David's Review of The Approaching Storm

2/5 Rancors - The Approaching Storm does not reach the level of the first books in the Rancors Love to Read program. The book is a tale of two Jedis (Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli) along with their Padawans (Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee) being sent to the insignificant planet of Ansion to reach an agreement between two widely divergent races of beings to keep the planet from seceding from the Republic. Sinister forces are working behind the scenes to encourage the secession. Even though Ansion is not an important place, it is tied in with a number of other worlds through old treaties. If Ansion leaves the Republic, the others are obligated to follow. The Jedi cannot let this happen.

All of this could have told in a short story or novella. Much of the book involves an interminable trip through the prairies of Ansion as the Jedis try to find the Borokii, the overclan of the Alwari. Our heroes overcome a number of mishaps along the way, find the Borokii, convince them of the correctness of a proposed agreement with the city folk of the Unity, and then still have to make their way back to the city of Cuipernam before a binding vote to secede is taken.

Mr. Foster's writing is not the best. His touch with dialogue is heavy and stilted. One exchange between Obi-Wan and Anakin can serve as an example.

Anakin: "Are in the final analysis all relationships between sentients ultimately reduced to politics of one kind or another, Master Obi-Wan?"

Obi-Wan: "It is thought so by many….."

Enough said. I don't think our two heroes would hold a conversation like that.

As usual with the Star Wars books, each new tale introduces new species. My favorite in The Approaching Storm was the ever-curious Gwurran named Tooquii. I couldn't help but be reminded of the Ewoks. Tooqui, even though small in stature and a real pain to have along for much of the journey, proves his worth at a key point in their struggles. We also spend an inordinate amount of time in the book experiencing Anakin's internal struggles with missing his mother and with his ongoing feelings that he is not being allowed to advance as fast as his skills warrant. I realize that establishing Anakin's frame of mind is important for future events, but Mr. Foster dwells on it too much.

On to the next book - Attack of the Clones.