Because Lucasfilm is shifting its focus away from the Clone Wars era, we’re not likely to see a paperback anthology called “Tales from the Clone Wars” anytime soon. However, if you still have your back issues of Star Wars Insider, you can pretend you are reading a couple volumes’ worth of Clone Wars tales.
The magazine published 20 short stories from issue 62-88 (2003-06); 12 were set during the Clone Wars, with two more shortly after that period. (Insider wouldn’t return to short fiction until issue 124, when it would once again become a staple of the magazine.)
First phase of Clone Wars
Another reason these stories aren’t likely to be collected is that they are from the first phase of the Clone Wars, which has been put to rest even more so than the second phase (the Ahsoka era). Like many fans, I generally prefer the Ahsoka phase; however, these older stories are nothing to sneeze at, either, and this batch includes an all-star lineup of “Star Wars” novelists experimenting with the short form.
Short stories from Star Wars Insider Issues 62-88 (2003-06)
Authors: Aaron Allston, Mike W. Barr, Troy Denning, Shane Dix, Greg Keyes, Steve Perry, Michael Reaves, Michael Stackpole, Karen Traviss, Jude Watson, Voronica Whitney-Robinson, Sean Williams, Timothy Zahn
Aaron Allston shifts from very serious to very funny in telling the story of a Republic number-cruncher who gets thrown into the war in “The Pengalan Tradeoff” (Issue 65) and “League of Spies” (73). Allston’s novels tend to settle more into the middle ground between serious and funny. Of the two, I vastly preferred “League of Spies,” a rare (and hilarious) story that shows intelligence agents learning the ropes.
“Elusion Illusion” (66) is Michael Stackpole’s only Clone Wars story, and his last “Star Wars” contribution; he goes back two generations to introduce us to Corran’s grandfather and step-grandfather, Neeja Halcyon and Rostek Horn. Young Twi’lek Jedi Aayla Secura — who fell short of Ahsoka-level popularity, but still had quite a following during Clone Wars Phase I — also appears here, but it’s not as good of a character piece as Stackpole usually delivers.
I feel like Stackpole brought his C-game to that story, and so does Timothy Zahn for the three-part “Hero of Cartao” novella (68-70) and the two-part “Changing Seasons” (76-77). The first one, which has no major “Star Wars” characters, is a long way to go for a battle-strategy yarn. I guess his point is that even Jedi don’t have much control during the chaos of war, but it doesn’t resonate.
“Changing Seasons” is a slight step up: It finds Obi-Wan hiding out from Separatist droids with some farmers, and later teaming with Anakin to uncover poison-spraying battle droids. Karen Miller would delve into the “stuck in a remote community” idea with more gusto in her (arguably overwritten) “Clone Wars: Gambit” duology.
Toward the end of this batch, a few other top authors bring their A-games to the Clone Wars. Michael Reaves and Steve Perry, who penned the excellent “MedStar” duology, give us “MedStar: Intermezzo” (83), which explores the mind of a doctor who is operating on the being responsible for the death of his best friend.
Traviss explores clones, Vader
In “Omega Squad: Targets” (81) and “Odds” (87) — both of which were reprinted in “Republic Commando” paperbacks — Karen Traviss delves into the minds of clone troopers, as she is wont to do. First, we see Fi’s horror at nearly killing his beloved father-figure Kal because he is so conditioned to follow orders. We also see him heroically smother a bomb.
It’s an essential piece for getting to know this particular clone, who features heavily in Traviss’ novels. “Odds” is a springboard for the novels’ arc where Kal’s clones try to carve out an escape plan for themselves once the war ends. They start to grasp the political, manufactured nature of the war when the amount of clones and battle droids being produced doesn’t jibe with the official numbers.
“Two-Edged Sword” (85) is a rare Traviss story that doesn’t focus on the Jango clones. I remember reading this one when it came out, because for the first time, when we got into Darth Vader’s thoughts, it totally seemed like Anakin in there. Today, “Star Wars” readers are accustomed to this kind of story, but at the time, it was surprising to realize that Vader is well aware of the fact that Palpatine is a relentless schemer; Vader just doesn’t know what he’s going to do about it yet.
That covers the big-name authors, but there are a couple more Clone Wars stories here. Mike W. Barr, who had contributed to both Marvel and Dark Horse comics, gives us “Death in the Catacombs” (79), which finds a young Jedi woman being relentlessly hit on by a suave smuggler as they fight off various beasts in the caves of Geonosis.
It’s cool to see these caves — with their secret warrens of Separatist technology — explored for the first time after “Episode II,” although “Clone Wars” Season 2 would do a better job of it. And young-adult fiction writer Jude Watson contributes the short-and-skippable “Ghosts of the Sith” (88) — set early in the Empire era — where a Jedi refuels on the Sith planet of Korriban, is creeped out and then departs.
‘New Jedi Order’ and other oddities
This batch of Insider fiction also includes a couple “New Jedi Order” entries. “Or Die Trying” (75), by Sean Williams and Shane Dix, is an intriguing sci-fi piece about a scientist who tries to convince Jaina of the value of having her consciousness switched over to a droid body. It also sort of picks up Guri’s arc, last seen in “Shadows of the Empire: Evolution.”
I haven’t yet read Greg Keyes’ “Emissary of the Void” IV-VI (62-64) because the first three installments were printed in Star Wars Gamer, which I don’t have. Maybe I’ll track those down when I get to my inevitable “New Jedi Order” re-read.
Two other stories take place elsewhere in the “Star Wars” timeline, tying in with novels published at the time. Voronica Whitney-Robinson’s “Pearls in the Sand” (74) is a bland tale of an Imperial xenobiologist who is more interested in Krayt Dragon eggs than pearls; I can see why her “Ruins of Dantooine” (which I haven’t read) isn’t a beloved book.
It’s hard to imagine anyone feeling like they didn’t get enough Squib action in “Tatooine Ghost,” but if you’re in that camp, Troy Denning’s “The Trouble with Squibs” (67) is up your alley. Like most Denning yarns, it’s kind of fun but a bit too long; on the plus side, Han and Leia are the main characters, and their frustration with the scheming little Squibs is palpable.
What are your thoughts on this first batch of Insider short stories? Would you like to see them collected in paperback form someday?
Main image: Star Wars Insider