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roblucas's review against another edition
3.0
Light-hearted. Compared to other Star Wars novels, I got the impression this was aimed at a 'young adult' audience.
blackestclovers's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this deeper look at the great Jedi Master Yoda and the wayward Dooku, even if it was framed with rather insignificant characters (compared to the two on the cover). They really need to take a deeper look at Yoda in the new canon. Just a stellar, deep character.
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
Of all the authors I would have expected to write a Star Wars book, Sean Stewart is somewhere far, far down that list. I'll admit I'm not that familiar with his work overall, but the one book of his I've read -- Perfect Circle -- was a ghost story about a man who's haunted, but not by ghosts. It's a book that's stayed with me for years, not just because of its imagery and plot, but also because of its characters and poignancy. It felt literary, like it was written by a serious author slumming in genre, and I never looked into his other books. It turns out that he's written several science fiction novels, most well-regarded and some award-winning, so I suppose this novel is more his style than I realized, but it came as a surprise to me when I realized who this author was.
It's no surprise that this book is a few steps above a standard Star Wars novel. It doesn't have that literary feel like Perfect Circle had, but it still has the kinds of characters and observations I remember from that book. In Dark Rendezvous, the story is about Yoda facing down Count Dooku, who used to be Yoda's Padawan so many years ago. Stewart captures Dooku well, giving us more of an insight into his arrogance and motivations. He's not as complex as I would have liked, but having an understanding of who he was before he became a Jedi, and the events that led to his seduction to the dark side, makes him more complex than he was in Attack of the Clones.
With Yoda, though ... well, to be honest, Stewart didn't have a whole lot to work with there. Yoda is an enigma. No one knows his real age, his history, or even what kind of alien he is. The story can't be told from his perspective, because there's nothing there for the reader to connect to. Luckily, Stewart recognizes this limitation and instead tells the story from the perspectives of those who know Yoda. The story is told by Dooku, other Jedi, Padawans, and other people who encounter him throughout the journey (some a bit more random than others). As such, our understanding of Yoda is only as good as the understanding other characters have of him, which may not always be accurate. It's a theme that hearkens back to the main theme of The Sound and the Fury, so maybe this novel is a touch more literary than I first realized.
Even though Yoda's name is in the title of the novel, the book is really about two Padawans, Scout and Whie, accompanying him on his journey. One is strong in the Force, while the other has to rely more on her strength and wits because the Force doesn't flow easily through her. They have differing opinions on the Jedi and their methods, and as they travel with Yoda, they learn more about the history of the Jedi, making them question their beliefs in their own order. Whie also has the ability to dream the future, and a portentous dream of his own death hangs over much of the story.
Dark Rendezvous is a compelling read, which was a nice surprise, since some of the other books in the Expanded Universe have been informative, even if they weren't the most readable. I tore through the book in a matter of days, which isn't something I've experienced with most of the Star Wars books, even the ones I've liked. I don't see this one showing up on the "must read" lists of EU books, but it will certainly show up on mine.
It's no surprise that this book is a few steps above a standard Star Wars novel. It doesn't have that literary feel like Perfect Circle had, but it still has the kinds of characters and observations I remember from that book. In Dark Rendezvous, the story is about Yoda facing down Count Dooku, who used to be Yoda's Padawan so many years ago. Stewart captures Dooku well, giving us more of an insight into his arrogance and motivations. He's not as complex as I would have liked, but having an understanding of who he was before he became a Jedi, and the events that led to his seduction to the dark side, makes him more complex than he was in Attack of the Clones.
With Yoda, though ... well, to be honest, Stewart didn't have a whole lot to work with there. Yoda is an enigma. No one knows his real age, his history, or even what kind of alien he is. The story can't be told from his perspective, because there's nothing there for the reader to connect to. Luckily, Stewart recognizes this limitation and instead tells the story from the perspectives of those who know Yoda. The story is told by Dooku, other Jedi, Padawans, and other people who encounter him throughout the journey (some a bit more random than others). As such, our understanding of Yoda is only as good as the understanding other characters have of him, which may not always be accurate. It's a theme that hearkens back to the main theme of The Sound and the Fury, so maybe this novel is a touch more literary than I first realized.
