Star Wars: Blogs | A Rebel's Ramblings | Reading Through the Prequels: ATTACKS OF THE CLONES, Blog #1

A Rebel's Ramblings

by: FAN4YRS

date posted: Aug 23, 2007 10:03 AM

Reading Through the Prequels: ATTACKS OF THE CLONES, Blog #1

I have only read about 79 pages of the novel (my reading has slowed since life has picked up in the last week).

So far it's a mixed bag. Almost everything not seen in the film has captured my attention (especially the portions involving Cleigg Lars and his family--Owen (son), Beru (daughter-in-law-to-be), and a certain female character named Shmi (who has been captured by Tuskens).

I wish I could say that the scenes from the film, many involving Obi-Wan, Padme, and Anakin, are better on paper, but they are just as cheesy. Obi-Wan seems begrudged to be training Anakin (not good friends as he would have Luke believe) and Anakin seems less mature than he did in THE PHANTOM MENACE. Padme is almost as wishy-washy in the novel as she would later become on film in REVENGE OF THE SITH.

I wonder if Salvitor read Terry Brooks' adaptation of Episode I. He keeps stating that Anakin was nine when he met Padme where in the novel he was nine--nine at the beginning of the novel and nine at the end.

However, his additions, as previously stated, are what has kept me reading. I do aim to finish the novel and go on to the next book. I do want to read through the prequels.

I realize MANY of you are ATTACK OF THE CLONES fans and I don't mean to get your dander up. My goal in deciding to read through these books was the hopes that I would like the stories better than I do before I read them.

http://blogs.starwars.com/rebel-ramblings1977-1983/190

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WifeofVader
Tales from the Death Star

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 10:38 AM

Hey Fan4Yrs!

I actually didn't read TPM or AoTC (though they are in my collection). However, I did read the RoTS novelization...

Suggestion. Before you read the RoTS novel, read the one leading up to it which takes place between AoTC & RoTS.... Labyrinth of Evil.

You will understand why I say this after you read it. Actually, the RoTS novel should be read as a series with your reading LoE first, then RoTS and then Dark Lord: The Rise of Vader. They all tied into each other really, really well.

Best of luck getting through the novelizations. Honestly, I skimmed RoTS (the parts that were in the movie) because it mirrored the movie that well....

	Rogueish W.I.E.R.D.
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 10:55 AM I wasn't as keen on the novel as I was on the other adaptations, but I have read it more than once. As long as you picture an actual actor when you read the Anakin parts, it is quite tolerable.

	leia19886 Someone get this big walking carpet out of my way ...
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 11:52 AM I hope you enjoy the books by the time your done. Do take WifeofVader's adivce and read Labyrinth of Evil before you read ROTS. It's quite good. It gets into the friendship between Obi-Wan and Anakin your looking for in ATOTC. Dark Lord: The Rise of Vader was also very good.

FAN4YRS
A Rebel's Ramblings

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 12:08 PM

I really don't want to get into the EU, but thanks for the suggestions in that direction. As for picturing an actual actor that HASN'T helped me, because I wasn't that impressed with Hayden's portrayal in "Attack of...", but I think it very much improved in "Revenge of...".

I will consider reading LABYRINTH and RISE, but as I said, I really don't want this to be a venture into the EU, just a way of appreciating that Prequels more than I do now.

Rogueish
W.I.E.R.D.

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 12:19 PM

As for picturing an actual actor that HASN'T helped me, because I wasn't that impressed with Hayden's portrayal in "Attack of...",

I think you missed my point. Or maybe I didn't make myself clear. Hayden's portrayal is insanely abysmal, hence the need to think of someone who can actually act, ie, another person.

And don't give me that improvement rubbish, he's just as crap in Revenge.

WifeofVader
Tales from the Death Star

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 12:48 PM

I will consider reading LABYRINTH and RISE, but as I said, I really don't want this to be a venture into the EU, just a way of appreciating that Prequels more than I do now.

I am not a big EU reader either but, it was strongly suggested to me by our own Graham76 that I read Labyrinth before RoTS and I was sure glad that I did.

Like Leia19886 mentions, it definitely builds on the relationship between Anakin and OB1 and makes their antics and tensions in RoTS much easier to understand.

Just my two pennies.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the RoTS novelization.

Bob'ika Vhett

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 1:17 PM

I agree with WifeofVader, you should definitely read LoE before RotS. RoDV is also an amazing book that you should read. LoE and RoDV(Thank God for acronyms!) These were the very first EU books that I read, and I really didn't want to get into all of the books either. But trust me, you won't regret it.

