This article was originally published on TatooineTimes.com
2022 just might be the year of Obi-Wan Kenobi. He’s getting his own Marvel comic book series, a new novel, Brotherhood on its way, plus the incredibly exciting Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series. So it’s appropriate that John Jackson Miller’s 2013 novel Kenobi is a part of Del Rey’s next wave of The Essential Legends Collection paperbacks. Featuring stunning new cover art by Gregory Manchess, Kenobi details the Jedi Master’s time post Order 66 on Tatooine as he gets to know his new neighbors.
Obi-Wan, or Ben as he becomes known, against his better judgment becomes embroiled with the residents of Dannar’s Claim, a close knit group of settlers and moisture farmers located off the beaten path miles away from Mos Eisley. Shop owner Anilleen Calwell, a widow whose husband was the victim of Tusken Raiders, has deep roots in the community. She’s a businesswoman and mom and immediately forges a connection with Ben. Anilleen’s longtime friend Orrin Gault, who’s been through his own set of unfortunate events, has established The Settler’s Call fund, a system in which community members pay dues and all chip in to fight off raids by the Tuskens. Tusken leader A’Yark is also prominently featured, offering much needed perspective from the group of Raiders who have so often been misunderstood. Ben’s presence in the community sets off a chain of events that ultimately reveals the true nature of Gault’s plans. As the novel progresses, both emotions and body counts are raised with dramatic and life-altering results.
Miller admittedly went into writing Kenobi with the intent of it giving a western feel. That is very evident, from the desert locale to the characters involved and the author does a great job of immersing readers into the genre. I couldn’t help but read many of the characters with southern drawls, it was that effective! As a reader this genre choice at first was a bit jarring as I went into it with very different expectations, but once I got used to the tone of the novel it was easy to enjoy.
One gripe I can’t help but mention is how Kenobi isn’t truly a novel that revolves around Obi-Wan as the main character. I would argue that Anilleen Calwell is the protagonist, with Kenobi around as a side character. The events at Dannar’s Claim involving the settlers and the Tusken Raiders could have been told without Kenobi present at all. That story in and of itself isn’t without its own intrigue and suspense, but I found myself confused more often than not at Obi-Wan’s minimized presence. There are bits and pieces of Obi-Wan’s internal struggles—one narrative element consistent throughout is his meditations directed at former Master Qui-Gon Jinn—but his perspective isn’t front and center.
Having said that, Miller has created a fully fleshed out subsection of Tatooine that is refreshing for its different take on the familiar planet. Themes of family and loyalty are very strong. Anilleen in particular represents a female lead who struggles with balancing caring for others and caring for herself. It was a nice change of pace to see a female character not needing rescuing by a man (in the traditional sense) but how men, for better or for worse, can still shape what her future looks like.
Buy Kenobi The Essential Legends Collection
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