The latest Star Wars book, Master and Apprentice is out and disappoint it does not! This book gives you some action, but this is not meant to be an action based book with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gonn fighting for their lives. This book is origins, relationships and foundations. After reading this book, one will appreciate the little things from the prequels so much more.
Master and Apprentice: The Story Begins
Qui-Gonn and Obi-Wan are polar opposites. They see things completely different and both think they are failing the other. Qui-Gonn debates whether Obi-Wan should have a new and better master. The problem is the council offers Qui-Gonn a seat on the Jedi Council. Rarely seeing eye to eye, Qui-Gonn doesn’t know if this is the answer he seeks for both he and Obi, or if joining the council would be a huge mistake.
This might make the most ideal and painless break up for Master and apprentice except Obi-Wan discovers the news from a diplomat before he hears it from Qui-Gonn. The situation just went from bad to worse.
This all but rips the two apart and places an even larger wall between them. Instead of solving the issue first, the two are assigned a mission. A new hyperspace route is about to be established, but there is a problem with the key system of Pijal. The head regent just happens to be Rael Aveross, the former apprentice to Count Dooku Qui-Gonn.
Rael has a past of his own that led to the death of his padawan and put a wall between Qui-Gonn and Rael. Qui-Gonn and Obi-Wan have to solve the problems between themselves, the planet and Rael before deciding what their own futures would be.
Claudia Knows Her Stuff
The beautiful thing about this book is the depth it adds to everything it touches. Claudia Gray does a magnificent job growing the relationship between the duo while simultaneously adding depth to Qui-Gonn and his prophecy seeking, Count Dooku and his past, and so many little things we see in the later movies.
Through out the story of Master and Apprentice, we find out more detail about Qui-Gonn and his relationship with the council. We also discover Qui-Gonn’s history with Prophesy and the love hate relationship he has with them. There is a reason he attaches Anakin to the prophecy so readily.
New Meanings In the Smallest Things
How do Qui-Gonn and Obi-Wan go back and forth from start mouth responses to voicing strong opposition to each other and back? Did you ever wonder why Obi-Wan hated flying? Why he bonded so quickly and easily to Boga in Episode 3? All in here.
Even the smallest of movie moments gains meaning. In Episode I, when Obi-Wan gives Qui-Gonn that sour look because Qui-Gonn is so ready to dump Obi-Wan at the drop of a hat for Anakin, that look gains so much more meaning when you understand what their relationship has gone through during this story.
Claudia also does a magnificent job with each character. When Qui-Gonn and Obi-Wan interact you hear their words in Liam and Ewan’s expressions. You read the words and SEE them as they are in Episode I. Every part of this story feels like the characters we follow in the movies. She has a very personal writing style.
Claudia Gray is the IT author in Star Wars right now. I have read every book she has written and she has yet to miss. A book may be too political for some here or there, but her character portrayals are spot on and she has a way of making the reader feel immersed in the Star Wars universe. Her books are not just written with a couple of ‘laser sword’ references. They ARE Star Wars.
Final Thoughts on Master and Apprentice
If you love action, Master and Apprentice may not be quite your thing, but if you love Obi-Wan, Qui-Gonn, Dooku or this era you should love this book. It brings a new light to Episode I and appreciate the little things because of their new meanings.
One last thing. On page 288 Qui-Gonn recounts a certain prophecy Dooku obsessed over. The prophecy connects directly to Episode IX in ways we won’t understand until the movie. To Read about this prophecy check out the link below.
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