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Author	Topic: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoilers
Rohniss Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 2/25/06 11:07am Subject: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoilers - Date Edited: 7/7 6:14pm (3 edits total) Edited By: The2ndQuest
	All right gents you know what must be done.. Rate and post thoughts.. Ohh yeah SPOILER ALERT.. WARNING.. WARNING.. WARNING. -----signature----- Rammer Jammer Yellowhammers, Give 'Em Hell, Alabama TF.N's resident Gun Nut Mejor morir a pie que vivir a rodillas.
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CooperTFN Title: TF.n EU Staff Emeritus Registered: Jul '99	Date Posted: 2/25/06 11:29am Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	I'm not very impressed with it; what really gets to me is the fact that it's not out yet. Damn that Traviss. -----signature----- Mike Cooper's Star Wars Blog http://blogs.starwars.com/coopertfn "Your tongues can't repel flavor of that magnitude!" "NAKED TWI'LEK WITH LIGHTSABER = MONEY" - Ris_jSarek "I bid you all Dark Greetings!"
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rogue_wookiee Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 2/25/06 11:42am Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	I give the cover a 7 out of 10. Very good. -----signature----- “You’re probably the biggest taxer in the country, even bigger than the Congress,” - Ron Paul on the Federal Reserve. Be aware of inflation and how it affects our daily life. http://mises.org/story/2914 -What You Should Know About Inflation
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Zee Zee Registered: Feb '99	Date Posted: 2/25/06 12:03pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Bought a copy today [25th Feb] at Forbidden Planet, Glasgow, Scotland - 3 days before official publication date!!!!
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rogue_wookiee Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 2/25/06 12:06pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Zee Zee posted: Bought a copy today [25th Feb] at Forbidden Planet, Glasgow, Scotland - 3 days before official publication date!!!! Kilts AND early books? Lucky. -----signature----- “You’re probably the biggest taxer in the country, even bigger than the Congress,” - Ron Paul on the Federal Reserve. Be aware of inflation and how it affects our daily life. http://mises.org/story/2914 -What You Should Know About Inflation
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Zee Zee Registered: Feb '99	Date Posted: 2/25/06 12:42pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	rogue_wookie wrote: Kilts AND early books? Lucky. No, Kilts WITH early books!!
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Rohniss Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 2/25/06 3:24pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Heheh i got mine the 20th. -----signature----- Rammer Jammer Yellowhammers, Give 'Em Hell, Alabama TF.N's resident Gun Nut Mejor morir a pie que vivir a rodillas.
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Rohniss Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 2/25/06 6:03pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile - Date Edited: 2/25/06 6:05pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Rohniss
	And now for my review: (more specific one when more people get the book) Mrs. Traviss proves that she is the best author to write in the Expanded Universe with this Book. This Book (if it can be called that) blurs the line between EU and actual Literature. Sure there is plenty of violence and plenty of new swear words for the Fandalorians to use.. but beyond that. Mrs. Traviss makes adept use of plot developements to skillfully manipulate the reader and thier reactions. I take back every evil thing I said about Del Rey.. this book is simply that good.. Forget the 3 million clones controversy.. It doesnt matter, and I beg of you to put that aside as you read this. This is the best piece of EU Literature written to this point, Karen Traviss has dethroned Tim Zahn, Stackpole, and Allston as number 1. Now to the analyisis.. Its basically the best parts of Rouge Squadron: Wedges Gamble, Wraith Squadron (hey everyone liked that) without any annoying baggage (some dislike Corran) it isnt really funny, although it does contain some snappy one-liners.. Its absolutely serious, as a heart-attack, actually.. When I went to work I actually was wondering what was going to happen next.. and Now finshed, in the words of Anakin:I want more.. I know I shouldnt.. but I do. If there is ANY justice in this world. LFL and Del Rey will release Number 3-to as many as Karen can write without sacrificing quality. In closing 10/10 Perfect. Without Compare. Superb. Salut. Oh, and Incase anyone was wondering.. I only saw 1 typo.. EDIT: Ohh yeah, Justice doesnt matter if people dont buy it.. Buy some for your friends.. BUY Hard Contact too.. just for good measure. and especially if you dont like the Clone Wars EU.. buy it read it, give em a chance.. I gar-un-tee it will change your perception of this era. For extra mind bending.. watch ROTS right after reading it. -----signature----- Rammer Jammer Yellowhammers, Give 'Em Hell, Alabama TF.N's resident Gun Nut Mejor morir a pie que vivir a rodillas.
