Review:
Star Wars: Shatterpoint is one of the best books I've ever read, Star Wars or not Star Wars. It has just about everything: amazing character development, a twisting plot that keeps you guessing, and -- of course -- plenty of action. Shatterpoint takes place half a year after Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and follows Jedi Master Mace Windu as he travels to the jungle-planet Haruun Kal in search of a missing Jedi. Stover explores the psyche of the Jedi with such depth and complexity that it even answers questions I've had about the movies. Shatterpoint delves into the dangerous and sometimes blurred line where Light meets Dark and right meets wrong.

Stover's plot, meanwhile, is nothing short of brilliant. Throughout the course of the book, Windu teams up with one group, switches sides and fights that first group, tries to kill his ally, is nearly killed by an ally, comes under fire from troops under his command, and teams up with his enemy to beat his ally. Confused? So was I, which is part of what made this book so refreshingly good -- there were literally surprises around every corner. Meanwhile, every step of the way Mace encountered even more fascinating characters to learn about. From Nick the obscene Han Solo-ish rebel to Kar Vastor the jungle monster-man, there's never a shortage of interesting people to read about.

All in all, Shatterpoint is more definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It's also the very darkest. Matthew Stover is a literary genius, and I can't wait to read his next Star Wars book: the Episode III novelization!