Dark Disciple – Book Review

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The Clone Wars was an incredibly beloved animated series when it was canceled in 2013. Fans were devastated, but there was still hope! A series of Lost Missions was released as a shorter final (at the time) season, some animatics of unfinished episodes were uploaded, and even an arc featuring Darth Maul and Mother Talzin was adapted into a comic from Dark Horse. Arguably the coolest thing, however, was when Del Rey announced that they would be releasing a novel adapting eight unmade episodes of The Clone Wars titled Dark Disciple.

Dark Disciple comes from author Christie Golden and was released July 7, 2015. Golden had previously written Star Wars novels for the Legends series Fate of the Jedi, so she was no stranger to the galaxy. Taking place years into the Clone Wars and after the evil Sith Count Dooku pushed a Separatist attack that lead to the genocide of the Mahran, the Jedi Council is forced to make an incredibly intense decision: assassinate Dooku. Discussing how the Sith will never stop, a plan is put forward to send one of their own Jedi to take him out. Jedi Master Quinlan Vos is the one chosen, as he often undertakes darker missions and seems to be a perfect fit for this job. Obi-Wan, however, mentions another, one whom he has tangled with before that will be necessary to take out the Sith Lord: Asajj Ventress.

The novel follows the meeting and partnership between the rogue-ish Jedi and the ex-Sith assassin as they come together to attempt something neither of them expected the Jedi to do. The catch, however, is that Vos is not supposed to let Ventress know who he is or what his true mission is. Of course, nothing ever goes as planned when dealing with someone as cunning as Ventress. As the two of them start to form a genuine relationship together, they must decide just how far they are willing to go to destroy the Sith once and for all.

I’m not going to beat around the bush here. Asajj Ventress is my favorite Star Wars character, hands down, along with the Clone Wars being my favorite era, so this novel is written for me. I absolutely adore villain redemption stories and the way Ventress left the Sith and slowly became a better person was always amazing. Christie Golden does an incredible job pushing that story arc even further in Dark Disciple. She also beautifully writes Quinlan Vos who at the time was a barely fleshed out character. There’s a handful of characters from The Clone Wars that are also featured throughout the novel, and the best ones she brings in are definitely Anakin and Obi-Wan. The way she writes those two is literally perfect and, as a massive fan of the prequel era, their interactions and dialogue feel like home. Golden’s voice for this book really feels like you’re watching a bunch of episodes of The Clone Wars … it’s so much fun.

For as much as I love this book, and I do love this book, I can’t say it’s completely without fault. The issue with adapting episodes of The Clone Wars for Dark Disciple is that the pacing is occasionally a little off. At times, it feels like certain parts of the story are a little bit rushed or even skip events to get to the “good stuff” the way that the animated series often did. Whereas this can work for a sprawling TV show, I would have liked more of a slower pace to fully explore the story and characters in this format. The biggest part that deserved more time to unfold is the romance plotline between Vos and Ventress throughout the story; it often feels like it comes out of the blue since we don’t get enough time to explore the characters together as the story, in my opinion, deserves. Neither of these were too negative to me, but they are definitely aspects that may not work for everyone.

One of the most interesting parts of Dark Disciple has got to be the moral discussion of right and wrong throughout the tale. Obviously, the Sith are bad and this war is harming so many people, but is it right to be as dark as the Sith and attempt an assassination plot? Following Vos’ exploration of the darker side of the galaxy while Ventress follows her own lighter side of things as she continues to not fall back into the dark side of the Force, makes for just an absolutely enthralling story. Not to mention seeing how the various Jedi react to, and discuss, the idea of an assassination ends up being really philosophically fascinating.

All in all, Christie Golden’s Dark Disciple is one of my absolute favorite Star Wars books. She nails the vibe of The Clone Wars, and her voice for the characters is pitch perfect—whether it’s the two protagonists Ventress and Vos, supporting ones such as Dooku or Anakin, or even brief appearances like General Grievous, she really knows how to write these characters as if they climbed right out of the show itself. I loved this book so much that I sought out more of Golden’s novels and she immediately became one of my favorite authors. This book is a fantastic and fitting end to Asajj Ventress’ story (for now) and really does her whole character arc throughout the entire saga justice.

