The Approaching Storm

By Alan Dean Foster

Review by Sennah

It has been ten years since the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo.
The Republic is is decaying, even under the the leadership of Supreme
Chancellor Palpatine, who was elected to to save the galaxy from
collapse. On the tiny but strategic planet of Ansion, a powerful
faction
is on the verge of joining the secessionist movement. The mixed species
city dwellers want to expand into the prairies, and the native
Ansionian
nomads want to preserve their way of life at all costs. Tired of the
bureaucratic nonsense and endless levels of the Republic's government,
the Ansioninans want to secede-- an act that would start a chain
reaction of secession among Ansion's allies.
Two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, and their
Padawans
Anakin Skywalker and Bariss Offee, are sent to Ansion to resolve the
conflict between the city dwellers and the elusive nomads. The Jedi set
out across the Ansionian plains to find the Borokii, the overclan, for
if they convince the Borokii to accept the terms of a treaty with their
urban cousins, the planet will remain a part of the Republic.
The journey is rough and dangerous, but in the end, the Jedi might just
be able to diffuse this disaster.

Personally I loved the Master-Padawan interaction in this book. The
long
journey through the prairies and the dangers they face along the way
provide many learning opportunities, for both the Masters and their
Padawans. Along the way we see just how powerful Anakin Skywalker has
become, and get a glimpse of what he is yet capable of.
I do not know how big of a part Luminara and Bariss will have in Attack
of the Clones, but I do hope it is a fairly big one, I would like to
see
more of this enigmatic Jedi Knight and her healer-in-training Padawan
Bariss.

Most of this book actually had me laughing, the author's descriptions
of
things are often written in a light and humorous way, giving this book
an almost sunny feeling, like the plains of Ansion that the Jedi are
crossing. If you compared this book to a few other recent Star Wars
novels (Star by Star, for example) it is almost a breath of fresh air.
Even during the most climactic times of the story, it manages to keep
it's overall light tone.

I have found in this book a race of beings that I like almost as much
as
I like the Ryn. The Ansioninan natives are slightly shorter than
humans,
their wiry frames covered with pale yellow, almost golden, skin. The
have large bulging eyes witch range in color from blue to green to
mauve. They have a strip of thick stiff fur that starts on the top of
their head and runs down their back, ending on a roughly 15 centimeter
tail. Ansionian fur color is widely varied and is often dyed or striped
in varying patterns. The fur is a source of great pride, and is always
carefully and neatly groomed.
I wonder if there will be any Ansionians in Attack of the Clones, I
would like to see one in 'real life'.

Using J'Bar's rating scale I would give this a 4 out of 4. A great
read,
whether you read it before seeing Attack of the Clones or wait until
after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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