The Cestus Deception

[Darth Vegas]

(Edit) Discussion for The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/covers_450/0-345-45898-2.jpg

Ord Cestus, a planet mostly barren and inhospitable to life, was first colonized as a prison world—until a handful of hardy pioneers discovered its rich ore deposits and managed to build up a successful droid-manufacturing industry. But when the Clone Wars erupted, bringing severe rationing of imported resources and a Republic ban on the production of battle droids, Ord Cestus was threatened with imminent economic collapse.

Enter the Confederacy of Independent Systems—the Separatists—with a life-saving offer to purchase a generous quantity of the planet’s most lucrative export: bio-droids. Possessed of tactical capabilities that rival the fighting abilities of even the most advanced Jedi, these sophisticated, techno-organic hybrid units would prove a most formidable weapon if ever deployed for military use. And now the Confederacy’s intention to invest in what amounts to an army of bio-droids has sent ripples of alarm through the highest echelons of the Republic government.

Determined to halt the bio-droid sale—but fearing a show of force will result in a political backlash—Supreme Chancellor Palpatine dispatches a team of envoys, led by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Their mission: persuade Ord Cestus’s government to abandon its dealings with the Confederacy . . . while secretly stirring up revolution among the planet’s struggling underclass. Diplomacy is paramount. But if all else fails, the Republic will not hesitate to launch a full-scale attack—and wipe out not only the means of bio-droid production, but countless lives as well, to demonstrate the consequences of disloyalty.

For Obi-Wan, the prospect of such wholesale slaughter only serves to fuel his growing suspicions about the sinister path the Republic seems to be taking. But the brash Jedi Master Kit Fisto and the detachment of clone soldiers assigned to the mission are ready and willing to do the Supreme Chancellor’s bidding. As the leaders of Ord Cestus refuse to capitulate and Palpatine rapidly loses patience, Obi-Wan’s hopes of a peaceful resolution are dwindling. Now, facing a crisis of conscience, Obi-Wan must find the wisdom and strength to prevent a bloodbath and safeguard the Republic— while abiding by the ancient code to which he has pledged his life.

Battle Summary: http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu/battles/12.htm#cestus
Excerpt: http://www.starwars.com/eu/feature/20040526/indexp3.html
Review: http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu/featur...tion_andrew.htm (http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu/features/reviews/cestusdeception_andrew.htm)
Barnes Interview 1: http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu/featur...tevenbarnes.htm (http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu/features/interviews/stevenbarnes.htm)
Barnes Interview 2: http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu/featur...evenbarnes2.htm (http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu/features/interviews/stevenbarnes2.htm) (/Edit)

[vodo]

where did you aquire this knowlege

[Luvinna.]

Did you follow the link? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif It takes you right to starwars.com.

I remember hearing about that in the last Homing Beacon. It sounds a lot like what they're doing with the NJO. An actual story arc plotted out with different parts assigned to different authors. Sounds cool!

[Luvinna.]

Originally posted by Agent Bond A.K.A. TK-007@Nov 19 2002, 08:13 AM
*Ehem, Clone Wars novel.

Would a mod be so kind as to change that please.
Consider it done! Though, you know, I didn't even notice until you pointed it out. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif :dunce:

[Brian]

Who's picked it up? Post your thoughts on the book. I'm about half-way through it.

For those that wish to wait for the paperback version, we'll be posting a summary at The Unofficial Clone Wars Site (http://www.starwarz.com/clonewarseu) pretty soon.

[Ripley the Warmaster]

<span style="color:orange">Got it today, on page 86. Good so far.</span>

[brookie]

Originally posted by Sniper Wolf the Warmaster@Jun 6 2004, 09:52 PM
<span style="color:orange">Got it today, on page 86. Good so far.</span>
i really want to read this, but am going to wait untill it comes out in soft cover.

let me know if it is any good! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Ripley the Warmaster]

<span style="color:blue">I got it done. It's brilliant. Barnes pulls of a great novel for a first jump into Star Wars.</span>

[sidious618]

This book was slow and boring and had little plot.

I liked the barristar a bit. I also enjoyed reading about Nate to an extent, too.

[Brian]

I enjoyed The Cestus Deception, though it wasn't "kick-ass" or anything. It was a step better than Shatterpoint in that it wasn't slow moving and tedious to read. Good job for Barnes on his first Star Wars novel.

