The novel begins with the diary of Mace Windu, brooding, conflicted, and eloquent. He has dreams, dreams of death and success and sacrifice and great destinies that hinge on split-second decisions. Thus begins Shatterpoint, a novel of the Clone Wars. Windu's former student, the Jedi Depa Billba, has not returned from her mission. Instead, investigators have returned a disturbing record, images of war and savagery and suggestions of great evil. The voice of Depa says, "Because nothing is more dangerous than a Jedi who's finally sane." Mace Windu must set out to find the meaning of those words and discover what horror Depa has found on his own homeworld. What begins as a mission of rescue and reconnoisance becomes a personal test.

The novel can aptly be described as Star Wars meets Apocalypse Now and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In a good way. Like Apocalypse's inspiration, the classic Heart of Darkness, Shatterpoint is a descent into the underworld, symbolized by the jungle. In a similar fashion to the principle character in CTHD, Mace Windu must confront his own illusions, especially the little hypocrisies that allow us to ignore what we do not wish to believe. It's a story of war, as well as one of integrity. It's a tale of horror, as well as gripping adventure. It's a departure from the feel of the movies, but it's a literary departure. It does not attempt to emulate what the films do better, rather, the author offers something we have not seen on film. The depradations hinted at in A New Hope by scorched skeletons and needle-wielding droids, are given full screen here. If it were a film, Shatterpoint would be R-rated for its unflinching depiction of genocidal, generational war. That is not to say it contains any gratuitous gore or violence. The depictions are restrained, yet have a documentary, chilling poetry. Like many men of few words, Windu likes to examine his thoughts in privacy, and his brooding, erudite journal entries link and illuminate the third person narration.

I heartily recommend this story. It is true to the Star Wars canon, yet stands up on its own as literature. The prose is gripping. We get new glimpses of Windu, not only in his glory as the perfect Jedi warrior, but also in moments of doubt and error. The author has made the Galaxy a little more interesting by helping us get to know Windu better than we did before. He has avoided introducing jarring new elements, yet painted a little beyond the edges of Lucas's canvas. In fact, the author took one element I found dubious and made it plausible, the idea that Windu's people can all touch the Force. While never refuting the way of the Jedi, this story does qualify it. Mace Windu must not only hold to the Jedi Code, he must re-discover its meaning, and struggle to find his way when surrounded by evil on all sides. Constantly, he must resist the urge to reach for his lightsaber, or to turn his back and walk away. Repeatedly, he must weigh compassion against detachment, and however difficult the choice, choose that which is most needed.

The prose is gripping, the characters life-like, and the story engaging and full of surprises. Whether you are a fan of the Expanded Universe or a cinematic purist or just a casual fan, I think you will enjoy Shatterpoint. In a world where seemingly endless conflicts rage in Rwanda, Palestine, Kashmir, and all around the world, it can be difficult to imagine how anyone can be a hero. That is one good reason why you should read Shatterpoint. Mace Windu must choose what is right for Mace Windu. You must choose for yourself.