Even though Yoda's name is in the title of the novel, the book is really about two Padawans, Scout and Whie, accompanying him on his journey. One is strong in the Force, while the other has to rely more on her strength and wits because the Force doesn't flow easily through her. They have differing opinions on the Jedi and their methods, and as they travel with Yoda, they learn more about the history of the Jedi, making them question their beliefs in their own order. Whie also has the ability to dream the future, and a portentous dream of his own death hangs over much of the story.
Dark Rendezvous is a compelling read, which was a nice surprise, since some of the other books in the Expanded Universe have been informative, even if they weren't the most readable. I tore through the book in a matter of days, which isn't something I've experienced with most of the Star Wars books, even the ones I've liked. I don't see this one showing up on the "must read" lists of EU books, but it will certainly show up on mine.
k_winchester's review against another edition
4.0
Actually, I enjoyed this! These SW novels tend to be hit or miss on quality, I find, but I enjoyed reading this one. I think it was really smart to have this book be as much about a few OC Padawans as was about Yoda and Dooku - the Padawans were unique and likeable and they really carried the novel forward. There were some minor POV switches that were odd to read but overall this was a really good entry in the SW-verse books and I'm glad I read it - it satisfied my SW craving nicely. XD
empiepaps's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Another Clone wars mission with our main man Yoda, I had only known the plot from the synopsis and I'm happy I went In blind. But that's not what made the book amazing it was the character of ''Scout'' and Whie, especially Scout learned that she has a lot fewer force powers and her storyline in this book was great to learn. Although it did make me hate the Jedi for a bit for how they treated her. And a devastating thing that happened to the young padawan made me cry. The plot was great and the mission overall was great, so I loved this book and recommend this to any star wars fan and I found it great maybe others should too.
jrad's review against another edition
3.0
This was a flawed but worthwhile read. It centers on the relationship between Dooku and Yoda, and while neither are given the deftest treatment either separately or together, it's still an interesting story. Dooku is a fun villain because of how uniquely restrained he is for a Sith Lord, so I was drawn in by the premise of Yoda traveling in secret to meet his former apprentice and bring him back to the light (and almost succeeding).
I also enjoy Star Wars novels where we get a feel for ordinary Jedi life not seen in the movies. This book does that through two new characters, Scout, a young Jedi apprentice who is basically a Force-Squib, and Whie, who is struggling with the dark side pretty much because he's going through puberty. Scout and Whie are likeable and well-written, and they were probably the best part of the story.
But this book is deeply flawed, and 90% of it is how the author wrote Yoda. First, his characterization is more like Yoda's "crazy wisdom" in A New Hope than it is like anything we see in the Prequel Trilogy. The Yoda of Dark Rendezvous must be saving all of his dignity for filming Episode III. But worst of all, the author totally butchers Yoda's speech. Yoda's object-subject-verb (OSV) syntax is one of the character's most iconic features. Yes, it's true that Yoda didn't use OSV syntax 100% of the time, but the Yoda of Dark Rendezvous rarely uses it all, making liberal use of object-verb-subject when he's not using standard syntax. How did this book get published with such a glaring oversight, knowing that no-life Star Wars fans like me would care (too much) about those details?
Overall, it too often felt like the author didn't have much familiarity with the Star Wars universe. There were so many Earth-specific references and out-of-character behaviors that sometimes this didn't feel like a Star Wars novel at all. But like I said, it was still worth reading, and I would recommend it to most fans.
I also enjoy Star Wars novels where we get a feel for ordinary Jedi life not seen in the movies. This book does that through two new characters, Scout, a young Jedi apprentice who is basically a Force-Squib, and Whie, who is struggling with the dark side pretty much because he's going through puberty. Scout and Whie are likeable and well-written, and they were probably the best part of the story.
But this book is deeply flawed, and 90% of it is how the author wrote Yoda. First, his characterization is more like Yoda's "crazy wisdom" in A New Hope than it is like anything we see in the Prequel Trilogy. The Yoda of Dark Rendezvous must be saving all of his dignity for filming Episode III. But worst of all, the author totally butchers Yoda's speech. Yoda's object-subject-verb (OSV) syntax is one of the character's most iconic features. Yes, it's true that Yoda didn't use OSV syntax 100% of the time, but the Yoda of Dark Rendezvous rarely uses it all, making liberal use of object-verb-subject when he's not using standard syntax. How did this book get published with such a glaring oversight, knowing that no-life Star Wars fans like me would care (too much) about those details?
