My Review of Star Wars: Cloak of Deception

[Ginkasa]

Star Wars: Cloak of Deception by James Luceno is placed a year or so before Episode I and is, so far, the earliest placed full length novel on the timeline.

This novel focuses on Senator Palpatine's/Darth Sidious's manipulations of the various politicians and terrorist factions to set up for the events in The Phantom Menace and his rise to Supreme Chancellor.

I've seen this novel criticised because it is, in essence, a prequel to a prequel. This, of course, means that the reader already knows how most everything plays out and leaves little room for suprise. I, personally, however, enjoy novels (and other stories) of this type because they show how things got into the position you're already familar with.

I, usually, enjoy history for the same reason. I know who won WWII, but I was still interested to learn how the various nations and political leaders were set into their places for that war. The same with this novel. I already know the Trade Federation blockades Naboo and Senator Palpatine becomes Chancellor Palpatine and eventually Emperor Palpatine; what keeps me interested is how that all plays out.

Unfortunately, that's about all this book really has going for it. It focuses a lot on political manipulation and is this very similar to the period in Episode I where everyone's on Coruscant; very boring.

The book goes on for pages with Palpatine and other politicians discussing and debatin and planning and schemeing. It becomes pretty tiring after a while. It also deals with a lot different factions and groups; it becomes difficult to keep track of them all.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are big players in this novel, and where ever Jedi are there is bound to be some lightsaber action. Unofortunately, most of the action is just lightsabers blocking blasters. While it is nice to see how many different ways that can be described, it, too, becomes old after a while.

The only other real notable point about the book is that Vergere, from the New Jedi Order, and the future Grand Moff Tark make some moderate sized cameos. Jorus C'Baoth, the Jedi cloned in the Thrawn Trilogy, also makes a minor cameo.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone but the most die-hard or completist Star Wars fans. While interesting, it is hardly entertaining.


*shrugs and walks away*