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Description
In this essential Star Wars Legends novel, Mace Windu must journey to his long-forgotten homeworld to confront a terrifying mystery with dire personal consequences. The jungle planet of Haruun Kal, homeworld of the legendary Jedi Master Mace Windu, has become a battleground in the increasing hostilities between the Republic and the renegade Separatist movement. The Jedi Council has sent Depa Billaba--Mace's former Padawan and fellow Council member--to Haruun Kal to train the local tribesmen as a guerrilla resistance force. But now the Separatists have pulled back, and Depa has not returned. The only clue to her disappearance is a cryptic recording left at the scene of a brutal massacre: a recording that hints of madness and murder, and the darkness in the jungle . . . a recording in Depa's own voice. Mace Windu trained Depa. Only he can find her. Only he can learn what has changed her. Only he can stop her. He will leave behind the Republic he serves, the civilization he believes in, everything but his passion for peace and his devotion to his former Padawan. And he will learn the terrible price that must be paid when keepers of the peace are forced to make war. . . .… (more)
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003-06-03
Publication
London Arrow 2004
Pages
419
ISBN
0099410486 / 9780099410485
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Anduril85
This is one of the most emotionally intense Star Wars books I have read so far. Mace Windu is placed against an entire planet at war with it self; a senseless, bloody, and endless war. The book shows how even a Jedi can fail, suffer, hurt, and be left ragged. No other book that I've read made the
Maces struggle throughout his adventure made me want to fight and be more steadfast in every difficult aspect of my own life. When he feels pain and loss you feel it with him. When he exudes power it was as if I felt that power. The job the author did with the conveying emotions was amazing, even the minor characters have lives, hopes and fears of their own and they all seem so realistic that you empathize with their ups and downs.
Even though the events of the book are of course fictional, in a very real way it highlights the fact that war in itself is a pointless and futile action under any circumstance and that no matter who wins everyone looses in the end. This is in the simplest terms a very good read and one I would very much hope the average reader would not pass over just because it says Star Wars on the front, you don't need to be a dungeons and dragons playing geek to appreciate this book, if you have have some time I urge you to give it a try.
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Jedi seem so human, so fallible, and so imperfect. The story really made me respect Mace as a Jedi, from his fighting prowess to his strategic mind he is an opponent to be feared. Maces struggle throughout his adventure made me want to fight and be more steadfast in every difficult aspect of my own life. When he feels pain and loss you feel it with him. When he exudes power it was as if I felt that power. The job the author did with the conveying emotions was amazing, even the minor characters have lives, hopes and fears of their own and they all seem so realistic that you empathize with their ups and downs.
Even though the events of the book are of course fictional, in a very real way it highlights the fact that war in itself is a pointless and futile action under any circumstance and that no matter who wins everyone looses in the end. This is in the simplest terms a very good read and one I would very much hope the average reader would not pass over just because it says Star Wars on the front, you don't need to be a dungeons and dragons playing geek to appreciate this book, if you have have some time I urge you to give it a try.
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LibraryThing member AngelaB86
This story follows Mace as he travels to his home planet to track down a lost Jedi Master, his former padawan. He becomes entangled in the local war, and discovers why his former padawan has attempted to disappear. The whole time I read this, I wanted to hit Mace upside the head and shake some
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sense into him. Very preachy. Show Less
LibraryThing member fiveforsilver
This book was fast-moving and action-packed. It was dark and intense, with many deaths and frequently no clear right or wrong answers - even the questions were unclear, which is often true in moral dilemmas. The setup made sense, some of the characters had interesting stories and motivations, and
It all seemed a bit heavy-handed, though. I can't really remember any happy or funny or even really very neutral scenes in the book - almost the whole thing is depressing, stressful, angry, horrifying, or some combination. Anything positive gets cut off pretty much before it starts. And it also seemed to happen rather fast, although granted there is a lot that happened prior to the beginning of the book - the setup I mentioned - that we only hear about.
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the end worked and was satisfying, even if it wasn't exactly a happy ending.It all seemed a bit heavy-handed, though. I can't really remember any happy or funny or even really very neutral scenes in the book - almost the whole thing is depressing, stressful, angry, horrifying, or some combination. Anything positive gets cut off pretty much before it starts. And it also seemed to happen rather fast, although granted there is a lot that happened prior to the beginning of the book - the setup I mentioned - that we only hear about.
