After Anakin and Mace search for survivors from the downed Republic ship from last episode, they walk into a trap laid by young Boba Fett and his crew. They are trapped underneath a large pile of metal rubble and can’t move. Ironically after Mace decries Anakin for putting so much trust in the droid, R2 finds them. Anakin instructs him to get back to the fighters and get a communication out to the Temple.

We begin with Anakin and Mace Windu continuing their adventures, this time aboard a Republic ship with a batch of young clones learning the ropes.

Written by: Drew Karpyshyn

Now this is more like it! After stumbling a bit with the second volume, volume 3 takes it up a notch and is easily the equal of the first volume. The storyline is quickly paced and full of action and adventure. By the time the novel was wrapping up, I was surprised to see it was over.

The Zillo beast from the previous episode is brought to Coruscant but the problem with researching the impenetrable hide is the beast is the pain caused to the locked up monster.

written by: Aaron Allston

Aaron Allston knows how to write a good story that is at once engrossing, informative, and usually fairly humorous. I was glad to see his return to the Fate of the Jedi storyline which is really right up his alley. The novel, like the series is one that is unlike most Star Wars stories. Although there is danger imminent, it isn’t front and center and the be all and end all of what is going on. Instead, we get brief reminders here and there. And when you expect a large climactic lightsaber duel or dogfight, it swerves. I know I’m not talking it up really here and some people are bound to hate the more intimate big story but I’m loving it.

Written by: Jude Watson

Another adventure for younger readers. This one is particularly well intended for certain. I like what Watson was attempting to do. Was it successful? Somewhat.

Clone Wars: 2.17

“Bounty Hunters”

This was a great episode despite it’s simple premise. An homage of sorts to Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, our Jedi crash land on a planet when vulture droids attack a recon mission. Our Jedi include Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka. While stranded they come upon a village of farmers who have taken to hiring a group of bounty hunters to protect them from a band of pirates led by none other than the Jedi’s old friend, Hondo.

Written by: Ryder Windham

2008-2009

All written by: Ryder Windham

Written by Daniel Wallace

Originally appeared in: Star Wars Gamer #2

Written by: Steve Miller

Originally appeared in: Star Wars Gamer #1

Jedi Apprentice Volume 12: The Evil Experiment

The second part of the in series trilogy involving a crazy scientist and her mad schemes. Qui-Gon has been captured along with another unspecified Jedi to be used in experiments designed so that Jenna Zan Arbor could learn what she could about the Force.

Meanwhile Obi-Wan Kenobi is left behind with Astri to find both Qui-Gon as well as find an antidote to the poison given to Astrid’s father, Didi by the bounty hunter.

Written by: Jude Watson

Another mixed bag. After twelve volumes, there just isn’t a lot of new territory to cover and I can’t shake the feeling that we’re hitting filler mode now. Just a few more adventures until we get til Episode I. It might not be quite that bad, but I would like to see a bit more development at this stage.

Qui-Gon is rescued, but Master Noor R’aya is still in Zan Arbor’s clutches. Who is R’aya? A venerated master but I have no idea why. There is little about him that is said, even as they eventually rescue him. For someone so venerated, I expected a bit more about him by the end of the day. Especially due to the set up, where we are led to believe he is truly important.

The plot thickens throughout as Zan Arbor releases a dangerous disease on a planet as per her usual, where she has an antidote she will “discover” at the last moment.

The twist comes with the duplicity of Uta S’orn, a senator who had recently retired. Her son was a Force Sensitive whom Zan Arbor had experimented on and later killed. Despite this S’orn still works with Arbor to make her fortune, putting her own planet at risk.