Star Wars: Shatterpoint

Finally, a novel about one of my favorite Jedi of all time. The main plot is very good. Mace Windu's fromer Padawad, Depa Billaba, is sent to Mace's home planet of Haruun Kal to battle the Seperatists. Once there, the Republic hears there is a CIS pullout of the system. Yet Depa still hasn't returned. From there, Mace has to go and investigate and find out what's happend. Shatterpoint was an excellent book made better just because it was about Mace Windu. It also added more depth to a really one-sided character from the movies. The one problem about this book is towards the middle, Mace is wandering through the jungle for a long time (or what seemed like 75 pages). Still a good read for Star Wars or Mace Windu fans alike.

This book almost made me forget Timothy Zahn is the best Star Wars author. I preferred this over any the New Jedi Order series and almost all the other EU books. Stover not only captures Windu's character perfectly, but weaves a very interesting plot with a fair amount of twists. Like Traitor, this book has a strong focus on the mentality of Jedi and the author's experience with martial arts as mentioned on the back cover, I think, has something to do with this.

There a lot of really fascinating, original (I think) concepts introduced here too. For example, Windu is supposed to possess this extraordinary (even for Jedi) ability to perceive the "shatterpoint" of a situation -- which basically means he is capable of visualizing the sum total of all the influencing factors of a particular circumstance in all their subtlety and then deduce a precise action that he can take to completely alter everything. This is pretty much the main theme of the book and it is appears in a variety of ways, on a variety of scales. Excellent novel.

Star Wars: Heart of Darkness. Mace Windu is on the hunt for a Jedi who's taken a dark path that would make Anakin hang his head in shame in comparison. Mace is a badass, and although the story goes slow at times, it's still a great read, especially for the expanded universe.

Want to save the franchise? Give it over to Matthew Woodring Stover, who takes a character heretofore only distinguished by the fact that Sam Jackson portrays him, and brings him to gritty, determined life, as a Jedi forced to confront all his assumptions as he enters his own Heart of Darkness.
Mace Windu, Jedi Master, returns to the planet of his birth to unconver the connection between his old apprentice and some massacres during a bloody (is there any other kind?) civil war. He finds that nothing, including himself, is as it seems. Well enough plot...
Stover creates a haunting, wholly believable view of what it means to be a Jedi in a world gradually devolving towards empire. His characters are vivid, filled with humanity and humor, and a maturity that makes this so much more than just a 'Star Wars' book.
Stover does a brilliant job of showing us both the steel that makes Windu one of the most powerful Jedi Masters, as well as the humanity which in the end, will be the temporary downfall of the Jedi and the Old Republic.
And it's hellishly entertaining. An unbelievable ride.

Jedi Master Mace Windu returns to his home planet of Haruun Kal for several reasons. The planet is embroiled in a civil war and the gonernment is leaning to joining the Sepatatists. Also, a former Padawan--Depa Billaba--has disappeared. Is it possible she has gone against the Jedi Order? IF she is still alive. Can Mace stop the civil war and bring the planet back to the Republic?

My review in one word: superb. Shatterpoint is an excellent Star Wars novel, and an excellent start to the Clone Wars novel campaign. Although the book is significantly longer than Traitor, it's all from the POV of one character: in this instance, Mace. I wasn't sure how that would go when I started the book, because Mace, as far as I was concerned, didn't really have a character. He had a couple of lines in the films, but for most of the comics he was just kind of there, without a whole lot of personality. So I didn't really have a clear mental image of the guy. But it turned out well. He turned out to be a compelling character.
I guess the Star Wars novel that this most reminds me of in terms of content is a much darker Courtship of Princess Leia. Just a thought.
It was good seeing a Jedi actually using the Force. Too often, but not always, the Force is used in pretty unimaginative ways, when it's used at all -- it seems that some authors forget that it's there until they come up with a scene specifically designed to use it in some neat way. But it's used frequently and often quite imaginatively here.
I also really enjoyed the action. Nothing as powerful as the Ganner sequence, but it wasn't as abstract, either. There were lightsaber fights, Force-fights without sabers, ground battles, dogfights, everything, all done very well. Some of my favorite Star Wars fights are contained in this novel. Pretty action packed. All done very well. Those of you who liked seeing Luke in action with two sabers . . . just wait till you see Mace. Wow.
Also, this book has a great deal of the humor that didn't make it into Traitor. A few of the jokes were groaners, but there were quite a few good chuckles in there as well. Some of the characters seemed pretty stock, but most were well-done, and I'd like to see more of Geptun down the line.
So as a Star Wars novel it's a good, thoughtful, action-packed adventure. But it's also a Clone Wars novel. And it also works on that level.
Though the events of this book probably don't have a huge impact on the Clone War itself, this book was a good introduction. It really defines the role of the Jedi in the war, which is essential because, for better or worse, it seems that all of the upcoming CW novels are about the Jedi participants, and it also really serves to underscore the difference between the Jedi and the fundaments of the Jedi Order in the time of the Republic, as opposed to the Jedi we're used to seeing in the NR/NJO days. This book really helps to underscore both the differences and similarities between how the two orders operated and trained and thought and functioned.
Of course, take this out of the GFFA, and it also serves as a war novel in its own right, going over territory familiar and less so about the rules of war, and the way war is waged, and the terror of war, and how no one really wins in a war, and all that kind of stuff.
As far as I'm concerned, this book works on just about every level. Shatterpoint is a great read. Not Stover's best, and it's too early to tell yet how long it will stay with me, or whether it'll be my favorite Star Wars novel - it may be, though - but a very good effort.