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Charlemagne19 Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 3/1/06 9:28pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Republic Commando: Triple Zero By. Charles Phipps 'Republic Commando: Triple Zero' is an interesting book and probably ranks up with 'Labyrinth of Evil' and 'Revenge of the Sith' the novelization for the best of the books of the Prequel Era and one of the greater books of the EU saga. This is quite the accomplishment with no Skywalkers or even Rogue Squadron operatives to be seen. The closest we come is a Fett cameo. Better than Medstar, the Republic Commando books are about the "fighting man's perspective" on the Clone Wars and specifically that of the clones that most Star Wars fans dismiss as the slaves of Darth Sidious. RC: Hard Contact and other works have disabused many fans of the notion that tghe future stormtroopers are more equivalent to orcs than people and Triple Zero continues that trend. Ms. Traviss has some fairly major hurdles to overcome when writing the clones. They have identical backgrounds (largely), they live to fight (literally), and are of a dubious position both legally and socially. Instead of shying away from this, she embraces the violence and tragedy of their lives whole heartedly. No clones suffer an existentialist dilemna here like the lamented Nate aka Jangotat whom realize that his life is pointless before trying to do something right for himself. Nor is this the case of Spar where he turns violently on his former masters (though this reader would love to see Ms. Traviss tackle a clone commando that recognizes the utter injustice that has been done to him). The clones here are the fighting ranks of the Grand Army, the loyalists whom follow the path of the Light Brigade Chargers. They go forth to fight and die for arguably a cause and group that they should bear no loyalty for but do because it is whom they have been made to be. Triple Zero is a story that is decidedly in the war genre and the insanity around the troopers plays a major part in the beginning (and indeed most) of the book. The tense emotions, the fear for ones life, the desire to be with loved ones, and the criticalness of timing along with decisions that mean the difference between life and death for a set of troopers are fairly universal in application. It doesn't matter that Fi is a clone when he thinks about his kill count and the damage he's done to the Seperatists while he's waiting to likely die from oxygen deprivation. Any soldier could be sitting in the foxhole equivalent going over what exactly he'd accomplished in his short life. Karen Traviss captures the hectic nature of live combat well. Readers weary of the politics and maneuverings of Darth Sidious and the Jedi will find this book a splash of cold water. The Clone Wars may have been rigged by politicians but the crusty Mandalorian Skirata might argue that's always the case and certainly doesn't mean anything less on the field. The book is practically utterly void of politics. There is simply the enemy that's trying to kill you and you whom have to kill him in order to survive. While it might be Alto Stratus is behind them and they're all Jabiim terrorists on Coruscant or disgruntled spice miners from Naboo's moon, it largely doesn't matter what their motivations are other than they're seperatists. It's simply that they're terrorists and theyre involved in blowing things up. Its strange that by focusing on the general, one can bring the whole to life but it is the case here. It's almost as if the locations aren't really 'real' to the protagionists. Even Coruscant is one dominated by its functionality rather than its size. There's no sense of wonder, its a city with a lot of buildings thats the capital. As characters go, Karen does an amiable job of differentiating the clones. The problem isn't that they all look alike but more that they're all soldiers really and none of them can be exactly called timid. Darman is the most well developed of the clones with his romance of Etain, something performed more out of recognition of their mutual short life expectenacies than genuine things in common but...war does that. Fi remains my favorite of the clones though for reasons that amount to his simply being the clone most likely to fit into the cast of "Red vs. Blue" (since Halo's Spartans could be likened to the Clone Troopers) for silliness and bizarrity in a serious situation. The Null Troopers are another addition to the cast of the clones as they're supposed to be the baddest of the bad. However, aside from laying out an ARC trooper (something I'm not sure ANYONE should do) they are surprisingly amongst the most human of them. I'm especially fond of Ordo despite it all though. He seems to have the most fully 'realized' personality, save Darman and a distinct feeling of annoyance with everything in the world up until he meets Besanny. The intensity sets him apart from his fellow clones. I almost wish that Karen had shown the Nulls being raised by Sergeant Skirata more than her early scenes with him storytelling. The theme of child soldiers could have fleshed them out more. The non Jedi clones are a bit of a mixed bag with some amazingly well realized characters and some character choices I don't really appreciate (though this is probably just my Jediphilia). Kal Skirata is the most well realized of all of Karen Traviss' characters save perhaps Etain I believe. Its an