Star Wars: Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth

The Galaxy is at war with the Republic fighting the Separatists Alliance led by Count Dooku who has an unknown Sith master. They are using the dark side of the Force with planets falling to them. Their latest assault is at Kothlis and its strategic Spy-Net Facility. Jedi knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker lead the land and space battle that leaves countless dead and injured while both Jedi know their side is losing the war even though they won this battle.

When they return to the homeworld of the Jedi Order and the political center of the Republic, Senator Organa tells the two Jedi Knights that the Separatists conquered the impoverished world Lanteeb, a place so isolated in the outer rim no one can fathom why the Seps went there. The senator knows their must be something of value on that remote orb, but what is unknown. Anakin and Obi-Ben travel to Lanteeb and learn why the Seps’, led by General Durd, conquered Lanteeb and it is critical they stop him or billions will die.

This is the first of a duology starring two of the more fascinating Star War characters. The story line is fast-paced from the opening battle sequence and when the two Jedi are caught behind enemy lines on Lanteeb. The battles as always on screen and in books are vivid enhancing the non stop action. Anakin is a fabulous protagonist whose doubts abut the Jedi and their cause grows with the defeats. Fans will enjoy the opening of the Clone Wars Gambit and look forward to the continual adventures of Anakin and Ob-Ben trying to survive yet also must prevent Durd’s plan from occurring as the setback would be impossible to overcome.

Harriet Klausner

Rating: 4 / 5

Its good to share your feelings isn’t it.

Good to get anything unsaid out there for people to hear. It also helps to deal with them and put them behind you, turn from the dark side as it were.

Except, wait, Anakin never did deal with his feelings did he. Thats how he lost himself to the dark side after all. Anakin never faced the things he did and his experiences and used his jedi training to deal with his anger.

If only he’d expressed his feelings LIKE HE DOES HERE ON EVERY SINGLE PAGE.

And Obi-Wan also deals with an inner anger and on nearly every page.

A trained jedi you only raised his voice a few times in the prequels here is angry with every single person

he comes in contact with but its okay he keeps it inside…..sometimes.

This is completely different from the Obi-Wan I know from the series and books.

Except, wait, according to Clone Wars: Wild Space he knows all about Anakin and Padme,warns Padme off a relationship with Anakin AND THEN TOTALLY MISSES ANAKING AND PADME HAVING A RELATIONSHIP FOR THREE YEARS.

Pros:

– There’s a battle at the start.

– A scientist who feels guilt over what she’s doing.

– Some great writing in the preparation of the trip (to planet boring).

– Some interesting thoughts from Ashoka.

Cons:

– Obi-Wan and Anakin talk about there feelings so much they actually tell each other to stop talking about there feelings, which is what I was doing.

– Obi-Wan, in the middle of keeping back more rage then a darkside lunatic, says “Oh Anakin” on practically every other page. And than screams whatever his latest bizzare opinion is.

– There are some very adult elements here, a woman getting pulled up by her hair, getting kicked while on the ground, elements of torture, suicide. I am reading this book for fun you know, if I wanted to be depressed I’d read the paper.

– Why is this story in two books?? IF YOU CUT OUT THE GROUP THERAPY IT’D BE FINISHED ALREADY!!!!

Some Tips:

– I can’t say all the 90′s star wars books were great, but rogue squadron, Thrawn, luke and the gang had lots more action and events without all these feelings and repressed anger. So less feelings, more action.

– Less Obi-Wan acting like a spoiled kid.

– Its not clear which Clone Wars episode Durd was in, before reading “Anakin almost died” I nearly had to look it up, so throw that in.

But thats just my opinion, if your alright with people expressing their pain alot this book should be fine.

But Han Solo took Chewies death better then these folks take minor plans going array.

Rating: 1 / 5

This is what I expect out of a Star Wars book: action, discussions, inner battles, plots against the heroes, realistic friendships and the characters felt right.

And better yet there are ethical dilemmas in it! Dilemmas like: do we sacrifice innocent bystanders in order save countless of others? And if we do is their blood on our hands? Something to think about. Obviously they have never heard the saying the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

I take my hat off once again to Ms. Miller for writing another delightful, entertaining and ironic book.
Rating: 5 / 5

Karen Miller’s high regard and curiosity concerning Obi-Wan Kenobi is quite charming. In her second Star Wars book, Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth, every character has a lot to shoulder in the war, even (and especially) Obi-Wan.

Ahsoka has more to consider as Anakin’s Padawan than the teachings of the Jedi Order. She cares for his well-being and has learned how to read her Master’s emotions to help herself navigate and deal with his temperament. Anakin struggles with the responsibilities of being the Chosen One. What he feels they should do, what he should do as such a prominent figure, conflicts often with the wider doctrine of the Jedi, not to mention how delicately he juggles his forbidden relationship with Padmé. Obi-Wan still wrestles with his misgivings as a teacher and his emotions over the health of a dear friend. It’s clear, though, that as Bail Organa brings a frightening new element in the war to the Jedi’s attention, this cast of extraordinary beings have rather ordinary problems.