I really don't remember the AOTC novel, except that I loved the beginning. I love how they brought out the relationship between Shmi and the Lars family. And no matter what book/movie you read, Anakin will always be represented as a self-centered whiner. Unfortunately.

vadersgirl33
vadersgirl_reflections

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 1:46 PM

I am not a big EU reader, either. I prefer reading the novels which were film adaptized. I did like Dark Lord: the Rise of Darth Vader. That one seems to be my favorite when it comes to EU.
To tell the truth, though, I was not a big fan of AOTC. Don't know why. Everyone has their favorites when it comes to the Saga. I prefer the OT, but of the PT I find I like ROTS.

cont....

	vadersgirl33 vadersgirl_reflections
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 2:14 PM As for my family, my hubby and I prefer the OT, my oldest son prefers both. So I guess it's just a question of preference. Now I do like how GL let us see the story of how Anakin got to be Darth Vader. His struggles and how he felt about his place with the Jedi. Now I have to watch ANH. Followed by ESB and ROTJ. vadersgirl33

	FAN4YRS A Rebel's Ramblings
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 2:20 PM I guess I was disappointed with the WAY he showed us. I was one of those people who in 1984 I was telling others that someday Lucas would do Episodes I-III and we'd found out how Anakin became Vader. I guess I thought the Clone Wars and other aspects would be different. I certainly didn't think that Obi Wan and Anakin would be so far apart in age.

	slow Slow's Rebel Ramblings
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 3:56 PM This one didn't HIT me as the other novelizations. THe scenes that were deleted...quite cool. BTW: did you read the paperback or hardcover. The paperback (which I have but haven't read yet) has additional content...maybe better? the ROTS novelization.....FANTASTIC! Written in a totally different way than all the others.

	FAN4YRS A Rebel's Ramblings
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 6:38 PM I'm reading from an edition, presumably published in 2005 (it only reprints the dates on the novels, not when the book was published) that is actually entitled THE PREQUEL TRILOGY and reprints all three novels. I don't know if it is based on hardcovers or paperbacks, as I thought they were the same.

Captain Peabody

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 6:43 PM

Yeah, what I remember of the AOTC novel was pretty blah, though that's probably more due to my dislike of the film than anything else... I have heard a lot of good things about the ROTS novelization, though, and would really like to read it someday.

I will consider reading LABYRINTH and RISE, but as I said, I really don't want this to be a venture into the EU, just a way of appreciating that Prequels more than I do now.

I'm not hugely into the EU either, but I do have to say that you're really missing out on the Thrawn Trilogy...great books, real Star-Warsy as well. Beyond that (with a few exceptions), I'm really not too enthused, though I really haven't read enough to make any kind of balanced judgement.

	FAN4YRS A Rebel's Ramblings
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 7:06 PM Sorry, CP, but I hated the Thrawn Trilogy. I read the hardcovers in 1991.

	Captain Peabody
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 7:56 PM Sorry, CP, but I hated the Thrawn Trilogy. I read the hardcovers in 1991. Ah, well; different strokes for different folks....

ketal13
HanAnWan

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 7:58 PM

Slow down Fan4yrs! I was just about to start reading AOTC but I haven't had the chance to get at it yet, perhaps I should get off of the computer... that would be a start.

I had been wondering if I should read some of the other books in between the actual movie adaptations, and now I know--if Wife of Vadar says that it should be done, then it shall be done.

What a great blog idea you've come up with Fan!

As for you Roguish

As long as you picture an actual actor when you read the Anakin parts
~shakes head~Why would I want to picture anyone other than that pretty boy HC?

	FAN4YRS A Rebel's Ramblings
date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 8:34 PM OK, now I get Roguish comment, and yes...I would LOVE to picture ANY other actor in the part of Anakin (sorry all you HC fans).

padmeskywalker77
Padme's Legacy

date Posted: Aug 24, 2007 8:45 AM

I realize MANY of you are ATTACK OF THE CLONES fans and I don't mean to get your dander up.

I respect everyone's opinion, as that is what they are entitled to. Everyone is different.

From what I understand, the novelizations come directly from the screenplay provided to the authors from Lucasfilm...so they weren't given too much room for creativity. I did like the book better than the movie, mostly because some of the gaps were filled in. Out of all three PT novelizations, though, ROTS really was my favorite.

I hope you find more that you like in the book version. Best of luck to you in your readings

Fish1941

date Posted: Aug 24, 2007 10:02 AM

Almost everything not seen in the film has captured my attention (especially the portions involving Cleigg Lars and his family--Owen (son), Beru (daughter-in-law-to-be), and a certain female character named Shmi (who has been captured by Tuskens).

I'm surprised that it did. The book was okay, but I much prefer the novel. And after seeing the deleted scenes that featured Padme's family, I have come to the conclusion that Lucas was right to delete them.

	FAN4YRS A Rebel's Ramblings
date Posted: Aug 24, 2007 12:06 PM I have very much liked the scenes with Jango and Boba that weren't in the film. I read another 100 pages before I went to bed last night, so I will probably be blogging again soon.

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