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Darth Plagueis – Book Review

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Written by James Luceno, Darth Plagueis was first published in 2012 after years of delays. Luceno always intended to explore Plagueis’s quest for eternal life, but due to the involvement of Palpatine and his backstory, it was canceled and then brought back to life. Since its initial publication it has remained one of the most loved Star Wars novels, Legends or otherwise, thanks to its deep dive into Palpatine’s past and close connection to the plot elements of The Phantom Menace.

Set in three parts, Darth Plagueis spans from 65 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) to 32 BBY. Obviously, Plagueis’s goal of manipulating midi-chlorians to achieve eternal life is front and center but Palpatine’s backstory and rise to power is also prominently featured. The novel starts out darkly, as Plagueis fulfills the Sith’s Rule of Two, ending the life of his Master Tenebrous. We then follow Plagueis, né Hego Damask, as he uses the influence of his home world, Muunilist, to aid him in his dark side goals. He has his mind set on manipulating midi-chlorians to do his bidding, with the ultimate aim of creating new life out of nothing. Even an unknown Sith acolyte sent by his former Master becomes the subject of years of experimentation. Plagueis/Damask becomes aware of Naboo’s Palpatine, a young man climbing the political ranks and who may just be the apprentice worthy of the dark side. As the years pass, Plagueis and Palpatine become quite the duo as the galaxy moves closer and closer to war. Ultimately, we know what becomes of Palpatine, but the novel plays out in a way that makes his rise to power much more interesting and rich. The legend of Darth Plagueis and his ultimate demise is revealed, and the true Master of the Sith rises.

Darth Plagueis is a very enjoyable book for a number of reasons. First is the writing talents of James Luceno. I’ve read a number of his other Star Wars novels and I really appreciate his skill as a writer. If there was a group of Star Wars novels that would be classified as “literature”, his works would be among them. His style demands attention and thought but is not overly complicated or difficult to keep up with. Second, Darth Plagueis fills in a story gap that is just so satisfying from a fan perspective. Getting to dive into the history of not one but two of the most powerful Sith in the galaxy was just so much fun. This is why I enjoy books so much, we really get to spend quality time with these characters, learning why they are who they are and what has influenced them. Luceno also weaves in characters and plot points of The Phantom Menace in very satisfying ways, something that I was not anticipating to happen (baby Darth Maul!).

Darth Plagueis officially has the Legends stamp on it but until the Lucasfilm story team replaces it with something else, this novel is firmly planted in my Star Wars brain canon. This was one of those books that I couldn’t wait to pick up and didn’t want to end.

Darth Plagueis’ inclusion in The Essential Legends Collection was only a matter of time. With amazing new cover art by Malaysian artist Qistina Khalidah, this new paperback edition deserves a spot on your bookshelf, so pick up a copy today!

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Wedge’s Gamble – Book Review

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First published in 1996, X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble, written by Michael A. Stackpole, is the second installment in the X-Wing series of novels and in 2022 has gotten The Essential Legends Collection paperback treatment. Only the Force knows if all ten X-Wing novels will be repackaged this way, but with artist Doaly once again providing the cover art, we can only dream (imagine what that bookshelf would look like!).

Wedge’s Gamble picks up where book 1 left off, a month after the conquest of Borleias and the death of Rogue Squadron member Bror Jace. The squad is getting used to the constant inflow of new members, with Wedge confident that no matter what the current makeup is, he’s recruiting the best of the best. The Rebels/New Republic now have their sights set on reclaiming Coruscant for their own. It’s currently being run by would-be Emperor Ysanne “Iceheart” Isard, a cruel and cunning villain leading the charge against the Rebels. The New Republic hatches a plan which involves letting crime syndicate prisoners free from the planet Kessel to ease their capture of Coruscant, while Iceheart has a plan of her own involving a biological threat which could wreak gag-inducing havoc on the Rebels’ plans. Plus there’s an Imperial spy in the midst of the Rebels, thwarting their efforts every step of the way.