Overall, it too often felt like the author didn't have much familiarity with the Star Wars universe. There were so many Earth-specific references and out-of-character behaviors that sometimes this didn't feel like a Star Wars novel at all. But like I said, it was still worth reading, and I would recommend it to most fans.
skywalker07's review against another edition
4.0
Good story. The Yoda and Dooku scene at the end was beautiful and sad. This is definitely one of the best books for Dooku and Yoda in general. The Scout storyline was more meh the. I remember, but not bad either.
toggle_fow's review against another edition
4.0
I had LOTS of fun with this one, fellas.
This book is about Yoda and Dooku, but it is kind of also about the spiritual toll the Clone Wars are taking on the whole Jedi Order. Yoda is a hard character to get a read on, in my experience. Often, fans project whatever viewpoint they want onto him, and he features most often as a wise (or unhelpfully abstruse) word or two inserted in someone else's story. It was interesting to see him get a story of his own, and to see how telling a story about Yoda is essentially telling a story about the Jedi Order itself. He is very much the heart of their community, for good or for ill.
So many people show up in this story. Ventress, obviously, and Obi-Wan and Anakin come around for a minute or two. Padme has a cameo. Most of the book, though, has Yoda on a mission with a crop of OCs. I can see this being kind of annoying under certain circumstances, but honestly... I love them. Maks Leem? She is... amazing. I love her. I want her on the Jedi Council. Jai Maruk? Really, he's the least important of the OCs but I'm fond of him. The description of his last fight with Ventress was powerful.
Really though, Whie and Scout, two very different padawans, are the most vital characters in the book besides Yoda. They are on the same mission as he is, but their experience is completely separate. For them, confronting the dark world beyond the Temple walls for the first time, it is a coming of age moment. For Yoda, his mission is a last, desperate attempt to appeal to the vestiges of Light within Dooku and bring him back home.
Some highlights:
This book is about Yoda and Dooku, but it is kind of also about the spiritual toll the Clone Wars are taking on the whole Jedi Order. Yoda is a hard character to get a read on, in my experience. Often, fans project whatever viewpoint they want onto him, and he features most often as a wise (or unhelpfully abstruse) word or two inserted in someone else's story. It was interesting to see him get a story of his own, and to see how telling a story about Yoda is essentially telling a story about the Jedi Order itself. He is very much the heart of their community, for good or for ill.
So many people show up in this story. Ventress, obviously, and Obi-Wan and Anakin come around for a minute or two. Padme has a cameo. Most of the book, though, has Yoda on a mission with a crop of OCs. I can see this being kind of annoying under certain circumstances, but honestly... I love them. Maks Leem? She is... amazing. I love her. I want her on the Jedi Council. Jai Maruk? Really, he's the least important of the OCs but I'm fond of him. The description of his last fight with Ventress was powerful.
Really though, Whie and Scout, two very different padawans, are the most vital characters in the book besides Yoda. They are on the same mission as he is, but their experience is completely separate. For them, confronting the dark world beyond the Temple walls for the first time, it is a coming of age moment. For Yoda, his mission is a last, desperate attempt to appeal to the vestiges of Light within Dooku and bring him back home.
Some highlights:
• There is a powerful bond between Dooku and Yoda in this. Weirdly enough, this book name-drops someone else as "Dooku's master," claiming that Yoda only taught him directly when he was in the creche. But their relationship is deep and poignant here in a way that was COMPLETELY missing in Dooku: Jedi Lost, even though Yoda was Dooku's actual master in canon.
• I love an Apprentice Tournament. The descriptions of lightsaber combat? The intense rivalries? The rule disputes? The weird last round that they held in the Temple Refectory for some reason? *kisses fingers* Magnifique.
• Ventress in this is intriguingly different from Ventress in Dooku: Jedi Lost. Shes hungry and ambitious to advance further in the ways of the Dark Side. It's interesting to imagine how she could have come from that place, unwillingly enslaved, to jockeying for the right to stand at Dooku's side.