interesting concept that's behind him, he seems to be basically born from "What would Jango's really crusty old uncle be like?" The 'old soldier' theme goes well with him and the only thing he seemed to be missing was a bugle and a dog. His relationship with the Nulls, effectively substituting them for his lost children, is a surprisingly poignant one even as Karen doesn't shy away from the fact that Kal Skirata could just as easily be a villain in the right circumstances. While immensely likeable and paternal, she doesn't shy away from the fact that Kal is a brutal killer and that a lifetime of violence has left deep scars on him and possibly even an inner darkness. Besanny Wennen seems to exist to be a love interest more than an actual character but her statement on the treatment of clones is one of the most memorable scenes in the book. Etain, the Reluctant Jedi, makes her sequel appearence here as a fairly battle hardened veteran but still possessed of amusing amounts of naitivity (like why the clones stare at her chest first). Her relationship with Darman is childish in its simple love but its appropriate for both characters. If I have one complaint though, its that Karen seems to not handle the Jedi very well. It may be just my opinion of how they operate though because I know many would agree with her interpretation of the Old Order. Etain seems to fall into the trap I see with many Prequel depictions that they misinterpret the dogma for the truth. That disturbing acts done without anger are somehow "right" is an action I can't even imagine a padawan mistaking. I have a high respect for the Jedi though and simply find it disconcerting when we don't see their 'wisdom' in action. To me, a Jedi without the Force is still a Jedi if he's the gentlest and noblest character in the story but powers seem to make the Jedi in most fan's opinion. Etain still is a font of sympathy for the clone's plight and I also liked the depiction of Baradan Jusik whom is another likeable and decent Jedi. We need more "nobility is the rule, not the exception" Jedi. Unfortunately, the pitilessness of General Zey makes the Jedi seem more like military high command (not the most enlightened of group to begin with) than the order of spiritualists. I swear though that I feel the "I wish I knew my parents!" meme of the Jedi is getting tired. For those of us with intimate acquaintance with adoption and perhaps a little 'disgust' with certain biological parents out there, the fact that they don't acknowledge the Order as Family is a bit troubling. The bond between Jedi should be every bit as deep as the Mandalorians is portrayed his is a relatively small complaint though. This is a book about clones not Jedi. The choice of Etain to have a family though at the expense of her career as a Jedi is one that leaves a better taste in my mouth than similiar choices by Anakin Skywalker and Quinlan Vos, its a sacrifice that isn't selfish but profoundly human. The antagonists in the story are surprisingly more bureaucracy and the nature of 'terrorist hunting' rather than the Seperatists. The clones are extraordinarily good at killing and open combat but the problem in this case is finding the enemy rather than eliminating him. There's a humorous "Pulp Fiction" like scene where the clones end up killing people they really shouldn't have because of the similarity of 'suspicious behavior' between organized crime and terrorism. The character of Walon Vau is, I think, supposed to be an example of an evil character on the side of the 'heroes' but given that (again in the manner of the thoroughly quotable Kal Skirata)...with characters as hard as these its hard to really imagine him being that much worse. While he lacks the sympathy of Skirata and is a great deal more passionless, dead is dead no matter how you were brought to that state. Strangely, Triple Zero makes some statements about the Clone Wars to me that may not have been intentional to the author. For one, the main thing that occurred to me when looking over battles with the Jedi and their clone troopers was not...as some Star Wars have postulated that the Jedi were horrible commanders (though the clones often were more experienced) or the Jedi were using them. Actually, what struck me was the apparent utter cowardice of the Republic and its citizens. While there are cases here and there of Republic officers and intelligence operatives plus people fighting for the Republic, all of them were either far from the front lines or motivated by some self serving aspect like deals made with the Republic for colonist removal. Say what you will about the Jedi but they were the only people I saw willing to go into battle directly with the clones at their side and fighting for all the world's in the Republic. Some unintentional (?) parrallels also formed between the Jedi and clones as both were essentially raised from birth to be fighters for a group that's arguably utterly unworthy of their allegiance. While I'm ashamed to say Metal Gear Solid comes to mind before '47 Samurai', its an interesting realization. Triple Zero is an extraordinarily "dense" book for a paperback really as if Karen Traviss were trying to stuff the entire experience of the Clone Wars into one novel from all angles and I'm extremely grateful for this. At 418 pages, its not the 'Goblet of Fire' but its worth the 7.50 plus tax I paid for it as even the text is packed with dozens of 'mini-adventures' in the context of the greater