The post-Empire timeline in which Wedge’s Gamble takes place has been rife with content from Legends days to current. From the original Thrawn trilogy to The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, storytellers have been filling this space with tales for decades now, and for me it still remains enjoyable. There’s just something about the Rebels figuring out how to run the galaxy while Imperial forces remain a threat that provides plenty of conflict. Having familiar faces intermix with new allies and enemies expands the storytelling landscape in a way that (so far at least) hasn’t gotten old. Wedge’s Gamble balances the familiar and the new in a way that will keep you engaged and excited to find out what happens next. The interwoven plots in the book work together in a way that keeps you on your toes. Stackpole does a great job of keeping his chapters paced in a way that never focuses on one plot for too long before jumping to another.

If you’re a fan of written descriptions of dogfights this book will be a standout. If you’re like me, those portions of the book might be more of a challenge to get through. Stackpole is definitely talented in all the technical jargon when it comes to battles between spaceships, but these moments can seem like distractions to the overarching story at times. Additionally, the number of plots going on at once naturally adds to the amount of characters in the narrative mix. At times the headcount of characters involved may be hard to track, with their various species and unique names, which may require some brain power upfront but pays off come novels’ end. Also, by the end of the book I struggled determining just what it was exactly that Wedge gambled (if anyone has thoughts on this please let me know).

Wedge’s Gamble The Essential Legends Collection edition paperback and audiobook (a new recording by the legendary Marc Thompson) are out now, so make it your galactic mission to add this to your Star Wars book collection.

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Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil – Book Review

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Lucasfilm and Del Rey publishing aptly named their new paperback editions of Star Wars Legends books, as Drew Karpyshyn’s Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil is a well written and hyper engaging story which, to this reviewer at least, is essential Star Wars reading. Bane fans likely perked up at the mention of his name in Marvel Comics’ Star Wars (2020) #20 published in January 2022, so hopefully this Dark Lord of the Sith makes his way into canon in the near future. Regardless of Bane’s future, the fact remains that Karpyshyn’s work deserves all the love that fans have bestowed upon Dynasty of Evil’s initial publication in 2009.

Set 10 years after the events of book two, Rule of Two, Darth Bane and Zannah are living undercover on the Outer Rim planet Ciutric IV. Bane’s body has been rid of the helpful yet damaging orbalisks, however, age and constant dark side use has slowly but surely started to wear on Bane. His apprentice Zannah, while incredibly gifted in the dark side, might not be the one to ultimately take the mantle of Sith Lord, so Bane decides he needs to find a way to live as long as possible in case he needs to train another apprentice. Lo and behold he discovers an ancient Sith Lord, Darth Andeddu, whose holocron holds the secret to eternal life and Bane sets his will on discovering how to accomplish this.

Meanwhile, on the mining world of Doan, Princess Serra continues to mourn the loss of her husband who died accidentally upon capture by a group of rebels who were seeking Sith artifacts. As it turns out, Serra isn’t altogether an unknown character in the Bane universe. Her family has drastically been affected by Bane’s actions and this has spurred her to revenge as she’s matured into adulthood (recurring dreams of Bane also don’t help much). Serra’s best friend and bodyguard Lucia, who has been by her side since childhood, notices how Serra’s past has triggered a new kind of hatred in the princess. Lucia also has a history with Bane (though she knows him by another name), and their combined histories play out in a narratively captivating way throughout the book. Two other main players in the novel are Set Harth, a Dark Jedi, and The Huntress, an Iktochi bounty hunter, both of whom have major parts to play in the overall story.

