STAR WARS - 501st

A Del Rey Mass Market Original

Written by Karen Traviss

Copyright 2009 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

501st, an Imperial Commando novel, has, after the Great Purge of the Jedi, several clones deserting the Grand Army of the Republic and joining former clone trainer Kal Skirita's group of adopted clones at a secret hideout on the planet Mandalore who is making a safe haven for the clones. While Kal has the best scientists in the galaxy trying to find a cure to the clones rapid aging. A couple of clones formally of Kal's group are now serving as Imperial Commandos in the 501st Legion searching for refugee Jedi survivors after the infamous Order 66.

What is sad is that the book really is not about the 501st, but more about Kal Skirata and his clones. Even with Darman and Niner in the 501st, the story really is about them than the 501st. As much as I love Kal's clones, the title can be misleading if you wanted to learn a lot more about the 501st Legion.

The Jedi are not as well loved in this book with many ordinary people having grievances with the Jedi as well as believing the Jedi are traitors to the Republic. The Jedi also are not portrayed as being very enlightened either. As much as the clones were originally bred to serve the Jedi, the clones have grown not to trust the Jedi. It is rather disconcerting that the Jedi are not the heroes of the galaxy that we always believed them to be. Having Darman actively hating Jedi and trying to capture/kill refugee Jedi is also rather tragic as he is trying to protect his Jedi son from being taken by the Jedi. This also seems contradictory since he was married to a Jedi and refuses to return home to his son.

It is sad that this is the last of Karen Traviss's books for the Star Wars books. I was hoping that she would be able to finish her clone series, at least one more book with Darman and Niner eventually getting out of the 501st Legion and returning home.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - ORDER 66

Del Rey Mass Market Edition
Written by Karen Traviss

Copyright 2008 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Order 66, part of the Republic Commando novels told from the clone troopers point of view, events leads up to the most infamous order in the Star Wars galaxy as Kal Skarita strategically plans to get his clan of elite clone commandos out of the Galactic Army of the Republic. Now how does Order 66 affect their relationship with their Jedi close friends?

The actual order number 66 is part of 150 contingency orders that were never meant to be used, but meant for only the most dire of emergencies: the Jedi have staged a coup and all must be shot on sight. As a clone says to a Jedi general, "you thought we were excellent troops because we obey orders, but when we obey all orders - and these are legal orders - we've betrayed you." The reason the order is so destructive is that the Jedi are so powerful, only lethal force can be used to stop them. As the Jedi have become more of a political force in the Star Wars universe, instead of a force for good, we are not as sympathetic to the Jedi as when we first heard about them in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. In fact, when a Jedi accidentally kills a major character, I felt no sympathy to that unknown Jedi, who to me the Jedi was an insurrectionist. Life after Order 66 by Emperor Palpatine effects Kal Skirata's clan of clones and makes it much more difficult for them to extract themselves from the galactic war, and the newly formed Empire, as the clones mission objectives are to officially search for Jedi escapees. While most of the action takes place on Coruscant, there are some scenes in space as some of Skirita's clones are on other planets and are trying to be extracted for home - including Jedi Etain trying to make it home to her clone husband and son.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.