August 16, 2004
The successful military-SF team of Sherman and Cragg (the Starfist series) brings new energy to the Star Wars franchise. Because of a shortage of available Jedi knights, the inexperienced Anakin Skywalker and the disgraced Nejaa Halcyon are sent to the planet Praesitlyn, at the head of a small fleet and army of clone warriors. Praesitlyn is under attack by a horde of combat droids under banker-turned-admiral Pors Tonith, and defended by freelance military commander Capt. Zozridor Slayke, who has a personal score to settle with Jedi Halcyon. Meanwhile, the Republic's original defenders have left some tough survivors behind, such as fighter pilot Erk H'Arman and recon trooper Odie Subu. The Force is definitely with the good guys, particularly Anakin in the climactic moment of a hostage rescue, but so is plain old-fashioned courage. Human, alien or clone, the characters fight and die, go hungry and thirsty, have hopes, fears and dreams, not unlike the troops patrolling the plains of Iraq today. Count Dooku and Senator Palpatine keep watch for their respective sides, but most of the book stands splendidly independent of the usual concerns of the Star Wars universe. Agent, Owen Lock.