What unfolds throughout the events of Dynasty of Evil are struggles of power and of will. Each character is ultimately looking out only for themselves, which naturally only allows for some to be successful. Darth Zannah sets out to become the Master, snatching up Set as her apprentice-to-be should she succeed. Serra also has her sights on Bane, seeking revenge for her father’s death, and The Huntress finds her life’s purpose in the ways of the Sith. The book is structured in a way that the separate storylines eventually come together with drastic and dark consequences. Zannah and Bane have their long awaited showdown but who comes out victorious is up for interpretation (no spoilers even though this book’s been out for over ten years!).

Something that caught my attention in Dynasty of Evil, which didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book, was how little dialogue there was. The majority of the book is written as exposition, often diving deeply into the motivations, histories, and emotions of each character. While this was all well and good, I couldn’t help but notice how numerous pages and chapters were written in this manner. This is merely my own observation and Karpyshyn’s writing is clear and effective, but I still wonder how much might have been achieved by actual character conversations and interactions versus exposition.

Dynasty of Evil wraps up the Bane trilogy in epic fashion. Karpyshyn’s work with this Dark Lord of the Sith will definitely continue to delight readers for years to come. The Essential Legends Collection edition of Dynasty of Evil features Simon Goinard’s gorgeous cover art.

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Rogue Squadron – Book Review

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First published by Bantam Spectra in 1996, Rogue Squadron Book 1 of the Rogue Squadron series by Michael Stackpole is a part of this fall’s second wave of The Essential Legends Collection. This is the second book in the collection that’s also accompanied by a brand new unabridged audiobook (the first one being Shatterpoint) narrated by fan favorite Marc Thompson. Cover art is provided by Doaly, whose stark color usage and bold graphic treatment is absolutely awesome.

Wedge Antilles is front and center in this book, being charged with reforming Rogue Squadron under the direction of Admiral Ackbar. The squad has quite the reputation to maintain, but Wedge feels that amidst all the politics he can forge a crew that aligns with the mission of the New Republic. A pilot whose skills quickly have him rise to the top of the squadron is Corran Horn, a former member of the Corellian Security Force. He’s got a history of his own resulting in his conflict with Imperial intelligence and a personality that’s become hardened over time; he may have the technical skills of a pilot but his people skills need some work. In addition to all of this, he seems to be flirting with the Force, a sensitivity whose depth has great potential.

On the Imperial side, Kirtan Loor is the intelligence agent whose past with Corran Horn is one of the central conflicts in Rogue Squadron. An arrogant man with a useful eidetic memory, his conflicts don’t solely lie with the New Republic, however. Navigating the hierarchy of the Empire post-Endor is rife with internal strife as evidenced by almost every professional relationship Loor finds himself in. What the Empire can agree on is that Rogue Squadron must be destroyed if they have any chance of surviving in the galaxy.

What follows is a cat and mouse game with Rogue Squadron making a move that’s countered by the Empire. The squad starts as a group of strangers but as missions continue (and they suffer losses), the team forms a bond that only strengthens them on the battlefield. Author Michael Stackpole has an obvious passion for space battles and all the technicalities that come with them and while this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it definitely places this book firmly in the war genre of the Star Wars book universe. While not all characters are given the necessary time to develop connections with, Corran and Kirtan definitely do and Stackpole more than does a fair job of setting the stage for their galactic conflict to continue.

The unabridged audiobook of Rogue Squadron takes Stackpole’s novel and elevates it to another level. Narrator Marc Thompson particularly does a stellar job of rocketing the source material to new heights. Between Thompson’s voice acting abilities, the sound effects, and the score, I highly recommend the audiobook as the way to experience Rogue Squadron. It really immerses you into a uniquely Star Wars experience.

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The Last Command – Book Review

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The third book in Zahn’s now non-canonical Thrawn Trilogy, The Last Command was first published in 1993 by Bantam Spectra. The 2021 The Essential Legends Collection paperback edition features stellar cover art by Tracie Ching who’s work on these editions will no doubt be proudly displayed on bookshelves for years to come.

