Star Wars: Cloak Of Deception

Cloak of Deception is a very political book. Instead of the great Jedi action Star Wars fans have come to know, this book is really about Sumpreme Chancellor Valorum and the corruption that plagues his administration. If you are not a avid star wars fan you will not understand what they are talking about. Cloak Of Deception takes place mere months before The Phantom Menace. It explains how the Trade Federation blockade comes to be. It gets deep into the rule of Sumpreme Chancellor Valorum and the corruption surrounding him. In this novel, Senator Palpatine of Naboo is portrayed as selfless senator offering support to the Chancellor through his tough times. Though his other identity (Darth Sidious) is present in the book, he does not play the major part that of his political alias. Luceno does a good job of showing how the events in this book fall into place in The Phantom Menace. Until the inroduction Of Qui Gon and Obi Wan the book is quite dull. They save this book with great duels at the end. Without the action from them or any of the other Jedi this book would've been lucky to receive two stars.

STAR WARS: Cloak of Deception is a great piece of the Clone Wars era puzzle. Follow Qui-Gon Jin and Obi Wan on a fantasy that gives great backstory and further helps to provide the landscape of just how far the Dark Lord of the Sith is willing to go in order to bring about the demise of the Jedi as well as the Intergalactic Republic. Whether your learning about Nemodian culture, the friction Qui-Gon experiences with the Jedi Council, or how individuals are used as pawns toward destructive ends that are almost unfathomable, Cloak of Deception is a powerful page-turner!

Cloak of Deception has the most political intrigue of any the recent Star Wars books dealing with the time around Episode 1. The most enjoyable parts of this story deal with the maneuvering of Senator Palpatine/Darth Siduous. The numerous plot twists that are orchestrated by the Senator could only be accomplished by someone as steeped in the Dark Side as Siduous. From time to time the story drags when detailing some of the exploits of the terrorist Nebula Front. I would have preferred a little less of the 'action' surrounding them and had a story more focused on the political machinations of the Senate. In the end, though, there is a generally good balance to please many readers. I would have given 5 stars, if I hadn't lost interest during some of the non-political sequence, but that's just me. If you are a fan of the Star Wars universe you will enjoy this novel.

James Lucerno is greatly welcome in the Star Wars universe. I enjoyed his last two novels immensely and now he has taken a wonderful new step into the prequel time line. Reading this book, it really seems he has a handle on Senator Palpatine. If you were left wanting more of him (like I was) from the Phantom Menace, look no further. This book sets up the events of Episode 1 with Palpatine angling for the taxation of the outer rim trade routes on one hand and dealing with the Trade Federation on the other. Valorium is shown to be even more of Palpatine's target in this book. And Qui Gon Jinn and Obi Wan are well used, but the real strength in this story is the Senator who would be Emperor Palpatine. Star Wars fans...buy this one!

This review covers the audio tape version (4 Cassettes, 6 Hours). This was a really good pre-SW Ep 1 movie. It goes a long way to filling in a lot of the chess moves made prior to Trade Federation blockade of Naboo. I felt that the story was a little rough in places, as though trying to keep track of one too many story tracks. Alexander Adams does a very good job of acting out all of the parts, with the usual good music and sound effects blazing away in the background. The audio is crisp and clear, and is easily heard in my car's stereo. Well worth the purchase price.

This is one of those books that gives great insight into the background stories of the movies. If you like stories that closely relate to the movies, you'll enjoy this book. It gives some background on the relationsship with Sidious and the Trade Federation as well as how Palpatine manouvers in the senate to position himself to be the runner up to Valorum as supreme chancellor. I don't have the money or time to obtain and read every SW book or graphic novel. So if this sounds like you, I would say this is one of the SW books I would read. I would also highly recommend Labrynth of Evil, also by James Luceno for the same reasons I reccommend this book.

