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Title: Medstar II: Jedi Healer (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel) |
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Review of Medstar II: Jedi Healer (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)
- While the Clone Wars wreak havoc throughout the galaxy, the situation on the far world of Drongar is desperate, as Republic forces engage in a fierce fight with the Separatists. . . .
The threatened enemy offensive begins as the Separatists employ legions of droids into their attack. Even with reinforcements, the flesh and blood of the Republic forces are just no match for battle droidsâ durasteel. Nowhere is this point more painfully clear than in the steaming Jasserak jungle, where the doctors and nurses of a small med unit face an impossible situation. As the dead and wounded start to pile up, surgeons Jos Vandar and Kornell âUliâ Divini know that time is running out.
Even the Jedi abilities of Padawan Barriss Offee have been stretched to the limit. Ahead lies a test for Barriss that could very well lead to her deathâand that of countless others. For the conflict is growingâand for this obscure mobile med unit, thereâs only one resolution. Shocking, bold, unprecedented, itâs the only option Jos and his colleagues really have.The unthinkable has become the inevitable. Whether it kills them or not remains to be seen.
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Comments for Medstar II: Jedi Healer (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)
- Posted on 2006-11-14
Clone Wars MASH Unit - Part 2
Jedi Healer is the continued story of the Clone Wars MASH unit on the Planet Drongar. The Republic medical team of surgeons, nurses, and droids is still headed by Dr. Jos Vondar, but his close friend Dr. Zan Yant did not survive Medstar I. The wounded clone troopers continue to be brought in by medlift, and the doctors continue to exert every possible effort to save lives.
Much of this tale deals with the efforts of the Separatist spy to create chaos on Drongar and the efforts of the Black Sun operative to obtain as much of the miracle plant bota as possible. At the same time we are treated to the ongoing love affair between Dr. Vondar and his chief nurse Tolk le Trene as they try to overcome cultural prejudices stemming from Vondar's upbringing. The droid I-5 and the reported Den Dhur are still with us and have significant roles as the story unfolds.
Much of the book deals with Jedi Padawan Barris Offee and her experiences with the Force. She discovers that an injection of the miracle plant bota opens up areas of the Force that she never dreamed existed. She would be able to perform miraculous feats by using the bota. However, could this be a direct path to the power of the dark side? Offee struggles with this situation and finally manages to reach a conclusion.
This book, along with Medstar I, gives us an extremely interesting look at the world of the medical teams serving in the Clone Wars.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2006-11-07
Solid conclusion to the duology
The Medstar Duology is the only multi-book series in the prequel era published to date. Medstar II: Jedi Healer picks up the story one week after the events of the first novel and brings the tale to a satisfying conclusion. I'm not clear why this story in particular was chosen to be split into two books, when a slightly edited version could have been condensed to a single volume, but this is a curiosity rather than a complaint. The extra breathing room permits a story that features some slices-of-life a tighter focus likely would have precluded.
Uli Divini, a barely out of school but highly skilled doctor, arrives at the Rimsoo early in this book to replace the main character lost at the end of book one. Uli adds youthful energy and naivete to the mix, as well as providing Barriss Offee with some insight on her personal inward journey to Jedi Knighthood. The other major new character, Admiral Erel Kersos, brings turmoil to our hero doctor Jos Vondar and complicates his burgeoning relationship with nurse Tolk Le Trene.
Den Dhur, the scrappy Sullustan reporter, is tiring of his nomadic life and faces temptation to abandon his career and settle down when an attractive entertainer is stranded on Drongar and makes him an unexpected offer. I-Five has continued his journey to reclaim his memories (wiped at the climax of Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter), as well as his exploration of self. Michael Reaves and Steve Perry have done a good job of interweaving many main characters' soul-searching explorations and logically connecting most of them together in believable and entertaining ways. Additionally, as authors they are strong with realistic and often funny dialogue, something some of the Star Wars EU can be a little weak on.
The unexpected weather change mid-book in the Rimsoo was a great idea, fleshing out the "force dome" concept and some of the possible side effects of shielding a facility in this way. I enjoyed the visit from the galactic entertainment troupe and the frequent visits to the cantina. Barriss Offee's path to Knighthood is continued well and the form her hardest trial takes, in the form of organically-fueled limitless power, is unexpected.
