Why clones?

Why is there this sudden fascination with a group of guys who are in the prequels for only a few minutes total, and portrayed entirely by CGI actors?

Why do they have such a wide appeal?

The clone soldiers are all things to everyone: they are soldiers, they are heroes, they are villains. They are Mandalorians, they are brothers. They are victims, they are murderers, they are warriors. Saviors of the Republic, betrayers of the Jedi. Heroes of the Empire, tools of the Sith. They are millions strong, but they have one face. They have no history but they all share a heritage millenia in the making.

They are the action heroes in our video games, team-players and quiet loners. They are the stand-out stars of novels and the background filler for countless comics.

And they have the coolest toys.

I can only speak for myself about exactly why I love the clone troopers. But I suspect everyone finds something interesting about them. And no one can deny that their impact on the galaxy will be felt forever.

Hope you enjoy the Guide to the Grand Army as much as the excellent Karen Traviss and I enjoyed researching and writing it. http://www.starwars.com/community/fanclub/mag/news20050913.html

Be sure to check back for further discussion once the article becomes "declassified." And check Karen's blog for more information and insight on these armored ciphers.

So take a minute to write a comment and tell me what clones mean to you-- good or bad.