We join Barriss Offee (of Approaching Storm fame) on her Jedi Trial for Knighthood! Battle Surgeons is M.A.S.H. but in space, and with lightsabers! It's a very enjoyable book, with a very different perspective on the Clone Wars than the past ten books. It's enjoyable, and a quick read. The story started here will be wrapped up in the next episode, covering Jedi Healer.

Let's go to a world of political intrigue and drama, and a whole lot of nitpicking! I have some feelings about the depictions of... well. Pretty much everything. I don't really dive too much into deep analysis, but it's interesting to look at a different take on various elements of the Star Wars universe and see how and why things don't feel like they line up as well as I would like.

As mentioned in the episode: The Galactic Republic Anthem - All Stars Burn As One

It's time for the Mace Windu story! If you haven' t been reading along, this is actually a great book to read! There are lots of dynamic fight scenes and wonderful philosophical conversations that I don't delve into too deeply. Plus it's a standalone book, so there's not a huge commitment, it features a character that you're likely familiar with if you've seen the movies, and, in my opinion presents some interesting questions and conclusions (which, of course, are discussed in this episode).

There's also a bonus short story "Equipment" which we talk about at the end of this recording, and aren't releasing as a "bonus episode" because it takes like, thirty seconds to cover it in full.

Today we talk abou two short stories in the back of Republic Commando: Triple Zero and True Colors - titled Targets and Odds respectively. One follows the spaceport siege of fame that's referenced regularly during the events of Triple Zero and the other looks into the incongruent numbers and curious military strategy of both sides of the Clone Wars.

This is a short episode, to give you (okay, really to give me) time to recover before continuing apace.

 We get to book three of the Republic Commando quintet! We talk about lines in the sand, betrayal, and what it means to do the right thing. There's also conversation on cannabalism. Does eating a sentient alien species make you a cannibal? That question gets asked more than you might think in this book and answered once!

Next week we'll have a short episode on the Republic Commando short stories: Odds and Targets, and the week after that will be Shatterpoint, by Matthew Stover - a Mace Windu story. It's one of those books I've recommended a lot, so I'm excited to discuss it!

And oh yeah, I just added a ton of Star Wars YA books to my collection, so I'm going to be figuring out how to add those into the ever-growing readings and archives!

Also also! I'm releasing this episode just three short days before the anniversary of the first full episode release, and I've had just over 1000 listens in that time. It's really coll that y'all listen to me talk about Star Wars for literal hours. Thanks!

Today we discuss one of my favorite books - and definitely my favorite from the Republic Commando series. We head to Coruscant to go bandit with Omega squad, Delta squad, their Mandalorian trainers and two Jedi Knights. There's a lot about personal attachment, finding one's purpose in the galaxy and doing the right thing.

We also take a look at some songs from the Republic Commando video game as well as from Shadows of the Empire: Vode An and Dha Wherda Verda.

Join us next time for Republic Commando: True Colors

It's the attack of the clone commandos! This starts off one of my favorite series as it follows some non-force-sensitive characters (which is actually a big part of many of my favorite stories...). We begin to really delve into the training of the clones, the similarities between their upbringing and that of the Jedi and the morality of breeding a child-slave army (Hint: Not Ethical), and how various jedi manage the challenges it presents.

We return next week with Republic Commando: Triple Zero

We wrap up the five-book Clone Wars series with part two of Gambit! Will Anakin and Obi-Wan make it off the planet and survive to fight another day? Will devastating bioweapons attacks destroy Coruscant and the major planets of the Republic? Do we get confirmation on yet another ex of Obi-Wan's? Find out the answers to these and more in this week's episode!

It's another zany adventure from Heroes of the Republic, Anakin Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi! The two find themselves going behind enemy lines and being forced to allow for lesser evils to pass them by as they try to stop planetary devastation. Bonus antics from Ahsoka Tano, who makes a new friend!

How dangerous is attachment? What are the responsibilities of a jedi during war? An officer? A citizen of the Republic? What are acceptable losses and who is expendable? These questions and more are posed in No Prisoners and not necessarily answered, given their deep complexity. Join Anakin and Ashoka as they meet Jedi who have a healthy relationship with attachment!

So many questions, so few answers, so much satisfaction at the character growth!