After Grand Admiral Thrawn’s victory in the battle for the Katana fleet, his dastardly plans to take down the New Republic get thrown into full gear. Utilizing the Emperor’s secret facility on Wayland, Thrawn has discovered a faster way to produce clones and is doing so at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, Leia and Han celebrate the arrival of their twins Jacen and Jaina but it’s not long before Dark Jedi Joruus C’baoth has them in his sights. Mara Jade is in the mix, easily the most complex character in the novel. Her character journey from the first novel to The Last Command is rife with human complexity and her redemption at the end is satisfying to say the least. The plot twists and turns with all separate storylines come together during an epic final showdown on Mount Tantiss.

There’s a subplot revolving around smugglers Talon Karrde and Samuel Gillespee that unfortunately draws away from the main storyline and come novel’s end, doesn’t really seem to fit into the overall narrative. I can see how Zahn was attempting to show how Thrawn and the Empire’s reach affected more than just the New Republic but this storyline and its cast of characters simply wasn’t entertaining and felt slightly shoehorned into the overall plot.

Zahn is the master of nailing the characterizations of beloved Star Wars characters. It’s easy to hear Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford delivering lines every time their characters appear, and their actions are very believable for who fans know them to be and who they continue to mature into. While Zahn’s writing style can be somewhat technical, The Last Command is solidly paced as the tensions between good and evil reach the breaking point. I think it’s worth mentioning, however, that the conclusion seems somewhat rushed, and no huge reveals or shocking plot points jump off the page. This is arguably a modern consumer’s gripe as most of us are conditioned to have a book/show/film end with a major shock or post-credits scene that will leave us wanting more. This book definitively ends, maybe too tidily, but leaves breathing room for characters and storylines to continue.

All that being said, The Last Command is a satisfying conclusion to the story Zahn set out to tell starting in Heir to the Empire. Keeping in mind that when these books were originally published the internet was in its infancy—no Instagram or Goodreads, so Zahn deserves immense credit for revitalizing the franchise back then and for continuing to inspire and contribute to Star Wars to this day.

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The Phantom Menace Graphic Novel Adaptation Review

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When The Phantom Menace was released in 1999 it was nothing short of a global smash. Original trilogy fans clamored at a new Star Wars film and younger audiences got something to call their own. Whether or not the film lived up to all the hype is continually up for debate but one thing is true: in the intervening years since its release, The Phantom Menace has established itself firmly in Star Wars canon as the foundation for everything that has come since. As the latest addition to its Star Wars movie adaptations, IDW’s The Phantom Menace Graphic Novel Adaptation is a fun, gorgeous and succinct book. Highlighting the fun and downplaying the politics, this book aims to please a younger reading audience but can also be enjoyed by more experienced Star Wars fans.

Led by senior designer Enrico Soave, the artistic team on this book is absolutely stellar. This is hyper stylized characterization done at its very best—it isn’t going for realism and it works! Liam Neeson’s nose aside, each character is recognizable but not distracting. The lines are sharp and clean and in this hand-crafted medium, there’s no odd mix of live action and CGI, just seamless storytelling. Additionally, the gorgeously rendered backgrounds add an extra touch of something special to the artistic landscape.

The Phantom Menace’s famous action scenes are all here; the exciting podrace, the finale’s epic lightsaber battle, but what about all those scenes regarding trade federations and politics? They’re here too but in the context of a graphic novel adaptation, they’re handled carefully and not too many panels are dedicated to long expositions. For a book aimed at younger readers this was a smart move as pacing is paramount.

The Phantom Menace Graphic Novel Adaptation is proof that a good story can shine in any medium. Set in the context of a comic book there are necessary cuts and changes to the film but that doesn’t mean that it’s not an enjoyable time spent in a galaxy far far away.