In short, this book was great. It provides an excellent story line and background for what happens in Episode I. When the Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter came out I thought that book would be the one to help answer the questions to Episode I, but as it turns out it was just a fun, albeit morbid, read. Cloak of Deception was the tool used to provide excellent background for Star Wars fans. Valorum is given much more of a role than in Episode I, along with each of the Senators we glimpsed for brief seconds in the movie. The taxation of trade routes finally makes sense as well as Jedi, Judicial, and Senate activities. Despite this book being the beginning of a saga, many old friends join us n this well thought out story, Darsha Assant and Anoon Bondara from Darth Maul. Vergere from Rogue Planet and the New Jedi Order. Even Tarkin and Sate Pestage make their brief appearances. This is a very worthy and exciting read. Enjoy.

I know that some of the complaints about Episode I were how politically driven it was, and who cares about spacelane taxation. But since that is a reality, why not make that story better, more understandable, and better explained? That's what this book is all about. It centers on Chancellor Velorum's previous dealings with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and really makes Episode I quite a bit better after reading this.

~In that Palpatine was evil, and at one point when Queen Amadalia was to return to Naboo, Brooks made it a point to say that Jar-Jar thought he had seen Palpatine smile slightly. Any Star Wars fan knows who Senator Palpatine is, and who he becomes later. I don't need to know that he is evil; I need a reason to understand how he ascended to power. I want to see him how the other characters see him. Luceno does an excellent job at this. I found the Senator from Naboo quite likeable and could easily~ see how he was able to manipulate events in his favor.
He also explained Qui-Gon's impossible conflicts that only the Jedi could overcome, and the cute little creature who saves the day. Luceno's twists left me satisfied for the way the book concluded, as well as the fact that I understood everyone's motivation. Stories that pit noble heroes against faceless dark villains who seem to be motivated to evil for no apparent reason except for the sake of evil seems to be an accepted practice in storytelling. Bad guys are so evil that we can't relate to them on any level, we root~ for their demise and cheer when it happens, which is merely a reflection of our current world where we know who are enemies are and want them destroyed despite not knowing anything about them, their motivations, or why the want to destroy us. That is not the case with~ Luceno paints of the state of the Republic.

The book "Star Wars Cloak of Deception" is a story about an assassination attempt on Supreme Chancellor Valorum's life. A man by the name of Havac hired Captain Cohl to kill the chancellor. Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi find out about this assassination plan on Supreme Chancellor Valorum's life and try to foil this plot. Chancellor Palpatine tries to help Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to get the support he needs to tax the Trade Federation on the goods they trade. I enjoyed this book very much. It had a lot of good plot twists.

The review titles says it all. Finally, a prequel novel that isn't awful. Cloak of Deception not only makes sense of the political maneuvering that pervaded "Phantom Menace," but ties together Expanded Universe and prequel characters and plotlines. This is also the first prequel book where I felt truly chilled on reading segments from Palpatine's point of view.
I'll say it again: Lucas should have made Cloak of Deception the plot for Episode I. It's loaded with action, intrigue and suspense: you never know what it's all about until the end. If anyone from Lucasbooks is reading this, the likes of Luceano and Greg Keyes should have the oppurtunity to write many more Star Wars novels, whatever the timeline.

This tale describes the political machinations which lead up to the story we all know from the Episode I movie, and though it is very well thought out and organized, which is an accomplishment, it is severely handicapped by James Luceno's boring, uninspired prose. If, like I am, you are a Star Wars fan, then read it for the details, because it explains much that is otherwise left unexplained. If, however, you wish to spend your valuable reading time on something with the barest minimum of artistic value, feel free to skip this one. I do however recommend the next book in chronological order, "Star Wars Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter" by Michael Reaves, as a great example of classic pulp science fiction. I wish he'd written this one too.

Want to know why Volorum was mired in baseless accusations? Did you know Palpatine was considered Volorum's staunchest supporter although he had him ousted? Do you know how long Queen Amidala reigned for before the Battle of Naboo? Who was her predecessor? Who was Bail Antilles who was also up for the postition of Supreme Chancellor with Palpatine? What are some of the things Qui-Gon does to exasperate the Council? How do the Jedi really work? Do the Jedi really answer to the Senate? Why does a Trade Commission who are businessmen have an Army? Why did they blockade Naboo? All of these and more is answered in this book. You will love it. Good action, good Jedi-lore and probably the most well-thought out Star Wars book around. PREQUELS RULE! This is one of the best (although they are all good).

