Master & Apprentice (Star Wars)

I really liked the book was neat to see the way a jedi master and padawan work together and use the force recommend it to anyone who is a star wars fan

Wonderful in depth story detailing more of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s relationship and dynamic as master and apprentice!

This book has been one of the first Star Wars productions (other than those done by Dave Filoni), to feel like Star Wars since George Lucas sold to Disney.Star Wars Episode I: the Phantom Menace released in May 1999. At the time I was 13 1/2, and unfortunately, my dad for the most part, has no longer been a part of my life since.While many people at the time despised the Phantom Menace, young teenager me found a father figure in it: Qui-Gon Jinn. This novel focuses around that character that helped pull me through a rough time in my life.Some might say that is a bit crazy, but that’s to disregard the entire meaning behind Star Wars (a flaw far too common amongst fans). Star Wars has never been about ships and laser-swords. Star Wars has been about family, and about a deep philosophical connection to the galaxy around us. It is about balance, the Yin and Yang of our own Light and Dark sides that reside in all human beings. Lucas created Star Wars for children as they transitioned into adult hood.This novelization by Claudia Gray captures that essence, perhaps no more so than the following quote from the novel:"It matters which side we choose. Even if there will never be more light than darkness. Even if there can be no more joy in the galaxy than there is pain. For every action we undertake, for every word we speak, for every life we touch--it matters. I don't turn toward the light because it means someday I'll 'win' some sort of cosmic game. I turn toward it because it is the light." QGJ.Star Wars had a huge impact on my life. The sale of it to Disney felt like I lost a surrogate mentor of sorts. Perhaps the last decade has been the “dark times”, but this novel is “a new hope” to remind us of the time “before the empire.”If you’re looking to capture that love of Star Wars that has been lost the last decade, I highly recommend this novel. May The Force Be With You.

Claudia Gray’s “Master and Apprentice” begins with the troubled apprenticeship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan struggles to adapt to Qui-Gon’s unique interpretation of Jedi rules and his unorthodox approach to problems. Qui-Gon can see the bright future his apprentice will have, but doesn’t feel that he’s the best teacher. When the Jedi Council offers Qui-Gon a position on the council, the possibility that Qui-Gon will transfer Obi-Wan to another master for training so he may accept the offer further strains their partnership. Before Qui-Gon can make a decision, however, the two must travel to Pijal, where the reclusive government is about to undergo sweeping changes as the Czerka Corporation opens a hyperspace corridor nearby. Since the princess is only 14, the Jedi Rael Averross has been acting as the regent due to his neutrality for the last eight years following the tragic death of his padawan. Recent terrorist attacks threaten the forthcoming change from an absolute to constitutional monarchy as well as the construction of infrastructure for the hyperspace corridor, so the Pijali government requests an investigation by the Jedi. Averross apprenticed with Count Dooku prior to Qui-Gon and personally vouches for him to lead the investigation.In exploring Qui-Gon’s unorthodox methods, Gray focuses on his fascination with Jedi prophecy. The discovery of a fool’s gold type of kyber crystal evokes one of these prophecies: “When the kyber that is not kyber shines forth, the time of prophecy will be at hand” (pg. 117). Other prophecies run through the novel, such as “she who was born to darkness will give birth to darkness” (pg. 229), possibly a reference to Leia and Ben Solo, as well as “he who learns to conquer death will through his greatest student live again” (pg. 288), which may refer to Emperor Palpatine’s forthcoming return in “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.” Quoting one of Qui-Gon’s aphorisms, Obi-Wan says, “People are more than their worst act” (pg. 116), contributing to the belief in redemption that runs as a throughline in the “Star Wars” saga. The story further helps to explore themes from “The Phantom Menace” as the Czerka Corporation relies on slave labor, somehow skirting the laws of the Republic and establishing Qui-Gon’s feeling that the Jedi Council, in obeying its mandate of nonintervention, has allowed evil to flourish at the margins of society (pg. 212). Qui-Gon enlists the help of Rahara Wick, a formerly enslaved person turned jewel smuggler, to help him search for the Pijali Opposition unnoticed. Both Rahara’s experience and Czerka’s attempts to codify slavery as a punishment for most crimes on Pijal (pg. 188) help to show the corruption and moral lapses in the twilight of the Republic.Previous authors have examined Obi-Wan Kenobi’s apprenticeship with Qui-Gon Jinn, in particular Dave Wolverton and Jude Watson in the “Jedi Apprentice” series, though this is the first novel in the new “Star Wars” canon to examine the period prior to “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” In helping to link the prequel-era stories together, Gray not only includes the references to kyber crystals and Jedi prophecy, she also includes flashbacks to Qui-Gon’s apprenticeship with Dooku and shows Obi-Wan learning to ride a veractyl, one of the creatures he rode in “Revenge of the Sith” (pg. 151), and reflecting on the Guardians of the Whills in a reference to “Rogue One” (pg. 243). The idea of a Jedi acting as planetary regent as well as the characterization of Averross recalls some of the best elements of the 1990s Bantam “Star Wars” novels, like Corran Horn. Gray previous wrote three of the best character studies in the new “Star Wars” canon – “Lost Stars,” “Bloodline,” and “Leia: Princess of Alderaan” – and this is more of the style fans expect of her. A great addition to the new “Star Wars” canon.