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Tarkin – Book Review

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Tarkin, written by James Luceno (Darth Plagueis, Catalyst: A Rogue One Story), was published by Del Rey on November 4, 2014. An early entry into the new canon, Tarkin takes place five years after Revenge of the Sith and gives readers greater insights into one of Star Wars‘ most famous villains, Wilhuff Tarkin.

The bulk of the events of Tarkin revolve around the titular character and Darth Vader teaming up to hunt down a band of freedom fighters who have stolen the General’s (not yet a Grand Moff) personal transport, the Carrion Spike. This portion of the timeline is interesting as the Empire is fairly new and the hard lines separating Imperials and Rebels isn’t yet established, allowing for plenty of intrigue and mystery as events transpire. Interspersed throughout the main narrative are glimpses into young Tarkin’s upbringing on the planet Eriadu. These sections offer the most action scenes of the novel as young Wilhuff is guided by an uncle through required trials in the Eriadu wilderness—most specifically in an area called the Carrion Plateau. It’s intriguing to see the culture in which Tarkin was raised and the traumatic events that shaped his adolescence and made him into the ruthless leader he later becomes.

Like the calculating man himself, Luceno’s prose is carefully crafted and evenly paced. Like a well planned and executed military strategy, events unfold meticulously and never without purpose. Stylistically this book fits within other war-based and tactical novels (a la Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed) so fans of this type of genre will find plenty to enjoy. In addition, readers are privy to what the early working relationships of Palpatine/Sidious, Vader and Tarkin look like.

Tarkin gives readers more to explore in terms of his and Anakin/Vader’s relationship, one that The Clone Wars fans will surely appreciate. Forced to work together, these two pawns of Sidious learn more about each other, quirks and all—familiar enough quirks that Tarkin has an inkling of who the man behind the mask might really be. By the end of the novel we have a better sense of why these two are who they are by the time Episode IV begins—one at the helm of the Death Star and the other planted at the Emperor’s side.

In the early days of new canon publications, it seems that Disney/Lucasfilm didn’t have as clear of an idea of where and how new stories would be told. The newly established Lucasfilm Story Group (in my opinion) existed to ensure that new publications would fit within the scope of approved content rather than have an overarching creative vision for new storytelling in novels and comics. Over time I think the Story Group was able to more creatively delve into the scope of stories that could be told versus simply being fact checkers. Luceno’s work in Tarkin, while well written and constructed, suffers from some of this early lack of clarity on how new canon publications would exist. Its place in the timeline is unique and it has a cast of characters who have a built in audience but it can read as a sort of one-off solo mission disconnected from other canon material (maybe this is why it was grouped with A New Dawn and 3 short stories in The Rise of the Empire published in 2015). Regardless, Tarkin the novel, much like the man, stands on its own—a distinguished, remorseless and formidable tale of villainy in space.

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Battlefront II: Inferno Squad – Book Review

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Published by Del Rey Books in 2017, Christie Golden’s Battlefront II: Inferno Squad technically is a sequel to 2015’s Battlefront: Twilight Company by Alexander Freed—both official Star Wars canon novels. It’s also technically a prequel novel to the events of the Battlefront II video game.

All that being said: none of this matters.

For all intents and purposes, Inferno Squad is a standalone Star Wars tale that, prior to my reading, I had not heard much about. If you’ve been reading Star Wars novels within the past couple of years, it’s inevitable to hear praises being sung about authors like Claudia Gray and Timothy Zahn (well-deserved by the way) but for the most part I went into this book completely blind. I’m not a gamer so I wasn’t familiar with these characters and I somewhat expected this to tie into the first Battlefront novel. In hindsight I’m thankful for this perspective going in, as Inferno Squad is one the new canon’s best.

Inferno Squad introduces us to an Imperial Navy Squadron lead by Senior Lieutenant Iden Versio, one of the few survivors of the destruction of the Death Star. Iden’s father, ISB Inspector Admiral Garrick Versio, recruits his daughter along with Lieutenant Commander Del Meeko (male former storm/shoretrooper & TIE fighter), Iden’s longtime friend Lieutenant Junior Grade Gideon Hask (male soldier/starfighter pilot) and Intelligence Lieutenant Seyn Marana (female master cryptologist with an eidetic memory).

