Dark Rendezvous
Sean Stewart
Del Rey, Dec 2004, $7.50, 352 pages, ISBN: 0345463099
reviewed by Harriet Klausner

After the battle of Genosiss, the republic is plunged into a galaxy wide war led by Count Dooku, once a Jedi in training who studied with Yoda. Now he turns to the dark side of the force answering only to his master Darth Sidious. The count has captured Jedi Knight Jai Moruk and has him deliver a message to Yoda to see if they can negotiate a peace with the stipulation that Yoda must come to him on the planet Vjon; a place where the dark side of the force is very strong.

After living eight centuries, Yoda knows he probably will be walking into a trap and sets up a diversion to avoid being captured by Dooku’s minions. Accompanying Yoda to Vjon is Jedi Masters Jai Marak, Master Leon, their padawans (apprentices), Scout and Whie and Whie’s manservant robot Fidelis. The force in Scout is weak but she has an important role to play in the upcoming confrontation between Yoda and Dooku as both try to persuade the other that it isn’t too late to change sides.

Sean Stewart has written in exciting Star Wars novels filled with action and adventures that is typical of the space opera sub-genre. He doesn’t neglect his characters and in a surprise twist readers and Dooku realize that he still has a chance to take the road Yoda chose if he dares to betray his master. Fidelis is a robot butler who offers comic relief when the tension to threatens to overwhelm the audience. DEAD RECKONING is a terrific installment in the Star Wars saga.