I was a little disappointed in this book. It was ok and good in most places. I think my main problem with the book is having read the entire Jedi Apprentice series I had a very different picture in my mind of Qui Gon Jinn and Obi Wan. This being a new universe this could be forgiven, and Claudia Gray does a very good job with her own characters, but for me she just did not seem to Qui Gon and the Jedi right for me.My problem with the Jedi was they seemed to need rescuing as much as the who they went on to rescue. I agree with Qui Gon they acted more like political enforcers the guardians of justice. In fairness the Samuri that the Jedi are based did that their Shogun's word as the law without question, but as a Star Wars no.The story is good but a bit slow, and does need a heavy dose of action. The parts that were good to great are things with young Qui Gon and Dooku. The book does give a reason Qui Gon was so obsessed with Anakin being the chosen one, the steps of Dooku's eventual turn, as well Obi Wan's dislike for flying.A good prequel to Episode 1, but not my favourite versions of the main characters. Good new editions (of her own characters), and possible a prophecy for the future but we will have to see how that one plays out.

I found this book very brilliant to read, the fact that it's not just Qui-Gon-Jinn but it's also a massive story line as if it's like, who is the murderer? sort of thing, anyway Obi-Wan-Kenobi is up-to date to, as he has the look of Ewan McGregor in the 39-40 BBY, eight years prior to Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. And Qui-Gon-Jinn has something to hide from his Padawan, yet it all begins on the Planet Teth where Qui-Gon-Jinn and Obi-Wan-Kenobi are still not in sync with each other, Qui-Gon-Jinn still thinks that he needs more training, where as it's easier for him to focus in between fire shots in a battle. Obi-Wan-Kenobi is slightly more off guard and slower than his Master we find out that they are after Wanbo The Hutt, that is they threaten him and plan to take the Crime Lord back to Couracant, that is until his Majordomo. Comes into it, Thurible, and has Qui-Gon-Jinn's Padawan at gun-point, swapping back around and shaking hands on it, and putting matters aside, the Jedi Council back on Couracant does have news for Qui-Gon-Jinn, that is if he will take this one in a life time pleasure. for Qui-Gon-Jinn to be seated on the Jedi Council, he is not sure for if he does this, then he loses Obi-Wan-Kenobi, yet he does want to be seated on the Jedi Council, yet the Jedi Council asks Qui-Gon-Jinn and Obi-Wan-Kenobi that they have a final mission together to be in sync for their bond is not good, and that is to go to Pijal. Where it has been under attacked by an unknown terrorist group, but the Jedi Council hasn't asked them of it, an old friend of Count Dooku's, first Padawan, and Qui-Gon-Jinn's, who is older now and his name is Rael Aveross, Former Jedi Knight and Regent to the next heir to Phijal's throne, that is Princess Fanry. Who is fourteen years old, but Rael Aveross thinks Halin Azukka is the Oposition who are the terrorists, trying to attack the Princess, and requires Qui-Gon-Jinn's help, other than that, you will notice that there are four or five (I didn't count them) Before moments when Qui-Gon-Jinn is fourteen years old-fifteen years old as his missions are in wars and terrorists threats. But mainly, he is inspired with prophecies of the force, both Sith and "the Chocen One" but Count Dooku to take him on as his second Padawan, is intrigued as well, we can tell why! But Rael Aveross is a young Jedi Knight who helps Qui-Gon-Jinn, these are good moments to read. You also have jewel thieves on the Meryx, you have, Rhara Wick, who was on the Planet Hosnian Prime, and at the age of five, she ended mining on the Hosnian Facilities, that is until Czerka Corporation ended blasted down on the miners and caught them as slaves. Rhara Wick ran away, as far as she could and met, Pax Miripher who on Couracant, as a kid was in an open locker and was raised by eighty-two, or eighty-eight droids and ended up speaking like one, but mainly cared for Rhara, and after leaving Alderann, they were usally heading for Rodia to get paid. But thought to go to Pijal and get a Kyber Crystal, yet there is a plan to get rid of the Princess, and in a few days, Queen Fanry but who is it out of many characters, well you will see as a good read, At least Count Dooku comes in now and again and you get to know more about Rael Aveross as well. And how Count Dooku was as a teacher and why Qui-Gon-Jinn was interested in all these prophecies, just to tell readers that I like to put in my reviews, the names of all the Planets, but mostly the main Planets and the the Characters, with their background, just in case anybody is confused about it.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were two of my favourite charecters in the prequels. So I was looking to this novel and I was not disapointed.After reading this novel I love the charecters even more.Qui-gon was ahead of his time and for me should of been the head of the coucil. Some of the exspanded novels realy do not paint yoda in a great light.You can see why Obi-wan became one of the best in the order.Loved there whole Master and Apprentice ark showing us a different side of the Obi-Wan charecter than what we are used to.Master And Apprebtuce I feel is very well writren an enjoyable read a must for and star wars fan.

