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 The
Approaching Storm
by Alan Dean Foster
NOTE: This
review was originally done as an English book report.
Review:
Even though there are certainly better books out there, Star Wars: The
Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster is still a great read for anyone
interested in what happens between the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The
Phantom Menace and Episode II – Attack of the Clones. In the book,
main characters Obi-Wan Kenobi and his student Anakin Skywalker travel to the
planet Ansion in order to settle a seemingly trivial border dispute. The plot
moves along at a steady pace, as exhibited by the characters’ lack of sleep.
Foster’s stunning descriptions of native life on Ansion are absolutely
fascinating, from the vicious, flying kyren to the giant, lumbering herds of
beasts called lorqual. The book also delves into the very complex relationships
between Master and Apprentice and the structure of the galaxy’s peacekeeping
force, the Jedi Knights. Finally, Anakin Skywalker is a crucial part of this
book, and it’s interesting to see him slowly transform from guardian of peace to
vicious killer.
One potential flaw that every Star Wars book has is that
they are hard to follow by themselves. They virtually all have close ties with
other books, as they are actually supposed to be just one small part of a larger
saga. Fortunately, readers should have no trouble with this particular book as
long as they are familiar with the first two Star Wars movies. Another pitfall
is that it is hard to really get involved with the story. Theoretically, this
insignificant dispute on a backwater world in the middle of nowhere is actually
incredibly important for the forces of evil trying to bring down the galactic
government. In reality, it can be rather difficult to see the plot’s overall
connection with the movies. Those faults bring the book down to a worthwhile yet
still somewhat disappointing four Republic insignias out of five.
Summary :
The book, The Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster, takes place directly
before the events of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.
Foster’s plot follows a border dispute on Ansion and the planet’s threats to
secede from the Republic. The government of Ansion is being encouraged to break
away by a mysterious splinter group called the Separatists, led by Count Dooku.
In the very first chapter, Shu Mai (president of the Commerce Guilds – see
picture at right) plots to overthrow the Galactic Republic with her fellow
Separatists. Through a series of complex treaties, Ansion’s withdrawal would
trigger an avalanche that would give the Commerce Guild and the Separatists
sufficient momentum to announce their secret organization in front of the
Senate.
In response, the Jedi Council – guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy –
dispatches Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, as well as their
apprentices Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, to keep Ansion within the
Republic. To do this, the Jedi tell the ruling Unity Council that they will work
out a deal with the Alwari nomads to make peace with the Council. This, however,
proves to be no easy task. The Separatists continue to try their hardest to
cause Ansion to secede. As soon as the Jedi arrive, they’re ambushed by
assassins. Not much later, Barriss is captured by brainwashed Alwari. In
addition to those carefully calculated threats, Ansion’s plains are also home to
some very deadly creatures. The kyren are animals that travel with the wind in
swarms of at least a hundred million. Though they are primarily seed eaters, a
swarm would not bother to change course if obstructed by a rock, a tree, or a
person. However, there are also friends on the plains. The Gwurran, for example,
are a very short kind of humanoid who end up saving the Jedi more than once. In
the end, though, the only things the Jedi can rely on are their training, will,
and wits.
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