After "Attack of the Clones", this is the first novel to be set during the Clone Wars. With the war between the Republic and the Separatists raging all over the galaxy, the Republic has sent out the Jedi to create insurgency on various planets to fight against the Separatists. The Republic is not used to full scale war and has only a scant clone army compared to the countless droid army of the Separatists. The Jedi, while powerful, are not soldiers and walk a fine line between the path of the Jedi and that of the Dark Side. The Jedi Council sent Council member Depa Billiba to Haruun Kal (the birthplanet of Mace Windu) to aid in the battle against the Separatists.
Something goes wrong. The Council receives a message that shows a massacre of civilians (women and children) that is purportedly orchestrated by Depa herself. This should be unthinkable for a Jedi. Against the judgment of Chancellor Palpatine, Mace Windu decides to return to his birthplanet and investigate. You see, Depa Billiba is more than just a Jedi; she was once Mace Windu's Padawan apprentice. Palpatine wonders if Mace would be able to strike down Depa if the situation calls for it.
Mace journeys alone through the jungles of Haruun Kal in search of Depa. The war that is taking place is one that has been going on for generations (it is, ultimately, a civil war), but with the Clone Wars having begun and the Separatists having interfered, there is a new level of brutality and genocide taking place. It is into this horror that Windu arrives.
"Shatterpoint" is unlike any Star Wars novel that I have read. It is much darker (which fits the jungle theme), and it is a violent novel. It is also a much better written novel than what one might assume with the Star Wars name attached to it. No matter what universe this story takes place in, "Shatterpoint" is a very good novel. It just happens to be Star Wars. I appreciated the switching of viewpoints between the typical third person storytelling to excerpts of "the private journals of Mace Windu". Between the two perspectives, Matthew Stover did an excellent job of storytelling, and both felt appropriate. While in the movies, Windu has a very limited role (even being a Senior member of the Jedi Council), but "Shatterpoint" gives Mace Windu a voice and a personality and we get an excellent idea of what sort of man Windu is and what drives him. We see his strengths and his flaws and he in one novel he is a stronger character than I had possibly imagined him to be. No longer is Mace the Jedi who is interesting only because he is played in the movies by Samuel Jackson. He is a character who was given a dark, gritty novel. "Shatterpoint" brings the Clone Wars into perspective and shows how it impacts individual planets, what it is going to bring to the Jedi and why, and the difficulty the Republic will have in possibly winning the war. We even see what it might take and all of this is told in a story about one little planet and a fallen Jedi. I can only hope that "Shatterpoint" will be indicative of the quality of the Star Wars novels (past and future), because this is a very good one.
-Joe Sherry

You know, i have been reading star wars books for many years now and have read to many to count and all of them are called star wars, but the wars in the book have never felt like any of the wars we have to come to know and hate. Shatterpoint is the vietnam of star wars books. It actually shows that war isnt all so clean and thrilling; it is a terrifying, horrible, uncivilized action that kills unmercilessly. The story is about Mace Windu and his return to his home planet of Haruun Kal to search for his former padawan, Depa Billaba, because of a disturbing message he receives from her that shows what can only be her turning to the dark side. I liked this book alot and Stovers writing was very detailed and easy to read. The first part of the book is pretty much Mace's trek through the jungle and his learning of the ways of the planet and its residents. It was exciting and fun at first, but towards the end it started to drag, but dont worry, cuz at that exact point, the story changes and it gets interesting again. The final battle takes a whole third of the book and is very exciting. This book raises and answers many questions about jedi beliefs, their war, and war in general. This is a very dark, and detailed(gory) book so i wouldnt recommend this to some of the younger kids, but it is a great read about the horrors of war, but with the star wars twist.

