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Title: Cloak of Deception (Star Wars) |
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Review of Star Wars: Cloak of Deception
- From New York Times bestselling author James Luceno comes an all-new Star Wars adventure that reveals the action and intrigue unfolding directly before Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
Mired in greed and corruption, tangled in bureaucracy, the Galactic Republic is crumbling. In the outlying systems, where the Trade Federation maintains a stranglehold on shipping routes, tensions are boiling over?while back in the comfort of Coruscant, the hub of civilized space and seat of the Republic government, few senators seem inclined to investigate the problem. And those who suspect Supreme Chancellor Valorum of having a hand in the machinations are baffled?especially when Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi foil an assassination attempt on the Chancellor.
With the crisis escalating, Valorum calls for an emergency trade summit. As humans and aliens gather, conspiracies sealed with large sums of money run rampant, and no one is entirely above suspicion. But the greatest threat of all remains unknown to everyone except three members of the Trade Federation who have entered into a shadowy alliance with a dark overlord. While the trio will be content with more money and fewer problems, Darth Sidious has grander, far more terrifying plans.
It is a time that tests the mettle of all those who strive to hold the Republic together?none more so than the Jedi Knights, who have long been the galaxy's best hope for preserving peace and justice. Yet despite their most valiant efforts, the meeting will explode into fiery chaos beyond everyone?s worst fears . . .
From the Hardcover edition.
Product Description
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Comments for Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
- Posted on 2008-09-27
Good ,but no way brilliant!
Overall it was an intriguing story. It's a political thriller which does it's best to draw you into the story but didn't quite make it for me. But it did inform me of the internal politics and workings of the senate.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2008-09-06
Great book with plenty of twists
I recently got back in to reading Star Wars novels. The last ones I read were the first set of X-Wing books back when they came out, so it's been a while. I'd say I chose a great book to get back in to the series! One of the things I liked about the prequel movies was all of the backplot dealing with how Palpatine came to power, but I often felt that there was more that could be told about it.
This novel definitely shows the amount of genius that Palpatine possesses and how he deftly plays MULTIPLE factions against each other. Yes, there are some familiar players from the movies, but this book gives alot more screen time to new characters and those with minor, at best, roles in the movies such as Supreme Chancellor Valorum. Combine that with a plot with quite a few twists that you don't see coming, especially the one at the end, and you have a sure fire winner. Only one warning though. Like the prequel movies themselves, this one has a dark overtone and you shouldn't expect a particularly happy ending... But that's why Palpatine is so awesome. He really needs his own set of books to tell how he came to be the Sith Lord. He's just so meticulously evil that you have to love the guy.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-08-30
The Fall of Chancellor Valorum
In the events leading to Episode I, political ploys were unhatched that would allow the rise of Senator Palpatine. "Cloak of Deception" is an appropriate title for a novel which explains the maneuverings of Palpatine before becoming chancellor. As one might expect of a book based in political posturing, there is less action then one might expect in the Star Wars series. Still, the book does not disappoint.
In order for the Trade Federation to serve as a powerful pawn to the Emperor, obstacles must be removed from their ascent to greater power. Among these obstacles is the Nebula Front. While raising ethical questions in the eyes of some, Sumpreme Chancellor Valorum seeks to allow the trade Federation to amass a droid army for protection from terrorist groups such as the Nebula Front. In a compromise, the Trade Federation must make an unpopular concession which reflect poorly on Valorum. Considering the original source of the idea, the motive is not surprising.
As this occurs, an assassination plot is unhatched against Valorum as Captain Cohl's creates mayhem in the Outer Rim. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, chase the "terrorists" only to find the motives of the group to be confused. A mysterious figure behind the terrorists knows the true motives for which Cohl's group is paid. With bureaucracy, power, and money intertwining to make motives less apparent, the book ends where "Phantom Menace" begins.
James Luceno may be the premiere writer in the Expanded Universe. In this novel, I particularly enjoyed being introduced to characters not appearing this movies such as Yaddle. Though the plot may seem restrained by the extensive dialogue, it is a necessary element in setting up the Star Wars movie series.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2008-08-22
Decent story, mediocre writing
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was a good explanation of events leading to The Phantom Menace. There were unexpected plot twists that eventually pulled me into it, but it took over 100 pages to get there. I think the main reason is that the descriptions were very bare bones. I life for stories to paint a vivid picture, but all I got was a basic sense of things. In order to care what is happening, it helps to care about the characters, and this story really didn't make me feel any connection to them. If I hadn't seen The Phantom Menace, I probably would've stopped reading the book. There are other better Star Wars books out there--of the approximately 10 I've read, this was my least favorite.
Score: 3 - Posted on 2008-03-15
Any new reader to Star Wars should start with this book!
One of the main aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed while reading James Luceno's 'Cloak of Deception' was his political intrigue. While the novel is not solely a biography on Palpatine, Luceno does a fantastic job of extrapolating the character from the dialogue and scenes presented in 'The Phantom Menace'. The book satisfies many of the observed shortcomings of Episode I, in that it explains the backstory of the Trade Federations reasons for the blockade of Naboo. Luceno balances the book well by switching between politics and action, the latter focusing on the Jedi and specifically Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's pursuit of Nebula Front Captain, Cohl.
The Episode II tidbit's sprinkled through the book are a great tie-in the forthcoming film, as were the other little nods to continuity, such as cameo's by Jorus C'Baoth, Sate Pestage and Kinman Doriana, Tarkin and Vergere.
Lastly, George Lucas stated that one of his main reasons for doing the prequel trilogy was to change our perception of the classic trilogy, once we have the full picture in view. I believe that the prequel books have started to help this change in view, especially when Tarkin says in ANH that the Emperor has disbanded the Senate. We are starting to realise how powerful that line of dialogue is, because we are being shown how important a role the Senate played in the life and politics of the Old Republic. The Senate is diverse with alien representation and ideological views, but we will gradually see a transformation to the bigotry of the Empire.
Score: 5
