David's Review of Rogue Planet

5/5 Rancors - Rogue Planet is the story of the twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker going with Obi-Wan Kenobi on a mission to find the mysterious planet of Zonama Sekot. A part of the journey is the continued training of young Anakin and a trial he must undergo to move forward in the ways of the Jedi. The book is an excellent adventure story on one level and our first real introduction into the mind of Anakin on a deeper level. Qui-Gon Jin obviously is no longer around, having fallen to Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, and the lack of his guidance is still deeply felt by both Anakin and Obi-Wan.

The book is full of mysterious characters in surroundings that I still don’t completely understand. Zonama Sekot is a green, verdant planet controlled by a mystical force. The inhabitants of the planet with significant help from the planet’s flora have the ability to build spaceships that are unequalled in speed and maneuverability. Anakin and Obi-Wan travel there ostensibly to obtain one of the ships but also to try to determine what had happened to Vergere, a Jedi who had traveled there in earlier times and had not returned. Of course, and particularly in this book, things are never quite as they appear to be, and our valiant Jedi heroes are not the only ones traveling to Zonama Sekot. Our old friend Tarkin is involved along with a Blood Carver, a new character to me who plays a pivotal role.

The book gives real insight into the ongoing maturation of Anakin and an extremely chilling introduction to what he is capable of when he loses control. In some ways, you get a hint as to what the future might hold. You also get an excellent look into the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin and a better understanding of how difficult a task Obi-Wan faces in training a young, headstrong Skywalker who shows unparalleled strength in the Force. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Yoda’s concerns in the future in his efforts to teach Luke on Dagobah.

Travel to Zonama Sekot with Obi-Wan and Anakin and see what you think.