Title: Shatterpoint
Author: Matthew Stover
Pages: 419
Type: War thriller
Time: 22 BBY

Novel quality
When I started this book I had very high expectations of its qualities, a lot of people think this is one of the best Star Wars novels ever written. Now, after reading the novel I can say that I was not disappointed. The book offers a great new way to look at Star Wars and the Jedi. The novel tells the story of Mace Windu when he goes to the planet Haruun Kal, he goes there to search for another member of the Jedi Council: Jedi Master Depa Bilaba, who seems to have turned from the light. Right from the start of the story we see Mace as the extremely cool character he is. When reading this novel it's not hard to imagine Samuel L. Jackson in his role as Master Windu. He is HARD! When he gets to the jungle however he feels a change. The war that has been raging between the city folk and jungle folk has left a dark aura over the planet; cruelty and murder seem natural here. That is when Mace begins to realize what's wrong with Depa; at least he thinks he does. During the novel we will see that not everything in war is as clear cut as it seems from a distance and we see Mace question the Jedi's way. Mr. Stover has done all this very well and he really manages to bring the suffocating atmosphere of the jungle to life. In addition to a good and intelligent story the novel also includes several interesting characters. The main character, Mace Windu, is great and his private journals add an immense amount of depth to the story. Depa Bilaba's character remains a bit cloudy and ungraspable, which makes the darkness around her even more interesting. There are many supporting characters in the novel and it is hard, if not impossible, to decide which characters are good and which characters are bad. They all are unpredictable and they all have some reason to do what they do. The most interesting supporting character is undoubtedly Kar Vastor. Like all the jungle dwellers of Haruun Kal, he has a connection to the force. His connection however is by far stronger than that of his "followers"; it may even be stronger than that of Mace. His power however stems from a sort of animal like instinct instead of training and this makes him savage and fierce, but also very unpredictable and volatile. He is what Force-sensitive beings would/could become if they weren't trained by the Jedi, and is very interesting. A great thing about the story is the way it keeps you off-balance; just when you think you know what is going on, something happens which changes everything. Another great thing about the novel is the way it looks at war and battle. The battles are really well done and the way they are described shows that Mr. Stover is an experienced Martial Artist, he knows what goes through the minds of warriors. The way the war is described is simply amazing. We really get into the thick of the battle and really experience the intense desperation, hate, fear and other emotions that cause wars and keep them going. The blurring of the line between good and evil is really well done and the effects of continuing struggle are put into words in a great way as well. Is there nothing bad to say about the novel then? Well, maybe the story focuses a bit too much on the single planet and the jungle and just maybe the enemies are a bit too strong and smart. These are however minor points, if points at all and do not take away anything from the story. Overall this is a great way to look at the Jedi and it really adds tons to the way the Star Wars galaxy feels. It's just a very good novel which everyone should read. Two thumb up to Mr. Stover.
Rating: 90/100

Personal tilt
What can I say? I absolutely love this novel! Mace Windu is a fantastic character. His self confidence borders on arrogance and he is really though. Vaapad is also a great find and it fits Mace's character extremely well. Aside from this, the way all the warriors are described appeals greatly to me. I have been a Martial Arts practitioner for quite some time now and the thoughts of the warriors are recognizable to me. The terrible realities of war come forward really well and they really force you to think. It's easy to say something is evil when you're not in the middle of it. It's easy to say you would never do something if you haven't been in the situations yourself. Mace Windu's private journals give great insight. We see his fear, his anger, his doubts, it all fits together perfectly with the growing darkness in the galaxy. Are there any bad points about this novel? Well, the "bad-guys" do seem a bit strong compared to Mace and you could say the battles in the end are a bit much, but these are minor points. And for the conservative Star Wars fan, this book might be a bit too "different" to enjoy. For all others however this book is really enjoyable and suspenseful, a great read!
Rating: 92/100


Overall rating: 90.8/100

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For an overview of all reviews and a ranking see my Book review summary