The review titles says it all. Finally, a prequel novel that isn't awful. Cloak of Deception not only makes sense of the political maneuvering that pervaded "Phantom Menace," but ties together Expanded Universe and prequel characters and plotlines. This is also the first prequel book where I felt truly chilled on reading segments from Palpatine's point of view.
I'll say it again: Lucas should have made Cloak of Deception the plot for Episode I. It's loaded with action, intrigue and suspense: you never know what it's all about until the end. If anyone from Lucasbooks is reading this, the likes of Luceano and Greg Keyes should have the oppurtunity to write many more Star Wars novels, whatever the timeline.

This tale describes the political machinations which lead up to the story we all know from the Episode I movie, and though it is very well thought out and organized, which is an accomplishment, it is severely handicapped by James Luceno's boring, uninspired prose. If, like I am, you are a Star Wars fan, then read it for the details, because it explains much that is otherwise left unexplained. If, however, you wish to spend your valuable reading time on something with the barest minimum of artistic value, feel free to skip this one. I do however recommend the next book in chronological order, "Star Wars Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter" by Michael Reaves, as a great example of classic pulp science fiction. I wish he'd written this one too.

Want to know why Volorum was mired in baseless accusations? Did you know Palpatine was considered Volorum's staunchest supporter although he had him ousted? Do you know how long Queen Amidala reigned for before the Battle of Naboo? Who was her predecessor? Who was Bail Antilles who was also up for the postition of Supreme Chancellor with Palpatine? What are some of the things Qui-Gon does to exasperate the Council? How do the Jedi really work? Do the Jedi really answer to the Senate? Why does a Trade Commission who are businessmen have an Army? Why did they blockade Naboo? All of these and more is answered in this book. You will love it. Good action, good Jedi-lore and probably the most well-thought out Star Wars book around. PREQUELS RULE! This is one of the best (although they are all good).

My ongoing quest for knowledge of the force prompted me to purchase this novel. The story explains some of the events that occurred in The Phantom Menace, but after completing the book I felt like I had been reading a homework assignment in a textbook. In my opinion James Luceno does not adequately place the reader in the action. Throughout the novel I felt like I was reading the story after the fact. The writing did not grab and hold my attention, and I was unable to become part of the story.

For the die-hard Star Wars fan, the information in this novel is vital to the events leading up to the Clone War. There is a plot twist in the book that will surprise, but it seemed like it took forever to get to it.

For the casual reader I do not recommend this book. If you are not intrigued by the events of the Star Wars saga this book will only be marginally entertaining. I do however recommend Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul) by Michael Reaves. A very thrilling novel it is!

I bought this book roughly a year ago and decided to finally read it after reading the "Hand of Thrawn" duology (which is excellent.)

I found it to be very disappointing.

For one, the story just seems to be sluggish and a lot like a history lesson. Don't get me wrong, it was good to see what caused the taxation of the Trade Federation routes.

However, just as the story seemed to be progressing--BAM!!--he goes on about what the battle droid's blaster looks like for almost two pages, or something like that. And it totally ruins the fluidity.

To make matters worse, is that he throws Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan in there for the sake of tradition. It would have been just as good to have other Jedi in there, such as Mace Windu, Kit Fisto or Plo Koon.

I guess the biggest spoiler for me was that Luceno seemed to try too hard. It was almost as if he had no taste for the characters, which seemed to use lines derived from Episode 1. The only thing he was really vivid about was their descriptions, which were more often than not, intrusive.

Cloak of Deception would have been a great paperback, but this abomination was apparently good enough to be published as a hardback...oh well. I only just read them.

Well written, with lots of twisting plot. This book has it all - from characterization to plot. We gain tremendous understanding of the events leading up to the War on Naboo, insight into many of the major players in Episode I and II, and lots of historical bits about the Jedi Order.
The writing style Mr Luceno employs is quite a bit more advanced that many other prequel books, which are mainly targeted at intermediate readers. This is a book worthy of Tom Clancy or Le Carre.