I had read almost every other Clone Wars era novel before this and for every one I was majorly disappointed. The stories in almost all of them didn't interest me. But then I read this book and I was relieved there was one good Clones Wars book. The author gives insight on one of my favorite charecters, Mace Windu. You find out about his past and how he got to the way he is. I also liked the way Depa was involved in the book. The action was fast and interesting unlike most Star Wars novels. Definitly a good read.

Who carries a purple lightsaber and has an attitude? That's right, Mace Windu. This book is all about Mace and just how cool he really is. Samuel L. Jackson was in my mind as the character through the whole book because the way the character was written just fit so well. Just writing this review makes me want to go back and read it again.

Shatterpoint was by far the best Star Wars book I have read to date. This was an excellent "coming out" for The Man, The Myth, and the Jedi legend known as Mace Windu.
The supporting characters, are comical and lovable without being annoying (think Jar Jar) and showed impressive skills.
I am not sure what rock I was hiding under, because I found out about the book quite by accident, but I was excited to get a chance to read it, and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT.
Of course there's only so much you could have discerned about Mace through the movies, so it was very refreshing to see the true nature of the character, what motivates him, and that he admits he likes to fight and isn't always about the deep questions and yoda'isms!! (No disrespect to Master Yoda intended).
To see Yoda whip up on Count Dooku in the lightsaber in Episode II was cool, but I must say, I hope we get to see a bit of Mace and his Vaapad in Episode III!! To see Samuel L Jackson whip some serious a** would be great wouldn't it?!?!? Mace likes to fight, so lets see it, eh George?
It is a very grown up, albeit dark story, but exciting nonetheless. I checked it out at the library, but I am ordering a copy for myself today!

At the time of this novel, Jedi Master Mace Windu is known as the second greatest living Jedi in the galaxy far, far, away. He is second only to Yoda, that's just a fact that all SW fans know. This author skims far too close to the edge of making this Jedi Master seem weak, that's right. Don't get me wrong, Kar Vastor, in my opinion, is a really cool and intersting character but COME ON!!! There is no way that a "raw untrained natural force using jungle dwelling witch doctor" should even be able to step in the same ring with Windu, let alone best him in hand-to-hand combat. I also, don't buy all that "future jedi" nonsense, Depa was preaching about. A Jedi is a Jedi is a Jedi. There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is the Force. That's the code people, it doesn't change, it doesn't evolve, it's not a living breathing document like our constitution, that you can just make amendments to, it's the Jedi Code, plain and anything but simple. Now you understand the use of 4 stars instead of 5. Despite these negative opinions I have for the book, they are my only negative opinions. This is a good read. My main worry, when this book was being published was how the author would represent Vaapad, the 7th Jedi fighting style, Mace's fighting style. Props to Stover for nailing this one on the head. He really threw you into Mace's mind about having to enjoy fighting your opponent. He also made it clear, that Vaapad is not just for lightsaber dueling but used for all types of combat, Bravo Matt. My only quip with it is he didn't include Jedi Knight Sora Bulq as the co-creator of Vaapad, but if you don't want to include too many EU characters, that's cool, it still worked. Great battles, likable characters, riveting writing (at times), good solid plot. It's Star Wars with a purple and green jungle theme. Read it. Enjoy it. May the force be with you. Seacrest out.

My first non-movie Star Wars experience.
This book drew me in and wouldn't let go, I had to know what was about to happen around each and every twist and turn.
Mathew Stover knows how to develop a character and tell a story (I bet he could win a story shootout with George Lucas --sorry George, he's got you beat)
This reminded me why people still read books.

