Well, it may be five months late, but here are the discussion questions that we used for Republic Commando: Triple Zero in my Star Wars book club (we call ourselves Errant Venture). Hopefully, my life won't get that busy again and I can get a blog out a week. So tune in next week, fair readers!

Actually, with any Star Wars novel (or really any book), there are questions that you can apply universally. Let's start with those.

Did you like the novel? (For this one, you can just do a quick yes or no around the room to get everyone involved and break the ice a little, or you can go into greater depth and discuss why or why not),

What specific things did you like or dislike about the book?

What were some of your favorite moments from the novels? Why did you like them?

What were some of your least favorite moments from the novels? Why did you like them?

Who were your favorite characters in the novel? Why did you like them?

Who were your least favorite characters in the novel? Why did you dislike them?

How would you characterize this Star Wars novel in relation to others you have read?

Did you feel that this novel "fit" with the Star Wars universe? Was that a good or bad thing?

Here are the questions that pertain specifically to Republic Commando: Triple Zero. The parentheses refer to page numbers from the novel. Also, you should be warned that some of the questions clearly lean towards my interpretation of the novel.

How would you compare "Triple Zero" to "Hard Contact"?

Would you like to see another "Republic Commando" novel? (Actually, since we had our discussion it has been announced that more are on the way).

What did you think about Karen Traviss's creation of Mandalorian culture and language?

What did you think about Karen Traviss's fleshing out of the culture of the GAR?

Has anyone read "Odds", the short story by Traviss that continues where "Triple Zero" left off? If yes, how did that add to the novel for you?

Did you find it credible that Skirata gave up on his flesh and blood family so easily (7)?

Why do you think that Skirata can give up his real sons so easily, yet he can't last five days without his "boys" (23)?

Do you believe Skirata when he says he doesn't regret his decision (138, 141, 174)?

What did you think about a Jedi running around with a huge cannon strapped to her back?

What did you think of Etain's statement that "It's not just the Force we need with us today. It's reliable kit and accurate intel." (30)? What does this tell us about Etain compared to other Jedi? What does it tell us about how Traviss may see the Jedi?

What did you think about Etain's leading her troops into battle (54-62)?

What did you think about Darman and Etain's relationship? How did you feel about the way in which it evoved (70, 187)?

What did you think of Jusik sitting back while democracy was being subverted (111)?

Why is Etain so drawn to attachment from the start (117)?

What did you think of the scene where Etain tortures a suspect (169)?

What did you think of Etain's reaction to it (181)?

Do you believe Etain when she says that everything she has been taught is wrong (181)?

What do you think of Etain's simplification of the light and dark side of the force (183)?

What do you think about how Vau is portrayed and how his portrayal connects to the moral justifications of torture and murder during war?

Why doesn't Etain begin to slip towards the dark side after torturing someone and leaving them to be murdered?

Do you believe that Etain is following the will of the Force by falling for Darman and having his child?

Wouldn't that child also suffer from growth acceleration?

What was your reaction to the following statement by Ordo to Etain: "I didn't have a mother or a father, but a stranger willingly chose me to be his son. You had a mother and a father, and they let strangers take you. No, General, don't pity me. You're the one who's had the worse deal." (287)?

Lastly, I often write down opinions or thoughts I had while reading the book. No these aren't questions, but someone's strong belief about an aspect of a novel can be a great jumping off point for discussion, especially if someone heartily disagrees with your take. Below are some of the thoughts I had while reading the book:

I think there is a part of Karen Traviss who would love to be running the interrogations at Guantanamo Bay and other secret locations around the world right now. You definitely get the sense that she has no qualms about torture being a necessary thing and not inherently evil. Both Jedi do things that are definitely of the Dark Side, and the author's attitude towards it makes it clear that everything is OK (111). NOTE: THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL EXPAND UPON IN MY NEXT BLOG.

At times, this definitely felt like I was reading a Tom Clancy novel with the huge amount of jargon, acronyms, and military male bonding. Some find this distracting. I, however, think it really adds to the realism of the novel. It's great that Star Wars has an author who really understands the military writing in the universe. It makes it so much more believable.

I definitely recommend having copies of the "Star Wars Insider" issues 84 and 86. Traviss further fleshes out the GAR and Mandalorian culture.

I loved the references back to the squad's (and the author's) problems with white armor (1).

I like the connection to the MagnaGuards phrik metal staffs from ROTS (2).

I loved the opening of the novel. Having Skirata protect those little boys from Ko Sai just had me riveted (8).

I think Etain's love of her huge gun is symbolic of her identification with the soldiers over the Jedi.

No book about the military could be accurate without a ton of swearing. I love how the use of the Mando'a allows for tons of expletives in the novel (68), something that is forbidden in Star Wars EU.

Spelling error on 70 ("hanger" instead of "hangar").

I believe that this is the first novel that ever looked at the GAR and really saw that they were being treated as slaves. No pay. No rights. Not even R and R. I especially like the focus on saying they have a right to a "normal" life (70, 73, 166, 183).

We get a bit of foreshadowing about Etain's desire for a family on p. 73.

I think the Der Wherda sounds really cool. I imagine it to be like a step show (African-American Fraternities and Sororities perform them), except more violent. Or perhaps a Maori war chant, which would fit pretty well as they all look like Temeura Morrison.

I thought that ARC's were the most independent, followed by RC's, then CT's (175).

I don't buy Darman being quite so confident with Etain when their relationship becomes physical (187).

I think that it's great how Traviss has created this complex Mando culture. However, no culture is without serious, glaring flaws. I think this area needs to be explored more to make it more realistic.