• Half of my purpose in reading this was to meet and love Scout and Whie. Mission accomplished. I have adopted them, and they are mine now.
• Especially Scout. A padawan who is weak in the Force? Color me invested. I love her and her stubbornness and her brashness and her insecurity and her aggressive friendliness. Accidentally befriending an undercover assassin droid? Amazing. Did I mention that I love her?
• Okay, the whole concept of "attend secret meeting with Dooku, turn him from the Dark Side back to the Light" sounds legitimately insane to me. Like... uh, okay. Dooku? Really? But what gets me is HOW CLOSE YODA ACTUALLY CAME. Dooku was on the edge, knowing his choices were bad and waffling about whether there was any way back, and then... Anakin Skywalker showed up. Dooku took one look at his face and immediately went into a towering rage.
• SCREW THE WHOLE JEDI ORDER, ACTUALLY, he said, and then jumped out a window.
• The sheer power of looking upon Anakin Skywalker's face... I'm aghast. And Palpatine specifically sent him and Obi-Wan there. Did he KNOW that Dooku was wavering, and that a single glimpse of Anakin would be enough to restore his commitment to the Dark Side?
• The Yoda characterization in this book is DEEPLY interesting. He's wise and funny and also a complete gremlin -- exactly the insane, cackling swamp toad Luke first ran into in ESB. Clearly, that has always been a genuine side of Yoda's character. Honestly, it's obvious that he really does just want to teach and play with the younglings. Let Yoda Retire And Be A Preschool Teacher 2k19.
• Obi-Wan and Anakin's like... three scenes are iconic. It's wild how they just can't exist without completely stealing the show. The banter? Amazing. Anakin throws a grenade on a whim and almost kills Yoda and some children. Obi-Wan goes off on him. Anakin's eyes fill with glassy tears. Obi-Wan INSTANTLY flips to reassure him. They're so stupid.
• All the details and descriptions of how the war has changed the Jedi Order. Hints and tidbits about dissident, pacifist Jedi? Change brought on by the deaths of so many Jedi? Yes... give me those sweet sweet details...
• Something about Jai Maruk's angry realization that Ventress is just a better warrior than him as he fights for his life struck me. It would be hard to accept that your story is about to end, seemingly abruptly and uselessly, and that you're not going to be the one anyone remembers.
• Whie in general is a good boy and I love him, BUT what's more important is this detailed look at what it is like to experience the future-telling dreams of a true Jedi Seer and precog. It is very interesting and distinct, and nothing at all like Anakin's vague, fear-filled dreams.
• All the casual outsider POV mentions of Obi-Wan and Anakin. It's like nobody can really discuss the war without discussing them. Anakin in particular comes up a LOT, especially when anyone is talking about the relative merits of different padawans.
• Qui-Gon's brief appearance! It seems as if Yoda knows he's genuinely there, and that he's speaking with Qui-Gon's spirit, not merely an apparition or vision. Very strange. Has Yoda been communing with Qui-Gon this whole time?
• Dooku is soooooooooooooo jealous of Anakin. It's really astounding. It's like he thinks that HE was the Order's favorite son, and now Anakin has taken that spot and it's a specific insult to Dooku himself. He acts like he's jealous of Yoda's attention to Anakin, which is crazy, since Yoda has never particularly favored Anakin. I can only assume that he is actually projecting the jealousy he feels for Palpatine's attention to Anakin.
• All the discussion of the Dark Side and the Light. I'm always hungry for more philosophizing on this topic, ever hopeful that someday it will make sense to me. It was very interesting how Jai Maruk echoed a common sentiment among Jedi that there is no going back once a person has truly fallen to the Dark Side -- while he is literally part of a mission to convince Dooku to do that exact thing. Clearly, Yoda doesn't hold the same view.
• The constant mentions of the Jedi Order as a family. This book explored the negative impacts of cutting children off from their families and raising them into the Order from toddlerhood almost more than any other book I've read so far. "Every Jedi is a child his parents decided they could live without," says Dooku. And yet the Jedi Order is a family, and that was shown as well.
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