Shatterpoint had the makings of greatness, the coolest Jedi in the Temple: Mace Windu, on his own mission against the Separatists, to the place where he was born. Instead, there are some really cool moments overshadowed by too much philosophical discussion and outright confusion. At times the action is totally intense and at others it's very difficult to follow what is actually happening. Half the story is told from Windu's 1st person POV in the guise of entries into his journal, the other is in the traditional 3rd person POV. This constant switching makes the story difficult to follow and leaves the reader unsure of where everything is actually going. This can be a good thing at times because the twists and turns are unexpected, but the philosophy discussed during the story seems to be more appropriate to the New Jedi Order than to a Clone Wars novel. The Jedi know the difference between light and dark, that information has not been lost or deluded and still Windu and his fellow Jedi seem to struggle with this concept. The biggest problem is with Mace Windu himself. The biggest problem that an author faces when writing about some really cool established character is that you have to delve into the characters psyche and inevitably the readers view of the character changes. This is the reason that there has never been a successfuly story about Boba Fett or Darth Maul. The picture of Windu changes during the course of the story due to the constant barrage of philosophy and theology and not enough concrete story. At times Windu seems totally out of touch with how the world works, and while the Jedi were isolated they did have a clue about the real world. The other problem I have is with the idea of the "dark jungle" (when you read it you will know what I mean). I find this whole concept and the character that embodies it to be really annoying and almost totally unnecessary. The story itself has some moments that are truly cool and very well done, but then there are moments when you simply want to put that book down and stop reading it. Better editing and really a better storyline elimination of extraneous information probably would have made this story more than just a slightly better than average Star Wars novel.

This is a beautifully written book, very much layered, and it completely changed my view of Mace Windu. Some reviewers here have faulted the detailed descriptions of the battles and bloodshed, but that is exactly the point of this story - it's supposed to upset the reader. You don't come away from reading it feeling uplifted, you just endure and understand what the clone wars (and war in general) are all about, much as Mace does.

I find it a real shame that such gifted writers are doing the filling-in of the story between the movies, but Lucas does all the movie scripting himself, cause he's just not in the league of writers like Stover.

Highly recommended! You'll never see Mace Windu as the cardboard cutout he appeared to be in Episodes I and II ever again!

I really enjoyed Jackson's depiction as Mace Windu in the movies, that's why I bought the book. But he was always so evasive, hard to read and seemingly unemotional. This books travels inside the mind of Mace Windu and gives clues as to why he is the way that he is, and where he came from. It also exposes his vulnerable side, which is not depicted in any of the movies. I found it very interesting.

First off, Shatterpoint is a Star Wars novel taking place in the Clone Wars. It has nothing to do with the Clone Wars, but a war called the Summertime War. The basic story is Mace Windu sets off to find his former Padawan, Depa Bilaba, but finds himself in a war that he can't get out of.

Now that that is said, this story is very interesting at first. It is not action packed, but when there is action, I didn't think it was the best the author, Matthew Woodring Stover, could write. Not to say it has no action, because at the end it has action. Dissappontingly, the lightsaber battles you may have been hoping for are not here.

But sadly, the end is where the book lost me. To me, it seemed to lose it's appeal. But I stayed true and finished the book, and I thought it had a fine ending. It was interesting, and I put it back on the bookshelf thinking I read more of a War Journal than a Star Wars novel.

In the end, I would reccomend it to loyal fans of Star Wars like myself rather than to the people who pick it up for the action and Sith.

The fact that they are bringing this character to a more visible place is rather good. His conflicting nature seems to be a rather nice change from the standard Jedi. He is sure of himself and likes a good fight. It just seemed that way he was used in this story took away from him rather than add to the man we will come to know. With his skills he seems to be the equal or Yoda in mastery of the sword. A fact that is displayed in the book. (no there is no duel with Yoda) Overall the book was entertaining but it just seemed to lack something. Still is good read if you don't mind the story line being a bit disjointed.

I bought this in an airport bookstore as fodder for a cross-county flight and ended up not being able to put it down. This is a great book. Deep plotting and character development far beyond what George Lucas was ever capable of combined with fast-paced action make this EU title a must have for any Star Wars fan.

This story is very enjoyable to read many times again and again. This story is about the fierce Jedi Master, Mace Windu and his journey to rescue his former apprentice on his vicious home planet, Haruun Kal.