I'm still a bit cold on the Column/Lens spy story - it simply feels rather forced. Early in the first book, there's a sentence that uses a male pronoun for the spy, so the suspense of who it was when the candidates are reduced to two was non-existent for me. The reasons the spy has for his actions are solid, but the storyline could have been re-written to give you his point of view early on and then explored from a more engaging angle. Black Sun agent Kaird and his two henchmen are decent antagonists, but the real star of this show is the focus on the lives of the heroes and their incredible struggles against the nature of war itself, rather than any personal direct confrontations with the book's villains.
The two Medstar books were a fun read and I'd be delighted to link back up with Den Dhur and I-Five on Coruscant in a future novel.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2006-03-08
An Enjoyable Read
I enjoy how these authors write. The characters really come to life after the first book. It's still not the most exciting Star Wars book I've read, but it sure isn't the worst one either. Not too much to say...overall I think that the Medstar books are worth reading.
Score: 4 - Posted on 2005-12-25
Excellent conclusion to the Medstar series
Jedi Healer was every bit as good as Battle Surgeons. The story of life in a Republic Mobile Surgical Unit (known as a Rimsoo) on Drongar continues. This book starts off on a sad note since Zan Yant, Jos Vondar's best friend, died in the last chapter of Battle Surgeons. Also, the identity of the spy from book 1 is still unsolved. The story keeps getting better and better as "accidents" start occuring. The Rimsoo's climate systems begin malfunctioning, causing snow when it's normally hot and humid, a bota shuttle blows up, a portion of the Medstar in orbit explodes, etc. Only Barriss Offee believes these weren't accidents. In a chapter near the end she begins suspecting people of causing it. Finally, the Seperatists launch an attack and the spy is discovered. Despite the Medstar books feeling far too short, Jedi Healer was a great ending to a great series.
Score: 5
- Posted on 2005-10-28
Conclusion of Medstar duology will leave you empty
I never thought I'd see the day when I gave a Star Wars novel three stars. Yet, the rating is truly deserved. After reading Medstar I, you start feeling a connection to the characters, seeing how they struggle with issues that are true to life, perhaps even some you can relate to on a personal level. The second installment, however, misses the mark. Here's why:
The title is misleading. Barriss Offee, Padawan learner, has been sent to the mobile surgical unit on Drongar to use her Jedi healing skills on the sick and injured. You definitely see more of her in action in the first installment. Not so much in Medstar II.
Nothing really happens that has any substance. News reporter Den Dhur meets an attractive female of his species, they get together, she basically "proposes" to him, she leaves and tells him to come back to their home planet ASAP, and then he gets cold feet. The romance between Jos Vondar and Tolk la Trene gets up and running in the first book, runs somewhat awry in this one, just to get back on track again by the end. These stories just didn't go anywhere.
Although Barriss is still a Padawan, her stay on Drongar is essentially her trial to become a Jedi Knight. In my mind, that means the she should already be skilled, controlled, intelligent, patient, and very strong in the Force (especially since she's a healer). When she accidentally gets injected with bota, the adaptogenic drug found on Drongar, she, in lack of better terms, had an "acid trip" experience where she became one with the Force and all of a sudden the whole galaxy made sense. Couldn't she figure out that the bota had a hallucinogenic effect on her? I would think she would have known better. Instead, she takes it again, but this time on purpose?! I think the author was trying to illustrate how easy it is to start down the path of the dark side, but the attempt fell flat.
On a positive note, the human-like droid I-5 kept things going in the right direction. And, the part of the book where he gets drunk (yes, drunk), is quite entertaining. Also, the double agent who was working for the Separatists and the Black Sun criminal organization was identified. At the end of the first installment, I had a pretty good idea who it was, but I was glad to see that the author didn't forget to wrap that part of the story up.
All in all, Medstar II is worth reading, if anything, just to complete the duology. Just don't expect any exciting action sequences or any radical changes in character. If that's what you're looking for, read Republic Commando: Hard Contact. I really do not like to give three stars, but compared to books like the one above, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, and the Cestus Deception, it just doesn't pass muster.
May the force be with you!
Score: 3