All things considered: Obi-Wan and Anakin, for as much as they remain larger than life figures, symbolic of the Jedi Order and its potential, are still forced to deal with their very human emotions and drama. After a harrowing skirmish on Kothlis, Anakin and Obi-Wan are forced to realize they both need some much needed rest. Obi-Wan is still running a bit ragged from his encounter on Zigoola; Anakin and the entire galaxy agree. The pair are sent to Lanteeb anyway–a planet of no consequence until recent Separatist actions pique the Republic’s curiosity. Their physical wounds may be healed, but Anakin and Obi-Wan learn the hard way: some scars never go away.

Gambit: Stealth is the first in a two-part mini arc that ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger. While the Lanteeb mission propels the action forward, the dynamic between Anakin and Obi-Wan is the strongest undercurrent of the novel. As Karen Miller reminds us, it’s rare at this point in the timeline for Obi-Wan and Anakin to run around together as they often did as Master and Apprentice. This realization is poignant when Obi-Wan considers his regret over Anakin; he wonders if Anakin ever really learned anything taught to him or if he’ll ever learn. He frequently reminded himself he was no longer Anakin’s Master–that old relationship is over, however much Anakin remains forever respectful of Obi-Wan.

Miller strategically removed Ahsoka from the narrative. This helped move us away from just seeing Anakin as a Jedi Knight (with a Padawan) to consider his new role and relationship with Obi-Wan. The two can now face each other as adults, so to speak. Anakin’s undergone his right of passage and, while not an equal yet, is able to meet his former Master’s gaze without the guilt or shame associated with having done something wrong. Obi-Wan’s displeasure is the least thing from his mind. On this new, more level playing field, their dynamic comes to us as a war of values and beliefs.

Obi-Wan is the consummate, duty-bound Jedi: cool, professional, objective, detached. Anakin is demonstratively compassionate, always willing to help someone in need; his emotions are close to the surface where Obi-Wan’s are tightly controlled. Anakin always feels the need to be involved. I think what Karen Miller does best–what she showed us in Wild Space–is her talent for creating character studies by placing two disparate personalities together and seeing what happens. In this case, two very different Jedi–one raised traditionally, the other not–ultimately come head-to-head in an argument fundamental to the the job description.

Obi-Wan learns quickly that old habits die hard. As he fights the urge to teach lest he offend Anakin’s sensibilities and abilities as a Jedi Knight, he also works to understand the qualities in himself that have made him so different from his former Padawan. I loved the phrase Miller uses when she reminds us, “Obi-Wan Kenobi was a far more complicated man than a first glance would suggest” (p. 386). We learn, too, the dimensions of Obi-Wan’s psyche that are just as warm and inviting as Anakin, but honed through years of rigorous discipline growing up surrounded by other Jedi. Obi-Wan’s emotions are always checked by caution and propriety, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them. He just deals with them differently. Karen Miller helps make this obvious through many touching scenes where Anakin is characteristically tormented and driven by his feelings, watched by Obi-Wan who must always remind him that the first thing about being a Jedi is prioritizing.

The two have never been more different, have never been more in tune to each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Miller captures their relationship wonderfully. They banter and feed off each other’s unspoken body language; they disagree and argue over intentions and dogma. Ultimately, they’re very respectful of each other and mindful of the consequences each action or word may bring.

I was impressed before with the fresh perspective Miller brought to the Star Wars universe. With Gambit: Stealth she reminds readers what she does best is unearth the mechanics that drive characters like Obi-Wan to act as he does. I don’t think we could ask for a more staunch supporter of such a wry manipulator.

As pleased as I was about this book, I am curious about one thing: if Star Wars has skittles, does that mean they have Starburst or Twix bars, too?
Rating: 5 / 5

The Clone Wars rage onward, threatening to engulf the entire galaxy. After a hellacious battle on the planet Kothlis, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are given a short furlough on Coruscant to recover from months of constant conflict.

But when a loyal senator uncovers a curious plot on a far-flung planet, the two Jedi must cut their break short and go undercover to unravel the mystery. Without support, deep in enemy territory, exhausted and stressed, it will take everything they have just to survive, let alone succeed.

I’m a huge fan of any Star Wars novel that gives us a glimpse behind the veil of Obi-Wan Kenobi–they’re few and far between–and //Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth// delivers. It captures the fatigue and permeating hopelessness of war, casting action heroes in the unfamiliar shadow of defeatism and insecurity. (A monstrous cliffhanger of an ending admirably serves to further heighten this tension.)

Unfortunately, it suffers somewhat from a lack of key exposition. There are numerous fleeting references to earlier events (presumably from another novel by the author), but without proper explanation, they hinder the narrative more than they provide depth to the characters.

In the end, //Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth// engages the reader, but feels incomplete.

Reviewed by Glenn Dallas
Rating: 3 / 5