[James T. Skywalker]

I thought it was pretty good, and the blending of the storylines (which, at points, seemed pretty random) actually worked rather well for a story that was pretty disconcerting overall.

Now, I'm still partial to Shatterpoint on a few levels, but The Cestus Deception works as a counterpart of shorts, since it doesn't focus completely on one character and didn't have some mega-battle-sequence to finish everything off. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

~JTS

[Jjm3233]

Pretty good novel, nice building and then unraveling of the plot; hopefully Medstar well raise the bar further in the Clone Wars era.

[sidious618]

My main problem is that it is not a "Clone Wars novel". It's just a prequal novel.

If I had known it would have little to do with the Clone Wars I my have enjoyed it more. Or not.

[Brian]

You have a point there, Sidious. The novel didn't "feel" like a Clone Wars novel, but, heck, there's only been one adult novel before it, so we don't have much to go on. I like these character driven novels, as opposed to a lot of the comics and cartoons that focus more on action and the overall spectrum of the Clone Wars.

[Darth Vegas]

Originally posted by sidious618@Jun 22 2004, 11:01 AM
My main problem is that it is not a "Clone Wars novel".
I havn't read the book myself, but style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>If I had known it would have little to do with the Clone Wars[/b][/quote]
There's more to war than battles.

[sidious618]

Originally posted by TK-007+Jun 22 2004, 05:34 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TK-007 @ Jun 22 2004, 05:34 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-sidious618@Jun 22 2004, 11:01 AM
My main problem is that it is not a "Clone Wars novel".
I havn't read the book myself, but style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>If I had known it would have little to do with the Clone Wars[/b][/quote]
There's more to war than battles. [/b][/quote]
Well not really. Sure you have strategy and so forth but this book offered none of that. And this is Star WARS.

[Darth Vegas]

Originally posted by sidious618@Jun 29 2004, 01:09 PM
Well not really.
Yes really.

There's Espionage, covert ops, devoloping new weaponry and new technology, all sorts of things that happen behind the scenes to keep the war machine moving, and those things are a very big part of war, judging from what I've heard that's what alot of this book is about.

[sidious618]

Originally posted by TK-007+Jun 29 2004, 04:34 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TK-007 @ Jun 29 2004, 04:34 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'> <!--QuoteBegin-sidious618@Jun 29 2004, 01:09 PM
Well not really.
Yes really.

There's Espionage, covert ops, devoloping new weaponry and new technology, all sorts of things that happen behind the scenes to keep the war machine moving, and those things are a very big part of war, judging from what I've heard that's what alot of this book is about. [/b][/quote]
Then you have heard wrong. There is nothing of interest in this book at all.

[Arlyss]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wave.gif

I just read Bradley K. Brown's review of The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes, as well as an excerpt from the book, the second chapter, on TOS. I haven't had the chance to read the entire book yet, but after reading Mr. Brown's review, I definitely feel vindicated in my opinion that not only is this better than above average Star Wars writing, it is good writing, period.

What attracted my attention is Mr. Barnes' attention to detail in his descriptive narrative, when he describes a new droid that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Kit Fisto are watching from the sidelines. Not only does he shift effortlessly from "thinking inside his characters' heads" to describing his setting, he also gives the reader a sense of the immensity of the conflict, and how itnot only manages to create inner conflicts for the more reflective characters, but also how those characters play out their resolutions in their personal decisions, something that, IMO, other EU writers do not do quite as well.

I just hope the rest of the book reads as well as the second chapter, something Mr. Brown's review gives me every hope it will.

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/innocent.gif

[sidious618]

I still log on to TCWUS everyday hoping to see the announcment that this book was just a big joke.

[darth bangkok]

when is this book coming out on paperback? this is the only reason i have not read shatterpoint. i don't want to start these novels if i can read them all and i don't want to spend all that cash on a huge book that messes up my booksshelf.

[Lord Ulic]

Shatterpoint is out in paperback.

[darth bangkok]

Originally posted by Lord Ulic@Aug 11 2004, 03:40 AM
Shatterpoint is out in paperback.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>



sorry, I know that. I meant 'is cestus deception out in paperback' I don't want to start reading the books if i can't read them all in paperback.

thanks

[Kapit]

it won't be out on paperback for a while, it's still kinda new

i loved the book, i thought it was great

the fact that it dealt w/ clones and their individuality was great

[Lord Ulic]

TCD is released in paperback in March 2005. The Hive will be printed in it.