This book was very well written and overall very enjoyable to read. It filled in so many of the gaps and questions that I had about Episode 1. After reading this book, it actually made me want to watch Episode 1 again, which up until this time was not one of my favorite Star Wars movies. Now I actually enjoy watching it. I highly recommend this book to any and all Star Wars fans.

I have admired James Luceno's work on the Robotech novels and he sets up the situation well, but it just declines gradually from there, becoming needlessly convoluted, melodramatic and predictible in the end. There is not alot of personal investment of the characters in their story. The story does not advance the mythology referring to the main characters--Obi-wan, Qui-Gonn, Anakin, or Amidala--even though they all make appearences. It is just the standard sword-fighting stuff. It could have been better if they would have just focused the main conflict down to Qui-Gonn and Obi-wan vs the antagonist--Cohl and his terrorist cell--to the bitter end. Perhaps they could have thrown in a Fallen Jedi or two on Cohl's side to make things really dramatic with a battle royale at the end. Rogue Planet is the best of the Star Wars, with Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter coming in second. This one is a distant third. Basically, it was more political plot than people.

Cloak of Deception fills in the blanks leading up to TPM, explaining how Gunry and Haako were allied with Sidious in the latter. We also see the origins of the blockade of Naboo. Also provides a glimpse of life on Coruscant for Jedi and politicians.

Arwen Cohl is not a true villian, merely someone who was a pawn in a wider game. I actually felt sorry for him by the end. Boiny too.

Reason for writing this review, too many reviews give 4-5 stars. To clarify, if ur looking to dig deeper into the big picture stuff, such as the relations between the Republic and the Trade Federation and Nubula Front, or Palpetine, then this is a 4 star book.
Other than that, if u want a character driven story look somewhere else. The only interesting characters in this book to follow are Palpetine, for his subtle scheming and Captain Cohl who is a hard nosed mercenary working against the Republic. All the jedi are quite one dimensional even though they take up 1/2 the book. The main Jedi here is Qui Gon who is intent to catch Cohl. The author does touch on why Qui Gon is a sort of mavrick in Jedi circles, but would have been interesting to see more of this and less Yoda/Windu babble.

This OFFICIAL Handbook is great. Guide the "monsters". It not only covers all but also comes with a full color poster!! The author does a fine job of describing essentials to raising a happy television show. Appreciate the depth look at Trainers. A complete listing of all eight. Not Gears. Join shorts if you need to find out. Facts about each and every today or curious what a man is look further. This is the manual to buy if you "gotta!".

Eighty percent of this book is political machinations setting up for the events of TPM. There is no action (like in the Darth Maul book); no character development (like in the Jedi Apprentice series); no interesting characters (like in the AOTC Alan Dean Foster prequel book). By all means read this if you like Star Wars, but expect to be bored.

Apart from this being one of the better tought-out SW books, there is an interesting tie-in with the New Jedi Order. The avian Jedi Vergere seems to be the same being as the one who saves Mara in book three or four of the NJO. A great reference (hopefully it will be developed more at a later date- apparently not _all_ the Jedi were killed by Vader, Ben and Yoda the other obvious exeptions) that leaves a nice open end for a future author to work with. Hard-core fans such as myself can appreciate the tie-in - those who catch it that is! Enjoy.

This book is interesting, but not the best Star Wars book! Since I'm collecting Star Wars paperbacks, (and some hardcover) this book does belong in my collection. It tells the background story for the upcoming trade blockade of Naboo, which was told in Episode I. It gives som background on how Lord Sidious manages to weaken the Chanceler's position, and pave the way for the election of Palpatine as Supreme Chancelor in the movie. It has a few surprises, and if you like Star Wars, give it a try.

Knut J. Norway.

Overall it was an intriguing story. It's a political thriller which does it's best to draw you into the story but didn't quite make it for me. But it did inform me of the internal politics and workings of the senate.

Bottom line: This book was very good. I enjoyed it from the first word to the very last word. If you have read any of Luceno's other works and you enjoyed them, think about picking up a copy of "Cloak of Deception." The story does an excellent job of explaining all the details that caused the actions of people in Episode 1. I highly recommend this enthralling book.