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The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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Mastadge
Title:
Manager Emeritus
Registered:
Jun '99
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Date Posted:
6/25/04 4:00pm
Subject:
The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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I know it’s a bit early, but we know at least some people have advance copies, so here's the review thread.
As usual, please rate BATTLE SURGEONS on a scale from 1 to 10. Please don't rate the book until after you've finished it. Thank you.
Also, please supplement your rating of BATTLE SURGEONS with a few words (or a lot, as you see fit).
Links to previous review threads, in case you missed 'em:
Shatterpoint
The Cestus Deception
Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine
Tatooine Ghost
Survivor's Quest
Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
Traitor
Destiny's Way
Force Heretic I: Remnant
Force Heretic II: Refugee
Force Heretic III: Reunion
The Final Prophecy
The Unifying Force
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ATimson
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Nov '03
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Date Posted:
6/25/04 9:29pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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For those expecting an action-adventure piece like the prior works of Michael Reaves (Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter) and Steve Perry (Shadows of the Empire), you're in for a surprise. I'm not sure how to describe its style; I'd say it's about three-quarters E.R., and one-quarter Allston X-wing. There's not much action onscreen; instead, we mostly see characters dealing with its consequences.
However, like both of their earlier books, we're treated to a cast of "normal" citizens of the GFFA, as opposed to hordes of Jedi. This gives us a perspective rarely seen, and (especially since the Clone Wars novels are supposed to deal more with perspectives and people than overall plot) is a welcome insight into the effects of the war glossed over by other media.
The book does suffer from some minor continuity glitches; Coruscant's sun had already been named (in The Cestus Deception), and the Stark Hyperspace Conflict occurred only thirteen years before the novel, not five thousand. There were also references to things from the movies that the POV characters shouldn't have been aware of, even though the reader is--alas, this isn't the only book guilty of these. But in its favor, there were also some other unexpected nods to the EU, though: the cameos of a Ryn and a Caamasi, and a reference to Ton Phanan's homeworld (I forget the name now, though  ), among others.
Unlike almost every other multipart story, Battle Surgeons accomplishes something unusual: it feels complete. There's really only one thread introduced during the novel that's left to be resolved in Jedi Healer (though I suspect that the overall story of the Separatist/Republic fight will be as well). But even that has a partial resolution.
Net score: 9.
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Excellence
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Jul '02
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 2:03am
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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The Great Hyperspace War was 5000yrs ago, when the ancient Sith Empire invaded the Republic after 25,000yrs of no contact. Is that what was meant?
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Mastadge
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Manager Emeritus
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Jun '99
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 4:48am
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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There were also references to things from the movies that the POV characters shouldn't have been aware of, even though the reader is--alas, this isn't the only book guilty of these.
This kind of thing frequently annoys me, too. Thanks for the review, though. It's boosted my interest in the book a bit. 
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More devotedly than ever before."
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TOD-UK
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Mar '02
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 4:57am
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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Could some post an example?
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Mastadge
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 6:05am
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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Like when things like rancors, dagobah, noghri, dathomir, etc -- things like that that are very uncommon in GFFA are constantly referenced.
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sidious618
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Apr '03
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 3:09pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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There's not much action onscreen; instead, we mostly see characters dealing with its consequences.
No! After two terribly boring Clone Wars books I was hoping this would have some action.
Well hopefully It'll still be good.
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Mastadge
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 3:16pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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I disagree. I didn't find Shatterpoint boring for the most part, and though Cestus was very boring, it also had plenty of action.
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ATimson
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Nov '03
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 3:22pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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Excellence: The Great Hyperspace War was 5000yrs ago, when the ancient Sith Empire invaded the Republic after 25,000yrs of no contact. Is that what was meant?
Probably, seeing as how there's a second reference to a Great Hyperspace War; however, the first one definately called it the Stark Hyperspace War.
Mastadge: This kind of thing frequently annoys me, too.
It's not like the movies are immune to a similar effect, though, seeing as how four or five of the six involve a planet repeatedly stated to be in the hind end of nowhere.
Thanks for the review, though. It's boosted my interest in the book a bit.
Glad to be of service.
sidious618: No! After two terribly boring Clone Wars books I was hoping this would have some action.
I didn't find the book boring at all--maybe because unlike the other two, it wasn't trying to provide action, and knew that it had to stand on drama alone.
Well hopefully It'll still be good.
I thought so.
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If someone other than me edited this, please don't attribute anything in it to me in quotes. It's not mine anymore.
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Charlemagne19
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 3:23pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
- Date Edited:
6/26/04 3:30pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Charlemagne19
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6/10
It needed some more action and overthetop characters
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Mastadge
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 3:32pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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Counting 2 reviews: 15/2 = 7.5
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sidious618
Registered:
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 6:33pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
- Date Edited:
6/26/04 6:34pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
sidious618
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and though Cestus was very boring, it also had plenty of action.
Not really. Just a lightsaber fight.
P.S. I won't argue with you about Shatterpoint because I can see how many people liked it. I just found it tedious.
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Mastadge
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Date Posted:
6/26/04 7:50pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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Not really. Just a lightsaber fight.
Off the top of my head, there's also the spider fight, the droid fight in the caves, Obi-Wan's high speed chase when he's going to "rescue" those Family fellas,, Kit's droid fight at the beginning, a couple scenes of Ventress showing off, the whole Clone battle at the beginning. . .
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Excellence
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
6/27/04 4:17am
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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Sounds like a simple typo, that's all. Substitute "Stark" for "Great" Hyperspace War.
Well, that's two errors DR didn't pick up on. The Jabiim in Cestus, and now this. 
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movie actors, or the actors who couldn't give a damn, is more a reflection of my own
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sidious618
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Date Posted:
6/27/04 1:04pm
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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there's also the spider fight, the droid fight in the caves, Obi-Wan's high speed chase when he's going to "rescue" those Family fellas,, Kit's droid fight at the beginning, a couple scenes of Ventress showing off, the whole Clone battle at the beginning. . .
I'll give you the cave one but the others aren't really battles.
Anyhow what do you guys think of the characters in this book?
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Mastadge
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Date Posted:
6/29/04 5:10am
Subject:
RE: The JC Lit Reviews Special: MEDSTAR I: BATTLE SURGEONS (spoilers)
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It officially comes out today. . .
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