Hello again.
I want to start by apologising for the lack of updates in the last couple of months. There has been a lot going on and this blog has become a secondary concern. I am not going to bore you with the details, but I am back...
I have to admit I did give up on The Clone Wars novelisation. It was a combination of things. What was going on involved having to stay with my parents. It's hard to commit to reading when you are in a house full of people. I also lost my note book and I hit a wall. I had Star Wars fatigue. I don't think I have read three Star Wars book on the bounce since I read The New Jedi Order back in 2007 (I was a bit behind. That series was published between 1999 and 2007). That was a mammoth task. 19 novels, short stories/novellas. I have not regrets about reading that series, but it was a big undertaking. With all of this going on, I have been waylaid from starting Catalyst: A Rogue One story.
As I have said, it has been a bit hard to commit to reading too much in the evenings. So, when have I had the chance to read and what have I managed to read. When? Well, that has been a bit of bugger. Normally, I am able to read on the bus. I have been having lifts to and from work, so that has gone out of the window. I did try to get some done in my local on a quiet afternoon. The afternoon ended up being mental. So, as you imagine, that went for a Burton.
What have I been reading? Well, I have managed to get at least one book read in that time that took me away from that galaxy, far, far away. I found a book at my Mam's I had forgotten I had bought, never mind read. It was Silver Hair by Stephen Baxter. It's the story told from the perspective of one of the last surviving female mammoths and her herds struggle to survive in a hostile environment. It is pretty good, in fairness. It is absorbing and heart breaking at times. It's set on an island in the modern day where the mammoths try to survive the arrival of humans and the damage we bring along with us. There are two other books in the cycle, but I have put them to one side at the moment.
I have finally moved on to Catalyst: A Rogue One Story. Set during the Clone Wars it kicks things off by telling us the Republic has already started construction on the Death Star! Now, think back to Attack of the Clones. Poggle the Lesser, the bug king, gives Dooku the plans which he takes to Palpatine at the end of the film. It seems the Republic, fearing the Separatists are building their own station, plough ahead and start construction. This explains why it is partly constructed at the end of Revenge of the Sith.
What a cracking book. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. As I mentioned above it starts during the Clone Wars and jumps into the early Imperial Era. It follows Galen Erso and Orson Krennic through their careers and to the point where we see them at the start of Rogue One. As you can imagine, it's Krennic's story that is the more interesting of the two. Villains are always more interesting, aren't they? From the off, it's outlined he wants to move up the Imperial ladder and be within Palpatine's inner circle. We see the competition with Tarkin as to who will end up in charge of the Death Star. I found myself wanting to skip the Galen parts of the book and get back to Orson's machinations. That's not to say that Galen isn't more developed than in the film. Of course, he is. It's Krennic is more interesting. One character which we do see more of and I am glad, is Erso's wife, Lyra. In the film, she tries to shoot Krennic...and that's it. Her she is a loving wife and mother who supports her work obsessed husband in everything he does.
The thing that Catalyst also does is show us how the Death Star project has an impact on the galaxy at large. The ecological damage it's construction causes as entire planet are stripped off their natural resources to build the massive battle station.
Once I started Catalyst, I found it hard to put down. If you want more background on Rogue One, this is the book for you.
Now, we are back home and due to the long winter nights I am able to find more time to read. I am taking another Star Wars breaks and reading the latest George R. R. Martin book. Once that is finished I am onto Dark Disciple.
I have to admit I did give up on The Clone Wars novelisation. It was a combination of things. What was going on involved having to stay with my parents. It's hard to commit to reading when you are in a house full of people. I also lost my note book and I hit a wall. I had Star Wars fatigue. I don't think I have read three Star Wars book on the bounce since I read The New Jedi Order back in 2007 (I was a bit behind. That series was published between 1999 and 2007). That was a mammoth task. 19 novels, short stories/novellas. I have not regrets about reading that series, but it was a big undertaking. With all of this going on, I have been waylaid from starting Catalyst: A Rogue One story.
As I have said, it has been a bit hard to commit to reading too much in the evenings. So, when have I had the chance to read and what have I managed to read. When? Well, that has been a bit of bugger. Normally, I am able to read on the bus. I have been having lifts to and from work, so that has gone out of the window. I did try to get some done in my local on a quiet afternoon. The afternoon ended up being mental. So, as you imagine, that went for a Burton.
What have I been reading? Well, I have managed to get at least one book read in that time that took me away from that galaxy, far, far away. I found a book at my Mam's I had forgotten I had bought, never mind read. It was Silver Hair by Stephen Baxter. It's the story told from the perspective of one of the last surviving female mammoths and her herds struggle to survive in a hostile environment. It is pretty good, in fairness. It is absorbing and heart breaking at times. It's set on an island in the modern day where the mammoths try to survive the arrival of humans and the damage we bring along with us. There are two other books in the cycle, but I have put them to one side at the moment.
I have finally moved on to Catalyst: A Rogue One Story. Set during the Clone Wars it kicks things off by telling us the Republic has already started construction on the Death Star! Now, think back to Attack of the Clones. Poggle the Lesser, the bug king, gives Dooku the plans which he takes to Palpatine at the end of the film. It seems the Republic, fearing the Separatists are building their own station, plough ahead and start construction. This explains why it is partly constructed at the end of Revenge of the Sith.
What a cracking book. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. As I mentioned above it starts during the Clone Wars and jumps into the early Imperial Era. It follows Galen Erso and Orson Krennic through their careers and to the point where we see them at the start of Rogue One. As you can imagine, it's Krennic's story that is the more interesting of the two. Villains are always more interesting, aren't they? From the off, it's outlined he wants to move up the Imperial ladder and be within Palpatine's inner circle. We see the competition with Tarkin as to who will end up in charge of the Death Star. I found myself wanting to skip the Galen parts of the book and get back to Orson's machinations. That's not to say that Galen isn't more developed than in the film. Of course, he is. It's Krennic is more interesting. One character which we do see more of and I am glad, is Erso's wife, Lyra. In the film, she tries to shoot Krennic...and that's it. Her she is a loving wife and mother who supports her work obsessed husband in everything he does.
The thing that Catalyst also does is show us how the Death Star project has an impact on the galaxy at large. The ecological damage it's construction causes as entire planet are stripped off their natural resources to build the massive battle station.
Once I started Catalyst, I found it hard to put down. If you want more background on Rogue One, this is the book for you.
Now, we are back home and due to the long winter nights I am able to find more time to read. I am taking another Star Wars breaks and reading the latest George R. R. Martin book. Once that is finished I am onto Dark Disciple.
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