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A review by heyjaycee
The Clone Wars by Karen Traviss
5.0
I'm no military SF fan, and besides being a Star Wars novel—maybe because it's a Star Wars novel? I guess it's sort of in the name—the novelisation of the film The Clone Wars is very much military SF. Karen Traviss' background as a defence correspondent really shines through in this novel. She clearly knows what's she's on about, and that experience gives the galaxy far, far away real depth and grit. Especially when it comes to the clones.
No lie, I read this novel for the clones alone. (Surprising no one who knows me.) Traviss has a real feel for clone culture, presumably by way of her familiarity with a soldier's life, and because of that her portrayal of the clones is sensitive, nuanced, and full of insight.
But it's not just the clones Traviss makes compelling. I never thought I'd grow to like Jabba the Hutt so much! But Traviss' characterisation in Jabba's perspective chapters is so spot-on and sympathetic, I have a new appreciation for the character. I also enjoyed her depiction of Ahsoka not only as the chirpy teenage girl we know from the film and TV show, but as a Togruta, whose alien ancestry makes her especially suited for warfare as well as sometimes unsettling to humans.
I'm not the biggest fan of the film, but this novelisation knocked my socks off.
No lie, I read this novel for the clones alone. (Surprising no one who knows me.) Traviss has a real feel for clone culture, presumably by way of her familiarity with a soldier's life, and because of that her portrayal of the clones is sensitive, nuanced, and full of insight.
But it's not just the clones Traviss makes compelling. I never thought I'd grow to like Jabba the Hutt so much! But Traviss' characterisation in Jabba's perspective chapters is so spot-on and sympathetic, I have a new appreciation for the character. I also enjoyed her depiction of Ahsoka not only as the chirpy teenage girl we know from the film and TV show, but as a Togruta, whose alien ancestry makes her especially suited for warfare as well as sometimes unsettling to humans.
I'm not the biggest fan of the film, but this novelisation knocked my socks off.