[Soontir Solo]

I'll have this read within a week. I am reading The New Rebellion right now. I haven't read it in a few years, don't remember it that much. I've read so much EU the past month, to help with the Practice Range and stuff. In the past month I have read the entire Corellian Trilogy and Black Fleet Crisis, The Last Command, The Truce at Bakura, The Unifying Force, Shatterpoint, and The New Rebellion.

[Darth sion]

What are the names and numbers of the five Clone Troopers that travel with Obi-Wan Kenobi to the planet Cestus?

can any one plz tell me or email me at thugganjel@yahoo.com

[Soontir Solo]

I would tell you but I had to give the book back to the library

[BoHeDia]

Originally posted by Soontir Solo@Oct 3 2004, 11:13 PM
I'll have this read within a week. I am reading The New Rebellion right now. I haven't read it in a few years, don't remember it that much. I've read so much EU the past month, to help with the Practice Range and stuff. In the past month I have read the entire Corellian Trilogy and Black Fleet Crisis, The Last Command, The Truce at Bakura, The Unifying Force, Shatterpoint, and The New Rebellion.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>


Wow, and i thought i liked to read...

[Soontir Solo]

I can read really fast and I enjoy it so I usually read at least a book a week, though sometimes, like that instance, I'll read 3 or 4 books in a week.

[Sam Kenobi]

Originally posted by Lord Ulic@Oct 3 2004, 01:32 AM
TCD is released in paperback in March 2005. The Hive will be printed in it.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>


The what?

Oh, this book looks pretty good, no action yet, but that's okay.

[Valin Kenobi]

The Hive was an e-book by Barnes, released not long before TCD, featuring Obi-Wan on Ord Cestus. Apparently it took place during TCD.

I still haven't read it, but I will once the TCD paperback comes out.

[James T. Skywalker]

Originally posted by Sam Kenobi+Jan 27 2005, 05:22 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sam Kenobi @ Jan 27 2005, 05:22 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Lord Ulic@Oct 3 2004, 01:32 AM
TCD is released in paperback in March 2005. The Hive will be printed in it.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>


The what?
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>
[/b][/quote]

The Hive is the eBook written by Steven Barnes that takes place during the events of The Cestus Deception, much like Walter Jon Williams' Ylesia eBook took place in the middle of Destiny's Way.

~JTS

[Sam Kenobi]

Oh, well I haven't read either. LOL!

[yodafn]

Originally posted by sidious618+Jun 29 2004, 06:00 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sidious618 @ Jun 29 2004, 06:00 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Originally posted by TK-007@Jun 29 2004, 04:34 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-sidious618@Jun 29 2004, 01:09 PM
Well not really.
Yes really.

There's Espionage, covert ops, devoloping new weaponry and new technology, all sorts of things that happen behind the scenes to keep the war machine moving, and those things are a very big part of war, judging from what I've heard that's what alot of this book is about.
Then you have heard wrong. There is nothing of interest in this book at all.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>
[/b][/quote]


Wow! I guess you really didn't like this book. That's too bad. I found a lot to enjoy. I thought the characters were quite interesting. This is the first time we get to really find out about Kit Fisto and his species and I found that fascinating. Also, all the political intrigue was very well written. Every SW novel can't be an action packed story with lots of battles and lightsaber duels. I enjoy the slower, character driven books also. I think it's nice when different styles alternate in the series.

[Sam Kenobi]

/\ I agree. War isn't just fought on the battlefield. It's also fought in the political arena. I'm not done reading this yet, about half way through, and I'm enjoying it so far. I wish I understood the political aspect more, but there's nothing I can do about that. Here's my question. Is the barrister supposed to be like a turtle or a snake, and are the X-Ting supposed to be like ants?

[Sam Kenobi]

Hey, my first double post. I feel honored.

[Ningen]

I envisioned Doolb Snoil to be more like a snail, but I suppose the turtle comparison works, too.

As for the X-Ting, I pictured bipedal wasps with sickle-like appendages.

[Soontir Solo]

I was kind of annoyed by the force sensitive eels in this book. Just seemed a little too sci fi for me.

[Ningen]

I was more concerned with the cheesy love story. It could have been done in a way that made sense, but it just came off like a crappy teen drama.

[Kapit]

the thing i loved most was that it explored the humanity of clones, and that they're real people with a few wires that never connected, but with a little nudging, they can make the connections

[Soontir Solo]

I think they should have left out the romance entirely personally.

