
His style of writing relies too much on strange terms and language that attempt to make the story exotic, but instead just make it longer. Add the fart jokes (I'm not kidding), and it comes off sounding like something for an 11-year old to read. And the fact that he added ANOTHER Jar-Jar like creature (Tooqui, a Guwwran - a smaller version of the Alwari which talks funny - go figure), almost made me sick.
As a whole, this book is Star Wars, but little else besides the potential ties to the movie make it worth reading. If you are an avid Star Wars fan, maybe you'll enjoy it -- but get it at the library or used. Don't pay full price. If you are on the fence about it - SKIP IT. You won't be missing anything of consequence before the movie.
The Republic is decaying, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. On the strategic planet of Ansion, a powerful faction is on the v...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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