The Clone Wars: No Prisoners

There never were any more of these novels than the original batch of five, and looking at the book, I kind of feel like they didn't totally know how to handle them. While Dark Horse's comics are clearly aimed at the same child/YA audience as the show, this book seems to be avoiding any overt indication that it ties into a kids' tv show: there are clones in armor on the front cover, battledroids on the back, so we see no sign of the show's distorted, stylized art style, nor even a familiar character rendered in CG. Neither the front nor back overtly mention that this ties into a tv show. The focus of the book is clearly one aimed at old-school EU fans, not people watching the show: aside from Anakain and Ahsoka, the focal characters are show more Captain Pellaeon, an EU stalwart going back to the Thrawn trilogy, and Callista, a Jedi whose previous appearances were largely in a set of not-very-well-remembered 1990s novels. In fact, part of the purpose of the novel is clearly to explain inconsistencies between how the Jedi were depicted in those 1990s novels and how George Lucas wrote them when he made the prequels.

That makes, to be honest, a bit of an odd duck. It's not surprising to me there were no more books after this initial batch of five, because I'm not sure there was much of an audience for what they were doing. Who wanted something that tied into a kids' tv show but also told adult-focused stories dredging up bits of 1990s EU continuity?

Well, there is at least one person who wanted this: me. I mean, I didn't watch the show, so I don't care how much the book matches the feel of the show, I just care how much it entertains me.

And Traviss, though I have very mixed thoughts about some of the books she wrote, was clearly one of the best writers of the old EU, with a strong grasp of characters and a clear ability to bring together complexity and themes. In this book, three things collide: Anakin's conflict over his ongoing relationship with Padmé (a violation of his Jedi vows), Pellaeon needing to go on a rescue mission for a Republic spy who turns to be his lover, and the appearance of the renegade sect of Jedi that Callista belongs to, ones who believe attachment is not the path to the Dark Side. The book is all about how we make life-and-death choices when our loved ones are on the line, who is ready to commit acts of violence and who is not, from the opening about Republic spy Hallena Devis to the pitched final battle to Captain Rex having to train a new complement of clones. The action is quick, the characters are well drawn, the themes are interesting. Traviss explaining the inconsistencies about Callista's group of Jedi could have felt like gratuitous retcons, but here it's fertile ground for showcasing Anakin's conflict between duty and desire.

I don't know that it's a great book, but it's a very good one, and it's hard for me to imagine there's a better tie-in novel to the new Clone Wars tv show out there. I wish I'd read it before, actually, because it actually seems to fit fairly well into Traviss's Republic Commando sequence, as a couple of its characters reappear in its last couple installments, Order 66 and 501st, and I imagine it reads better in that sequence than among the tv episodes it supposedly slots in between! show less

I think this may be my favorite Star Wars novel--it is briskly paced, Traviss expands the Star Wars universe to include a breakaway Jedi sect, and she is unflinching in depicting the utter nonsensical morality of the Jedi order that is glossed over in the movies and the Clone Wars TV show.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: No Prisoners’ is part of a mini-series within a franchise, hence all the colons. It’s set during the Clone Wars and again focuses on Anakin Skywalker, his Padawan Ahsoka, Captain Rex of Torrent Company and the troops. In fact, Anakin barely features this time and most of the focus is on others. The cast also includes Captain Gilad Pellaeon and his girlfriend, Hallena, a spy.

Anakin wants a couple of days off to spend with his secret wife, so he sends Rex, Ahsoka and the troops to an assignment aboard the assault ship Leveler skippered by Gilad Pellaeon. His girlfriend, Hallena, is on a secret mission to a planet called JanFathal, a tyranny ripe for a revolution that may be about to go over to the show more Separatists, once they help the revolutionaries. Hallena gets in trouble and just to prove that coincidences can happen even in a galaxy far, far away, the Leveler is the nearest ship available to help and Rex and his men must make an extraction. Fortunately, perhaps, there are some Jedi nearby who will be able to help. Unfortunately, they are a different sect of Jedi who do not follow the ways of Yoda and dare to get attached to each other, even married. Padawan Ahsoka has some difficulty with this.

That’s given away enough of the plot, on to character. There is some character here as Karen Traviss is good at inserting those little thoughts and observations which distinguish one sentient from the next. Rex is a very likeable chap, loyal to Skywalker and devoted to his troops. The other clone troopers are almost fresh from the vats or wherever they come from and this is their first experience of combat. They are slowly becoming individuals. Padawan Ahsoka is endearing. Anakin Skywalker is in a permanent sulk about Jedi rules he doesn’t like and his dark future casts something of a shadow but he’s by no means despicable. The Jedi who dare to get attached are an interesting bunch and might merit a mini-series of their own.

Karen Traviss is a very good writer, almost too good for this material. She puts in all the technical jargon about guns and devices and handles the action very well. But she brings a bit more life to the characters and that’s what makes the book. If a fan is a fanatic then I’m not really a ‘Star Wars’ fan. I quite like the films but the bits that pander to the kiddies are mildly irritating (Jar Jar Blinks!) and there’s no profundity to them. As action movies and space opera, they’re fine. I enjoy them. However, a writer like Traviss, given the space a novel affords, can add a bit more depth to the saga. Real fans who would buy Luke Skywalker’s laundry list will buy this anyway but I can heartily recommend it to the more casual reader too. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Eamonn Murphy
This review first appeared at https://www.sfcrowsnest.info/ show less

About a spy who Pellaon is involved with. And Anakin and his apprentice, a group of jedi[the offshoot branch Callista is in]and some troopers from the 501st rescuing her.

I think it can be summed up with this quote Emotions are our programming...and help us understand what's right and wrong". More complete and utter bull-kaka from Traviss. Lots of handwringing and saying how bad the Republic is and how "right" the CSI is.

Once again Traviss focuses on the Jedi and the Republic to the exclusion of the Sith and the machinations they have for Galactic Domination. She is such a *****."

I just started reedind this it is great so far. I am on page 18. I am not going to tell you got to find out your self.One other book I think is good is star wars death tropers if you like horer books.