[Kapit]

why? it added depth to jangotat

what better way to awaken his human emotions than to fall into the craziest one: love?

[Ningen]

The concept wasn't bad, but the execution was. I liked what Barnes was trying to do, but the whole thing came off flat and cheesy.

[Kapit]

what do you think love is at first? it's flat and cheesy

[Ningen]

Perhaps for some people. What I was getting at, however, is that what's her name only originally liked Jangotat because he looked like Jango. That's pretty shallow. Then the two get holed up together and eventually Jangotat realizes he's got feelings for her. If the two had fostered feelings for one another over the course of the story, it might have worked, but the way it was set up it felt so forced. It didn't feel natural. Just wasn't a good bit of romance and love, in my opinion.

[Soontir Solo]

That is exactly how I felt about it. The quasi-romance between Darman and that Jedi apprentice in Hard Contact was more believable, and they didn't get unrealistic about it with them actually hooking up. Something like that would have been better.

[Kapit]

the way i saw it, jangotat had had his emotions opened up to himself in a very short period of time, and he was probably overwhelmed by it all. now, like you said, he was forced in a confined space with a woman whom he had known for a very short period of time. this was new to him, he'd never done that before, he basically forced himself to love her. she has opened him up to a new world, she had taught him there was more to life than killing, destroying, etc. and the way i saw it, he kinda knew she liked him

ningen, she didn't like him just because he looked like jango, that was obvious trait, but in a sense he WAS jango. IIRC, she mentions how jangotat is almost exactly like the original jango was at that "age"

i'm confusing myself now, so let me simplify it:

jangotat, with newly awakened emotions, after spending lots of "alone time" with teh woman that opened him up to the world forced himself to love her, basically

[Ningen]

I know those weren't her only reasons, but that is originally the reason she even took an interest in him. Had he been a clone of Obi-Wan nothing likely would have gone down.

Also, I understand why they came to enjoy one another, but I still thing it was a forced, typical type of setup. If the two had been on the front lines the entire time and grew to love one another, then I think that would have been much better, because then we don't have Jangotat wondering about his role in the GAR while playing games with the kiddies and relaxing. We'd see him trying to make that choice in the middle of a battle, where his decisions would have real, visible impact.

Furthermore, like you said, he essentially forced himself to love her, because he was put in the situation where it was either that, or hobble his broken body out of there to try and get back to the fighting. It would have been interesting to see how the two would have felt about one another if they weren't in a confined space together for an extended period.

All in all, however, the books good, and Barnes takes a decent first step in giving the clones some real personality. Also, if nothing else, the romance leaves a hanging plot that'd be neat to see resolved.

Oh, one last thing. I keep saying "she" because I can't remember the lady's name. What was it again? Shekka? Sheeka? Shella?

[Sam Kenobi]

Sheeka, I believe. The only thing I don't really like is the name Jangotat. He should have stayed Nate. That's the only thing that sounds flat and cheesy, IMO. 50 more pages left.

[Ningen]

I agree. It's hard enough as is to distinguish the clones from their template. Naming him jangotat just made it all the more difficult. Makes it seem as though Nate has no sense of self, which, as I understand it, was the exact opposite from what Barnes was trying to convey with the relationship.

[Sam Kenobi]

Well, overall, I liked this book very much. See the Top Five thread for my ranking. I wasn't neccisarily suprised at it, but it was unexpected. The Chancellor was a jerk, though, cutting Obi-Wan off like that. I enjoyed the relationship between Nate and Sheeka. I just didn't see why it was necessary to rename him, like I said above.

[darthsith19]

This was a failry good book. I liked Kit's part and the Clone Story and the Asajj battle but the part with Obi-Wan and the politics was to dull for me.

[Jedi Master Elad Kenobi]

The Cestus deception is Brill!

[Ripley]

While enjoyable, I have to say Cestus Deception is at the bottom of the Clone Wars novels I enjoyed.

[tenorsaxgirl93]

people who have read this book...is it any good?? :( :D

[Tarkin the Ewok]

It's a good read if you like Clone Wars stories.

I went into this one in 2004 with a bad set of expectations. It helps to know in advance that nothing galaxy-shattering happens, and Dooku is not really in the book, cover to the contrary.

What it does offer is some good Kenobi and Fisto time, and the cultures on Ord Cestus are a joy to explore.

[Whuffa]

I found it so-so, a bit boring at times but OK overall.