Review: Dooku: Jedi Lost
Quick Summary
Pros: The main storyline is compelling and stays interesting the whole way through. The focus on Dooku is well done and presents a unique perspective on the organizations within the greater Star Wars mythos.
Cons: The framing storyline is underwhelming. Aspects of the book’s conclusion feels disconnected from the main read.
Overall: This is an entertaining read that really works as a showcase for Count Dooku. The main storyline is exciting, the character development is great, and the entire work generally feels like a unique twist on the typical point-of-view seen in Star Wars media. One of the subplots in the book is lackluster but, besides this, the rest of the read is good. Any Star Wars fan looking to see the villain’s side of things or fans who simply enjoy Count Dooku should read this book.
Story
Dooku: Jedi Lost, by Cavan Scott, is a mostly positive read. The main storyline is solid and remains this way throughout the read. However, the framing story, which forms a rather small portion of the work as a whole, is pretty underwhelming.
The main storyline in Jedi Lost is an extended flashback that details how Dooku went from one of the Jedi Order’s greatest members to the villain most fans are now familiar with. This is an entertaining storyline with everything a Star Wars fan could ask for. There are engaging battles, intriguing mysteries, and plenty of intense personal drama to contend with.
However, the best part about this story comes from the way in which it focuses on Dooku’s personal growth. His individual journey is fascinating because he is not the straightforward villain that appears in most corners of the Star Wars universe. Instead, his nuanced views on the Force, the Jedi Order, and the nature of morality are both interesting to hear and thought-provoking. This book makes a good case that Dooku may be one of the best villains within the Star Wars franchise.
The biggest problem in Jedi Lost is the disconnect between parts of the story, specifically the framing story. This framing story centers follows Asajj Ventress as she investigates Dooku’s past while on a mission for him. However, this provides almost nothing to Asajj’s story and seeing her reactions to Dooku’s past provides very little when it comes to Dooku’s story. Overall, this framing story feels like a distraction from an actually entertaining story.
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The other point of disconnect comes from the book’s conclusion. The framing story ends by having Dooku order the death of his own sister. Since the flashback storyline primarily focuses on Dooku’s disillusionment with the Jedi Order, rather than his interest in the Dark Side, this overly violent finale does not suit the nature of the read very well. This causes the entire framing story to be a letdown.
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Continuity
Dooku: Jedi Lost takes place at two separate points in time. The framing story takes place during the Clone Wars, with ties to the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. However, the flashback story takes place long before the events of Episode I- The Phantom Menace.