storyline. I honestly have the weirdest feeling it would have made a very good micro-cartoon, comic, or video game plot with its countless small asides. This gives a somewhat more satisfying feel than the usual "Luke Skywalker broods, Luke meets villain, Luke defeats villain" plots of most books. However, the book did not take us up to "Revenge of the Sith" and frankly this series is NOT complete until we arrive at Order 66 and the transformation of the Republic to the Empire. I have no illusions that any of the clone troopers would normally hesitate to kill their commanders (the relationship between the Jedi and the clones is displayed as not terribly close usually and they are a bloody bunch) but Republic Commando's Omega Squadron may be one of the few cases otherwise given Etain has become part of the family....and even then they may have to do something unconsciousnable. A heartily recommended work and one that I hope she will eventually do a sequel for. 9.0/10
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Master_Keralys Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 3/1/06 9:30pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile - Date Edited: 3/1/06 9:31pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Master_Keralys
	Total reader score of 19.0 / 2 reviews = 9.5 avg reader rating thus far. - Keralys -----signature----- God made man. Man rejected God. God became the man Jesus Christ, died and rose again to life, saving man from himself. The craziest story ever told. The truest.
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nitflegal Registered: Oct '02	Date Posted: 3/2/06 10:54am Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	I give it a 10 out of 10. It may be damning with faint praise but this is quite possibly the best written Star Wars novel yet. There have been good, even great Star Wars novels before, albiet not a whole lot of them. However, the best of them are well told adventure stories and little else. Perhaps they give some insight into a central character or two but that is about as high as the bar is set. This novel is different. Certainly it is a fine adventure novel in its own right. However, it also touches on philisophic issues that don't typically make it into franchise tie-ins. In here we see the other side of the Galactic War seen in the prequels from the side of the clone troopers, those men bred for war and used up as easily and callously as one treats a piece of tissue paper. We've been told that the Republic before the fall was corrupt but we've really not seen much; characters simply announce that it is or was and we accept it as part of the backstory. Here we see the corruption of ideals and beliefs from the Jedi who shuck their treasured beliefs for an advantage in war to the government and supportive public who don't know much of the clones and don't generally care. Beyond that, the story is well told and possibly the most realistic of any Star Wars novel, if realism can be used in a story of clones and magic using warrior priests. The action works the way it would in the real world and the challenges and plans ring true. This book is a better primer for someone interested in the SAS or "Delta Force" than many of the Ramboesque Walter Mitty garbage that pollute the book stores. In addition, characters are engaging and actually develop and grow, something all to rare in a book like this. Simply put, this would be an excellent book without the Star Wars universe behind it. That it actually takes place in that universe and can stimulate discussion about the underpinnings of the prequels is extraordinary. Buy the book. Matt
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Rohniss Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 3/2/06 11:26am Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Counting 3 reviews: 9.666 -----signature----- Rammer Jammer Yellowhammers, Give 'Em Hell, Alabama TF.N's resident Gun Nut Mejor morir a pie que vivir a rodillas.
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vong333 Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 3/2/06 5:04pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Make that 10/10
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Master_Keralys Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Oct '03	Date Posted: 3/2/06 9:03pm Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Counting 4 reviews: 9.75 - Keralys -----signature----- God made man. Man rejected God. God became the man Jesus Christ, died and rose again to life, saving man from himself. The craziest story ever told. The truest.
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razzy1319 Registered: Jun '04	Date Posted: 3/3/06 1:21am Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	10/10... superb book -----signature----- In Space No One Can Hear Your Scream, Except For The BattleCry Of A Galactic Marine -Fictional BattleCry My Kind Weren't Made To Kneel -Fictional Clone Trooper Worst Admin Ever - http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/User:WhiteBoy/Kuralyov
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Rohniss Registered: May '05	Date Posted: 3/3/06 5:21am Subject: RE: The (un)Official Republic Commando: Triple Zero Review thread (curse you Masty.) Warning: Spoile
	Counting 5 Reviews: 9.8 -----signature----- Rammer Jammer Yellowhammers, Give 'Em Hell, Alabama TF.N's resident Gun Nut Mejor morir a pie que vivir a rodillas.
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