themusicaddict's review of James Lucero's "Tarkin"

Hello,

Thanks to NetGalley.com and Lucas Books for the opportunity to read this book early, sadly a privilege I didn't take advantage of. The book was originally released November 4th, 2014.

This is my review of James Luceno's "Tarkin". This is the lead up to the story of the original "Star Wars: A New Hope", only this is told via the perspective of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin. It entails his being in charge of the building of the Death Star and his wary encounters with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine.

"Tarkin" details Tarkin's life on Eriadu with an overbearing, strict father. His father shaped so much the man he ended up being though. Through his great uncle Jova's tutelage young Wilhuff Tarkin learned how to be a man. He learned most of these lessons out on the Carrion Plateau, where Wilhuff had many opportunities to literally fight for his life. He acknowledged this by trial by fire by naming his personal ship the Carrion Spike. The Carrion Spike was where he faced his final test as a youth. It flashes back and forth between when Wilhuff was a boy to when he was one of the most important men in the universe. Tarkin, now 50, when this book starts is overseeing the construction of the first Death Star. He's located at the fringe of the galaxy at Sentinel Base working on a top secret project. People think he's been banished, when he's been anything but.

From his youth on Eriadu to Sentinel Base we learned how he came to be who he is. Those Carrion Plateau experiences shaped him in so many ways. The bulk of the action in "Tarkin" revolves around a group of separatists and how they stole the Carrier Spike and the Empire's effort to get it back. Tarkin and his ship were a lot alike. Tarkin a man of intelligence, conviction and personal integrity. He believed in the cause of the Empire and thus became one of their most valuable servants.

He didn't believe in using blunt force just because he could- he wasn't as cold blooded as Darth Vader. We see this with how he dealt with space pirate Q'anah, who won many battles against Tarkin, but ultimately lost the war. The story of Q'anah would make a great book in it's own right. He used his smarts to catch her and he used blunt force to send a message. Grand Moff Tarkin, one of only Moffs, wasn't a person you wanted to mess with.

I also enjoyed seeing the development of the characters of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine and the role each played in the lives of the other two.

Ultimately I have to give this book a 4 star rating, I thought it would end where Tarkin's life ends. That was disappointing but Luceno masterfully leads the story up to the unveiling of the first Death Star to the galaxy. Although this book ended before I thought it would, it was still a great ending. Although we don't hear much about the rebels in this book , no wonder Tarkin was so nonchalant as the Death Star was only seconds away from being destroyed. I would urge my fellow "Star Wars" fans to read it. It will help fill in the time and expectation until December 18th, 2015.

I loved being back in the world of "Star Wars"- I'm giddy with excitement about the December 18th premiere of "The Force Awakens". Also the whole story about Tarkin and Darth Vader being out smarted by a bunch of smugglers and their struggle to get the Carrion Spike back was more than a little disappointing. But ultimately that served the story.

themusicaddict