Mace Windu is an admirable charater in this story since he is intellegent, strong, and very powerful. He meets new allies and faces new foes in his epic adventure. Kids my age would probably like this book because of the story and the content described in it. He will use the force and his instincts as he follows the Jedi Code as he completes his duties and finishes the job.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Star Wars... and especially to anybody who loves Mace Windu. There should definitely be more books that include his character. There was great action in this book, which was why I liked it so much. However, I felt like the plot jumped around too much for my tastes, and I didn't love the ending. But all in all it was an enjoyable read. ***Also, as a caution where young readers are involved, some of the violent scenes are described very graphically***

This is probably the greatest Clone Wars book yet. Some of the others read just don't match up to this and its in a league of its own. In between classes I was reading this book in the halls it was so good. It really shows the horrors of war and the struggle the Jedi are going through. Mace Windu is great. I also recommend the Medstar Duology

Out of all the Clone Wars novels, Shatterpoint is by far the best. Taking the character of Mace Windu to new heights and depths, the novel shows how emotion can still tear at even a Jedi Master's soul. It portrays the horrors of war in the way that one can't help but sympathize with the characters as they witness and experience them. Overall, a great novel that any fan of Mace Windu, let alone fan of Star Wars, should definitely read.

Just finished the Force Heretic trilogy and Shatterpoint. What a contrast! SP is a tremendous journey where an often flawed Windu makes big mistakes and is also a brilliant tactician. FH is full of fill that we didn't need or care about. Recommendation? Savor SP. Savor Tatooine Ghost. Fly through FH.

If the Star Wars universe has a "Vietnam", it must be Haruun Kal. In SHATTERPOINT, Matthew Stover takes the Star Wars saga "up river" in search of a jedi master gone mad. Through the eyes of Mace Windu, the reader is given a ringside seat to the insanity of a no-win war. In this action packed descent into darkness, Master Windu attempts to hunt down his former apprentice who has possibly fallen to the darkside. This is the most violent and depressing Star Wars story I have ever read. It is also one of the best.

This was definitely not your typical formulaic Star War's novel. It goes places that most novels don't go, yet somehow keeps a Star War's sense of swashbuckling adventure that is worthy of any of the movies-despite taking place in one of the most unique settings in the Star War's universe. I'd rate it 4.5 if I could.

I had Shatepoint recomended to me. Not having much time to read I bought the audio version. I don't know if it was the abridgement, but this book lacked something. Plus, the ending seemed very abrupt still leaving me with some questions.

I really looked forward to reading this book. It got so much hype and I thought it would be great. For reasons unknown to me, Stover's style is very difficult to read for me. I found the same to be true in Traitor. In theory, I like his style but to read it was a chore.
However, got to love an Akk Dog!

Shatterpoint is an extremely exciting and well-written novel. It delves into the character of Mace Windu, one of the most unique and interesting Jedi in my opinion. This book is a must-have for any Star Wars collection.

The book has no plot. Such a contention sounds ludicrous, but read it yourself. It took me 11 months to get through it (whilst going through about 25 other novels in the same period).

Ideas and creativity are severely lacking in this book. The author can write "well" in a technical sense, but his writing has no "meaning" behind it.

I think he was the perfect choice, however, for writing The revenge of the Sith, as Lucas only needed someone to flush out his own ideas.

The author needs to spend a few years developing his creativity before writing books.

Star wars meets Apocalypse Now. The whole book I couldn't help but picture Samuel Jackson with a lightsaber on a boat in Vietnam looking for a female Marlon Brando (with a lightsaber). But a pretty good read.

If you like the implacable enemy, bloody violence and lots of it, Jedi are weak saps that can barely escape the "dark side", this is the book for you. Not that Stover does not have talent, but I am sick of the excessive violent (NC-17 if on the screen) claptrap that Star Wars books have been marked by since "New Jedi Order". I know that "Clone Wars" is about the disintegration of the Republic and murder of the Jedi, but do all the books have to be written by authors from the DARK SIDE?

I heard that Shatterpoint was the best Star wars book ever. I don't get why everyone likes it. In my opinion it's a piece of crap. No it's worse. For one thing. It's way too long and I'm betting your thinking cause I'm a kid I don't read long books?. Well guess What?. I do. Shatterpoint stinks. No plot, no good characters. Their is nothing good about Shatterpoint. I read 145 pages and I can't read the rest. It stinks and that's all you need to know. Don't waste your money on this force sensitive.