Golden’s writing is fast-paced but never hard to keep up with and she introduces new characters in a very accessible way. We’re launched right into the story as the newly formed squad cuts their teeth on a couple mini missions, mostly so Iden can prove herself worthy of the captainship (more on the daddy issues later). The bulk of the story lies with Inferno Squad playing a very long game of infiltrating the base of the Dreamers, the remnant of Saw Guerrera’s Partisans, with the ultimate goal of wiping them out.

Each Inferno Squad member wears their own mask as they establish themselves in the Dreamer base. Iden as the Imperial defector with potential to be the voice of the Partisans; Meeko and Hask as brothers who build strong relationships with partisan members, and Seyn as a former slave who just needs a family that cares. As missions proceed, Inferno Squad find it harder and harder to separate who their true friends and enemies are. Moral questions arise as death is dealt out and dealt with (no one’s safe). This blurring of the lines amped up the tension and made the stakes so much more tangible.

So often with Star Wars the Imperials are the enemy, clearly in the wrong. Here, we see what has gone into the formation of the squad, we know their ambitions, their motivations and we’re conditioned to want them to succeed. But we also get to know the “enemy” Partisans and the diversity of the galaxy that they represent. This uncomfortable tension of good versus evil is just so much fun; I love that Golden really goes there and makes it challenging to choose who to root for.

A central theme of the book is family responsibility. Iden is the product of a relationship with warring values: a military father and an artist mother. She constantly tries to prove herself a worthy soldier to please her father—it is the Imperial way after all. But she also sees the pureness and innocence of a simpler life in her mother. She wages her own war of pleasing one parent and not disappointing the other. The results are pretty heartbreaking. Golden’s talent shines in this aspect; casting a lightsaber’s glow on the humanity in all of us. The people we try to please, living with the choices we make and suffering the consequences through all of it.

It should be noted that although this is a Star Wars book there is not a Jedi, Sith or otherwise Force sensitive character in sight—something I found refreshing and that works in its favor. This book also is not what I’d consider a “war” novel, a genre that I find can be weighed down by terminology. I would classify Inferno as a character-driven, psychologically complex adventure told in a way that will make readers pause and question the notion of good versus evil.

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The Art of Star Wars: Visions – Book Review

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In addition to a novel, comic book, and collectibles, fans now have The Art of Star Wars: Visions to add to their collection! This expertly crafted, full-color, oversized hardcover book allows readers to dive into the world of Star Wars: Visions as they never have before. The executive producers of the show—James Waugh, Josh Rimes, and Jacqui Lopez—describe how the passions of creatives from around the globe came together and made this epic collection of animated shorts into a reality in their foreword. In the pages that follow, writer Zack Davisson gives each Visions short their own time to shine, and allows each animation studio to speak to the inspirations for their films. And let’s not forget that each page is filled with production stills, concept art, sketches, and design work, a true feast for the eyes!

Since childhood I’ve been a fan of animation art books. I remember pouring over them endlessly, and being particularly drawn to how the final product started with hand drawn sketches and concept art. The Art of Star Wars: Visions provides this same type of experience, allowing readers to soak in all the creative work that goes into producing a series of this caliber. What sets this book apart is how it’s really nine art books in one, showcasing the beauty and diversity each studio brings to the series. Additionally, the book is a vehicle to display the variety of art styles found in Japanese animation. Whether you’re new to Anime or you have a particular aesthetic preference, there’s something for everyone to enjoy with this book.

The Art of Star Wars: Visions comes in standard and deluxe editions. Standard edition features the mashup character artwork from the show and the deluxe edition comes with an exclusive slipcase, cover and portfolio which houses three gallery-quality prints.

The Art of Star Wars: Visions is a must-have item for fans of the series, and is the perfect way to bring a piece of the show into your home.

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