Latest Updates: Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The first four episodes of The Clone Wars will be released on DVD March 24th.
The price will be $19.98 and a second four episode compilation will also be released later on in the year, projected for the summer. LucasFilm also plans to release a boxed set of the complete first season later in the year that will be available in blu-ray, and that includes quite a few bonus features including behind the scenes making of the series.
Source: Starwars Official Site
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Latest Updates: Friday, January 9, 2009
Reviewed by Andrew Liptak.
Review: Clone Wars: Wild Space
Karen Miller's introduction to the Star Wars universe comes in the form of Clone Wars: Wild Space, the second book based off of the television series. While it is fairly well written and engaging for a Star Wars novel, it is unfortunately a fairly lackluster read as far as Star Wars novels go.
The book opens shortly after the Battle of Geonosis, and we see some of the repercussions of the battle when it comes to the Jedi. After a short introduction, the novel progresses onwards to shortly after the Battle of Teth, during the time that the TV series covers. (Most of the timeline here covers the period around episodes 6 and 7) This novel mainly follows Obi-Wan Kenobi while he attempts to track down a Sith Holocron in a plot that is put together by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine with the intent to remove Obi-Wan from the war in order to further Anakin Skywalker's path towards the Dark Side.
This novel does succeed in several areas. The first is an attention to detail that helps to pull a number of details together. I found myself referring to the Star Wars encyclopedia a number of times for some of the more obscure references that Karen refers to, such as Qui-Gon's apprentices and some of Obi-Wan's earlier years and several other items throughout.
Wild Space also fills a void that we had in the chronology, with the months right after the battle of Geonosis and with some of the repercussions that the Republic, Senate and Jedi order went through as the war began, as well as some discussion to some of the actions going back to The Phantom Menace. Additionally, we see quite a bit of Anakin and Padme and just how their relationship developed over the beginnings of the war. Finally, as this is an Obi-Wan centered-novel, there is quite a bit of action with Senator Bail Organa, which further links to A New Hope, and we see just how Obi Wan and Organa served together during the war.
Unfortunately, the story is where the book falls short. While there are a lot of details that do make this an interesting read, the story largely revolves around the plot that Palpatine cooks up, which is a disappointing and repetitive section of the story. Obi-Wan is turned largely into a rather unlikable character who seems to have been holding a grudge for anybody who is not a Jedi. The last half of the book places Organa and Kenobi, and features argument after argument between the two men, and when they finally reach the (another) Sith Planet, Obi Wan is affected by the holocron they've gone to the planet to destroy, an effect that we've never seen before - compelling Obi-Wan to black out and turn very violent at points. It would have been more effective had this section of the book been shorter. The journey across the planet motif has been done before and better, and reminded me a lot of Lord of the Rings at points.
Another problem with the book here has little to do with the book itself, but its source material that the book is based off of. The Clone Wars series, while enjoyable at points, has a number of flaws that unfortunately translate into the book. This is a show that is intended for a younger audience, and the book is written up a couple levels for an older audience.
Ultimately, this book is a light, fun read, and a good introduction to Karen Miller. Longtime Star Wars readers should at least enjoy the book for what it is. While not a spectacular entry into the Star Wars lit world, I am anticipating Miller's upcoming books. Hopefully there'll be some more clones though.
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