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LibraryThing member knightfall1123
This is Stover's second addition to the Star Wars EU after TRAITOR. This is a fantastically dark book, regardless of its SW roots. This is a journey that ultimately defined Mace Windu as a Jedi whereas the movies did a lot to skim over his role. Picture HEART OF DARKNESS but with Jedi and you'll
While this is my least favorite SW novel by Matt Stover, it's still one of the best things I've ever read. The heartbreak involved with watching a Jedi Master, a man who has devoted his whole life to the Order and the greater workings of the Force, become utterly helpless as the Force seemingly abandons him is truly worth the price of admission.
It has its faults: the extended battle sequence toward the end being a glaring one to a slow reader like myself, but that doesn't stop it from becoming one of the best SW novels ever.
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have a very accurate view of how this story unfolds.While this is my least favorite SW novel by Matt Stover, it's still one of the best things I've ever read. The heartbreak involved with watching a Jedi Master, a man who has devoted his whole life to the Order and the greater workings of the Force, become utterly helpless as the Force seemingly abandons him is truly worth the price of admission.
It has its faults: the extended battle sequence toward the end being a glaring one to a slow reader like myself, but that doesn't stop it from becoming one of the best SW novels ever.
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LibraryThing member Jediravenclaw
Horrible book. When I say "horrible", I mean this is a truly heartbreaking awfully terrible book and what the author does to Star Wars lore is just gut-wrenchingly nasty.
First of all, the book is not about Mace Windu (whatever anyone else says). It's about Samuel L Jackson trying very very hard to
Secondly - and this is really the saddest part - the author does not at all understand the character of Mace's apprentice Depa Billaba. Depa is supposed to be one of the most enlightened minds in the order. She is both a Master Jedi AND head of the religion on her planet (equate her other religion with an order of super disciplined Buddhist monks), AND she has the discipline and practice to be one of only three people to ever master Vaapad. There is no way, NO WAY AT ALL, her character would end up in the mental state that she did in this book. Ever. Period. Done. Over.
Sorry Stover, but this was a total failure by Star Wars lore standards. Though I guess if you want a "Star Wars does action hero" sort of read...go ahead?
First of all, the book is not about Mace Windu (whatever anyone else says). It's about Samuel L Jackson trying very very hard to
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be a jedi and ... well, just being Samuel L Jackson. Never at any point was the author able to separate the character from the actor. Windu - who is supposed to be one of the most self disciplined Jedi Masters in the galaxy - is essentially Shaft with force powers and a lightsaber in this book. Secondly - and this is really the saddest part - the author does not at all understand the character of Mace's apprentice Depa Billaba. Depa is supposed to be one of the most enlightened minds in the order. She is both a Master Jedi AND head of the religion on her planet (equate her other religion with an order of super disciplined Buddhist monks), AND she has the discipline and practice to be one of only three people to ever master Vaapad. There is no way, NO WAY AT ALL, her character would end up in the mental state that she did in this book. Ever. Period. Done. Over.
Sorry Stover, but this was a total failure by Star Wars lore standards. Though I guess if you want a "Star Wars does action hero" sort of read...go ahead?
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LibraryThing member Sarah_Buckley
An amazing book. This book deals with the hard realities of war and what it can do to the people and the planets involved.
Maybe one of the best Star Wars books I've read in my short time catching up with the EU. They usually run from cheesy to melodramatic, to fun and interesting to dull and
Maybe one of the best Star Wars books I've read in my short time catching up with the EU. They usually run from cheesy to melodramatic, to fun and interesting to dull and
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plodding. I love the Star Wars universe and look forward to continuing to find gems like this in the haystack. Show Less
LibraryThing member Revan97
Star Wars Shatterpoint displays the more gritty side of the Clone Wars. It's full of deadly new creatures and locations with some pretty great battles. The story revolves around Jedi Master Mace Windu, who's former Padawan Depa Billaba has vanished into the jungles on Haruun Kal; the homeworld Mace
Matthew Stover does a brilliant job of bringing the Clone Wars raging to life with this novel, which also includes his short story "Equipment" (a Clone Wars short story).
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barley remembers. Only Billaba's former master knows how to find her and so Mace plunges into a grulling trek through one of the most treacherous jungles in the galaxy in search of his once great pupil. But THIS jungle holds perhaps far more than even a Jedi Master can reckon with.Matthew Stover does a brilliant job of bringing the Clone Wars raging to life with this novel, which also includes his short story "Equipment" (a Clone Wars short story).
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LibraryThing member Chris_El
In same ways this book felt like Star Wars meets Vietnam.
LibraryThing member jklugman
The first half, directly tapping into Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, is very strong. The second half really ups the narrative complexity and frankly becomes too much Star Wars. 75% of the way in I felt like the novel really should be wrapping things up but it had too much story to tell that
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frankly was not that interesting. I am surprised this is considered one of the better Star Wars novels! That could be true, but it does not say much. Show Less