To hear me read this review, check out episode 513 of the Spiritblade Underground Podcast, go to timestamp 22:42.
By now I’m pretty much dedicated to the Star Wars Expanded Universe – or rather Star Wars Legends, as it’s called now. However, my dedication only grew firm after having tried several works of the new Star Wars canon as Lucas Story Group now publishes it. Among which were two novels, which I both tried in audiobook format. The first was Tarkin, a review of which I posted a couple of months ago. The second novel was Ahsoka, which I’m reviewing today. And as with Tarkin, I was underwhelmed – to my own disappointment.
The novel was written by E.K. Johnston. In audiobook format it takes 7 hours and 8 minutes to finish, and is narrated by Ashley Eckstein – who also voices Ahsoka in both animated series!
Publisher’s summary
Fans have long wondered what happened to Ahsoka after she left the Jedi Order near the end of the Clone Wars and before she reappeared as the mysterious Rebel operative Fulcrum in Rebels. Finally her story will begin to be told.
Following her experiences with the Jedi and the devastation of Order 66, Ahsoka is unsure she can be part of a larger whole ever again. But her desire to fight the evils of the Empire and protect those who need it will lead her right to Bail Organa – and the Rebel Alliance.
©2016 E. K. Johnston (P)2016 Listening Library
My thoughts
The SW new canon novel Ahsoka was high on my wish list, for I’m both a huge Star Wars Clone Wars animated series fan, as well as a Star Wars Rebels fan. Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s padawan, was one of the new characters that were invented specifically for the SW The Clone Wars series, and quickly became a fan favorite. Many viewers who watched the Clone Wars were thrilled to see her return as an adult force wielder in the more recent series Rebels. Many fans – me included – were wondering what happened to her in the years between both series. How did she grow up, was she still in contact with the Jedi order or did she maybe return to them, and, most importantly: how did she get two colorless white light sabers? Ahsoka the novel promised to answer these questions and more, so I purchased it with anticipation.
Of course the audio effects are, as always, awesome, they really add to the story and the “feel” of the SW universe.
I found that this novel was clearly aimed at a young adult audience, for it wasn’t as exciting nor as deep as I had hoped. Possibly this may also be due to purely commercial deliberations by the publisher, simply wanting to keep on ‘milking the SW cow’ and making some easy money by throwing the fans a bone with an aluring title. Perhaps this sounds harsh and overly dramatic, but the novel left me with a sense of betrayal – well, kind of anyway; I mean it’s only a novel. But It’s like with the new Star Wars movies (parts 7 and 8, and even Rogue One): I’m beginning to feel the soul that was in the original Star Wars storylines, including the (Lucas-approved) Expanded Universe, has been ripped out by the now Disney-owned Lucas Story Group, leaving me as a fan nothing but some empty shells and no substance. (Hence, my recent exploration of the Legends content, formerly known as the Expanded Universe – but more on that in future posts).
About the only plus about the novel is that it does indeed explain where and how Ahsoka got the two uniquely white light sabres we know her to have in Star Wars Rebels.
So, hardcore Star Wars fans, be warned and only add this piece of new SW canon to your collection if you’re an absolute completist.
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