Book Review: Shatterpoint

I don’t read many of the Star Wars novels, but this one just jumped out at me.  Shatterpoint, by Matthew Woodring Stover, is a novel set during the Clone Wars (aka, between Episode II and Episode III).  The book’s main character is Mace Windu, the Jedi Master played by Samuel L. Jackson in the movies.  Windu gets pulled to this jungle planet to investigate a massacre that may have been perpetrated by his once padawan learner Depa.

I think this is a very good book.  The comparisons of the Jungle to the dark side are elegant and well thought out.  The manifestation of the jungle into the character Kar Vastor makes the perfect antithesis to Windu.  The views into the Force and what it means to be Jedi are also very good.  The balance of the Jedi code against being in the middle of a planetary war where civilians are being killed and genocide is the goal is great.  You can start to see the downfall of the Jedi and how they will vanish from the universe.

Rating: 3 out 5
Recommendation: A good read, but a little slow in the beginning.  There is some great culture info about the populace of the planet and the background of the race that Windu came from.  I’d recommend reading it if you like Windu’s character in the movies.  He is definitely a strong personality, which you would expect from someone played by Samuel L. Jackson.