Star Wars Republic Commando: True Colors (2007)

Author: Karen Traviss | Page Count: 482

We have laws on how we treat animals and semi-sentients. We even have laws protecting plants. But we have absolutely no laws whatsoever governing the welfare of clone troops - human beings. They have no legal status, no rights, no freedoms and no representation.

The Clone Wars are wearing on all involved. Clones are becoming aware of the raw deal they have been given and non-clones wrestle with their moral failings at so easily accepting such an ethically indefensible option as a slave army. The republic commandos of Omega Squad are at the center of this dilemma as their exposure to civilians in previous novels has given them an appreciation for a normal life. They are conflicted as they want normalcy, but doubt if they or any clone would even know what to do with it if they did have any. But plans are in motion to try to make it better as a side mission to capture the main clone geneticist who has fled makes headway to a cure for the clones genetically engineered accelerated aging. As the war comes to a head and doubt is sown as to how the Republic doesn't have everyone's best interest in mind (even it's own), all dramatis personae may have to make hard choices.

The ethical quandary of cloning has now become the main focus with the action becoming secondary, but that is not a bad thing as it is much more engrossing and the characters much more interesting faced with such a problem among others that also involve secrets, espionage and exposed hypocrisy. It's what raises science fiction from average to above-average.

4½ slow cooked grandma stew out of 5

Star Wars Republic Commando: Triple Zero (2006)

 

Author: Karen Traviss | Page Count: 418

 I didn't have a mother or a father, but a stranger willingly chose me to be his son. You had a mother and a father and they let strangers take you. No, General, don't pity me.

The Clone Wars rage on a hundred different worlds and the Grand Army of the Republic is stretched thin, but recent terror threats on Coruscant itself must be dealt with to keep fear from spreading. So an anti-terror operation is authorized with 2 commando squads: Omega Squad, protagonists from the 1st book, and Delta Squad, protagonists of the tie-in video game. They must experience this new, covert way of fighting while dealing with their conflicted feelings of seeing civilians living a life that has been denied them since birth.

Karen Traviss continues adding to the extensive Star Wars expanded universe, but the real stand out are the characters themselves. They are more fleshed out both in detail in the text and in-universe as they have been experiencing war for over a year. There is a very human story being told. It just happens to be in the Star Wars universe with action, blasters and Jedi. Keep it up Miss Traviss.

4 Even alien chicks dig scars out of 5

Star Wars Republic Commando: Hard Contact (2004)

Author: Karen Traviss | Page Count: 293

"You want to know how clones tell each other apart? Who cares? They're here to fight, not to socialize."

The first book in a series following the commandos of Omega Squad during the Clone Wars. Better trained and equipped then regular clone troopers, commandos are sent on high risk, top secret missions. Omega is sent to capture a scientist on an enemy-held planet where 2 Jedi have already been lost. As a "mongrel" squad made up of survivors of other squads, they will have to re-learn to work as a unit to accomplish their mission.

A Star Wars story not told from the perspective of Jedi is quite refreshing. Karen Traviss uses her experience as a defense correspondent to write an account from a soldier's point of view that feels somewhat authentic despite being fiction. Readers will also see the Jedi in a different light as other characters give their opinions on them which isn't always inline with how the Jedi see themselves. Their usage of clones and the ethical problems and hypocrisy involved is a recurring theme of the book. So readers get cool Star Wars action and a story with a bit of depth. Not high class literature, but good and worth some of your time.

3½ shape-shifting spies out of 5