I’m a big fan of both Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I found their master and apprentice relationship really interesting in this novel, even if the story itself felt a little uneventful at times.The character development is excellent, as is the dialogue between the two. They feel like the two Jedi we meet in Episode I. Claudia Grey has always been an excellent character writer and clearly understands these two.I found the notion of both Jinn and Kenobi feeling like they had failed each other to some degree within their relationship really interesting. Jinn in particular comes across as a very confident Jedi in Episode I, so it was fascinating to see that this was not always the case. Really good character development.Although I very much enjoyed the book, the story does feel quite slow at times and then everything seems to happen awfully quick at the end, in terms of plot points being wrapped and bit too conveniently.I didn’t see the ‘who done it’ plot twist coming at the end, which is a testament to the quality of the author, but it did all feel a little bit inconsequential once the events had transpired.If you’re a fan of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, I do recommend this novel. There are some nice character moments and interesting exchanges which really flesh the characters out. Another Jedi, Rael Aveross, is also an interesting character - essentially a Jedi who loves and holds on to attachments, with a dark past.If you’re looking for a more action packed Star Wars novel, then I suggest looking elsewhere, but Master & Apprentice is still an interesting character read, worthy of it’s place in the new canon.

Set a few years prior to the events of ‘The Phantom Menace’, this novel focusses and, indeed, expands upon the first ‘typical’ Master and Padawan relationship introduced in Star Wars.It is concerned with a period when both Qui-Gon and Obi Wan are questioning their relationship, Qui-Gon believing he is failing his student whereas Obi Wan is beginning to wonder if his Master’s somewhat unconventional approach to being a Jedi is proving detrimental to them both.They are forced to acknowledge these concerns when Qui-Gon is offered a position on the Jedi Council that would result in him relinquishing his Padawan. Before, Qui-Gon can reach a decision, however, the two of them are sent as representatives to the world of Pijal where they are to oversee a young princess come of age and ascend to the throne.With their mission involving conspiracy, terrorists and a corrupt megacorporation, there is plenty of political intrigue and action to make the main plot entertaining and interesting. The strength of the novel, however, lies in its characterisation of Qui-Gon Jinn and the exploration of his relationships with his fellow Jedi.Qui-Gon is the main focus of the story, a relatively rare occurrence for the character. Much comes from his perspective. The novel covers a period of events that see him somewhat at odds with his Padawan, an old friend, the Jedi Council and the teachings of his old master, Dooku. Looking at his role as mentor to Obi Wan and his own time as a Padawan as well as the relationship between Dooku and Averros (Dooku’s Padawan before Qui-Gon and Qui-Gon’s friend), allows for plenty of comparison that provides a good exploration of the master/padawan dynamic. Averros’ tutoring of Princess Fanry coloured by the regrets of losing his own Padawan provide another perspective for looking at this area.All this and the various concerns it entails for the characters is woven into events on Pijal, exerting an influence upon them as they move towards a climactic conclusion.In the process the novel offers a look at pre-Sith Dooku and some of his reasoning for his later separation from the Jedi. It also expands upon the dichotomy of the Jedi and the Republic turning a blind eye to continuing slavery in the galaxy despite it being proclaimed illegal.Offering a look at the Republic and the Jedi before ‘The Phantom Menace’ which enriches the Prequal Trilogy, Claudia Gray has once more produced one of the stronger novels from Disney’s new canon.