The Cestus Deception

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-09-03 06:30pm

Just saw this today in Forbidden Planet. Anyone read this yet? Whats the general plot and is it worth the cash for a hard back?

President Sharky · Post by **President Sharky** » 2004-09-03 08:11pm

It's about Obi-wan Kenobi and Kit Fisto journeying to some inconsequential planet named Ord Cestus that develops this new kind of "Jedi Killer" bio-battledroid. There's also a side-plot about a Clone Trooper called "Nate" (CT-98), who tries to become more humanish. The whole plot is as boring as hell, and Obi-wan is characterized as a blithering idiot. The only sort of interesting stuff happens in the final third, when Assajj Ventress shows up and starts acting like she's uber 1337. Definitely not worth the price of a hardback. If you really want to read it, wait for it to come in PB, or read it in consecutive trips to the bookstore (as I did).

Tychu · Post by **Tychu** » 2004-09-04 01:03am

I was just wondering, (oh and im waiting for the paperback) i was wondering what Ord meant, its in alot of planet names its some kid of Hutt word i think but does anyone know what it means?

President Sharky · Post by **President Sharky** » 2004-09-04 01:31am

ORD = Ordinance/Repair Depot.

Tychu · Post by **Tychu** » 2004-09-04 01:43am

hmm thanx, it makes sense now, most of those Ord planet have a ship building plant or garbage pit thing, especially Ord Mantell, the Shadows of the Empire game made that look like crap

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-06 04:44am

Tychu wrote:hmm thanx, it makes sense now, most of those Ord planet have a ship building plant or garbage pit thing, especially Ord Mantell, the Shadows of the Empire game made that look like crap

Well then, the Yuuzhan Vong occupation certainly made for a change in the scenery, didn't it?

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2004-09-06 05:02am

Indeed, although id imagine that it woulld be half wrecked by the Jubilee wheel crashing down on top of their heads...

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-06 12:53pm

Well, to be frank, I haven't bought any SW books since The Unifiying Force came out almost a year ago; the Clone Wars novels just don't interest me that much (although I look forward to their entry when the updated Essential Chronology comes out).

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2004-09-06 12:59pm

Dont worry JM, not long until all of those new Post NJO books come along our way

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-06 01:14pm

Dartzap wrote:Dont worry JM, not long until all of those new Post NJO books come along our way

Hmm, indeed. And, as of this post and according to the offical counter from NJOE, we have exactly 238 days, 13 hours, 40 minutes, and 32 seconds left until the post-NJO era begins.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-06 01:14pm

Besides, until then, there's always my crossover to write.

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2004-09-06 01:17pm

Oh Ache, Krivvens bad Pluggy Aye laddeh!

Um yes

Ive not really enjoyed any prequal books except for Shadow Hunter...

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-06 01:19pm

Dartzap wrote:Oh Ache, Krivvens bad Pluggy Aye laddeh!

Um yes

Ive not really enjoyed any prequal books except for Shadow Hunter...

In my case, Cloak of Deception (I enjoy a good political thriller, plus we finally got a look at Palpatine's political background prior to TPM) and Rouge Planet (Due to the tie-in with the NJO).

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2004-09-06 01:21pm

oh yes, if forgotten that..
Tarkin Having Fun with Fleet: Part One

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-06 01:26pm

Dartzap wrote:oh yes, if forgotten that..
Tarkin Having Fun with Fleet: Part One

Aside from the first apperance of Zonama Sekot, that was the best part of the book, getting to see a pre-ANH Tarkin and getting a better idea of who he was prior to his posting on the DS1.

President Sharky · Post by **President Sharky** » 2004-09-06 11:51pm

Well, the Clone Wars novels Shatterpoint and MedStar I: Battle Surgeons were both fairly entertaining, the former having a heavy and well done dose of action and Jedi philosophy, while the latter had decent character development. I recommend both of them.

What I'm really looking forward to is Jedi Trial, a Clone Wars novel that deals with Anakin's...wait for it...Jedi trials! Well, besides the bland title, the excerpts on RandomHouse for this books sound extremely promising. The premise is that the Seperatists have landed an army 1 million strong on Praesitlyn (a planet that was first mentioned in HTTE), home to a major Intergalactic communications centre. Anakin, Neeja Halcyon, and a bunch of covert operatives are basically tasked with driving the CIS out. The most promising thing about this book is that it's being co-written by David Sherman and Dan Cragg, two US military veterans.

The Random House excerpt is right here.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-07 03:50pm

I'm actually looking forward to the CW novel Dark Rendezvous, the Yoda novel

Author Sean Stewart tells the tale of Yoda's mission to discover the truth behind a surprising peace offer from the Separatists at the height of the Clone Wars. On the Clone Wars timeline, the novel comes just after Jedi Trial, about two and-a-half years after the Battle of Geonosis. The cover art is by Steve Anderson. This Del Rey book is scheduled for release as a paperback in December, 2004.

I'm looking forward to it because, despite his immense popularity in the franchise and in pop culture, we've never truly gotten a good look -- and this is just my opinion -- at what makes Yoda tick. This novel offers a good chance to see beneath the creepy, Oompa-Loompa-esque exterior

and see a different viewpoint on the 900-year old Jedi Master.

Darth Garden Gnome · Post by **Darth Garden Gnome** » 2004-09-07 03:58pm

JME2 wrote:I'm looking forward to it because, despite his immense popularity in the franchise and in pop culture, we've never truly gotten a good look -- and this is just my opinion -- at what makes Yoda tick. This novel offers a good chance to see beneath the creepy, Oompa-Loompa-esque exterior and see a different viewpoint on the 900-year old Jedi Master.

Don't get too excited. Somebody will probably fuck it up.

JME2 · Post by **JME2** » 2004-09-07 04:01pm

Darth Garden Gnome wrote:
JME2 wrote:I'm looking forward to it because, despite his immense popularity in the franchise and in pop culture, we've never truly gotten a good look -- and this is just my opinion -- at what makes Yoda tick. This novel offers a good chance to see beneath the creepy, Oompa-Loompa-esque exterior and see a different viewpoint on the 900-year old Jedi Master.
Don't get too excited. Somebody will probably fuck it up.

Perhaps, but as the Jedi Master himself said, "Uncertain the future is.

"